The Gillaspie Family

The Greatest Gifts

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Every Christmas and birthday, I could always count on Dad giving the best gift.  I probably thought his surprises were the best because they were usually alive.  I remember being ecstatic about the snakes, turtles, a rat, kittens, and ponies of various sizes he brought home.  One of the most memorable of these gifts came Christmas 2007.  After all the gifts had been opened, Dad brought out one more large box.  Inside were two messenger pigeons.  Though we eventually decided that sending messages via pigeons was not going to be a very profitable endeavor, I still treasure the memories of working together with Dad learning to care for them.

This Christmas, Dad decided to carry on the "living gifts" tradition with my nieces and nephews.  This time, he found a more profitable fowl than a pigeon.

I’m grateful for the "good gifts"—the valuable lessons and principles—Dad has given me, and I’m excited to see the surprises he has for the next generation!

Tags: Animals, Chicks, Christmas, Family
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Pasture Walking

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

One of my favorite pastimes is walking across our Kansas pastures.  I love how there are so many diverse ecosystems contained on each plot.  You may struggle through the fence into a field of daisies.  A little further in, you’ll stroll through a grove of towering walnut trees.  You may even stumble upon a pond housing countless frogs and catfish.  Each pasture also has a unique history.  It’s enlightening to discover how previous owners cared for the land, or misused it.

If I entered a pasture with the sole intention of walking across it, I would miss out on countless wonders.  Sure, I could get from Point A to Point B in record time.  But, what would I have gained from the journey?

Our pastor challenges us to read through the entire Bible in one year.  This encouraged me from a young age to read God’s Word.  However, my goal isn’t just to read Genesis through Revelation before December 31st.  My desire is that, during the journey, God can teach me about Himself and mold me into His image.

Tags: Kansas
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Stress

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

It would be wonderful if on January 1st of each year, I knew all of the projects, trips, and assignments that would need to occur in the coming 12 months.  Then, I could evenly distribute everything, and my schedule wouldn’t look so much like a random line graph.  But, since I don’t have this luxury, I constantly have to seek God’s face for the strength I need to get through the busy and inactive seasons.

Friday, I (and probably Mom) thought I was on the verge of a mental breakdown.  I made the mistake of looking at the Entire Schedule.  Foolish me, there’s a reason why Mom has always said to just work towards one deadline at a time.  The next six weeks seem to be part of a gargantuan mountain peak on the schedule.

Then, God gave me Psalm 119:173 “Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts.”  The Hebrew word translated here as “help” means “to surround, i.e. protect or aid: help, succour.”  I was repeatedly crying out to God for help.  However, after I ask, I need to allow His hand to surround me and keep out the feelings of stress, weariness, and of being overwhelmed.  May I constantly claim God’s gift of restful busyness!

“Thy mansion is my cleanséd heart

O Lord, Thy dwelling place secure!

Bid the unruly throng depart,

And leave the consecrated floor.

“Devoted though I am to Thee,

A thievish swarm my soul annoys,

They grieve my Lord away from me,

And rob my heart of all its joys.

“O Lord, what bliss Thy presence gives!

What peace shall reign when Thou art here!

Thy presence makes this den of thieves

A calm, delightful house of prayer.” – Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

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Jayla’s Graduation Testimony

Friday, August 19th, 2011

There are three things that have been apart of my life as long as I can remember: Gospel Baptist Church, my parents, and homeschooling. God has used each of these things as tools to fashion me into the person He designed me to be.

I have a vague memory of kneeling beside my parents in our home and asking Jesus Christ to be my Savior. I must have been four or five years old at the time. However, when I was eight, I began to be plagued with doubts about my salvation. When I attended Gospel Baptist’s Vacation Bible School that year, I learned that I didn’t have to live with these doubts. That night of VBS, I reaffirmed my dependence upon Christ alone for salvation.

Oswald Chambers said, “One life yielded to God at all costs is worth thousands only touched by God.” When I reached my early teen years, I sensed that I was not living out God’s best for my life. During this turning point, I attended a girls’ retreat in Michigan. The messages that were taught revealed to me my true spiritual condition. God brought me to the realization that I needed to have a personal, moment by moment relationship with Him. Even though I was doing many “good things for God,” such as serving in our church’s ministries, reading my Bible, and praying, for the most part, I only did them was because I knew they were the “right thing to do.” I now realize that everything I do must be motivated by a love for my Savior. I also realize that if I truly love God, I will be willing to yield everything to Him. I have chosen to place all of my dreams and desires in God’s hands, and to allow Him to have complete control of my life.

I’m grateful GBCS graciously allows homeschoolers to join its students in Christian school competitions. Because of this, I have gained valuable experience in music, speech, and working with others. Gospel Baptist Church enables young people to fulfill 1 Timothy 4:12 by giving them positions of leadership in church ministries. With the pastors’ permission and encouragement, I was able to begin Bright Lights, a girls’ discipleship group when I was fourteen. I’m eternally grateful for the many ways God has used Gospel Baptist Church and School to mold me into more of what He desires me to be.

In the near future, if the Lord wills, I will enroll in Verity Institute as a Music Theory major. Verity is a Christian college in Indiana that facilitates accelerated learning and Godly discipleship. Through dual-enrollment with Verity, I’ve already completed my freshman year of college. I hope to continue in Verity’s distance learning program and complete my undergraduate degree while continuing my ministries here at Gospel Baptist.

My testimony of God’s abounding grace in my life would not be complete without mentioning His blessing me with my parents, Tom and Jayma Gillaspie. They have graciously bestowed their time, money, and patience in training me to be mighty in spirit. And, if you look at my sample school portfolios, you might begin to understand how much of an investment it has been. They have, in the words of Paul, chosen to gladly spend and be spent for me. But what I praise God for the most is that they have demonstrated to me what a life wholly yielded to God looks like.

Finally, I want to reiterate how grateful I am for the Gospel Baptist church body. Mr. and Mrs. Atto, Pastor and Mrs. Boutchia, Mrs. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Cronin, Pastor and Mrs. Lytell, Miss Miley, Pastor and Mrs. Moon, Miss Aimee Richards, and Mr. and Mrs. Rose are just of few of the church members who have invested in my life. Thank you for encouraging me to continue to press toward the mark.

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High School Graduation

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

It seems like this summer has been a constant torrent of activity!  Every time I start to write a blog post about the last big happening, I have to rush off to prepare for the next event on the calendar.  This is my excuse for writing about my June high school graduation in August.  And if I can just forget about the million other things that are going to happen this month, I just might chronicle some of the other things that have kept us busy this summer.

Our church’s school allows homeschoolers to participate in its graduation ceremonies.  The church body and school teachers go to great efforts to make the evening special for the graduates and glorifying to God.  Weeks in advance, Mrs. Atto started working with the Senior High choir on two selections.  Homeschool graduate Brianna Barton, GBCS graduate Katelyn Swett, and myself began weekly rehearsals of our testimonies with Pastor Boutchia.  Scores of people worked in the background making sure everything would be in place.  And finally, the graduation happened and was over.

Pastor Boutchia’s commencement address, “Our Prayers for the Graduates”, was encouraging and challenging.  Taken from John 17, the five prayers were:

That you will live secure in your salvation.  Vs. 11
That you live victorious over temptation.  Vs. 15
That you will live daily in the Word.  Vs. 17
That you will live your life within the context of the church.  Vs. 21
That you will live your life with eternity in view.  Vs. 24

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Choir Performance at Carnegie Hall

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Even though it was two months ago, my trip to New York City with Mom and Dad is still fresh in my mind.  The four days we spent in NYC were filled with activities, but what made the trip memorable was sharing all of the experiences with my parents. 

Last fall, my voice teacher nominated me for the High School Honors Performance Choir.  This program brings students from across the country together for a performance at Carnegie Hall.  Nominees must send in an application listing musical experience and achievements, and an audition cd.  Music and rehearsal instructions are sent to the finalists months in advance.  Then, for three days, the students learn to perform the songs in a three hundred voice choir.

The first rehearsal in New York assured me that all the time and energy spent preparing was worth it.  Dr. Eph Ehly was a phenomenal director.  His enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion for excellence helped the choir achieve its greatest potential in a short amount of time.  We performed:

Gloria in Excelsis Deo – Pummill

Ubi Caritas – Duruflé

Thanks be to God – Mendelssohn

Tres Cantos Nativos – Leite

I’m Gonna Sing – Hunter

God Bless America – arr. Shaw

Tags: Music, New York, Singing, Travels
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Honey Queen Promotions

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Last week, I was able to attend two events as Honey Queen.  Both of the events were very well organized, allowing me to enjoy talking to people about honey and honey bees.   Many thanks to Alice Weatherford for scheduling me to attend Career Awareness Night at Alva Middle School.  She hadn’t received the Honey Queen brochure until the day before the event, but she still made time to contact us and add beekeeping to the list of careers represented.  Mom and I also discovered that Ms. Weatherford is an excellent cook!  After the event, she sent us home with a supper consisting of gator tail, curried chicken, saffron rice, pico de gallo, and a guava pastry. 

On Friday, I gave a presentation to the Gulfcoast Homeschool Association.   I met Rachell Skerlec and her family at our local beekeeper’s meeting, and she arranged for me to speak at the homeschool group’s park day.  This was my first time giving a full-length Honey Queen presentation, and I was grateful for the audience’s encouragement!  The students and adults had excellent questions.  They were also attentive – a rare quality when the presentation is located next to the playground!

Between the two events, I spoke to at least 150 students and adults. 

Tags: Beekeeping, Honey, Honey Queen
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