Gayla Parker

By Gayla Parker, BCM/D WMU Executive Director, Missionary for Missions Education/Customization, Missions Innovator Specialist (SBC-WMU)

Recently a friend sent an e-mail titled, Perception. My plan was to scan the story and file it away. After scanning a few sentences scanning changed to reading and reading to contemplation. If the e-mail had arrived on any other day it probably would not have spoken so loudly. But today…it spoke loudly.

Are you wondering what was in the e-mail? The e-mail was the story of a man dressed in semi-shabby clothes playing his violin in the D.C. Metro Station. Only a few stopped to listen and even fewer placed money at his feet. Later the audience who barely listened that day learned that his name was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He was playing an extremely difficult piece on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Just a few days before he had played for a sold out audience in Boston with seats averaging $100.

The people moving about the D.C. Metro Station had missed it. Not once had it occurred to them that this man was offering something for free that most would pay hundreds to hear.

Why did it mean so much to me? It was the third time I had been reminded, “Don’t miss this.” Just a few days before at “Breathless,” Carrie McDonnall, a former missionary to Iraq, was telling her story.  Carrie was caught in a terrorist attack along with her husband and three other missionaries. Carrie was the only survivor of that attack. In the midst of her crisis, Iraqi men came out to help her. They carried her out of the car, covered her legs with her skirt, and called for help. As she told her story she said, “Don’t miss this act of kindness.” For a Muslim man to touch a woman, even more so one covered in blood, defiled him for prayer. The help that was offered to her was a huge act of kindness.

Also at “Breathless” the drama group, FlashPoints, talked about our lives being God sightings. They said, “Don’t miss this, you just might be a God sighting for someone in need of God.”

I began wondering what all I was missing and I was reminded, “Don’t miss this….life and relationships.” The American culture is busier than ever. We multi-task, we go from early morning to late night, we walk around with some form of a to do list, and we focus on getting through the day. In the midst of it all I wonder if we miss $100 performances, acts of kindness and God sightings.

From Genesis to Revelation God tells us we are here for relationship – relationship with Him and relationship with others. Eve was created for Adam to have relationship, Jesus spent His days on earth with 12 men for relationship, and God calls us daily to have a relationship with Him.

It is through relationships that we hear $100 performances; when our friend gives us the perfect advice, words of encouragement, prays with us, holds us accountable, cries with us, and laughs with us. When the words are just at the right moment it is equal to a $100 performance.

It is through relationship that we experience acts of kindness both as the receiver and as the giver; when we sit with a sick friend, when we take dinner to a friend who is on overload, when we babysit, when we receive a surprise gift or when we share a cup of coffee. Even a text message can save the day. Acts of kindness, they’re amazing!

It is through relationship that we have God sightings; when we see God answer a prayer, when we see God change a life, when we see a cancer patient find strength through God’s grace, or when we see a friend remain kind to someone who was not so kind. John 13:34 says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another” (ESV).

Relationship itself is a God sighting.

Regardless of our schedules, relationships are essential. Women on Mission groups, myMISSIONfulfilled groups, Bible study groups, or affinity groups are a great place to plug into relationships. Try it. You just might enjoy $100 performances, acts of kindness, and God sightings. Don’t miss this….relationships!

Adapted from Gayla’s article on MyMissionFulfilled.com.

Gayla Parker

By Gayla Parker, BCMD WMU Executive Director, Missionary for Missions Education/Customization and Missions Innovator Specialist (SBC, WMU)

For several years now a battery manufacturer has used a bunny to symbolize that the battery goes and goes and goes. It is indeed a good battery; however, with enough use it does eventually run out of energy.

On certain days in my life, I wish I could go on and on like that bunny. During August I even tried it, but found that I do indeed get tired. For the first time in my life, there were even a few days that I wondered if I would get through the day. Endless energy like that of the bunny would have been welcomed.

At the end of a busy day of teaching in Des Moines, Iowa, I found myself delayed at the Chicago airport unable to get home until well after mid-night only to face a morning flight to Alabama the next day. As tired as I was, there were people with me at the airport who needed to hear about Jesus. It was through those conversations that I began feeling once again energized. I knew the energy was not coming from me. The day was getting close to 24 hours without stopping and it had been awhile since I had eaten real food. God had become my energizer. In my tiredness, He became strong.

While we all have days that we completely run out of energy and cannot do another thing, the God we serve is everlasting energy. He is El Olam, “the everlasting God.” In Psalm: 1-2 we read, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.  Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Unlike us, God does not run out of energy. He does not need sleep. He does not need a break. He does not get hungry. He is available 24/7, 365 days a year, year after year after year.

What does that mean for us? It means we can call on Him at any time. So, pastor, fellow servant, fellow believer, when you are tired and weary, remember this; God has energy and power that never ends. He will give you strength when yours is gone. And then you can say with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13)

(Adapted from Connections: A Daily Prayer Journal written by Gayla Parker published by WMU.)

By Gayla Parker, BCM/D WMU Executive Director, SBC WMU Missions Innovator Specialist, BCM/D Missionary for Missions Education/Customization

On occasion my best friend, Jan who lives in Monroe, La., mails me a “goody box” with all of my favorite things. Things like Cold Brew coffee from New Orleans or my favorite candle from the gift shop. At the beginning of this summer she added sandals to my gift box. It was great!

Over the Fourth of July weekend while out and about with family, I wore the sandals from Jan. At the mall, at the restaurant, at Inner Harbor and in Canton women stopped us and asked, “Where did you buy those sandals?” In Canton two women were literally chasing us down to ask me about my sandals. Once they caught up to us they said, “Yes, we are stalking you because we want your shoes.” Before the weekend was over it became the family joke. “Who is stalking you now?”

As we walked home I had to wonder, “If people can stalk me down to ask about a cute pair of sandals why are there not people stalking me down because they see Jesus in my life?” So I wondered, what was it about the sandals that caused all the attention?

First of all they were unique. They are hand painted wooden sandals. The soles of the shoes are painted with hot pink and lime green flowers. The top of the shoes are lime green with a hot pink flower on top. For you men who are reading this, I can just see your faces. The expressions on the faces of my three sons were probably the same as yours are now. It is definitely a girl thing. Nonetheless, the shoes are unique.

God made each of us unique. We all have different gifts and talents that are ours for the using. When David went to battle with Goliath, he did not rely on the armor of Saul to win the fight. He relied on his skills as a shepherd boy because that was his talent given from God. Was it the expected talent for someone fighting a giant? Probably not. Most would have assumed that only a well trained mighty` warrior could win this battle and that a shepherd boy with a sling shot would be killed instantly. But you see, it wasn’t David that God wanted to get the glory, it was Him. The Israelites had no question as to the power of God at the end of the battle. Only God could have used a slingshot to kill a very large well-trained soldier!

When we stray from the uniqueness of who we are in Christ we may miss an opportunity to experience a victory like none other. It is through our uniqueness that God gets to shine. David said in Psalm 139, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful.”
If God’s works are wonderful and we are a part of His work, then we are indeed wonderful.

In today’s culture everyone is looking for that one thing that makes them unique and wonderful.
Look no farther, your very creation is unique and wonderful. When our thoughts, hearts, creativity, personality, appearance, demeanor, actions and reactions are in line with who we are in Christ then just maybe someone will stalk us down to find out what makes us unique and wonderful.

Secondly, the shoes looked fun. In today’s economic climate life is stressful and hard. People are looking for any way possible to find relief from the stress. As believers we have the solution, peace in Christ. Does that mean we will not be affected by the economy? No. One of my friends just lost her job today. But the difference is she knows God has been going before her and He will provide. She is at peace with the situation. In spite of the phone call she received this morning this afternoon she is still smiling. My guess is her co-workers who also received that call today will be stalking her to learn how she has kept her smile and confidence in the midst of loosing a job.

Each time I wear my sandals I will wonder if I’m allowing my uniqueness to shine so that God can shine. I will wonder if I’m showing peace and confidence regardless of my situation. I will wonder if I’m showing the world something that is worth stalking. My sandals will be too worn to wear one day but Jesus is for all eternity. There is nothing more worth stalking than that!