Gayla's Magazine

My book...

Sometimes when we are dreaming about 'someday I want to.....' it seems like such a far away dream.  Not sure how it could ever come to pass. 

Writing my childhood history into a leadership book was like that for me... someday.... somehow.

I have good news to tell you!  the Somedays of our lives can happen if we don't give up on the Dream. 

I have finished writing the book.  It's right at 60,000 words. It's in the editing stage now... with a publisher setting on the edge of his seat to get his hands on  it.

Can't wait to tell you about it.... but not just yet.

My secret will soon be revealed... watch for my coming big news.  I'm so excited that this dream has finally been birthed!!

I will show you my 'baby' when it arrives!!  

The Pastor's Wife

Reading a book each month is something I do to educate and inspire myself to grow mentally.  Sometimes the books chosen are about leadership, or the different roles women play in life.  This was my book for January... if you are a pastor's wife, a minister's wife, an evangelist's wife, a missionary's wife  this book is one for your personal library. 

It's the story of a Pastor's wife in Romania (I've traveled to some of the towns and villages she talks about so it made an extra impact on me)  This book is her incredible story of imprisonment and survival during years of persecution in communist prisons for underground Christian activities.

It's one of my treasure books... if you are serious about the Gospel....go get a copy on Amazon!

Good Book Now Bookstore

 Good Book Now is NL's  book store that is open to the public.  You are welcome to go browse and see all the many books!   Books are uploaded every day so there is always great titles coming on line constantly. Amazon books carries our line and are a great partner with us! It's an amazing place to get a book! 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A31JPHNLNAQ88P

Simplify Life

 In my quest this year to downsize from a large home to a small one, it's become subject to study for me.  In the mix of order and confusion, studying and filtering priorities and possessions I have certainly come to some conclusions about this process. Certain books have been a influence and a help along the discovery journey for me.  'Putting the Heart in Your Home' by Jean Lemmon is such a good book!  It's all about ......."decorating that nurtures your soul."

Each room in a home is not defined by all of ones material goods. Rather it should be defined by a meaningful description of a feeling that the room evokes.  The heart is a little like a home.  Busy rooms and quiet ones, closets of memories and active feeding areas.  Clean spaces and not so clean areas.  Anyway you get the drift. 

So for now my lesson to study on simplifying life is learning what atmosphere I would like to create in each space. For instance the emotional qualities of a house defined is what makes it a home - NOT the material possessions in it. Ideas to think on...

Living rooms - enrichment.... for reading, soft music playing, fireplace, enjoyable magazines...

Dining rooms - celebration .... a place to celebrate good times, heritage, traditions, special days in the family.

Den - relax ... a place to lounge, unwind, sip a cup, watch old movies.

Kitchen - comfort... good food, delightful tastes, interesting, feel good times

A simple home can exhibit a down home comfortable warmth while being clean, neat and well cared for.

It's a great book to study!  One that will stay in my personal library.

 

 

The Blessing of Writing

"Without saying words..... you will shout to the nations"  

Writing is a joy in my personal life and lots of journals are filled with the various stages and experiences in the drama of life.  Abraham Lincoln said, "Writing is the only way the dead can reach the unborn". 

So true..... someday when I am in Heaven all that has been recorded will be read again by my great grandchildren and hopefully bless their lives with knowledge and understanding.   All  written pages will cause them to value their heritage and know me!

When your voice is silent.... and your hands are but dry bones of history .... will your message and actions still preach?  And will the voice of your life still be heard?

Start the book of your life today..... there is another Book being written already about you.  God's Book - will His and yours match?

Queen Marie Antoinette - France

Just finished reading a fascinating book about one of the Queen's of France - Marie Antoinette.

 

Many things about her life were a paradox.  This particular picture was changed as she had  her baby  in that crib next to her  during the process of the painting being done.  After the death of the child - she had the baby painted out - it was just too painful to view day by day. She did have a heart.... and a love for her children.

She was misquoted as saying, 'let them eat cake' - this was simply not true.  She never said it.  Yet the lie remains. Those who she loved, loved her.  She made unknown powerful enemies - that became her downfall due to her lack of understanding and temperance in all things.

What is to be learned from her life?  Keep one's appetites simple, ones heart pure, and one's mind ever learning. 

For the challenges of life depend upon three things.

1. Learning the human needs around us and responding with compassion and care.

2. The courage to live a life of character and morality no matter what others are doing.

3. The sensibility to discern that today's wishes received, may become tomorrow's chains.

She lived and died - the end of the long line of Kings and Queens... time was changing  in the 1700's and alas she knew it not. 

She is a  powerful person every pastor's wife in leadership should study.

 

Sir Winston Churchill

In my yearly personal inspection it's important to see what's been read and what area I should be studying next. A variety of books  is interesting, educating and so good for  mental training.  I have 4 books going this summer..... and enjoy reading each of them.
Sharing books is one way to encourage reading in those around me.  Pastor's wives often need the impute of other lives to strengthen or educate in important areas of which they are responsible for.  Also I find that reading important works is the way to truly grow mentally. 
Wait, before I show you maybe I should tell you that I am married to one of God's Generals in this generation.  Pastors everywhere recognize the extreme spiritual warfare that the church at large is involved in.  The intense battles of financial burdens, complicated legal systems, social and political pressures of increasing city and township inspections, rulings and  ever encroaching building codes and regulations weighs heavily on Ministers today.  They face pressures unlike any other generation before has experienced in ministry.  It's complicated, full of pitfalls with sensitive hurting people, and must provide for costly programs of provision in every church and ministry family.

Bishop Gregory L Holley and I  stand together working in these minefields, daily carrying out spiritual warfare on behalf of the church both locally and nationally.  I hear many conversations  my husband has daily with ministers across America who all are under the gun battling for their churches.

We made a decision some years ago to raise up the next generation of  Ministry here carefully and well equipped.  My husband works hard to raise up and imprint, impress, educate, support and train well ahead of the curve of the full weight of ministry for the young Pastor here.  We want his shoulders to be strong, and to see that he is well equipped for the challenges he will face in the coming years. 

So how do I handle all of this as a wife?  I read. And here is the current book I am studying personally that is fascinating.  It's about another great 'war hero' in the earth.  Sir Winston Churchill.  His battles, pressures and the forces against him are all insights for me as my General also in in a war.....

 

Winston Churchill CEO - 25 lessons for bold business leaders. For every Bishop and Pastor  who provide  leadership for the lives of others, this book is a wonderful resource! And for Pastor's wives?  Essential reading material!

This is my current study book.... it's a good thing.

 

'Eat This Not That' Book

I just have to share this fabulous book with you!  If there is just ONE book I could inspire you to get for the health of your family, this is it.  It's called, 'Eat This Not That'.  A Supermarket Survival Guide.

The reason 'regular' food keeps packing on the pounds is all the hidden fats, sugars and chemicals that manufacturing companies are sneaking in processed foods.  This guide shows you which foods are the safest ones for actual human consumption.

With all the advertizing hype it's hard to know whats really the truth. Here's your answer!

Did you know that high fructose corn syrup added to foods, actually  will 'help' you to gain weight? Here's a list of juices and the truth about each one. 

You know you need these two pages!  An ice cream guide to help you choose wisely.  I bought the right one - a true ice cream and wow it is good. No more chemicals!

Now this page is important.  Ever wonder what all that 'stuff' that can't be pronounced in  the ingredients list is?  Here it is...... Along with the safety or dangers each one is. 

This book helped me to find the first lunch meat product made without sodium nitrate (a known carcinogenic that I can't believe is legal to put in food)   I found it at my local grocery store and we had lunch meat for the first time in years!

Get this book - your health is worth it!

A Gift for Writing?

Laying down trying to let my back heal, I am thinking about a long time dream I have ...... writing a book.  Hmmmm maybe I'll just write something and see what happens.

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Suddenly the weather worn door was flung open and with a screech the large bird flapping blackened feathered wings of fear wrestled with the dampened airwaves and flew out to freedom.  The sounds of his calling voice reached out into the gathering darkness of evening.  And the disturbance raised the heads of feeding deer and small wild animals through the fading sunlit trees.  In the background of softening sounds and sights of evening, the focus of a woman watching from within the smudged window panes, tried to settle on one thought among many. 

'What?? How did that bird get into the rickety shell of the former house?  And what scared the bird to heavy flight?  And how did he get that crooked slice of a door open. And was that a buzzard!?!? And just as each thought skittered through her mind, a chill whisked down her spine with the awakened thought, 'I am alone here'...................

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What do you think?  Is writing in my future, or should I give it up?