A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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A Remnant Exists

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Remnant, this word makes me think of making clothes and the off cuts one gets. Remnants are what they are called and often seen as garbage.  Are they?  Depends on one’s perspective I think.  Of course, not being a seamstress I don’t know if I can do this thought justice. So let’s continue to think eh?   I’m reading a book right now where the main character could be considered a remnant.  He exists not fully understanding who he is.  Perhaps that is something I could work with… Let’s see eh?  

text: a remnant exists, image of cloth remnants

A Remnant Exists

A remnant exists,
the cut off from a gown,
a shirt, a hat. Bits and
pieces of material not worth
using to make what it was cut off
of. But there are those who
would happily take those
remnants and use them to create with.

A remnant exists,
a boy, hidden in time, from
evils that would see him
destroyed. He learned to
fight, to defeat all comers,
and partially destroyed his soul.

But he works hard,
a future he wants that
he just barely sees.
Could this remnant boy
turned man figure out
how to reinvent himself?
Can he bring himself to continue
to do good? Despite his past,
despite those leanings within
to not do good, to continue his
path forward.

It rather makes me think
of God’s remnant. His small
group of people he preserves
over the years. Noah, Abraham,
David, Jesus, the disciples,
and my fellow believers.
A small group always in the
midst, surrounded by so many
who think they are garbage, or
deluded, or worthless. Not taking
the time to see a different
perspective. See the value a
believing holds in a faithful,
proven, creator God.

Decline Happens

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Decline is the word of the day, a prompt that intrigues me while at the same time leaving me with a now what?   So I’ll write and see how it strikes me today.  I was delighted to read about Kate discovering a new project to work on.  It’s sad that she’ll have to decline activities in order to fulfill obligations, but how exciting to have a new project in the works eh?   Decline happens right?   Sometimes it a choice we make and other times it something that happens overtime. 

text decline happens, image of lady declining food

Decline Happens

Decline happens.

One can decline to
attend events, invitations,
and so forth.
And in so declining you are
choosing other things to be
more important than the event
or invitation offered.

It’s the way it goes right?
You say no to one thing in
order to say yes to something else.

It’s kinda like… I can say no to
doom scrolling in order to ride
my bike or walk on the treadmill.
I can say yes to talking with my hubby
before work instead of doing the dishes.

It’s all choices.
BUT decline of body and mind
isn’t all about choice.
One’s body changes as one gets
older and it takes more work to
to regain, or even to keep fit mentally
and physically. Aches and pains
are signs of a life well-lived but
sometimes it’s rather inconvenient.

But those inconvenient moments
provide encouragement to keep
on trying to stave back the decline.
To not let tiredness and defeat rule
the day…. to remember that God
calls me to be more and doesn’t say
“give it up if you’re tired”. Take rest
indeed, but use that as rest, not
an excuse to stop moving forward.

So what will I (or you) continue
to decline in order to help
stop the natural decline of living?


Lazy in Our Faith?

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Today that question is asked, can we become lazy in our faith?  If so, what does that really mean?  Is that a good or bad thing or possibly a combination?   And besides, just what does it mean to you to be lazy?   There are different takes on it I’m learning.  🙂   OH… and if you like to write, join us for this week’s word prompt with Miss Kate. 

image of man lying on couch looking lazy, text lazy in our faith

Lazy in Our Faith

There are times when I think
I don’t know the meaning of
the word lazy.
You’ll always find me
doing something, whether it be
scrolling on my phone (it’s doing something),
or exercising, or caring for critters,
reading, gardening, walking about,
working at home or as a grocery clerk.

You’ll rarely find me just
doing nothing (which to me is
the very definition of lazy).

BUT I’m learning from others that
being lazy doesn’t mean doing nothing,
but can just be chillin’.
Hanging out a home having a
day where nothing is planned, but
a time to relax and do what you will.

So a day of doing lego, could be
deemed as having a lazy day.
Sitting around reading, is
being lazy. Just as can be
gardening, doom scrolling, walking
about the block or whatever. It’s
an attitude of mind.

So here’s a question I need to ask
myself (and perhaps one you ask to).
Can we be lazy in our faith?
Should we ever be lazy in our
relationship to God?
We are told to work out our salvation
in fear and trembling right?

What does it mean for us if we do
become lazy in our faith?
Not taking the time to pray, or read
scripture, or ponder on things.
Are there consequences we aren’t
always aware of until perhaps
it seems insurmountable?

Or does becoming lazy in our
faith denote a high level
of comfort and lack of fear?
I don’t always know the answers
but asking questions can help
promote thinking it through.
And that’s a necessary process yes?


Harmony Can Be Explained

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Did you know that harmony can be explained?   There are lots of different ways of define harmony which I’ve tried to cover.  If I could find it again I’d pull up that bible verse I saw early today. It fit so well with everything, but alas, I saw, read, was delighted, and then moved on.  Anyways, if you want to read what others have thought of this weeks’ word prompt, go check Kate out. 

harmony can be explained, text over stacked rocks

Harmony can be explained

Harmony can be explained
partially as a balance.
It is reached when
a balance is achieved between
two diametrically opposed sides.

Harmony can be explained
as a musical combination of
notes that play well together,
pleasing to the ear, or
slightly discordant as in a
minor chord. Major chords tend
to sound better together yes?

A harmonious gospel quartet
has four voices that blend
well together. Just as the gospels
form as harmonious chord, four
voices blending together to tell
the story of the life of Christ.

One can see harmony, like in a book
I am reading. Wherein a new city is
built upon the bones of an old
city.  You see the new city using the
important remaining bits of the old,
and turning them into foundational aspects
for a new city full of beauty.

This leads me to ask.
Have You found balance in your life?
Do you realize yet, there is more
to life than the life you are living?
There is a God above, and here below,
that cares deeply for the eternal
lives of his created loved ones.

So will you?
Will you take a moment to
consider the deeper things
of life? Will you consider the
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Find your balance in the best
way possible. Consider God well.
It matters!


Proper Politeness Change

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This week I talked with our bread guy.  He comes from India and we got to talking a bit.  I mentioned to him about my son moving out in a couple of weeks.  I asked him why he moved to Canada.  And eventually we talked about family differences.  In India, families stay together.  Adult children don’t leave the family unit, the family just expands.  I suppose if I stopped to think about it a bit, someone would have to leave their birth family in order for one of the families to grow…but we didn’t get that far. 🙂  But it makes me wonder, could what be considered proper politeness does change as depends on the culture?

Proper Politeness Change

Could it be that
proper politeness does
change depending on the
culture or the situation?

For instance, I grew up Dutch,
Politeness to guests required
a house fully cleaned
before they arrived.   But many 
Canadians I find stress less
about such details. 🙂 Mind you,
as a Canadian I am one of those stress less.

I watched a video the
other day about how in
Japan, one needs to find a
fully trained replacement for
your employer before you can
leave your place of employment.
While in England, it’s hard
to get fired, there are so many
rules about how it can be done.
In either situation
it’s just not done…

For an Indian man, seeing a
child leave their family home,
is odd and feels wrong.
What about the respect to
parents and family connection?
It’s difficult to reconcile that
distance in living doesn’t equate
lack of respect or connection.

I know what I’m saying is
not all about politeness
but politeness is
one way that we show respect
for other people in our lives.

So just how do we show respect
for other people in our lives?
How do we wind our politeness into
the different cultures surrounding us?


Nurture

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this short little acrostic occurred to me as I pondered the word Nurture. 

naturally
unnoticed
raised up while
tending to
unruly
replications
encourages

nurture (text) image of small green plant held in two hands

Have you ever taken the time to notice how people nurture their underlings differently?  Whether it be parents or managers?   Some do it well and others struggle in the task.  Therefore one wonders if that is the result of the nurturing they received.  Sometimes folk don’t even see the nurturing they receive, particularly if it is well-done.  

Intentionality needs to be part of it yes?

Like for instance hubby and I are currently in a membership class.  The church is intentionally fostering a need/desire for people to become members.  Why?

To help build up the body of Christ in a manner that demands some accountability.  One can be a bench warmer or one can fulfill their duties as a believer.  Part of that starts with being an active member in a body of believers. 

This week we are talking about the creation of new believers, and then the development of faithful disciples.  One begets the other, which in turn should beget more, and so the body of believers is continually built up.    

The church often fails in this, and so this particular church is seeking to actively change that.  To change the mindset of global mission to more local mission and meeting people HERE.  Encouraging faith in a society that discourages faith in God and promotes it in food, entertainment, and frivolity.  Building faith in God in a community that doesn’t see the need because they are so distracted by everything else.

That’s my five minutes…. 

Time sometimes goes too fast and I don’t feel like I’m done talking…. so let’s see how quickly I can write just a bit more.  🙂

Nurture

Nurture isn’t just external
There is an inward part.
Particularly when it comes
to sharing one’s own heart.

To see the church of God built
up means connecting more your own
to the creator God’s throne.

Seeing his majesty.
Working hard to reflect it.
So that those around you
are inspired to
ask questions and find
answers to their own
questing hearts.
AND THEN
the church can be built.

Make your life of faith
ones the begs questions from
others. One that God’s mercy
and grace shines out of
even if under a glass dimly.

Bury Me

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Bury Me is my thought process on the word prompt provided by Miss Kate.  To read what others have to say about you’ll have to visit her.  I’ve tried to provide a nonchalant view of death since it has no long-term hold over me.  I have wishes and desires to see before I’m gone, but really, I’ve no control over it all anyways, so why be afraid? 

text bury me, image coffin and lamp

Bury Me

Bury me in the backyard,
throw me to the moon,
it doesn’t really matter
since I was dead before noon.

You see I’ve a better place
a-waiting, so it don’t matter
much.  What happens to the old
remains matters not, when I’m ready gone.

I have to admit, I wanted to
stay and see, what happens with
my boy and his girl throughout
the coming years. To see them, hopefully
come to faith in God.

Concern I had for critters,
and what happens to them,
as I don’t much want them dumped,
but safely cared for or at the very
least euthanized well.

I hate to think of the sorrow
of people left behind, but
hope that Christ’s message
is given to all who would so mourn.

I would that death not be
feared by anyone at all.
That more would see their
salvation which is held
so close at hand.

For death has no sting,
it has no victory. It’s all
been beat back by sacrifice
and God’s planning long ago.