Scenes like the one above are part of artist Paul Boecher’s growing up years. I believe this painting is near Hudson, WI. Paul’s family owned a summer home on Okauchee Lake in Oconomowoc, WI and he had many opportunities to crew on some of the larger sailboats on the weekend regattas. Many of his summertime paintings done plein air capture some of those early memories of his.

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

The earth rotates as God first set it in the sky,

The winds are His, He controls whether we live or die,

He carves the trees into skeletal versions of themselves,

He releases His rain on parched grass and plantings,

He uses His powerful breath to breathe life into all things,

His power is amazing,

His majesty – beyond our comprehension,

His mercy – undeserved,

His love – unconditional,

Our salvation – a truth to sustain us in our darkest hours,

He is God.

He created us.

He lived with us and died for us,

His heart is totally in love with us,

He conquered death and we will too,

His resurrection makes us new,

Submit to Him,

Rely on Him,

Turn to Him in all trouble,

Don’t give up on Him,

For He has already won the war,

We are His and He is ours,

Take His hand and let Him lead,

And His sheep will always feed,

Filling every earthly need,

For our lives His heart did bleed,

Leading us to heaven’s door,

Where we’ll lift Him and adore,

Where our sin will be no more,

Amazing grace do we implore.