What time is it? Have you asked that question a few times this week?
I’m still adjusting to Daylight Savings time but I’m thankful for the extra hour of writing time. I’d love to hear what you did with your extra hour.We had a mild weathered start to fall this year. But now, the nights are crisp and the leaves are beautiful shades of gold, crimson and burnt orange. There is no mistake, fall is here.
During this beautiful season, I often find myself wondering which leaves get chosen to fall off the tree in any given moment.
Each leaf hangs on until the perfect timing for it to fall freely to the ground.
Perfect timing.
I feel I’m in a season of watching God’s perfect timing play out.
I’d been praying about ways to make more money to help pay for the van we want to buy for our son, Gabe. It will allow him to drive and gain much more independence. We’ve been thinking about this van since Gabe as sixteen.
Now he’s twenty-four and gainfully employed as a motivational speaker.Recently he was approved by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to help him with the adaptations, but he will purchase the basic van.
This all came about at the same time I was able to increase my hours at work. This was another answer to my prayer to help Gabe.
Perfect timing.
This week I’m in Portland for training on some of my new responsibilities. Think about this, on the heals of completing a weekend class on writing a novel, I’m asked to spend a week in Portland for work. It happens that this is also the first week of NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month which occurs every November.
My evenings are free to write the story that I’ve been thinking about for almost twenty years. But I wasn’t ready twenty years ago. I’m ready now.
Now I call that — Perfect timing!
Sometimes I can get discouraged when I don’t see a quick answer. But this month I’ve remembered to give it all to the creator of time and watch how He decides to work it out.
Philippians 4:6 “4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Are you waiting?
My prayer is that you will wait in peace.
Let me know if I can pray for you as you wait.
God bless you.
Gigi
#NaNoWrMo
#WheelsForGabe
The photo on the cover of the retreat brochure. I love it!
I am excited to speak at a women’s retreat for Mountain View Community Church later this month.
We will be in Sumas, WA the weekend of October 11-13, 2013.
The leadership team chose the theme “Living with a Grateful Heart.”
The retreat verse is Hebrews 10:22. I love the NLT translation of this verse.
22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Such a wonderful reminder of laying our guilt at the cross and trusting God with a sincere heart. This is my story!
As I prepare my four talks, I’m amazed at the sweet ideas God has given me for sharing my story and speaking into the lives of these beautiful women.
Whenever I am asked to speak for an event, I find other areas of my life line up with the theme I’m asked to share.
Beth Moore calls them “God Stops.” I call them “Kisses on the Cheek.” Simple reminders that God is in it.
Maybe a sermon speaks to the topic I’m studying.
Or someone recommends a book that relates to one of my topic ideas.
A new song might have the perfect words I need to express a thought.
All this and more have happened as I seek God for what to say at the retreat. That is the power of a daily walk with God.
Here is an example: This week we started our Choose Joy Bible Study. We are keeping a gratitude journal – recording five things we are thankful for each day.
One of my talks at the retreat is titled “An Attitude of Gratitude.” In that talk I plan to share my gratitude journal.
Coincidence? Nah – That’s just how God works things out!
Here are a few questions for you. I hope you’ll answer one or all in the comments section below!
Do you have some sweet “coincidences” to share?
What are you doing in your life to live with an attitude of gratitude?
What are you thankful for today? Have you written it down?
With a grateful heart, I bless you.
Gigi
Often times, Thursdays are set aside for sharing old photos and the memories that go with that photo.
It’s called Throwback Thursday.
I can’t even count how many photos I have taken in my lifetime.
I have boxes and boxes of photo albums and gigabytes of online photos too.
Searching for a few to share on this Thursday evening I found these gems.
Zane – the Texas Ranger- Age 6 months
Gabe the pumpkin – Age 6 months
My how it seems like yesterday. Now Zane is 26 and Gabe is 23!
Lord, help me treasure these precious days!
Do you have a photo you recently found that stirred a memory for you?
I hope you’ll share!
God bless you on this throwback Thursday.
Gigi ]]>
I promise not to put you to sleep!
I’ve been challenged to write a blog every day during the month of October.
It’s called NaBloPoMo
No that isn’t a trecky new language – but it stands for National Blog Posting Month
It is similar to NaNoWriMo which stands for National Novel Writing Month. That happens every November in the novel writing world. Some day I will participate in NaNoWriMo so I can get this novel out of my head and onto the page.
There are all sorts of groups and sites and prompts to keep us writers writing.
NaBloPoMo gets the blogger’s fingers dancing on the keyboard. It’s especially good for someone like me who gets too busy to blog. The challenge to meet the goal will keep me going.
Check it out! http://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/List_of_timed_artistic_challenges
During my own personal NaBloPoMo journey, I may not post every blog entry here at GigiMurfitt.com because I also maintain a blog for Gabriel’s Foundation of HOPE at www.GabesHOPE.org
So check out both to get the latest about what’s going on in my world.
I’m excited (and a little nervous) to be more active on my blog.
I hope you’ll meet me here for a chat or to be inspired as I write from the heart.
I’m thinking it may be as simple as posting a question to start a conversation.
It’s a new season.
It’s a new day.
So here is the question for October 1, 2013
What is your favorite thing about the fall season?
Please post your comment below.
Let me know if there are topics you’d like to see on my blog.
Here we go!
God Bless your heart
Gigi
PS – Come back here tomorrow for my answer to the question!! ]]>