THE COMPANY WE KEEP

Posted on March 26, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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READ LUKE 15:11-32

Jesus was a great story teller.  His stories held His audience captive, because they could easily relate.  His audience consisted of every day people like you and me.  His critics were also among them.  These fellows were on the look out for something they could pin on Jesus to stop Him.  He was a heretic who was turning the people against them.  The Pharisees and scribes knew Jesus’ message was getting through to the masses.  All pertaining to their traditional, ritualistic religion was at stake. As they saw Him associating with the scum of the community they asked Him why He hung out with those guys.

At that point, our story teller masterfully relayed three parables.  A parable is a story people can understand with a moral to end it – an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

In each one of these parables Jesus expounded on those who are lost and how important they are to God, the Father of us all.  The third story is one we probably all know.  It deals with the prodigal son – a young man, born of a wealthy father, who felt he was entitled to his inheritance before his father’s passing.  He wanted to sow his wild oats and he wanted it NOW!

The word ‘prodigal’ refers to someone living a lavish lifestyle who squanders every last cent.  The Prodigal in the story is not just the needy, entitled, spoiled son, but it also refers to the father who gave him everything and the brother who was jealous of him. As with all of Jesus’ stories, there is more than one lesson to learn.

Jesus weaves a masterful tale depicting the three men.  The obvious lesson is that of the father, who loved his son so much he was willing to give in to his child’s every need.  How many dads do you know like that?  They want the best for their children.  They think that means giving them material things.

The second character is the prodigal son.  When he received his inheritance, he quickly went through it by squandering every cent on foolish, sinful living.  When things got so bad that he was eating with pigs, he decided to go home and ask for forgiveness.  He was embarrassed, ashamed, physically whipped and at the end of his rope.  Do we sometimes wait until that point before we come to our heavenly father?  We go through life, believing we’ve got this, only to realize we don’t have it at all.

When the boy returned home, his father was waiting with open arms.  When our kids leave the nest today, we often think that’s the end of our parenting.  When they return to live with us again, we might selfishly turn them away.

The third character in the story was the man’s other son.  He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.  Here was his ‘bad boy’ brother, coming home to roost as his father ordered his servants to heat up the barbecue and grill a cow.  He was stunned, angry, jealous, unappreciative and believed his brother should have been shunned instead of treated like a super star.

The point Jesus was trying to make through these three parables was that He didn’t come to save those who were already with Him (His believers.) He was born for a much bigger job – to search for, to love and care for those who were lost.  He would do anything, including give His life for them. Aren’t we blessed to have a Father like that?

 

 

 

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DEEPLY GROUNDED

Posted on March 26, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A tangled mass of long spindly fingers,

Reach out desperately,

Hanging tightly to their base.

Living within still waters,

They long for life giving nourishment

Even though tucked inside the pockets of liquid,

They search for thirst to be quenched,

Roots, once deeply entrenched,

Now surface and meander through the muck,

Facing obstacles unknown,

Yet pushing forward, yearning for more,

Even though submerged in longing,

Life can thrive when the roots run deep,

All the tangles, obstacles and bumps in the road,

Are merely whispers in time,

They will lessen,

When nurtured, loved and preserved by their Creator.

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I COULD WRITE A BOOK

Posted on March 25, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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As some of you know, I’ve been writing my first novel for some time now.  I actually started it about seven years ago.  Then life got in the way.  We downsized and moved to a smaller home.  About a year after we became slightly settled, I decided to get back into the thick of it  However, I had also purchased a new laptop in the meantime and in the transfer, my novel went to cyber heaven.  I wonder which cloud it may have entered.

Anyway, a group of my dear friends encouraged me to start writing it over again this year. The main characters were still in my head along with the story line, so I embarked on another journey.

I did a little more research on the writing of a novel and the general requirement for such a task, meant writing 60,000 words.  Yikes, I thought, where shall I find that many words.  At first it was difficult, but as I got into my characters’ lives, the words seemed to pour out like running water.

I was about half way to the finish line.  I was actually quite proud of myself and then it happened again.  With the tap of a button, I lost the whole thing – AGAIN!  30,000 words had vanished from my screen.  I looked everywhere for them.  Could God possibly be telling me I should give up on this adventure and turn my thoughts to something that might possibly help our quickly dissolving savings?  I wondered if the material was too raw for a Christian writer, but then realized that life is raw.  The Book I live by, the Bible, is filled with stories of infidelity, shame, abuse, addiction, sex, murder, stealing and every sin we’re exposed to in our sinful world.

Eventually I was able to find it.  A few chapters were missing, but the core was there. I’m still plugging away at it.  I’ve finally learned my lesson and have backed up my file in many ways.  I put it on a flash drive.  I made a back up copy.  I sent a copy to my daughter to print and save.  Now I have more motivation to finish it so I don’t have to fear having it go to the grave with me.  Moral of this post – the handwritten word still works. Technology doesn’t always.

 

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THE NAYSAYERS

Posted on March 25, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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READ MATTHEW 23:1-15

The Pharisees came from a long line of religious tradition and strict adherence to the law of the God of Abraham.  Jesus spent much of His youth in their temples filling His mind with the writings, the laws written by His Father’s hand.  He already knew them, but his humanity demanded it.  These men of the church would later call Jesus a blasphemer and subject Him to torture, humiliation and execution for His radical ideas.  Change is difficult, especially when you’ve been steeped in legalism forever.

When Jesus arrived on the scene, the church was one of His greatest enemies.  Things haven’t changed much, have they?

Has the modern day church become like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time?  It’s sad to think of this happening, but in many organized religions it has.  We become so wrapped up in the law of God’s Word and traditions of days gone by, that we sometimes forget what God’s purpose is for His children.  To be healed and forgiven from the grip of sin.  We then, in return should be so grateful that we can’t contain our joy.  Our joy, instilled through our Savior, leads us to telling others and continuing to follow Him.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples, He didn’t tell them to be selective.  In fact He spent time with those who needed Him most.  If He had been like the teachers of His time, He would insist on following the letter of the law to a T.  There would be no prostitutes – no tax collectors – no Samaritans – no thieves, liars, politicians or sinners of any kind.  In other words, the church would be empty.

It’s easy to look at this group of religious leaders of Jesus’ time and make judgment, but we often do the same thing when we react to how people dress, how they act, sing, pray, whatever.  The body of the church is made up of sinners.  We’re all guilty of not following God’s commandments.  We’ve fallen short of what’s expected of us.  We make mistakes, we lie, we judge, we gossip, we use God’s name in the wrong way, we don’t serve others, we don’t live the life that Jesus led during His time on earth.   The first step towards redemption is knowing our need for a Savior.

Lord, I know I am unworthy of the grace you’ve so freely given.  It’s  your love was poured out for all people, even those who don’t realize they need it.  Help me to remember that I have an obligation to share that wonderful news.  You loved me first, now let me pass that gift on to others so they can share in the paradise to come.  Amen!

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INVITING TREES

Posted on March 25, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The world is filled with wondrous things,

Things that capture our attention with their allure,

Flashy things that entice and tempt us,

To do things we normally wouldn’t do,

There is so much more than simply engaging with the real world,

God’s world, Untarnished by human hands,

Pure,

Perfect,

Flawless,

A world so full of promise, hope, comfort, great design, loving care,

A world once completely perfect, without a single thing out of place,

That world is the one God intended for us,

As we wait for perfection, we can find solitude in the simple things,

The setting or rising of the sun,

Light shining through darkness,

Glistening stardust falling on morning water,

Lusciously green trees shading the landscape with their canopy,

Skies bursting into crimson, gold and purple,

Sounds of nature exploding all around,

Majestic mountains, cradling a green valley,

Rest in the comfort of the simple things,

HE IS THERE WITHIN IT ALL!

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SHE ROSE AND SERVED HIM

Posted on March 24, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

MOTHER IN LAW

READ MATTHEW 8:14-15

Jesus had chosen Peter to be His first disciple and obviously had a special connection with him.  So much so, that He often ate with Peter and his family.  Yes, Peter was a married man and still he followed Christ. His mother in law lived in his home.

In our world, you don’t hear much about parents living with their married children.  Often that responsibility is turned over to the experts who care for the senior generation.  Knowing what it’s like having both of our mothers living with us in their elder years, I can understand this too.  In Peter’s case, it was expected behavior.  Not only did it show respect for aging parents, but a genuine love for family.

Jesus was often a guest at this home and undoubtedly had come to know Peter’s wife and mother in law. As they arrived that particular day, the mom was very sick with a fever.  Jesus was a compassionate Son himself and went to her and held her hand.  Within a breath of time, the fever left the woman and she got up and began to serve Him.  We don’t know how long she was sick or what her illness was caused by, but Jesus’ touch was enough to relieve her of her illness.

This is a story that isn’t often talked about in the Passion history, but I believe it has some significance.  First of all, it shows Jesus’ power over sickness.  It demonstrates through that simple act of touch, just how much strength was in His hands.  He had the power of God and was able to do this miracle and many more because of that.

It also shows how much Jesus cares for those He loves, but He isn’t limited.  His love extends to all humanity suffering the sickness of sin – which would eventually lead to death.  His love reaches out to everyone along with His healing power.

The story also shows that Jesus approved of marriage.  Peter had been blessed with a wife and family to care for and, even though his new career would take him away from them for days and months, he still had time for them.

The act of healing relied on no action by the mother in law.  It was all Jesus, His touch, His love and His power over sin.  In gratitude, the woman’s first thought was to serve the man who healed her.

Dear, Sweet, Jesus, you showed your power over sickness and death while you walked the earth, so I know that what lies beyond the grave is going to be amazing.  You were there when this planet was created, along with all the others and the everything in heaven and earth.  Your power is worthy of our honor and praise.  When you came to live among us, you suffered as we do.  You felt pain, anxious moments, fear, tears and everything we experience each day.  There is nothing that I can do to help myself get rid of the sin that continues to haunt me.  I turn to you in full repentance of all of them, including I don’t even realize I’ve committed.  You alone have the power to take away my iniquities.  You alone have paid the price for my admittance to your family.  In gratitude, help me to serve you in any way I can.  While I wait for my final day, strengthen me through your Word and continue to give me confidence to serve You alone. Amen!

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HE LEADETH ME

Posted on March 24, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

As the morning light arises, on a pasture green sublime,

Sun light kisses trees and branches, balancing the sands of time,

Though through danger I will wander, snares are set at every turn,

God is there to guard my footsteps, leading me to where I yearn,

Peaceful, green and tranquil landscapes, skies are filled with golden light,

Yet the heat from summer sunshine, hasn’t risen to full height,

Listening as He sits with me, as my heart to Him I spill,

Understanding all I ask for, promising to do His will,

When at last my days are finished, I will walk on streets of gold,

No more tears, no pain or sorrow, only peace and love untold,

The darkness of an evil world, purged with grace from God alone,

I’ll walk in valleys green with life, for heaven will be my home.

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LISTEN TO ME, LORD!!!

Posted on March 22, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

bartimaeus blindREAD MARK 10:46-52

Blindness in Jesus’ lifetime was quite common.  Actually blindness was a contagious disease carried by flies and the only way to avoid catching it was to stay away from those afflicted with it.    The hot desert sun would close the water duct under the eyelid and the eyes would become red and swollen, resulting in blindness.  People as well as animals would use oil on their heads to keep the bugs away.

Because the blind were often considered unclean they had to earn their living by begging at the city gate.  Bartimaeus was one of those afflicted with blindness.  He sat on the roadside of Jericho when Jesus passed by.  The Jews knew the prophesies of Isaiah which claimed that the Messiah would come to heal.  The Messiah would take away diseases like blindness, deafness, physical disabilities and relieve the suffering of the poor.  The Jews also were looking for the One who would save them from physical oppression and being slaves to other rulers.  These words were echoed by Jesus, when answering John, the Baptist’s question about whether Jesus was the Messiah.

Poor Bartimaeus, had spent his life as an outcast.  He couldn’t possibly work.  He most likely felt useless and purposeless.  He couldn’t care for himself, had no friends, no livelihood, but somehow he gained hope when he heard that Jesus was near.  The thought of having his eyes opened by the Messiah, must’ve been enough for him to go to any lengths to get Jesus’ attention – and he did.  He screamed at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The crowd and possibly the disciples rebuked the blind man.  They thought he was making too much of a spectacle, but that didn’t stop him.  Again and again, he shouted, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  He acknowledged that Jesus indeed was the promised Messiah.  His persistence was unrelenting.

At last, Jesus stopped walking and told the crowd to call the man.  Bartimaeus jumped to his feet, dropped his cloak and ran to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

The man was healed immediately. The healing was done by Jesus, because of the man’s faith.  How often do we become blind to the power of God’s healing in our lives?  Are we often like the crowd following Jesus, when we think that Jesus is too busy for us – that we aren’t worthy to ask for such things.  The blindness we exhibit in a case like this is even greater than the physical darkness Bartimaeus experienced.

Never be afraid to talk to your Savior.  He’s promised to hear all prayers.  He answers in His own way and on His timeline, but you can be confident that He will answer you.  His heart is so big and His arms open so wide, that we can be assured He loves us beyond comprehension – even when we don’t return that love.  What a friend everyone owns in Jesus.

 

 

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WALLY’S FRIDAY FRYDADDY FUNNY

Posted on March 22, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on March 22, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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COME CLOSER

Posted on March 21, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Holding my breath in wild anticipation,

I come to you prepared for the best,

You reach out to me with loving arms,

Your enfold me,

You protect,

You cover me,

You fill me with love unending,

Come closer,

Let me see Your scars,

Let me hold the once gentle, yet strong hands,

Pierced by spikes and pinned to a cross,

Release me from the shame I feel,

The feeling of unworthiness,

From the guilt that clings to my soul,

Make me whole again,

Renew my spirit so I can proclaim your love,

A love that resists no one,

Covering iniquities,

Washing away our sins,

Comforting us as we think of them,

Come closer,

So I can hear your words,

Words of comfort and peace,

Words that transcend all comprehension,

Yet so easy they can be understood by all,

You speak and the world changes,

You teach,

You promise,

You profess,

You give hope,

To a dying, shattered world,

A world intended for so much more,

You bled,

You died,

You conquered the evil one,

You rose again,

Defeating death,

Providing eternity,

For ALL people,

Come closer,

You are all I need.

 

 

 

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SPRING, SPRING, SPRING

Posted on March 21, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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“Every field wears a bonnet
With some spring daisies on it,
Even birds of a feather show their clothes off together.
Sun’s gettin’ shinery, to spotlight the finery,
Spring, Spring, Spring.“

FROM “SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS”

I love musical theatre.  I also love spring.  My thoughts are more expectant at this time of year, because it fits in with the promise of this Lenten season.

We wait for that first robin to appear.  We anticipate a narcissus bud or tulip.  We can’t wait for the grass to turn green.  It’s the season of letting go of the past and looking forward to the new.

In the story of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” the young men, all of marrying age, kidnap young girls and take them back to their farm.  With the blast of a gun, an avalanche occurs and they’re trapped there for the winter.  This is a story that occurred long ago so there was no hanky panky.  (Not to say that hanky panky didn’t occur in the old days.) The girls lived separate from the boys.  With the spring melt, the pass clears and the townspeople come to rescue the girls.  Even though the couples remained chaste, the seeds of love were planted.

Eventually the families arrive with their guns drawn to retrieve their daughters.  By then the girls have plans of their own, and they convince their parents that each of them has a child – which isn’t true.  The shotguns become the backdrop of a mass wedding as fathers point, couples join and everything ends up happily ever after.  A great story with a happy ending is always good.

Jesus used stories throughout His ministry as examples for living, preparation for dying and how to relate to others. His use of these earthy stories with a heavenly meaning  included one about the Kingdom of Heaven. In the story of the ten virgins, He demonstrated how we should be prepared for the bridegroom’s return. He was talking about Himself as the bridegroom.  Some of the virgins were prepared for a long wait, while others were not.  They didn’t have enough oil for their lamps and had to return home for more.  In the meantime, the bridegroom came and they weren’t there.  In the end they were refused entrance to the marriage feast.

The story tells us that we must be ready for Jesus’ return.  We don’t know how or when that time will come.  How can we be sure we won’t miss the boat when He comes again?  Storing up enough oil certainly isn’t the point of the story.  The point is knowing the bridegroom.  Being prepared for Jesus’ return is about getting to know Him.  The way to do that is by using the tools left to us from Him.  His Word is the truth.  It contains everything we need to know about Him.

No one knows the day.  No one knows the hour.  Only God has pre-determined that.  It’s up to us to be ready when He shows up.  That requires putting on our armor – the belt of truth – the breastplate of righteousness – the gospel of peace – the shield of faith.

Are you ready?

HAPPY FIRST FULL DAY OF SPRING!

Read Matthew 25:1-13

 

 

 

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SHE TOUCHED HIS HEM

Posted on March 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Read Mark 5:25-34

For twelve years she ‘d carried the burden of her disease.  Not only was she wasting away because of the loss of blood she shed each day, but her finances were being eaten away as well. She was suffering from an unknown malady which deemed her unclean by her peers – by her heritage – by herself.

Many of us go through long term conditions and know how much those difficulties weigh on us.  We go to great lengths and expense to discover the cause and a treatment.  After such a long time, many simply give up and don’t try anymore.  Their weakened state makes them hopeless.

Hope did remain for this woman.  Her wasted body could barely rise to a standing position, but she’d heard about a man who was doing amazing things in her town. Anemic from the loss of blood and near death, she was at her wit’s end.   Yet she knew if she could just get a glimpse of Him, or simply walk in His footsteps, or touch the hem of his garment, there was a glimmer of optimism.

The streets were full of people, all wanting to get a look at Him – the One who called out demons from a possessed young man.  That poor fellow had been tortured for so long, but within an instant, Jesus relieved him from the icy grip of Satan.  If Jesus could cast out demons, certainly He could heal this plagued woman.

The crowds began to overwhelm, but the woman persisted.  She crawled on her hands and knees below the mob of people and nudged her way to His sandaled feet.  For one brief moment she touched the His robe and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Jesus’ was aware of what happened, but still He asked who touched Him.  How frightened she must’ve been.  She’d snatched a miracle simply through His touch.  Still there was something comforting in His voice and she came forward to confess that she was the one.  This woman was bold in her faith.  She knew that Jesus could heal her not only from her illness, but from the shame she suffered because of it.  She believed that He was her Savior.

Jesus said,  “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

We are all like that woman – filled with the sickness of sin.  We need our Savior’s touch to remove that disease from our souls.  Only He can save us.  Our good deeds can’t save us.  Our constant study, prayers, sacrifices cannot wash away the filth of sin.  Only Jesus can do that and He has.  He bore the sins of the world upon His sinless back.  He crushed the devil’s head when He descended into hell after His death.  He rose victorious on the third day.  His resurrection gives us hope that we too will rise again. All we need do is believe.

 

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A LIONESS IN WINTER

Posted on March 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

cat

  “What freezings I have felt, what dark days seen,
What old December’s bareness everywhere!”  William Shakespeare

This morning I realized what my poor dog has been going through.  As I took him outside for his morning ritual, he began to notice that he could walk on top of the snow instead of sinking deeply into it as has been the case for the last few weeks. Because of this, he’s not been himself.  I’m sure the achiness of winter and the fact that he soon will be twelve may have something to do with it too.

This dog has a nose for cats and we have a huge assortment of feral cats in our neighborhood who love to taunt him.  Being unable to run through the yard like he used to, has gotten him out of shape, depressed, sick of winter and wanting to sleep.  I know how he feels . It’s been a long time since we’ve seen grass.  The past couple days he’s rallied with the slow melt of our winter wonderland.  He’s begun to venture to places in the yard that he had not been able to before.

I was feeling good that he was feeling good, so I let him “run” free of the leash for a while.  Then he went into areas he should not have been.  He sank deeply into the snow and try as he might, he couldn’t pull himself out. So I trudged through the snow to rescue him.  My body weighs a great deal more than his and it quickly sank down about a foot.  That’s about one fifth of my height so I was basically up to my thighs in icy snow and couldn’t move.  I struggleed to get free and when I did  I fell clumsily to my knees as the dog escaped from our yard.  I couldn’t get myself upright.

I thought how nice it would be if I had one of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” life alerts.  There were a few neighbors getting into their cars and off to work, but they didn’t notice me.  I thought I might be out there for the rest of my life.  I felt like Tom Hanks in “The Money Pit,” when he fell through the floor and got stuck there for hours.

At last I was able to push myself up.  By this time I was having difficulty breathing.   My pulse must’ve been 150, because my heart was pounding.  The dog was nowhere to be seen.  I practically crawled into the house to get to my husband so he could go find him.

The dog was rescued.  He hadn’t gone far.  In fact, he wasn’t moving too fast either.  I remained inside trying to catch my breath and hoping I didn’t break anything.  I’m fine.  Just a little late getting started.  The whole incident brought me to the truth that I am getting old, like my dog.  We don’t move like we used to.  We get depressed with winters that never end.  We think we can do the same things we did when we were younger, but God always proves to us that we aren’t.

 

 

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BETTER THAN THE MAYO CLINIC

Posted on March 18, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Read Luke 5:12-16

There is a lot said in the Bible about Leprosy.  Today the disease is referred to as Hansen’s Disease and easily curable if caught soon enough.  The laws concerning Leprosy are laid out in the book of Leviticus 13.  The disease is thoroughly described in every minute detail along with the symptoms.  The leper would be considered unclean and forced to live alone outside of the city. Eventually they would form colonies of those who suffered the same ailment, but they were all excluded from being part of society.  Not only would he be banned physically, but also spiritually, because it was thought that some specific sin cause the disease.

Leprosy begins with sores on the skin.  It then moves into the respiratory system.  Eventually the disease would eat away at the skin and affect the nervous system, causing pain triggers to be deadened.   He would not be aware of any injuries, because he would not have the sensation of touch.  His body would at last rot away and become  disfigured.

Simon, the Leper, had undoubtedly been cured from his disease by Jesus.  When Jesus went to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha it was at Simon’s home.  We don’t know if he was part of the family, but we do know he no longer suffered from Leprosy, because he was again living in his own house, back in society.  You can imagine the joy he experienced, not only by his healing, but having his Physician and Savior sitting at his table.

In those days, there was a stigma concerning Leprosy.  The beauty of this man’s healing included the cleansing of his body along with the forgiveness of all his sins.

That’s why Jesus planted Himself on this earth, became one of us, lived with us for a while, learned all about us and, in spite of our ugliness, He took our sin on His own shoulders. He carried that burden to the cross, suffered and died.  He was placed in a rich man’s tomb and on Easter morning, defeated death itself by returning to life.

Every sin, past, present and future has been cleansed from our souls, just as Jesus washed Simon clean of his Leprosy.  Sin no longer has dominion over any of us, if we believe that God did this miraculous deed so we wouldn’t have to.  With our cleansing we can also look forward to eternity in paradise.

ALL GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH!

 

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GREEN SNOW WOULD BE NICE

Posted on March 17, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

GreenSnow1-566620

Guess what?  It’s snowing again.  It’s the middle of March and St. Patrick’s Day and it’s snowing.  Wouldn’t it be nice if God tinted the snow green today to honor St. Patty?  Then it would look like grass at least.

Oh how I love to live in Minnesota!

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TWO HANDS – ONE HEART

Posted on March 16, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

You hold my hand my heart goes all a flutter.
Each time in our lives that you continue this simple yet intimate gesture.
I feel safe – loved – comforted by your touch. It is my connection to you.
You are my strength, my peace. Your fingers entwined in mine, the pulsing of your heart – I am wrapped in your love.

The first time you gave your hand to me, I felt a plethora of emotions, all the way from friendship to complete and utter passion.
With each passing decade those feelings have turned to trust, dependency, peace, comfort, lifting up and the simplicity of everlasting love.

As time flees from us and each additional day is a blessing,
I will look in your eyes and never forget our first touch.
If my eyes grow dim and my memory falters,
I pray we will still hold tightly to each other, knowing that together
we will once again feel that comfort in our Father’s hands.💕💕

 

Posted in acting, art, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged | 6 Comments

WHAT WAS YOUR WEEK LIKE?

Posted on March 16, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Most everywhere you go these days, there are those with crabby faces who seem to bring everyone down with them.  There are times when it’s almost better to stay home in isolation.  However, I enjoy being with other people.  I don’t relish the thought of spending the rest of my days sitting in front of a television set or computer screen, absorbing all the nastiness going on in the world outside.  That being said, how was your last week?

In my neck of the woods, we’re experiencing a melt down.  The temperatures finally reached above freezing and much of the heavy snow on the roof came tumbling down – literally.  If you’ve ever heard the sound of an avalanche, you know what I’m talking about. I thought our roof had caved in from the weight of all that snow.  God managed to slowly defrost the ice and gently push it off the roof without any damage.  Had my husband’s car been parked in the driveway, it would’ve been another story.  Had anyone been standing there, we’d be facing a lawsuit or worse.

driveway

These ice chunks were about three feet wide and weighed about a hundred pounds each.

In that meltdown, water began to rise in the streets, because the storm sewers were still covered with snow and there was no place for the water to go.  We were spared any serious damage, but many folks around us wound up with wet basements, garages and property.

The world around us was being met with news about  Brexit – a terrorist attack in New Zealand with 49 deaths and dozens of injuries – Our U.S. senate rebuked the president’s call for emergency action on border protection – and the first veto to be signed by President Trump occurred.

On the local scene, a woman went into a pizza place with a gun and demanded the wings she didn’t get in her order.  I told you people were crabby.  I mean really?  Snow does something to people’s brains I think.  Minnesota also voted down legalizing recreation marijuana this week.  Thank God for preventing any future insanity.

As all this stuff was going on, I sat watching squirrels search incessantly for nuts they’d stored last fall.  I viewed our local feral cats come out of hiding.  There seem to be a few more than I remember.

Our kids came over last Sunday to shovel our driveway – again!  My dog has been suffering from cabin fever and isn’t interested in anything.  My husband had his second cataract surgery.  My roof almost caved in. My son in law had a birthday.  My soon to be daughter in law has one tomorrow.  We had dinner with our family.  We went to church.  My eldest daughter, her husband and their youngest began their excursion to S. Korea to visit the oldest son whom they haven’t seen since last August.  I woke up this morning alive and well.

I think I prefer my world.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

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CAPERNAUM EXORCISM

Posted on March 15, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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RUINS OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF CAPERNAUM

READ MARK 1:23-26

The synagogue shown above was built in the third century A.D.  It was the most beautiful landmark in the area.  It’s walls were made of pure white limestone and decorated with hand crafted sculptural ornamentation.  This was not the original synagogue where Jesus taught, but is located in the same area as the one pictured.  Synagogues were places used to teach the scriptures – where people would gather and hear the priests deliver readings from God’s Word.  It was a place of meeting, teaching and learning.

Jesus and His disciples made Capernaum their home base.  It was a place for them to rest, to recharge and also a place for Jesus to teach.  From there they would travel to the hill country and cities around the Sea of Galilee.

While they were there, a man approached Jesus and cried out in a loud, heinous voice,

“ Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”

This man had been tormented with an evil spirit for some time.  That very spirit – the devil himself – was the voice speaking to Jesus.  He knew him personally, for only a few months ago, he had tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

Imagine the reaction of the crowds.  They all thought this man was crazy.  It wasn’t even his voice coming out of his mouth.  The voice sent chills up and down their spines. The demonic creature within this man recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God – the true Messiah – the one who had come to defeat Satan and his minions.

We don’t know how long the man had been inflicted with this demon.  We do know that the man was at the synagogue, where the Word of God was present.  How often does the devil get into our places of worship and try to manipulate our thinking, our beliefs and our faith?  It seems to be a favorite spot for him to hang out.

Jesus immediately responded to the voice,

“Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”

At those words, the man began to convulse and writhe as the spirit left his body.  What a relief it must’ve been for this poor soul.  To have the devil inhabiting your inner being for even a short time, would be impossible to bear.  I would imagine that Jesus held this man in His arms after his seizure, to comfort him for a time, just as we can be confident of His arms wrapped around us.

The King James Version of the Bible says,

“And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”  Mark 1:26

That evil spirit actually tore through the man and came out.  Jesus demonstrated His power over the devil once more.

I think the importance of this story not only demonstrates Jesus as God’s true Son, but also we should be warned that our places of worship are not devil proof.  In fact, I think the devil finds great opportunities in the minds and hearts of those who worship.  They are his most desired – the ones he wants to pluck out of God’s hands to join him in his misery.

Everyone is a target.  We see Satan at work every day in our lives.  Sometimes it’s obvious.  Other times we haven’t got a clue as to his presence, but we do have the assurance that even  the name of Jesus is strong enough to cast out demons.

Praise God for His strength and power over the devil and all his wicked ways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Lent, Uncategorized | Tagged | 8 Comments

BE WITH ME, LORD, JESUS

Posted on March 15, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Though fears assail and haunt me, my Jesus will be there,

He knows my every weakness, He feels my every care,

Through valleys dark He leads me, He’s always at my side,

To waters still He guides me, refreshment He’ll provide,

Wherever life should lead me, my soul is in His hand,

He never will desert me, on this great hope I stand,

Through triumph and defeat, He knows just how I feel,

He gives me so much hope when at His cross I kneel.

Our time on earth is short, our days are numbered here,

But with His precious love,  eternity is near.

Dear Jesus, be with me as through this life I go,

Help me to share your love, with those who need to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in art, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments