A Net in Time

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Acts 4:1-4

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After seeing God’s love in action, planning out the help we would need, and letting us, in our ignorance, hurt his son. We have to see what will happen next don’t we?  Acts tells us the stories of the apostles right after Jesus ascended, it’s good to know our church history yes? 

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 4:1-4

Acts 4:1-4

Verses 1-2

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

It happens you know.  You start talking about Jesus and the cross and someone is bound to get annoyed.   Sometimes that annoyance is just … well… annoying, but other times it’s problematic.

verse 3

3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

As we can see in this situation is was problematic.  They got arrested and tossed in the clink.

It’s so easy to dismiss this isn’t it.  Oh, that was then, they were fighting the established religion, so it was bound to happen.   But it still happens.  People get arrested, beaten, killed, fined, and more just for presenting God’s word to people around them.   In some places of the world you need to be so careful if you are a believer.  And yet people still believe.  They persist.  Why?  This next sentence may give us part of the answer…. 

verse 4

4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

But look at this.  Even though the annoyed ones tossed them in jail, people BELIEVED.  5000 strong!  They heard what was being taught and they took it all to heart and became part of the faithful.   Maybe that courage in speaking truth is what leads to the church growing today in parts of the world where you would think it wouldn’t.  Afterall, wouldn’t the threat of persecution scare people away?  Instead, it seems that persecution helps the church to grow. 

When I was in college I postulated in a paper that perhaps the church should pray for more persecution.  That it would make us stronger as a whole, weeding out those not truly committed, and encouraging those who believe to rely on God all the more.  Now, at age 58 …. I ponder what I would do in the face of persecution.  Would I see God more clearly or would I get frightened and hide?  It’s too easy you know?  Too easy to postulate ideas without truly seeing the cost of what that means… and now I see it and wonder.   I wonder how young families in persecuting areas do when they see their children and wonder what will happen to them if mom and dad are caught?  If the children are caught talking about God (as children will talk about what they are raised with).  

And then see God’s church grow.  And that part is such a marvellous part filling me with awe and wonder at God’s actions, does it outweigh the fear? It’s such a juxtaposition for me. 

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 If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?   

How can it be so complicated?

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So I’m normally not up this late on a Thursday night.  It’s getting on 1045 already but I forgot to put my bedsheets in the dryer and so have to wait for them to be done.  I’m trying hard to stay awake!  No napping in my ever so comfy chair!!  I decided to see if Kate had posted the Five Minute Friday word prompt and she did!   The word is complicate.  How can it be so complicated is what comes to mind.  Let’s see where God takes this word eh?

How can it be so complicated? text with road signs

How can it be so complicated?

Sometimes I wonder how
life can be so complicated?

Grudges held,
People betray,
Feeling hurt,
Words are said that perhaps
shouldn’t have been.

I grew up knowing
somehow, in the haze
that is my life,
that people aren’t
so easy to know and love at times.

At the same time as people
can be awfully hard to understand
Laughter, conversation,
Jokes, and hugs, and positive connection
also dots the landscape
that is the plight of humanity.

It seems the extremes are right there
showcasing the complications that
make up any given person’s day.

I had reason to ponder that
today and came to the conclusion
that despite my questions on
How can it be so complicated
It’s part of how God molds us
into his image.

He uses these strains in
relationships to remind of us
what is means to love each other
even when people infuriate us, or
hurt us, or simply confuse us by
their life decisions.

God regularly uses the
“hard things” of life to
deepen our understanding of
who he is and whose we are and
what that means in the
nitty-gritty of life.

BUT you know what?
We have to be open to it you know?
Open to change and
being something more
despite the inner turmoil
that change can bring.

It’s a good thing to be
something more don’t you think?
It helps us to better
cope with the complications
of living a human life. 🙂

See What Time it is Already?

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When I went to work this morning I had no idea what I would do for my Five Minute Friday post.  Kate’s word Already didn’t really resonate with me.  But at the end of my work shift a colleague provided me with just the perfect thought.  See What Time it is Already?  It’s an excellent way to end a shift you know? 

See What time it is already? text with image of girl with clock smiling

See what time it is already?

Annette, the call came
from behind back.
Look, see what time
it is already?

Oh Great!
Time has flown
It’s 1 p.m. time
to go home!

Need a ride?
Hubs comes to get?
Nah, I got my board
Thanks anyways, ‘Net.

Short shifts on busy days
Greeting all
Happy Easter Weekend
receiving much in return.

Smiles and laughter,
little girl grins
Moms with weary smiles
A Dad wrangling twins.

Normally a store where
seniors abound, but
on holidays weekends with
strangers resounds!

“Can you help me?”
“Do you know where _____?”
Answering obvious questions
from strangers unaware.

A happy busy workplace
Short shifts are a blast
on holidays weekends
As it’s all work and smiles.

And that holds over
’til the following week
when it’s back to the same old
Stocking shelves and being helpful.

shallow focus of clear hourglass
Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

Pondering more

Seeing as it’s Easter weekend I’m taking the time to ponder this thought a bit more.   Do we as Christians see what time it is already?   God’s told us clearly in his word that we are forgiven in Christ.  He’s told us that we can’t know when Christ is returning.  So we need to live within that. 

To live as forgiven people.  People who are aware we don’t deserve forgiveness (ergo we can’t take it for granted) and yet here we are… fully forgiven.  And we have to stay here, being useful, because it’s not yet time.   The time is coming, but until we actually see Christ again we know that can’t say to each other “See What time it is already?”.    We just can’t.   And until then we need to try to help others see the time is right for them to turn to the Lord.  To live in a way that helps the hurting stop hurting quite so much. 

So in a way we can say to each other See What time it is already?  Because now it also our time.  As much as the world wants to claim it is theirs, and the time is only for them, the world is wrong.  We aren’t lost and alone.  We are strangers for sure, living in a world that is often senseless, but our duty, and our love is clear.  Love the lost.  Care for the fallen.  Show hospitality and concern for those around us.   This is what God calls us to, and it’s our time to follow through.

Who Can I Blame?

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So, here it is, a week before Good Friday.  I was asked this week if I wanted to work on Good Friday.  I stopped to think about it because you know, it’s Good Friday and I’m a believer.  Church is a must is not?  But over the years, I’ve become convinced that I don’t have to attend services on special days to show I’m a good Christian.   That’s not me saying it’s not isn’t good to attend services on special days, only that it is not mandatory.   And it’s hard sometimes right?   Right now it’s a struggle to financially make ends meet. 

Is that a good excuse to not attend Good Friday services?  Not really.  It’s part of the puzzle though.   I asked hubbers what he thought I should do and he was good either way.  He understood the bind, then extended the grace to see what I could figure.   So when I saw the the word Blame I thought of how some would blame me for choosing finances over attending services, and would I accept that?  Helping further make me feel alienated from God?   Or would I see something different?  A remembering of truth?  Therefore, somehow, God led me to this poem “who can I blame?”

Text: Who can I blame. Image: finger pointing in blame at man

Who Can I Blame?

Who can I blame
myself or another
how can I make myself look good
in the eyes of this other?

Should I look good or
shall I accept fault?
What happens if the latter
My worries are fraught.

Is blame always negative,
that leads to some shame?
Or can it be a positive
What shall I name?

One took the fault for us
a time long now past
celebrated on Easter
same this year as last.

Believers remembered a
blame wrongly took
Can we persuade others
to come take a look?

See the darkness of Friday
of blame tightly held
Releasing three days later
darkness to light meld.

A father’s plan
a beloved son blamed
so the rest of this family
never be shamed.

I dedicate my love to you

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Kate has given us the word prompt “dedicate”.  It’s not the easiest word to ponder when working a busy shift at work.  One wonders how to fit it into one’s life you know?   To what would I dedicate my life to?  How does my dedication to anything show?  Do I have anything in my life I want to be dedicated to?  I ponder all this stuff while shuffling groceries to the shelves, uplifting my colleagues, and being nice to the customers we get in. This song kept popping into my head, which, because as so often happens, I got the words wrong!   I dedicate my love to you… (instead of celebrate my love)  Ah well… we’ll work with it! 

I Dedicate My Love to You

Tonight, as I sit,
halfway falling asleep
I thought of things I’d like
to change.

I’m admittedly struggling
in many ways in my life
right now.
I’m tired, sore, and a bit
fed up with a lot of things,
and back to living a life
filled with doubts about so much.

So thinking about dedicating a
life, particularly, my life to something has
me filled with some
serious uncertainty.

I dedicate my love to you.
A hubby who loves me
even when I’m most unlovely.
The depth of his love for
me overwhelms me at times and
I often feel unworthy of it, and
yet his love reminds me of God.

I dedicate my love to you.
A son, struggling with issues of
faith, giving up on God, not
seeing a point in pursuing
someone invisible to him, a son who
can’t see the beauty in the unexpected
happenings of God in action.
Hard-working, gentle spirited,
a solidly good man in many ways.
Yet I fear daily for his very soul.

I dedicate my love to you.
Creator of the universe, the
one who holds my breath in his hands,
who sees my doubt and fears and yet,
inexplicably loves me, and
I will never understand why
as I see the depravity of my very soul
every single day.
And yet his plan is to save me for
all eternity to celebrate his glory.

None of it makes sense to me
right now.
Sometimes, life makes no sense
since tiredness and duty overwhelms
all other thoughts.
And yet, in my heart under all the
uncertainty of living, this dedication remains.
A solid footing in the quagmire of
frequent despair.

A dedication that means
I am loved.
Despite my unloveliness
I am loved.
Dedication then,
a good thing yes?

I dedicate my love to you. text with image of weight lifter.

A Spot of Respite

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This word respite hit me today, because lately I feel like I just want to run away from the busyness of life.  Sometimes I feel like I’m always working with nothing I can do for fun.  And then hubby decides to take a day off work when I have some running around to do.  His keeping me company gives me a spot of respite than I so desperately needed.   As I ponder that I realize that God seeks to be the provider of respite as well. He’s given me a hubby for a reason, but he’s more than my hubby and has a deeper well from which his people can draw. 

a spot of respite

A Spot of Respite

A spot of respite
my request
too much
too busy
a bit of rest

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Some breathing space
is required
breathing down my neck
not giving space
to move

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Every once in a while
on a regular interval
some help required
so that not all the
load is mine alone.

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    and they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

To take an hiatus
is a skill to learn
some folks never
acquire it
to their loss.

Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;

A cessation of activities
is on the books!
To rest, to pause
to take a moment
so to be recharged.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
and he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.

a repose to take
a meditation to fulfill
as one waits
and listens
before continuing on.

Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Spoil, in different ways

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So it took me a while to figure out what to do with the word Spoil, the word of the week from Miss Kate.  I deliberately didn’t read the post of others as I needed to just let it ruminate for a spell. Finally, Spoil, in different ways jumped off the page and here you go.   

I had a bit of a rough day at work with too many moments of crisis occurring.  This caused me to work a longer day than I anticipated and to come home tired with very sore feet.  I’m battling a spot of plantar fasciitis right now.  I know it will clear up in time, but for now, it’s a bit of a pain.  Never-the-less, sometimes the pain makes me spoil for a fight!  But that’s just ONE way to look at the word spoil, let’s take a look shall we? 

Spoil, in different ways

Spoil, in different ways

Five minute comes around
I wonder how if words be found?
to match the prompt that’s what due
can thoughts of spoil
provide the clue?

To write this poem I must think
no no, there’s no time to drink
Five minutes is all the time given
so many words will be riven….

Spoil
rhymes with boil,
oil, roil, foil,
as well as recoil, gargoyle,
and turmoil. Any of those
rhymes could a poem make…

Let’s look at though
Spoil in different ways

Spoiling can ruin a capable
person by giving them all
they want, but not what they need.

Spoilage can ruin veggies, fruit,
meat, milk, eggs and more. Sometimes the
whole thing, and other times,
just an affected area.

Spoilers can ruin the ending
of a show or book if one
isn’t careful when reading reviews.

Spoilsports can run a game through
ill-temper, cheating, or bad behaviour,
whether board, singles or team.

It can be said that one is
spoiling for a fight, a fight can
relieve tensions or be the
start of something harder.

What say words will accrue
about spoil say you?
A poem or prose
something to expose?

man showing rotten avocado with pink glitter
Photo by Ivan Babydov on Pexels.com

Thoughts continued

I sat here for a while after writing this and got to thinking.  What might spoil our Christian faith?  We know that Christ holds onto to us tightly.  And once we are his, we are his forever.  So  what might shake a person’s faith?   

A sorta friend of mine lost her son unexpectedly.  We were talking the other day and she mentioned it took her three years to return to the Lord.  So a spot of spoilage, that once worked through and around, didn’t spoil her entire faith. 

A niece mentioned that her folks didn’t like her being friends with a couple of people because of their lack of faith.  But she mentioned how much she liked them because “they got her” and she felt like herself with them.  So could those friends prove to be spoilers like her folks think they would be?  

Company kept, life events, and worldly thinking…. can they spoil a faith for good, or for ill?  So much of the world influences us in what we say and do, how much of that is spoilage?