A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Faith

Family at Christmas

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T’is the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la la la la lah

It’s that time of the year.  People busy finding ways to bring a smile to faces of loved ones.  A present, a song, a game or two.  Laughing, talking, sharing a drink, conversing over a meal, and/or listening to a book while driving long hours.

Why do we do this?  All this socializing and getting together?  Is there a real reason?  For most around, it all seems to be about celebrating Santa, and making a big deal over gift giving, going into debt, and spending time with family.  When I watch TV shows it’s all about love, romance, what you can get or give, and family.

As I think about it, have to admit that family is a HUGE part of Christmas.

family at christmas

Family at Christmas

Family is a huge part of Christmas
From the beginning it was.
A time to celebrate
To remember that God
Gave us part of his family.

Gave willingly
Indeed sent him to earth.
A wee baby boy
When the time was just right.
Gave us part of his family.

Choosing a lady
To be mother to his lad.
A girl who knew
To trust in her dad.
Choosing to follow God the Father.

Telling a man
Trust this girl that you choose
She didn’t do wrong
That’s my boy she carries.
Choosing to believe God the Spirit.

A wee young boy
Carried so far
A census was called
A stable was found.
And God the Son came forth.

Birth happened.
A son was born.
Mom chosen, Dad relieved,
God has seen at every step.
God at work for his family.

Whose is family?
Why it’s you and me.
Perhaps not BY birth.
But adopted as it by birth.
God acted for his family.

Faith in God’s action
Trusting God’s word
Repentance in hearts.
Belief lived out.
God calls us family.

This family,
This family we celebrate every year.
Being part of family is good.
Being part of God’s family is greater.
Celebrate true, God’s family for for us.

Stop in and visit Miss Kate won’t you?  This week the word prompt is birth. 

What Child is This

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I recently wrote a poem called Darkness Fell, where I asked the question, what happens when hope appears?  The question is, where does our hope spring from?  It starts with a baby born. What Child is This is a Christmas hymn that talks about this child of hope who was born. 

What Child is This

Lyrics to What Child is This

What child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

William C. Dix, managed an insurance company, but his heart was in writing the poetry of worship.  Born in Bristol, England in 1837 to a father who was a surgeon.  He wrote more than 40 hymns in his life time, among them “As with Gladness Men of Old“. 

The three verses of this song, which is more popular in North America than it is in it’s native land of England, were taken from a poem called “Manger Throne”.  

Pondering

Darkness Fell

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It’s five minute Friday and Miss Kate has provided the word darkness.  Won’t you come join this encouraging group of people?  Write for five minutes, add a pic and join in!  🙂

Picture of a dark clouds with words Darkness Fell

Darkness Fell

Darkness fell
A shimmering blackness
That filled the sky
The darkness was so intense
That you could barely hear
Your breath leaving your body.

In the stillness
The darkness moved.
So suddenly and swiftly
That you wouldn’t have noticed
If you hadn’t felt the breathe of it.
That very breath that left your body.

This darkness
Leaves a feeling of hopelessness
Of knowing that
It is a part
A part that won’t ever leave
A part that daily fights
To make itself complete in you.

So the darkness sits
Shimmering with need and want.
Knowing if it moves
At just the right time
It will have you.
And hopelessly
You know it to be true.

Yet somehow
in a manner unknown
A flame lightly flickers
Just one, a single flicker
The darkness retreats
Not expecting this flicker.
How did it appear?

This flicker
It’s amazing.
The darkness
that lack of hope
It retreats,
And hope blossoms.

And hope,
even if it can’t see
because the darkness would overwhelm.
Hope blossoms
Filling in spaces
That the darkness has left.

How can it be?
How can darkness retreat?
What is it about that
Flicker of light?
How can light
Bring about hope?

Single candle flame, words darkness fell

Scripture Speaks of Hope

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.  Romans 8:22-25

 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”  Isaiah 9:2

Comfort Comfort Now His People

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I wasn’t introduced to this older hymn until this year.   I thought the words were nice, and it makes for a nice advent/Christmas song. 

Written by Johannes Olearius, a pastor from Germany back in the mid-1600’s.  Mr. Olearius was an author of a Bible commentary as well as devotionals.   He also put together the Geistliche Singe-Kunst, which was one of the largest and most important German hymnals of the 17th Century.

Lyrics

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Rush … Stop

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Oddly enough, when the word rush comes up, I tend to think of slowing down or of deliberate action.  To rush around just feels so random and directionless because you are going so fast as to get so much done. Join us won’t you in this Five Minute Friday challenge?  What does rush mean to you?  To me it should be coupled with the word Stop.

Rush stop poem

Rush … Stop, a poem

It took just a moment.
A startled realization.
Coming straight toward me.
With deliberation in her step.

Tail up, head lowered.
I just knew trouble was brewing.

If I wasn’t careful
I was going to
What you’d call a
SITUATION on my hands.

I wanted to avoid that
At all costs.

Backing up slowly
I give some more space
Avoiding the teeth,
Those claws so sharp.

One would be amazed
At the need to avoid
A small herbivore
On a bit of a tear.

So adept at the rush!
That sparks such fear.

Such deliberateness of action.
She talks to me clear.
Mind your manners
Stay away from here!

Minding my hands
And saying taught words.
STOP, momma, STOP
It’s me talking here.

I see a halt,
A head cocks to the side

And the rush ends
Just like that.
Momma remembers
I bring the food.

No harm comes
At the sound of my voice.

rush Stop a poem, a bunny face

And so I’m called to mind,
the sound of God’s voice,
whispering in my ear. 
Reminding me of training received.
 
The knowledge I have gained
The trust given.
and the calming
that happens when
I hear that voice.

How very much like
a momma bunny I can be.

🙂

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

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Two verses in most hymnals, but four in others, sometimes sung with a descant.  A Lovely song of advent, reminding us of our wait for our Saviour.

Written by Charles Wesley.  Other hymns that I have featured by Wesley are as follows:

Charles Wesley ministered in the 1700’s.  He wrote more than 150 hymns.  He started out his ministerial life within the Church of England, but later took to preaching in open fields. Upon his death he asked to be buried in a graveyard for Church of England members and it was allowed. 

Lyrics

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Below I put a video with a different tune, but I like it so thought you might too!  Sorry if I’m wrong.  🙂

Saviour, Thy Dying Love

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Saviour thy dying love, a quiet song of worship.  A person seeing what Christ did for him/her and wanting to give something back to the Lord.  This worshiping person works through what they can give, to the Lord who died, and now sustains their feeble faith.   A great song to offer to the Lord.

saviour, thy dying love

Lyrics

Savior, Thy dying love
Thou gavest me.
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfill its vow,
Some offering bring Thee now,
Something for Thee.

O’er the blest mercy seat,
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer,
Something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Likeness to Thee.
That each departing day
Menceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won,
Something for Thee.

All that I am and have,
Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life,
O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see,
My ransomed soul shall be
Through all eternity,
Something for Thee.

Sylvanus Phelps penned this lovely hymn in 1862.  It was originally entitled “Some­thing, my God, for Thee.”  He lived 1816-1895.  A Con­nec­ti­cut boy he was educated at Brown University in Rhode Island. He pastored at First Baptist in New Haven, Rhode Island.   

We know of four hymns that he wrote.  Hemarried and had a son who went on to become a preacher, author and professor.

Comments

I love the words of this hymn, a lovely song of worship, recognizing what Christ gave to us, and what we in turn give to him. 

These words strike me everytime I sing this song.

My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,

This is me. My feeble faith needs the Lord.  Without him my faith struggles to survive. But Christ sustains, and the end result of that, is want to find a way to live my life for him.  Don’t you find the same?