A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Abandoned

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It’s five minute Friday time and of course I’m writing this on a Saturday since it’s HARD to get to the writing on a Friday!!!!  🙂    Anyways, today’s word prompt is abandon.   That gets my brain working in several different directions.  What shall we abandon came to mind, thinking of all the things we give up when we get to know the Lord better.  Abandon it!  Was another, thinking on the things we want to keep but perhaps shouldn’t.   I settled on Abandoned as it fits my mode better today I suppose.  🙂  Let’s see where that title takes us eh?

image of teenage girl in dirty room. Text says Abandoned

Abandoned

“Go away God.
I’m so tired of having
you around bossing me!!!”

This angry thought filled
the mind of one 14 year old
teenage girl. Tired and angry
and feeling pursued.

And God left.
My mom had NO clue
what I was thinking but
said “are you okay? You’re
as pale as a ghost!”

You see… God left.
And feeling that complete
and utter absence of him
was enough
to break a stubborn and
willful heart. I
immediately recanted
that impetuous demand.

I can’t say that I’m
not a willful and stubborn
person anymore. I am!!!
And God and I have had
more than one argument.
But after 60 some years
he is wearing down my edges.

But do I ever fear
being abandoned by him?
No, we’ve come to a clear
and certain understanding.
He will never ever leave
me or forsake me.
And I will always ask
him for forgiveness, and
keep turning back to him.

Ever the repentant
child returning to a
Father who understands
that child’s heart full well.

Taking our Comfort

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This week’s five minute Friday word is comfortable.   I thought I’d take a moment and see what the definition of comfortable was.  Comfortable as an adjective is something that provides physical ease or relaxation.   I read that definition and I think it’s missing something so let’s see if we can suss out it is eh?  And oh boy, this poem, Taking our Comfort, went in a slightly different direction than I planned.   One’s thoughts during a day of work don’t always match the comfort of writing in a chair late at night. 🙂 

text is taking our comfort, image of tortie cat sitting in chair

Taking our Comfort

She sits,
licking her belly,
no enemy in sight,
calmly, quietly,
if one dare say it,
She’s rather comfortable.

My hubby’s red recliner,
which is “his spot” has also
been claimed by the oldest
furry member of the house.

A younger member, loafs
quietly, no need to
knock things off tables,
or shelves, or to push his
way onto a laptop, since
a belly has been filled.

A there comes along
the youngest, still called
kitten, though at least
two years old now. Doing
what she does, checking
for unforeseen movement,
the thrill of the chase,
a delight and comfort to
a busy young gal.

What do I see?
What can I learn?
Do cats have something
to tell me about comfort?

It’s partly a state of
mind I think. The stuff
in our lives can make us
complacent eh?

The physical need met,
we forget that danger
lurks under the surface.
The kitten is very much
aware as she watches.

She has not yet learned
she doesn’t need to be
so very mindful, she is not
so easy to make comfortable.

As people, I think we need to
be more like the kitten.
Aware of the movements that
signify danger or that we
might be prey, or that there
is prey to catch.

From a faith perspective,
knowing that one lurks about
trying to catch us off-guard,
one who would draw us away,
away from the spiritual
comfort that God provides.

So is comfort more than the physical?
Yes, it starts there though
I think for many, for most.
But we must be ever
diligent. Taking our comfort
from the one who PROVIDES for
our needs, rather than from
the provisions supplied.

Seven Are Chosen to Serve

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Recently in our church the pastor did a series on how the church operates.  From membership through to leadership. As I read this passage, on how the Seven are chosen to Serve, my thoughts hearkened back to those sermons.  How every single part of the church is vital to it’s long term survival and mission. Without members the church doesn’t survive, without good leadership the church cannot thrive.   Both are needed and vital for God’s work within that community to flourish.     

Without further delay, let’s read today passage.  Acts 6:1-7

 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Text: seven were chosen to serve. white paint in background

a complaint made

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists

So the church is growing.  My guess would be rapidly.   Anyone who knows  how rapid growth goes, things can easily slip through to cracks.  A complaint is made by the Hellenists.

Who are the Hellenists? 

The Hellenists are Jews, who practice their faith, but have chosen to speak Greek.  Not only that, they have assimilated into the Greek culture.  Like believers today who live in the culture of the day, that blending in creates conflict within.  You know your faith, but you are also part of the culture and making it all fit together is sometimes a challenge.  The Hellenists had their faith, but they were also Greek in how they lived and talked. 

their complaint

their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

And there is the crack.  People were being missed.  The church did their best to care for their own, but folks were being missed,  The Hellenists had a genuine complaint. No one wants to feel like one of their own is being neglected. 

I love how the twelve apostles immediately responded. 

They called a meeting of all the disciples right away.  Stated their priorities clearly and then made some decisions.

And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The priority of the disciples

The disciples were so clear. Their job was preaching the word of God.   It was not their job to serve tables.  And they shouldn’t be asked to do so. 

So they came up with a solution: The disciples should pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.   These men will be appointed to this duty of serving the people.   The apostles on the the other hand will continue doing what they are supposed to be doing in devoting themselves “to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Makes me wonder, do we honour that commitment well with our teaching/leading pastors?   Do we let them focus on prayer and teaching or do we expect them to lead small groups, help organize church luncheons, and/or be present at all the things?   Do we expect them to visit everyone in the congregation at least once a year?  Be the MC at various events?  How can be help our teaching leaders/pastors/elders build prayer into their lives in a pivotal way?   What support do we provide to allow them to better seek truth in God’s word so they can then share that with us? 

Just some thoughts.  I know I sometimes have false expectations without doing the supportive encouragement that I aught to. 

Sometimes I see the failings before I look for a solution.  (just like the Hellenists, making their complaint who let the apostles find the solution). 

Seven Are Chosen to Serve

The disciples needed to choose seven men to serve their community. 

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Therefore seven men were chosen.  Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.  Seven men to oversee the caring of the community.  Men who could ensure that no one was missed, while letting the apostles do what they must. 

6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

These men were part of a service where they were accepted into ministry through prayer and blessing.  Anointed, if you will, into the office of deacon. 

The End Result

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

People were saved!!!  The church continued to grow.   More disciples made. Not only that, lots of priests were converted to the faith. 

Isn’t it fantastic how when people hold to their calling God honours that?  The apostles were called to teach and pray, and they didn’t stop doing that.  Instead they opened up ministry to seven men to serve the community.  Seven men to make sure the whole community was served well.   And God allowed their church to grow.  I just love hearing stories like that. Don’t you?

Follow Along

 If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?   

Clearer Sight

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Sight is the word prompt this week.   Not the easiest word for me to work with, and eventually I remembered a song we did in church and how a line caught my attention.   Clearer sight is what I need.   Particularly when it comes to trusting.  Let’s wak with my thought process.   What about you, when do you need clearer sight?

clearer sight

Clearer Sight

This morning in church
communion, and a sermon
about trust God in
Three different ways.

A song with the line
“eyes to see”. The
song filled with references
to trusting Jesus in knowing truth.

The question comes to
me tonight as I ponder
sight. How much do I
trust God, trust Jesus,
to help me see truth well?

How much of knowing God
is me trusting my own
wisdom, my own intellect
to discern what is being said?

Do I truly rely on God
to teach me truth What part
of studying his word is
my own decision and
therefore failing?

Would trusting him more
led to less failure and
struggle in this regard?
And so how to I build
on the trust factor?

And that question brings
me to the crux of it
you see it yes?
How does one build
trust in a specific area
when one wants to do
it themselves.
Independent and capable
not needing anything
or anyone to make it work.

It’s a constant battle
So how does one have
clearer sight to see the
need to trust more deeply?

I need to more like a
little child, one who
sees clearly the one they
are trusting in and just
take that leap, or hold that
hand, or just accept the
care given.

Oh, hold on, that’s what
I need to see.
The Care Given.
God cares. Genuinely cares.
It matters to him.

And just like it mattered
when I needed to trust
my earthly dad, and so I
trusted him. So to, it
matters that I trust God
and so must needs do.

It matters.
So prayer.
Continued conversation.
Time (not mine to manage)
Reading and/or listening
and contemplation.
Trust God to manage it.

The Briefest Way I Can Say It

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Ta-da!!!  It’s five minute Friday again, and today’s word is brief.   Brief takes me in a number of different directions from thinking about the significance of a briefcase, to how I don’t want to be brief, and how briefness is sometimes a good thing.  BUT how briefness is often times NOT a good thing in today’s society.   Hmm… which way shall I run today?   Well I did get something written on Sunday but…. Didn’t really like it in the end so had to give more thought.  In the end I came up with the briefest way I can say it.

image of empty tomb, text the briefest way I can say it

The Briefest Way I can Say it

Hubs and I were chatting today
on the way home from church.
The bible makes it very clear.
Salvation, briefly stated,
is a firm belief that Jesus
died for our sins, was raised from the dead,
and lives in heaven. He died, willingly,
so that we could be made right again.

That’s it.
There’s lots of window dressing
in the faith. All things
that are important, but
those items, as important as they are,
are NOT the pivotal point in having
relationship with God. To having
true faith in God.

Do you know that Jesus died
for YOUR sins?
Do you recognize your need to
says Sorry God, I’ve been wrong?
Can you see what Jesus did?
The choice God made in having HIS
most beloved boy come to earth, live
a human life, then to die FOR YOU?

That’s the thing
that the most important thing.
In a nutshell, in
the briefest way I can say it.

We sinned.
God saw it.
He made the choice
to make a way for us
to come back to him.

And that is the Christian
faith, understanding, believing,
that God made the way.

Not how we are baptized.
Not how we live out the
gifts of the Spirit.
It doesn’t matter the
denomination, or any of the
trappings around how we live
out that faith.

The pivotal part is
this… do we know Jesus
and his death and
his resurrection?

How would you briefly
lay out what it means to
love God and to be saved
by him?

candlelight and skulls in dramatic still life
Photo by Calwyn Ace on Pexels.com

God Speaks

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Rom 6:23

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16

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.  1 Pet 2:9-10

What it means to be responsible

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I haven’t missed two FMF posts in a row for a VERY long time now, and these past two weeks I missed a couple of good ones. I don’t have the email suggestions for them anymore, but one of them was for the word Approval. Would have been a good one to write, but sometimes life intervenes in plans made. Today let’s consider what it means to be responsible.

picture of vanity with text what it means to be responsible.

What it means to be responsible

What it means to be responsible
is sometimes hard to figure.
Leaving one’s own wants and
desires to meet the needs of another
sometimes.

Such as choosing to help, instead of writing
a blog post, a new poem of the week,
taking the time to sand,
and then paint a new to us vanity.

Responsibility has one
benefitting at times.
When doing what is right
and needful has a reward.

Working hard at a job
mostly on one’s own due
to vacation needs of
co-worker, extra hours earned.

Being able to do one’s job
requires restfulness and sleep
and fighting an ear infection
meant early bedtimes.

Responsibility means
making choices between hobbies
such as writing as well as
critter raising with household needs.

Dishes need washing, lawns need mowing,
cats need minding, beds to be made,
and laundry down. Hubby’s need
conversation. Leaving time for bed!

So I think about these past two weeks
and decisions I had to make that
left me poem-less in all my
responsibilities and…

I think of Jesus choosing
his responsibilities. He wanted
the cup to be removed, but accepted
it could not be so filled his responsibilities.

He died so that we could
have right relationship with God.
Increasing God’s family size, his family size,
while ensuring victory over evil.

Matthew 26:36-39

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Where Are You Now?

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I saw the word here (the word prompt from Miss Kate) and the thought that immediately popped into my mind was “where are you now?” I figure I can write about the word here using that as my starting point. Shall we see how it goes?

image of black fidgit toy spinner. Text where are you now?

Where are you now?

Sitting here
watching SVU where
a lady and her group of
detectives help people
folk from sexual abuse.
But is it really where I am?

My thoughts are on the word
here, so the show is actually
just noise in the background.

Earlier today I was
at work, my manager
busy preparing for
her vacation. Lots of
prep needed to make sure
I knew what I needed to
cover in her absence.

Was she at work?
Yes, but not really.
Her mind was at home and all
the packing she has yet
to do for 13 days away.

I attend services on Sunday
at the church
30ish minutes away.
Sometimes my activity levels
mentally prevent easy
listening and attention
giving so my mind needs
extra help that note taking
doesn’t cover.

Occasionally I’ll take
out my phone and play a
game which gives me just
a bit of a mental push
and I can focus, and
sometimes hubby asks
“Where are you now?”

He’ll see the note taking
stop and notice I’m not
looking up and thinking.
Because I’ve let myself
get lost and need a
conscience pull back.

He’s quiet and discreet.
And he shows his love
in so many ways, and
often points me back
to God our creator.

Despite my wandering
busy mind. My lack of
focus which drives me
nuts so very often.

That quiet
“where are you now?”
calls me back.

So have you ever been
asked the question
Where are you now
when focus on something
more is needed?