A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

Explorations Slowly Occur

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Miss Kate has pulled up the word Explore for us to work with for Five minute Friday.   Explorations happen in so many different ways. From youth learning new skills and exploring new paths of learning.  Then a hubby who has decided that something different must be done, so slowly, as energy permits, explorations into on-line positions happen.  And me well, for two years I’ve been wanting to take my fellow away, I’m just finding the decision on where to go and what to do more challenging then expected!  🙂 

explorations slowly occur

Explorations Slowly Occur

Explorations slowly occur
Figuring out
new ideas
new paths to try.
Taking time is best?

A lad exploring
blending colours
and frames
Pushing his folks
another opinion to be had.

Searching, researching,
thinking about how
a love of poetry and
God can be intertwined.
Inspired by reading.

Affiliate marketing,
how does it work?
Planning, trying,
figuring out,
just what might sell.

Looking forward
a weekend
here and there
Time away to explore
Rekindling connection.

So much to see
Decisions are hard
After two years
shut down, where
does one go?

explorations slowly occur, with image of chocolate chip cookies

Continuing on

So I actually had this post written last night but it was getting late ERGO I decided doing images could wait til the morning.  Well, morning came and I stayed in bed too late, had chores and then the lad and I were inspired to make cookies!  🙂 Part of that cookie inspiration was to show him how easy it was to exchange nutella for peanut butter in a recipe (and how to change the corresponding chips as well). 

THEN I decided to try to get TurboTax on my computer so I could do what I intended… the easy part of our taxes.  BUT problems occur in multiple formats…. Which of course led to Explorations Slowly Occurring….. of my desktop computer, my laptop, to internet issues to .. GAH… still not resolved!   So I decided to take a break and finish this post!  🙂   And now I’m tired ’cause I stayed up way too late last night! 

So tell me, what explorations have you been undergoing lately?   One of my latest which I didn’t mention above is reading Dane Orlund’s book Gentle and Lowly.  This book is opening up the heart of Christ to me, the love and grace he has for sinners and suffers.  Excellent book.  Highly recommend. 

Sheltering Mercy

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Sheltering Mercy) through Nuts About Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

So over the past couple of months I have learned to appreciate reading prayers outloud.  I find that reading the prayers of others broadens my relationship with God. Sometimes when you pray the prayers of others you are blessed by their spiritual experience as well.  I just finished The Power of a Praying Wife  and wanted something new. So the other day I asked my hubby if he had a book of prayers in his expansive library, and he said “I think so, might take a bit to find though”.  Then Sheltering Mercy came in the mail.  What a lovely book!  Seriously.  A book filled with prayers written in free verse (my preferred style of poetry writing for myself) all based on the first 75 Psalms.  I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Sheltering Mercy

Sheltering Mercy, the basic Details

Sheltering Mercy with 240 pages is published by Brazos Press. It would be very easy to tuck into a book bag or purse at just 5 x 8 inches. Each poem follows chronologically from 1 through 75.  Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt share the authorship.   My review is for Nuts about Books. 

Getting the fuller details

There is very little art work throughout, but occasionally you’ll find these black and white custom illustrations. If I counted correctly you’ll find 10 illustrations, each different, and each symbolizing some aspect of the Christian faith. 

These free-verse prayers are not meant to replace scripture.  They aren’t meant to be a paraphase, or an alternate translation.  Prayers are a reaction to scripture. A lyrical response from a believer’s heart back to the ear of God.  Written to encourage and help our hearts to response as well. 

Simple titles grace each poem, leading some insight into the direction of the prayer. 

Let me show you a comparison from Psalm 17.  This prayer is called Justice Plea.

Hear me, Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.

The prayer starts off with 

Hear me, Lord!
Hear my justice plea!
How it burns within me —
a fire in my bones;
a desparate cry in the dark.

Lying voices surround me,
within and without.
Through their time is short,
they chatter endlessly —
the frantic scheming of the damned.

As you can see, not a paraphrase, or a new scriptural rendition, but a heart response to the Lord. A response, that prays scripture back to the Lord who inspired it in the first place. Just using author’s words, the author’s response back to the Lord. 

Should you buy it?

Yes, please, add Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms to your library.  It won’t replace your prayers to the Lord God, but it will, perhaps, inspire you to look at a Psalm differently.  Perhaps you’ll find yourself inspired to find your own words to pray scripture back to the one who sustains you.  

Now perhaps poetry isn’t your thing.  That’s okay. It doesn’t have to be your thing in order to help you talk to the Lord God. Don’t read it as poetry, read it as a prayer, as a communication back to God. Strengthen your relationship with the one who created you. Let your spirit be stirred anew!

You’ll appreciate the small size and the feel of the quality hardcover. It feels right in your hands.  🙂  The only thing I would change would be to encourage God’s direct word into each Psalms’ page. But this way, you can read the Psalm in your own translation, and that’s a good thing too eh? 🙂 

Coffee, not for me

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Imagine this… a five-minute Friday word that I SO do not connect with!   Coffee, not for me please!  So let’s see if we can actually have fun with this post.  

It is funny (sad) how often I attend an event, a social after church, a rabbit show, or literally whatever, and all they have on tap is coffee.  If you are lucky bottled water, or maybe a tang juice is offered, but mostly, just coffee.  What are the options for those who don’t like coffee?   Perhaps this poem might provide some insight into the options to offer.

coffee not for me

Coffee, not for me

Every where I turn
Coffee seems to be.
Every social screams
won’t you drink me please?

Sometimes there’s no option
Only coffee to be served.
Bring your own the option assumed.

Won’t you like some tea?
A hot chocolate perhaps?
What about a brew?
A wine glass or two?

Water is a the
Elixer of life
(or so I’ve heard it said)

Add some flavouring?
Maybe some bubbles?
Spruce it up a bit you see?

I’d like a glass of milk
Strawberry is preferred,
though chocolate or Caramel
Thrills me just as much.

Tomato juice, carrot juice
even watermelon wine
Orange or apple or
even a glass of lemonade!!

Coke, Pepsi
Sprite’s the thing,
various sodas coloured well,
Rootbeer is my lad’s thing.

Consider well
my coffee snobs,
So many options to
add to your shelves!

Coffee not for me

Taking it deeper

So, what is YOUR drink of choice?   Iced tea is the best thing ever, particularly a fruit flavoured one.  🙂 

Now, take a moment here.  Think about what coffee is for people.

For my hubby, a coffee in the morning is his wake-up call.  A way for him to gather his brain cells together at the start of a day.  For my mom, coffee is just part of her social sphere, something to gather over as you exchange all the latest news. My lad learned to drink coffee (ice latte’s mostly) one summer when at army camp.  “It’s a good way to wake up mom!”

Regardless of your beverage choice, in time, you’ll get thirsty again.  It’s just a fact of life. 

In the bible, Jesus talked with a lady about water, living water where she’d never thirst.  Near the end of his conversation with her in John 4, he said “13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Wouldn’t that be nice to have?  A cool, ever-lasting drink of water.  Think of how a good drink of whatever refreshment you have makes you feel like. How satisfying that morning coffee is, or how lovely that steaming hot chocolate is.  Now have the feeling forever.  Like the lady Jesus was talking to, turn to the Messiah.  Be refreshed FOREVER.  Trust me, well worth it! 

Easier than expected

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Ooh… Miss Kate has picked the five minute Friday word prompt!   Today’s word is Easy.  So what shall I do with this word today?  Easier than expected is my working title but that might change depending on how words flow.  I’m thinking back over my week and a couple of aspects of life kinda fit. We’ll see what God wants to bring out of it eh?

easier than expected

Easier than expected

Yesterday I heard
of another death,
the husband of a friend
cancer, so not his friend.

It makes me think
of another I know
Long time FMF supporter
one I’ve taken some time to know.
cancer a beast
that takes some time.

BUT a love of God
makes it easier than expected
despite the love held
for kith and kin
To let go
and be welcomed to God.

I saw this love
that people feel to God
the wonder of knowing him
of being his child.

My mom-in-law
surgery faced
NERVOUS is a slight
under-estimation.

BUT through it all
God. God crept in
conversation continuously.
That knowledge of his love
and mercy, the grace he shows.
She rested in it.

And so, it draws to mind
of my friend, whose wife
so lost, now with the Lord
and her husband of 63 years
says “God has use for me yet.”
The continuous
Resting in God.

Such an example
to me of how, knowing God
makes so much in life
easier than expected.

Have you discovered the same?

easier than expected

Heeding God’s Word

Matt.11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Isaiah 26:3-4

3 You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Phil. 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

heavy is the weight

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So a bit back dear friends of mine were in a horrific accident.  Two deaths and one life were the result of that accident.  FINALLY I was able to visit this week, just for a wee short time, but enough to pass along well-wishes and prayers.  I left and called my mom to let her know and to express my dismay that some think he is callous.  My mom was quick to explain how often people don’t understand how heavy is the weight between that relief of no more pain, and the mourning of a loved one lost.  I was reminded to more often show grace to those who simply don’t understand. 

heavy is the weight

heavy is the weight

he lies there
bandaged and battled
finally,
friends can stop in
for just a wee bit
to visit.
to check in
and let him know
the prayers and
well-wishes of
kith and kin.

he apologizes
not able to move
broken leg, ribs and
arm preventing.
always hospitable
even when it’s next
to impossible to manage.

but nothing will stop
conversation, a
reaching out to ensure
the well-being of others.

glimpses of pain in
converation of a loved one lost
and feeling callous when
the gladness is there
that this loved one
is now in heaven
of being glad that
she is gone and no
longer in pain.

she can now be
with a son long since lost.

the relief that she is
not with him is palpable
yet heavy is the weight
of loss.

heavy is the weight
of others thinking
he is callous for the
relief of no more suffering
for his most loved of people.

heavy is the weight
knowing that God himself
is not finished with him yet
of not knowing yet what
the future holds for him.

observing him
i am reminded of
how heavy was the weight
when relief felt when
my dad passed
no more pain
glory with God himself.

sadness knowing
that not all will
understand this,
that heaviness of
mourning mixed with
the heaviness of relief.

heavy is the weight

post script

I honestly don’t know a good scripture to put with this poem, all I know is this.  I understand how my friend feels at the loss of his wife.  Not as well as my mom would, but I do catch a glimpse of it. I DO know this…. God extends to me grace upon grace upon grace.   This book helped.

Once I truly understood that, I have tried to raise my boy by extending to him grace upon grace, and I’m getting better at doing that with my hubby as well.  He messes up, I mess up, and we truly need to extend more and more grace to each other.  It’s funny sad how I need to learn to do this with everyone in my sphere of influence. Yet God, he does it all seemlessly.  All his children are his children and extending grace to them just happens.

HE EVEN extends grace to those who are not his own.  Still giving food, shelter, variety in weather, jobs and more.  This is God in action, so how much more should we try to copy that? I have so much to learn yet.  I fear I will never show it enough, in all my life interactions.

Catch Me

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Oh, that was just odd (kinda funny actually maybe).  I read the five minute friday prompt this morning and so have been pondering the word catch during my morning chores.  Yes, for some reason carry became the word catch so I’ve wasted 4 hours of my day pondering the wrong word!   I feel very silly.  🙂   So I’m sitting here thinking, what can I do with the word carry?   And I suppose that within every carry is the need to catch or to hold, and thus Catch Me was born. 

Catch Me

Poem: Catch Me

Catch me Mom
Catch me please
and having been caught
this child wants to be
Carried.

Again, again
don’t let me go
Keep me safe from
my angry foe.
Afresh.

Release me,
I don’t need help
I can manage on my own
No, let me be
Respite.

Released to fly
Learning, growing
Becoming more
growing awareness
Relief?

Years bring
knowledge, that
more is needed.
Help required.
Yearning.

Hearing from God

I don’t know that any of these verses particularly apply to my poem, but they bring in some of my overall thoughts.  As children grow they want to be carried, and then they want to be able to just do their own thing.  Over time we learn the importance of accepting the help needed. 

As we mature, don’t you find that the help we need changes?  Our needs change over time don’t they?  Young adults needing different help than seniors.   

In I Corinthians 13:11 we find the progression of child to adult. Having to make decisions to give up childish ways and think like an adult.  It’s less self-centred.

And in Jeremiah 1:5 discovering that God knows us before we are even born.  He consecrated Jeremiah to be a prophet even before birth.  This tells me about God everlasting care for me.  A boundless love eh?

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A Country of Peace

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This poem is in response to a five minute post from Miss Kate, the word today is peace.  My words aren’t one of hope tonight, but filled with the questions of one boy living in Canada, a country of peace.

a country of peace

A Country of Peace

Tonight the lad 
quietly came
did you hear the news
of Russia and the Ukraine?

When countries start
fighting
don’t more join in?

What of China
doing flyovers
over their
neighbour Taiwen?

All these places
Mom, nuclear missiles
they have.
What if a mistake happens?

And then suddenly
the world
will have problems
forever.

The fallout
it will travel
everywhere.

It’s not a good
time for me
to be just shy
of 18 (in a couple of years).

I told him,
Yes, it’s a worry
We’ve seen it before
(done a study of WW1 & 2)

But Canada
won’t go to war
As least historically
we won’t unless
Britain does.

But our current PM
is a bit of a nut
so it’s hard to know
what to expect.

I don’t know
if I helped
but the crease of concern
faded a bit.

How does this fit
with the word of Peace?
Honestly, I don’t
really know.

Canada is historically
a country of peace
We are known well
for peacekeeping abilities.

And yet, protests,
and unthinking, perhaps
uncaring PM tends to
flame opinions.

And so I wonder
if, push came to shove,
what this PM
might incite others to do.

Caring not, as he does,
for the people
who work and breathe
and support this land.

A PM who,
wouldn’t care,
about the concerns
of an almost
17 year old boy.

a country of peace

What I do know

What I do know is that the God I serve is the God of peace.  He brings peace into lives in ways that totally stun me.  He’s the God who wins battles for his people.  God uses battle to chasten his people, this fact is rife throughout the Old Testament. 

I also know that God holds the future.  Not only of my country of Peace but also of countries more contentious than my own.  Nothing will happen tomorrow that will surprise him. 

Recently I’ve witnessed this God of mine providing a miracle in sparing the life of the husband of a dear friend recently passed.  All signs pointed to him not surviving, and here he is, eating a favourite dish already.  It’s a most unexpected blessing.  

This is the God that I will lean on.  He is my hope, my peace, my very breath, and that is my prayer for you. That YOU will know this God of peace, the holder of all our futures.