On the Move

I'm moving!

Don't get too excited. I'm not going anywhere, but my blog is.

I will be consolidating my blog posts to my website at http://www.gigimurfitt.com/ where I've been posting a few blogs this month.

After a review of my website and blog, I decide it best to post in one place.

Some of you have subscribed to this blog. If you want to receive updates from my website please let me know.

I won't be posting here anymore - I'll be posting on my website instead.

Thanks for your support on this blog - the posts will be migrated over to my website soon so you'll be able to search the archives there for any of the blogs that are located here.

I'm busy working on Gabe's book so my blog posts are sparce. But that's okay. There is so much information out there I don't want to over load you.

God Bless Your Heart.

Come on over to my website and leave a few comments if a post touches your heart.

Gigi Murfitt
http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

In the Aftermath of Tragedy, Compassion Brings HOPE

As I contemplate my AFTERMATH theme, I have been reflecting on the people of Japan.

Today marks one month of living in the horror of the AFTERMATH of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated their country.

My heart aches for these precious and suffering people.

Lost lives. Lost homes. Lost jobs. Lost hope.


We live oceans apart yet the media brings the Japanese people right into our living rooms.

We see the weeping mother as she buries her infant son.

The weary father searches the morgue for his precious daughter.

Displaced families gather together in shelters trying to piece their lives together.

How do we wrestle with the reality of what they face?

Is it just another news story?

Is there any compassion in your heart today?

I believe God is calling us to check our compassion meters.

In the busyness of our day-to-day lives we sometimes glance at the news and rush off to work or school.

Do you weep with those who weep?

I pray that in the AFTERMATH of Tragedy, God gives you a compassionate heart.

Because over and again in God's Word we read about his compassion for the lost and broken world. As we model His way, we can reach out and help.

I imagine God weeps right along with that mom and that father who lost their precious children.

After all, God lost His own precious Son so that you and I can live with eternal HOPE.

I pray every day for the people in Japan to know that HOPE in the AFTERMATH.

This is how I'm praying for you today.

That God will give you HOPE and then I ask Him to assign you someone to reach out and touch so you can pass that HOPE on to someone in need.

Maybe it's a neighbor. A friend who recently lost their job. A co-worker going through a family crisis.

Give them a hug. Write them a note. Make that phone call.

Be a HOPE giver.

Take a moment today because you never know when your simple kind word will help them to face another day with HOPE in their heart.

God Bless your heart with renewed compassion.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

In the Aftermath of Speed, lies a TICKET!

Yikes. It's confession time.

After going practically blind watching my windshield wipers cross the window for the one millionth time, we finally hit some sunshine just outside of Moses Lake, WA on our return trip from Montana.

Gabe had just hit the SNOOZE button.

I was stuck in a pack of cars so I kicked it up to get ahead of the pack. (BTW - Don't hang out in the left lane unless you are passing another car -- JUST SAYIN')

I hit the VOLUME button on my stereo listening to a new worship CD from Gateway Church. Love this album! http://www.gatewayworship.com/media


I'm jammin' and enjoying a few miles of sunshine.

I was praising God with all my heart.

And then....I saw HIM!

No, not God. I sure wished it was God.

It was the officer standing on the side of the road pointing at me.

I'm like "Are you looking at ME?"

Yup. Pull over lady.

I glanced at my speedometer and gasped. BUSTED!

So much for praise. Now I need a raise!

I seem to learn a new lesson each day.

In the aftermath of disobedience, there are consequences...even if we do it with our hands raised singing at the top of our lungs....

My first speeding ticket! Geesh.

Guess what. After my heart started beating a normal rhythm again, I turned the music back on and praised God anyway...and asked him to help me keep an eye on the needle for the remainder of the trip.

And He answered my prayer.

God Bless Your Heart with PRAISE.

Gigi
http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

In the Aftermath of Winter is Spring!

It has been a long hard winter.

I’m more than ready for spring.

I’m thinking of you and hoping your winter is over too.

Because in the AFTERMATH of winter is spring.

And spring brings new beginnings and HOPE.

On my drive to Montana today I saw old dirty snow melting into flowing springs.

The springs water the trees as they squeeze out new buds.

Seeds planted long ago burst forth and bloom as their roots are watered.

Here, the image of a fresh spring evokes the spiritual cleansing and renewal that God brings to His people. This is the kind of cleansing God has brought to me this year.

And I hope He brings it to you too.

So I’m praying for you tonight

• I asked God to bring you a spiritual cleansing that will renew your joy.

• I prayed for the sun to shine on your winter season.

• I asked for cleansing of your family relationships.

• I hope for the refreshing of your broken heart from that winter season of your past.

• I trust He will show you the way – like He did for me.

Because He loves you so much.

God bless your heart with this encouraging Scripture from Isaiah 58:11:

Isaiah 58:11 (New King James Version)

The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Because God always gives us HOPE in the AFTERMATH with springs of living water…

Gigi Murfitt

www.GigiMurfitt.com

Hope in the Aftermath

I have a new favorite song.

It is on the recently released album by Hillsong United.

Aftermath is the name of the album and also the song that spoke to my heart.

Here is a link to the song: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aftermath/id413410016?i=413410253

I hope you’ll listen to this snippet of the song – or even better – buy the entire album. I love it.

Here is a link to the album: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aftermath-deluxe-edition/id413400156

As I’ve shared in a number of posts, I’ve been working on my memoir for almost ten years. Geesh!

My book has morphed and changed and grown up right along with me as I learn to seek and trust God in the aftermath of life’s challenges.

Recently I was brainstorming ideas for a new title of my book. I’ve never been settled on the title Hope in Hard Times.

Guess what? One of the names I had come up with was:

Hope in the Aftermath – Stories of Encouragement in Difficult Times.

Then I found the album and the song! What a God STOP for me. :-)

This line from the song tells much about my story…

And in that moment of glorious surrender was the moment you broke the chains in me

Lifted out of the ashes I am found in the AFTERMATH

My chains have been broken and in the process of rewriting my book, God met me on each tear-stained page.

I’ve grown and changed and I hope to help you do the same.

Over the next several months I’m going to share bits and pieces of the book as we finalize it for publication later this summer.

Oh! I can’t wait to share it with you….and bring you the same hope.

God Bless Your Heart with Hope in the Aftermath

Gigi Murfitt

www.GigiMurfitt.com

Job 11:17-19 (New Living Translation)
17 Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.
18 Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.
19 You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.

Lenten Love Letter #1

It's Ash Wednesday. The count down to Easter has begun. That means it is time for my Lenten Love Letters.

During the forty days of preparation for Easter, some people give up a favorite food or activity. I've heard of several friends giving up social media this year.

When I was younger I gave up favorite snacks like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups or Pepsi. In middle school I sacrificed my sleep by getting up at 5:30 am to walk to St. Paul's Grade School where I played my guitar during morning Mass.

Today I chose to hold off on my morning stop at Starbucks for a Chai tea. In addition to giving something up, I prefer to take time each day to do something positive.

Several years ago I started a tradition of writing one encouraging letter or card per day during Lent. I ask God to bring a name to mind as I write. It is so much fun to watch God at work.

The recipient of Lenten Love Letter #1 is Sister Maura Percell - a retired nun living in a Mother House in the midwest. She is the sister to my Aunt Pat Devine. Sister Maura blessed me when my dad died in 1965 when she walked me down to the Woolworth store and bought me a porcelain tea set. So in giving up my tea today I remembered her gift to me in a time of great sorrow.

We recently reconnected and today's letter will hopefully lift her spirits as she recovers from a fall.

If you know someone who needs a note of encouragement, please leave a comment and I'll add them to my lenten love letter list and send them a card or letter.

I pray that God will bless you today for the next forty days.


God Bless Your Heart
Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

Kind Words and a Divine Detour

Proverbs 18:1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.


Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I love God's timing. The wisdom of this proverb came in handy a few days after I read it.

I've been in Billings, Montana for the past week on a writing retreat at my sister Kathy’s house. I was scheduled to fly back to Seattle on Saturday afternoon.

But as we waited to board, we learned that the tail of the plane was in need of repair. Our flight was canceled.

I heard frustrated grunts from the anxious passengers as we headed to claim our luggage. I dragged my fifty pound suitcase back to the end of the long line and waited to book another flight.

One of the many angry passengers marched to ticket counter and interrupted the lone ticket agent. Let’s just say, it wasn’t pretty and her angry words got her nowhere.

When she returned to the end of the line, a few people congratulated her on being feisty.

I looked at her and said, "I'm grateful we aren’t flying on a plane with a broken tail piece. I'm sure they are doing the best they can."

She looked at me as if I had three eye balls.

While I waited I dialed the customer service line to ask about our options. Within a few minutes the ticket agent explained the next flights out of the small airport were full.

Perhaps God had me on a Divine detour. I wanted to be open to find out what that might be.

I called my sister who agreed to pick me up. As we loaded my heavy bag to her trunk we laughed at the answer of our prayer to be able to spend more days together.

The delay allowed me to go to church with Kathy and Denny. I wrote an article that an editor had requested. I slept in. Then I spent two hours studying the Bible. I wrote this blog while on the treadmill. I took a sauna. I had the privilege of sitting in on Kathy and Denny's small group where I met some nice people.

Who would've thought that a broken tail on a plane could turn out to be a few more days of rest, writing and fellowship?

I made the best of my Divine detour.

I am grateful for the reminder I got from Proverbs 18 to be a witness to Christ in our actions toward others. Especially with our words.

God bless your heart and your mouth.

Gigi

www.GigiMurfitt.com