MAJESTY
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Within the mountain’s early dawn, His majesty is seen,
The skies fill up with brilliance, and glorious golden sheen,
His breath is seen in morning mist, His voice through eagles’ song,
His power displays in sunlit rays, He shines the whole day long.
His love for us unspoken, but seen in every rock,
He leads us like a shepherd protects his wandering flock,
I am so weak and fragile, like many a stubborn sheep,
My trust oft wanes, my fears o’er take, I toss through dream filled sleep.
My tears won’t stop, may faith grows weak, I stumble all the way,
But He’s right there, surrounding me, protecting me each day,
I’ll never grow to understand His unconditional love,
But thank Him that He grants it from His throne high up above.
My God, you are my fortress, my strength when I am weak,
You carry me through deserts, you lead me when you speak,
Through pastures green and waters clean, fulfilling every need,
You fill my heart with gratitude, my soul your Word does feed.
GOD’S WORD THEY STILL SHALL LET REMAIN
I wonder what the early Christian church was like, before the corruption of its tenets – before reason got involved – before faith took a back seat – before factions of the original church broke away and became more to man’s liking.
We read all about the early Christians by visiting the book of the Acts of the Apostles. We can also learn through the four Gospels and their words of Christ Himself. We can observe the growth of the church throughout the Middle east and Africa. The epistles to established churches also indicate early missteps by them. Still the purity of God’s Word was spreading like wildfire.
I think about the early church in America – the Protestants who broke away from the Catholic church and the Church of England. They came to find religious freedom. Their beliefs insisted on prayer and daily reading of scripture, not to mention hours of worship in the church building.
So many of those beliefs stemmed from the basic core of God’s Word, but consisted mainly on the condemnation of the law and the consequences of sin. The Gospel almost became an after thought.
The purity of Christ’s church began with His countless sermons on things that affected the lives of His listeners. The parables were stories they could relate to, which had lessons pertaining to them. The Beatitudes set forth innovative ideas about how to treat each other as we travel through life.
He related to those starving minds that this world was only temporary. He taught us how to pray – not as those who made hypocrites of themselves, but in the quiet moments of silent supplication and humility before God. He told us not to worry about things – not to store up treasures on earth – to look forward to our time in eternity – to ask God to fill our needs and then be confident that He would. He told us how to love each other – even those who persecute or hate us. All these teachings seem completely opposed to how the world really is.
Dear, Holy, God, You inspired your truth into the minds and hands of the early Christians. Help us to search the Scriptures for all the amazing truth within its pages. Corruption is a natural thing for us human beings, because of the effect of our original sin. Remind us that you have washed away every blemish through your dear Son, Jesus. As we near the season of Lent, put us in touch with you again through your Word. It is your voice of promise, hope and forgiveness. It is my prayer that we use it as our manual for living. May we keep its content ever pure. Amen!
Posted in Christianiy, Uncategorized
Tagged History of the church, purity of God's Word, theology
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WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?
I don’t like confrontation. I’m adverse to rejection. I fear heights and drowning in the ocean. I would rather be alone than in a crowd. I’ve learned over the years that my fears often get in the way of my moving on.
Those feelings were nothing more than obstacles which were blocking the way to my future. Because of those roadblocks, I was hindered for a long time. I didn’t feel smart enough to become a scholar. I didn’t have enough wealth to pursue my education so I didn’t. I thought I was unattractive and would never find true love. All of those seemed like insurmountable hurdles to overcome, but they weren’t.
When we trust in our own judgment regarding the detours we face, we often fail. When we trust in God’s Providence, we can’t fail. Often our brains become deluded with the fact that we carve our own path in this life. Actually it’s already been mapped out for us. God has a plan for each individual that comes into this world. He even knew before we were born what we would become.
The simplicity of that fact is unacceptable to most folks. They feel they are in charge of their own destiny. They alone can create the success necessary to survive in this world. We’re exposed daily to that truth. The world is your oyster. You can overcome all odds. Success lies in the palm of your hand. You can do this. I’m not completely knocking the power of positive thinking, but without the force and power of God behind that thinking, we are setting ourselves up for failure. He is the driving force, but that doesn’t mean we should sit back and wait for success to come to us. We are implementing the plan He’s already drawn for us.
Our society has taken positive thinking to the next level. Instead of focusing on our plan for the future, many think it doesn’t matter who we hurt along the way, as long as we get what we want. In a world that puts the focus on the individual, we lose sight of the importance of team work, brainstorming, creative thinking, etc.
Jesus gave us a perfect example of how to live. Do not worry or be anxious. Serve others. Put others first. Don’t look for earthly gain – focus on heaven. Be charitable. Love one another. The list goes on, but these thoughts are almost obliterated by the mantra of today which tells us we deserve the best. We should live like there’s no tomorrow. We should put ourselves first before looking out for others.
Maybe it’s time we look to the One who made the blueprint for our life. He knows what you are capable of. He knows where your talents lie. He wants you to succeed. He loves you unconditionally. He walks with us and guides us through the obstacles. He carries us when we think we can’t make it. What better backing could we have?
Posted in Success, Uncategorized
Tagged FAITH, God's plan for our life, inspiration & encouragement
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WINTER LOVE
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER
Another blanket of fresh, white snow covers the winter wood,
Diamonds glitter across the meadow, the moon shines bright for good,
Icicles cling to skeletal limbs, days begin their ascent,
Still the cold days will hang on tight, temperatures make their descent.
Persistent winter will not let go, we long for warmer days,
Yet in those chilled, white barren forests, two lovers heads will raise,
Singing a haunting, love melody, their voices fill the air,
Their passion will warm and comfort them, as love will linger there.
GOD’S VOICE
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Where is the quiet place that you are longing for?
Is it in those empty times when waiting to do more?
Can you find contentment in the solitude of living?
Or does is come in simpler ways, like doing and forgiving.
God comes to us in many ways and most times when it’s silent,
But listen hard and you will hear His voice in every moment.
He whispers when we’re troubled, he soothes when we’re in pain,
You’ll see Him in creation, his voice is clear and plain.
He’s in the heat of summer and when the leaves do fall,
And in the cold of winter, you’ll hear His personal call.
When spring’s refreshing waters wash most everything in sight,
You’ll hear is voice assure you of His overpowering might.
Within the busy moments of life’s demanding pressures
He opens up His altar and He shares His greatest treasures.
Each moment He’s available to answer every prayer,
Just open up your heart to Him and He will be right there.
HISTORY CHANNEL MINI-SERIES
Last night was the first in a trilogy about our first president, George Washington. We knew nothing about it until our son-in-law, a real history buff, brought it to our attention. I love the way the history channel gives us a different look at things from the past.
When I was a child, George Washington was revered as the father of our country. He could not tell a lie, even when he was confronted about cutting down a cherry tree. He was a great leader, an ethical man and a wealthy land owner.
In this retelling of his life, I learned that his father passed away when George was just a young boy. He had to become the man of the house so wasn’t able to follow the educational venues of the day. Instead he would manage the tobacco farm left to his mother.
George wanted to become an officer in the British army, serving in the colonies. He was inexperienced in leading and in the art of war. Both of those qualities led to some serious encounters and defeats. In an attempt to cover up those embarrassments, he stretched the truth in letters he would later come to regret. So much for a flawless hero.
The pressures launched against the early colonials had to do with Britain not paying good prices for those items exported and taxation without representation. Britain was ruling from afar and could do whatever they pleased with these new settlers. At least that was the opinion of King George.
The series is well done. It creates amazing pictures for us to lay our eyes on. The glory of colonial America at its very beginning shines through. The agricultural fields, the fancy ball gowns and superior manners – the mud filled battlefields, covered with dead and ravaged bodies. We hear about the part the French played in this saga, along with the native people who aligned themselves with them.
Washington was a tall man for his time, standing at 6’4″ he was an impressive looking fellow. He was also deemed quite handsome. He fell in love with Martha and they were married, but George’s service to his country took him away from Mt. Vernon for much of their early years together.
We often place our founding fathers on pedestals. It’s sometimes good for us to see that these heroes were mere men with flaws like everyone of us. I look forward to the rest of the series and highly recommend it.
Posted in America, Uncategorized
Tagged George Washington, history, presidents day, truth, Washington
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I TRULY LOVE STAGE MANAGING
Here we go again. It’s opening week for “The Crucible,” with a group of very talented young people. The real magic started this past Saturday as new light effects and sound were added along with costumes. It seems each time something new is added, the brain atrophies. Words which were firmly implanted there a few days ago have flown right out the window hopefully to be rescued before opening night.
The beauty of the teenaged mind is that it’s still not completely full. It acts as a sponge at this time of life. When you get to be my age, memorizing lines is like thirty five hours of brutal exercise. It’s still funny that no matter what the age of the actor, we all wait until the last minute to memorize those bloody lines and if you’re a great improviser, that can help you to glide through, but it throws a monkey wrench at those waiting for the proper cue line.
I’ve gotten back into performing on stage again and can relate to the necessity of learning lines early. However I often find myself re-writing the script from time to time. Not only is this a disservice to fellow cast members, but to the playwright who struggled to find just the right mix of words to create his masterpiece.
I should’ve kept track of every theatre production I’ve ever been involved in, but that was just another piece of information taking up space in my ever overloading brain. Instead, I keep on going. Live theatre is so exciting because you never know what’s going to happen until it does. Those are the moments you remember most when recalling your experience.
This has been a difficult script, because of its subject matter, along with a different kind of language style. The use of early American dialect in the 1600s has been challenging, but the cast has been working hard to carry on.
Opening night is just a few days away. We still have three days to tighten everything up. We have a terrific director, who has also used this piece to teach the cast many interesting facts about the historical event of the Salem witch trials – mass hysteria – religious influence – superstition and the real life characters who were a part of this entire event. I know I’ve learned a ton by being part of it.
I have also found a new niche in my continuing theatre career. This is the fifth show I’ve stage managed. It’s so exciting to watch someone else’s vision come to fruition. Having sat in a director’s chair for so many years, I know all the elements involved in putting on a good show along with educating the cast in some way. My age has taken its physical toll on me, but my brain still works (most of the time) so stage managing is the perfect job for me.
Now let’s go on with the show . . . .
Posted in acting, Uncategorized
Tagged live theatre, memorization, stage managing, tech week
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OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS
We are never too old to learn. Our journey on earth is usually a brief number of years, filled with discovery. Think of what it would be like to live for hundreds or thousands of them. Our brains would be filled to overflowing. Our accomplishments would surpass understanding.
Some might say there isn’t enough time in a person’s life to absorb it all. Fortunately, there is an eternity to loo k forward to. I know that when death does come, I will only be at the beginning of a perfect existence. My eyes will be opened. The patchwork of my life on earth will be filled with tiny stitches of gold and silver – patterns created by God Himself. The eternal tree of knowledge will have no bounds in heaven.
Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”
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LOVING YOUR CHILDREN
As most parents will tell you, it’s hard to let go of our children. When God brings them into our lives, He also lays on us the responsibility of caring for them, teaching them the right things and giving them things that will help them prepare for their future. \
When they take their first steps, we are right behind them to catch them if they fall. When they learn to ride a bike, we add additional wheels to make it safe and walk behind to make sure they don’t crash to the ground. We provide helmets, safety gear, booster seats, hand sanitizer and a variety of other things to protect them. We basically don’t want them to experience some of the pain we did in growing up, so we do as much as we can to shelter them.
There does come a time when we have to let go of that protection and let them learn through experience. God does that with us every day. He allows challenges to come into our lives so that we learn how to deal with them. He knows the pain we feel. He has experienced the suffering of losing of a child. He knows what it’s like to be betrayed, rejected and scorned for no reason, but He is our loving Father and He let’s go of us so that we will return like prodigal sons and daughters to His loving arms for protection. Letting go isn’t easy, but letting God is.
GOD LOVES YOU & ME
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER
You beckon me before your throne. I have no plea to give.
My sins are far too many. I don’t deserve to live,
But still you call out to me, you tell me it’s all right,
You promise that you’ll carry me from darkness into light,
You gave your only Son to wash away my sin,
I don’t deserve this love that you have placed so deep within,
My soul is cleansed and free. You’ve done that with your love.
I now can look into your eyes when we meet up above.
How can I thank you, Lord, for all you’ve done for me,
I once was lost, but now am found. You set my spirit free.
I praise your Holy name, my brother and my friend,
For giving me perfection and life without an end.
Posted in ART & POETRY BY THE BOECHERS, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, eternal love, God's Valentine to us
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HOW ABOUT THE KID WHO GETS NO VALENTINES?
Poor old Charlie Brown. Every year it’s the same thing. He addresses enough Valentines for everyone in his class and doesn’t receive one in return. It has to be hard for a kid not to get even one Valentine.
Think of the many folks that don’t have a special someone in their life – those who are single by choice, those who have lost one they love, those who are facing years of caring for a disabled loved one. It has to be hard for them too.
Millions are spent each year on cards, flowers, chocolates and other special gifts, but why does it simply have to be one day only? Like Charlie Brown says, it’s almost like you’re singleness is being exploited at your expense.
It’s OK, Charlie. You have millions of fans in the world. You are loved by countless children and your words have touched adults as well. Of course that doesn’t mean much to a comic strip character. It doesn’t mean much to real live people either. We all long for someone to love and someone who will love us in return – someone we can share our lives with and build a life together.
Jesus gave us the best Valentine ever when He shed His blood to pay for our iniquities. This is called undeserved, unconditional love, but even that message doesn’t hold a lot of water for those who are looking for a relationship with another person.
Dear, God, I know that you have given us the best possible gift – eternal life, but I pray for those who have lost love in their lives – for those who have been separated by death from those they cherish – for those who have never experienced true love. Heal their hearts and let them know that they are loved in the best way possible, by You! Amen
OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
His love is like none we have ever experienced here on earth.
His love is beauty beyond our wildest dreams.
His love is precious, merciful, compassionate.
His love is given freely without question.
His love doesn’t look at our past mistakes.
He is blind to our transgressions.
He loves in times of anger, hatred, self-pity, depression.
He loves it when we love each other.
His love is a gift – more precious than diamonds or gold.
His love is the greatest love ever known or experienced by man.
No kiss or caress can compare with the touch of our Savior, God.
He cuddles us in His strong protective arms. He shields us with His strong wings.
He lifts us up when we fail.
He encourages us when we think we can’t go on.
He inspires us to go the extra mile.
He walks with us through all the joy, bliss and excitement of life.
He carries us through all the trials, burdens, hassles, fears and frustrations.
His love is like no other – it endures forever and ever!
WARM DAYS OF SUMMER
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Days of endless winter capture the hearts and minds of many in my part of the country. All that remains are memories of a warm summer day as the sun beats relentlessly upon cool water and people go sleeveless and shoeless on the banks of the river. Dipping your toes into the refreshing water is now just a memory, but soon it will return again.
A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
Remember the Bible stories about David and his rise to power? As a young teenager, he killed the great giant, Goliath, with a single stone and slingshot. He had many occasions to take the life of King Saul, but knew that wasn’t in God’s plan – so he resisted. He came to power, danced in the streets of Jerusalem, lusted after the wife of one of his trusted soldiers, committed adultery, murder and had a life full of family difficulties. Still he was a man after God’s own heart.
What exactly does it mean to be attached to such a label? Does it mean that God loved David more than others? Does it mean he was above transgression because of that love? I believe that to be a man after God’s own heart, indicates David’s need for God in his life. It was something of utmost importance to him.
This singer of beautifully crafted psalms, who could soothe the troubled soul, was also a ferocious warrior who fought valiantly for his country and got right in the trenches with his men, even when he became king. He was one of the greatest warriors in the history of Israel.
David was a human being – not some marble icon created by Michaelangelo. He had the same faults as any other man. He was a sinner, like all of us. He was confronted by God, through His prophet, and repented. He suffered the loss of his first born – yes, God forgave David, but there were consequences to his actions.
As we look at our own lives and think of how we’ll be remembered by others when we leave this life – one of the first thing we hope for is acceptance by our peers. We also think of family members and those we love and how they will be taken care of when we’re no longer there.
David was about 70 when he died. He spent almost a year, hanging on to life, probably losing some of his memory as we do when we age. He had to be reminded of his promise to have his son, Solomon, follow him as king. His last memories undoubtedly included many of the same thoughts we experience when we die, but his final wishes for the continuance of God’s kingdom didn’t die with him. He was in constant pursuit of that relationship with his heavenly Father.
God had a plan for David’s life – just as He does for us. We can be confident, just as David was, that our lives won’t end at death. This is just the beginning of a new page in the adventure of those who are after God’s own heart.
Posted in God's plans, Uncategorized
Tagged God's faithfulness, King David, who am I?
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THE MAN THAT I LOVE
I thank God for placing just the right person in my life. My husband Paul is 78 today and he’s given me more than I can possibly express in just a few words on a page. We were only 17 when we fell in love – high school sweethearts – best friends.
Talk about trusting in God’s plan for our lives, He really knew just what I needed when it came to a life partner. Our love has matured since those early days of our youth. We’ve struggled through difficult times and extremely good times, but always with God as the head of our family.
Paul taught me about God’s wonderful grace. Having grown up in a strict, conservative church, I rarely heard about God’s love for me, a sinner. My husband has a strong faith and has exemplified that through his business dealings, his work ethic, his willingness to serve God and in raising a family. To say our love has grown through the years would be an understatement.
Happy birthday to my wonderful husband. You are a blessing beyond measure and I will treasure you until our dying day.
FEBRUARY WISHES
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
February is a tough month in the frozen tundra. We are confronted with thoughts of green grass, a little warmer sunshine and melting snow. Yesterday surprised us with a blanket of white once more. Cabin fever is getting to most of us. We’re tired of being afraid to step outside and fall on the ice. We can’t wait for those early buds to appear and spring to come again.
Each day is part of a perfectly drafted plan – an intricate mosaic of tiny pieces of shattered glass.
With each bump – stumble – crash – disappointment – goal reached – dream pursued, we grow.
Our character is being molded into a final masterpiece – a work of art created by God Himself.
He knows what needs to be reshaped, redefined, restored, revised, redeemed.
Only our perfect Artisan can create something out of nothing.
CAST YOUR CARES
“Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
Some people have a hard time believing in a God who would permit suffering and pain to enter the lives of his followers. Some even think that He does so because of the evil we do. So what about those who live according to the law, are obedient to God, put their total trust in The Lord and study their Bibles? Unfortunately this isn’t a game of us against God, for if it were, we certainly would lose. We’re all sinners, every single one of us. No matter what we do, we can never pay for our wrongdoings. There is only One who can come up with the impossible ransom.
We not only are gifted with the promise of eternal life, but Jesus invites us to cast our burdens upon His shoulders. He will make them much easier to bear. It’s really hard for us to allow Him to do that, because we want so much to handle things ourselves. If we remember that His will for us is always for our good, it might give us an inkling of how He works.
When we face life threatening diseases, when our life hangs in the balance, when we wonder if our debts will overtake our assets and we will be left penniless – that is when we need Him most. When anxiety and depression pursue us – when relationships fall apart – when our guilt overtakes us – that is when we need to turn it over to Him.
God doesn’t allow us to escape trouble in our lives. Many times He will place challenges before us – not to harm us, but to make us stronger and more dependent on Him. The one thing we can count on with the greatest certainty, is that God loves all of us equally and unconditionally. The only thing He expects in return is that we follow Him. He loves a penitent heart – one that comes to Him and lays it all before Him with sincere sorrow. A repentant heart will be forgiven and become joyful in serving the Lord.
My prayer list grows day by day. People I love are facing difficult decisions, health issues, money issues and so much more. Age is overtaking many of my friends, but there are so many who hurt and become desperate at any age.
Lord, Jesus, I ask that you stay close to those who are facing the tough challenges of life. You’ve invited us to lay all or burdens upon you and you will give rest to those who ask. Allow all of us to depend completely on you for anything we face today, tomorrow and into eternity. You are our only awesome God and greatly to be praised, even in bad times. In your holy name I commit myself and those I care about into your hands. Amen!
Posted in God's will, Uncategorized
Tagged comlete trust, FAITH, troubles
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SATURDAY PRAYER
Dear, Holy, Father,
You have set before us a new day, filled with sunshine and hope. As I think about the events of the past week, my heart has been slightly on a roller coaster trekking uphill one day and crashing down the next. I know that you have purpose in all of it.
There are times when I simply don’t understand – my heart is troubled, broken, sad. There are days when I see your magnificent glory in every corner of my life. There is no hiding from you. You know me inside and out. You are aware of my weaknesses and my strengths and you have shown me how to make the best use of them. I still have so much to learn. Your wisdom is beyond my learning, but still I know that you love me and all of mankind. You don’t want us to suffer. You don’t want us to lose hope.
Strengthen me this day as you carry me through the tough times as well as the good. Support me through the shocks of life, the mysteries, the unknowns. Hold me tightly as I continue this journey you have mapped out for me. Be with those who are suffering – those who don’t know you yet – those broken and abused – those clinging to life.
My confidence is in you, Lord. I will be quiet and let you do your will.
Amen!
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