{Day 31}: Almost..But Not Quite

Today's word prompt: ALMOST

Thumbs up @ Freedigitalphotos

Oh yes!  Almost done!  Well, yes almost, because I have yet to finish this post and have it published.  But I'm just giddy and excited.  Time flew by and now we come to the end of the challenge.  

It's been a month of remembering God's faithfulness in my life.  It's indeed a journey of faith and God was with me every step of the way, in the silence or in the gentlest of whispers to the storms and the crashing waves, He was ever present.  

In the middle of this month, also right smack in the middle of this challenge, I had my leap of faith when I decided to be baptized, finally.  And that moment has really been a turning point in my journey of faith.

{Day 30} What Can You Do In Five Minutes?

Five @ Freedigitalphotos

I'm skipping the word prompt for this day as I write this a day ahead.  I will be on vacation starting Friday so, I'm doing this now.

It's been an exciting ride doing this challenge and it's almost done. Woohoo!

{Day 29}: The Sea Or the Shore?

Today's word prompt: SEA

Woman looking at sea @ Freedigitalphotos

As a child, I have always been fascinated by the sea.  Living in the asphalt jungle for most of the time, the excitement to be near the sea is understandable right?  I remember those visits to my grandparents' home many years ago in the northern part of the island.  They live in an old house that was just a few minutes to the beach.  And our trip to the province would never be complete without visiting that secluded part of the beach overlooking South China Sea.  We would avoid the more commercialized and crowded beaches.  I guess we loved having the beach to ourselves, despite the lack of amenities.  

{Day 28}: Hope in God's Words

Today's word prompt: HOPE

The Bible is rich in verses that give us hope.  In fact, reading through the whole of the Bible gives us this kind of assurance in things we do not see but know of, by faith. Here are just some that I'd like to share and are good to remember when we are in the midst of trials and hardships or when it's hard to hang on faithfully.  These are words that encouragement and uplift us and indeed, give us hope that everything will be alright.  Because we know that God's got things under His control.

{Day 27}: Perhaps It's Time

Today's word prompt: PERHAPS

Balloons @ Freedigitalphotos.net

Sometimes they say that hurt people hurt people. I don't really know. Sometimes, people just do things for no certain reasons but then some, out of whatever motivation they have.

{Day 26}: Gentle Whispers

Today's word prompt: WHISPER

God has many ways of displaying His splendor and power.  We see and feel that in so many ways, in certain ways that never fail to get our attention. 

{Day 25}: When Life's Trials Crashes On You

Today's word prompt: CRASH

I remember back in my college days, as part of the choir's activity during Christmas season, we would go house to house and sing songs.  On the way home, at the intersection, our chattering drew to a halt as a speeding car crashed onto our van. It was the first time I got into a vehicular accident.  Thankfully, there were no serious injuries.  Some of us just got a few bumps and bruises.  But it was a scary few moments as our vehicle skidded for a few seconds.  

{Day 24}: In The Silence

Today's word prompt: SILENCE

Silence.

I'm used to it by now.  I love my solitude... those quiet moments when I could just enjoy my time alone.  When you're living alone, you got to learn to love being with yourself, right?  But I'm not a loner and I don't shut myself out from the rest of the world.  It's just that I've grown comfortable being on my own.

{Day 23} Five Minute Friday: Joy

Joining Kate and the rest of FMFers to write about JOY.

START...

I remember those vacation bible schools when I was still a kid.  There's this song that's a favorite among the kids and it goes something like this:

{Day 22}: Our Absolute Value

Today's word prompt: VALUE

There's this line I read from one of the posts in Facebook.  Sorry that I cannot acknowledge the source and if it happens to be you reading this, please say so.  This may not be the exact wordings but it goes something like this:

"When you are full of negativity, remember your absolute value."

{Day 21}: Waves of Emotions

Today's word prompt: WAVE

Tropical Beach Wave @ Freedigitalphotos

I remember all too well not too long ago how I have battled a myriad of emotions.  At times, I'd be fine, not happy but just fine.  Like everything's okay.  Then the emotional lows would come without a warning.  Could it just be hormones?  Or could it be some form of depression?  I really have no idea.  Or so I thought.

{Day 20}: Temporary Life

Today's word prompt: TEMPORARY

Everything in life is temporary. People, things, moments pass by and then they're gone.  In fact the only thing that's constant in this life that we know of is change. Everything changes.  All else is just a fleeting moment, a passing thought, just a blink of an eye, the changing of the season, like the petals of a flower that fall piece by piece until nothing's left.

{Day 18}: A Woman's Worth in God's Eyes

Today's word prompt: WORTH

I've been privileged to hear Ms. Darlene Sala speak in one of her talks last month.  I can't tell you how star-struck I was when I saw her up close.  You see, before the talk, I was looking over books on the table outside the main hall.  I saw her book "More Precious Than Diamonds" and I grabbed a copy and paid immediately.  She was nearby, just arrived and she hasn't sat down yet to rest or something.  She saw me holding the book and gestured to me, and asked if I wanted it signed.  I hesitated for a fraction of a second before I hurriedly took on her offer.  

{Day 17}: Offering a Living Sacrifice

Word prompt: OFFER

Today is the second day of my two-day retreat. 

Today, I am making a public declaration of my faith in front of fellow believers, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Take my life a living sacrifice

Knowing it's the least that I can do

Make my life a living sacrifice

Holy and acceptable to You

{Day 16}: Soul ReTREAT

Hi everyone!  No word prompt for me today.  I'm taking a break from work and usual stuff to have a two-day retreat, so I won't be able to check the day's word prompt.  It's a two-day treat for the soul and spirit as I take my journey of faith to a higher level.  At my age, this is long overdue but well, better late than never.

I'm finally going to be baptized!  

I'm excited and at the same time, a little bit nervous.  I somehow know what's going to happen, generally.  But being there for real is something different.  Oh I always get nervous with the unexpected.  You know, the usual jitters.  But I am entrusting this to God.  He led me to this and I know He will make good use of this experience for me to grow more in faith.

As I walk in obedience, I feel excited for what's to come.  I know doors of opportunity to serve will open. Just the privilege of being used by God for His purposes makes my heart and my spirit sing for joy. 

So, I won't make this long.  Just to say, please pray for me as I go through this momentous event.  

God bless you!

This is Day 16 of the series

31 Days of Free Writes: A Journey of Faith.

Read the rest of the posts here.

To read about what hundreds of others are writing

about, head on over this link and also here.

{Day 15}: Laugh Like A Child

Today's word prompt: LAUGH

Have you ever laughed out so loud and for so long that you sides hurt and you still laugh anyway?  And maybe the one seeing you can't seem to figure out the disfigurement in your face as you laugh and wince at the same time?  And how about laughing continuously and you can't seem to stop? It will subside for a while and then the snickers would start and then you burst into laughter again?

{Day 14}: To Fly Is To Fall Upwards

Today's word prompt:  FLY

Sometimes, I wonder what it feels like to be weightless like birds, to be able to fly in the air, see the view from the top.  Wonder what it feels like to have strong wings to lift me up from the ground, but I know that's just the remnants of some childhood fantasies.  Obviously, we humans are not as light as birds, and so we stay grounded, weighed down by the pull of gravity.

{Day 13}: When Patience Wears Thin

Today's word prompt: PATIENCE

Image courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

I'll start out with this verse from Galatians 5:22 (NIV):

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 

peace, patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, faithfulness."

{Day 12}: Soar Above the Storm

Word prompt: STORM

Beacon from Freedigitalphotos.net

Start...

Living in a country hit by tropical storms, with landfalls averaging 8-9 per year, storms are a part of our life all year round. I'm used to these and as a child, I even welcome them.  It means no classes and you know students.  Back then, storms never bothered me.  I've always been warm and safe in our house, situated in that area where we're unaffected by flooding.  And most times, you'd find me by the window, enjoying the gusts of wind or simply watching as the fierce downpour beats against the roof and the window panes.  

{Day 11}: Sunday Rest

Today's word prompt: REST