A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Review: Free Of Me

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Free of Me is a book written by Sharon Hodde Miller.  In this book  Ms. Miller invites us to look to Jesus more and to ourselves less.  To in essence, be free of ourselves, to not be so self-focused as we are apt to me.

What do you get?

In Free of Me you get three sections, 14 chapters total. 

The first section lays down the ground work. Reminding us of just how distractible we truly are. How very self-focused we are prone to being.

In section two we are introduced to seven mirrors: God, Family, Appearance, Possessions, Friendships, Calling and Church. All these things we often make just about us.

The last section spells out how we break out of this cycle: Praise, People, Purpose, Passion and Forgetting yourself without neglecting yourself. 

Each chapter starts with a quote and ends with discussion questions, bible verse and a prayer. I actually liked the discussion questions.  They were meaty “make you think” types of questions, not just regurgitate information types.

So What Did I Think?

I have to admit, the start of the book had me a bit “meh” …the examples she used from her own life didn’t resonate with me at all, and ergo her message didn’t either.  This is the danger in using a book based on your own life, or filled with examples from your own life, if they don’t resonate with the reader, the message threatens to be lost.

I persevered though and actually jumped head to the possessions chapter.  I went here because I’m struggling with “what to get rid of” with our impending move.  What do I need?  What can I keep?  What matters most to me?  This chapter pointed out this … my security comes from the Lord not the stuff that I own.  Plain and simple.  Doesn’t make the getting rid of stuff easier (as in picking and choosing), but it does help my perspective and therefore my angst.  Perspective matters!

I see this popping up everywhere in this book, if we take our eyes off ourselves, it gives us the opportunity to see whatever is in front of us.  Ugly plates that were a gift… the person loved me enough to give them to me.  My friend didn’t say hi in church… perhaps life hit them hard and they couldn’t see you for their own pain.  I wasn’t invited to a party… who else wasn’t invited?   So forth and so on.     Mind your perspective. Focus less on yourself.  See God and his people more clearly…without those blinders getting in the way.

I haven’t read through the entire book, I’ve picked my way through parts eh?   But what I read seemed solid.  It was very full of the life stories of the author, which you may or may not connect with.  They may or may not give you a way to connect with the truisms presented. 

See God more.  See yourself less.  Be mindful of the sneaky ways you see yourself too much.

Oh… Just so you know Ms. Miller has a blog called “She Worships“.She does some good writing. 🙂

Free of Me
  Why Life is Better when It's not about you.
Sharon Hodde Miller 
Baker Books
Trade paperback, 204 pages
Faith, inspirational, women

Reviewed for: Nuts about Books.

here can you find: Amazon Link.

From All that Dwell Below the Skies

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I have to admit that I am not as familiar with this hymn “From All that Dwell Below the Skies” as I am some, but I do know the tune and remember singing it often enough that it comes easy to my ears.  This hymn surprisingly was written by a number of different folks.

Isaac Watts wrote vs 1-2, Someone unknown vs 3 (though some say Robert Spence wrote this one as well), and then Robert Spence wrote vs 4 (and others say as editor he added the last two from an unknown author).  In my hymn book I only have the first three stanzas. 

Isaac Watts: A smart lad born into a Puritan family, he was writing poetry at age 6, he became a believer at age 15.  He was a man of poor health, called to the clergy, poet and hymn writer. He wrote his music in order to reach the ordinary Christian believer. He wrote nearly 30 theological treatises; essays on psychology, astronomy, and philosophy; three volumes of sermons; the first children’s hymnal; and a textbook on logic that served as a standard work on the subject for generations. (source)

Robert Spence: was the editor of  A Pocket Hymn-Book, Designed as a Constant Companion for the Pious in 1781.  I haven’t learned a lot else about him.

 

Lyrics

From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator’s praise arise;
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung,
Through every land, by every tongue.

Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends Thy Word.
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.

Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring,
In songs of praise divinely sing;
The great salvation loud proclaim,
And shout for joy the Savior’s name.

In every land begin the song;
To every land the strains belong;
In cheerful sounds all voices raise,
And fill the world with loudest praise.

Add Alleluia, Alleluia after every second line for
 Lasst Une Erfreuen tune that I am most familiar with

I don’t tend to sing this hymn to the following tune, but it is an alternative. 🙂

Motivate

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I’m tired with a rather nasty cold beating me into submission so this Five Minute Friday post will be short and sweet.

Motivate

Means

Opportunity

Truth

Inspire

Victory

Activate

Trigger

Excite

Join with the people of Crete, be motivated, be zealous in doing good works.  See the truth of the Lord, the one who never lies, the one who always has your back, who intimately knows your every true need.  Trust him.  Be motivated by his love for you.   Be changed by him.  He’s got your good at heart. 

———-

Kate, the proprietor of the Five Minute Friday community, invites us weekly to come join her for a Five Minute Word Prompt. We gather the world over to share our thoughts over one word. Encouraging each other along the way.   Won’t you come join us?

 

God Never Lies

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So I know I’ve already looked at the first chapter of Titus, but as I was putting up my blog posts into my social media I saw this line: 

, which God, who never lies, 

And I thought to myself, I don’t think I really looked at those words. 

Brings me back to my youth when I was convinced there was NOTHING God could not do. Oh, I argued with my catechism teacher…until he showed me this verse. Then I learned that indeed there were things that God cannot go and one of this :

HE CANNOT LIE. 

Imagine that. 

I remember when I learned that I was stunned.  To think of a being that never ever lied.

So content within himself that he doesn’t need to make himself look good, can keep track of all his commitments, doesn’t forget anything, always remembers promises made.  

I was so completely stunned.    I still am.

Can you imagine what that means?  I know that God doesn’t lie?  It means you can trust him implicitly.   He’s not telling you something that isn’t true.  When he says he acts in us in order that we might show his glory…. he means exactly that.  Our lives tell others something about him.  His actions tell us about him. His words are true and in keeping with who he is in his entirety.  

It leads me to ask this of you.

What does it mean to YOU to know that God doesn’t lie?

 

Devote Yourself to Good Works

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Learning today from Titus 3:12-15/

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

As always, when Paul closes off a letter to someone he gives some instructions about plans he has.  Today his instructions are fairly simple for the most part… 

He plans to send either Artemas or Tychicus to him, and when, whoever it is arrives, he wants Titus to come to him at Nicopolis.  Paul is hoping to spend the winter there which gives Titus time to arrive (I am making an assumptions here).

Speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, being generous in your support of them so that they don’t lack in anything they need.  Think on that a spell eh?  To be so generous with fellow believers when they travel for a reason that they LACK NOTHING.  I’m too stingy for that!  I’m sorry, I so easily count the cost of everything, wondering how little I can get away with.   Are you the same?   Are you generous in your helpfulness?

Then comes this line from Paul “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”  Oh… but I am called to account.  If I am so busy counting my pennies… am I devoted to good works or… am I devoted to myself and my own needs?  It’s not a pretty picture.

I think if I saw God’s mercy and his love for me MORE clearly this wouldn’t be an issue.  When I look at the future, with hubby currently not having a job, and me trying to watch our pennies so I can be protective of the future and our needs… am I seeing God clearly?   Or I am worrying about something I aught not worry on.  If God cares for the birds (even in this bitter cold weather) why wouldn’t I think he’ll take care of me?  Ergo, my giving to others, when called upon, should be generous and not stingy.   It should be a good works because of my trust in God.   Don’t you think?

How do I cultivate that type of response?  How can I see God more and myself less?   Might I somehow make it a more automatic response?   I suppose the same way I treat my boy… calling him out on poor decision making and helping him make a better one. Over and over again. The repetition builds automatic responses.  Responses of faith in the Lord instead of trusting to myself.  Responses of Good works and not minding my own self.  Generousity in my giving through deliberate action.

Let us help those with urgent need generously.  Let us do good works. Let us choose to not be unfruitful. Let me choose to trust God more easily, and honestly…he does have my back, he does care what happens to us down the road, he is EVER mindful.  Be generous.

Paul closes with this line of greeting: All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.   Greet each other.  Love others in the faith.  Extend grace to each other.

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This Reason

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Continuing our study of Titus 3:1-11.  Verses 1-2 here. 

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Do you remember how we are called to be better than what we are?  Submissive, obedient and so forth?

Paul isn’t just talking to the people of Crete for he says this “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Paul acknowledges that we’ve all come from the selfish place of being foolish, and disobedient, easily led astray, stuck to only following our passions, wanting what we don’t have and being angry about it.  It’s been part of our lives.  BUT then this happened.

The goodness and kindness of the Lord appeared.  The Saviour came. His mercy was shown.  It was not a “We did this thing” but a “God came and showed his love and mercy and kindness thing”. 

We had no works of righteousness (remember we are caught up in following our own passions, looking out only for ourselves)… but then God acted.  His son the Saviour appeared.  The Holy Spirit worked his acts of regeneration and renewal.  Things changed.  God did this thing.

By being justified (made right) by his grace (his mercy shown) we became his kids, his heirs.  Eternal life is ours.  

 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Paul goes on to say that Titus must insist that the people of Crete know these things, that they believe in them, and then act on them.  It is good for them to know these things, indeed for everyone to know them for it is an excellent and profitable thing for the people of God. 

He warns them to  avoid “foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law“.  These arguments aren’t profitable, in fact they are worthless.  Paul goes so far as to tell them that if they know a person who tries to create such foolish arguments that they should just simply avoid him.  Have nothing to do with him because that person is living in their sin, not trying to get out of it. “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

I have to admit, sometimes it’s hard for me to hear these words.  To hear how bad we all are, who we need to determine to live differently because of what God did for us. 

I hear those words about not listening to the foolish among us, those that want to stir up trouble. It’s something I need to caution my lad on as he gets to be at an age where he’s putting facts together and sometimes he argues foolishly over things that don’t matter.   It’s a learning process right?  But I don’t want him cementing this methodology and having to fight against it as an adult or end up being one avoided, you know?

Remember though the reason:  “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  This is the reason we change.  Thanks be to God.

Bibles and Devotional Plans

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What with the new year coming up and people starting to think about making a new start I thought I would talk with you abit about doing regular devotions (yes, talking to myself here as well) and about some of the different bibles you could use in your journey.

First up, what do I use? 

This is the bible I use almost exclusively when I am not at home. 

It’s the ESV bible app.    It’s on my phone, I use it for church, devotions with the lad and whenever I need quick access to God’s word.  

I love it’s portability, and how this translation was done.  Suits me all round. 

 

Devotions on line catch me using this site: BibleGateway.  I like that I can toss the footnotes out, and customize it to my preferences.   

One of the things I really like is that if I am struggling with understanding a passage is just how easily I can switch from one translation to another.   Different translations bring insight. 

Bibles:

Over the past year or so it’s been my delight to review a number of different bibles, I’d like to point out some of our favourites.

Hubby’s Choice: The NIV Reader’s Bible. 

This is just a lovely book.  Good paper, great readability.  Just read the bible just like you would any other book. Not looking for verses or section headings, just the words of God written down for you.    He’s not a fan of the NIV but he likes this bible just for it’s readability.

My Son’s choice: Kids NIV Visual Study Bible.  

For my son’s church youth group he needs to have a physical bible and over the year he’s had a chance to see different bibles and the various elements that make them useful.  He had one he used a lot until he saw this Visual Study Bible and asked if he could have it instead. 

 

 

 

Some other bibles of note that we’ve seen:

Faith Builders Bible.  There was much we liked in this theme based bible. 

The Jesus Bible.  Which I know I reviewed but in the change from one site to another I can’t find it.  A nice bible that my son preferred until The Visual Bible came along.  And I have to admit, if I needed to pick one from this list, this bible would be the one I would use.   It was very simple, just a nice solid bible. 

NIV Revolution Bible.  This is a bible geared to guys.   Good bible this one with lots of helps to encourage young men in their journey of faith. 

ANYWAYS, Before I forget the point of this post… It’s the start of a new year coming up.  Have you thought about becoming more focused in your study of God’s word?

Devotional Readings/Bible Study

Navigator’s have some bible reading plans. 

Bible Study Tools has a number of differently focused bible reading plans for you to consider. 

BibleGateway has some bible reading plans you might like to follow. 

You can follow along on this blog as I do my devotions.  I tend to read through books of the bible and post my thoughts as I go through sections. 

You can follow along with Traci’s Group on Facebook. 

If you simply want to read through the bible in a year and are good with checklists, go here!

 

Original Photo: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash