A Net in Time

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Decline Happens

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Decline is the word of the day, a prompt that intrigues me while at the same time leaving me with a now what?   So I’ll write and see how it strikes me today.  I was delighted to read about Kate discovering a new project to work on.  It’s sad that she’ll have to decline activities in order to fulfill obligations, but how exciting to have a new project in the works eh?   Decline happens right?   Sometimes it a choice we make and other times it something that happens overtime. 

text decline happens, image of lady declining food

Decline Happens

Decline happens.

One can decline to
attend events, invitations,
and so forth.
And in so declining you are
choosing other things to be
more important than the event
or invitation offered.

It’s the way it goes right?
You say no to one thing in
order to say yes to something else.

It’s kinda like… I can say no to
doom scrolling in order to ride
my bike or walk on the treadmill.
I can say yes to talking with my hubby
before work instead of doing the dishes.

It’s all choices.
BUT decline of body and mind
isn’t all about choice.
One’s body changes as one gets
older and it takes more work to
to regain, or even to keep fit mentally
and physically. Aches and pains
are signs of a life well-lived but
sometimes it’s rather inconvenient.

But those inconvenient moments
provide encouragement to keep
on trying to stave back the decline.
To not let tiredness and defeat rule
the day…. to remember that God
calls me to be more and doesn’t say
“give it up if you’re tired”. Take rest
indeed, but use that as rest, not
an excuse to stop moving forward.

So what will I (or you) continue
to decline in order to help
stop the natural decline of living?


Lazy in Our Faith?

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Today that question is asked, can we become lazy in our faith?  If so, what does that really mean?  Is that a good or bad thing or possibly a combination?   And besides, just what does it mean to you to be lazy?   There are different takes on it I’m learning.  🙂   OH… and if you like to write, join us for this week’s word prompt with Miss Kate. 

image of man lying on couch looking lazy, text lazy in our faith

Lazy in Our Faith

There are times when I think
I don’t know the meaning of
the word lazy.
You’ll always find me
doing something, whether it be
scrolling on my phone (it’s doing something),
or exercising, or caring for critters,
reading, gardening, walking about,
working at home or as a grocery clerk.

You’ll rarely find me just
doing nothing (which to me is
the very definition of lazy).

BUT I’m learning from others that
being lazy doesn’t mean doing nothing,
but can just be chillin’.
Hanging out a home having a
day where nothing is planned, but
a time to relax and do what you will.

So a day of doing lego, could be
deemed as having a lazy day.
Sitting around reading, is
being lazy. Just as can be
gardening, doom scrolling, walking
about the block or whatever. It’s
an attitude of mind.

So here’s a question I need to ask
myself (and perhaps one you ask to).
Can we be lazy in our faith?
Should we ever be lazy in our
relationship to God?
We are told to work out our salvation
in fear and trembling right?

What does it mean for us if we do
become lazy in our faith?
Not taking the time to pray, or read
scripture, or ponder on things.
Are there consequences we aren’t
always aware of until perhaps
it seems insurmountable?

Or does becoming lazy in our
faith denote a high level
of comfort and lack of fear?
I don’t always know the answers
but asking questions can help
promote thinking it through.
And that’s a necessary process yes?


Jesus Is born

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So my study in Unexplainable Jesus takes me to Luke 2:1-15 but that seems to cut off in a rather odd spot, so I figured I’d break it down just a bit more.  Today we’ll look at Luke 2:1-7.  This section gives Luke’s account of the fact that Jesus is born. 

Luke 2:1-7

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Jesus is born. Text from Luke 2:1-7

Jesus is Born: the Players

People mentioned in these five verses are 

  1. Caesar Augustus (v.1)
  2. Quirinius, the governor of Syria (v.2)
  3. Joseph, betrothed of Mary, her husband, Jesus’s dad, but not his biological daddy (v.4)
  4. Mary, the wife of Joseph, mother of Jesus (v.5)
  5. Jesus, God’s son born of a human momma. (v.7)

Caesar Augustus was the Roman Emperor.  He changed things up in the Empire, changing it from a republic into a dictatorship, bringing back the census, ending the war, and being labeled at “the Saviour of the World.”  He made changes that led to Jesus being born where he was supposed to.

Quirnius.  Obviously he was the governor of Syria. Due to the way folks translate the Greek in the New Testament we are told he was the governor of Syria, but the actual Greek says only the he was governing in Syria.  He wasn’t actually appointed until after Jesus was born.  Nevertheless he still oversaw this census for Caesar Augustus.  Quirnius was a highly regarded military leader. 

Joseph.  This Jewish man was betrothed to Mary when she became pregnant with God’s son.  He became Jesus’ earthly father.  Joseph was from the house and lineage of David. A man of faith, he was known as a Just man. Matt.1:19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 

Mary.  We don’t know a whole lot about her either.  She was probably between 14-16 years old when the Spirit of God overshadowed her.   She was Jewish, likely born in Nazareth, and she has an aunt and uncle named Elizabeth and Zechariah. 

Jesus, God’s son.  Raised by human parents.  Fully God, fully human.   A boy who would grow up in the favour and sight of God and man. 

jesus christ figurine
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

What Else Can we Learn?

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

We know that God worked things out so that scripture could be fulfilled.  God’s son was to be born in Bethlehem, out of David’s line.  And the census caused Mary and Joseph to have to go to Bethlehem in order to be registered properly. 

 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

While there Mary gave birth to Jesus. No inn, no fancy place to stay.  Just a lowly couple, bedded down with the critters, having a baby, and a safe place (a manger) to lay her child in.  This is how our Saviour came into this world.

Follow along in this series.

I’ve been using The Unexplainable Jesus study as a background to my devotional time.  

Harmony Can Be Explained

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Did you know that harmony can be explained?   There are lots of different ways of define harmony which I’ve tried to cover.  If I could find it again I’d pull up that bible verse I saw early today. It fit so well with everything, but alas, I saw, read, was delighted, and then moved on.  Anyways, if you want to read what others have thought of this weeks’ word prompt, go check Kate out. 

harmony can be explained, text over stacked rocks

Harmony can be explained

Harmony can be explained
partially as a balance.
It is reached when
a balance is achieved between
two diametrically opposed sides.

Harmony can be explained
as a musical combination of
notes that play well together,
pleasing to the ear, or
slightly discordant as in a
minor chord. Major chords tend
to sound better together yes?

A harmonious gospel quartet
has four voices that blend
well together. Just as the gospels
form as harmonious chord, four
voices blending together to tell
the story of the life of Christ.

One can see harmony, like in a book
I am reading. Wherein a new city is
built upon the bones of an old
city.  You see the new city using the
important remaining bits of the old,
and turning them into foundational aspects
for a new city full of beauty.

This leads me to ask.
Have You found balance in your life?
Do you realize yet, there is more
to life than the life you are living?
There is a God above, and here below,
that cares deeply for the eternal
lives of his created loved ones.

So will you?
Will you take a moment to
consider the deeper things
of life? Will you consider the
class=”yoast-text-mark” />/>more or what shall you do?
Find your balance in the best
way possible. Consider God well.
It matters!


Proper Politeness Change

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This week I talked with our bread guy.  He comes from India and we got to talking a bit.  I mentioned to him about my son moving out in a couple of weeks.  I asked him why he moved to Canada.  And eventually we talked about family differences.  In India, families stay together.  Adult children don’t leave the family unit, the family just expands.  I suppose if I stopped to think about it a bit, someone would have to leave their birth family in order for one of the families to grow…but we didn’t get that far. 🙂  But it makes me wonder, could what be considered proper politeness does change as depends on the culture?

Proper Politeness Change

Could it be that
proper politeness does
change depending on the
culture or the situation?

For instance, I grew up Dutch,
Politeness to guests required
a house fully cleaned
before they arrived.   But many 
Canadians I find stress less
about such details. 🙂 Mind you,
as a Canadian I am one of those stress less.

I watched a video the
other day about how in
Japan, one needs to find a
fully trained replacement for
your employer before you can
leave your place of employment.
While in England, it’s hard
to get fired, there are so many
rules about how it can be done.
In either situation
it’s just not done…

For an Indian man, seeing a
child leave their family home,
is odd and feels wrong.
What about the respect to
parents and family connection?
It’s difficult to reconcile that
distance in living doesn’t equate
lack of respect or connection.

I know what I’m saying is
not all about politeness
but politeness is
one way that we show respect
for other people in our lives.

So just how do we show respect
for other people in our lives?
How do we wind our politeness into
the different cultures surrounding us?


Nurture

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this short little acrostic occurred to me as I pondered the word Nurture. 

naturally
unnoticed
raised up while
tending to
unruly
replications
encourages

nurture (text) image of small green plant held in two hands

Have you ever taken the time to notice how people nurture their underlings differently?  Whether it be parents or managers?   Some do it well and others struggle in the task.  Therefore one wonders if that is the result of the nurturing they received.  Sometimes folk don’t even see the nurturing they receive, particularly if it is well-done.  

Intentionality needs to be part of it yes?

Like for instance hubby and I are currently in a membership class.  The church is intentionally fostering a need/desire for people to become members.  Why?

To help build up the body of Christ in a manner that demands some accountability.  One can be a bench warmer or one can fulfill their duties as a believer.  Part of that starts with being an active member in a body of believers. 

This week we are talking about the creation of new believers, and then the development of faithful disciples.  One begets the other, which in turn should beget more, and so the body of believers is continually built up.    

The church often fails in this, and so this particular church is seeking to actively change that.  To change the mindset of global mission to more local mission and meeting people HERE.  Encouraging faith in a society that discourages faith in God and promotes it in food, entertainment, and frivolity.  Building faith in God in a community that doesn’t see the need because they are so distracted by everything else.

That’s my five minutes…. 

Time sometimes goes too fast and I don’t feel like I’m done talking…. so let’s see how quickly I can write just a bit more.  🙂

Nurture

Nurture isn’t just external
There is an inward part.
Particularly when it comes
to sharing one’s own heart.

To see the church of God built
up means connecting more your own
to the creator God’s throne.

Seeing his majesty.
Working hard to reflect it.
So that those around you
are inspired to
ask questions and find
answers to their own
questing hearts.
AND THEN
the church can be built.

Make your life of faith
ones the begs questions from
others. One that God’s mercy
and grace shines out of
even if under a glass dimly.

The Blacksmith’s Son and The Line of Illeniel

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Do you remember I took a break from listening to the Book of the Ancestors?   I needed a story a little less intense to follow.  Michael G. Manning’s books proved to be just the ticket.  The Blacksmith’s son and The Line of Illeniel are the first two of a five book series of the Mageborn.  Action, adventure, some romance, and a skill development through problem-solving.  Add in horses, medieval style warfare and living and you have a nice little world of magic to play with. 

mage born series - The blacksmiths son and line of illeniel

The Basics: The Blacksmith’s Son and The Line of Illeniel

Okay, so I listened to these books as a break from a more intense series, The Red Sister.  These two books are a much easier listen and are written by Michael G. Manning.

The Blacksmith’s Son and The Line of Illenel are the first two in a five book series called Mageborn.  The Blacksmith’s Son introduces us to Mordecai. A young man raised as the son of a blacksmith but growing skills in mage craft.  He has questions that need answering. 

The Line of Illeniel takes us further into the life of Mordecai, one that will end up setting up strife between him and the king. Skills development, some answers found, and tragedy happens.

Michael G. Manning grew up in Texas reading fantasy and sci books while engaging in free-spirited activities.  This was his lot in life while delving into the world of pharmaceuticals and networking.   Eventually he started writing books, and thus The Blacksmith’s Son was born.  

These fantasy books are developed in a middle ages framework where sword and sorcery are part of living.  One must defend themselves and others with honour. But plenty exist that don’t hold to an honour code at all. And therein lies the angst of The Mageborn.  Each books runs 250-300 pages.  And are available on Kindle, paperback, and audio.   I read using Kindle Unlimited.

mage born series - The blacksmiths son and son of illeniel

Looking Deeper

An easy read with predictable plot in many ways.   You know that he’s going to learn he’s a mage and that his folks cared about him.  Just as you know he’ll develop those gifts, develop some friendships, build a love life, and more.  Mystery will be part of his life. Enemies will need to be faced, and hopefully defeated.

The story is fun to be honest.  Listening as I went about my daily chores, it was good to not have to pay close attention and know things will go okay. I did admittedly play back a couple of times as I lost something pivotal when cats would demand my attention.

I did get a bit annoyed that this 16 year old boy was able to defeat a pretty bad bad guy fairly easily.  Many of the stressful events that happened seemed to be resolved fairly easily with just some cleverness on his part. So many pieces fit too neatly into place in lots of ways. 

Yet, sometimes bad things happened and people were hurt.  His love interest felt juvenile in many ways due to lack of clear communication or protectiveness from both ends. 

In the end, I wanted a light read with the odd twist and turn, and Michael G. Manning delivered. Both The Blacksmith’s Son and The Line of Illeniel proved to be a fun listen. A read that intrigues me enough that I’ll get the rest of the books in the series.  Ultimately I want to know how the story of Mordecai turns out.