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
Does the memory play in your head like an old movie every year when that date pops up on the calendar?
It happens to me every October 2nd.
This date changed the course of my life in many ways.
The words that come to mind when I think of October 2nd are tragedy, miracle, healing, disability, HOPE, birth, aunt, first date, roller-coaster, detour
Tragedy – Miracle – Healing – Disability – HOPE
On this date in 1935, my beautiful Mom, Helen, was a senior at Anaconda High School. She was full of life. It was just an ordinary fall day with football excitement in the air. The pep assembly was an hour away. She sat on the stage with a few friends from the orchestra preparing to tune her violin. It was nearly showtime.
And then it happened.
The heavy stage fire curtain fell from the ceiling. It slammed her to the floor.
Crushed Spine. Paralysis. Surgeries. Rehab. Hopelessness.
BUT God!
She was told she would never walk. After six months, she stood to walk again.
She was told she would never bear children. She gave birth to TEN!
She was told she would not dance. She danced at her Senior Prom.
So for me, October 2nd means HOPE for the HOPELESS.
It was the hope I held on to when my son , Gabe, was born with multiple physical birth defects.
Growing up with Mom taught me about living life with a disability.
She helped Gabe see the possible in the impossible.
Mom holding Gabe – her 20th grandchild
Birth, Aunt, Miracles
Another significant life event happened on October 2, 1971. I was in Junior High.
My nephew Gregory Steven Devine was born. I was absolutely thrilled to be an aunt.
Such a beautiful baby, Greg grew to be a very tall (6’ 5”) and handsome man.
Greg has an incredible story of miraculous healing too! So does his beautiful daughter Kena. I’ll tell that story on another day.
So Happy Birthday Greg!
First date, roller-coaster, detour
October 2, 1976 I had my first date with a college football player. This relationship was a roller-coaster ride of emotion for six years. It wasn’t a pretty story.
That October 2nd was the start of a painfully significant life-changing detour.
And for sure, that is a story for another blog.
God knows the way to our destination
What about you? Do you have one of those dates that drum up old memories for you?
If so, I hope you will share in the comments section.
Bless you on this date, October 2, 2013. May it bring a happy memory of Hope and Healing and Miracles…in spite of detours.
Gigi
Yesterday’s question
What is your favorite thing about the fall season?
My answer: Snuggling near a warm fire drinking a hot cup of chai tea. When I was a young girl, I loved jumping into big piles of colorful leaves. I also enjoyed the yummy crab apples from our backyard tree. But I didn’t like getting in trouble for throwing them at cars. Hitting a police car was a BAD idea. Oops! A story for another time.
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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!! ]]>