I Found My Voice!

Happy Tuesday.

I owe a sincere apology to my readers for the sporadic entries in my blog lately.

I still enjoy my mornings as I work through the daily devotional in God Calling but I'm not taking the extra time to type them into my blog.

Instead, I'm spending my typing time on the manuscript for my current book – Hope in Hard Times – Stories to Build a Strong Foundation for Life's Difficult Seasons. (or something like that)

I have been enjoying the work on this manuscript even though I've changed it so many times over the last five years. God has used this re-writing time to really speak to me about some things in my life.

Wow. And in the process I'm finding my authentic voice.

As I re-read my stories, I started noticing that some of my difficult seasons were a result of my failure to speak up for myself and be honest about how I was feeling.

Instead, out of fear of man's opinion, I went with the flow of what someone else thought I should do. I wasn't true to myself. I didn't want to rock the boat so I remained silent. I was miserable.

While re-writing my stories, God has opened my eyes to this pattern.

I shared these pages with editors and other critique partners. They agreed that I need to get real in my writing if I want my reader to relate.

I meet every Friday with my friend Cheryl who is an amazing visionary counselor. She listens to my stories and shows me the times where my voice is not speaking truth.

Now I'm going back over the manuscript with a new voice – more authentic and free – telling it like it really is, rather than what I think you want to hear.

I can't wait for you to read it.

This book has been a mechanism of God's healing and it revealed to me that He has been there all along. I just didn't always acknowledge His presence and follow His voice.

And you know what? I'm changing the dance of the way I communicate to my friends and family every day too. I want to be more authentic in every area of my life. It is revolutionary. Really.

So now you understand the sporadic blog posts. I'm having way too much fun re-writing my manuscript with a new and fresh voice.

Watch for my book to be published this fall. I'll be sure to let you know when it is released so we can celebrate authentic stories together.

Maybe I'll even help you find your voice too.

I appreciate you!

God Bless Your Heart

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

Day 225 Not Punishment

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

There are days when I have to admit that I wonder if my present circumstances are a result of my past sin choices. But God shows me otherwise.

Yes, there are definite consequences to some of our choices that change the outcome of our lives. But too often we dwell in the pit of our pitiful choices rather than walk it out and make the best of it in spite of our past.

God doesn't camp there reminding us of our ugly choices. Because of grace, He removes our wrong doing and flings it as far as the east is from the west.

That's far.

Give Him your past.

Trust Him. Listen to His guidance. Follow it.

God's plan is revealed in our daily walk with Him.

Two-by-two – me and Jesus.
Listening.
Learning.
Growing.
Full of peace and joy.



God Bless your heart with grace and peace and joy.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for the blog post came from the devotional for August 15 in the God Calling book by AJ Russell.

August 15 is my best friend Jeanne Nystrom's birthday. Happy Birthday girlfriend! This one's for you. You are a treasure to me and I celebrate you today.

Day 210 Gratitude

As the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord. 2 Chronicles 5:13

May the Lord give you the gift of a brave and thankful heart that praises Him all day long.

It is so easy to focus on our troubles. Even in the middle of hard times we must look for causes for thankfulness.

Our thanks become a sweet fragrant offering to the Lord.

In every happening of your life seek diligently for something glad. After awhile it's not difficult to see it.

I give thanks for a fun weekend with my husband and a safe drive home. I give thanks for my family. I give thanks for my job.

I give thanks for you today. God Bless your heart with an attitude of gratitude.

Gigi
http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the July 31 devotional in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Day 209 Faith Rewarded

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:3

Think of the Fathers of the Faith who have taught us to be filled with faith, trust and hope in the one true God.

Abraham had faith when God told him he would have a child even when it seemed impossible in his old age. Then he obeyed when God told him to offer his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice.

His faith was accounted to him for righteousness and Isaac lived when a ram took his place on the altar. Because of his faith, Abraham became the Father of many nations.

Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land. He believed God's promise even when he was being chased down by the Egyptian armies.

Then as the people grumbled in the desert Moses still believed. The Israelites made it to their Promised Land because Moses had faith.

These two men obeyed what God told them to do even though they could not see what was ahead of them.

God rewarded their faith.

Oh Lord. I want to believe with hope for things I have not yet seen. Help my unbelief that creeps in as fear and doubt and worry.

I want to keep my eyes on God and believe by faith that my prayers will be heard. I know in my heart they will be answered. So I hang on by faith until they are...even when.

I love you Lord.

God Bless your heart with faith.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the July 30 devotional entry in God Calling by AJ Russell and published by Barbour Publishing.