A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Poetry

BEEP BEEP BEEP

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It doesn’t happen often that I get a word prompt where I don’t include the word in the title.  But today’s word prompt just has me going BEEP BEEP BEEP in my brain. So I figured I would go with it!  I’m not going to say this week’s poem is a great one (I am writing in the wee hours of the morning) but it’s one that’s been sitting on my brain most the day.   So anyways, here it is!  🙂 

beep beep beep text with truck backing up

Beep Beep Beep

BEEP BEEP BEEP
everyone who hears that sound
knows what it is.
A truck backing up.

That generally means
EVERYONE pay attention!
The driver might not be able
to see you. Lives might depend!

Blind spots happen!
Quickly darting children and dogs,
and slower moving elders can fall.
So hear the beep and open your eyes.

This mornings sermon had us
reminded to mind our tongues.
That our tongues can both
bless and curse.

So just as a truck driver
can inadvertently cause a lot
of damage it can also be the bearer
of good things too!

Now granted, the illustration does
fall short because the truck has
no options, it has nothing bigger
to really look to.

BUT WE DO.
We can immerse ourselves
in God’s word so it’s very nature
and words permeate our being.

And as it so permeates us,
we will take the time to measure
our words that we present with
humility as we speak truth.

but we need to make the choice
don’t we… to see our tongue for
what it is, a determined beastie to
show what we let live in our hearts.

What will you let live in
your heart? Are they things you
are willing to let your tongue say?
If not, what must change?

If you don’t change
should you have a
BEEP BEEP BEEP to warn
those around you?

It’s made me wonder this day
about what warning system
I should have and how
necessary changes are.

Change with me?

God’s word

James 3: 9-12

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Through a Camera Lens

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Through the storm and
through the night,
in the darkness of the right,
see my passions full aflame
when in wonder speak my name.

…
Those words rang through my mind
as I contemplated the word
through, postulated for us
by Miss Kate.
I don’t know if they be
word, song, or made up rhyme.
….

Hubby said as I sat here writing
“tonight we might see the northern lights”.
That might be rather fun, though
I’m told they are best see captured
through a camera lens.

Every week through a camera lens
I capture pictures of flowers
(posted to facebook),
Bunnies (posted to kijiji or my website),
or whatever catches my fancy.

Sometimes I’m surprised at what is
captured. Thinking I have a cute
picture of a cat or nice one of a flower
and suddenly what I imagined, isn’t.

Sometimes I’m surprised by the unexpected
beauty of a Japanese beetle (the scourge
of my garden) but pretty in the right light.
Or horrified at a spider, eating another
of it’s kind.

But mostly, mostly
I get exactly what I am looking at.
Makes me wonder though
what surprises I might get in life,
If I look for the unexpected
imagining my life, as though
through the lens of a camera.

Through a camera lens

So I did things differently this week!  My poem came before I did my preamble, I guess hunger drove the words out of me?  I need to eat soon!!!  It’s been a long and rather tiring day.  I know that we all know what that is like. Some days at work are just like that. 

Anyways, I hope my words worked out okay and that Through a Camera Lens wasn’t too off-beat.   AND I even managed to get this done on a Friday.  A bit of a shocker there eh?  🙂 

Nothing Left

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Nothing in my hand I bring.  Do you know this song? I hope so since it’s a familiar one that.  It’s not what I’m intending to write about, but it’s being very persistent about repeating itself as I type these words.  So I’m going to ignore and get on with it eh?   Nothing Left?  Let’s see. 

Nothing left, text with empty casserole dish

Nothing Left

Nothing left so I heard
“I’m the last of eleven children
and the rest are all gone.
Nothing left at all for me now.”

I heard the words and my heart
sank and then I recalled the words in
a book recently read. “I’m lucky”.

So I continued my conversation,
“Do you have any family? Kids perhaps
or grandchildren?”
I heard a hoped for answer
“Yes”.
So we talked and discovered
how lucky we both are.
Having our health, our families
and so much more.

We are able to walk, and
do the things we love, and
we are generally comfortable
in our own bodies.

I continued to think
about this conversation
(as women are apt to do) and
thought, I have so much,
that I can say
“How lucky I am” to have

Faith in God (tenuous as it
is at times)
Critters that make me laugh
A Warm home
A garden to provide sustenance
for myself and my critters.
Lego, puzzles, and colouring.
And my family.

Family in faith
family in marriage and blood
and indeed family in birth.
Made family in friendships.

So is there really
nothing left?
See the bigger picture yes?

finally i have time

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A day out in the garden and having a longer than expected nap has led to finally having an idea of what to write for this week’s five minute Friday post.  I had a lovely long walk tonight while playing some pokemon go.  The hope had been that hubby would join me but alas, he needed food more than he needed to walk so he ate, I walked!  I came home to him playing “little kitty big city” which looks to be a fun digital game of a cat needed to problem-solve his way through life.  All that said let’s get on to “finally i have time”. 

gardening picture with text finally i have time

finally i have time

 it’s been a stretch and a spell
since i’ve tended to weed patch
out back which sorta doubles
as a raised garden.

normally by mid-may i have my
peas and spinach all planted
in neat little rows since
they are cold-weather plants.

but since my schedules been
all messed up at work and
some weeks i work more and others
i work less my heads been a bit messed up.

so as much as i understand why
i haven’t had the time, my body
has been itching badly to get out
and take care of things.

so this week i made some time
and pulled weeds, transferred plants,
and even discovered that of the
20 tomato seeds planted FOUR worked!

the new guinea pigs are happy
as they have lots of weeds to eat
and the bunnies are delighted as
they have lots of options.

and me… my heart is full
and relaxed at the promise held
with a view of new life right in
the palm of my hand.

little plants
seeds
worms and toads
and in the pond tadpoles.

bulbs planted in raised bed

compost is stinky but
all those bunny berries and
waste from piggies and
fancy mice lends well to the promise!

kinda makes me think a bit
you know?
God himself puts up with some
stink too.

he sees promise and new life
in a broken people needing
a boost to help us be
as we aught.

the stench of death
touched his fatherly nose
and it led to new life
for those who see it.

Someday, Yes, I’m wrong

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Okay, so I saw the word someday as the word prompt from Miss Kate and immediately a song burst into my head.  Of course I recognized that I had the wrong words… but I got to thinking.  I wonder if I could make a poem that replaces the right words with the wrong ones and see if people can figure it out?  Or if I shouldn’t make readers work that hard?    I’m going to play with it a bit though as see what I can come up with.   Play with me maybe, ’cause Someday, yes, I’m wrong! 

someday yes I'm wrong

Someday, Yes, I’m wrong

Popping immediately into my consciousness
at the word prompt someday, this song rang out loud and clear
Someday when heaven was filled with his praises,
someday when sin was as black as could be…

Realizing I was wrong in my word choice,
and thought with chagrin, time and time again,
I get all the words so wrong,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, ….

As often sung at work while avoiding
customers who seem uncertain on directions
I’ll take the high road and you take the low
and I’ll be Scotland afore ye! On the narrow
narrow banks of the homeland.

Somewhere, over the rainbow,
I found love. There I found
first found my true love,
I found a butterfly

yes, indeed, sometimes I completely
mangle songs, but it doesn’t matter
really, if I know I am completely wrong
I just sing much more quietly!!! 🙂

But you know how it is
somedays, a tune hits you,
and yes, I know I’m wrong, but
the tune needs singing.

What’s a gal to do?
(sing much much more quietly,
or ask a coworker, or son, for
a different song to sing). 🙂

Some will come

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This morning in church we had our monthly communion service.  Pastor Luke was clear about who should, and who should not take part. Have faith in God and his redeeming work, come to the table.  Lack faith stay put in your seat.  As I’ve been mucking about this afternoon wondering if I’d ever come up with something for Miss Kate’s word prompt, I thought perhaps this might be hold the answer for me?   Some will come, others will not. 

Balancing scales with text some will come

Some Will Come

Twixt gardening, extra work
and a busy, yet foggy mind
the word some left me hanging
wondering if this week is
one I’d have to skip.
Tired this morning I was
tempted to church not
to make, but hubby was eager
so off we went.

Yesterday see,
left us both feeling discouraged.
Projects undertaken, but
not completed. Feels a bit
the bummer you know?
And when weird dreams in the
night follow, it leaves
a foggy, befuddled brain.

Youth pastor Luke talked
to us about the words
Law and Word as found
throughout the book of James.
Speaking to how the
gospel is found in James
in the use of these two words.

He tied that in with
communion, the Lord’s supper,
if you will.
And how God’s grace
allows us to come.
but some shouldn’t come
because they won’t
acknowledge God’s grace
in their lives.

And for those some who
will come, we do see God’s
grace so evident in our lives,
in his forgiveness of our
deep wrongdoing.
but for those
some who won’t come, they
should stay in place, and
contemplate the word, and
the law, and how it showcases
the good news found within
the book of James.

Sermon in a nutshell

The word is God’s word, his truth
imparted to us, that is
implanted in our hearts, so that
we can be doers of the word.
The law is a perfect thing,
that brings us liberty, and comes
to us from the King of Kings,
and let’s us find rest in the
freedom of forgiveness.

That’s the good news you know?
Some of us will come, and
Some of us won’t. Will you be
one to stay and ponder? To see
the good news of James for the first
time? And then come, be one who will
come and share the table, with
others who’ve seen the same truth?

We can talk if you’d like. 🙂

It’s Almost time

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Five minute Friday word prompt today is Almost.  Though not as many people participate as in times gone past, most people who join in write posts worth reading.  Even better most (but not all) make it very easy to comment as well.   Last words spoken at work today led to the title of today’s poem “It’s Almost Time.”

it's almost time, text with picture of hour glass

It’s Almost Time

“Almost time”
a voice quietly says
“time for you to go
home and rest that weary head”.

I smiled, looking behind
a manager’s face
smiling encouragement
as I climb down the ladder.

This week has felt
long, today even more so,
battling a sore back
and remnants of
nightmares crashing in my head.

After work I stopped
at a friend’s house,
she took one look at me
and offered up a hug.

Sometimes, even when you
aren’t a hugger, leaning into
a hug, is indeed
the best thing ever.

We chatted a bit about
this and that.
Her parents have struggles,
the family pitches in,
but things will be hard.

but you know this?
her parents believe
that God is real.

Many in her family
are the same, seeing
the reality of God, and
then living that reality out.

Hard doesn’t stop
the people of God.
We still do what
needs to be done.

Whether it’s baking
cookies to bring smiles
to co-worker faces.

Or caring for parents
when the system lets them down
or praying for loved one
(and their loved ones) when
distance separates.

for we know this,
it’s almost time,
not quite there yet
(for obvious reasons)

but it’s almost time
for Christ to return
Wars, rumours of wars,
natural calamities, and more

the signs are there,
and in the twinkling of an eye,
Christ will appear
in the clouds before us.

So though a weak
might be hard with
physical and mental
strain, it doesn’t stop
the reality.

One must keep on
keeping on, until
the Lord comes
in all his glory.

It’s almost time.

gray scale photography of clock near trees
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

God speaks to us

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 6 selected verses

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.