ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

No matter how you feel about our country and what’s going on right now, I believe there is always going to be hope in our God. He has promised to be with us in all circumstances. He will never leave us. He has the power to change the world. He is in control. I am including this painting of Paul’s today to represent the symbol of America. We are a nation of mixed blood. All the combined DNA holds information, opinions, how we react, and every other element that affects us. We’re also endowed by God with a conscience. That inner voice that shows us the difference between wrong and right. The quiet voice of God that leads us, defines us and uses us for His glory. When our nation is at a crossroads – when we hear of wars and rumors of wars – when it seems that all is lost – He is our refuge and strength. I wrote the following poem right after our country was attacked by terrorists on 9/11. As we try to make sense of what’s going on right now, we should be turning to the One who controls everything. He alone is our source of strength. He will provide a way. He will hear our prayers.

Hidden in the ashes, trampled by the steel,
Lay the sons and daughters of that day,
In the years that follow, our hearts may never heal,
We mourn their loss – We try to deal – We turn to God and pray.

Freedom was taken, terror stole our soul,
But America was built for more than this,
Strong hearts united, with a mutual goal,
Rebuilding, renewing, restoring the mess.

This day is not forgotten. It’s seared upon our souls,
We put our faith in God’s eternal care,
We trust in His salvation, we know he mends the holes,
That come from the destruction in the air.

Our hearts must stay united, no matter how we feel.
We look beyond the prejudice and fears.
Our only hope is Jesus. He is the one who heals.
He erases all our sorrows and wipes away our tears.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:11 ESV