G&G Ministries

Gary and I were at the Studio after a long drive from Dallas. It was definitely a long day but God got us through and blessed us so much. There are days like this where we should be absolutely exhausted but God gives us strength to do His work. I never in a million years thought that I could write a song and actually I don’t write the music just the words. Then Bonny, our producer, looks at what I have written and she puts the melody together and amazingly there is a song that we have collaborated together and it is amazing. Last night I watched the theme song to our radio come to life as people played their instruments and Gary sang his heart out as he always does. This song will be on our radio show in approximately two weeks. I tried to explain to God that I did not write music and He was very clear that He can do all things. So I have handed this to Him and we now actually have 2 more songs that will be recorded and be on the next CD. This ministry has been quite the ride and a journey that I never imagined, but it is fun and rewarding and God is being revealed and glorified. Our life has changed so much. I have written 2 books now and am working on the third one, we have 1 CD and working on the 2nd one that will probably be out in the Spring. We now have a radio show “From My Heart” on KJAK 92.7, that is allowing us to share what the churches in our area are doing and what artist and authors are doing. God has opened doors that has allowed us to perform concerts and do speaking engagements. He has opened the door to teach a class on Healing Hurts. Gary and I sometimes sit back and watch with wide eyes as we see Him working all around us. Gary is also helping our church get ready for the Christmas Cantata which is shaping up nicely and he is filling in at our church as the music director resigned and they are looking for a new director. As you can tell we are busy and we do get tired at times, but God does renew our strength and He allows us to have good health and to be able to do all that He has in His plans. We pray that we continue in His plans and that we do not get caught up in the busyness of it all but stay focused on Him. God….what next!

Gary and I will be co facilitating a class ar Red Bud Baptist Church in Lubbock TX beginning October 2, 2017. We have been in prayer for this class for quite some time and will continue to be in prayer. The focus of the group is church hurt but other hurts are also welcome. I feel this is such a needed clas for a world that hurts and needs Christ above all else, Please join us as we allow God’s healing to occur.

Tonight’s radio program features our friend Reverend Don Chaffin. He will be speaking out about the IMAGINE~INVIGORATE~IMPACT Senior Conference on October 7th at the Overton Hotel. Tickets are $10 and breakfast is included. There will also be door prizes and limited seating. You can get tickets at gandgministries.org or you can contact Gary or Gayla through our email gandgministries3@gmail.com or Facebook. Don is a retired preacher who has a lot of insight about Seniors and there is still a role to be filled in God’s service. The Radio Show “From My Heart” is on KJAK 92.7 FM at 8:00 pm. every Sunday evening.

I rarely have a moment to just reflect and think about where we have been and where God is leading us. But this morning I find that I have a few moments to just be still. Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10.
The words – Be Still – in the English dictionary can mean not moving, and being quiet.  From a biblical perspective, these two words take on much greater meaning. God is defending His city and people. The Hebrew definition is to stop striving, to let go, surrender. The chapter begins and ends with God is our refuge.
We can take comfort in letting go and resting in God to provide help, strength and safety.
Peace! Be still! Mark 4:39 That’s pretty literal. You remember the stories you hear about the proverbial, family road trip.  You know the one, with the kids in the back seat saying, “Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?”  The answer, of course, is be still or hush!
How often do we ask God for everything, but we don’t stop to listen or to be still?   The act of being still and getting quiet becomes more of a challenge in our hectic world. The world asks us to be busy. God asks us to be still so that we can receive love, peace and guidance.
Along with busyness comes the fearful and anxious thoughts we hold onto. It’s been stated that we have upwards of 50,000 thoughts a day. Those thoughts aren’t always pretty. You know the ones, I can’t believe I messed up, I’m an idiot, I can’t do it, It’s too hard, I’m a failure, I’m a fraud, I’m too old, I’m too young…..
We must learn to tell our fearful and anxious thoughts to shut up, just as Jesus calmed the sea. Jesus immediately asked the question to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you so little faith?”
Quieting the mind, shutting up the mind requires practice. One powerful way to shut up thoughts that don’t serve us is by practicing meditation.
For whatever reason, meditation has not been a mainstay of traditional Christian, religious organizations.  Prayer and Bible reading are encouraged as well as the occasional mention of contemplative prayer, but not so much meditation.  Jesus, John the Baptist and others went off to meditate and to take themselves away from the hectic world.
Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Meditation helps to renew the mind, to be still, to let go and surrender, to shut up the thoughts that do not serve us.
Many people are intimidated by silence.  Silence can cause you to address issues that you might be running from.  It’s easy to fill each day with busyness and then block out concerns through hours of mind-numbing television viewing, Internet surfing or reading magazines.  None of these activities are bad.  However, if they are used to fill a void that is not being filled, over time, the toll will manifest itself in the form of lost relationships, lost opportunities and lost dreams never being fulfilled.
The next time we (I) have fearful and anxious thoughts that are raging within you (me) like a violent storm, do as Jesus did. Silence those thoughts by saying, “Peace, be still.” When you (I) need strength and help, let go and rest in God, your (my) refuge. “Be still and know that I am God.”