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/

January 15, 2010 – OH! Happy Day!

I interrupt my daily "God Calling" blog post to share some exciting news about my day! When I arrived at home from work there was a large box on my front door step. I hadn't ordered anything recently so I assumed the box was for Steve. As I put my key in the door I noticed the words "Caregivers' Devotions to Go" in bold letters across the shipping label.

I hurried inside and dropped my bag on the counter. My heart pounded. Our yellow Labrador greeted me with his usual tail-wagging kiss. When I turned back to retrieve the box, Donovan (the lab) was saying (in his excited dog-speak) "What's in the box? Is it a biscuit? What's in the box? Is it a bone? What's in the box? Is it a toy?"

I ripped open the package and retrieved a copy of my book! I danced a jig with Donovan!

YES! It arrived today. It's real! I have a book in PRINT! "Caregivers' Devotions to Go" is here! It's absolutely bright and beautiful and I love it. I saw my name on the cover and opened it to read the first few pages. I cried. This labor of love had finally arrived and I was holding it in my hands!

I think I'll remember January 15^th for the rest of my life! (I probably will since I have a strange memory for dates!) J

I called Steve and shared the good news. I emailed my publisher at Extreme Diva Media to thank them for the book. Then I called my sister Kathy since she contributed two devotionals to this book. My prayer partner Karen received the next call and we laughed about God's timing and purpose in all of this!

We had a marketplace ministry banquet for our church tonight so Steve grabbed a few copies to share the good news. Pastor Gini Smith was the first person I gave a copy. She has been such a blessing to me and a wonderful care giver to thousands!

Fawn – a beautiful woman who sat next to me at dinner asked if she could buy one when Steve showed the book to everyone at our table. (He is so proud of me – and I am thankful for all the time he has given me to write.) Although I wanted to gift this copy to my new friend, she insisted on paying me. Thanks for being my first buyer! Steve gave his other copy to our friend Dottie.

It was a joyous day and I'm excited to share this book with you. You can order it at my publisher's website at http://www.edmbookstore.com/ or on my website at http://www.gigimurfitt.com/. If you already pre-ordered it you should be receiving your copies in the mail over the next week.

Thank you so much for supporting me with this, my first book! It is so exciting for me and I hope you enjoy it!

Signing off as a newly PUBLISHED Author!

Gigi Murfitt, Author
Caregivers' Devotions to Go ©2010

Day 9 No Strain

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:7

"Let patience have her perfect work." P19 (God Calling Devotional for January 9^th) One of my gifts is patience. I guess I learned it growing up as the eighth of ten children. I'm at the bottom of the ladder so I often had to wait my turn. Our son Gabe is one of the most patient people I've ever met. Because of his short arms, it takes him longer to do basic daily tasks like getting dressed or putting toothpaste on his toothbrush. But he always exhibits patience even in times when he struggles to get a shirt buttoned or a light turned off. He inspires me!

Another quote I chose from today's devotional is "Never think things overwhelming." P19 (God Calling) Never? Really? Okay, so if I truly believe that all things are possible and God is with me then why do I sometimes get overwhelmed? He knows what I can bear without a strain. God would not ask me to do something that could destroy me.

What causes me to be overwhelmed? When my plate is too full perhaps I am serving another master instead of God. Is my master my job? The next book? The demanding schedules of my children? Someone else's expectations? The opinion of man? Taking on a load I was not intended to bear? All of these things can produce strain. I try to avoid being overwhelmed.

I was at lunch the other day with my friend Cheryl. I was giving her an update on the status of my Caregivers' Devotions to Go book. I filled her in on my current involvement in the Northwest Christian Writer's Association (www.nwchristianwriters.org) and Northwest Ministry Conference www.MinistryConference.org We discussed the status of Gabe's book and chatted about her interview with him. She encouraged me and gave me ideas about what to do next. At the end of our lunch she took a deep breath and said, "Gigi, just listening to everything you have going on in your life exhausts me." How do you do it all?

God did not intend for me to be overwhelmed so I take all of my activities to Him every day. Often times when I'm doing my morning devotions I'll take time to prioritize and change things around a bit. That is when I rest in the Lord's plan.

Right now I don't feel overwhelmed with everything on my plate. But if I start to feel the strain then maybe it's time I examine my motives and adjust my activities. How about you? Are you overwhelmed?

God Bless Your heart!

Gigi Murfitt

www.gigimurfitt.com

The idea for this blog post came from the daily devotional in a book titled "God Calling" by A. J. Russell. It was published by Barbour publishing.

My First Book "Caregivers' Devotions to Go" is Now Available for Pre-Sale!

My first book is scheduled to release in late fall 2009 but it is available for PRE-SALE at a 30% discount at my Extreme Diva Media's book store! Caregivers' Devotions to Go is the title! Order it at my publisher's website www.edmbookstore.com

It is expected to be available sometime in the late fall. Hurry so you can take advantage of the pre-sale discount! If you want it now you can order it as an E-Book. Check out my website links on the right portion of my blog and read about all of the amazing books in the Devotions to Go series!