A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

What Kind of soon

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Miss Kate has given us the word prompt of soon, isn’t that a great word to ponder during a morning of work? Immediately the song “soon and very soon” popped into my head so I had that running in the back of my mind all morning.  🙂 Funny isn’t it?  How often words will bring music into one’s head and heart?  But I don’t think I’ll write on that song, tempting though it be.   “What kind of soon” is the poem that jumped into my lap this early evening after work was done. 

What kind of soon, text over image of red radishes

What kind of soon?

so as much as i want to
i’m not going to do it
nope nope i won’t base a
poem around “soon and very soon”

even though, perhaps before i die
i will see the king and then
boy oh boy won’t that
change so many things?

but take a walk with me
won’t you? and see some things
that will come soon.

in a garden plot next to
the rabbitry are some wee green
things growing
Soon i’ll have radishes,
and spinach, and
something new, spinach berries!

pondering trying something new
this year which would happen
soon after ripe radishes. is
following a pickled radish recipe.

just as you enter my rabbitry
you’ll see a girl named zesty
and soon, well, soonish,
she’s going to have some babies.

soon, well, a bit longer than
zesty will take to kindle,
i’ll have fridays off work
and i’ll be able to garden more freely.

soon, before the month runs out,
i plan to visit a friend, on the
other side of the border, taking my boy
with me for a mom’s weekend away.

soon, i’m hoping to be sneaky
and book a weekend away for my
sweetheart of a man, and the boy
of my dreams, so they can just be.

won’t that be grand
if all those soons happen?
if they can all be fulfilled in
the way i hope?

but in the end,
even if all those soons happen not,
i know that God is in control,
and it will be fine regardless.

what kind of ‘soon’ do
you carry within?

what kind of soon, text over image of seedling

God Speaks to us

1 Thess. 5:1-6

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 

Luke 21:25-28

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Shall I Persist?

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So… I saw the word persist and immediately I started thinking but… I couldn’t figure out which tack to take until one just kinda did it’s thing.  Let me take you on my journey through Shall I Persist?   I personally found it fascinating watching how my brain worked it’s way through this word.  🙂 

Shall I persist?

Trial One: Shall I Persist?

Shall I persist
the question I ask
persistence in this
what is now my task?

Can I go the distance as
I run the race set before me
knowing that temptations will
strive to keep me off my knees?

Trial Two

it’s hard to know sometimes
if a task you are doing and
struggling to complete is one
worth persisting in.
by what measure do we judge
a difficult task worth
the agony of continued pursuit?

shall I persist or instead give way
never minding my thoughts of
it will be today

Trial Three

Stick to your guns, see it through,
continue until the task is complete!
Persevere my friend, you’ll finish that race,
strive hard for what you want!
Insist that it can be done!
If you keep at it you will
obtain the sweet reward of satisfaction,
of knowing you plugged away to
the bitter (at times) end.

Shall I persist?

Trial Four: Shall I Persist?

As one persists in the difficult things of
life you learn within your being
the meaning of the phrase “soldier on”.
the depth of commitment it takes to
simply keeping moving forward even
when it is mind-numblingly difficult to do so.

Like soldiers struggling through a hard
fought battle field, determined to hold their ground,
to have their side win the day.
So carry on, persist in your activities.
Not giving up, even for a moment as you
realize, pressing on, that this
is a thing you can do!

Build your confidence as you hang in there,
pegging away at all those little
things standing in the way of your success.
Communicate well as you stick it out.

Know that your success is partially
guaranteed by how determined you are to
stick it out. Holding on to the fundamentals
of what you know to be true.

For the one who is hanging in there with you
is the very one who determined your days,
knowing that you have the strength to
grind away at the path placed in front of you.

So stay that course, as you hang on
persistently hammering away
at whatever tries to stand in your way
knowing that your path
is already predetermined
and the one who made you, minds
your steps your entire journey.

 

To have something different

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Oh, I have it, I thought at work, I know what to write for Five Minute Friday.  Miss Kate gave us the prompt Have.   By the time I got home though… what I thought I had I didn’t. So I had to start my pondering again.  But perhaps there’s something in that, which I can use.   Let’s see where the words flow eh?

Well okay, that went in a completely different direction than what I had thought it would!   Wow… okay.  Um, yeah.  God being God typing letters on my keyboard. 

To have something different

To Have Something Different

I considered it you know, 
To do a poem based on
I have decided to follow Jesus,
because I love the story behind that
rather simple song.

Off and on I ponder
the world we will be
leaving behind to my most
beloved son (we’ve only one
lad so he can be my most beloved).

A world where men can call
themselves women and do and say
a variety of things that
actually belittle what they say
they want to be.

Men, who are still fully men,
saying they have their periods,
and that they are expecting,
one day, to get pregnant.

And I wonder… what sort of world
will my son have to navigate?
A world where people, wanting to change
genders, belittle the very gender
they profess to be and insist that
we must respect their mental illness.

And a t-shirt add I saw today reminded
me of something important.
For these people too,
did Jesus die.

Can I, see the deepest needs
of even such confused people,
such poorly informed people,
of their need for what
Jesus brings to the table?

Can I take their desire to
have something different, and
perhaps point them to Christ?

I will freely admit,
I haven’t a clue!
How do I reach people
that are so deluded?

See my own delusions?

Perhaps, maybe, by seeing
my own delusions? Because
just like everyone alive,
I can’t see the full ramifications
of sin upon my life.

And I don’t know sometimes
where my individuality as a person
ends and where the effects of sin
begins in my life.

Or maybe it’s all just
a shadow of sin regardless?

And so, if all are so deeply, and
profoundly affected by sin,
perhaps in that I can find
a connecting point?

And if I can find a connecting point
and others can find a connecting point
perhaps, just perhaps, this world
that my maturing son is facing,
won’t seem as scary?

We have to find it!

We have to find it you know?
A connecting point between us
and those who do not yet know
the truth of God.

And so by finding those points,
we might help those lost,
to hear God’s call
upon their lives.

But I have learned
that I have something different.
Something that is not sin-based, and
so I need to remember this.

Let not fear rule us.
God minds us full well.
and we can make that choice, that
come what may.
We will join in the story of
I have decided to follow Jesus.

And we will, I will,
make choices to encourage
the deluded around me to
consider their deeper need,
that need to connect with Christ.

To have something different

Faith Connection

As I consider how my faith influenced this poem I am brought to mind of Paul saying he’d become all things to all people so that he might reach them for Christ. 

These verses are just one small section of chapter 9 in 1 Corinthians.  Go read the whole chapter eh?

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

How do we form those connections so that others might share in the blessings of Christ? 

Suddenly I Realized

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“Suddenly I realized there must be some mistake.”  This line has been running through my head all day as I’ve pondered what to do with the word prompt Realize.   That song by George Strait has the following chorus:

And he said, “Let me tell you a secret about a father’s love
A secret that my daddy said was just between us”
He said, “Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then
It’s a love without end, amen, it’s a love without end, amen”

And perhaps with this chorus I have my idea running for what to write on? 

Suddenly I realized

Suddenly I realized

Suddenly I realized
there must be some mistake.
Could it be possible
that God truly loves me?
It can’t really be true.

I know the things
I have done and the things
thought and seriously contemplated.
The struggles of life that
I freely took upon myself.

My awareness is such
that I know of choices
I made to NOT do something
when it would have been
obedient to act.

So to think that God
might still love knowing
all I know…
well, there must be some mistake.

And yet,
And yet, God tells me
something different.
Nothing can separate me
from the Love of Christ Jesus.

Consider that nothingness.
Not my feelings about myself
or my indecisions or
waverings in my faith.
God is the one who called me.
God is the one who died, rose, and
then saved me.
It is he who does the work
of holding me close to his heart.

All I need to do is…
live out that wavering
faith of mine in fear and
trembling before the
almighty love of God.

God’s Words

Romans 8:37-39

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

I am Not My Own

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I saw the word “own” as our word prompt of the day, and immediately a song popped into my head.   I am not my own, I was bought for a price…. 

My thinking was that this might be a good thing to write on, but I’m not sure I’ll have time to finish before work calls, we’ll see how quickly I can speed through eh? 

I am not my own (words over image of cross)

I am not my own

This week a question was asked
in a devotional I read
called 40 Habits of Faith
its one I reviewed a while back
but recently have decided to pay
it more attention.

ANYWAYS, this devotional asked this
question of me:
do I really want what God has given me?

Isn’t that a good question to ponder
on an Easter weekend?

Christ came,
He lived a life here on earth,
Exposing people to who
God is.
And then….
he died.
Showing ultimately who God
is and what God will do
for his people.

Do I really want what God has given me?

And you know what,
I really had to stop and think about that.
Sometimes,
just sometimes I say no.
I want the freedom that
other people have to just live
my life and not question my responses
to life circumstances.
Sometimes I just want to have
that apparent freedom.

And then,
then I remember,
whose I am and what
being
NOT my own really means
and I stop
I repent and say
God, I am so sorry that
sometimes I am so
blooming selfish that I forget,
I occasionally forget how you are
in indeed my reason for being
and that somehow I need to
let you be my expression of life.

Even in the temptations of life,
and how I need to stop and
question myself and my actions,
and do they show YOU in action,
I need you like I need water.

And God… you know what he does?
He forgives me and calls me back
into his arms (or occasionally hits me
on the head with a 2 x 4) and says
come on, let’s get on with it then.

This, is the God for whom
I am not my own.
He bought me long before
I was even born,
while I was just a thought
in his brain.
He died, and then rose
for a sinner such as me.
And so before him, I am awed.

God’s Word Reveals

Jeremiah 1:4-5

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

If curious about the devotional (which I am enjoying the second time through) check out my review. 

I Feel Like I Need A Break

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Well, here we are again at the end of the week.  And since I feel like I need a break so I guess that fits well with this week’s theme eh?   Miss Kate has offered the challenge of the word Break.   Perhaps you might like to join us?  Write for five minutes, and then offer encouragement to those who have gone on before.   It’s a lovely community that you might find a nice home in.  🙂 

I Feel Like I Need A Break

I Feel Like I Need A Break

I Feel Like I Need A Break
or so I’d like to think
Wondering if I’m not careful
I might end up in the drink!

Balancing work and family,
and small businesses beside,
friends and faith,
fall to the way betide…

But I do need to question when
I Feel Like I Need A Break
if perhaps it just a sign
of change I need to make?

When I feel like I need a break
often it means that life
is tad bit unbalanced
causing stress and strife.

And mostly what I’m missing
is family time
and most importantly God and
Making neither part-time.

So When I find myself in need
of a break it’s a call
to get myself back on track
and not live in the squall

of discontent and self-centeredness
and remember whose I am
and who I am in relationship
with with all my friends and fam.

I Feel Like I Need A Break

God speaks into this

Deuteronomy 31:8

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Philippians 4:9-10

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:5-6

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’

So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'”

Who Follows the Story?

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So last week there was the word story, and this week the word follow….. These words make sense to have in sequence.  Therefore not being able to participate last week, I feel like I could easily combine the two!  🙂   My working title for this piece is Who Follows the Story? 

Who follows the story

Who follows the story?

Who follows the story
I have to ask
when tonight I’m reminded that
a good friend and I have
a much different taste in literature.

Who follows the story that
I might write
weaving words in
a loose poetic form
do they hear whose
story I tell?

Are the readers ones that
I might suspect they are,
female, in-faith-walkers,
and if not, who might they be?

If I like fantasy, murder
mysteries, and history,
might my readers enjoy the
same or focus on something different?

If the minor prophets
draw me in more, sometimes
deeper, than the New Testament
authors (excepting Peter)
what does that say about me?

On those author about pages
where we learn that one might
fish, read magazines about dogs,
and have twenty children…

What would followers want to
know about me? Beyond my love
of rabbits and books and my
devotion to kith and kin.

Because the authors I follow
I don’t concern myself with
their about me pages. 🙂
BUT God’s about me page…

It’s covered in 66 books
all contained within one cover
and reading his words
you discover his identity.

That I think is how I’d
like readers to learn about me
finding me in the story I write
as God shows up helping me
to point others to him…
and least that’s my hope! 🙂

So do you follow my story?
if you aren’t following my story
are you at least following HIS?

Who follows the story

As whose Story do we read?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:16-21 

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.