A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

Take a Chance

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So the words Take a chance on me kinda flew out of my fingers today as soon as I saw Miss Kate’s word prompt.  I grew up singing this song with my older sister.  🙂  Her favourite band would belt them out and so… we’d sing along.  Did I always know the words perfectly… NOT A CHANCE.  But it didn’t really matter back then anyways.  Two teens having fun.  🙂   Served as inspiration for the poem below. 

Take a Chance

Take a chance

Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down…

ABBA sang these words
and they were my sisters’
favourite band so in my teenagehood
I heard these words so very many times.

Take a chance on me……

Actually don’t.
Don’t take a chance on me
I’ll let you down, time and again.

But I know someone
that you should take a chance on
I was reminded today that he’s very human.

He’s also very God.
He’s full of emotion (in a good way)
it means he has them, and that things MATTER.

And you could be one of those
that matter to him.
One who will understand your
tears, anger, joys, and indecisions.
He understands it all.

Doesn’t that tempt you even a bit?
To know that God, born into man,
ascended as God/man gets you.
and wants to care for you and
being your leaning post.

He wants for you to
take a chance on him
well.. maybe more than take a chance.
He wants to you trust to him completely,
thorough, through and through.

And as you do, he’ll mind you full-well.
Because you see
He’s already taken a chance on you.

He died for you.
And he died for me (shocker I know!!!)
But not only did he die, but
He rose up from the dead
beating death,
beating Satan at his game.

What a comfort and joy
knowing this.
You should know this
comfort and joy as well.

So come on
Take a chance on me (Jesus)
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down

Take a Chance

God’s word spoken for you

1 Peter 5:6-9

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Shall I Propose?

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Today Miss Kate proposes we write a post for her. The question is, after a busy day getting things for my lad as he has a camping trip to prepare, as well as celebrating my hubby’s birthday, do I have the where-with-all to rise to the challenge?  So what then, shall I propose? 

should I propose?

Shall I Propose?

I read a book
A history tale
in Which some young men
and women regale each with tales
of Indians, goodness, and faith
and mixed within romance
and some of the men wonder
Shall I propose?

A story runs through
my mind, where oft I live,
of boss lady and
a spoiled boy turning
man, encouragement needed,
wondering
should I propose
a change of venue
for this young man?

One considers
a change to be made
how to present
his heart’s desire to
a people unwilling
Should I propose a way
to help the unwilling hear?
Yes, one who can speak
in ways that I cannot.

should I propose?

And so on we live, books, imagination, and God, speaking in ways that sometimes… we have a hard time hearing.  He always finds a way, a way that leads us back to his heart, time and time again.   Listen well.

Consider, what might God be doing?  Is he proposing a new way for you to listen?  A new way for you to act, to think, to be, to do?  He sent his son after ALL the other ways of being he’d worked through.

He came as a still quiet voice, a voice raised in anger, a being seen as cloud and fire, as a ram caught in a bush and a voice staying STOP! As the one moving behind a lad sold as a slave and then saving his very own people.   If you just take a moment to stop and see, to stop and LISTEN to the God of ultimate proposals… it would blow your mind.  So take a moment, and listen. 

Twenty Years It’s Been

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So Miss Kate picked an odd word for the prompt this morning.  Twenty!  What does one do with the word twenty, it’s a number for heaven’s sake!  Then I got to thinking, twenty years it’s been… Twenty!  Not that long ago hubsters and I celebrated with 20 years married.  Perhaps I can do something with that? 

twenty years its been

Twenty Years It’s Been

Twenty Years It’s Been
I said I do
He said I agree!
A kiss, a hug,
a document signed.
Man and wife
now we reside.

Pastoring a church
the majority of time
lessons taught,
feelings hurt,
needing to see the
something more to the
people beyond.

Mostly good years
homeschooling a boy
taking time away
date days and more.
Lunches and visits
and meetings at night.

Learning to talk
and work together too
projects to build
a boy growing strong
family connections
gramma and oma close by.

Then the church closed
my hubster I lost
to hard work and exhaustion
the talking was lost
the complaints and pain
all-consuming.
Stress arises an
almost constant hardness.

But recently a change
a desk job and
during the day.
My hubster returns
conversation and smiles
the complaints growing less.
Stress relieved
a boy has a dad and
not just a place holding man.

This new season is new
and holds so much hope.
And already it is much,
so much easier to cope.
I find my heart
smiling more often
and it is good.

twenty years its been

God Sustains

Through easy years and hard, God is a constant.  I was reminded today that God is there, even in the hard times.  He doesn’t always remove them because he doesn’t always need to.  We are always being shaped and molded to be the people he needs us to be.   I’ve learned patience and reliance, to see another vantage, to consider the “something more”, and also to rejoice in God’s provision. 

I Don’t Think I will

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So it was rather funny actually.   I was laying in bed this morning conversing with my hubby when the email popped up with the FMF Word Trust.   JUST as it popped up our cat Lizzy hopped up on the bed and I said “I don’t think I will”.  Jim was like “what?”  I said: “I don’t think I will trust you, Miss Lizzy”.  He laughed and said he didn’t think he would either!  🙂 All purrs and head rubs until she figures you aren’t listening closely enough… and then a nibble here, then a claws out kneading there, and then comes a nip.  One learns to get moving!

I don't think I will

I don’t think I will

I don’t think I will
this cat I won’t trust 
Do you think I’m a shill?
Perhaps we should chat?

She comes every morning
to sit on my chest.
Waking me up,
with just a little zest.

A purr starting softly
and gradually builds
I tell you I’m certain
this girl has some skills.

Weaving her way gently
paws kneading the sheets
Purring and rubbing
You’d think she wants treats.

Too slow to respond
Her wrath you will feel
You must understand
She’s not wanting to deal!

Get up you must quickly
before ire arises
Can you figure out
just what this girl entices?

Normally I think
Give a moment or two
I just want to sleep
leave me alone would you do?

Miss Lizzy is clear
despite efforts made
She will have her way
Her efforts be paid!

Soon comes a nip,
then the claws will come out
Not roughly or mean
but she leaves no doubt!

I just get up quickly
or else will repeat
“Get along now human
up onto your feet!”

"I Don't Think I will"

Psalms 33:18-22

 
The Lord watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love. He saves them from death; he keeps them alive in times of famine.  We put our hope in the Lord; he is our protector and our help.  We are glad because of him; we trust in his holy name.  May your constant love be with us, Lord, as we put our hope in you.

Thinking a bit more

As I sit here thinking more on Miss Lizzy and her ways, it makes me ponder.  Do I carry this over into my relationship with God?  Or even with other people?  The “I Don’t Think I will” trust issues that pop ever so often. 

Wondering if sometimes I need to stop trying to figure things out or just simply get moving.  Get moving with kindness and doing what I should be.  Not laying about, or pondering, or wondering what the desire is, when what is needed is action.

What do you think? 

As Aware as I Think?

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So this morning, after I did the bunnies and made my breakfast, I pondered choices in life.  I didn’t sleep well last night due to some worry about how I was going to get everything done, how the lad was going to get his stuff done, and how not to stress over it all.  I don’t want a relapse of the virus I fought a bit back and stress apparently, can cause it to show up again.  So I wonder “Am I as aware as I think?”

if you are so inclined, go check out what others have come up with for the word prompt Aware.

As Aware as I think

As Aware as I Think?

Bleary-eyed, with hair askew
I tumbled down to greet my man.
Good mornings, grunted
we shared a moment.

Talking, discussing,
doing what we should.
Alleviating stress and
concern in each other’s lives.

A hug, and a kiss
he’s off to work
as I plan out another
very busy day.

Roofing contractors
estimates give.
Bunny pictures,
blog posts and dirt to dig.

I’ll awake the lad
in a moment or four
worked late last night,
won’t be quick out the door.

As I sit and write
I ponder hard
Am I as aware as I think?
Have I remembered all?

Pause and consider
as breakfast I make
Have I turned to God
Stress to alleviate?

Do I remember
in the busy-ness of life
to turn to the Lord
who’ll answer the call.

Sometimes I forget, and
he always finds a way
to remind me yet again
to give to him all.

Sometimes I think
I have all the bases covered
and then forget the
most important part.

Do you do the same thing?
Shall we covenant together
to do our best not to?
To always be aware of God?

as aware as i think

Closing thoughts

My Lizzy cat is probably the second smartest cat I have ever owned.   She is always aware of birds, squirrels, and insects in our backyard.  She is always on the move if she thinks I’m going anywhere near the kitchen and possibly cooking or near the treat bowl.  Food and movement are her life’s motivators.

When I’m super tired and trying to plan out my day I tend to forget the things I really shouldn’t forget.  Like how family and friends try to be kind and helpful, how God always has my back, and how Milo is trying to annoy me with his neediness (he’s just an old diabetic cat who thinks with his gut).   I often forget to take in those moments of beauty, and quiet, and to read his word.  

Having people in my life who remind me of God is truly a blessing to me.   That covenant of the saints eh?  It’s really a good thing. Building awareness in each other, others help me to be as aware as I think. 

Can You Guess?

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Miss Kate has posted the word prompt for us again, this week it’s the word guess. Immediately the words can you guess, do you know popped into mind so I’ll fly with that and see where it takes me. 

So I kinda like where these words took me, but am not completely happy with it, but I’d need more than five minutes to refine it I think!  🙂   But it’s not a bad start I think.  But seriously, sometimes we just don’t know what’s going on in the people around us.  Listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, and knowing God’s word better, is our best guide don’t you find?  That and working hard to build our community of knowing God.

Can you guess?

Can you guess,
Do you know?
The secrets I hide,
the hurts, do they show?
There’s so much I hid.

Can you know that
generational sin,
Clouds my mind,
Making me cautious, and
rather people shy?

Do you know?
Can you guess?
That cancer lies
beneath my bones,
smiles hide my pain.

Do you know?
Can you even guess?
That Hidden desires,
lack of drive,
rule me so?

Can you guess,
Do you know?
Worldly wisdom,
such as it is,
drives my every desire?

Can you guess,
Do you know?
That perfectionism is
both a curse and a blessing?
Making a job doubly hard?

Do you know?
Can you Guess?
That for all this
an answer lies
in 66 books written long ago?

Did you guess?
Did you know?
How to pay attention
to the wounded around,
and how to answer them clear?

Did you know that
only in community
can we really care for
those in the world around us
and in the church within?
Did you guess it?

Can you guess

God speaks to us always

Psalm 119:10-11

I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

Acts 2: 42-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Stir the Pot

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Oh, it’s a Thursday night and I’m wide awake at 11 p.m.  So I thought to myself, why not check out the Five Minute Friday word for the week. It’s Stir.  Of course I immediately think of Stir the Pot, but hmmm… Do I really want to?   Then I started thinking, perhaps maybe I can…  Just differently than my first idea. 🙂  Trust me, a much better idea!

Stir the pot

Stir the Pot

Mom, why?
Why do you want this?
Don’t we have perfectly good
pots at home?
This makes no sense,
and look, they are expensive mom!

Ah, my boy, you don’t understand.
The pots at home, they have
met their end.
Losing their protection,
it’s peeling away,
a new pot is needed,
it’s a brand new day.
AND LOOK! They are on sale!!!!

And so home new pots went
from an annual “Pot Sale”
at Canadian tire.
One big, one medium,
this new stone ware stuff.
But I’ve heard good things
so willing to take a chance.

Made a stew,
the pot a mess,
cause you got to stir the pot.
Soaked in water
then the lad exclaimed!
MOM! Look!
This is a good pot!
Just soaking, and I dumped it
It’s totally clean!!!!

It was fun to hear
the lad’s shock
and delight
in a new pot for the house.
He’s now a fan,
and has plans of his own.
When I get a place,
I’ll wait for this sale,
and get pots like this for my own!

stir the pot

I dunno what you think, but I’d much rather stir the pot making some stew or soup, or even a simple bowl of mac and cheese.  Stirring the pot and creating trouble is really not my gig.  Though there are times when it might be fun a bit…but in the end, I always reconsider. 

But I think I will long remember my son’s complete look of shock when just a simple soaking and the pan came out spic and span.  Such a complete difference from our previous set of pots, even with thier 
“non-stick label”.  These pots come out pretty every single time.  It’s amazing.