UNEXPECTED MIRACLES
Most miracles don’t come like a flash of lightning or words written in the sky. However, we know that Jesus performed some pretty amazing ones during His ministry – like walking on water – changing water into wine – and giving lunch to over 5000 people with just a small portion of food. There were even leftovers. The greatest of His miracles was taking on our sins, suffering for them, dying on a cross and coming back to life to prove that we will never die.
There are still miracles, but most folks don’t consider them as such. They prefer to call them good luck, or destiny or anything but God’s intervention. We may not see the miracles as they happen – we may not understand why something happened as it did – we might even be surprised by them, but they exist.
When I was just 21, I worked for a loan company. I was also planning my wedding. It was a normal day at work. As we were getting ready to close, two men entered the office. Their heads were covered with ski masks and each brandished hand guns. At first I thought it was a couple of guys from the next door bowling ally playing some weird prank, but that idea quickly left my mind when they ordered us to get down on the floor.
They knew where the cash drawers were, but we’d locked them up for the night. One of the perpetrators pulled me to my feet and told me to unlock them. My hand was shaking as I tried to insert the key. I was terrified. Finally the drawers opened and I was told to hit the floor again.
During what seemed to be an eternity, I thought about the wedding that wouldn’t happen. That the life I was planning would never come to be. I started to cry as I thought about losing my life and at the same time I prayed that God would spare me and the others from death that day.
We heard rustling and muffled voices coming through the ski masks. Then the rear entrance door slammed. The manager was the first to lift her head and see the intruders were gone. She called the police and that opened the door to continued stress. Since I was the only one who got a good look at the guys, I was to appear at a line up the next day. An article about the robbery appeared in the newspaper that night and included my name and address. All of this aftermath was almost as frightening as the incident itself.
They never caught the robbers. I went to a line up, but since they were masked, all I had to go on was their voices and physical size. After looking at a number of men, they were paraded off right in front of me and got a good look at me too. I couldn’t identify anyone, but I had been put on display for a handful of criminals.
Eventually the fear left. I slowly realized that God was there, providing me with a miracle – an answer to my prayer. This incident was one of those obvious, in your face miracles, but there are others that happen on a daily basis. I’ll talk about that tomorrow.
“To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.”
Walt Whitman
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Tagged Fear, God's intervention, When bad things happen
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SENSES
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Listen to the sounds –
the crashing of the box car containers,
As they transfer to waiting freight trains,
The rat- a- tat of a nail gun,
Attaching a new roof or constructing a building,
I feel the wind,
A gentle breeze wafting its way through the trees,
Tickling them as she passes,
I watch as children play and see,
Their enjoyment of each other,
Their joy in the little things,
Like digging in dirt, or playing tag,
The smells of the city,
Hot asphalt repairing broken roads,
The fragrance that emits from a bakery,
Or a pizza place,
All the senses come to attention in the city,
The angry groan of a car as it grumbles to start,
Birds chirping – doors slamming – classical music emoting from a radio,
Distant sounds of traffic – an occasional jet flying overhead – the whir of a helicopter,
A garbage truck, the paper boy tossing the morning news at your door,
Always in motion, even while we sleep – always life – sometimes confusion,
Yet they comfort us with the knowledge that,
The world is still alive.
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Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Inspiration, life, senses
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BIZARRE HOLIDAYS
Some think that anyone over 70 is ready for the grave, but we still have a lot to offer. About one third of U.S. Senators are over 70 – nice part time job for a retiree – but I digress. I was referring to the average Joe over 70 who has something worthwhile to contribute to society.
We might look at age as something way off in the distance – not pertaining to us – something our parents and grandparents are – until time catches up with us and we’re part of that generation. The benefits for seniors includes discounts at various venues, getting offered a seat on the bus (sometimes,) they get to know their doctors personally and they get to collect the unemployment benefits that were taken out of their pay checks every day of their working lives. Isn’t that special?
You’re often considered useless, because you’re physically wearing out and your mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be. You don’t grasp technology and still use basic math skills to make change or balance a check book. You grew up saving everything only to be living in a disposable society.
As a golden ager, I wish to say that I am not dead yet. I still have a brain and a body that works most of the time. I can still work with young folks that could easily be my children and keep up with them. I have years of wisdom stored up in my pea sized brain and tons of experience in child rearing, teaching, encouraging, using my writing to reach peoples’ hearts and a whole lot more.
Today is Senior Citizens Day. Take a moment to realize that the older generation can be a wellspring of knowledge, wisdom and love. if we let them. Now if that isn’t enough, it’s also National Poet’s Day, so I’ll close by saying:
It’s time for me to celebrate,
I think I’ll try to eat a steak,
I hope that my false teeth don’t break!
WINDING DOWN
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Signs of autumn in the air,
Leaves slowly lose their grip and fall gently to the ground,
Acorns pile up and seeds of all kinds nestle into the earth,
Regeneration of life to come,
The air is fresher, the colors brilliant, the crops ready for harvest
And the smell of apple pies lingers in our nostrils,
No more warm days of summer;
No more lazy afternoons on the beach,
Birds flock up in hoards and escape to warmer climates,
The way we look at things in life,
Has a great effect on how we live it,
A negative observation often leads to negative behavior and attitude,
Lord, help me to look at things the way you intended them to be,
A gift from you,
With no strings attached,
The bounty of this season,
To find beauty in all of Your creation.
Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, autumn
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I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.
C. S. Lewis
The word, “MIRACLE” has a few definitions, but most often is referred to as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. For those who don’t believe in God, I wonder how they explain impossible situations being resolved through extraordinary events. For example, how do they perceive the birth of a child, other than to say it is a result of science or biology? How do they define the intricate workings of that new life? How do they explain the operation of a wondrous nervous system, an extraordinary vascular system, organs that function with perfect synchronization?
Life itself is a miracle, from the smallest organism to the largest animal. Creation was the first miracle as recorded in the book of Genesis. God spoke of it in the book of Job, Chapter 38 when he graphically declared how he made all things. In language only God could use, His description of His work is astounding. I’m almost certain that everyone alive today has experienced some sort of extraordinary event in their life that can only be described as a miracle. Many will deny God’s intervention, but I believe that without Him, there would be none.
This week I’m going to talk about miracles in my life. I’d love to hear some of the amazing experiences you’ve gone through. Sometimes we have to search our memory. Sometimes we have to look really hard to find anything that even slightly resembles a miracle. Sometimes, if our hearts are hardened to God’s presence in our lives, we will never see them. Most of the time, they’re woven into the fabric of our lives so tightly, that they become unseen or forgotten. Being able to remember and expect miracles is critical to our relationship with God. If we look hard enough, we will find them in the most unusual places.
I am convinced that miracles occur every day. They may not be magnificent displays, like turning water into wine or walking on water, but they definitely will have an affect on your life. Search your memory. Write down the most miraculous things that have happened to you so far – things that have changed your life and your relationship with God. Sometimes we have to see things in the written word to believe them. God’s Word is like that. It’s not just a book, but God’s voice to us, written by inspired men just like you and me. It’s a great place to start seeing the miracles that occur in every day living.
Join me in this search. We often evade miracles in the modern world, but I believe they still happen. We just have to look for them.
Posted in miracles, Uncategorized
Tagged ., encouragement, FAITH, Inspiration, unexplained
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I WON’T GROW UP
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t have to grow up – if we didn’t have to go to school – if we could do whatever we want without following the rules? In John Barrie’s, “Peter Pan” the author created a place where children remained children forever and responsibility was an unnecessary commodity.
I like to think of myself as a forever child and hope that I continue to have a heart of a youngster until I die. The truth is that we do have responsibilities and they become more apparent as we grow into adults. I’ve accepted that fact, but as my body grows old and the pain of aging rears its ugly head, I long for the carefree days of youth. I’d love to step out of this aging carcass and become a child again -but then I’d have to go through childhood, adolescence, middle age, menopause and golden years all over again. I’m not ready for that.
Jesus especially loved talking to children and used them to demonstrate the way our faith should be. Their faith is built on trust that’s been developed over time, but they are eager to believe what we tell them. They’re like sponges soaking up all they can. Children don’t usually start to question what they’re taught until they grow up and other ideas creep into their heads.
Faith according to the Bible is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. God, may I continue to have the faith of a child, but continue growing old, knowing that heaven is waiting for me.
SATURDAY THOUGHTS
In a world confused about morality, conscience and sin, we’re faced with a real dilemma. The evil of this world has slowly deteriorated to the point of obliterating the truth of God. Our inability to accept the word “sin” has been wiped out of our dictionary over time. Thus we’ve lost our need for someone to rescue us.
To most of our population, God is no longer in the equation. He’s taken a back seat to fake news – desire for others to fail – a dog eat dog philosophy in life and business – social networks that spew hatred and bullying of those who are not up to our standards – get rich quick schemes – stepping on others to reach your goals.
When Jesus crushed and defeated Satan, the devil began the fight of his life. He was allowed to roam the earth like a lion on the prowl. He’s lured folks in with promises that can’t possibly be kept. He turns evil into good, love into hate and he’s polluted the world with every kind of evil. In the past 50 years alone, our own United States, have become oblivious to sin. Everything mankind has ever been tempted with is being presented in new ways – aka the internet.
Don’t get me wrong. I feel the internet is the dawn of a new era. We have instant communication, news, information of all kinds at our fingertips. It’s an amazing tool. As with any tools, if we use it for good it can change hearts. On the other hand, it can ruin reputations, create fake news, fill empty minds with lustful desires. The crooks have also found ways to intercept our information to destroy credit ratings, spread rumors about us, and share false information to a dysfunctional audience.
Things have virtually turned upside down. The good guys are now perceived as the enemy. Those turned to for counseling often abuse rather than help. The laws are just suggestions and aren’t enforced. Anyone choosing to run for political office has been set up for all kinds of scrutiny. We become suspicious, complacent, and voiceless when these things happen, because we feel we aren’t going to be heard anyway.
We’re expected to accept all kinds of behavior for the sake of “getting along.” What we used to say no to, is now acceptable. Our religious thoughts are being silenced by public opinion. Maybe this is why churches are suffering today.
Our world is in a terrible state of confusion – which is one of the signs we can expect to see during the last times. With that in mind, we need to get ready. There’s still time to prepare. All you need do is believe that you have been purchased at a great price, by the Son of God. He loves us so much that He died for us.
When we remain in our sin and don’t repent we are being inactive in our faith. God doesn’t want us to be apathetic. We have a voice against the evil of this world, but we often fail to speak. We can stand up for those being bullied or abused, but we don’t want to get involved. There are so many ways to fight this malady, but first we need to acknowledge that we’re sinners in need of a Savior.
“I’m in no way suggesting that my opinion matters more than anyone else’s, of course, but the only thing that bothers me is apathy. People that sit out of the process and complain about it, or pretend that politics isn’t a part of their everyday lives.” Olivia Wilde
SUMMER NIGHTS
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
What happened to days of our untethered youth,
When what was required depended on truth?
When worries were few and troubles unknown,
What happened from then to the life I have sown?
Our days filled with moments both carefree and fun,
Too quickly we find nothing under the sun,
Will satisfy fully or give us true peace,
We watch as our hope and delight now decrease.
Time passes in torrents. In storms it does fly,
Our laughter we mourn and often we cry,
Our tears fill up rivers, our moans sear the air,
Hearts often give up and give way to despair.
We come to our God with bruises and scars,
Of bludgeoning wounds which surpass all the stars,
It’s then God completes the work that He’s done,
Our youth then returns as the victory is won.
We come to Him broken and clinging to life,
We come when we no longer can bear the strife,
At last we let go and let God do His best.
Through Him in our place, we can pass every test.
He gives us new life even though we are old,
Our time weathered bodies completely unfold,
Into perfectly formed and beautifully made,
He washes with blood for my sins He has paid.
Our new life comes quickly. The old passes by,
And we become new on the day that we die,
The breath comes from heaven and God’s only Son,
Old bodies renewed, His work is now done.
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Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher
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TO SLEEP PERCHANCE TO ….
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman
Once I dreamt I went in for surgery and came out with tattoos all over my body. Mind you, I have never been nor will I ever be tattooed, but the dream seemed so real. Imagine, if you will, a tattooed 75 year old woman. It did wonders for my wrinkles. You couldn’t see one of them.
Do you ever wonder where dreams come from? Many of mine have turned into plays or short stories. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis Carroll or C. S. Lewis didn’t have a dream or two before creating their works of fiction. They can be the greatest starting point for many stories. Our brains are remarkable organs, which haven’t yet been completely tapped, understood, or used to their fullest extent.
Once I dreamt we adopted a buffalo and brought him home to take the place of our dog. We bought a truck full of Buffalo Chow, made a bed for him in the laundry room and taught him to catch a Frisbee, to sit and stay and give you a high five. This turned into a story about just that thing, called “A Home Where the Buffalo Roams.”
I’m certainly not a visionary nor a prophet, but it would be fun to be able to interpret some of them. I’ve never smoked pot or done any+ hallucinatory drugs. I’ve had a glass or two of wine, but that doesn’t usually create dreams. It just puts me to sleep.
Some believe that dreams can be a form of release – something we would never do in reality becomes perfectly normal when we sleep. Others try to make something of those dreams – to analyze them or turn them into truth. Maybe God is even speaking to us through our dreams, guiding us to make the right decision when we’re faced with one. I’ve tried to record some of mine, but often forget them as soon as I awaken. I should have a notepad right next to my bed so I can keep track of them for future use. They could become best sellers – short stories – plays and even good reason to have you put away for a very long time.
Sigmund Freud had a lot to say about dreams. His theory is that that dreams are an expression of a repressed wish that we would rather not admit to. This would lead to conflict within the psyche. He also stated that dreams perform important functions and serve as valuable clues to how the unconscious mind operates. Maybe studies should be done on this area of our brain. It might well lead to reasons for the way we are. It could also help to treat mental illness, which is so prevalent today.
I think our dreams are meant to entertain us when we’re sleeping. I also think they’re a compilation of things we want to accomplish. They can be the setting a goal and fulfilling it. Since this is a definite part of who we are, I’d be interested to know what you think.
A SUMMER PLACE
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
The edge of a bluff lined river – a glassy reflection glistens and bounces onto a hill. The light touches the edges of trees and buildings in the distance, creating patterns dancing from one place to another . The deep crevices fill with darkness. The sky is magnificently dotted with wispy clouds interlaced with mauve, crimson and blue. A path of towering pines shades the heat of the sun,
Looking out at the beauty of God’s perfect creation,
Breathing in the sweet, fresh air,
Hearing the sounds of rushing water,
And birds singing their little hearts out,
Fills your heart with contentment.
This little morsel of peace is just a speck in the scheme of things. How long we’ve waited for the glory of these summer days. They are so few and fleeting. Soon the leaves will turn to red and gold and then fall. Like our lives. We wither and die.
The moments of joy we experience on this planet are nothing compared to what waits for us after the winter of our dying breath. Once again spring returns and we’re blessed with new life when we know God. The glory never ends.
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Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Inspiration, New Life
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UNITED IN CHRIST
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. They helped build a strong industrial nation for their white counterparts and fought alongside them in war after war to preserve the rights of the 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.
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.
Posted in Daily inspiration and devotions, Uncategorized
Tagged family of God, Freedom, Slavery
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WE ARE THE BRANCHES
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Clumps of luscious fruit abounding, sweetness surging through each orb,
Gaining life from vines astounding, sending lifeblood to absorb,
Grounded in strong roots from heaven, ripened by the morning sun,
Pure refreshment from God given, poured through His own precious Son,
We in turn should share that blessing, with those needing hope and love,
Those who long for God’s caressing, when their push has turned to shove,
He will give them life eternal, as the vine gives to the fruit,
Wash away their sins internal, perfect judgment execute,
Heaven awaits with open doors, death no more will hurt or sting,
Forever God’s mercy endures, Salvation for all He brings.
Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Grounded in faith, Salvation
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EGG DROP CHALLENGE
Almost everyone has heard of the “egg drop experiment. This simple test allows the student to construct a container that protects a raw egg from cracking as it’s dropped from a certain height. What is the actual purpose of this? I guess it’s to get students thinking about creativity through engineering.
The obvious effect from dropping an egg from any height would be for it to break. Figuring out how to protect it is the engineering process that takes place. If you were that egg how would you feel about the experiment? Would you have total trust in the one who was conducting it? Most likely you wouldn’t.
We are often like those eggs, forgetting that we have someone we can count on for protection on a daily basis. There are times when we think we can control our own destiny and don’t need anyone’s help, but being part of God’s family gives more protection than a few soft cotton balls or plastic bubble wrap. His love, power and wisdom wrap us in a much stronger armor. We also have the support of others like us, who have gone through similar breaks along the way.
Lord, never let me forget the suit of armor you’ve made for me. It protects me from the arrows of Satan and his minions. It covers me with your love and safety. I am confident knowing that you will always hold me in your loving arms. Amen!
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD!
SEARCHING FOR THE OBVIOUS
Several years ago, when the circus came to town, I was hired as a dialect coach. The fabulous Cirque Du Soleil had come to Minneapolis. You may wonder why they’d need a dialect coach. This circus is known for its amazing acrobatics and colorful characters – all artists in their own right – yet most of the time, any vocal interaction is simply piped via the sound system.
I soon discovered they were going to have a plant in the audience, who needed to appear like a local guy. This person would be called on stage to become one of the clowns. My job was to make this fellow sound like he was a Minnesotan – not a true Minnesotan, who says things like ooooh, yah, you betchya and don’t ya know – but one who lived and worked in the community. The interesting part began when I arrived for the first session.
The smell of greasepaint permeated the grounds. Physically fit performers practiced their craft. Some sat in the cafeteria tent while others juggled, tossed their partners in the air or bent their agile bodies into impossible positions. I was led to a trailer by one of the executives. He explained that I’d be working with a young man from Argentina who had both Spanish and Canadian accents. How on earth could I make this happen in a few short weeks?
Day after day we’d meet, work on enunciation, diction, vocal exercises and nothing seemed to happen. We finally eliminate the Spanish sound, but there was still a nasal quality to his speech. During rehearsals he’d start out fine, but as he progressed that nasal sound crept back in..
My student ascended the stage with two clowns. He played the part of a reluctant participant well. Then they put a spongy, red nose on him and his nasally sounding voice returned. The solution was simple – move the nose up higher so it wouldn’t close his nostrils.
Sometimes we overlook the obvious. We think we’re doing everything right. We follow the rules, we don’t get in trouble, we think we’ve got our lives figured out and then something unexpected happens and we cave. The key word in that scenario is “WE.” We have become so used to solving our own problems, fixing things and coming up with solutions that we forget to do the obvious – pray.
God invites us to come to Him for rest – to lay our troubles on His back – to trust in His intervention in our lives. All the obstacles we face, are easily solved by the One True God. It sounds too easy. We feel the need to be engaged. We think we can do it by ourselves. God doesn’t want us to suffer. He is right there waiting to help. Look for the obvious solution when life gets tough. Turn to the One who can fix anything.
IN SEARCH OF PEACE
ORIGINALLY POSTED 6-7-15
God set this day aside for a day of rest. He had a pretty busy week prior to the final day of creating the world, the universe, every living thing. He established night and day and placed all the stars, planets and constellations in the heavens. He divided the land from the sea and carved majestic landscapes, gardens and flourishing plant life within them. Then He created man in His own image and gave him a lifetime companion from the man’s rib.
For most of us, we’re lucky to get through a 40 hour work week, take care of household duties, make meals and spend time with family. We often complain when we have to put in overtime hours. Some of us can’t stay awake much past nine o’clock. When Sunday’s roll around, we’re ready for some rest.
If you really want to find some quiet time – a time to connect with the King of creation – spend an hour or so in His house. He’s waiting for you in His holy sacraments. He speaks to you through the Bible. The beautiful music, the glorious sanctuary, all the trappings of a church enhance the experience, but the truth is this is a time reserved just for you to be with God.
Why not try it? Once you make up your mind to give God that early Sunday morning time, you will find true rest. The coming week will take on new meaning. You can face it with the confidence that God lives in you, through His Holy Spirit.
LOVE RE-TOLD
In Nicholas Sparks’ book, “The Notebook,” a poignant love story unfolds. It’s the same type of story that filled our hearts with tears when the movie, “Love Story,” came on the screen. Both of these tales, fill us with a mixture of sadness, passion, love, joy, overcoming the odds and finally death.
Kind of the recipe for life, I guess. We’re born, we grow, we have relationships, we find out who we are and where we’re going, we fall in love, we overcome obstacles, sometimes we don’t, we live until there are only memories and then we die. The common thread in life is where we’re going and how we’re going to get there. For most, it will include a trail of tears, a ton of laughter, goal setting, failure, facing fear, building a future and living it. At the end, there’s only death. Then what?
Life is full of challenges. Some have more than others. How we face those obstacles will determine what happens when our life on earth ends. We can depend on ourselves, our intellect, our savvy or pizazz. We can find a partner whom we can trust completely. We can become part of a large organization where we can shine and make a name for ourselves. We might achieve some level of success in business, the arts, politics, sports or in the everyday jobs that run our nation. We could become famous. We might reach the top of the ladder only to fall suddenly to the bottom rung.
In the end we all die. It’s a fact known to every human being. Life is a temporary thing. Even the most illustrious individuals will die. Some will be remembered for their deeds, their inventions, their escapades or their notoriety, but soon that memory will also fade or be replaced by new ones.
When we place our trust in things of this world, we’re clinging to something that soon loses purpose. We need the assurance that death isn’t the end of things. For those who trust in God, it’s only the beginning. When the final page is turned, we can be confident of eternal life – a life without disease or pain – void of hatred and fear – one filled with peace, purpose, love and perfection. I’d say that’s the greatest love story ever.
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