God will dwell in their midst forever

Today our reading is from Ezekiel 43:1-12.

I read these first few words " Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. ² And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east."

And I got to thinking... Ezekiel has just been showed through this marvellous building. Being led through, seeing these massive columns, all the measurements being taken... and then he is led to the east gate and the GLORY of the God of Israel was coming. What an culmination of the experience eh?   I imagine him coming to that gateway and seeing God's glory rising up like one of those gorgeous sunrises that you get. I can just imagine who Ezekiel might have felt.   (let's read on eh?) 

 And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. ³ And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. ⁴ As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, ⁵ the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Wow oh wow...I'd be shaking in my boots.   The glory of the Lord sounding like (what I would imagine) Niagara Falls... All the watery noise rushing and pushing and swirling around.    BUT.. with that sound comes the vision of God when he came to destroy the city like when he was by the Chebar canal... oh... I would fall on my face as well.   Knowing God's glory and his ability to do justice and reign down destruction on his people's enemies.

God came into the temple and his glory completely filled it.  Remember how big the temple was?   God's glory filled it.
  

God's message comes to Ezekiel:   
⁶ While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, ⁷ and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places, ⁸ by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger. ⁹ Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.
¹⁰ “As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan. ¹¹ And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out. ¹² This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

God is done with it.   He has corrected the poor behaviour of his people.   His desire is for Israel to put aside their worship of false gods and all their abominations.  His plan is to dwell in their midst forever (presumably in the temple).

To that end, Ezekiel is to describe the temple to the Israelites.  God doesn't just simply say they are to build it, he says "if they are ashamed"... then Ezekiel is to let them know the design of the temple, along with all the statutes and laws.   They need to know the law of the temple, to know that this is a most holy building on the top of the mountain.

I can't say I understand it all.
This is not the temple found in Jerusalem.  
This a huge place, and it's all predicated on the shame of the Israelites for the abominations they committed and false worship they engaged in. 
God's intention is clear.  He will live in the midst of his people.

Just like now eh?  
Jesus comes to live in our hearts when we are aware of our need for him, when we are ashamed of the wrongs we have done, the abominations we have committed against God.
When we confess our sins to him, God comes to dwell within us.

IT IS THE MOST AWESOME THING.    To think that God dwells within us.  Calling us to remember him, calling us to know him, letting us know right from wrong.

God himself.
Lord of all.
Comes and dwells within us when we see the shame of our sin.

Doesn't that just amaze you?


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Prayer Saturated family: Sacred Moments

 Reading through a chapter every three weeks, this study is from "The Prayer Saturated Family".  You can read the rest of the series here.  This week we are doing chapter Three

"Sacred Moments".

 The building of a family prayer altar.  What this means is gathering as a family at a regular time to pray. 

How and when this will happen will be a matter of prayer between you and God, together with your family.  To set aside intentional time for group prayer, particularly as families, but if no family then with friends and neighbours.

I don't know.
I struggle with this concept.  

Let me clear though.
Not the concept of praying together as a family, but more the act of calling it an altar.

I struggle with the concept thinking of how it can so easily be twisted.  We pray as a family every _____ OR ELSE. 

I fail to see what is wrong with just praying together as a family over meal-times, adding in the concerns of the family, neighbourhood, land and world?  Why does it need to be a time set apart?   Isn't prayer time, at any time, a time set apart for God?

As I read some of the examples in the book I didn't see them as "family prayer altar" times.  I simply saw them as times that people prayed.  Prayer as they walked, prayer as they drove to work or school, prayer on a couch over something important.  It was simply prayer, intentional prayer and spur of the moment prayer.

Just plainly, people praying together.  WHY does it need to have the label of "altar" attached to it?

Prayer can be useful in so many ways....it is GOOD to attach importance to it, and have significance attached to how we pray, and to see the value in praying together.  

It is good to see how prayer was used at altars in the past, as a prayer of thankfulness for God's actions, as a way to keep our fervor for the Lord alive,and as a way of fellowshipping with each other.  Prayer is a sign of our faithfulness to God... and should not be discounted or trivialized.  But neither...and this is my concern.. that if you place it "on an altar".. that it will be lofty for folks to attain on their own.   Prayer is talking with God, receiving his pardon and forgiveness, a time to bring concerns before him and to thank him for his love shown to us in a mirade of ways.

It is good to be reminded to intentionally pray.  I know that some families don't pray together (and sometimes we (my family) lack in this ourselves).  This chapter is a call to be mindful of the need to pray more as a family.   To intentionally do so.  That is what I can take away you know....that need to intentionally pray as a family... to talk with God, thanking him, remembering his actions, knowing and seeing his power at work.  Good this.  

If you want to follow along, you can find copies via Amazon Affiliate links:
Amazon.ca: The Prayer-Saturated Family: How to Change the Atmosphere in Your Home through Prayer

Amazon.com: The Prayer-Saturated Family: How to Change the Atmosphere in Your Home through Prayer

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The Temple's Chambers

  Today our reading is from Ezekiel 42.  Ezekiel sees The Temple's Chambers.

When I read the description of the Temple's Chambers... I had this thought of a building that was much narrower and more closely built together.  I picture a walk-up like when I went to Philadelphia to visit a friend, and she took me through this tall narrow building...that felt long (though I'm sure it wasn't really) but was narrow and pressing in.  All the walkups looked the same, just like the temple chambers here are the same as each other.

 ⁵ Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries took more away from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building. ⁶ For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the courts. Thus the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones........They were similar to the chambers on the north, of the same length and breadth, with the same exits and arrangements and doors, ¹² as were the entrances of the chambers on the south. There was an entrance at the beginning of the passage, the passage before the corresponding wall on the east as one enters them.

The purpose of the chambers.   The north and south chambers are holy.  They are where the priests eat the most holy offerings...the grain, the sin and the guilt offerings.   It is a holy place.

¹³ Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers opposite the yard are the holy chambers, where the priests who approach the Lord shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall put the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering—for the place is holy.

In fact, in this holy place, you can wear walk about clothes, you have to wear garments fit just for the holy place. This causes me to think about how I have "rabbit clothes" and then I have all my other clothes.  I don't wear rabbit clothes other than when I am at home. So the part of them having to change their clothes doesn't surprise me.  You only want the best things for the holy place. 

¹⁴ When the priests enter the Holy Place, they shall not go out of it into the outer court without laying there the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They shall put on other garments before they go near to that which is for the people.”

Then Ezekiel saw the man measuring the exterior of the temple area.   Can you imagine it was 500 cubits square?   It was a large square building. and around the building was a wall, this made a separation between God's holy place and the place for everyone else, the common area. 
 
¹⁵ Now when he h that faced east, and measured the temple area all around. ¹⁶ He measured thead finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate east side with the measuring reed, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around. ¹⁷ He measured the north side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around. ¹⁸ He measured the south side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed. ¹⁹ Then he turned to the west side and measured, 500 cubits by the measuring reed. ²⁰ He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.

I'm thinking about all this and honestly...I have a hard time figuring what to learn from this, other than God is holy, we need to treat him as such.  That there is to be a separation between that which is holy and that which is not.

oh...

Think about that.

A separation between the holy and the not holy.

Do you see it in your life?  That awareness that God is different from EVERYTHING else in your life?   Do you?

Do I?

Admittedly I don't always see it.   I see everything around me so much more clearly than I see God sometimes.  I don't always react to God with the reverence that he is due...sometimes just leaving my "rabbit clothes" on when I approach him.

And yes, God wants us to be intimately familiar with him.
But he also wants us to know that HE IS GOD.   That's been taught over and over in Ezekiel that he wants us to know that HE IS THE LORD GOD.

Remember it.
Consider it in the day to day.
Let it make a difference.   This I should do better.  Oh that the Good Lord would help me to do so.

You can read more in my Ezekiel Studies here and here.

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Review: God's Easter Miracles

Amazon.com: God's Easter Miracles: Adventures Of The Sea Kids is a cute picture book written by Lee Ann Mancini.   A school of sealife learn some important lessons about how we live our lives in the light of Jesus giving up his life for us.

About those who put the book together:
Author Lee Ann Mancini is an adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary,she's a mom of two, and has devoted her life as a servant for Christ Jesus.

Illustrator Dan Sharp has over 30 years of illustrating for children.  He attends church services in Michigan and works for a variety of companies in designing artwork.

Book Synopsis: 
We find the sea kids in Sunday School with Miss Linda their teacher, one of her students has autism.  Today Miss Linda has a surprise for them... and Easter Egg hunt with three special eggs to find.   Paul (the autistic child) was VERY eager to find one of the special eggs.  The children rushed around finding eggs, One boy found two special eggs, as well as another student, but Paul did not.   Young boy who found two was asked to give up one egg for Paul...We also learned of a child who was badly hurt in an accident.   Through these experiences the children learn the power of prayer and how to give of themselves.

My Thoughts:
There is much in this book that I had a thorough appreciation for:

The bright colourful pictures. 

The biblical base and the focus on prayer.

The easy to read font.

I have to admit, I struggled with the teacher asking Jimmy (who won the two special eggs) to give up one of them to a student having a temper tantrum over not getting his own way.  She claimed he should do it because "it wasn't fair for Jesus to die for us".  It didn't set right for me. It might be my own depravity showing through...Love helps us do things we don't want to do. Perhaps it was a way to show love...but I query if it is truly loving to reward temper tantrums.  I LOVED the answer his father gave to Jimmy.  He didn't HAVE to show his love..but he could CHOOSE to do so.  Jesus submitted his will to God the Father, Jimmy submitted his will to what was right to help his friend work through his disappointment. 

God's Easter Miracles
Author: Lee Ann Mancini
Illustrator: Dan Sharp
Publisher: GLM Publishing
Series: Adventures of the Sea Kids
Pages: 32
Type: Children's Picture book
Cover: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Bookcrash

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: God's Easter Miracles: Adventures of the Sea Kids

Amazon.com: God's Easter Miracles: Adventures Of The Sea Kids

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Recipe: Tuna Noodle Salad

Hubby suggested I make a plain tuna salad, so I went looking for a simple one and I found Amelia's.  I made some modifications due to dislikes that we have. 

Here is Amelia's Recipe.  

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 1 (5 ounce) can tuna, drained
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
• 1 (10 ounce) can baby peas, drained
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 hard-cooked eggs, quartered
• 1 pinch paprika, for garnish 

Modification: I did not use the eggs or the paprika. Used miracle whip instead of  mayo.  Didn't have any sweet onion so used regular onion chopped very finely.  Used Penne as that's what I had on hand.

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the macaroni, tuna, celery, onion and peas. Mix in the mayonnaise, relish, salt and pepper. Garnish with egg wedges and a sprinkle of paprika. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes: 
 Hubby said "I like it.  It's a good salad hun."
 Me: I like it.
 Son... has yet to be convinced that trying it would be okay.

Books Read in March

The Homeschool Review Crew does word prompts for Instagram fun, I think it's great to have these words prompts for doing quick posts.  :)   I find them fun as sometimes it surprises me where my brain goes.  :)   The word for today is Books. 

Since I haven't done my books read for the month I thought I'd do that up today.    I know I know, hardly innovative eh?  You'll cope I think?

Books that I read just for me.

 Fledgling

I loved this book so much I went out and got the second book in the series before I even finished the first one.  

A great series about a lad who crosses two cultures and is not accepted in either one.  He meets a dragon and his life is forever changed.

The second book Avian is just as good.  :)  Now to read Traitor and then Immortal...  I have to know how it all ends  .. I just have to know!!!!

Hubby and I just finished listening to  Balanced on the Blade's Edge. 

I love the story aspect...it's actually quite fascinating.  I'd rather not have the romance aspect to it as I find that I dislike that aspect in books now, but the story behind the romance has me hooked.  I want to know how the crisis will be worked through.    

Her second book I am liking more as the romance part isn't quite as in my face.  "Deathmaker" It is called.   Definitely a fantasy type series of books, with powers of magic, dragons of old, and fear of magic rampant.

Books Reading with my Lad (in progress or finished)

We have been working through story of the world for quite a while.   I expect we'll be done this book by the end of the month as we are in the last 1/5th of it.

We've learned a whole lot reading through this series.

The Natural World.


We've learned about all sorts of animals and natural phenomena.   
Trees, rainforests, critters of all sorts.

Currently we are in the midst of learning all sorts of fascinating facts about birds.

It will be a spell before we are done this book though.

A Wind in the Door
I loved this book as a child and it stuck with me forever.  

I could hardly wait for my lad to get old enough to share it with him.

He LOVED it.  And often begged me to keep reading through it.  

He was as sad as I was at the end when Progo died. "BUT MOM!!!  HE can't die!!!"   What love will do eh?

Canada's Natives Long Ago.

This book contains stories from early Canadians...both natives and early explorers.   We're learning lots and being amazed often.   

We just finished reading a section about a young explorer trying to cross a river where the current was so strong it bent a tree FOUR FEET in diameter in half!   Can you imagine it?   They gave up trying to cross the river.

We continue to read through "Getting to Know Nature's Children".  This month we are learning about the grouse, last month we learned about otters and the red fox.   There are two animals in each book.

The lad continues to enjoy this series and as long as he does, we'll keep reading through them.   


 


Irish Chain

I can't say what a great book this is that we are reading.  I would call this a living book about a disaster in Canadian history.. devastated the town and harbor.  Killed 1000's of people.   The lad and I are captivated by the story of Rose and her strength that she didn't even know she had.   She lost so much...and yet..her family and her memories remained strong.


If you can...read this book.  It's a good one.

Books Read for the Purpose of Reviewing Them.

Amazing Animal Adventure.   This was a GREAT seek and find book on biomes located throughout the world.

War Plan Red.    This was simply a fun review to do and I learned so much about the history between Canada and the United States. 



Found - Psalm 23.   A book for young children, a simple, gentle look at Psalm 23 and how the good shepherd cares for us. 


Let's Explore...Mountain.   Want to learn about different mountains throughout the world?   Text plus activities to educate and entertain.  

 

The Kid from Diamond Street.   A story of women's baseball, which focuses on Edith Houghton.   A very interesting book.   A meaty picture book that I enjoyed. 

A Dog in a Cave.   This was a somewhat different book that I enjoyed none the less.  Less about evolution and more about how two species can influence the development of the other. 




Really Woolly Easter Blessings.  A board board for the youngest children, to teach about Easter with Verse and prayer.

Three Middle School Books: I love you Michael Collins (Learning about the forgotten astronaut through the eyes of a young girl struggling with growing up and family issues), Ten: A soccer Story (a young soccer fan who works to make her dreams come true) and The Journey to Dragon Island (a light fantasy).  

 

 Books in process.

My son continues to read through the Erin Hunter "warrior cats" series, last I heard he was on the fourth series.   He has also started Shepherd, Potter, Spy...and Star Namer. 

I am currently reading: "Voyage to the Magical North" and "Head First".   Also will be finishing book two, and hopefully book three of the Dragonrider Chronicles.  :)

 -------------------------------------------

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Review: Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer

It has been my delight over the past few weeks to read through  Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer by Peggy Consolver - Author.  It's a fascinating book where I got to see biblical history come to life in a creative format.  It was a great book that I would love to have more people read.  :)

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book.  I'm sitting here thinking, how do I effectively tell people how good this book is?

Seeing history come to life.
Watching a boy growing up in a volatile time. 
Seeing the horror in the worship of Molech.
Understanding the amazement of the nations in the fall of Jericho.
In the learning how God fights on the side of his obedient people.

This is a book of growth and learning and many ways for a 13 year Gibeonite lad named Keshub.   A story of a lad and his family facing troubled times and how they handled it. 

This is historical fact told with creative license. 

Overarching Themes: 
Obedience, bullying, family, servitude, sibling rivalry, survival, and negotiation.


Here's a quick introduction to the book:

The great biblically based book is told from the point of view of the Gibeonites, with glimpses into life in the Israeli camp, and life under Zedek.   I found it a compelling story that drew me directly into the lives of the people involved.  I found myself so pleased with how Keshub took on his new responsibilities, rejoicing in his new skills, seeing his wonder that the Star Namer is the God of the Israelites.   Just an excellent book.
Peggy Consolver is the third of six children who grew up in Oklahoma.  She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she met her husband George.

She worked various jobs until she had their two children, then was a stay-at-home parent for them. Teaching Sunday school and women’s Bible studies, are some of her loves.  She encourages people to dig deeper into the story of God.


Due to the references to Molech, I would suggest that you gear the introduction of this book to the maturity of your student.  Seeing a young man step up to the plate, risking his life, doing a man's work when his help is needed, oh but THAT is worth any maturing young man reading about.    Young men, reading about other young men doing good things, stretching in a reaching for manhood THAT... is a good thing indeed.  Don't misunderstand me though, it's a good book for the ladies of the world too, it's just that I have a boy and I want him reading this book.  It's a good one.

Did you know this cool fact?  There's a study guide to go with it!  You can learn about braiding, wildlife, do some mapping and so much more. My lad is intrigued by the use of the sling, I wish I had a good place for him to practice it, kinda like with the archery he does already. :)   So many ways to broaden the learning to be found in this living history book.  There are also small group questions in the close of the book.

And for adults reading a book in advance of their children, or just enjoying the book for their own, just read it, learn your history, see God in action, see God preserve a people and call another to himself.   It's a good thing this.  It's bible history combined with creative story telling to create a cohesive whole.  Add in the study guide if you want to increase your awareness of the time and place, the memories, the land and the people in it.  It won't be a waste of your time.  :)

I read it before letting my lad get his hands on it (due to what I know of the time period), he is currently reading it and thus far says "I like it". 

Shepherd, Potter, Spy -- and the Star Namer. 
Written by: Peggy Consolver
Publisher: Carpenter's Son Publishing
Age: Middle School and Up
Study Guide
Currently on Sale for $3.44.
Available as a paperback for $15.99
A study guide is also available for $12.99 (paperback) or $2.99 on Kindle


To read what others thought of story of Keshub, the Shepherd, Potter, Spy -- and the Star Namer, click here or on the banner below.

You can find Peggy Consolver on Facebook.

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Loonies and Toonies!

Hey there readers! 

Welcome to blogging through the Alphabet with Amanda and myself.    This week we are working through the letter L.   I hope you will hop right on in.  :)  Join us yes?

Today I want to talk to you about Loonies and Toonies... our lovely way to spend money!   :)

This past weekend I went to the states for a wedding.   It was fun.  I had a chance to visit with an old college friend and see her children all grown up.  It was interesting trying to work with American dollars...all green and all bills (except the small change).

Did you know that in Canada we have bills .. coloured according to denomination...and then my favourite.. the Loonie and the Toonie!  :)

Why are they my favourite you ask? 

Well.... Today I find it marvellous to have a bill for $10 and I'm thinking to me-self ACK I don't want to break my $20...and low and behold in my change I find a lovely $10 in coins...it's like a birthday present you know?   When you think you've only got small change and find all those dollars hiding in there!  :)  It's a marvellous thing.  :)

Why Loonie?
Well...it's got that fine looking bird on it's head.  The well you know...the toonie is called such because well.. bearie would be STUPID (even if it has a bear on the head) and well...Toonie rhymes!  :)   And we are a common sense type of people eh? 

Why do we use coins for the $1 and $2?
Well.. it saves the country money as coins don't wear out as quickly as dollar bills do.  
We've even lost our penny as it costs MORE to make the penny than what it's worth.

Tell me then...what do you like about the money of YOUR country?  (other than the making and spending of it mind).  :)

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Join us won't you?   Link up below :)

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