Tag Archives: writing prompts

Write 28 Day Challenge—#17 Reflections

I am an amateur photographer. It has been an enjoyable pastime since I was 11 years old and received my very own Kodak Instamatic camera. What fun it was! Wish I still had that little camera.

One of my favorite photographic captures are reflections. So I cannot think of any better way to ‘write’ this post on reflections than with some photos.

Please enjoy!

Write 28 Day Challenge—#16 Lonesome

Lonesome is a sad word that is hard for me to write about. There seems to be so many lonesome folk around. I recall Sid the Sloth from the movie Ice Age lamenting, “…off by myself, a lone, lonely loner.” “That’s a lot of loneliness,” the wooly mammoth replied. It is funny and true too.

We were created for community. The recent COVID lockdowns were devastating for many, many people of all ages in all places. Whether or not it was necessary is beyond the scope of this post. Rather it is the sad effects of the forced seclusion from society that brought intense loneliness to so many. I thank God it is over and done with.

I have also heard that social media produces a great sense of loneliness. That is rather easy to see, for while at social settings I have noticed few people engaging with one another. The vast majority are on their devices.

Two separate incidences formed a paradigm shift in my thinking over the years. When our sons had a playmate over one afternoon, the visiting dad told his son they were going to go home. Why? The children were playing video games. He told his son, “We are going home. You can play video games at home. We came here to play with your friends.” I never forgot that.

The other is a saying I’ve heard over the years: Wherever you are be there. I never forgot that one either. This takes deliberate effort at times because I can feel lonely in a crowd sometimes. So I must engage and be a part.

So what is the point? It is this: in many ways I can control the feeling of being lonesome. It may be in my power to do something about it. Should it not, I thank The Lord He is near. I pass it on to Him. He cares for me, guides me, and He loves me. He loves you too.

Write 28 Day Challenge—#15 Beautiful

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace. Romans 10:15

I have thought often about this interesting verse of Scripture. How are feet beautiful? Is it perhaps because feet are the vehicle used to bring the gospel of peace to people? In church, on the street, mission fields, or revivals, because men and women of God are walking and talking of the gospel of peace?

Our feet are bringing the beautiful message. Is that a stretch of a thought on this verse? What would you say?

Or maybe because of the message itself. The gospel of peace. This gospel, of Jesus, is beautiful, and made for all of mankind. So the beautiful feet are both the giver of the message and the receiver of the message. For both the giver and receiver are blessed.

Am I just digging too deep and looking for something that it really is not supposed to mean? I do not know. I do know that as this month comes to an end, I will not be sorry to see it go. It has been a bit rough. However the beautiful message from the beautiful feet that preach the gospel of peace has and will continue to hold me.

Write 28 Days Challenge—#11 Name

It has been said the sweetest sound to someone is the sound of their own name. Would you agree?

Names are important because they represent our entity. Our first name is our given name at childbirth. Our last name, also known as surnames or family names are a reference to who we are in relation to our family, who we were, where we came from, what we did for a living or even the physical place of where we lived.

Surnames were not so common way back when. Growing populations created problems with too many people carrying the same given (first) name. Surname comes from the Latin sur, meaning “over or above” combined with -name. Surnames can reflect the occupation of the person. For example:

Carpenter—one who builds with wood.

Fletcher—one who makes feathered arrows.

Mason—a brick layer or stone mason.

Taylor—one who makes clothing.

Smith—a blacksmith or metalworker

They can also reflect geographical locations:

Hill—one who lives on a hill.

Valley—one who lives in a valley.

Moor—one who resides on a moor or open marsh land.

Dale—one who lives in a wide valley.

Milford—one who lived near a mill on a ford.

Other surnames reflect a persons physical appearance:

Long—a tall person

Swift—a fast person

Young—one not yet old as between generations.

Strong—a person of great physical strength.

Brown—someone with brown hair.

Surnames could also indicate positions or associations with important people in a community:

King—a person associated with a king.

Abbott—a person associated with an Abbott.

Steward—an appointee of royalty to act on their behalf.

Lord—one associated with a Lord.

Prince—one associated with a prince.

What is in a name? In many cases lots of things!

Write 28 Days Challenge—#8 Shock

Shock is a good adjective for what one feels when given bad news. I mean really bad news. The kind no one ever wants to hear, either about themselves or a loved one. “Why me?” We ask ourselves. It does not seem fair. But often I have wondered what is fair? What about me. Am I fair?

Why, why, why? Remember when our children would ask us that about everything? I did not have the answers then, and I sure do not have them even now. Some things we bring upon ourselves and as such should not be shocked if something goes wrong. This may be simpleton, but if I stay out in the hot summer sun too long I will get sunburned. There should be no shock in that. It is simply cause and effect.

No, it is not what I bring on myself. It is those sad things that are out of my control. The untimely death of a loved one, infertility, or a serious illness. These are those heartaches that cause me to cry out Why?

Yet, the God I serve tells me to cry out, “Abba! Father!” He tells me to get out of the boat and come to Him. He will reach out His hand and rescue me. He does hear when I cry out in shock and sorrow. For He knows how easily I crumble. He is with me. Oh blessed Truth!

So when the shock of bad news threatens to consume me, I turn to Jesus. Jesus saves. He saved Daniel, Peter, the woman caught in adultery, David, Paul, the thrift on the cross, the dying child, the lepers, the tax collector, the unbeliever, and the hemorrhaging woman. These are only a handful of people He cared for. The Heavens cannot contain all He has done for me. He overcomes it all. Glory!

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”—Jesus

Write 28 Days Challenge—#5 Safety

I had safety patrol duty way back in 5th grade at school in Charlottesville, VA. I can still recall the bright yellow strap that went around my waist and overtop my shoulder. Attached to the shoulder strap was pinned the safety patrol badge.

I was official, and took my duty seriously. My duty was to see to it fellow students safely crossed the road in front of the small school in the morning. Students were too busy laughing and talking to pay attention, so it was my job to do that for them.

Each week a different student was assigned as safety patrol. In a way, we shared the load of safety for one another. Know something interesting? A herd of horses do the same thing. Look-out horses are posted around the herd during resting hours of the day and night. This way, the rest of the herd can rest. They too take turns. Gods creation amazes me. How He has cared for us.

Thinking about my safety patrol duty causes me to wonder. Did our teachers at that time have a purpose in assigning students to safety patrol? Were they knowingly teaching us in this subtle way to have a caring attitude toward our fellow student?

I may never know the answer to these questions, but I do believe it had an impact on me in regards to others. After all, Jesus instructs us to care for our fellow man. That is exactly what they were demonstrating to us. I am grateful.

Write 28 Days Challenge #2—Broken

You can’t break up the nest without cracking the eggs.

We own chickens. I understand what a broken up nest would, at the very least, crack the eggs. I came from a broken up nest from long ago. Our parents divorced when I was six years old. As a child, I saw my father for the last time at ten years old, and for the final time, as a grown woman, lying dead in his coffin. I never asked our mother anything about why our family had broken up. What good what it have done. It was the way it was.

But God had other ideas. Our loving, devoted great-aunt was the positive, Godly force in our lives. She was our ballast. Secure in her beautiful Christian faith, she lovingly patched our broken family with prayer and hope. She never spoke in negative ways to us, in any manner. She was our saving grace.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your ways”—she would recite Proverbs 3:5-6 while tapping her finger in rhythm on my chest. She had a way of making us not feel broken at all.

Our world is full of brokenness. We are all guilty. We break promises, hearts, commitments, treaties, laws, and agreements. Some are intended, others are not. The attempt to avoid having a broken heart, life, or commitment is to have no life at all. My sister succinctly says, “Life is dangerous to your health.” Indeed it is.

Yet, trust is also a part of our lives. We place our trust in many things and many times unaware. We trust our cars will get us to work; other drivers will stop at red lights; the food we buy is safe; that chair will hold us!

So when God tells me to trust in Him, I believe His promise. I have walked with Him long enough to know He does not break His promises. My broken youth He healed and made for good. Only He can heal our broken lives.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart…My great-Aunt was right.

Conclude—Last FMF Prompt for 2020

Words are fascinating.

After all “In the beginning was The Word”. The meaning of the verb conclude is wonderful. It has two related meanings; one is to come to a decision, the other is to bring to a close.

This year is nearly ready to come to a close, and I have surely made a decision about it. God is in control. He always has been. He always will be. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He has mapped out this coming New Year already and I am sure looking forward to it. For He goes before us.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

FMF Writing Prompt—Beyond

Sometimes I get beyond myself.

Life is busy. It has never seemed to slow down. When I was young it seemed so full and busy, and now that I am older with children all grown and gone, I feel even more busy! I am very aware of being on the short end of a good long life and I want to keep it full for as long as I am able. But sometimes I do get beyond myself.

Early morning time with Jesus saves my heart and soul. I would be done for without His comfort and presence in my life. He gives me hope and strength as I pour my heart out to Him.

“Put your trust in Him always, O people,

Pour out your hearts before Him, for

God is our refugee…” Ps 62:9

He saves me from myself. Glory to God.

Five Minute Friday—Present

Where ever you are, be there.

I heard that phrase a long time ago. It took a while for me to figure it out. However with the advent of I phones it suddenly became very clear. Probably because we always have the device on us. It seems now we are always talking to at least two people at the same time. One is in person, the other on the device. It rather feels unfair to both parties.

Is that one reason we as folks feel more lonely than ever before? It is a personal challenge to not do it, and give the person I am with in person my full attention.

Note: This is my first attempt to participate in this challenge of Five Minute Friday, please be patient.