Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The Inner Views of Gayle Cox

"The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, 
and He will make me to walk upon mine high places."
Habakkuk 3:19
(KJV)

In this wonderful world of blogging, I find it hard to remember how I met certain bloggers.
I just know God is faithful to orchestrate every, single acquaintance, relationship, and friendship
in the lives of His children.

He absolutely knows who we need and who needs us.
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

The precious friend I am interviewing today is one such blogger.
You will absolutely love getting to know her, 
becoming acquainted with her sweet spirit,
and reading the amazing testimony of how God's providential hand has guided her life.


The
of believer in Jesus Christ, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend,
 and lover of writing and words,
Gayle Cox.

Cheryl:  You often mention your parents in your blog writings. Can you tell us about your childhood? Were you raised in a Christian home? To what do you credit the special bond you have with your Mom and Dad?

Gayle:  I was born into a Christian home. My father was a pastor, and has been in the ministry for almost 70 years now. In a nutshell, my parents taught me how to live and how to love.

Growing up, I awoke to the sound of Daddy praying almost every morning. As a young child, I often wondered if God had hearing problems, because Daddy prayed loud enough to wake the dead, namely me. Some mornings, I wanted to throw him into a lion’s den for disturbing my sleep before sunrise. Didn’t he care that he was waking everybody up! And why did he have to call my name in prayer? What if I wanted to grow up and be the biggest sinner the South had ever seen? Couldn’t he just leave me out of it? No, dear Daddy never left me out of his prayers, and for that, I’m truly grateful.

Daddy will be 89 in May, and his prayers and Mom’s prayers continue going up on my behalf. Their physical bodies are aging and growing weak, but they remain immovable towers of strength in my life and are the epitome of unconditional love. Of course, being a preacher’s kid wasn’t always easy. But I consider my childhood a beautiful one, filled with good things, generous people and riches that aren’t found on Wall Street.


Cheryl:  Will you share with us about your siblings? What is it like to go through life with an identical twin?

I have two beloved sisters—one four years older and an identical twin. My older sister is very gifted musically. She has been a role model to me in many ways. She’s had her share of personal loss and pain, but she has never lost faith in God. My identical twin is also very gifted. Along with her musical abilities, she has authored three books, and has had impressive achievements in that field. She’s also suffered loss and pain, but she’s one of the strongest women I know, and she inspires me to be a better me.

Gayle's twin sister, Dayle, Gayle, and her older sister, Elaine

Going through life with an identical twin is something you really have to experience in order to fully understand the bond that begins inside the womb. In our case, the doctor heard only one heartbeat throughout Mom’s pregnancy, so I was a total surprise to Mom and Dad (and big sister). Mom says it was one of the happiest days of her life, and she says Daddy almost fainted when she told him the news. There are hilarious stories about us growing up, but that would require reams of paper.  If you’re truly interested, I share a few of our twin tales in my contribution to Chicken Soup for the Soul—Twins and More. My story can be found here.

Cheryl:  What would you say have been the biggest challenges to being identical to another person? What are the greatest joys it has brought into your life?

Gayle:  Twins are generally referred to by others as “the twins,” so I think the most challenging part of having identical DNA is finding your own identity and developing a stand-alone personality. For me, that challenge was most evident during the teen years. Although I could win any “fight” with Dayle, she had the more prominent personality, and I often felt invisible when we were together in a social setting or hanging out with friends. It was frustrating and often tiresome, trying to feel relevant, but struggles can make you stronger, and I came out of those turbulent years confident and tough.

Always having someone to play with growing up was beyond wonderful, and as we got older, we never had to cry or laugh alone. Scary situations were made easier with Dayle by my side, and funny situations were even funnier with her laughing, too. I wish every child could be so blessed, and I wouldn’t want to face a single day without my twin.


Cheryl:  How old were you when you became a Christian? We would love to hear about your Christian testimony. What drew you to Christ? Were there certain life events that led up to that decision?

Gayle:  As a preacher’s kid, I grew up going to church. I could quote the books of the Bible at a young age, and I knew countless scriptures by heart. However, going to church or quoting scriptures can’t save anyone, and I knew I needed a personal experience with God. Daddy’s prayers for my salvation took on an urgent tone as I grew older, and at times I could almost feel the burden he bore.

His prayers paid off on a cold New Year’s Eve night, when I was miraculously born-again and spirit-filled at the age of 13. It was a hallowed evening, one I revisit often in my mind, and it marked the real beginning of my life. I wish I could say that I’ve been a perfect person since then, but I haven’t, of course. Thankfully, God grants new mercies every morning, and he’s faithful even when we fail.



Gayle, with her parents, identical twin, Dayle, and her older sister

Cheryl:  What would you identify as being your life’s calling? How did you come to realize that this is what God intended for you to do?

Gayle:  I don’t know if I had a “life’s” calling, since seasons come and go, but when I was 17, I felt a strong calling of God on my life. I wasn’t sure what the call was, but one night, while kneeling in prayer at church, I surrendered to his will, and I knew I would be used in a special way. I had no idea just how special at the time, but a few years later, the puzzle would all come together.

Cheryl:  Can you remember the first song you ever wrote? How old were you when you wrote it? What events inspired you to write it?

Gayle:  I remember like yesterday writing my first song. I was 15. My sisters and I sang together in church, but I had never even thought of writing a song.

It was summertime. We had been living in Texas for a couple years, and we were in the car, traveling to a church camp. As a family, we never chatted a lot on trips, and as I stared out the window in the silence, I suddenly started singing a little ditty in my head. In a few minutes, it became a full-fledged song, and I sang it over, and over, and OVER, until I could sing the words without faltering. At that point, I exuberantly announced: “I just wrote a song, ya’ll!”

Well, that woke everybody up, and someone asked if I’d like to sing it, and I exuberantly did.

This is where I always get chills and teary eyes, because I truly believe God was testing me that day, with the glorious gift of songwriting in his hands, and I’m so grateful (so very grateful!) he found a willing vessel in me. Give Gayle the song. She’ll sing the song. No hesitation. The song was entitled, “Oh, What A Great Day,” and my sisters and I added it to our repertoire right away. Sadly, I have forgotten most of the words, but I feel certain I have them tucked away somewhere in my plastic bins of treasures.

I wrote another song that year, and then another one when I was 18. However, the word “songwriter” still hadn’t entered my head or vocabulary. But that was about to change.

At the age of 21, I was asked to officially join my older sister and her husband who were ministering on the road, full-time. We had sung together at special events in the past and toured the West Coast for a few months, but they were looking for a committed, full-time partner.

Saying yes might seem like an easy thing to some, but it wasn’t easy for me at all. I was at the prime of my life, and there were many things to consider. However, after a time of prayer, I surrendered to the traveling life, and within a few days, songs began flowing out of me like water. It was then that my calling became clear: God had given me the gift of songwriting, and now I was positioned to use it for his glory and watch it grow. We would spend the next four years together in full-time ministry, during which we recorded three albums and encouraged thousands along the way.


Cheryl:  How many songs have you written?

Gayle:  It’s hard to put a number on them, but well over 200.

Cheryl:  Can you share with us about the ones that have been professionally recorded? How did it feel to hear your original songs being sung by someone else?

Gayle:  Having my music recorded by someone else was never a goal of mine while traveling. I knew God had given the songs to me for a specific purpose, and I didn’t want to get caught up in anything else.

However, in 1982, after I married and moved away, life changed for everyone. We still did some singing on a part-time basis, but the logistics were harder to pull off. During that time, I pitched a few tunes and continued writing. I eventually formed a mixed chorale called “Redeemed.” A young man offered to fund a recording project for us, so we hopped a plane to Nashville and recorded 10 of my songs.

Later, I traveled to the National Quartet Convention with my publisher and pitched some of my music to various artists. I never considered myself a Southern Gospel songwriter, so I was surprised (and thrilled) to hear that the Kingsmen had put a tune on hold and would be recording it soon. They were the first quartet to record my music. It was entitled “A New Life” 

and they did a great job. My songs are like my children, and I love it when others love them, too. 


The Kingdom Heirs also recorded my songs: “Invincible Faith,” and “Makin' A New Start” which they took to #26 on Southern Gospel’s Top 40. Being able to watch and hear them sing the song live at NQC was a moment I’ll never forget. I loved their arrangement, and the performance was electrifying.  Other groups you might recognize who have recorded my music are: Greater Vision (I Don't Want To Go Back), The Wilburns (Tell It Again), and The Mike Speck Trio (Looking for Him Any Day). Louisiana’s Governor Jimmie Davis was the first one to record songs of mine, and I blogged about it here. Meeting him and visiting with him in his Baton Rouge home remains one of the highlights of my songwriting career.

Cheryl:  In what ways has songwriting enriched your life?

Gayle:  Songwriting has enriched my life in countless ways. The most obvious way is that it put me in direct communication with God—he gave the inspiration, and I wrote the song. Also, seeing others worshiping as you sing songs you’ve written is so uplifting for the writer.

But, hands down, the most rewarding thing for me has been hearing from people—most of them strangers—decades later, telling me how my music touched them and changed their lives for the good. Knowing I had a tiny part in something of eternal value is truly the most humbling and rewarding experience one can have.

I recently heard from a stranger on Facebook. She related how our paths had crossed over 30 years ago. She was a 15-year-old new convert, fresh out of witchcraft. I was a young woman, offering what gifts I'd been given back to the Giver, in hopes of changing a life. Lori told me she purchased our music that day, and it had deeply impacted her in her spiritual journey.

As tears dripped off my chin, I wrote her back and told her how much it meant, knowing that my small seed had produced good things in her life. I felt humbled, and grateful, and blessed. Little Me in the hands of Big Him—overwhelming.

I was so sad to learn that Lori was dying, and within a few days of us having a personal conversation on the phone, she passed away. Isn’t it amazing how God uses people to bless people? The first time our paths crossed, I was a gift to Lori. The second time, Lori was a gift to me.

I’d like to deviate here and say, if anyone has ever inspired you or encouraged you in any way, please let that person know. You have no idea how much they might need to hear your words.


Cheryl:  Do you still write songs? If so, is there a particular place that you prefer to go to write?

Gayle:  I don’t purposefully write songs anymore, but I still burst out in a new song on occasion. Many instances, I’ve had God speak a song to my heart, and within a few weeks, it was exactly what I needed to keep going another day. I have considered writing music again with intention, but, admittedly, the desire is lacking without a given outlet in place.

Cheryl:  Who would you say has been your strongest spiritual mentor and why?

Gayle:  Without hesitation, my mother has been my strongest spiritual mentor. She is one of the godliest women I know, and she exemplifies the body of Christ. Growing up, I recall countless times when hurting souls knocked on our door, needing someone to listen. With love oozing out of her, Mother talked with them, encouraged them, prayed with them, cooked for them. She was always kind but honest in her counsel. She just turned 85, and she still has friends around the globe who call and seek her advice. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mother speak an ugly word about anyone. What a testimony that is.

Cheryl:  Who is the person in your life today who encourages you the most spiritually?

Gayle:  I have a strong circle of encouragers around me, and that’s such a blessing when you are divorced, living alone. But without a doubt, the person who encourages me the most is my twin sister. She has been a rock to me during times of storm, when my whole world was sinking. She is a selfless, wise person—much like our mother—and even while fighting her own battles, she jumps in the ring with me to help me fight mine. She always speaks words I need to hear, and she’s even played hymns on my piano while I sobbed uncontrollably in a chair nearby. Money can’t buy an encourager like that, and I’m so blessed to have had Dayle since birth.

Cheryl:  To date, what would you say has been the darkest time of your life, and how did your walk with Jesus help you get through that time? Has there ever been a moment that you have felt God-forsaken?

Gayle:  First of all, no, I have never felt God-forsaken. Even when the heavens are brass, and my prayers don’t get off the floor, I don’t feel abandoned by God. I know he is with me.

Regarding dark times, my 20-year marriage ended in 2002, and that was a dark time. A few years later, I was diagnosed with a rare voice disorder that would ultimately require surgery, and rob me of the ability to sing professionally again, and that was a dark time.

However, I am currently walking the darkest valley of my life, involving my only child and my only grandchild—the two people I love most in the whole wide world. I am choosing to keep the details private, but what has kept me sane and afloat over the past 12 months is my unshakable faith in God and his promises. 

Grand-daughter, Audrey, and Gayle

Every day is hard, and I have cried an ocean of tears, but Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Either I believe that promise, or I don’t. It’s really that simple. Even when my heart is breaking. Even when my tears are falling. Even when I don’t think I can keep breathing because my grief is so great, God’s word says that all things work together…for good.

Sometimes it’s impossible to see the good in a sad situation, but when you face things you can’t fix, and you do all you know to do, you just have to let it go, be still and trust. And sometimes, trusting can be a minute-by-minute thing. Thankfully, God understands. He knows we are but flesh, and he doesn’t judge us. He just waits for us to let it go again so he can pick it up.

Cheryl:  How do you remain motivated, encouraged, and enthused to press on for God in these trying, perilous times? Are there particular Scriptures, books, hymns, or other resources that you turn to in times of discouragement?

Gayle:  The Bible says that perilous times will come, and, without a doubt, those times are here. Good is now considered evil, and evil is now considered good. And while Christians are being slaughtered around the globe, it would be easy to let fear grip our hearts and render us hopeless. But we can’t give in to fear. Regardless of how bad things are, we have to remind ourselves that God is in control, and good wins in the end.

My daily devotional is one of the best-selling devotionals of all time called Streams in the Desert. I’ve drawn from it for a number of years now, and it ministers to me in insightful and refreshing new ways every day. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for daily encouragement.

Of course, no book is as inspiring as the anointed Word of God, and a go-to Scripture for me during times of discouragement has always been Philippians 4:4-8: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, think on THESE things.”
For me, the key to pressing on in the midst of trouble, storms or heartache is keeping my mind on good things and my eyes on Jesus.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you? 

Gayle:  Thank you so much for wanting to pray for me, Cheryl. You are a real blessing to those who read your blog, and I’m glad we found each other. I firmly believe that the darkness I am walking in right now will lift one day, the mountain will move, the clouds will part. Until then, however, I would greatly appreciate prayers that I can continue letting go and trusting.

I believe it was Adrian Rogers who said: “Worry looks at God through circumstances, but peace looks at circumstances through God.” While thinking on those rich words the other day at lunch, God reminded me of my song Invincible Faith. One part of a verse says, “My faith is looking upward when my head’s hanging down. When sorry looks behind me, and when worry looks around, faith is moving forward, never shaken by doubt. God’s going to see me through; his every word is true.”

Trusting the One who loved us to the cross and back should be the easiest thing in the world to do, but when your heart is involved, it can be hard.

Thank you ever so much, dear Gayle,
for granting us this interview and for sharing your heart with us here.  
I can't begin to tell you how much you have encouraged me and so many others.
May God bless you and keep you and your dear family in His tender, loving care. 

Dear friends, I hope you will take a moment to stop by and visit Gayle's blog,
She consistently blesses me with her posts, and I know she will bless you, too.
I am so thankful to know her and to have her alongside on this blogging journey!

And, I hope you can find some time to listen to her sweet voice singing two of her original songs that were mentioned above.


If video doesn't load, click here.


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Here is a live version of the Kingsmen singing Gayle's song, "A New Life".


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To read previous

36 comments:

  1. Very interesting interview. I love to hear other's testimonies. It gives me encouragement during my trying times. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I am so thankful you enjoyed reading Gayle's story, Melanie! God bless you abundantly!

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  2. I so enjoyed this interview with Gayle. Sometimes we think others have "perfect" lives and wonder why we have trials in ours. Although I would NEVER wish problems on anyone, this is a reminder to me that we all have trials to walk through, but our Heavenly Father will never leave or forsake us. I especially loved reading about how her father prays for her and has her entire life. My husband prays like that for our children and grandchildren and although we may not always see the fruits of those prayers, we know that God is listening. Thank you Cheryl.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. You are so right, Betsy. We all have our individual crosses to bear, and it is just such a blessing when others open up and share their hearts and testimonies. It makes us know that we are not alone in our struggles. So grateful you enjoyed reading Gayle's story! Sending you love and blessings. :)

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  3. That was such an interesting interview, and so encouraging to see that so many of us have problems which can only be handed over to the Lord for His strength.

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    1. Amen! Thank you so much for reading, Elizabeth. So thankful for your visit and support! God bless you!

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  4. Thank you, Cheryl, for a beautiful interview. Yes, no one is perfect, and I praise God for His mercy in sending Jesus to pay the debt I could never pay. I especially love the Scripture passage from Philippians as well, and it was one that my mom remembered when she was dying of cancer (especially the last portion). Thank you, precious Gayle and Cheryl! Hugs!

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    1. Oh, praise the Lord that He did pay the debt we could not pay! I am so sorry to read of your dear Mom's passing and the suffering she had to go through beforehand. Thank you for your dear words and encouragement, sweet friend. God bless you!

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  5. What a touching, heart-felt "inner view" with Gayle. Her music is so anointed and she is such an inspiration in her trust in God and His promises, which are so true. Praying that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is wrapping His loving arms around Gayle, giving her a sweet awareness of His presence, His peace, and His healing of the broken relationship with her daughter...I suddenly remembered this excerpt for the August 20 devotional in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, and thought it might bless Gayle...

    "I am a God who heals. I heal broken bodies, broken minds, broken hearts, broken lives, and broken relationships. My very Presence has immense healing powers. You cannot live close to Me without experiencing some degree of healing. However, it is also true that you have not because you ask not. You receive the healing that flows naturally from My Presence, whether you seek it or not. But there is more—much more—available to those who ask. The first step in receiving healing is to live ever so close to Me. The benefits of this practice are too numerous to list. As you grow more and more intimate with Me, I reveal My will to you more directly. When the time is right, I prompt you to ask for healing of some brokenness in you or in another person. The healing may be instantaneous, or it may be a process. That is up to Me. Your part is to trust Me fully and to thank Me for the restoration that has begun. I rarely heal all the brokenness in a person’s life. Even My servant Paul was told, “My grace is sufficient for you,” when he sought healing for the thorn in his flesh. Nonetheless, much healing is available to those whose lives are intimately interwoven with Mine."

    Ask, and you will receive.
    Ye have not, because ye ask not.
    —James 4:2 kjv

    To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
    —2 Corinthians 12:7–9

    “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.”
    —Matthew 7:7

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    1. Thank you, dear Beth, for your insightful comments and thoughts shared here. Your visits are always such a blessing. Sending you love and hugs!

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  6. Thanks for sharing. It's always encouraging to read others' testimonies of God's work in their lives.

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    1. Isn't it, though? Thank you ever so much for reading and for leaving encouragement here, Carly! God bless you abundantly. :)

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  7. p.s. Gayle, I noticed Habakkuk 3:19 at the top of your "inner view" and I thought you might also like the Amplified....

    19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility

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    1. Thank you, Beth, for your many words of encouragement. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers more than I can say.

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  8. Oh, Cheryl ... thank you for this wonderful interview with my twin sister. I enjoyed it so much and actually learned a thing or two I didn't already know, so I guess even though we're about as close as two sisters can be, we don't know everything about each other. :) Gayle has enriched my life so much, as a child and as an adult. I'm her biggest fan and am so proud of her and the blessing that she has been, and continues to be, to so many people. Thanks again, Cheryl. Great interview.

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    1. And, thank you, dear Dayle, for your sweet visit and comments! Your precious relationship with Gayle is so filled with such a sisterly loving bond...it is a shining example to all of us of Jesus' love. I am so blessed and thankful to have met both of you and that you are both a part of my life. God bless you abundantly, my friend.

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  9. Such an incredible testimony you have shared here Cheryl! It was such an enjoyable read getting to know Gayle better, and I enjoyed listening to the songs that she wrote too. I just visited her site and read her post on a "mean" mother... Oh I could relate, as I have one of those "mean" mothers who also played the piano, and knew how to execute judgement from the piano bench, lol! Oh it was a joy to read this post today, and to get to know Gayle better. I will be keeping Gayle in my prayers, as the sorrow with your children weighs so heavy on a mother's heart, and I will be holding this situation up to the Lord!!!! Thank you for sharing another amazing testimony dear Cheryl! Praying that the Lord blesses you abundantly today!!!!

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    1. Thank you ever so much, dear friend. I am so thankful for your visits, faithful support, and prayers. God bless you abundantly. Sending you much love!

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  10. Hi Cheryl, as per usual a great interview. Thanks for linking it up on Winsome Wednesday :)
    God bless
    Tracy

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    1. Thank you, dear friend. Your words of encouragement truly mean so much!

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  11. Once again, Cheryl, you offered an outstanding interview. I've visited Gayle's blog several times and she is an inspiration. The whole family is talented! I commit to pray for Gayle and I'm sorry she is in a hard place right now. I was in a hard place where I cried oceans with my daughter, so I know how it even hurts to breathe. But when you know Jesus like this woman does and He's in the equation, amazing things happen. I just wonder how He's going to use her pain for the benefit of His kingdom on this earth. Thank you, Cheryl, for your hard work and lovely posts.

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    1. Dear Mary! I am so sorry to hear of your tears and the hard place you were in. I trust God all is resolved and well now. Thank you ever so much for stopping by and leaving such sweet encouragement here. Love and appreciate you so much!

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  12. Great interview. I so appreciate when a fellow Christian doesn't blame God for all life's ills, which seems to be so common today. That's one strong sister. I'm praying for her and you and thanks for the boost in my soul!

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    1. Thank you so much for your visit and encouraging words, Floyd. Your presence here is such a blessing and uplift to us. God bless you abundantly, in return.

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  13. Thank you for choosing the right questions so we could get to know Gayle better.
    But most of all, for allowing us to hear her music!! I felt comforted listening to each song!

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    1. Thank you so much, dear Christine! I just love Gayle so much, and her testimony and life is a shining example and blessing to us all. I am so thankful you enjoyed getting to know her better. I know what you mean...I have had her music ringing in my ears today. It is such a dear blessing! Thank you for your sweet visit here...I am so happy to meet you.

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  14. What an amazing interview of a truly amazing woman. I just love the Adrian Roger's quote, “Worry looks at God through circumstances, but peace looks at circumstances through God.” Such comforting words to lean on...thank you for sharing this interview, Cheryl...it truly touched my heart today.
    With love and prayers,
    Laura

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    1. Dear, precious Laura! I love that quote, too. I had never heard it, and it has ministered so much to me. I know your heart is so broken, and I am praying for you, dear friend. Jesus is with you, and His everlasting arms are ever underneath. I do trust your dear Dad is better by now. Sending you much love and many hugs!

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  15. Can't tell you how much this blessed me this morning. It is always encouraging to see how God has worked in someone's life. I am sorry to hear of Gayle's recent heartaches regarding her daughter. I will definitely lift her in prayer. It amazes me though that I have followed her blog as long as I have and I had no idea of her song writing accomplishments. LOVE to hear how God used her in this area. And I loved hearing some of her music. Thank you for posting it here. I am anxious to read of the other interviews now. God's best blessings to you! Debbie

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    1. Oh, that is so wonderful, Debbie!! I am so thankful you learned of her song writing accomplishments...it is just incredible how many wonderful ways God has used and is using this dear lady. She is a precious blessing to us all! So grateful to you for your visit, and it was just a real pleasure to meet you. God bless you abundantly!

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  16. Enjoyed this interview with Gayle so much--I am a long time reader of her blog and learned quite a lot--thank God for the gifts He gave her and she has shared with us--

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    1. Amen, and amen, sister! Thank God for Gayle's gifts, and how blessed we are that she is willing to share them with all of us in so many ways. I am so thankful you dropped by and read the interview and commented. It was such a joy to meet you! God bless you abundantly!

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  17. I'm so blessed to have found your blog through Gayle's today. It was, to say the least, perfect timing. Gayle is my sister/friend as is Dayle. Her family has been life-long friends with my family. In fact, her dad was pastor of our little country church when we were very young. Long story short, had I not read her blog which introduced me to yours, I wouldn't have heard her music today. It was definitely in God's plan that I hear her songs again today. God works in mysterious
    ways and He knew just what I needed to remind me that there is no hopeless situation when we give our problems to Him.

    I've read some of your posts this evening and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I've subscribed and look forward to reading many more.

    Blessings,
    Elaine

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    1. Oh, wow! That is SO neat! I loved hearing about the way your families have been interconnected. how blessed you all are to have each other! I know you must have many wonderful, precious memories of those days growing up together with Gayle's dad as your pastor. I LOVE Gayle's songs, too...they have been blessing me ever since I heard them for the first time the other day. I am SO grateful to you for subscribing...oh, that just made my whole day! Thank you ever so much for your dear, kind words, and I so look forward to you being here for future visits. God bless you abundantly, my dear new friend.

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  18. What an amazing testimony. I've been more acquainted with Dayle through blogging, so it was a real pleasure to have a chance to get to know Gayle better. She has a strong testimony, both through the songwriting, and also through her witness to the power of God as He walks with us through tough times. Thank you for sharing her story. It's really meant a lot to me today...

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. Thank you, my dear friend. Both Gayle and Dayle are such blessings to our blogging world and to all who read their amazing blogs and stories. So thankful to walk this journey with them...and with YOU, dear Sharon. God bless you abundantly!

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