IT’S THE LAW!

Posted on August 26, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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It seems the world is sliding along the edges of rules and laws today.  Are the simple things, like the difference between right and wrong, being set aside because we think we no longer need that kind of guidance?  Are little things like obeying the speed limit, not going through a red light, playing loud music after 10 PM or simply stopping to help at the scene of an accident, being ignored because they don’t apply to us?

OK, I know I’m an old woman and my ideas may seem archaic to some, but I do believe laws were written for our own protection and that of others.  Even that concept has been lost over time.  Now it seems we don’t need to watch out for anyone except ourselves.  Can you imagine all the lawmakers of old, rolling over in their graves as each one of their well conceived laws has been stomped on or worse yet – ignored.  Going back even further, can you picture God’s reaction when every one of His followers turns his back on the Ten Commandments?

Ten simple commandments – only ten – not suggestions or options, but commands with the expectation of complete obedience.  Why is that such a problem for us? This week I’m going to be examining each one and since I’m not a Bible scholar or theologian nor do I know all the technological words of wisdom that go along with them, feel free to add your wisdom.  I do however believe that the Bible was inspired by God to be read by all people no matter how smart they are.

I’m concerned that our world is devolving rather than evolving.  The basic tenets of the Creator of the universe are under attack.  What was the foundation of our country’s value system has deteriorated so much it is unrecognizable.  We’ve tried to fix the law to bend to our way of thinking – to manage it so it coincides with certain life styles – to adjust it so that it becomes more lenient – but God’s law is firm.  It never changes, just as He never changes. It was written centuries ago, but at first it was branded on men’s hearts as a way of life.  Just like our current laws are being abused daily, the Ten Commandments have become obsolete to many.  Maybe it’s time to take a look at them again.

 

 

 

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SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY

Posted on August 24, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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A lazy Saturday morning, as waves crash on the shore,

Watching as anchors are lifted, in search of something more,

Wind arches within snow white sails, pushing the craft to sea,

Cut from the bonds which captured it, longing now to be free.

The days of summer are waning, the leaves are turning red,

Soon ice will form on the water, the boats then put to bed,

We leave this glorious season replaced with cold and snow,

And wait again ’til spring arrives, when waters once more flow.

 

 

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MY WRITING JOURNEY

Posted on August 23, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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I’ve completed editing and am ready to take the next step, but I’m still not sure what the next step is.  I’ve decided to share the prologue with you and would appreciate feedback.

 

PROLOGUE – ” UNTIL OUR DYING DAY, BY KATHY BOECHER©

The days of our youth are so tender. We long to be nurtured and cared for. Love needs to be taught right from the start in the gentle embrace of a mother’s arms or the strength of a father’s touch. Through example we learn how to love, but we also learn to hate.

The first impression made on us comes from those within our family. When we’re old enough, we venture outside our comfort zone and stumble almost helplessly into the complexity of living. Through our experiences we begin to develop our own personality. We become who we will be for the rest of our existence in those few early years.

Good or bad, we carry hidden secrets about what goes on behind closed doors. If told, they could devastate or destroy us. If known, they might not be believed. We can work through those things or allow them to consume us.

When lives collide and intertwine, they can rely on each other for comfort, encouragement and friendship. They can also reap the best character traits of those with whom they join. In the process of growing a friendship, there will be disagreements, conflicts and emotional breakdowns. Add to that the hormones of growing up and you have a prescription for a rich and full existence, with no lack of excitement.

Three women, all from very different backgrounds, are at the core of this tale. They meet at the time of life when a young girl blossoms into a woman. Their friendship continues throughout the days of their lives. Together they endure hardships, pain, suffering, loss, love, joy and all the other situations that meld people into a unit fit for battle. That is precisely what happens with these women. They are being prepared for a war of sorts which they will wage on this planet. When death comes, the war ends and peace transcends all understanding throughout eternity.

They come together in the small township of Haley’s Corners, a charming resort hamlet just a couple hundred miles from Chicago. The time is the 1930s – a time of rebuilding, restoration and rejuvenation. It was the perfect time and place for this friendship to be forged.

Each girl has a story to share which blends their personalities into a concoction of beauty. Friendship is like that. It’s a mixture of emotions, past adventures, the construction of an existence of breathing through each other, all united until our dying day.

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WALLY’S FRYDADDY FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on August 23, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on August 23, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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INHERITED STRENGTH

Posted on August 22, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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As I look back on my life I can see the influence of several strong women.  My mother was a rock.  She married the love of her life at the age of 18 and two years later I was born.  We were close enough in years to almost be sisters.  In a way, we grew up together.

She was a beautiful woman.  She  probably didn’t weigh more than 120 pounds.  She had dark brown hair, which was made possible with a bottle of hair coloring.  Prematurely greying hair at 20 years old was not an option for this woman  She would continue to color her hair until she was in her 80s.  She grew up on a farm in a family of eight children.  She was used to working hard, but she also played hard.  She loved to climb things and wasn’t afraid of heights, but snakes would send her reeling.  Four of her siblings were girls and no boys came along until they were all born – not exactly farm hand material, but they pitched in wherever they could, while maintaining their femininity.

She endured the loss of five siblings at an early adult age.  She watched her father suffer through a massive stroke and her mother (also a giant of strength) cared for him until his death.  She wasn’t unfamiliar with sadness, but she had a beautiful smile and positive attitude which carried her through most of it.

She taught me about perseverance, patience and prayer.  She wasn’t overly religious, but I knew that God was important to her and her decision making.  She taught me how to pray – made sure I went to church and Sunday school – worked outside the home so I could get a Christian education.

She went through the usual trials of marriage.  She and my dad spent more than 40 years together before he passed away. Each of those years held challenge upon challenge.  There was always a shortage of money.  There were times of infidelity, arguments and illness along the way.  Still she was a woman of strength through all of it.

When I think about strong women, she’s the first to come into my mind, but I believe she came from a long line of very strong women.  That sort of thing doesn’t just happen.  Who we turn out to be is often generational and most of the time we imitate those who first come into our lives.

I was one of the lucky ones.  Not all women have model mothers.  There are those who are abusive, narcissistic, overbearing, insecure, addicted.  There are those who never wanted to be mothers.   Even if that’s the case, some of the strongest women are built through adversity.

You can almost bet that another woman has influenced her somewhere along the line.  It can be a grandmother, an aunt, a teacher or a friend.  There is a uniqueness in the sisterhood of women.  Our strength is reliant on each other.  We learn – we grow – we thrive on the friendship of other women.

“Strength and honor are her clothing; and she will rejoice in time to come.” 

Proverbs 31:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BIG GIRLS DO CRY

Posted on August 21, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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The feminist movement did great things for women.  It allowed them to leave the ties of housekeeping behind and venture into a whole new world.  It was a world which challenged their abilities, their brain power, their industriousness, their ingenuity, their organizational skills, their talent and their compassion.

Yes, I said compassion.  Now where in the world does that word fit into the world of commerce?  Up until then, compassion was woven into the fabric of nursing or caring for others.  The corporate world was and still is, filled with money driven men who were trying to change the world.  Not a lot of compassion was necessary  When women became part of that world, things changed a lot.

In the beginning men said women’s place was in the home, raising a family, tending to the chores of the day and caring for her husband.  The game was on.  Women started attending colleges for things other than secretarial or medical skills.  They proved that they could work under pressure and handle the stress of corporate life.  It wasn’t an easy road, because these same women still had the responsibilities of running a home, but they managed to do both.

Today women are deeply imbedded into politics.  They hold positions of power in the medical field, the corporate world, high finance and industry.  They have proven to be equal to men, but still fight the battle of equal pay. I’m sure that day isn’t far off

In the process, families have become accustomed to both parents working.   The material things that were put on the back burner until they could be paid for are now staples in most homes.  The home fires still burn, but most of the management of that place is being carried out by hired workers.

In the meantime, women have become equal with men.  In my opinion, they always were in God’s eyes.  Woman was created to be a partner for man.  I’m sure there are statistics that prove that men are the hunter/gatherers and women, the caregivers, simply because of the way they are made up physically.  Women are sensitive, intuitive and have the ability to listen.  The tenderness of their hearts is something that continues to exist, even though they try to put on an armor of toughness.  Women cry.  Yes, so do men, but women seem to do it more often.

As women take on some of the roles of their counterparts, they’re expected to be tough,  put their emotions aside and act like a man.  However, even in a society that wishes to determine their own gender, men are men and women are women.  The differences were designed to compliment each other.

Women do have a softer side.  Our emotions are often worn on our sleeves.  Our compassion is evident in the way we work with others and live with them and should be considered a medal of honor.  It’s not an attack on your character to say you can cry if you need to.  There will be days when the pressure of work gets in the way of family – when the demands of travel take you from those you love – when the extra hours of work keep you from kissing your children goodnight.  It’s OK to feel bad about those things.

God made tears for a purpose.  They come out when we grieve, when we’re frustrated or angry and even when we’re happy. The silent tears you pour into your pillow each night do not go unnoticed.

There’s someone who understands those feelings.  Jesus wept.  He knows all about sorrow.  He understands our pain.  He is also our comforter.  He hears our prayers and dries our tears, but He allows us to  bring all our burdens to Him, so he can carry them for us.

 

 

 

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THE AGONY OF DE FEET!

Posted on August 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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I remember it well. I was nearing twenty. The twist was the dance of the day.  A new band from across the pond was making its way to the US.  I fell somewhere between Elvis and the Beatles and never lowered myself to swooning over either of them.  I was much too sophisticated.  I was one of the “good girls” of the sixties.

During those years my husband and I would clear the floor when the music began to play.  We’d polka, fox trot, two step, twist and all the modern dances, until the cows came home.  To top it off, I did all those dances while wearing stilettos.  By the time the evening was over, my little tootsies were screaming for relief.

Now when I think back to those late nights and the blisters, soreness and distortion of my feet for a number of hours, I can’t help imagine what damage I was doing to those ten toed extensions.

After three children, I still opted for stylish shoes.  They weren’t those high, high heels anymore.  As time passed, the heels disappeared, but memories of those stilettos lingered on.  It took a lot of courage to put on those shoes, simply because you were submitting yourself to a balancing act of sorts.  Your arches were reaching heights unknown to mankind.  The unnatural positioning of your dainty little toes was almost like being placed on a rack of torture.

Today, I have slowly submitted to more sensible shoes.  I have one pair which cost well over a hundred dollars.  I will be wearing them for a long time.  They aren’t like the orthopedic styles grandma used to wear. They’re actually pretty cute with slacks and with the addition of arch supports, I’m walking better and I’m comfortable.

Yesterday I opted for style and wore shoes that went well with my outfit.  By the end of our time at church, doing the duties for fellowship, altar guild and cleaning up, my toes were screaming.  My step had slowed to a crawl and I was pretty much wiped out for the rest of the day.

So what’s my point with all this useless information?  Well, like my posted image says, strong women wear their pain like stilletos, I think there’s truly a lesson in those words.  No matter how life is kicking us or throwing bricks at us, we can still carry our beauty.  It may not be what it was when we were twenty, but women have a way of hiding their pain under the guise of a mask, their beauty or a pair of shoes.

Think about it.  When you’re young, you’re in the process of conquering mountains. You are at your prime and with each problem you encounter the heels get higher.  Sometimes you need to get the spikes out to cut through the clutter.  As time goes by, the weight of those problems pushes deeper into the ground.  The shoes now flatten out along with the burden.  You go through ups and downs through out your life, but continue to hang onto the spring in your step until the very end.  Your footwear will change along with your challenges but walking with God will always keep your feet pointed towards heaven.  When you walk in Jesus sandals, you’re going to experience pain.  Being a servant isn’t easy, but it is a blessing that will last for eternity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DIETING WOES

Posted on August 17, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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In my lifetime I must have tried at least a couple hundred different kinds of diets.  I started to notice that I wasn’t the cute little Shirley Temple look alike I thought I was when I turned nine or ten.  I’ve been fighting the battle of the bulge ever since.

I’ve tried starving myself – counting calories – Weight Watchers – Jenny Craig and others like her – Atkins – Low carb/high fat – vegetable soup diet – Keto and so many more.  They all had one thing in common.  I’d lose a few pounds right away and gain it all back with an additional five within a month.

My stretch marks were getting stretch marks.  I was entering high school large enough to play center on the football team.  Unfortunately, girls in football were not a thing at that time.  When I started dating my high school sweetheart and lifetime partner, I outweighed him by fifty pounds.  Come to think of it I still do.

Years passed and the yo-yo dieting continued.  I was one of those eaters that ate because she liked food.  Depression – mood swings – hormones – metabolism had nothing to do with it.  That is until I got pregnant and added another forty pounds to my already chubby self.

Now I’m at a point in life when I know that losing several pounds would take some of the extra load from what I carry on my aging legs.  However, I was told by the doctor last week that my knees are really in good shape for my age.  Walking is an option, but there are all the respiratory issues.  See – I have an excuse for everything.

So as life continues to put up with me, I’ve decided to forget about dieting and start enjoying life.  Excuse me, while I go slice another piece of cake.

 

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IS IT GOOD TO GET ANGRY?

Posted on August 16, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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From a very early age, I was taught that we shouldn’t succumb to anger.  Not only was it a negative way to behave, but it had serious consequences.  As my life progresses, I keep hearing that voice in the back of my head telling me not to get angry – to keep my temper under control – don’t over react.  Yesterday I got angry.

I had no particular reason for being angry.  It was a culmination of negatives that had been building up for some time.  It was the state of our world – the fake and real news (who knows what is and isn’t anymore?) – getting rid of this stupid cough that keeps me up at night – my feelings of inadequacy for not being able to contribute to the daily stuff that continues to require attention.  I was lonely for my children and grandchildren.  I was angry that I couldn’t get in my garden.  I was crabby because my first time driving my stick shift car put extra strain on my sprained knee.  The voice returned.  “Chill – don’t over react – count to ten!”  The more I heard this voice in my head, the angrier I became.

Why shouldn’t I get angry?  Why have I spent the past 77 years being the calm one?  Don’t my feelings matter?  Guilt again crept deep into my brain.  I seem to have these conscience battles from time to time – like when Sylvester the cat had the little devil and little angel sitting on each shoulder trying to run his life for him.  “Don’t blow up,” says the angel while the devil roars, “Do it!  Go for the gusto.  Blow up!”

Finally my brain was becoming a little teapot ready to explode, so I went to the one person I knew would understand – my one and only sibling.  My sister and I didn’t like each other very much when we were children.  Our teen years were spent in constant competition.  Once we both left the nest that changed and we’ve been very close ever since.

She lives in Nashville, TN and I live in Minneapolis, MN.  Many miles separate us, but there is a connection that transcends time and space.  I bore my soul in the form of a text message.  She responded with an email.  She’s much more tech savvy than I am.  We rarely talk  on the phone because of my hearing loss. Since the phone doesn’t have subtitles or closed captioning we communicate electronically.

She gave me some very good advice.  She said sometimes we just have to let off steam, especially when we feel overwhelmed.  We can’t be expected to hold all that garbage in our head and not have a negative reaction.  Anger can relieve some of the tension that’s trying to escape.

I then remembered how my grandmother would go out to the woods when things got tough.  I don’t know what she did out there, but whatever it was, it seemed to soothe the savage beast.  I imagined she would go there to scream at something or to blame someone or to simply cry.  We need to release the steam that’s causing our anger from time to time.

This world is in a state of craziness.  Anger and hatred seem to be working at a fever pitch and people aren’t very happy anymore.  Maybe we all need to go to the woods and have a good holler.

 

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WALLY’S FRIDAY FRYDADDY FUNNY

Posted on August 16, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on August 16, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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MORNING RAPTURE

Posted on August 15, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

 

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Ask any outdoor painter when it’s the best time to create art and they will undoubtedly say – in the morning or at twilight.  During these brief moments, God has taken every color out of His paintbox to capture the perfection of light and shadows.  Across the towering peaks, beside each tree branch or within a mountain lake, there is a rainbow – a brilliance – a masterpiece, just waiting to be transferred to a canvas.  The camouflaged wildlife take on a shimmering, golden glow. Even the best artist can’t match God’s splendor, but they can try.

 

 

 

 

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THROW BACK THURSDAY

Posted on August 15, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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This is a re-run which has been reblogged once before.  I feel it has merit and since it’s throw back Thursday, I’m running it again.  Originally written on August 15, 2015.

There’s been division of races, ethnicity, social class, political views and even in our religious beliefs throughout history.  Looking back before our founding, the Native American was looked upon as a savage by the early explorers.  These foreigners may have said they were there to convert them to Christianity, but more likely their greed overtook them and they plundered and ravaged this noble race until they had nothing.

The slave trade was well underway in the 1400s and we all know the horrors of the abuse and humiliation this race suffered. Slavery wasn’t new.  It had been around during Biblical times as well.  They helped build a strong industrial nation for their white counterparts and fought alongside them in war after war to preserve the rights of our nation’s constitution.

After Pearl Harbor, nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps simply because of their race and heritage.  Nearly 60% were already United States citizens who had built thriving businesses .

These are all ugly reminders of the disgrace faced by every American.  The sins of the fathers seem to continue well beyond the third and fourth generations.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could just wash away all that prejudice and hate? Our consciences could finally feel free from blame – even though we were not personally responsible for the injustice.  Or would they?  Those times in history keep rearing their ugly heads.  Today the selling of children as sex slaves is the slavery of the day.

God doesn’t look at individuals in this way.  Each life that He creates is important – whether they are black, red, yellow, white – He made us and knew what we would be long before we were a glint in our father’s eye.  He loves each one of us the same.

When we become part of His family, through Jesus, we are set free from the bondage of this world.  Those ugly sins of the past have been washed away and we’re forgiven.  Therefore we have become a new creation.  We are united not only in our beliefs, but in our love for one another.

Addendum:  As we are faced with division again about what we should do with the explosion of immigrants pouring to our border, let’s try to remember that there is a legal way to become citizens of our country.  It takes longer, costs money and insures the benefits of being a U.S. citizen.  These masses matter too.  The unborn children and near birth babies that are eliminated through abortion matter too.  Us old folks matter also.  In God’s eyes, we all matter. We are His creation and He loves each one of us with unconditional love.

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)
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MY WRITING JOURNEY

Posted on August 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

“By now I thought I’d be sitting by glorious, turquoise waters on some Mediterranean beach, drinking something exotic and have money pouring out of my ears,” said no real author ever.  We start with such passion and fervor.  As a painter crafts a masterpiece and thinks he’s done, than takes a closer look, noticing something wrong or feeling the need to add more – so it is with a writer.  First draft is like pouring your life into something and feeling you’ve said it all. Then you re-read and find flaws or things don’t flow as they should.  You beat yourself up for a while and then go back for more.  My day in the sun has not yet arrived, but it will.

I must admit, my journey has taken a brief detour. Something got in the way. Just as in life, we run through times of being put through obstacles, we might experience writer’s block – our muse is out to lunch or we simply need to separate ourselves from our masterpiece for a time.

In my case, the re-routing of the past few weeks started about a week after completing a performance in a play. In all my years of performing it never seems to fail. I fall victim to something similar to postpartum depression, accompanied by laryngitis, coughing and what seems to be an eternal recovery period.

Some suggest that diving into another project will keep the creative process moving on. Some will tell you that you need a break before moving on. Others suggest that God is telling you to relax for a while. I agree with all those things. As I get older, I’m doing so more often,

Usually a driven person with a strong work ethic finds it difficult to take a break. We feel compelled to work even when we age. Probably then even more so, because the time we have allotted to us is quickly waning.  Still we must take time to heal and since writing isn’t a physical activity we can still use our old noggin, which I’ve been keeping engaged with. Of course after a while, unless you put those thoughts on the keyboard, they quickly fade into oblivion.

In the meantime, muddling through seems like a good option

So as my body gets ready for the next step to finishing my novel, I will wait sort of patiently, and pray that I get it done before God chooses to take me home, it’s just another lesson in perseverance and endurance.

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GIVING IN TO CLOSED CAPTIONING

Posted on August 13, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

 

I am slowly losing my hearing.  With the high cost of hearing aids, I’ve been struggling along.  This disability can be a disadvantage to a happy marriage.  Having the television turned up so high forces the other partner into another room.  It can also add to the difficulties of the hearing impaired because they grow to depend on that extra volume.

A while back I discovered the closed captioning option on our remote and put it into use. It was quite helpful at first.  I was actually able to read what was happening by seeing the dialogue right on the screen. Of course it isn’t always in sync with the action, but you get used to it after a while.  I have visions of an army of little court reporter types, banging away on their keyboards as the listen through headphones – an army of chocolate covered ants perhaps, but I digress.  Of course that isn’t what happens.  Everything is computerized today.

I’ve often complained about “spell check” and even used it as an excuse for my poor typing skills, but I had no idea what was involved in closed captioning for television – particularly in providing live news broadcasts.  There is very little time to revise anything.  Most of the words are on the screen before that can happen.  In a way, it’s become a form of entertainment in itself.  For example – last night there was a story about a politician who had been on the job for six weeks resigning.  The caption read, “She had been on the John for six weeks,” which left no doubt as to why she was resigning.

My husband has gotten into watching the captions with me.  You never know what they might say – and often are humorously off track.  Like I said, it has become a sort of entertainment.  It doesn’t take much to amuse us.  That isn’t because of our age, it’s because of who we are.  It’s why I married my husband in the first place and one of the reasons our marriage has stood the test of time.  When you can find humor in the ordinary, you are sure to have a life of fun.

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GET OUT OF THE BLACK CLOUDS

Posted on August 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Today I went to the doctor to have my knee X-rayed.  I should be delighted that it is nothing more than a sprain.  The doc mentioned that my knee was practically arthritis free, there were no breaks and it was much healthier than knees of those much younger than me.  I should’ve be elated by that – but much like Eeyore – I felt that dark cloud hanging over my head.

When we aren’t feeling well, our emotions seem to take on a life of their own and everything becomes intensified.  Little things become huge.  Our minds play tricks on us.  We imagine things that simply aren’t so.  When we get a good report, we think something else is wrong with us.  We feel like hypochondriacs.  At least this is the case for this Eeyore.

I feel guilty for putting others out.  I feel like a burden. All the lies that Satan would have us believe come at us like a Brinks truck – crushing us, pushing us over the edge and into a pit of despair.  This sort of thinking shouldn’t be a mindset for one who is considered an encourager.  However, it seems to me, there are times when an encourager needs encouragement as well.  Sadness, depression, anxiety are emotions that affect every one of us.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  John 14:27

Such beautiful words of comfort – straight from the mouth of Jesus.  He was prophesying His own death at this time, but gave His disciples the assurance that His peace would remain.  Our world is filled with sickness, death, desperation, depression, sadness and all the other junk that Jesus carried to the cross and died for.  There is no longer a reason for us to suffer, because He has done it for us.

Still, we are human beings, living in that sin sick world.  We are imperfect.  We’re subject to things that bring us down – worry us – cause us to falter.  The simple answer is to follow His lead and let our hearts not be troubled nor afraid.  Seems so easy, doesn’t it?

We’ve not been promised a life of perfection here on earth.  That is the life we’ll enjoy after our death.  In the meantime we are to be in the world, but not of it. Do not be affected by the things of the world.  Do not succumb to the lies.  Do not give up.  Throw away the black clouds and walk in the light.  Our day is coming soon.

 

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WOULDN’T IT BE NICE – PART TWO

Posted on August 11, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Well here I am again.  The second Sunday of missing church.  The virus has created my nasty cough, which can be quite a nuisance in church, which is reason enough to stay home.  Right after finishing my blog yesterday, I got out of my chair and something snapped in my knee.  This is the knee that was giving me trouble before I got this stupid virus.  Somehow when we get sick, one malady takes away from the others.  I guess that’s a good thing.  God allows us to focus on one thing at a time.

My attention quickly changed from my cough to my knee, which now had me writhing in pain and unable to put weight on it.  So it was back to the couch for the rest of the day, ice packs and Bio Freeze were on the menu.  Having spent the past 48 hours in my pajamas, with hair in need of shampooing and hoping to make it from the couch to the bathroom without falling down, I was definitely ready to get ready for divine intervention.

When I did venture from the couch to the bathroom, I must’ve been quite a sight.  Picture Gabby Hayes or Ma Kettle hobbling along on one foot, coughing like a barking dog, with no teeth.  Good thing I had no visitors.

I’ve spent the greater part of my Sunday watching old musicals and westerns once more, I’m becoming quite an expert on melodramatic acting.   Again my mind turned to silly random thoughts:

  • Wouldn’t it be nice if all the fat on our bodies could be brushed off and magically turned into cash?
  • Wouldn’t it be nice to be pain free
  • Wouldn’t it be nice to be a teenager again and know everything, thereby being able to solve all the problems of the world?
  • Better yet, wouldn’t it be nice to be 3 again – no cares, no depression or anxiety, just a longing to have fun?
  • Wouldn’t it be nice to create a musical western (I think it’s already been done) where Matt Dillon and Festus carried nothing but pea shooters and sling shots in their holsters and Miss Kitty served energy drinks instead of whiskey?  Instead of a show down in the street they could take it to the stage and instead of shooting each other, they’d break into song spontaneously.

Next week I intend to go to church.  Last week my pastor graciously gave me the Lord’s Supper in our dining room.   I know God understands why I haven’t been at worship.  I know the people there are also praying for me and I know that I will get well.  There’s great power in prayer.  Even for the small things.  Sunday seems like just another day when you don’t attend.  It’s as if something is missing.  Next week I’ll be in church.   I’m sure to be up to my ears with Bonanza, Big Valley, Gun smoke, etc.  I may even be ready to write that musical western.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

WOULDN’T IT BE NICE?

Posted on August 10, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

 

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Something happens to a person’s mind when they acquire a virus.  I’m not talking about being hacked, although it seems I may have been.  I am talking about the kind of virus that gets passed from person to person and hits you like a ton of bricks.  I’ve learned that it’s probably something you have to wait out for the duration of seven to ten days.  I’m on day eight and it doesn’t look like any relief is in sight.

When you’re confined to home with nothing to do but watch old westerns on TV – when you try to sleep but the constant dripping in the back of your throat continually tickles and stirs up a violent sounding cough which makes people think you’re dying – when your body aches so much that you feel you’ve been working out at the gym for 48 hours – something happens to your mind in the process.  You start thinking – which could be considered disastrous for some, unusual for others and just plain weird for a few.

You think of how you could change the world:

  • What if you could stop all violence just by holding up your hand and saying STOP?
  • What if you voted and actually believed that your vote counted?  What if it did?
  • What if every politician was given a couple hundred dollars to spend on their campaign and if they went over the cap, they would be fined a couple hundred dollars which would then be divided up amongst the other candidates?
  • What if people stopped looking at the negative side of things and started to care about each other again?
  • What if we didn’t have to lock our doors?
  • What if we didn’t have to fear for our lives when we shop at Walmart?
  • What if someone invented something to eliminate viruses and the common cold?
  • What if chocolate covered everything?
  • What if ants covered the chocolate?
  • What if you were devoured by chocolate covered ants?

As you see, I’m beginning to lose it again.  Most of the things I’m asking for in my “what ifs” have to do with things that affect me personally.  Maybe it would be better to turn that around a bit and see what would happen.

  • What if there was no violence?
  • What if all our elected officials had to pass a complete background check, sign an affidavit saying they had never done anything wrong and run for office based on their contribution to society?
  • What if the internet had never been invented?
  • What if people communicated face to face and learned to work their differences out together?
  • What if someone invented a cure for viruses and it contained chocolate and ants?

Maybe I’m onto something.

Instead, I will stop trying to solve all the problems of our times by going to the couch and watching another episode of “How the West Was Won.”  I wonder what would’ve happened had the west not been won.

Disclaimer:  These ramblings are from a mind which has been sick for eight days and wants out.  Any attempt at truth or sanity is beyond the capability of the author.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Posted on August 9, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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One of the most difficult commandments from Jesus during His time on this planet is for us to love our enemies.  Of course it’s easy to love those who love us in return, but those who hate us and hurt us?

If your child comes home one day, crushed by the cruel bullying of another –

If you lose your job, because your integrity has been called into question –

If you hear false words being said, gossip filling the air, abuse, hatred and the ugliness of our world currently –

If you or a loved one is being persecuted for what you believe –

If you’re fearful of going to work or school because there might be another mass shooting –

How can we possibly be accepting of those who perpetrate these crimes against us?  How can we LOVE them?  How can we possibly look them in the eye and truly forgive them for their evil acts against us?

Jesus also told His followers (and us) that we should love one another as we would want to be loved.  Both of those commands stand harshly in the face of our natural feelings.  Our instincts tell us to fight back.  Retaliation is mentioned throughout the Old Testament.  Even King David cried out against his enemies.

As Christians we’re set to higher standard, not because we are any better than our enemies, but because we are to be imitators of Christ.  He withstood the sting of the scourge.  He winced in pain as the nails pierced his flesh.  He withstood humiliation, being spat upon and falsely called a blasphemer.  In spite of all that, He willingly gave His life for every human being – past, present and future.  He washed away the sins of Charles Manson, Judas Iscariot and Adolph Hitler right along with mine and yours.  Unfortunately, those guys never asked for God’s forgiveness.

When He overcame death and rose again to life, He was sealing His legacy with us.  He demonstrated what we have to look forward at our own death – life everlasting.

When we believe in Jesus as Son of God- Savior of the world – God with us – God in the flesh – we must also believe that His grace is sufficient for us.  What a splendid gift we receive every time we confess our sins and are forgiven by Him.  We then owe it to those who hurt us – those who bully or challenge our worth – those who lie about us – to let them know that you, like Christ, are willing to forgive as well.

Dear, Heavenly, Father,

It’s so hard to forgive those who have done us wrong, yet you found it in your heart to take on my sin, along with the sin of all, so that we could become heirs of your eternal kingdom.   Your gift is beyond my comprehension.  Teach me to forgive my enemies as your have forgiven them.  Help me to show compassion to those who hurt me.  I know I will not be perfect until I am joined with you in heaven.  While I live, let my walk be upright and a reflection of what you’ve done for me and all of humanity.  May the example of your humility, servant attitude, compassion and forgiveness spur me on to act in the same way.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen!

 

 

 

 

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