A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

Fresh Perspective

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The Five-minute Friday word of the day is Fresh. Wow… what a challenge because what IMMEDIATELY comes to mind is perhaps not something I should write on. 🙂  So what can I write on instead?   That’s the challenge.  Ah, I know… Fresh Perspective… isn’t that an idea I can work with? 

Fresh Perspective

Fresh Perspective

A glass of milk
Fresh from the fridge.
I stop and pause
For just a smidge.

Fresh ideas this
morning poured.
Considering science
Not a moment bored.

The Cosmological
Argument
Proof indeed that
God exist.

Or consider how
Without God.
Life is meaningless
Nothing abound.

Apologetics
Searching hard.
Questions to ask
Come by the yard.

Can one see
The truth in this?
That Jesus really
Did exist?

The questions
race through my mind.
Which to share?
How to be kind?

Fresh perspective
Comes to me.
Ask it now
A bit softly.

Taking note
Not to hurt
A questing heart
Let’s not be curt.

And so my heart
Which still does ache.
Takes new breath
For goodness sake.

Hope restored
A brand new year,
Let’s see where
Fresh perspective veer.

Where Ideas Spring From

So one of the things I like with SchoolhouseTeachers.com is that it comes with a subscription to RightNowMedia.   It was funny, I also get a subscription through my church but it seems they are different.   I dunno though as I haven’t exhaustively researched.  All I know, when I look up apologetics with one account, I see different stuff with the other.   Go figure. 

Anyways, it’s an amazing resource and I’ve been going through their Apologetics courses and some of them are short and sweet, and their thoughts easily remembered.  This morning I was listening to Reasonable Faith Defenders. 13 lessons, about five minutes each.  With questions.  Simple to remember questions that help questing hearts think.  

fresh start

Tick Tock

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YES!!!!!!!!!   Five minute Friday is back again!   I know I know, it was only a one week break… or was it two?   But Miss Kate listed the Five minute Friday at 10 p.m. tonight with the word Time.  I happily started my post and then suddenly my hubby was home from work… 1.5 hours later.  What a lovely nap I had!  I guess God knew better eh?  But my post, Tick Tock, stayed nicely in my head so when I woke up properly it was there to write.

Tick Tock

Tick Tock

Do you feel it running?
Tick Tock
Tick Tock
Do you hear it running?
Tick Tick Tock

Time marches on
Slowly, surely
Second after second.
Waits for no one
Tick Tick Tock

Take a moment to
consider how
Time is not ours to hold
It’s all held by God.
Tick Tick Tock

Not ours to hold
But every moment planned
As it, hmm, like maybe
today is meant for more.
Tick Tick Tock

Salvation, will it be
Today? Will you see
the beauty in each moment?
Tick Tick Tock

Time is found
within it, wisdom
Choices to make
God chooses our path
Tick Tick Tock

And how knows
as God orders our days
That perhaps, this situation
was meant for us.
Tick Tick Tock

It gives pause
As you look and see
How much control
God exerts with moments.
Tick Tick Tock

Tick Tock

Scriptural Inspiration

2 Corinthians 6:2

2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Proverbs 16:19

9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 90:12

12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Ester 4:14

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Col.4:5-6

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

God Loves God Hates

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I actually started this post for the crew blog as I had a post due for it, but it wasn’t sitting well as suited for that forum.   Ergo, I thought I’d put it up on my blog here for you all!  After all, I normally do poetry on Fridays don’t I?   I chose the title God Loves God Hates as currently as I’m going through Proverbs these two ideas keep being impressed upon me. 

God loves us, he doesn’t want us to have to learn everything the hard way.  He’s given us an instruction manual (the bible), and in particular he’s given us short statements that speak truth. 

God loves God hates

God Loves God Hates

A New Year is around the corner
Waiting
With baited breath.

Will it be a year
the same as the one
Just passed?

Or, will it be
a year of change?
That some pundits predict.

Oh, it’s difficult to
Predict the future
Isn’t it?

But one thing we know
Two things really
Provide hope.

Regardless of
What happens in the world.
God Loves, God hates.

These two things are
Consistent and true
Within that we live.

How does God hates
Provide for hope?
Knowing limits structure provides.

Proverbs says
Six things the Lord Hates,
Seven an abomination.

Structure given
Knowledge gained.
Limits known.

How does God Love
provide for hope?
A son given, a way shown.

For in this way
God showed his love
He gave his only Son.

Born, The Son.
Died, The Son.
Risen, The Son.

Hope fills
the world
with immense light.

Indeed, this is why
A new year is
filled with hope.

Join together
Discover all that God is
Love God, Hate what he hates

Together
As his very own
This New Year be hope!

Scriptural Inspiration

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Can you see it?  Can you see God loves?  God loves specifically and generally.

Can you see that God hates?  He hates specific things, these things are not good for people.  They showcase nothing of benefit to anyone.  

Reflection is not a bad thing

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Oh no!   It’s the last Five minute Friday post of the year.  I’ve been pondering this week’s word Conclude all day and still really have no idea what to write.   If you are struggling with your own posts you might want to get some inspiration from those who have already linked up!  🙂 

One of the aspects of writing for Five minute Friday is how often, when I haven’t an idea of what to write, I start writing and suddenly a post a written.  Do you ever have that?   Don’t you find it fascinating?   Anyways,  I give you Reflection is not a bad thing.

reflection is not a bad thing, mirrored image

Reflection is a bad thing

Just the other day,
I saw a post.
What has your reflection
over the past year taught you?

I thought WHAT? I need to reflect?
How’s I don’t wanna?
You can’t make me!
Reflection is only for planners!

But you know what happens
when someone puts a bug
in your brain?
You start thinking.

Shucks! There I go
Reflecting.
Noting how
Something I did was good.

This summer I
Decided… less time on my blog.
I focused on the yard,
On Building change.

I modified the rabbitry,
Brought in new cages.
Built new stands.
More stuff, yet more room.

Amazing how it worked out.
and then
I built gardens,
New raised beds.

Even the pond
was reconstructed.
A bit deeper, a bit longer.
The fish more room, happy.

The lad and I did much
Together.
Time to talk and laugh.
Creating connections.

It’s good to connect
to make different choices
Perhaps at the conclusion of a year
Reflection is not a bad thing?



In Gratitude I Come

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Miss Kate has given us a seasonally appropriate word prompt, Grateful.   If you haven’t taken the time to become part of our community, perhaps now is the time.  Consider, what do you have to be grateful for?  This word inspired the poem “In Gratitude I come”.

In gratitude I come

In Gratitude I Come

Across the platforms
Social media extols
Thanksgiving time
Let gratefulness unfold.

Pies, and turkeys,
and maybe a ham.
A sweet potato casserole
Might add some glam.

So many things
To be thankful for.
Listing many things,
Might be a bore. 🙂

A fine place to live
Work to be had
School it’s a priv
Learning now lad!

Family and friends
All gathered round
Searching extends
Something more to be found?

A friend reminded
Just the other day
Something provided
Even without my say.

So at the end of the day
With gratitude I come.
Thankful to one
Who sent his only son.

in gratitude I come

Verses to Ponder

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

I John 4:9

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, theyf] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Freedoms are Cancelled

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Miss Kate has offered us up a new word prompt this week.  The word is cancel.  I thought my weekly poem was going to go in a different direction, one that spoke to the need to understand the truth of God’s word.   This one turned on its head though, and that’s okay eh?  🙂  Sometimes you need to follow where the words lead you.  Freedoms are cancelled is the end result.

freedoms are cancelled, angry child at closed playground

Freedoms are Cancelled

Hold the presses!
Stop the run!
New news!!!
Cancel it now!

And so the presses stop,
the printing stops.
A new article written,
Is it accurate?

Covid hits!
Cancel it all!
No meetings, no friends.
No gathering in groups.

Then pressures ease.
Restrictions lift.
Cautiously, slowly,
Life resumes.

But really,
below the surface,
Tensions seethe
Emotions roil.

People hate it,
the restrictions.
They only see
Infringement of rights.

Arguing with others,
Finding ways to pick fights.
Forgetting others,
in the quest for self.

I understand it,
The view of both sides.
Wanting to be free of masks and rules
yet… the need to protect fills my bones.

I wonder what will happen
When restrictions eased
Get cancelled.
Will fear rule?

Will there be a
boiling over of
resentment?
Or will grace prevail?

Relying on grace
is what sees me through.
Able to snooze
Persistent arguers.

But I fear
what will happen
When again
Freedoms are cancelled.

freedoms are cancelled

Did you know that Five minute Friday has been going on for a rather long time?  A weekly gathering of writers who take the time to encourage each other along the way.  Why don’t you join us?  Be encouraged!

Move Ahead

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Miss Kate has given a wonderful word prompt today with Ahead.  What can a body come up with for that word eh?   Move Ahead is a poem that came to me as I was working with my bunnies this morning. 

move ahead

Step by Step,
The path we take.
It always requires
A moving forward pattern.

Now when walking
Have you ever noticed
the difference between
Keeping your eyes looking ahead
and looking backwards?

When you look over your
Shoulder, or stop and
Look back.
Your movement forward slows?
and sometimes even
Drops to a trickle?

Then comes the question
how do you move step by step?
Does it always take a
deliberate motion?
Can you sometimes move
forward without the planning?
Can forward motion be a gift?

It’s funny if you think on it.
Sometimes growth and movement,
Happen in ways unintended.
Like a heart pain that
causes you to see the world in
a different way.
Helping you to become more
than what you were before.

It’s all a way to move ahead
A step by step
Sometimes deliberate,
A pressing on so to speak
and other times
It’s more of a cause of living
a by-product of awareness
to where we are and where
we will be.

Move ahead

Scripture Inspiration

Philippians 3:14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  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.

Psalm 27:13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”