Gayla's Magazine

What are you afraid of?

 

 

Important to Contemplate.

I dreamed:

I saw a leg from the knee down and the flesh was opened exposing the leg bone completely.

I heard the Lord say..... "If the leg bone was removed would I ask you to walk 40 miles?" 

And the understanding was given to me of what He meant.  God does not remove the necessary tools to do the work He has called one to do.  You HAVE what it takes to do the work God needs you to do.  

Be anxious for nothing!  That which you need..... you have!

Could it be that God removes that which distracts us from our purpose, but it will never hinder us from doing our calling from Him.  All that is removed is but hinderances that we often think are more important than they are!

 Hmmmmmmm...... maybe we are focused on the 'running' and not the romance between us and God.  He never asks us to do something He has not equipped us to do.

Think outside the box.  

 

2015 - The Year of Peace

2015

The Year of Peace

12 Life Solutions for Peace

 Start this year right by putting your own name in every verse.... it's meaning gets deeper and richer!

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give me peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with me.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep me in perfect peace  whose mind is steadfast, because I trust in you.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart, since as members of one body I was called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

 

My friend,

While the world grows darker, may we shine brighter for Jesus who is the Light of the world! My prayer for you this year, is to be fulfilled in the work of the Lord IN you and THROUGH you.    May you be strong and able, steady and focused and have the serenity within to help all those around your life with peace. Here is a Life Point Lesson to think and plan over.  As a leader you have so many responsibilities to take care of and I know time does not often allow you the focus that you would love to have to plan ahead.  So here is a outline that is mine for this year and I share it with you in hopes that it helps to inspire you to take the time needed NOW at the beginning of this year.... it's so worth it! 

Create yourself a Journal and start using it for your year right away!  You will enjoy the process as well as keep yourself focused on your goals. 

With love,       

Dr Gayla Holley

 

1. My Life’s Theme for 2015 will be…

          2015 is the Year of ____________________

 

2. Write a one sentence mission statement for 2015.

__________________________________________________________________

 

3. The Book of the Bible for study for this year will be ….

__________________________________________________________________

 

4. My goal to reach by Dec 31,2015 is….

__________________________________________________________________

 

5. The Projects that I will pursue in 2015 are…..

A.

B.

C.

 

7. I will educate myself in these areas in 2015.

A.

B.

C.

8. By the end of 2015 I plan to have completed __________________

9. I will nourish myself in 2015 …

Mentally   __________________

Physically ______________________

Spiritually ___________________________

Emotionally ___________________________________

Focus….. Fine tune…… Finish.     Take some time and prepare for 2015!  Below is my Plan this year.

 

2015

The Year of Peace

12 Life Solutions for Peace

 

January - The Plan of Peace       Organize your year – plan dates, seasons, sections of time monthly for yourself, husband and family, church dates, break down the year into sections of a planned peaceful life in a 2015 personal Journal.  What areas do you need peace in.. prayer request

 

February - The Mind Map of Peace    Mentally – read books on peace for the year to educate myself and train my mind

 

March - The Power of Peace      Spirituality – learn to practice the Presence of God in every moment experiences,  

 

April - The Flexibility of Peace      Emotional wellbeing – become self aware of small pleasures, 5 senses to enjoy and sooth self

 

May -The Pieces of Peace      Physically – there are lots of activities that bring peace of body and health, foods that heal, massage/foot massages, sometimes just time alone.

 

June - Peaceful Habitations       HomeCare –  find new routines that help in home work, order in each room and decide belongings that bring peace or extra trouble.  

 

July - The Family of Peace       Family – examine temperaments, emotions, schedules that don’t fit bringing peace into the family.

 

August - The Passport of Peace     Ministry to others – peace outside the home, finding ways to bring peace to church families, extended families and neighbors  

 

September - ProActive Peace     Conflict resolution – learning how to handle conflict smoothly without it taking your peace!

 

October - The Solitude of Peace      Internal... Passes all understanding – becoming the internal tree that others shade beneath

 

November - The Reliability of Peace       Bible study of peace – taking the year’s personal lessons from your journal and sharing it with others socially, relationally, online ministries,

 

December - Being a PeaceMaker     Influence – knowing your influence and using it to produce results in peace in all of the lives around you.

Now here is a blank year for you to fill out your own plans for the year!

 

 2015

The Year of ___________

 

12 Life Solutions for __________________

 

January   ____________________________________________

 

February   ___________________________________________

 

March  ______________________________________________

 

April  _______________________________________________

 

May ________________________________________________

 

June ________________________________________________

 

July ________________________________________________

 

August ______________________________________________

 

September ___________________________________________

 

October _____________________________________________

 

November ___________________________________________

 

December ___________________________________________

 

 

Isaiah 26:3 Amplified

You will guard (me) and keep (me) in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because I commit myself to You, lean on You and hope confidentially in You.

 

Do You See What I See - Dr Gayla Holley

Her legs felt like lead as she struggled to climb up on the bony back of the donkey, and another strange feeling gripped her abdomen as she tensed up to set steady.  Holding on to the animal with one hand and cradling her heavy stomach with the other she nodded silently that she was ready.  And taking a deep breath, as the animal shifted her weight he began to walk unevenly and side to side, his body rocked hers as he lumbered along.  She sighed inwardly as the journey began already uncomfortable and painful in her lower back.  There was no need to complain, there was nothing that could be done about this circumstance but to control her mind and try to think about other things.  Look at the slowly passing dry rocks, the dusty olive trees, the average little grey birds that flitted by overhead.  Think about the supernatural visitation that changed her life forever, just  try to focus on the warm sun….. anything but the reality of what was going on right now within her.

Soon the baby kicked and she gasped as the pain tore at her in one flash moment of disbelief. “ No… I cannot walk it’s too far I have to …… I  have to set here” she thought to herself watching her husband’s back as he walked head first along the pathway. “I can’t ask him to stop but if that pain comes back I will have to ask him to stop and help me down, but then what will I do?  I might not be able to get back on this lumpy back!” she worried to herself.  But soon the rocky pathway became too much for her to bear and she cried out, “please can we stop?  I really need to stand up for a minute”.

Stopping abruptly Joseph turns back to hurriedly help her slid off the little donkey’s back and as her feet touched the ground he held her gently asking, “are you okay?”  “No not really…. I guess so… I mean I don’t know,” she said with a worried tone in her voice.  “It’s just so hard to keep setting and bracing myself with every step, I think I might try walking,” she looked anxiously at her new husband not quite sure how he would react to her slowing their progress down. Slowly she straightened up and holding her back started walking while he watched her with great concern. 

“I have been given the responsibility to protect this child and her”, he thought to himself.  “It’s my responsibility to protect this holy child”, she mirrored his thoughts with her own.  Both of them not secure enough to share their concerns about each other and their own ability to manage this trip and get to back home before the baby would be born.  Quietly he watched her gait and knew she must be feeling the baby’s weight heavily as she was waddling along ahead of him now. 

Before long she had to stop as she tired quickly.  He knew this trip would take a toll on her and tried to find a tree for her to set under to rest a while. And helping her down he thought through the rest of the trip and how he would have to manage her needs and the donkey’s when they would finally arrive.

She shifted side to side on the rocky ground as she tried to get comfortable setting on her only blanket. Noticing the shadows lengthening, Joseph encouraged her to try the donkey again, and agreeing they both struggled to get her back up and settled as animal and women tried to adjust to each other with the growing child cradled within her body. Bone to bone without, pressed to bone to bone within brought pain at every changing movement.  Trundling along again slowly as to not bump the fragile body of his young wife, he wished that there was more he could do. Wondering why on earth this had happened to the two of them, knowing it was impossible to tell anyone about their experiences, he bowed his head and walked on leading the donkey, his wife and the unknown destiny of a coming child.

After what seemed a nightmare trip and long hours of travel they arrived only to find overcrowding in the town and no place to stay!  Mary had become more and more uncomfortable and he knew that the dreaded hour of birth could be brought on by the constant jiggling and bumping, riding on the little donkey’s back. She wanted some water and was longing for a place to lay down, but simply had to stand against the rough stone wall and wait on Joseph to go find a place for them to stay.

Looking for a place for the night and finding none he went back to Mary only to discover that her water had broken and she was in labor! Her skirt flooded with fluid and her embarrassment was palpable.  Fear overcame him as he turned away and he urgently began to walk the streets asking everyone he came to for help. No one was sympathetic to a women in pain and in the throes of childbirth.  Joseph sensing panic, feeling torn to stay by her side on the street, and the urgent need to find a place for her to lay down.  Mary stood alone in the worst hours of her young life and tears began to flood her cheeks not knowing what to do and having no woman to lean on in this strange place.  The pains came quicker now and she wished for home and her bed, it was hard to stand in a public place while experiencing such a private agony.  

It was the worst of conditions and Joseph felt so out of control because he could not provide a decent place for Mary who was now sweating and grimacing trying to not make a sound.  What to do!  Finally deciding to force his way into someone’s kitchen he walks in the back door of an Inn and demanded to see the owner.  The cook smeared his hands with a dirty cloth and pointed through an open door.  Joseph hurriedly found him and pleaded with him for help.  “Please please…. She cannot have the baby in the street”  he begged him for help. 

The Innkeeper wiped his brow and tried to think what to do… he needed the money, but every room was already full.  She can’t lay in the kitchen, too crowded serving food to all of his guests.  Finally he decided to offer his animal stable as a private place to put her.  Not much, but better than the open street he figured.  And Joseph jumped at the chance not thinking what it could possibly be, considering Mary could be in serious pain by now. “I’ll take it, I’ll take it…… can we go right now?’  he urged knowing he had to get back to her immediately. “Ya sure” the owner said gesturing backwards through the open door, “you will find it yonder” and he headed back into the dining room to serve ladles of steaming soup to his paying customers.

Joseph rushed back to find Mary’s bowed head and gritted teeth to tell her he had found a place to take her.  She hardly heard him in her haze of pain.  And when the pain abated, he helped her stand and walk ever so slowly stopping each time to match the rhythm of the contractions and her strength to lean on him through each one. “I can’t believe this is happening right now” she said to him.  Joseph felt terrible feeling helpless and scared to know he alone was responsible to help her now. People pressed rudely  ignoring the painful looks and pushed past them in a rush to get to their appointments. 

Finally reaching the stable Joseph wished he had had time to go in before her and get a place ready for her to lay down. Maybe she could lean against the donkey if he could get the animal to settle down amongst other animals.   But there was nothing to do now but go in…. Stepping over the threshold they entered into the darkened shadows filled with the thick smell of urine and manure.  The muddy clods stank on the ground as they picked their way into the space, Joseph was horrified that he had to bring Mary into this place.  She was moaning now and holding her stomach bending over with each painful wave.  Realizing there could be very little time, he ripped up the blanket to try and make it long enough for her to lay on without her feet touching the dirty ground. 

She cried out as she laid down, Joseph pushed away the curious sheep who ambled over to see what was going on.  Holding his arms out to keep the animals away from her, his knees sank in the soft droppings as he swore to keep her safe and the coming baby clean from this mess.  Hooves had chewed up the ground till the ground had become saturated with broken clods of filth.  Mary twisted her head away trying not to breathe the tainted air while getting her breath for the next wave of crashing pain.  She closed her eyes lost in the fight for life in the battle of birth. 

Joseph realized that he had brought her to the worst of conditions to have a Holy Child and in his horror felt the need to fix all of this, but he could not. Flashes of angels appearing and animal breaths, the supernatural and the humble earthy surroundings merged together in confusion and fears felt by both of them.  The night bore on and Joseph managed to get her to drink some water as she struggled to climb above the cresting agony within her body.

Finally in the mercy of birthing, the massive urges to push began and Mary pulled on Joseph’s coat and bared down to fight the sliding bones opening her body and peeking without.  Joseph was desperate, Mary was crying out in agony,  the animals were shifting and  lowing sensing the intensive struggle happening beside them. A dog barked outside, the donkey moved his legs, a sheep peed and the cow shuddered as the final drama unfolded and Mary gave a final gasp of release and pressure.  And the destiny of humanity forever changed……  God became a baby.

Into Josephs arms slid the Wonderful Counselor and the Mighty God.  His heart overwhelmed and tears poured down his face as he wiped the crying baby from the blood and water.  And the Everlasting Son opened his baby eyes and saw his earthly father with tears on his face holding him, He raised His tiny hand and touched Joseph bringing instant peace into his heart.

Mary saw Him and closed her eyes against the fading pain and in her exhaustion she whispered, “You shall call His Name Jesus…..”  As she fell asleep and lay helpless surrounded by the terrible conditions of dirt, bacteria and poverty, yet she was finally at peace free from the massive pain. Joseph wrapped the naked baby inside his vest and rummaged inside their knapsacks to find another cloth.  Mary awakened, hearing the baby’s noises and held her arms out for Him.  Wrapping Him as tight as she could in the cloths, her arms cuddled the Son of God.

Heaven and earth, animal and man, witnessed the unfolding All Glory born in the worst of conditions for the worst of mankind. At this precious moment in time, a baby a mom and a dad were surrounded by Love.  And Joseph drew in a deep breath of air, feeling like the worst was over and he would get them out of here in the morning….. he could do this…. he could protect the Promise.

Until his dreams began again…..      

One sentence changes everything....

Words that shape my thinking....

"Do not think

things are moved

only by voice....

but rather actions

bring authority to voice."

                                                                                                                                        Jesus 

The Power of One

The Power of One

Do you know what a powerful person you can be?  Imagine a single person who has affected the whole world with a life changing impact. In every field there are men and women who through their determination brought innovative thinking and creative solutions by thinking ‘outside of the box’. In business, social reformation, politics, medicine, technology and sports - people have changed the way we think, act and relate to the world for the better by their life. If I just say their names you will relate to who they are and what they have done with their lives to help all of us live better in this world. 

Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison,   Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Walt Disney, Sun Tzu, Sir Isaac Newton (the world still uses his equations to this day)

Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, Tim Berners-Lee (The World Wide Web)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God 

How can one single person can be a tremendous help to others? Look at the lives of these people and know that your single life can matter, YOU can help to shape the world, can leave it a better place behind you. 

You are needed.. the world needs you.

To be courageous like Queen Esther, like Queen Elizabeth I. 

Self reliant like Ruth, like Corrie Ten Boom, or Mother Theresa.

Believe in the Power of One..... YOU. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to handle too much on your plate.

Many responsibilities are on my shoulders each day, so many details and needs that I have trouble at times keeping up with all of them.  How to handle all of it?  Every morning I transfer them all to the the broad and powerful shoulders of Jesus.  He said 'cast your cares on me'... so I do. 

Literally I take each one out of my heart and head and place them into his most capable hands. 

Then I go about my day released.  It's all His issues now, not mine, this habit kills worry and anxiety each day. 

And the most amazing things happen along the daily pathway!  It's far better to trust Him with each heavy weight than try to manage that which is not made for me to carry anyway.

In my book Growing the Leader Within You, there are 20 leadership principals that have been birthed out of my firey problems.  I wouldn't trade my 'credentials' now for anything, although each experience I wrote about was very difficult to go through.  And writing about them after the fact and the knowledge I gained through them is now priceless! Still at the end of every danger and adventure lived through, I find that trusting my Father is still the foundation I live life by.

How to handle too much on your plate?  Quit trying to and give the plateful to God... He can do more with everything on it than you can ever imagine!!!    

You have no idea.....

You really have no idea how the big picture of your entire life looks.  All you can see is the tiny portion of life that you are currently living.  But God sees your whole eternal being and wants to make you a portrait of inspiring beauty.

Never look at the temporary – relax in the fact God is painting a picture with your life that is far bigger than your mind can conceive. 

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The Storm is Over

Have you ever felt like a storm would NEVER end?  I have. Yet here I stand on a beach after a major hurricane... the sea looks so peaceful and quiet now.  Yet the destruction left behind is proof of the power of the sea and the terror it can produce.

There is so much we don't understand about the atmospheric pressures and intensity of storms... yet I am sure that somehow, somewhere there is a purpose to it all.

Reminds me of life itself.... the dramas played out, the highs and lows, the intensity of emotions.. troubles and challenges... hurts and betrayels....it's all like 'hurricanes' in our own lives.  What is left standing after a major storm will be revamped, improved and strengthened in a better way.  And the rest that's now just 'trash'?  We find that we can live without the 'stuff' ... our values change as it's  our lives and the lives of our families that matter most now. 

If your storm is raging right now, just hold on it will end.  Hold on to what?  God. period. not people. just God.  He alone will ride out the storm with you and see you safely through it and bring you to a better place in life through the storm.