A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour

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Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour is a song that we’ve always sung quietly.  It’s never been a belt it out at the top of your voice type of hymn.  A song that is a call out to the Lord to hear us.   It did surprise me though, I did listen to a couple of youtube videos that were a wee bit peppy.  It struck me as a bit um… odd?  unexpected? different?

pass me not o gentle saviour

Lyrics to Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Refrain

Author and History

Fanny Crosby wrote this lovely hymn after she ministered at a prison where she was often interrupted by the prisoners calling out to God to “not to pass me by”.  She was so moved by their pleas that she wrote this song.  As Fanny said, “I wrote the lines with the men’s plead­ing wail still in my ears.”

Fanny Crosby is also known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers”.  Over the course of her lifetime, she wrote more than 8000 hymns.  A medical treatment when she was a wee child left her blind. She did not let this stop her from writing poetry, working in missions, or composing music. 

She met her husband, van Alstyne, at the NYIB. Even though she was friends with her husband, it was not a happy marriage. Their only daughter was lost shortly after birth. For all of her success in writing hymns, Fanny often lived in very poor conditions. 

Other Hymns by Fanny Crosby:

Pondering Deeper

Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV) 

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Reading the story of how such a great lyricist often lived a life of poverty saddened my heart. When I think today of how so many people make a living off writing music, and Fanny lived in poverty.   

But she maintained her faith in God.  She didn’t let the circumstances of her life lead to live in despair. She really understood the meaning of relying on God. The words from Psalm 73 really show the heart of Fanny.

Do they show your heart as well? 

Is it Possible?

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This poem wrote itself.  As soon as I saw today’s word prompt, the words flew off my fingers. Writing about the word possible was so incredibly easy.  Is it possible?  Of course it is!   Anything, given the right circumstances, is possible.

is it possible

Poem – Is it possible?

Is it possible? 
Is it possible to make the
impossible, possible?

This question fills my mind
at the single prompting
of one solitary word.

Can the impossible
be made possible?
Is it possible?

Can three distinct
beings
be just one?

Could God
walk in a garden
among his people?

Can God
Show grace
in making a big promise?

In stubbornness, can
a lesson
be learned?

In a hard-hearted
people
Listen and grow?

Can God
Make an impossible
decision?

A much loved
singleton boy
Given for a hurting world?

Impossible?
Oh just watch
the possible happen!

Scriptural Insights

Matthew 17:20
And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Luke 18:27
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

You are my Hiding Place

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I used to sing this song all the time.  I rarely hear it anymore as newer songs have taken it’s place.  You are my hiding place is a great song that reminds of our safety in God. 

You are my hiding place

Lyrics

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
 
I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
 
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
 
I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You
 
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
 
I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You
 
You are my hiding place (I will trust in You)
You always fill my heart (Let the weak say)
With songs of deliverance (I am strong)
Whenever I am afraid (In the strength of the Lord)
I will trust in You

Author and History

Michael James Ledner wrote “You Are my Hiding Place”.  I looked for information about him but failed to do so other than this one post. 

Mr. Ledner found himself in a time of despair.  In that moment he took the time to take the words of David and turn them into a song.  A song he wasn’t sure he wanted to live out, but needed to try. 

Thinking Deeper

 Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

What songs of deliverance do you have?

I read the words of this oh-so-familiar tune and that was the first thought, what are MY songs of deliverance?  What were David’s songs of deliverance?

Mine include things like — meals delivered when there was nothing on the table, meeting my man, minor car accidents that forced me to stop, friends who really listened when it was needful, and many more things.  God has been so amazing in my life.

How has he been amazing in yours?   How has he shown you that he is YOUR hiding place?   What songs of deliverance do you have? 

If You But Trust in God to Guide You

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If you but trust in God to guide you, a song I’ve sung with thee’s and thou’s, and also with the more current you’s.   This song calls for us to trust in God faithfully. Sometimes we need to be patient within that trust, waiting for God to act.  We are called to follow God unsweringly, regardless of the situations he leads us into. 

If you but trust in God to guide you

Lyrics

If thou but trust in God to guide thee,
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee.
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move. 

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee,
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness. 

Only be still and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And all-deserving love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him Who chose us for His own. 

He knows the time for joy, and truly
Will send it when He sees it meet.
When He hath tried and purged thee throughly
And finds thee free from all deceit;
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care. 

Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That He whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to everything. 

All are alike before the Highest.
‘Tis easy to our God, we know.
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to nought. 

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving.
So do thine own part faithfully.
And trust His word ; though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee —
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

History and Author

Georg Neumark was a German poet and a composer of hymns.  This is his most famous song and was originally entitled Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.  His studies in law got interrupted when he needed to flee due to war. He was able to finish, and even as he studied for the law he wrote more poetry and hymns.   

Twice he lost nearly all his possessions, once through robbery, the second time through fire.  In fact, after he lost all his possessions the first time and found himself in dire straits, he finally landed a job as a tutor.  This was when he wrote “If you but trust in God to Guide You”. 

Overtime his fortunes picked up and he was introduced to people who could help his career.   He died at age 60, in 1681. 

Thinking Deeper

Did you notice?   Both youtube videos contained different verses.  It was actually a bit of a challenge to choose lyrics because the hymn that I grew up with, was not in the preponderance of versions I found.   The second video actually contained a couple of the verses that I know. 

It’s one of the beauties of music right?  Take a tune, find words that fit the tune and sing praise to God. It’s also part of the frustration of singing songs out of different songbooks. Different editors keep different verses. And hymns get updated to current language sometimes changing word order and/or usage as well.

I know how much this frustrated me and I’m only in my mid-50’s. I wonder what it does to our faithful seniors when we change the words to the hymns they have sung for years?  Do we even consider them when we so blithely change songs to fit modern sensibilities?  I find it regretful. 

How best to Enable

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Enable, that’s the word of the week provided for us by Miss Kate. To enable is to give (someone or something) the authority or means to do something.  My question today is, how best to enable?  What can we do to enable others to get or have or become whatever it is needed?

How best to enable

How best to enable

It’s but a moment
Takes just a couple of seconds,
Help me.

But in that help me
Might come some baggage.

A help me always
Requires a giving
A showing of need.

Sometimes, just sometimes
That’s a very hard thing to do.

I had a friend
Years past, Who lived
Close to the pocketbook.

Things were hard, but
Asking for help, harder.

I never understood this
This reticence to
Ask for help.

Until, older age and pain
Crept in, and asking for help. Hard.

That admitting of weakness.
That internal feeling of
Shame, and regret, and sorrow.

So I ponder
How do we enable
the asking of help?

While ensuring the
Continuation of dignity?

I admittedly have
No solid answer, but
I’m learning.

That conversations matter,
The taking time to listen.

Or even the taking time
To explain the why,
Or even to not explain.

Sometimes, the offer made
is all that is needful.

Without the expectation
that only you,
Can meet a need.

Sometimes the best way
to enable.

Is while listening
just lend a hand
without explanation.

And perhaps we will learn
how best to enable.

How best to enable

Scriptural basis

Exodus 17:12

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

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O God, Our help in ages past…. our hope for years to come… 

All I have to do is hear those first few words and in my mind I’m belting out the words in my slightly off-key voice.  Sitting here the thought makes me smile.  I think perhaps this was Mr. Watts goal.  Create simple tunes that help people long-term learn about the God they worship. 

O God our help in ages past

Lyrics

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
 
Benearth the shadow of thy throne,
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
 
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
 
A thousand ages in thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
 
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
 
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home!

Author and History

Isaac Watts was a prolific songwriter who was born in Southampton, England.  A congregation minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician.

He once bemoaned the state of spiritual singing in church saying :  “To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion.”   He very much wanted people to pay attention to the words they lifted up in praise to God, ergo he wrote hymns.   Mr. Watts wrote some 750 hymns, in language that the common man could easily sing.

In 1703 he began suffering from a psychiatric illness which caused him to depend more and more upon his assistant when he was pastoring at London’s Mark Lane Independent Chapel.  He needed to resign in 1712. 

Other Isaac Watts Songs:

Thinking Deeper

So… do you see how God is your help and hope?  

I was talking with my mom the other day about how I have learned to trust God more deeply.  By seeing how his word has been lived out in the people in my life, the changes he wrought in them, to enable them to be people of God he has called them to be.  This, in me, builds trust.  It’s what God’s word does as well doesn’t it?

Shows us God in action in the lives of people. Shows how people can depend on God, and how God provides for his own throughout the years. 

So how have you seen God’s help in your life? What have you experienced that helps you to dwell securely in him?  In what ways have you been aware of his guiding hand? 

If you aren’t aware and would like to talk… I’m always happy to talk about the things of God with folk. 

What does it mean to be Observant

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Miss Kate has once again given us a word prompt for the week.   Observant has a couple of different meanings.   First to be quick to notice things.  Second is adhering strictly to the rules of a particular religion, especially Judaism.  To be an observant believer could also be described as being a devout believer.  These two definitions fit well with each other don’t you think?   What does it mean to be observant?

What does it mean to be observant

What does it mean to be observant?

The question is asked.
An eyebrow raised in expectation.
What does it mean to be observant?

To be observant is
Noticing the details.
Not just the large, but
Also the small. It is to
Pay attention.

But not only to pay attention
but to consider what
such an observation means.

A filled laundry basket
at the bottom of the stairs.
Noticed.
But it is truly observed
if it’s simply left there?

A neighbour sighs
Long and deep
Noticed.
But it is truly observed
If you don’t query why?

The 10 commandments
written down.
Noticed.
but if you ponder them not
Are they truly observed?

A group of children
circled round a singleton
Noticed.
Is observation truly seen
if you don’t watch for a few minutes?

A baby bunny
huddled in a corner.
Noticed.
But if you don’t look it over carefully
Are you being observant?

How many times in life
do you see, but
don’t truly observe?
Observation acts.
It doesn’t merely notice.
Think you not?

What does it mean to be observant?

What does it mean to be observant

Scriptural Insight

James 1:16-27

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Exodus 34:11-12

11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 12 Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. 

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe my ways.

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