A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Fresh Perspective

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The Five-minute Friday word of the day is Fresh. Wow… what a challenge because what IMMEDIATELY comes to mind is perhaps not something I should write on. 🙂  So what can I write on instead?   That’s the challenge.  Ah, I know… Fresh Perspective… isn’t that an idea I can work with? 

Fresh Perspective

Fresh Perspective

A glass of milk
Fresh from the fridge.
I stop and pause
For just a smidge.

Fresh ideas this
morning poured.
Considering science
Not a moment bored.

The Cosmological
Argument
Proof indeed that
God exist.

Or consider how
Without God.
Life is meaningless
Nothing abound.

Apologetics
Searching hard.
Questions to ask
Come by the yard.

Can one see
The truth in this?
That Jesus really
Did exist?

The questions
race through my mind.
Which to share?
How to be kind?

Fresh perspective
Comes to me.
Ask it now
A bit softly.

Taking note
Not to hurt
A questing heart
Let’s not be curt.

And so my heart
Which still does ache.
Takes new breath
For goodness sake.

Hope restored
A brand new year,
Let’s see where
Fresh perspective veer.

Where Ideas Spring From

So one of the things I like with SchoolhouseTeachers.com is that it comes with a subscription to RightNowMedia.   It was funny, I also get a subscription through my church but it seems they are different.   I dunno though as I haven’t exhaustively researched.  All I know, when I look up apologetics with one account, I see different stuff with the other.   Go figure. 

Anyways, it’s an amazing resource and I’ve been going through their Apologetics courses and some of them are short and sweet, and their thoughts easily remembered.  This morning I was listening to Reasonable Faith Defenders. 13 lessons, about five minutes each.  With questions.  Simple to remember questions that help questing hearts think.  

fresh start

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

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Love Divine, all loves excelling is a marvellous tune speaking to the love of God.  Charles Wesley is the author, a prolific hymn-writer, and a Methodist.  He worked with his brother John. 

love divine all loves excelling

Lyrics

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

I grew up singing this tune

History and Author

Charles Wesley is the author is this lovely old hymn.  Even more 200 years after his passing, the hymns of Charles Wesley continue to remain popular within the faith community. 

Charles lived much of his life in his brother’s shadow. Even so, he is the one who started the Holy Club in 1729 that his brother eventually led.  Faithful Moravians helped both John and Charles search deeper into spiritual matters.  As Charles’ faith was strengthened he began to write hymns.  Over his lifetime he wrote over 6000 hymns.  Wholesome Words has a more complete write up of Charles Wesley. 

Other hymns by Charles Wesley

This tune is not as familiar to me though I’ve sung it before.

Ponderings

Love Divine, all loves excelling…. can you see it?   Can you see Jesus as God’s expression of love to the world?  Then leading on to the Holy Spirit and how he moves in our hearts.  Then God!  God Almighty comes and we serve him, being blessed.  Looking on in the final verse to a new creation. 

Don’t you just enjoy the progression in this hymn?   Showing how the love of God touches us in so many ways, and then glory oh the glory that awaits.  So much hope, and it starts with God’s love.  Lovely eh?

Tick Tock

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YES!!!!!!!!!   Five minute Friday is back again!   I know I know, it was only a one week break… or was it two?   But Miss Kate listed the Five minute Friday at 10 p.m. tonight with the word Time.  I happily started my post and then suddenly my hubby was home from work… 1.5 hours later.  What a lovely nap I had!  I guess God knew better eh?  But my post, Tick Tock, stayed nicely in my head so when I woke up properly it was there to write.

Tick Tock

Tick Tock

Do you feel it running?
Tick Tock
Tick Tock
Do you hear it running?
Tick Tick Tock

Time marches on
Slowly, surely
Second after second.
Waits for no one
Tick Tick Tock

Take a moment to
consider how
Time is not ours to hold
It’s all held by God.
Tick Tick Tock

Not ours to hold
But every moment planned
As it, hmm, like maybe
today is meant for more.
Tick Tick Tock

Salvation, will it be
Today? Will you see
the beauty in each moment?
Tick Tick Tock

Time is found
within it, wisdom
Choices to make
God chooses our path
Tick Tick Tock

And how knows
as God orders our days
That perhaps, this situation
was meant for us.
Tick Tick Tock

It gives pause
As you look and see
How much control
God exerts with moments.
Tick Tick Tock

Tick Tock

Scriptural Inspiration

2 Corinthians 6:2

2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Proverbs 16:19

9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 90:12

12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Ester 4:14

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Col.4:5-6

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

My Hope is in the Lord

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I was trying to figure out a song to go with the beginning of the New Year. I was still thinking about the two sides of God which help us to focus on the hope we have as we face the New Year.  The song My Hope is in the Lord came to mind. 

Lyrics

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Him-self for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Cal-va-ry.

CHORUS:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He free-ly gives.

VERSE 2:
No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus’ righteousness

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 3:
And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 4:
His grace has planned it all
‘Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive

Author and History

American Norman J. Clayton, was a church organist since age 12.  He worked as a builder in New York. Mr. Clayton also started his own publishing house called Gospel Songs. This was his focus in music, to write Gospel songs of which he wrote a good number.  Hymntime maintains a list of the songs he created.   It was important to him that his music be biblically based and to that end, he memorized large quantities of scripture. 

Pondering This Song

I like to write poetry, and I try to make them biblically based for the most part.  Not always, some are just for fun.  I have written songs in the past but I haven’t memorized huge quantities of scripture.   I tend to look up the verses that I want.

When I consider his dedication to making sure that all his songs were biblical, it humbles me.  It is so easy for me to just look up what I want when perhaps I should be working harder at not having to look them up. To… not depend on technology so much but rather to hide God’s word more firmly inside of my heart. 

God Loves God Hates

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I actually started this post for the crew blog as I had a post due for it, but it wasn’t sitting well as suited for that forum.   Ergo, I thought I’d put it up on my blog here for you all!  After all, I normally do poetry on Fridays don’t I?   I chose the title God Loves God Hates as currently as I’m going through Proverbs these two ideas keep being impressed upon me. 

God loves us, he doesn’t want us to have to learn everything the hard way.  He’s given us an instruction manual (the bible), and in particular he’s given us short statements that speak truth. 

God loves God hates

God Loves God Hates

A New Year is around the corner
Waiting
With baited breath.

Will it be a year
the same as the one
Just passed?

Or, will it be
a year of change?
That some pundits predict.

Oh, it’s difficult to
Predict the future
Isn’t it?

But one thing we know
Two things really
Provide hope.

Regardless of
What happens in the world.
God Loves, God hates.

These two things are
Consistent and true
Within that we live.

How does God hates
Provide for hope?
Knowing limits structure provides.

Proverbs says
Six things the Lord Hates,
Seven an abomination.

Structure given
Knowledge gained.
Limits known.

How does God Love
provide for hope?
A son given, a way shown.

For in this way
God showed his love
He gave his only Son.

Born, The Son.
Died, The Son.
Risen, The Son.

Hope fills
the world
with immense light.

Indeed, this is why
A new year is
filled with hope.

Join together
Discover all that God is
Love God, Hate what he hates

Together
As his very own
This New Year be hope!

Scriptural Inspiration

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Can you see it?  Can you see God loves?  God loves specifically and generally.

Can you see that God hates?  He hates specific things, these things are not good for people.  They showcase nothing of benefit to anyone.  

O Little Town of Bethlehem

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I originally posted about O Little Town of Bethlehem on my previous blog.  We sang it recently in an advent service and I thought it was worth repeating for you today.  🙂  

o little town of Bethlehem

Lyrics to O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together,
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessèd Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

Author and History

Written by Philip Brooks, was an American, an Episcopal preacher.  Although he failed as a teacher, he ended up as the rector at Boston’s Trinity Church for a long time.  He was active in the political and religious circles, and spoke against slavery.  The city of Boston has pictures and a bit of a biography into his life. 

Brooks wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem three years after he took a trip to Bethlehem.  This poem, turned song, was a fond recollection of his trip to that tiny town of Bethlehem and the sights he saw there. His organist, Lewis Redner, put his poem to music creating an easy song for the children of his congregation to sing.   Most hymnals today omit the fourth verse. 

Pondering

Until today I didn’t know about this orginal fourth verse

Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the undefiled;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

I love those last two lines eh?  Seeing the hope shown when glory breaks and Christmas is here again!  That celebration of what God wrought in the world.  A marvellous thing don’t you find? 

Away in a Manger

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Away in a Manger is a beloved Christmas that has been sung by people of all ages for a long time.  I have memories (dim though they are) of singing this song in Sunday school Christmas programs at church.  I also wrote a post about Away in a Manger on my previous blog.

away in a manger

Lyrics to Away in a Manger

 
Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
 
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
 
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
 
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
‘Til morning is nigh
 
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray
 
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to Heaven
To live with Thee there

Author and History

Martin Luther is purported to be the author, yet many think this song is completely of American origin.  It’s one of those songs for children that has been adapted/changed over the years.  The reason so many think that Luther is the author is due to the existence of his cradle song.  But Luther isn’t the author since he never claimed it and the earliest copies were created after his death.  Discipleship Ministries spells out the history of this American-made cradle song.  The earliest version found is from 1934. 

Two main tunes, those I’ve sung at least three different tunes are Kirkpatrick and Murray.   I tried to pick two different versions for you to enjoy, and perhaps sing along with.  🙂 

Ponderings

The truths of scripture can be found with this cradle song.  In a manger, no bed, and the stars were probably visible from where he was born. 

Heartfelt sentiment and hope are found. Love for the Lord Jesus, Jesus looking down from the sky, staying with us, and God to whom we pray.

Questionable theology: No crying he makes.  It could be the Jesus was the best baby ever, but is crying a bad thing?  Isn’t it a human response to need? Is the “no crying he makes” the wanting to look past Jesus as a human baby and only seeing his God-hood? 

I dunno.  It’s good though to think about the words we sing don’t you find?