Heidi Gray McGill's Blog, page 10

In Everything, Give Thanks—Consistently Rejoicing In All Things And At All Times

In this season of Thanksgiving, it isn’t always easy to give thanks.

Verses 16-18 of 1 Thessalonians 5 tell me to rejoice always. But is that possible in today’s world?

What about all the frustrations and heartaches? How do I give thanks when I’m overwhelmed or lonely? I know the Christian walk is not easy, but isn’t rejoicing in all things a bit much to ask? I mean, John 16:33 is clear in saying we will have tribulation. Jesus certainly experienced it.

Yet, the New Testament still tell...

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir—What made me watch this 1947 film with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison

I’m not a huge old film fan, but I recently watched a movie I would not have typically chosen for two particular reasons.  

It wasn’t because the title grabbed me. I don’t care for ghost stories, so the title of this movie was enough to make me easily pass over it.  

I’ve enjoyed several clean black-and-white films but wasn’t familiar with the actors in this one, so that didn’t pull me in. In fact, the blurb didn’t convince me it was worth watching, either.  

Want to know what made m...

My earthly father loved me deeply. My Heavenly Father loves me deeper still.

My father knew Jesus so personally that I often wondered if he heard His voice. I also pondered if the words out of my dad’s mouth were straight from the Lord. My father didn’t joke, and you always knew the meaning of what he was saying.

That’s not to say he wasn’t funny. He was quirky in a unique way.

While some dads excel in the dad joke category, my father rarely jested with his words. But with his actions? That was fair game.

As a teenager, I often piled in the back seat with friend...

Inspiration from Hobbies – Making a story come alive from personal experiences

My husband and I are scuba divers. I prefer clear water, bright fish, live coral, and the gentle swells of the ocean. I also enjoy the peaceful cenotes of Mexico, where being above water is just as stunning as being under. My husband has taken me to some remote and beautiful places.

My favorite scuba trip was to the Island of Dominica in the Caribbean, where my parents served as volunteer missionaries. On that trip, I saw a baby octopus and felt the boiling water from the active volcano vents...

Friends Author Heidi Gray McGill and Jennifer Sienes chat on Between the Lines podcast about Heidi’s newest release, A Deeper Love.

Friendship among authors is a blessing, but you rarely connect outside social media. Jennifer and Heidi met in person at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference and realized they have much in common–Christ being the most significant commonality. Join these friends as they discuss Heidi’s new release, books, hobbies, and more.

Average, but Obedient – Heidi shares her heart in an Association of Christian Fiction Writers Post

How do I stand out and reach the top in the Christian Indie world when I’m average? There are authors with English degrees and years of experience under their belt. Others don’t need to choose between paying for an editor or rent. Some days, it seems everyone is jockeying for position in the author world, and my horse has a lame leg. READ MORE of this heartfelt article on the ACFW blog.

A behind-the-scenes look at my writing means a glimpse into my life.

Each author goes about the writing process differently. Many spend weeks or months planning and laying out each chapter of the book they are drafting. Me? I have a solid idea of where the story needs to end up based on the spiritual theme of the book, but a general idea of how to get there.

That means my chapters or scenes may take a drastic turn when life happens, which it always does.

I chose a well-known verse for the spiritual theme of A Deeper Love,* which releases on October 31 by Ce...

Being an author can be a lonely business unless you surround yourself with like-minded ministry partners.

When I was little, serving God seemed daunting and, to be quite honest, difficult. So, how is it that I wake every morning and get to glorify my Lord and Savior with my words?

I never expected God would bless my faithfulness.

To understand those words, you need to know I struggled through High School, not making the best marks in English. I didn’t read a book for pleasure until years after completing University. And I am the queen of using the wrong word, making my sentences hysterical or ...

An Unexpected Rest: If I desire to live a life of wellness, I must be willing to do whatever is needed to get and stay well.

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends since early 2023. The most significant stressor is we moved from our home of twenty-two years and downsized considerably. All kinds of stress come with moving beyond the physical exertion it takes.  

At the end of July, my body decided it had endured enough and made the decision for me to embrace the need to stop. I ended up in the hospital for three days, with weeks of rest following at home.  

Rest is a funny thing. We work so hard each day tha...

Where do you want to go? Teenagers, manual transmissions, and letting your children go and grow.

My oldest daughter’s first car was the family stick shift. By the time she got her license, she’d driven hundreds of hours in all types of terrain, weather, and levels of visibility. I know because we made her get behind the wheel at every opportunity. She passed her driver’s test the same year I gave up my license.

Jordan became my primary mode of transportation when my vision loss no longer permitted me to drive.

New drivers in South Carolina may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m....