A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

I Need

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Initially when I started this post I was going to do something around this song I need Thee.  After all, Miss Kate’s word prompt need was perfect don’t you think?   Instead, as I pondered my words, this poem I need popped out of my fingertips.  I find it so odd when words I have pondered all day turn into something completely different.   

Makes me think of when Hubby was preacher, and he’d have worked hard all week preparing a sermon, and then on Sunday morning something other than what he had planned came out of his mouth.  God is so interesting in how he works through the giftings of his people. 

We’ve been reading through the book of Matthew as a family after being inspired by a book review. And the words we read today helped remind me of God’s care for his people.  Our belief, our firm belief matters with the prayers that we bring before our God of glory.   That need is something I left out of the poem below.   Makes me think I should add it!

I need

I Need

I need
Sleep
Sustenance
Shelter

The basics
necessities of life
are things that I need
and that others need as well.

I need
Purpose
People
Plans

Everyone needs
someone or so the
song goes. Purpose hones
and soon plans become reality.

I need
Rabbits
Rules
Reason

Rabbits provide
something needing my
daily care. Reason makes
rules something lived with well.

I need
God
Glory
Goodness

For me
God is seen
in plants and animals
around, showing goodness and glory.

I need

God Speaks to us

Matthew 21:21

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 6:24-25

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

Question 1, Westminster Catechism

q: what is the chief end of man?

a: Man’s chief end is the glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 

1 Corinthians 10:31

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

 

A Purpose to Hold

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Purpose, so much depth hidden in that word.  I recently listened to a two books that talked about purpose.  One a fiction book, the other a faith based one.  I’ll link to them down below I think.   Very different styles, with a similiar take on it I think.  I find it interesting how such divergent books focused on having a purpose to hold.  Having this purpose gives a focus to life that nothing else really gives. 

a purpose to hold

Know your purpose
the litany entones.
If you know your purpose
the rest of your life will unfold.

In a story a gal
needs to discover
a way to beat back
A rather difficult mother.

Can she discover
a purpose to hold?
A end goal in mind
To combat a magic so bold?

She needs to not only think
but to gather her heart
It wasn’t enough
A role is just a part!

The other brings along
a samurai warrior
Impatient an apprentice
wants to run past the barrier.

The training so hard
The working it through
His master teaches
Life focus, not just work pursue.

Know your purpose
NOT YOUR goal
the master reminds
Purpose will bring control!

Purpose gives focus
requires more than thought.
The heart needs to engage
Or all is for naught.

The same goes with God
And the faith we live out.
Our purpose? To worship and
glorify God, us the devout.

Purpose affects the
very life that we live.
Does all that we do
show what we believe?

Scriptural Insight

1 Chronicles 29:18
O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
 

and your care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things you hid in your heart;
I know that this was your purpose.
14 If I sin, you watch me
and do not acquit me of my iniquity

Mind you, i read these verses and the question I am left with is this.  Whose purpose is it?  Is it our own or one that God lays down on us?  How then do we live it out?  

If interested in those books, here are my amazon links.

Rescue Through Stories

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This morning as we continued our journey to read through the New Testament as a family this year, we were reading in Matthew 13.  We’ve been inspired to read through the New Testament through Danika Cooley’s book Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible.  As we read through the parables Jesus used when teaching the crowds I kept thinking about how God set out to rescue his people.   How?  Jesus talked in parables, stories with meaning hidden within.  In a way I suppose you could say that his job was to rescue through stories. 

Kate gave us the word prompt Rescue for us to test our skills on. 

Rescue through stories

Rescue through Stories

In Matthew 13
parables told
Stories by Jesus
His words extolled.

A sower with seeds
a pathway, rocks and field.
From nothing but trouble
to various yield.

The disciples did wonder
why stories do tell?
Jesus responded,
This information might befell.

Listening, hear, or not.
Seeing, see, or not.
Parables tell, without telling.
Kingdom bound, perhaps befraught?

Good seed sown,
Secretly weeds brought in,
Collect them now,
or wait til harvest begin?

The smallest of seeds,
Grows a mighty tree
Like yeast that leavens
for a breadmaking spree?

A treasure, a pearl
What will you give?
A wealth untold
It’s worth all you have?

A net full of fish
Oh the wealth untold
Tossing the bad, and
Keeping the good yes Behold!

Can you listen?
Oh, can you see?
Jesus spoken to all
hidden mystery!

Listen … HEAR
Look … SEE
Don’t you hear it?
He’s calling to thee!

Hidden in stories
truth hidden well
but if time taken
This truth will swell.

rescue through stories

Scripture Speaks

Matthew 13 has many words that speak.  Parables interwoven between words such as these: 

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.

Less Desperate

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Miss Kate has listed today’s Five Minute Friday word.  Honestly, I had hoped to do this last night but couldn’t squeeze it in.  Yesterday was hot and muggy so it was hard to get things done during the day.  The intense heat just made me sleepy and slow-minded.  So at night I did things outside when it was cooler.   It’s been a pretty good summer though with work, a good garden, laughter and good conversation.  Things are opened up again for the most part which means people are less desperate in their interactions with each other. Let’s see where rambly thoughts take me today.

less desperate

Less Desparate

Sometimes when I look
at the world at large.
Seeing pain and suffering
As if I sit on a barge.

Like in the Olympics
in a river they sit
Affected by nothing
Just holding a glyph.

Not really affected
Observing the world.
The troubles are countless
So much to be healed.

I wonder at times,
just how do I show,
in these times of great troubles
A way out of woe?

I can pray this I know
But sometimes hollow feels
reaching out to God
Changes nothing I do.

I know it’s not empty
It goes not to a void
but sometimes more wanted
perhaps needed the word?

aged ancient asian buddhism
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I wonder at this need
that’s floating inside
God-driven or just within
Busyness a place to hide?

I can’t heal Haiti,
I’ve been there before,
I can’t fix Afghanistan
Thousands there roar

I remember a conversation
with my mom this week
about the sameness between
Fanaticism and Fanatical.

I wonder how I show
my fanaticism for God
Without broaching into
fanatical bringing fear.

How does my devotion
to God (my fanaticism)
Lead to less desperate
measures in others?

landscape man love people
Photo by Lagos Food Bank Initiative on Pexels.com

This week at the foodbank
So busy it was
Not the normal people
Drop-ins did abound.

It makes me wonder
when things open are
Why more people coming
when less desperate should be?

Does it matter my efforts?
Do my prayers difference make?
This push to do more
Whose life is at stake?

I don’t know the answers
Struggle internal real
The tomb is now empty
That grave has no seal.

More to be said?

I’m tired.  I’m tired of feeling like in the end… does anything really matter?   The food we give out, people come back next week again (or a month later).   The need is unending around this whole world.   

Yesterday reading in Stranger on the Road to Emmaus (aff link) the author pointed out how people used to live for 100’s of years and in those years they actively pursued evil.  MOST turned their backs again God.   God preserved a remnant.  Over time the results of sin have led to shorter life spans, more sickness in people, and such like.  BUT that man’s desire to pursue evil remains undiminished.  

Today that feels so defeating.

I have to fight to remember this truism.  GOD HAS WON THE BATTLE. 

He has.

So someday, possibly way in the future, possibly tomorrow, since no one knows.  People will be less desperate.  Less desparate because either we will be of God, or we will permanently NOT be of God. Those who are of God won’t have to struggle against the desparate need of people cause God will have finished the battle that he’s already won. 

We need to remember this eh? 

Age and Time

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So the word prompt this week is Teach.  As a homeschool parent it seems somedays my life is filled with teaching.  The teaching has changed over the years as age and time have moved us along.  So intense and hands-on in those early years, and sometimes “head beating against brick wall” in the middle years.  I am finding now in the teen years it’s more talk and discussion, and pointing of talents, and things to work on. 

age and time
A line of half buried antique clocks with a glass backing in a sandy desert landscape – 3D render

Age and Time

They say the
terrible twos
will tax your very soul.

The pains of
Growing up to five
Tears a mother’s heart.

Eight year old
with questions hard
busy running testing too.

Twelve years old
some attitude arises
Pushing back as hormones rise.

Seventeen so ready
to leave, to roam
and sail the seven seas.

Age and time
teach mom and child
Dad too, if truth be told.

Patience required
throughout time
Giving space, direction too.

At twenty-five
some lessons learned
Asking help more often heard.

The thirties and the forties 
hit with laughter
about the kids.

Then soon enough it starts
a third generation
as age and time progress.

Additional thoughts

Solomon mentions in the bible about how there is a time and place for everything under the sun.  A season to plant, a season to reap, a season for joy, a season for sorrow.  EVERYTHING has a time.  Things rise and fall.    One sees this in parenting as well.  Though the ebb and flow, the age and time, as our children mature, and then eventually, it all starts again.  Watching, learning, seeing, teaching. A season for it all.  It can be so interesting to watch don’t you find? j

Hard sometimes to be in the thick of it all.  But growth happens to both parent and child.  Stretching and learning. 

Accountability

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A new school year is around the corner and with that comes thoughts of accountability and planning and what do we do first type of ideas.   Some of what I do will be worked around the lad’s classes at the local highschool as honestly…. there are some classes they teach effectively without me doing a whole lot of legwork figuring out.   (something I’m not so good at). 

But with this Five minute Friday prompt, will I talk about accountability in homeschooling, or accountability elsewhere?  I suppose in many ways it kinda ties together doesn’t it? 

accountability

Accountability

Accountability
rears its head.
Pointing out I should
do as I said.

But is it fair
I question loud
when life intervenes
making one feel cowed?

Can I push it aside
Looking another way?
Thinking I’ll get
caught some day?

I saw a post
written on a blog
about a lady
Her kids a daily log.

Chronicling activities
summarizing reads
Asking questions
The learning it breeds.

I think of how
I want progress made
to teach new skills
in a teenager laid.

Helping a brain
to keep on task.
Remembering progress
without having to ask.

Think me then
If journalling helps
Maybe it isn’t
just for whelps?

A mother can learn
Daily to track
Progress made spiritual
not just physical flack.

Counting on words written
Not memory it fades,
Can’t leave in the dust
in some forgotten shade.

Keep it together
journalling soon
A boy’s brain to learn patterns
A mom’s opportune.

Continuing Thoughts

My poem, feels unfinished, but then my thoughts are too.  I mentioned to the lad what this lady did with her kids, the journalling part which helps them remember where they left off and what they need to do next.  He thought it would help as he has a number of unfinished assignments that he forgets about before he moves on to the next assignment. 

And I think about how I want to focus on building stronger spiritual skills, how I want to actually start creating product, but it’s so easy to forget, or to get caught up in daily activities that I don’t make the space needed.  When I track what I do, I find that more space opens up because I feel more focused.  If that makes any sense.  So we’re still feeling out ideas and plans…but thinking that a daily “I did this”, so I know where I’m picking up from, would be good for both of us, a new skill to learn, kind of a reverse accountability planner?  Are those the words I’m looking for?  

From Where?

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It’s five minute Friday and the word this week is From.  I needed to think on that for a while so finally I’m here writing.  This morning as I thought I trimmed back the lilac bush, weigela bush, and cut out the low-lying crabapple branches.  Mowing the lawn yesterday bonked the need for such activity into my head very clearly.  🙂   My job doing Census came to an end this week so as I pondered the word from, it brought to mind how many times I asked “from where did you come? whenever I heard a new accent.   It was fun hearing the stories.  🙂 

from where?

From Where?

Where are you from
the question is asked.
The accent says you’re
from some place away.

Oh, India the response,
a quick smile accompanies.
A lilt in her voice,
like good things remembered.

No Speak English!
The solemn voice speaks out!
Showing a card, with Russian pointed out.
A heavy accent, stumbling words.

Preema Come! English here!
A young lass comes
Gramma’s bidding heeded
Answering questions.

Middle Eastern accent
I wonder from where
Conversation stalls, ’til
A teenager comes home.

“Who are you” he asks?
“What do you want?”
Census… “ah.. counting?
I’ll help you” he says.

Dad speaks Arabic
Momma, she’s shy.
Moving through smoothly
Questions/answers now fly.

“Who? What?
My English not good.
Krista she help!”
An employee runs up!

So many people
From where I soon learned
Coming to Canada
Opportunity, it burns!

Hearing the accents,
Stumbling along,
Using google translate,
when languages known are.

Thankful I am
When God does provide
an easier translator
in whatever disguise.

Children, employees,
a neighbour or two.
Smart phones, and phone calls
Whatever will do.

from where (text) with hands around a world
.

Additional Thoughts

Looking back at my time doing this job and meeting people from all over the world I am amazed at how often God provided the help needed every time it was needed.  From using Google Translate (as Spanish I don’t speak), to the helpfulness of children and neighbours, and to the handy government provided translation card. 

My mom was so worried about me going away, what kind of people I would meet.  It was so good to be able to say “Mom, God was with me all the way.  I met so many nice people from all over the world.  It was so interesting to do!” The bible tells us that God is with us always, and that he answers our need even before we know we have it.  I saw that truth in action so many times.  God is good eh?  🙂 

Most came by plane, some by boat, they managed to get from there to here, just in time, for some, to be included in our census. But the smiles that HERE they are!  Fantastic to see.