A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

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.

Precious Jewels

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Precious Jewels, also known as When He Cometh started running through my head this morning.  I was listening to a preacher talk about Jesus coming again some day (maybe tomorrow) and how he will gather up his precious Jewels.   I started humming this song to myself and figured it would be a good one to share with you this Sunday. 

Precious Jewels

Lyrics to Precious Jewels

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Like the stars of the morning,
His brightness adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Author and History

William O Cushing wrote this song back in 1856 whilst travelling on a steamer.  He wanted to host a sing song and wanted to play something everyone might learn to know.  He chose an American tune called “His Jewels” written by George Root and by voyage end everyone had learned the Jewel Song.   At least that is one version of the origin.  The other is that he wrote it for the children in his Sunday School class.   Which is true?  I dunno.  Both are, from what I can tell, equally valid.  🙂 

William Orcutt Cushing was the son of an American Unitarian pastor, who when he grew married, also became a pastor. Over the course of his lifetime, he wrote more than 300 hymns such as Follow On.  He was only in ministry for 27 years due to a creeping paralysis that overtook him. 

Ponderings

Hymns are made so we can see God more clearly you know that?  They help us focus in on an aspect of God worthy of being praised. 

This song helps to see God’s love for us, and just how very precious we are to him. His very own children that he is gathering in. 

Kinda makes me think of Smaug, you know the dragon from Lord of the Rings, who gathers in all his wealth and how precious it was to him.  God’s love for us is pure and bright though, his love for us deep and unfathomable. Not a selfish, hoarding love, but a love of freedom and responsibility, and deep deep concern. 

Such a restful thought it is I find.  Knowing the depth of God’s love for me, and how he is gathering not only me but all his other loved ones in. 

Things are New Again

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Okay, so I think my brain glitched today.  I could have sworn the word for today was new, but I guess it’s normal!  AH WELL, not changing my post now anymore!   But it is a normal thing for me to be out working hard in a garden in the springtime.  And this year I got to celebrate a new bunny into my herd.   Gregory was gifted to me by a bunny friend and he’s young and somewhat lacking in confidence.  He showed his fortitude by going down a rather, to him, scary ramp.  Gaining confidence until he was zipping up and down like an old pro. 🙂 

Things are New Again

Every Year
It Starts again
The green billowing up
Things are new again.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

Blue spring flowers

Blue and white
Abounding Colours
Muddy background, getting covered
Things are new again.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Luke 12:27

New raised Garden Beds

Raised Beds
Building Again
Homes for vegetables, providing
Growing new food again.

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.  Isaiah 30:23

Gregory the english lop Braved the Ramp

Lifting, Hauling
Building, crawling creativity
Freedom, and bravery shown in new bunny
Gregory freely roaming.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Bags of garden dirt near completed gardens

Bit by bit
Completion at hand
The filling in of beds is done
Things are new Again

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Col.3:17

Things are New Again

This has been a Five Minute Friday post, I urge you to join us focusing in on the word normal with Miss Kate.   Write for five minutes, comment on those that have gone on before, and well… you know…  be creative!  🙂 

Hymns for Mother’s Day

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I’m going to do something a wee bit different today.  Instead of focusing on one hymn I thought I would like to a number of youtube hymns for Mother’s Day.  Afterall.. it is Mother’s Day today, might as well rejoice in all that is mother!  🙂 

Hymns for Mother's Day

I could not find the lyrics to this Honour Christian Mothers. It’s sung to the tune Onward Christian Soldiers. 

The author of Where Can I Turn for Peace wrote this song out of concern for her anorexic daughter. 

As I was searching for hymns for mother’s day I was surprised that Count your Blessings came up a few times.  Kinda makes sense if you consider the words you know? 

A Mother’s Love is a Very Special Thing, sung by a group of children.

There actually aren’t very many well-known hymns for Mother’s day.  You can find a good list at Hymnary, but honestly, I didn’t know any of them.