• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer, Legal and Media Kit
  • Blog
  • Contact me

A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

  • Art
  • Blogging Helps
  • Faith
  • Homeschooling
  • Poetry
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Writing

Faith

My Jesus, I love Thee

February 14, 2021 By Annette1 2 Comments

From my hymnal Lift Up Your hearts, (affiliate link) comes my hymn of the week My Jesus, I love thee.  I’ve known this hymn for a long time.  I was surprised to learn that it didn’t start out as a popular hymn.  Keep reading and you’ll learn what caused the change.  

My Jesus I love thee

Lyrics to My Jesus, I love Thee

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Author and History

 Will­iam R. Fea­ther­ston was only 16 years old when he penned this hymn.  Sometimes his name is spelled Featherstone.  Born in Montreal, Quebec he travelled to Toronto when he was 16 where he became a believer.  It is believed this Canadian wrote this hymn shortly thereafter. 

He sent the poem to his aunt who had it published as a hymn.  It wasn’t highly popular until evangelist Adoniram. J Gordon discovered the hymn.  He changed the tune of it, and ever since then, it’s been a favourite for many believers. 

Mr. Featherston lived 1846-1875, he died shortly before his 27th birthday.  He was married and had a son John.   We do not know much more about him.  This is the only hymn he wrote. 

Hymntime has an interesting story concerning this hymn. 

Scriptural Reference

I John 4:7-21

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

……. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us……. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Thinking Deeper

What a call in this song isn’t there?  The call to have a love that is devoted to Christ.  A love so rich that nothing will stop it. 

I love the assurance that Featherston has eh?  The knowledge he has that he loves God because God first loved him.  This is such a grounding needed in our faith.  It feeds our ability to love God throughout our entire life and to praise him in all things. 

Do you know this Jesus?  Do you love him whole-heartedly and forever like Featherston did?   Ask questions if you want to know more. 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: faith, history, Hymn, hymns, Music

Once Per Week

February 12, 2021 By Annette1 19 Comments

Miss Kate was listed this week’s Five Minute Friday word prompt.  The word?  Once.   This is a welcoming encouraging community and I urge you to come join it.  Write, once per week, for five minutes, not worrying about perfection, just writing for the sheer joy of it.  🙂  Come won’t you?

Once Per week, text over pen writing

Once per week
Gathered round
Miss Kate posts
A word she’s found.

Coming in from
Round the world
What to say
What message unfurled?

Men and women
Faith is shows
In every word
Poetry and prose.

Encouragement flows
With every word
Hearts poured out
Rarely absurd.

Then before you know it
A comment made
And that is how
The Foundation is laid.

Growing, showing
Sometimes grieving
Rarely seeing
Anyone Leaving.

So once per week
Come and see,
What your words
Mean to me.

Scriptural Inspiration

The bible is full of verses that speak to how we as a body of believers need to be a source of encouragement for each other.  Today I share but a few of them.  This is the heart of the Five Minute Friday community.  Our ability to read the words of our fellows and then offer them encouragement. 

Romans 15:5

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

 
1 Thess 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
 
Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
 

Filed Under: Faith, Poetry Tagged With: #fmfparty, Five Minute Friday, Poem, poetry

I Serve a Risen Saviour

February 7, 2021 By Annette1 2 Comments

I Serve a Risen Saviour, is also known by the title He Lives.   It’s a wonderful song to sing at Easter, but it was next in my hymnal so I figured it’s good to be reminded of our risen saviour any day of the year.  

I serve a risen saviour

Lyrics

I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He’s always near
 
Refrain:
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
 
In all the world around me I see His loving care
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair
I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last
 
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind
 

Author and History

Presbyterian minister, Alfred  Henry Ackley, was born in 1887 in Pennsylvania. His father taught him music before he headed off to the Royal Academy Music in London.   Later he studied for the ministry at Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland.  

As an ordained Presbyterian pastor he served churches in Pennsylvania and California.   Over the course of his life, he wrote some 1500 songs, some religious, others not. Part of his ministry involved working with evangelists Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver. 

He wrote this song in response to a sermon entitled He Lives. I pulled this quote from hymn stories. 

“Mr. Ackley’s forthright, emphatic answer, together with his subsequent triumphant effort to win the man for Christ, flowered forth into song and crystallized into a convincing sermon on ‘He Lives!’ His keenly alert mind was sensitive to suggestions for sermons, and sermons in song. In his re-reading of the resurrection stories of the Gospels, the words ‘He is risen’ struck him with new meaning. From the thrill within his own soul came the convincing song–‘He Lives!’ The scriptural evidence, his own heart, and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that ‘He Lives,’ so he sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song. He says, ‘The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily.'”

Thinking Deeper

Rev. Ackley wrote this song when inspired by a sermon.  Have you ever been so inspired?   Not maybe to write a sermon, but to really act on what you have heard.  I know of people who hear a sermon and then KNOW they need to go the mission field.  Sermons have inspired me to write letters.  But I wonder… should we leave services inspired to do, and to be MORE?   We’re hearing God’s word explained, we’re with his people, shouldn’t we always be inspired when we leave a church service?  To do good, to be better, to act for God in more ways, and to change wrong ways within? 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: faith, history, Hymn, hymns, Music

And Now I Nap

February 5, 2021 By Annette1 12 Comments

As I pondered today’s Five Minute Friday word, Sunrise, I got to thinking about how sunrise comes so early when you stay up late.  With that pondering came the reason why I stay up late.   And thus And Now I Nap was born. 

and now I nap

And Now I Nap

Sunrise breaks
across the sky.
New day dawns
I stretch and sigh.

Late to bed,
Wait for hubby come home
Log I sleep
No more I roam.

But early morning
Long I’ve done
Hard to balance now
the setting sun.

So as the day
Long it runs
Duties due
Work to be done.

Sunset arrives
Light headache progress
Soon I know
A nap will have success.

My comfy chairs
Laptop awaits.
High hopes I have
A post at my gates?

But soon the warmth
Sitting in my lap
Seeps through my body
and now I nap.

I use to rail
about the need,
but hubby reminds
pay it no heed.

Each day I work
the toil no end
An aging body
Sleep is my friend.

Helps me do
What it’s in my heart
Welcome home a hubby
Working hard, his part.

And Now I Nap

Scripture Foundation

Philippians 2:3-8

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross.

Titus 2:4-6

“4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Filed Under: Faith, Poetry

Because He Lives

January 31, 2021 By Annette1 2 Comments

As I was leafing through Lift Up Your Hearts (affiliate link) I noticed that they only had one verse of Because he Lives posted.  It got me thinking that there were more verses to this song, and that I knew them.   Lo and behold I was right!

because he lives

Lyrics for Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives
 
Refrain:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
 
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day, because He lives
 
And then one day, I’ll cross the river
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns
 
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
 
I am slowly making my way through this hymnal.

Author and History

Bill and Gloria Gaithers are the authors of this hymn Because he Lives.  The song above tells us that this song was inspired by their song, but as I researched it, I was led to believe otherwise. 

Because he lives came about as the result of pain and hardship in the Gaither family.  Difficulties in life, church, health, and on the political scene, etc.  Turmoil seemed to surround them.   

Apparently, a blade of grass pushing through concrete, coinciding with the birth of her son, helped her recall how God works in creation. God works in creation giving us hope throughout our days on earth.

Sources: 

  • Olean Times Herald
  • Discipleship Ministries. 
  • St. Augustine (baby origin)

Who are the Gaithers?  Authors of more than 700 songs of praise including Thanks to Calvary. They are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as well as the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Americans, the Gaithers were married in 1962 after they met at Alexandria Monroe High School where they both had teaching jobs.  They are actively involved in the singing and creation of music and work to support families.  Gloria is the founder of Gaither Family Resources.

Lo

Looking Deeper

Often when I hold a baby bunny I am reminded of this lovely hymn from the Gaither’s.  Because you know… it is sweet to hold a newborn baby.  It was sweet to hold my son when he was a baby.  I was so delighted with him!  So much pride and joy and love felt. 

I love how this song puts newborn babies into a bigger context. The context of God’s grace, of his provision, of the certainty provided.  Isn’t that a huge thing?  We so often don’t stop to think about this, do we?   This immense gift from God to us, his children.  Giving us hope for our future. 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: history, Hymn, hymns, Music

The Master’s Design

January 29, 2021 By Annette1 12 Comments

The Five minute Friday word of the week provided by Miss Kate is Design.  Conversations with my 15 year are the impetus for this post.   My goal with my lad it to leave him with questions, not just my answers.  He’s a thinker, so questions are good no?  The end result?   The Master’s Design, a poem.

The Master's Design

The Master’s Design

Do you agree
That mercy killing
of animals
Can be used as a reason
for mercy killing in people?
The question asked.

Yes, but
not for me.
I can see others saying
sure
We’d do it for
our suffering dog,
we should do it for
Suffering grandpa.
The question answered.

Shouldn’t people
be able to make the
decision though
that they want to die?
That today,
Today they have had enough?
The question continued.

It’s hard to answer
if a person should
be able to
make that decision.
That ultimate
rejection of life
given. Despite the pain.

It depends on how
you view people.
If you have a high view
that they are different
definably so
from the animals around.

For animals
Ending pain a mercy.
For people
Enduring pain
Might be a way for
them to see need for God,
or to show God,
to learn their failings
and to become more.
Think you on this?

See lad
God made people
definably different
than the animals.
If you think
we came from animals
Then… kill anyone
you want.
It makes no difference.

But if people are
different than animals
consider this:
could it be
the master’s design?
And if so
is pain a defining
reason to end life?

The Master's Design

Scripture Reveals

Genesis 1:26-27

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

Genesis 2:7

7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 

Romans 1:24-25

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Some articles giving more information

  • Man is different than animals. 
  • God loves humans more than animals. 
  • The bible and teaching about animals. 
  • Differences between animals and people. 

Would you be interested in learning more about creation apologetics?  SchoolhouseTeachers.com currently has a sale!  $139/yr or $16/mth covering every subject, every grade, every student.   Even if you just took the apologetics course it would be worth it!  🙂 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling, Poetry Tagged With: #fmfparty, Five Minute Friday, Poem, poetry

Rejoice Ye Pure In Heart

January 24, 2021 By Annette1 2 Comments

Oh boy, I played Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart before heading into London the day I wrote this and the tune was running through my head all afternoon. It’s not a bad thing at all, except I don’t know all the words so I found myself either repeating the same verse over and over again, or making up my own words.    Drives my hubby nuts when I do that, but you know what?  As long as you are praising the Lord does it matter if you using the words of the song or not?

Rejoice ye pure in heart

Lyrics to Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart

Rejoice ye pure in heart;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your king.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

Refrain

Yes onward, onward still
With hymn, and chant and song,
Through gate, and porch and columned aisle,
The hallowed pathways throng.

Refrain

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain

Your clear hosannas raise;
And alleluias loud;
Whilst answering echoes upward float,
Like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

With voice as full and strong
As ocean’s surging praise,
Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain

Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array,
As warriors through the darkness toil,
Till dawns the golden day.

Refrain

At last the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their heavenly home,
Jerusalem the blessed.

Refrain

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your king.

Refrain

Praise Him who reigns on high,
The Lord whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.

Author and History

Edward H Plumtre is the author of Rejoice ye pure in heart which was written in 1865.  The Peterborough Cathedral was hosting the  Pe­ter­bo­rough Cho­ral Fes­ti­val for which this hymn was written. 

Born in London in 1821, he became known as an excellent classical and biblical scholar.  He was well known within the church and the academic community.  Ordained within the Church of England he preached at Oxford and was a professor of pastoral theology at his alma mater King’s College. 

Rev. Plumtre was part of the committee that produced the Revised Version of the bible.  He was also a poet, hymnist, translator (from Greek and Latin classics) and author.   He passed away in 1891. 

Thinking about it

I was very surprised to see how many verses were actually written for Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart.   I grew up with the verses in purple, the hymnal I’m using only recognizes four verses. 

As I read through the verses I can really see the progression you know?  From youth to old, the pure in heart rejoicing in God.  It’s a good thing no?   Oh God is one to be praised!  Whether in good times or bad, he is worthy of all praise and glory. 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: faith, history, Hymn, hymns, Music

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 76
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT ME

I am centered by the love of God and family. Smiles are brought about being a Writer, Poet, Hiker and reader. Growth occurs as I educate my son, raise him up in the fear of the Lord, love up on my critters and live as a pastor’s wife.

Want to Stay Informed?

Subscribe and I’ll shoot you an email once a week.


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.



Recent Posts

  • The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book
  • after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
  • Colors of Character, Review and Giveaway
  • Spring Break Migrations
  • Traditional Easter Hymns

Recent Comments

  • Annette1 on after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
  • Annette1 on after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
  • Sarah Geringer on after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
  • Annette1 on after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
  • Annette1 on after the week I’ve had… pressure suits

Archives

Categories

  • Art
  • Art Books
  • Blogging Helps
  • Faith
  • Homeschooling
  • Poetry
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing

Footer

Amazon Affiliate information

A Net in Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Tinker Crate Affiliate

Copyright © 2021 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time · Lifestyle Pro - Child Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in