Day 150 The Devil’s Death Knell

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me. Psalm 50:23

I was intrigued by the title of this devotional by A.J. Russell. "The Devil's Death Knell"

Imagine the sound of a bell rung slowly, associated with solemnity or mourning, used to announce a death or funeral. [The definition of a knell per the Encarta Dictionary]

Then imagine that's what the devil hears when we praise God. He hears the bell slowly reminding him of his death.

The most effective weapon against the evil one is prayer and praise.

I learned this long ago watching my mom live with intense pain. Her back was shattered in an accident when she was sixteen years old.

In an attempt to stabilize her spine, surgery fused her shin bone to her lower back. Eight cesarean section surgeries caused new scars and more pain from adhesions.

The scars on her body resembled a railroad map.

But Mom's life was filled with joy and strong faith that God would get her through the next day. She was a prayer warrior who rarely complained. She loved to harmonize in praise and worship even in the midst of the pain.

Her prayer and praise with a joyful heart was definitely the enemy's death knell.

So my favorite weapon of warfare is also prayer and praise.

What is your weapon of warfare?

God bless your heart with praise today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog post came from the May 30 devotional in the God Calling book by AJ Russell.

Day 149 Forget

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13, 14

Regret nothing. Forget your past.

Too many of us carry the heavy burden of the past with us every day. God gave us twenty-four hours in a day. That's all the weight we should carry.

You'll face the coming twenty-four hours tomorrow. You can't do anything about the last twenty-four hours. So live for today.

A man on a march on earth carries only what he needs for that march. Would you pity him if you saw him [also] bearing the overwhelming weight of the worn-out shoes and uniforms of past marches and years? And yet, in the mental and spiritual life, man does these things. Small wonder the [the] poor world is heartsick and weary. P 160 God Calling by AJ Russell

We do live in a heartsick world don't we?

We spent the day on the Columbia River near the Gorge Amphitheater. We went to a place called the dunes where hundreds of young (and us old folks) spent the day on the beach.

It was a beautiful sight with the craggy rock reflecting on the water. The sun was out and a few clouds danced across the sky.

I took this photo when a rainbow formed inside a cloud. It was absolutely gorgeous.

I was immediately reminded that God made this beautiful place for me to enjoy. I was thankful for His creation.

At the same time I had an ache in my heart. I watched hundreds of people with two missions only. To get a sun tan and to get drunk.

I watched and wondered how many of these precious people really knew how much God loves them. I lived for the same things at one time in my youth. It is one of those seasons of my life I try to forget. It might have been fun but it was definitely not good for me.

Sometimes I find myself looking in the rear-view mirror of life and picking up some of my old "stuff" and carrying it with me today. It is because I did things I regret.

So I prayed for each one as they walked by our spot on the beach. I asked God to show them that he loves them more than they could ever know. And I asked that they would live with no regrets and learn to give the regrets they already have to the one who wipes the slate clean.I pray you'll breathe in the rich blessing of today and forget what lies behind you.


God Bless your heart with joy and peace.

 Gigi

 http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

 The idea for this blog post came from the May 29 entry in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Day 148 Test Your Love

And be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Are you content in knowing that the love of God is with you always? Has that truth been tested?

I will say that God has passed the test in my life. I have felt His presence in some very difficult seasons.

Although my dad died when I was a little girl and my mom went to be with the Lord three years ago I felt God's presence in my grief.

In my young adult life, I walked through disappointment and betrayal and a marriage that ended in an annulment. God never left my side even when I turned my back on Him.

I grew up in a family of ten children with a single mother. We experienced much financial hardship. But God provided time and again.

In the shock of giving birth to a child with severe congenital birth defects and raising Gabe to adulthood, I have known God's presence and experienced His peace in so many ways.

Life has not always been easy. God's love has been tested.

But like a best friend who makes time for me no matter what is going on in her life, God is there. He has passed the test.

Dare I even think what a mess my life would be without Him at my side? I try not to even go there.

Today I pray for the knowledge of the truth that He will never leave you or forsake you. Be content with such things.

If God seems distant in your circumstance, take time to sit quietly and pray. Ask a friend to pray with you. Open your eyes and see. He's there.

God bless your heart with contentment, peace and joy.

Gigi

The idea for this blog post came from the May 28 entry in the God Calling book by AJ Russell.

Day 147 Roots and Fruits

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Outside my front door I planted a garden of beautiful flowers. I love the surprise in the spring as each shoot makes its way skyward. Before I see the evidence of my planting, the seed or bulb has worked to ground itself deep in the soil.

I have one peach colored lily that towers toward the sky. It is nearly four feet tall. Over the last month it has been strengthening the root system that keeps its long and lanky stem from falling over in the wind. In the next few weeks the gorgeous flowers will bloom.

This particular lily has been in my yard for a few seasons. Its root system is well established. I planted some new bulbs this year and their above the ground growth is far behind this established plant. They are working to be rooted and grounded while tiny shoots have emerged. The deeper the root grows, the stronger the plant. I wait patiently.

Both the establishment of deep roots and the above ground growth are necessary for a strong and healthy plant to grow and bloom into spectacular color.

So it is with our faith. When we take time in prayer, reading the Word and fellowship with other believers we establish deep rooted faith. It does not wither when strong winds and storms push against it. The fruit of deep roots is healthy.

What are you doing to dig your roots deep? A few moments in the Bible each morning is a great start.

I am praying that you find time to dig deep.

God Bless your heart with deep roots and beautiful growth that changes lives.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog came from the May 27 devotional in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Thank you to all who send Birthday wishes to me today. A hug sent out to my Sister-in-Law Linda Murfitt Clemes who shares her birthday with me today. Happy Birthday Linda!

Day 146 Claim More Power

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

What are you asking of God? Are you asking it in Jesus name?

I know thousands of us are asking God for a miracle healing for Cashy Michael Hyde who is in SLC Children's Hospital for treatment of a brain tumor. This little guy isn't even two years old yet. The fan page on Facebook is growing daily and the fervent prayers are written there by people who know him well and people who are only there because God put it on their heart to pray.

I ask, in Jesus name, for healing for Cashy and for peace for his entire family. I ask in Jesus name because it is the name above all names. It is the name that will be spoken when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. I ask in Jesus name because there is no name more powerful.

My prayer for you, my blog friend, is that you will pray in His powerful name for the issues in your life today.

I hope you will seek Him daily, moment by moment, for all of your needs. Not just when a crisis arises.
Don't make him a vending machine God that you only come to when you have a dire need and you plug in a prayer or two and wait for whatever falls.

He created you for relationship. He loves you with an everlasting love. He knows the number of hairs on your head. All the days of your life were written by Him before one of them came to be. He tells us all of this in the Bible.

You were created to do a mighty work for the Kingdom of God right here and right now.
He doesn't want you to sit on the sidelines and watch. He's asking you to put on the full armor of God and get in the game.

As you seek Him for everything and pray without ceasing, soon you'll experience His grace and there will be an outward manifestation of His Power in your life.

I weep for you today. I'm not sure why, but the tears flow as I pray and ask for God's touch in your life. I give my tears to the one who collects them. I give them to the one who will one day wipe away every tear. I give them to Jesus.

I hope you will email me or post a comment if you need me to join you in prayer for anything going on in your life today.

God Bless your heart in Jesus mighty and powerful name.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog post is taken from the May 26 entry in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Today, Wednesday, May 26, 2010 I send extra prayers out to wish my niece Meghan Goodheart a very Happy Birthday.

Day 145 Accomplish Anything

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Is there something you want to accomplish but you feel inadequate? Does it seem an impossible feat beyond your power?

If the task is in God's will for you there is nothing stopping you from accomplishing that goal. It's time to take action.

Writing a book sometimes seems an impossible task. It's a mountain of words to be formed on the pages into something that I hope will change lives. Many years ago I felt God's call to write. It seemed an insurmountable accomplishment to publish a book while raising our boys.

In God's perfect timing I signed my first book contract the year my youngest son, Gabe, graduated from high school. I finished the manuscript one week before my oldest son Zane's wedding to our daughter-in-law, Kelsey.

Caregivers' Devotions to Go was published on January 15, 2010 by Extreme Diva Media. It can be purchased on my website at www.GigiMurfitt.com/books

I did it! God's perfect power enabled me to accomplish what seemed impossible.

I want to encourage you to have faith to move whatever mountain is in your way today.

God Bless your heart with faith. You can do it with God's help!

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 25^th entry in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Day 144 Abundance

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

Think about the small supply turned into abundance in the story of the loaves and the fishes. There was so little in the lunch of the boy until Jesus touched it. Yet the disciples were able to serve nearly 5,000 people with a few fishes and loaves. In the end there were twelve baskets left over.

It was the blessing of the Lord and the faith of the disciples to keep passing it on that worked the miracle.

When the disciples were fishing and their nets were coming up empty, it was the touch of the Lord that changed the situation. When they moved the net to the other side of the boat at the Lord's instruction, they came up with so many fish the nets nearly broke.

Our willingness + God's touch = Abundant supply

Each of us is filled with the over flowing grace of God to pass on His love. We are not sufficient in ourselves, but His touch removes our limitations and gives us the ability to love others like He does.

God gives with a large hand and a huge heart. Let's receive with open arms so we can give more to others.

Is there something in your life that needs the abundant touch of God? If so, leave a comment so I can pray for His touch on your life.

God bless your heart with abundance.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog post came from the May 24 devotion in God Calling edited by A.J. Russell.

Today I celebrate my sister Shelley and her husband Allen's 30^th wedding anniversary.
It is also the 2^nd anniversary of my nephew Greg and his beautiful wife Keri.
Happy Anniversary! May the Lord bring abundance into your marriages.

Day 143 Little Frets

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon 2:15

 Have you ever had a nagging wound or maybe a tiny hang nail that bothers you all day? Sometimes it is all you can think about. You pick at it or play with it. It distracts you. You lose productivity.

Isn't it better to just deal with it before ruining your entire day?

"Your lack of control is not due to the big burdens, but to your permitting the little frets and cares and burdens to accumulate." P. 154 God Calling

As my mom got older she had a tendency to accumulate the burdens of her large extended family. It eventually led to depression.

I'm trying to start each day new so I don't accumulate the little frets. I lay my burdens at the cross moment by moment. Then I ask Him for the direction of my next assignment so I don't take on more than I can bear.

It is a way to live in peace.

God Bless your heart with peace and joy

Gigi

www.GigiMurfitt.com

The theme for this post came from May 23 devotion in the book edited by A.J. Russell titled God Calling. It is published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 142 Command Your Lord

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24

When I have prayed about something, and felt the Lord's guidance on how to move forward, there is an assurance in my heart that what I am praying for will come to pass.

As the daughter of the King, I am heir to God as joint heir with Christ in the inheritance of God's plan for my life here on earth and in eternity.

God wants me to ask for my needs as a daughter asks her Father for the desires of her heart. He wants me to appropriate what is rightfully mine.

Sometimes I sit at His door and ask again and again when all He wants me to do is open the door and come in to appropriate what I've asked for.

When I was growing up, our door was always open and many friends walked in and felt right at home. They knew my mom was good for a cup of coffee or a meal or a warm-hearted conversation. Most of our friends didn't even knock before they came in.

That's the way God wants us to come to Him. He reminds us in Scripture that he calls us friend.

What are your needs today? Can you come to Him as a friend and ask for what you desire? Believe that it is His will to give good things to His children.

God Bless your heart with what you need today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 22 entry in God Calling edited by A.J. Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 141 Fling it at My Feet

And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:19

I was having trouble seeing God at work in my life. The cares of the world were like a fog blocking my view of Christ.

Then I decided to fling my burdens at His feet. As the fog of worry started to lift, I could see His face clearly. I became conscious of His presence in my life. He has been there all along. I had just not seen it.

Now I have to do this as a daily discipline. I consciously cast my cares on Him and I clearly see His work in my life.

Two weeks ago I could not see how I was going to have time to work on my current book project. I was discouraged. Life was going at a break neck speed and I didn't have time to write.

I prayed. I asked the Lord to help me carve out some time to write.

The burden lifted when an opportunity opened for me to take a ten day writing retreat. I found a ride to my sister's house and discovered I had enough frequent flyer miles to get home. It has been a fruitful time.

Yesterday I sent over 8500 words to my writing coach. I feel so good about this book! I can clearly see where it is going and the words are flowing easily.

My worry got out of the way and I did it!

I pray for your burdens to be lifted today. I hope you can clearly see God at work in your life.

God Bless your heart as you fling your cares at His feet.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 21 entry in AJ Russell's God Calling book.

Day 140 Win Me-Win All

Only be strong and very courageous. Joshua 1:7

Life is not for wimps. That's for sure. We need to be strong and courageous. The word VERY adds emphasis to the Scripture to remind us that we need to have a lot of courage to survive this nutty world.

The Bible also reminds us that we are more than conquerors because we are in Christ Jesus.

I have learned to face difficulties with the will to win. I have the will of a conqueror.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is victory. The Holy Spirit lives in me so I'm assured of great victory.

I like to keep the Presence of God close because all evil flees His presence. If you practice the presence of God every moment of every day you will win.

Today I pray that you have the will to win because the Creator is on your side.

God Bless your heart with a courageous spirit.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 20 devotional in AJ Russell's God Calling book published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 139 Rescued and Guided

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' Deuteronomy 33:27

I had a near drowning experience when I was in college. I was body surfing off Mission Beach in Southern California. My cousin, Danny McMahon, rescued me and guided me out of the rip tide.

I kept trying to fight on my own strength and he asked me to simply relax so He could pull me to safety. We made it to shore and I was so thankful for his strong arms.

In the same way God has thrown me a rope too many times to count while I was drowning in my own self sufficiency. Many times I held on with one hand while trying on my own with the other. My ceaseless activity is often a sign of distrust.

Finally, I learned to trust Him and grabbed the rope with both hands. I stopped trying on my own. I held on with my life as he pulled me into His loving arms.

I seek Him every day and hold on to the knowledge that He will never let me go.

I rest in the knowing that God is working for me. He brought me up out of a miry pit and set my foot on the solid rock of His Word.

I'm leaving all my future plans to the Rescuer. I'm safe in His arms.

God Bless your heart with His everlasting arms wrapped around you.

Gigi

www.GigiMurfitt.com

The idea for this blog post came from the God Calling book edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

http://www.amazon.com/God-Calling-J-Russell/dp/0515142034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274461395&sr=8-1

Day 138 New and Vital Power

I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Abundant life.

That's what God wants for us. That's why Jesus died for us.

I remember when I finally realized the truth that abundant life was possible for me and my family.

I'd been spinning out of control on the merry-go-round of life. Buried in my work as accounting manager for a software company, I worked sixty to seventy hours a week leaving my three year old Zane and infant son Gabe in daycare for long hours every day.

My heart ached each time I dropped them off at daycare.

But my work became my refuge from the storm of dealing with all of the challenges facing us because of Gabe's birth defects. I had no peace. Worry and doubt had stolen my joy.

Then I surrendered it all to the loving Christ.

I took one look His way and my heart was healed. He saved me from all the cares of the world. He saved me from despair.

God flowed a peace beyond understanding into my river of life.

There was new and vital power in my relationship with Christ.

Doubt took a hike.

Joy moved in.

Hope endured.

Sometimes it is hard to explain how amazing this journey has been. It's just plain awesome.

So I keep looking to Him for my every need. I hope and pray that you will too.

God bless your heart with new and vital power.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post was taken from the May 18 devotional in God Calling edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 137 Sorrow to Joy

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Sometimes I find myself having a difficult time understanding why people suffer and die. It is when I focus only on THIS life that I grieve the most.

It is hard when our loved ones suffer. I was only seven years old when my dad died from lung cancer. He left behind a beloved widow with ten children.

Sometimes it makes me want to cry all night when I think about what we lost when this wonderful man of God died.

But Scripture reminds me that "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Even though I don't understand, I can have joy in the middle of difficult times. Because I have hope for eternity where there will be no sickness, pain or death.

God turns my sorrow to joy with a promise that tomorrow is a new day and the light of eternity shines on the horizon.

Today I'm praying for those with no hope.

Lord, please turn their sorrow to joy as they learn to trust in You. Put eternity in their hearts today.

God Bless your heart with eternity today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 17 entry in the God Calling book edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 136 Pray and Praise

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke 18:1

Prayer changes things.

I have a very long list of prayer requests.

Right now I'm contending for the healing of an infant boy – Cashy Michael Hyde - recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Sometimes it is so hard to see the hurts and challenges in people's lives.

But I've learned over the years that Jesus knows my pain. He was sent to bind up my broken heart.

"Never weary in prayer. When one day man sees how marvelously his prayer has been answered, then he will deeply, so deeply, regret that he prayed so little." (p147 God Calling)

So I plead with God incessantly to answer these prayers for healing, provision, safety, reconciliation, and redemption.

I pray until my prayer merges into praise knowing God will hear my cry.

God bless your heart with prayer that leads to praise.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 16 entry in the God Calling Devotional edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 135 First the Spiritual

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,…to set at liberty those that are bruised. Luke 4:18

Today on May 15, 2010 as I celebrate with joy the graduation of my niece Brooke and send a birthday hello to my cousin Susan Neal, my heart is also heavy.

The Lord blessed me with this verse this morning. He binds up the broken hearted. I had to ask Him to touch some hurts in my heart today.

I phoned my Aunt Nina to comfort her and let her know I prayed for her as she remembers her sister Donalda who died in a car accident three years ago today.

My heart aches because I miss my nephew Michael who would have turned 28 today. He died nine years ago.

It is difficult when anniversaries or birthday's of loved ones bring us to that place of loss. We miss them.

But I can feel the tenderness of God's hands binding up my wounded heart.

In a day both sorrow and joy have swept through my spirit.

But I have peace because I know where I can go for healing. And I know I'll see my loved ones again in heaven.

Let us seek first the spiritual things and ask God to heal our broken hearts and set the captive free.

God bless your broken heart with healing today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 15 entry in God Calling edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour publishing.

Day 134 The Love of a Lover

Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Song of Solomon 1:7

God loves you. He delights in your desires as much as He delights in your obedience.

Pray and Obey. This is what brings us closer to the Lord.

Friend to friend is the way we dare approach God.

Jesus came as the world's greatest lover. You have the Holy Spirit in you giving you the grace to live like He did. To love as He did.

A lover understands our motives and our aspirations. I have aspirations that are not understood by everyone in my sphere of influence. I've learned I can't expect others to understand but I know God understands the desires of my heart. I know my husband Steve understands my dreams.

Some of what is on my heart and in my thoughts and my writing is a foreign language to others. I've learned not to judge those who don't understand me.

God, the lover of my soul, understands. Why not tell him your dreams?

God bless your heart with love of the master.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 14 devotional in God Calling edited by AJ Russell. I highly recommend this book as a tool for your daily walk with God.

Day 133 Never Judge

Judge not, that you not be judged. Matthew 7:1

So often we pass judgment without really knowing the heart of the matter. We hear a few juicy details and run with it.

Just look at the checkout stand full of gossip magazines catching our eye while we wait to pay. Most of it is fabricated rather than factual.

Why does it appeal to us so much?

Is it because if we point the finger at someone else the light shines less on what's going on in our own life?

We are all so unique and we live with very different circumstances, feelings and motives. Most often we have no idea what's really going on in someone else's life. Yet we judge.

God will put together the puzzle of circumstantial evidence to paint the picture of the truth. Let Him do the judging and the teaching.

The cup of judgment I pour out on someone else will be added to my account.

I'd rather have a big measure of the blessing I bring to those around me.

Give the heart of your friend or loved one to its Maker and let God take what was wrong and set it right.

Our job is to love. Period.

God bless your heart with a love for others.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 13 entry in the God Calling devotional edited by AJ Russell.

Day 132 Thrill of Protection

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31

Doubt is the killer of dreams.

Peace, rest and joy are stolen by doubt, fear and despair.

Why not face the storm brewing in your life with bold faith, love and laughter? Bar the window of your soul from the thief who wants to steal your joy.

There is a thrill of protection and safety in knowing that no matter how big the storm, with Jesus in my boat I have peace. He can calm the storm with a Word.

I'm headed on a writing retreat in Montana. I have to admit I battle doubt about my writing sometimes. But today I'm speaking faith to that doubt that is trying to steal my dream for this book.

I will ride out this storm of doubt and allow Jesus to remind me that I'm safe because He is with me and will protect the treasure of my story.

So I am thrilled to write under the protection of peace, rest and joy Christ gives me today.

I share with you a link to a CD by Deluge Band that has been so amazing when I battle with doubt. I choose to worship. This has become my new favorite worship CD.
 
http://delugeband.com/music/ Please listen to the sample song #12 "Come in my Courts".

God bless your heart with peace and joy today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog came from the May 12 entry in the devotional by AJ Russell titled God Calling.

Day 131 The Divine Third

Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19

I imagine you've been through some difficult storms. I know God has led me and my husband Steve through several.

Our deep friendship and great desire to love each other and serve God has helped us weather these tough seasons.

There are few friendships in the world like ours.

Steve and I met on the ski slopes when we were in high school. I was a junior and he was a sophomore. Our towns were thirty miles apart with the ski area tucked in between. We skied together almost every weekend.

I have a box of letters we wrote to each other through the years as our friendship developed. We ended up at the same college (Go GRIZ!) and Steve let me cry on his shoulder many times. He was my BFF. (Best Friend Forever)

We went our separate ways after college but we kept in touch.

I moved to Dallas, TX to start over after my marriage to my college boyfriend failed. About six months later Steve was hired for a company in Las Colinas and moved only a mile from my apartment.

We had so much fun together and our friendship blossomed to love. We were married a year later and we have two wonderful sons and a daughter-in law. We celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this summer.

There is great power of two people together on the same path with God as the guide.

I pray that those who know us now – as we live our lives in faith, hope and love – will see that God is the Divine third person in our relationship. It is with His power that it all works out for good.

There is strength in numbers and a three-fold chord is not easily broken.

God Bless your heart with a Divine third in your friendships. He brings strength to every relationship.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 11 Devotional in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Day 130 Calm – Not Speed

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

The Northwest Writer’s Renewal Conference ended Saturday night. I feel like I can breathe. It’s time to relax.


I don’t know why I get anxious about conferences. I have a great time and I meet incredibly gifted writers and agents and editors.


I was freaking out about the roundtable workshop I taught. I worried about getting rides for the agents and editors and the keynote speaker.


What was I worried about? The whole weekend turned out perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I served.


When I approach an activity or problem with confidence and trust rather than worry and anxiety, things just work out.


God wants to do the work in me to calm my soul so I can be used to bless and help as many people as possible.


Today I pray calm over whatever situation you face.


God bless your heart with a calm spirit and a rested soul.


Gigi


www.GigiMurfitt.com


The idea for this blog post came from the May 10 entry in the God Calling devotional edited by AJ Russell.

Day 129 Harmony Within

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

"Humility is not belittling of the self. It is forgetting the self." (p140 God Calling)

I've learned that it's best to doubt my own wisdom and learn to rely on God's. I forget my naïve thoughts and seek God's infinite wisdom. Life works so much better that way.

It's fairly unlikely that we will have perfect harmony in this crazy world. There will always be conflict with our loved ones or with other people in our sphere of influence.

I try to maintain harmony and peace in my heart by focusing on God. I hear heaven's music and I'm at peace when I stand humbly before Him and seek His wisdom. Even when the world is crashing around me, I can have harmony within.

It is well with my soul when I rely on him. All through my life I've realized that my own selfish ways always get me in trouble but there is peace when I rely on Him. It is a peace beyond understanding.

Today I pray for you to have this kind of peace. Whatever your circumstance let Him give you rest.
God bless your heart with harmony within.

I'm praying for you today.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 9 entry in the God Calling devotional edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

May 9, 2010 was Mother's Day. I enjoyed my day with Zane and Kelsey and Gabe in downtown Seattle at Pike Street Market. It's a beautiful sunny day in Seattle. Steve went to Montana to celebrate with his family as they dedicated a beautiful stained glass window in honor of his mom, Barbara Murfitt. The window is at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Philipsburg, MT.

Day 128 The Rest of God

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse…and his rest shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10

Glorious rest sounds wonderful. So I go forward, unafraid. I rest in God.

I wrote this blog as I prepared to attend the NCWA Annual Writer's Renewal Conference in Bothell. This conference is always a wonderful time with fellow writers and agents and editors.

I enjoy meeting new people and sharing what God has called us to write.

I enter into a competitive arena of writer's who desire to reach lives with our written words.

It's a little intimidating.

But God works better when I get my freaked out self out of the way. I just need to put my right foot in front of my left – repeat – and move forward praying between each step.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

"The Rest of God is in a realm beyond all man's activities". (p139 God Calling)

It is there that I find my joy.

So I'm going to go rest now.

God Bless Your Heart with Rest

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 8 entry in the God Calling book edited by AJ Russell.

Day 127 Against the Tide

For it is God who wills and works in you both to will and do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

A few years ago my husband Steve surprised me for my birthday with a trip via a Kenmore Air float plane to the beautiful San Juan Islands and the Rosario resort.

We traveled from one island to another on a sea kayak. We did not drift with the tide.

Together we had to work our oars to move through the water to get where we wanted to go. It was a lot of effort but well worth it once we crossed over to tour the little island and see some beautiful cabins.

Life is like that. We have to put forth our effort to get anywhere. But God takes my effort and blesses it. He needs my effort and I definitely need His blessing.

It is with this partnership that I am able to go against the tide to get where God has asked me to go.

God Bless Your Heart,

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 7 devotional entry in the God Calling devotional edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 126 Sublime Audacity

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. Matthew 10:42

Like me, I’d imagine you are weary. Like me, you may need a refreshing drink of living water.

God reminds us to come to Him for rest from our burdens. He can give us living water to our thirsty soul.

Jesus, the son of man, feels our weariness. I come to Him with my long to-do list and He gives me rest.

How can I NOT stop for this rest?

I have tried so many different remedies for the burdens in my life – especially busyness – only to discover that union with Jesus is really the only place I can rest.

When I come to rest in Him I can "dare to suffer, dare to conquer, be filled with His sublime audacity…and claim the unclaimable."

Sublime Audacity?

I admit I had to look it up to understand what A.J. Russell meant when he titled this devotional.

Sublime = inspirational, uplifting, magnificent, moving, awe-inspiring, transcending

Audacity = daring, boldness, courage, bravery, nerve, overconfidence

I like the idea of being filled with God's magnificent courage to live out my dreams.

What was impossible is possible with God.

God Bless Your Day with Sublime Audacity

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the May 6 devotional entry in the God Calling book edited by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.

Happy Birthday to my niece Lindsay who turns 30 today. You are a blessing Linds and I pray for Sublime Audacity to do what God calls you to do. (Written on May 6, 2010)

Day 125 Let Me Choose

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:2

Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will get where you want to go. He will show you the way.

God's desire is to bless us. His plan is good. When our heart is His home and the window of our soul opens toward Him, it is amazing to see what happens.

We tend to limit ourselves because we don't let God choose what is best for us. He sees it all and He knows the best choice. And He really delights in giving us the desires of our hearts.

Unfortunately, too often I jump ahead of Him and do my own thing. I focus on my goals without checking to see if they line up with God's plan for my life. That's a recipe for a detour and a slow going trip to my destination.

How about together we let God choose the next move. Let's keep our spirit focused on Him as our eyes wait upon the Lord.

He'll show us what to do next.

I prayed for you today. I asked God to help you choose the direction of your dreams.

God Bless Your Heart,

Gigi

The idea for this blog post came from the May 5 devotional in God Calling by AJ Russell published by Barbour Publishing.

Day 124 Share With Me

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. 1 John 4:18

God has perfect love to give. And it is free.

The creator of all wants to love me perfectly. I delight in that love. There is joy and peace in that love.

It is a love that is consistent – the same yesterday, today and forever.

With a word God spoke creation into being. He has spoken love over me and will call out to the things I need in my life – peace, joy, forgiveness, provision.

He is in everything around me. I rejoice and I share everything with Him. Like the treasures my boys found on the beach and brought to me in their tiny hands. A gift of simple love to their mom.

So I take the treasures of my life and bring them to God as a gift. God gave me my boys and now I give them back to Him as the treasures they have become.

And I get to share the joy with Jesus because after all, they are His kids in the first place. They are simply His gift to me and I treasure the fact He shared them with me.

Bless you today. I pray you will share everything with Him. Your joys, your pains, your sadness, your grief, your excitement are all gifts to Him.

He looks your way today and says "Share it with Me."


God Bless Your Heart


Gigi


http://www.gigimurfitt.com/


The idea for this blog came from the God Calling devotional by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing

Day 123 Self Dethroned

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:6

I've officially dethroned myself as queen of my universe.

I threw my hand crafted bejeweled crown in the trash because I've learned that the selfish decisions I've made as queen of I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN only add to my struggles. I don't want to be queen any more.

The old self dies a slow death. Sometimes I give it CPR by feeding my selfish desires and the selfishness is revived.

But as I grab on to the new life of grace with Christ I live and breathe with joy in my heart even when I don't get my own way.

The life in Christ gives me grace so now I'm quick to forgive those who hurt me. I could never do that on my own. That's why the old self had to go.

The old self dwells on an injury and makes it bigger than God's power to heal.

Rather than focusing on how to forgive those who have wronged me, (which is impossible in my own strength) I keep my eyes on the only one who graces me with the ability and desire to let it go.

I feed the new self with prayer and study of God's Word and fellowship with amazing people. I starve out my old ways because once I kill those selfish thoughts and desires they have no power over me.

Dethrone yourself and let God rule and reign in your life. His power will help you do the impossible.

God Bless Your Heart,

Gigi
http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog post came from the May 3 Devotional in God Calling by AJ Russell.

PS. I'm preparing for a writer's renewal conference this weekend. I hope to get my other blog posts typed in during breaks between workshops. I wonder if Julia from Julie and Julia ever fell behind on posting her blog? Probably not because I think she wrote them on the computer. I still like to write them by hand in my journal first. There is just something about having my pen in hand that keeps me in the "dark ages" of pen and paper.
How about you? Hand written or typed. Which works best for you?

Day 122 Souls that Smile

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Have you ever had that one person you think you can never forgive? It seems totally impossible to think of how to let go of your hurt and forgive.

I have to admit that has happened to me a few times in my life. Most often it occurs in relationships with coworkers or loved ones. The hurt can turn to bitterness and it becomes bigger than life. A bitter and unforgiving heart affects all areas of our lives. It can be ugly.

DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME.

Unforgiveness makes me miserable. So instead I learn to lay it all at the foot of the cross. God gives me the grace and power to do the very thing I thought was impossible. Forgive. It doesn't make what happened to me right. But it frees me up to live the life God planned for me.

With God all things are possible.

Every time I seek God's help He shows me the little steps to take toward that big impossible goal. With every step toward Him, my soul smiles in knowing He is there to help me do what I thought was not possible. He will always help to fulfill His plan.

It isn't through a step by step formula that I have learned to forgive. It is because I have walked closely with God in a personal relationship. I've developed a deep love for the Bible and the power of the Word printed there.

My heartfelt love for God gives me the desire to do things that please Him. Not because I have to but because I want to.

If you are struggling with forgiving someone in your life, seek God and He will turn your have to into a want to as He gives you the power through grace to do what you thought was impossible.

God Bless your forgiving heart with a soul that smiles,

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog came from the May 2 Devotional in God Calling edited by AJ Russell.

Day 121 Delay is Not Denial

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

I want it NOW!

Have you ever heard that demand? Ever made that demand of God?

Trust that God's timing is perfect. Ours is not. There is so much more to the story than we can see. Our view is street level. God's view is like that from the helicopter that sees for miles in every direction. He knows what lies ahead.

For more than ten years I've had several books brewing in my heart and in my journal. I wanted to write a devotional or a Bible Study or a life story memoir type book about the amazing way God has walked me through some difficult seasons.

It just wasn't happening. I was busy raising my family, serving in my church, studying at Seattle Ministry Institute (SMI), starting our nonprofit organization – Gabriel's Foundation of HOPE – and working part time at a software company.

It wasn't the right time.

As my two boys reached adulthood, I completed my studies at SMI and we lifted our nonprofit organization off the ground. I still served in my church and worked part time at the same software company.

It was then that God opened the door for me to publish my first book – Caregivers' Devotions to Go. The delay was not denial. It was simply waiting on God's timing.

I know that God wanted me to wait to write it because some of the stories were still being played out in my life.

While working on my next two books I see the same thing happening. So I trust and wait upon the Lord to show me the next chapter to write.

I've learned the hard way. When I run ahead of God I usually trip and skin my knee. So I walk slowly by His side and listen to His voice. Then everything works out in God's perfect timing.

So if you are wondering why something has been delayed, I'm asking God to bless you with the assurance that His ways are higher. Stick close and understand He'll show you the right way and the right time to accomplish your goal.

God Bless Your Heart,

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog was taken from the May 2 devotional in the God Calling book edited by AJ Russell