A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Endure the burden

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I have fought the fight I have finished the race
I have kept the faith
I have fought the good fight I have finished the race
I have kept the faith.

These are the first words I thought of when I saw the word endure.  It’s another Five minute Friday word prompt from Miss Kate.  Endure the burden, fight the good fight.

people running a race

Endure the burden

What does it means you know, to fight the good fight and to finish the race?  To finish a race means you’ve stuck it out, you have endured to the end.

Today the heat
got the best of one of my does.
Despite all I could do
and all that I tried,
the heat she couldn’t survive.

Should I let her suffer
To endure pain?
Or should I let her suffering end.
Should I endure the burden
Of being one who cares for animals?

I chose to take up that burder
Some 15 years back.
Most of the time,
It brings immense joy.
But occasionally, the burden
Is indeed a burden.

The ending of life
is one that must be taken up.
When you know that the one
suffering will not recover.

This doe was one born
with a mindset to fear.
Handling her caused
unmeasured stress.
Caring for her, trying to help her
Probably caused her illness to advance.
She never took to it well.
She was not one that I would call
Born to a life of endurance.
Hers was to avoid and hide away,
despite continued kindness.

Makes me think of
The people around
How some endure, ever so well.
and yet others, the slightest pressure,
causes them to wilt away.
Yet all of us, I suppose,
In our own way endure.

Sticking to what we know
Striving somehow, to make a difference,
To somehow matter.

For those of us who have faith
in the one true living God.
The call of Paul encourages us,
Despite our frailties,
to Endure.

To fight the fight,
to finish the race,
to keep the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

Worth

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I saw the word prompt from Miss Kate last night, and as I did the bunny chores this morning I considered it.  Worth, such a loaded word for many. This makes it an excellent word prompt don’t you think?  

worth

How do you measure worth?
Coin?
Social status?
Power?
Connectiveness?
People following you?
Positions held?
Social media?
Attention from those that be?

Worth can be measured
in countless ways.
As many stars are in the sky
Can worth be measured.

And yet
Worth is meaningless.

It is so easily discounted
Unless it matters to
The one you speak with.

Yet God tells us this
are we not worth more
than the sparrows?
than the flowers of the field?

So why do we concern
ourselves
with our worth?

What does it matter?
If in the eyes of some you are
baggage?

Does your wife love you?
Does she wear her
Pride for you full well?

Does your husband
Mind you full well?
Caring for your opinion
and how others see his beloved?

Do your children rejoice
(yes I know)
That you are their mom?
Glad that they are yours
and no others?

Do you go about your
business
with honour and integrity.
Giving to God what is his due?

Then consider this
You are worth more
than sparrows or flowers
And God cares for them too.

Imagine how much more worth
You hold
to HIM.

And concern yourself not
with
Worth.

worth more than flowers

Matthew 6:28

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

Luke 12:7

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Stay Connected, Safely?

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I was up early this morning, far earlier than I wanted to be, and the first thing on my mind, was “what can I write for the word stay”?   This is the five-minute-Friday prompt from Miss Kate.  I thought about stay-cations, and staying put, safety in shelter, the staying in your place thing that people of colour must often feel.   Then my Miss Lizzy thought “oh, the ma’am is awake, perhaps I can get her to pet me”.   Mild inspiration struck. 

stay connected safely

Miss Lizzy came
A caution warned
“She likes to nibble,
Just a bit”.

The first week here
Lizzy, a year-old rescue
almost returned.
Nibbles are bites, not quite forewarned.

One week in
An odd thing happened
Miss Lizzy offered
a surprise.

A bath
I expected a
Screaming, fighting mess
A battle on my hands.

But
Miss Lizzy stopped.
She stood quiet
Docile and compliant.

My fellows I told,
Miss Lizzy stays
A firm hand
Combined with Gentleness.

So now
“Lizzy! NO bites”
Finger tap on forehead
Lizzy listens.

“Lizzy wants pets?”
Tapping a chair
Up Lizzy pops,
It’s much safer up there.

As Lizzy learns,
She teaches us much.
This much is good.
THIS much is too far!

My hubby complains
“This cat is not mine!”
Every cat thus far is
His or the lads.

But my baby girl
Follows me everywhere
Indoors or out
My cat is everywhere.

To me she is connected
Like a toy on a string
Stay connected safely
It is a really good thing.

I wonder as I look
at the world we are in
Can lessons from Lizzy
Be a possible thing?

The world with it’s riots
Protests, hatred and more
Screams THIS TOO MUCH IS TOO FAR
We can’t take anymore!

What will it take?
For connections to stay?
Say this much is good,
With safety for all?

Stay safely connected,
with firm hand combined
With gentleness guiding
Can we now abide?

Miss Lizzy

To be honest, I don’t know.  I don’t know what it will take to change the world.  There will always be divisions.  People like to put labels on things and situations and each other.  Once labels are applied, division happens.  Sin causes division. 

Can people own up to their own sin?  Their sin of lumping everyone together?  Whether it be police officers, people of colour, individuals with special needs, the elderly, the young etc. How do we own up to the sin we often just can’t see?   Seriously, I think it comes down to more people need to see the firm hand of God.  A hand that he lovingly combines with gentleness, helping us to stay connected to him.   Can we look past our sin to see a person we can connect with?

O For a Closer Walk with God

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I had forgotten about this song, I’ve sung O for a Closer Walk with God just enough to be familiar with the tune. Lift up your Hearts hymnal brought it back to my attention. 

O For a Closer Walk with God

O For a Closer Walk with God, Lyrics

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus, and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

Author and History

William Cowper, an English poet, is the author of this hymn.    I found this quote on the Cyber hymnal “I be­gan to com­pose them yes­ter­day morn­ing be­fore day­break, but I fell asleep at the end of the first two lines. When I awaked again, the third and fourth verses were whis­pered to my heart in a way I have oft­en ex­per­i­enced.”  He wrote those words to his aunt. 

After being institutionalized for insanity, he found peace in evangelical Christianity.  He wrote many of the Olney Hymns and was friends with John Newton.  Becoming involved with the anti-slavery movement he wrote The Negro’s Complaint. 

Born in England, his mother died in his early childhood while birthing his brother John.  His father was a rector. Depression followed William Cowper throughout his life. HymnTime has a list of the hymns he wrote. 

He also helped with Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken and There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy. 

Thinking Deeper

Turning to fervent evangelical Christianity was pivotal in the life of William Cowper.  Due to his depression, faith became important, as a result we have hymns with which to praise God.  I look at that and I’m happy about that.  Happy that God took a life that was miserable and turned it into a blessing for others.   I’m not happy that Cowper struggled, but I’m happy that God was able to use him well and provide him with a measure of peace.   It’s a good thing don’t you think?

Studies in Malachi

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The theme this week with the Homeschool Review Crew is something old.  I was pondering what this post could be on and then thought… you know what?  The bible is the oldest book and it tells the oldest story. I got to thinking about how as I study through books of the bible I am engaging in “something old”.   The desire to know God more.  My studies in Malachi started on April 28.  I will be finished probably May 26.   

Studies in Malachi

What is Malachi all about

I started my studies listening to Peter Baker.  He summed up the history of Israel before Malachi came on the scene.   You can view my entire playlist should you wish to. 

I love this idea you know.  That discipline starts from a place of love. God demonstrates his love for us. Stating his love for us BEFORE he exercises discipline.  We should be like this with others in our lives don’t you think?

Malachi

I was captured this week by a recurring thought in Malachi 2. How do we honour God?  If we don’t go to church expecting to meet God and just go through the motions… how does that honour God?   If we fail to consider the one that we call our Lord and Saviour throughout the day… how does the honour God?  

We need to consider who God is as we go about our faith duties.  Perhaps duties is the wrong word, but how we live out our faith matters!  In James, we were oft reminded that if we didn’t let our lives be changed by the words we hear we are merely fooling ourselves.  So if God’s word doesn’t cause us to honour him more… what are we really doing?

I don’t want to be seen as offal in the sight of God…the gross bits of cattle, goats and sheep when they were sacrificed to God.  Do you?  I want God to be pleased when he sees me, to know that he makes a difference in my life. I want God to see the respect I offer to him, as insufficient though it be. 

malachi 2

Opinions Abound

Occasionally the comments that made me think caused others to think as well, sometimes with strong opinions.  This one on tithing was one such post.    The point with tithing though is this… doesn’t matter what you give to God.  Other things are much more important.  First, we have to remember it’s all his in the first place.  Second, our giving needs to be done joyfully and generously.  Third, 10% is a basic amount, a good starter for saving for yourself, for encouraging people in ministry and for helping to grow the kingdom of God.  

One of the speakers I was listening to made this statement “Our spouses are like a garment”.  I was fascinated by that idea and almost forgot to listen to the rest of the sermon!  🙂  But it made me think of how some women need to dress the part or their spouses are looked down upon… even if the wife has no part in her husband’s work.   Then I got to thinking about how my hubby doesn’t care about what I wear, if I dress up or down, but how if I dress up, his eyes smile.  Kinda like my eyes smile when I’m wearing something that I particularly like to wear.   Smiles are worth it, even if it causes you to do something you’d rather not.   I keep thinking I might be missing something but for now, isn’t it an interesting thought?

Excellent Sermons

On my second last day of listening to Malachi Sermons I watched this video below.   I loved the message of his sermon.  Malachi is a book of God calling his people back, offering hope instead of wrath. A call to see something deeper, that something more is offered.   Which has people looking forward to the New Testament where Jesus’ birth is the first thing talked about!

Oh…and that depiction of cattle when released from the barn for the first time after winter!  Brings back memories from my childhood of crazy cows and heifers delighting in freedom.   We should delight in the same way!

Have you written a post about something old?  Share it in the linky below!

May 2020

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O Master Let Me Walk With Thee

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O for a closer walk with God reminded me of O Master Let me Walk with thee.  With a different author and theme, this song calls for us to remember that God helps us be faithful in our walk with him. 

O Master Let Me Walk with Thee

O Master Let Me Walk with Thee, Lyrics

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
Before the taunting Pharisee;
Help me to bear the sting of spite,
The hate of men who hide Thy light.

The sore distrust of souls sincere
Who cannot read Thy judgments clear,
The dullness of the multitude,
Who dimly guess that Thou art good.

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

Author and History

The Still Hour was a section of the Sunday Afternoon paper.  Washington Gladden wrote this song for that section in 1879. It was written as a three-stanza poem with 8 lines each.  Later it was adapted to music with the unsuitable lines being dropped.  The original purpose was to be a poem not as a hymn, it took his friend Rev. C. H. Ri­chards to see the potential. 

Born in Pennsylvania, Gladden started his working life as a newspaper reporter.  Eventually, he received his pastoral credentials and started pastoring in Congregationalist churches throughout the United States.   He was not a prolific hymnist with only 7 known hymns, he also wrote papers and books. 

Thinking Deeper

I can hear the cry of the believing heart in this hymn, can’t you?

The plea of the believer to God, for his help, in maintaining a faithful walk with him.  The plea for faithfulness and steadfastness.  Don’t we all need that?

I know that through this Covid crisis that I am needing God’s help through it. The worry and concern I feel for those losing their businesses, for people struggling to find balance, weighs on me.  It’s not an easy thing to be denied our freedoms.  When I combine the two, it’s only through God that I’m doing okay.  🙂 

How about you?   Does this song strike a chord, reminding you that we have a God with whom we can plea for help?

Move Forward?

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It’s five-minute-Friday and again Miss Kate has given us a word prompt.  Today has been a good, but very busy day and I find myself sitting here feeling very tired. I think about how people are wanting to look forward, to when Covid-19 restrictions lift. I listen as I hear of suicides, see depression in action, and tempers flare, and I wonder… are we truly able to move forward?

feet walking, text move forward

The Story is Told

The story is told.
A baker, a musician and barber.
Losing their businesses as
The restraints of Covid-19 cause
Economic collapse and despair.

The Story is told
of a young man, 30 years old.
Visiting with tears, telling of
Desperate loneliness and wanting
It all to end.

The story is told
Day trips to parks are available.
But then next day we read
More tests, more positive results.
Caution and masks advised.

The story is told.
Death has occurred. A teen mourns a cousin
but no closure is given.
Friendships threatened
as Emotions erupt.

The story is told
Street Front businesses may open again.
One or two in a store at a time
Frowns and anger
Hurry yet wait.

The story is told
Wait
This story is not yet told
Or perhaps it has been.
Just not fulfilled.

The story is told
The day of the Lord is at hand.
Wrath can not be held back forever.
A time when God says “this is getting old”.
And acts.

The story is told.
Wrath is coming.
But in the midst of it all.
Grace is offered.
Return to me.

The story is told
over and over again.
Grace before wrath.
Do you see it?
Respond.

Move Forward

So how does it happen?  The way to move forward in the midst of all these stories?  Will this be time filled with regret be remembered or will we be in too much of a rush to move forward that the stories will be forgotten?  Time will tell as we move forward.