SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL

Posted on September 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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As you may remember, I auditioned for a play recently and I got a part.  Now I’m committed or I should be.  The truth is, I’m having a blast working on this project.  The play is called “SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL.”  I play the part of Ozella Meeks – the, busy body Chairwoman of the Son Shine Committee – responsible for making all the necessary arrangements for the funeral.  I wonder if I was cast because I’m such a busy church lady.  I know it’s been helpful in developing the character.

The play takes place somewhere in the Mississippi countryside.  Dorothy Frye’s husband has just passed away, giving a speech at the Rotary Club.  His death has sent the family into a tizzy and brought them all together at the family farm.  We speak with a southern accent. The stage will be set as a country kitchen, complete with appliances and real food. – like casserole dishes, pies and cakes, and more.

Just a few days after the run, I’m going to hold a theatre workshop for seniors age 55+.  Hopefully I will have survived the play and there isn’t a funeral in my future.  In this class I hope to help folks in their golden years to have fun while learning how to act on stage.  The workshop will acquaint them with stage movement, vocal production, improvisation and basic acting skills.

My philosophy regarding aging, is to keep active both physically and mentally.  As we age, our memories start to fade, especially short term memory.  I think that exercising the mind is just as important as putting your body through physical endurance.  Sometimes it’s even more important.

I thought my acting days were over, but I’m having a great time with the small cast of crazy characters and a director whose vision is to tell this humorous story comically, yet maintain the drama of a very stressful time for families.  Pray that I don’t break a leg!

 

 

 

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A CITY IN ASHES

Posted on September 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Our granddaughter was not yet born.  The grandsons were little boys, now young men, unaware of the tragedy that struck.  I remember pouring a cup of coffee and preparing to sit down and watch the news when it happened.  In the splendid clarity of that crisp autumn morning, something occurred that would change the way we think and believe today.  Our freedom was placed on the line.  For a long time, we didn’t trust anyone.  We looked at people differently. We were suspicious of our neighbors as well as strangers.

Crushed steel lay in ashes.  The images of bodies jumping from windows to their death was branded in my mind.  Then another attack and another.  For a time, we thought the world was coming to an end and to many it did.  Children were oblivious to it.  Adults mourned for the lost, the elderly remembered another similar attack on American soil – Pearl Harbor.

Churches filled with people tried to make sense of it.  Flags being sold off the shelves to those who had a sudden surge of patriotism and desire to display it.  Hymns rang out with a refreshed love of God and country.  Funerals celebrated lives of the fallen.  They continued for days.  The memory lives on, yet have we forgotten?

Today our focus seems to be on political shenanigans – a system that’s falling apart – an elected president being put on the defensive every day – a party intent on impeaching him – division which hasn’t been seen since the Civil War.  Materialism is the offering of the day.  Children are under attack by other children and those whose minds have been lost somewhere in the madness of living.  We are still under attack.

Every year on this day, since 2001, we’re reminded of that horrible event. We’ll hear speeches about it.  We’ll see countless film accounts.  The news will be flooded with familiar photographs.  Will it matter to us?  Have we become so calloused in such a short time that the pain, suffering and death of that day has been put on the shelf.

Now, more than ever, we need to stand united under God.  We must do so before another wake up call is sent our way.  God bless the United States of America and may we be drawn back to Him so we can stand against our enemies.

“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.’ Donald Trump

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REMEMBER . . .

Posted on September 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Hidden in the ashes, trampled by the steel,

Lay the sons and daughters of that day,

In the years that follow, our hearts may never heal,

We mourn their loss – We try to deal –

We turn to God and pray,

Freedom was taken, terror stole our soul,

But America was built for more than this,

Strong hearts united, with a mutual goal,

Rebuilding, renewing, restoring the mess,

This day is not forgotten. It’s seared upon our souls,

We put our faith in God’s eternal care,

We trust in His salvation, we know he mends the holes

That come from the destruction in the air,

Our hearts must stay united, no matter how we feel,

We look beyond the prejudice and fears,

Our only hope is Jesus, the only one who heals,

He erases all our sorrows and wipes away our tears.

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WEEKEND WRAPUP

Posted on September 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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My weekly work keeps me at home for most of the day – working on my blog, memorizing lines for the play I’m in, writing articles and other things.  For the most part, my work week is pretty laid back.  Weekends are supposed to be for relaxation, but for us it’s usually the best time to work at our crafts.

This past weekend was such an example.  Paul spent Saturday in front of his easel, as usual.  This time he painted a little further away from home, at a beautiful farmstead which is now an event center.  He showed the picture to one of our church members  and said, “This is a barn I painted yesterday.  To which she responded, “You painted a whole barn in one day?”  He explained that he didn’t physically paint the barn, only a picture of it.  She was still surprised that he’d finished such a beautiful painting in one day.

I headed out too, for an afternoon at an event to promote the theatre I’m now involved with.  I helped judge an amazing talent show with participants from second grade to age 20.  It was a tough one to judge, but exciting to see these young ones with so much talent and confidence.  I managed to get on stage with one of the group dances.  I’m paying for that today.

Sunday we attended church, the church picnic, I headed off to rehearsal and then a board meeting in the evening.  I managed to hear snippets of the Vikings game as well as seeing most of the Packer game when I arrived home.  We have an allegiance to both teams.  We still love the Packers because we lived in Wisconsin until we were 24.  I turned the game off before Aaron Rodgers won it for the team.  Vikings won too, so for us it was a win – win situation.

Weekends are a time to regenerate.  I slept in this morning.  Too much activity for an old lady of 76, but chock full of fun.  I use my weekdays to get my energy back.  We all need a time to restart our engines.  Even God took a day off after He finished creating the universe and all its inhabitants.  Keeping busy is good for us, because it keeps us alive and vibrant.

With each day, I thank God for giving me another one.  I know He will be with me throughout the coming week, even though my face is getting more wrinkled and my body is much closer to the ground.  Life goes on.  We live it, with God’s help, and we look forward to our final rest more and more each passing second.

 

 

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PLEASE COME TO CHURCH

Posted on September 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Did you know that 70% of those who do not attend a church have never been invited?  Well, today, I’m inviting you.  Church is not a place for righteous, outstanding people, with no problems.  You might even consider it a hospital for sinners. It’s where you can go every week to reaffirm what you believe, refresh yourself with the Word and Sacraments, help others who need help, work together, encourage, praise, give thanks and ask God for all your physical and spiritual needs.

Church is like a huge group home, where we gather together and receive nourishment from the Bible.  We sing hymns to the glory of our Creator.  Sure it’s just a building, but it’s what inside that makes it a church.  Those who attend come because they need to be fed, they need God’s forgiveness, they know that His love permeates these walls.  What they take home with them is usually more than enough to sustain them for the coming week.

Jesus knew that the temple was a holy place and He went there to pray often.  He is our example for all things in life, so let’s follow Him by giving Him the adoration He deserves.

PLEASE COME TO CHURCH TODAY!

Jesus will be there waiting with open arms.  He will accept everyone who turns to Him.  He doesn’t discriminate.  He doesn’t look down His nose at you. He is our brother and He wants everyone to be His heir and live with Him in eternity.

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HE IS ALWAYS THERE

Posted on September 8, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINALLY POSTED 9/08/2017

Hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, deadly tornadoes, earthquakes are all part of God’s plan.  We wonder where He is during those times.  Where is He during a terrorist attack or a school shooting where innocent people are wiped off the face of the earth.  We struggle to make sense of a child’s death – the difficulties of aging – the perils of life threatening diseases.  Where is God?

I couldn’t begin to understand God’s reasoning in sending storms into our lives.  I do know that when we’re faced with them, we can count on His presence.  He’s promised to be with us in all circumstances.  That isn’t very comforting to those who have just witnessed the loss of everything.  Where is God?

We tend to think He’s absent and uncaring.  We might think He’s messing with our heads.  We could even blame Him for all of this.  We look only at what’s happening in the moment and can’t seem to see the future.  Where is God?

Turn your focus to those who have given up so much to help these victims.  Look at the selfless heroes putting their lives on the line to help people they don’t even know.  Think about the dollars being donated for the rebuilding of devastated areas.  Observe the absence of race and bigotry.  Notice how people of every color are working together to help one another.   The power of God is great.  He can wipe out a town in a blink of an eye, but he can bring people together to rebuild it just as fast.

We could refer to this as the “end times.”  The signs are there.  There will be an abundance of knowledge.  There will be a lack of compassion.  People will abandon others in preference of self – wars and rumors of war – A drastic change in morality – rules and laws hold no value.  It’s time to focus on our eternal future.

God says that the end will come as a thief in the night.  We won’t be prepared, but signs are everywhere – signs which make us sit up and take notice.  They’re  a call for us to return to the King of Creation, but where is God?

You can find Him and His message of hope in His Holy Word, the Bible and He is at your side, available at a moment’s notice.  He is there!

Dear Lord, You have complete control over the weather, over the agony of death, the destruction of life, but , you never leave us. Help those affected by the storms of life.  Keep them safe from harm.  Protect us all from the evil one, who would have us believe that you have left us.  We know better.  He is the prince of lies.  Amen!

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LAZY MOM’S DAY

Posted on September 7, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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In the month of May, we celebrate mothers.  We honor moms with flowers, words of love, dinner or something else to make her feel special. Today is Lazy Mom’s Day.  Frankly I believe this is how we should be celebrating moms.  Give her a day to be totally lazy.  Let her experience the feeling of not having to get out of bed, make breakfast, get the kids off to school, fold the laundry, pack lunches, plan dinner and get herself ready for work.  All of this occurring before 8 AM.

Moms, take a look at your house.  Is it the perfection of Pinterest?  Is everything in its place?  Does every sock have a matching one?  Is your sink empty of dirty dishes?  Do you spend the rest of your day thumbing through fashion magazines and eating chocolates?  If this is the case, most likely you have a nanny working for you.  You also have someone who comes in and cleans your house on a daily basis – a personal shopper, a chef, groceries delivered to your door and an event planner.  To top it off, you must have a chauffeur, an accountant, a beauty consultant and an abundance of energy.

The fact that moms are only honored on one day a year is really disgraceful.  They should be held in high esteem – right alongside dads – even when we don’t agree with them.  I love the idea of a lazy mom’s day.

Everyone should be entitled to a day of complete laziness – a time where we have no one to answer to, no obligations, just a day to do nothing.  Today also happens to be “buy a book day” as well as “beer lover’s day.”  Somehow they seem to go hand in hand.

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on September 7, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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I’M FINE!

Posted on September 6, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Being involved in theatre for most of my life has taught me how to become someone else for a short time – to shed my own persona and live in a different time, place or situation.  We all wear masks throughout life. We hide behind them because we don’t want people to see our failures or judge us.  Masks can cover a multitude of sins, but at the end of the day, they come off and we face reality.

Hiding doesn’t always mean closing yourself off from the world.  You may simply not want to bother people with your problems or would rather let them think you’re living the good life.  Living in a world filled with trouble – in homes that are less than perfect – relationships that are hanging by a thread – financial burdens, job loss, health issues – we try to hide the truth.

When we’re in the workplace, at school, with a group of fellow Christians, we put on our “perfect” mask.  If we bore people with the yuckiness of our lives, we may not have any friends – so we lie and say, “I’m fine.”  We might have a mask of “complacency” one day and one of “confidence” another.  Each one is covering up the truth.

Our hearts may inwardly be longing for someone to share our situation with, but we feel we’re letting our guard down or becoming vulnerable.  I’m currently blessed to be attending a small, country church.  This refuge has been like a family to us.  We gather  to worship, but also to share things that  trouble us and to be encouraged by our family.  Still, we don’t know the extent of how another might be suffering.  We still obliterate those secret sins.

When we ask someone how they’re doing, we don’t always expect the truth. Still it’s tough to leave out the dark parts of our lives. For those things, the only One we can truly trust is Jesus.  He walked in our shoes. He knows what sorrow is.  He knows the sting of death and disease.  He lived a life of poverty even though He bore the title of King.  He was tempted personally by the devil.  He got tired, ate, taught, drew crowds, yet he never had a home of His own.  A man of sorrows they called Him.  He knows what our darkest secrets are and He loves us anyway.  His life was dedicated to saving the world

The next time you ask someone how they’re doing,  listen to their response.  Be compassionate, empathic and understanding.  We can’t do anything to change another person’s situation, but we can support and pray for them.  Usually when someone says, “I’m fine,” it’s just a cover up for a mess they’re dealing with.  You might be surprised that someone is pushing through some of the same things you are.  That little phrase can be a call for help.

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STICKS & STONES

Posted on September 5, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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School is back in session.  Along with the fears attached to the commonplace incidents of violence in these halls of learning, our children are facing another kind of hate – the bully.  Children need to be prepared to defend themselves against the ugly words of others – the demeaning humiliation that accompanies those words – and the feelings of uselessness which sometimes lead to suicide.  More often than not, there is no defense.

Cyber bullying puts hateful words  right out there for the entire world to see.  Today, unless children are confident with who they are, are being tested on a daily basis.  Some kids can let bullying slide off their backs, but those words have become engrained in that child’s mind and heart.

Workplace bullying is a continuation of that learning – only now it’s being done by “grown ups.”  Once as my husband prepared for an after school art class in his designated, space a group of teachers came in and began posting “anti-bullying” signs.  One by one, the women called my husband out for being in “their” space.  It was ironic that they were doing the same kind of bullying they were trying to prevent.  Another example can be gossiping about another employee or trashing their abilities.

Many say that the bully is just reaching out for attention.  I believe that’s true, but  children also need to be taught to be good or bad.  They don’t come out of the womb knowing the difference.  Their thinking is based on what they see within the confines of their home.  It changes when they begin to socialize and see what others do.  Becoming a bully is a process learned in the environment, through socialization and is the result of those who teach them.  They learn by example.

Before they reach school age, they should be prepared to deal with this situation. They should be taught that every human being is unique and that each one of them has value.  They also need to learn that they have your support along with God’s intervention in every situation – even the ones that break them.  They should respect others even when they are being disrespectful.

One of the hardest concepts we learn as a Christians, is that we don’t fight back when others try to hurt or defame us.  God tells us to let Him be in charge of dealing out vengeance.  He also says we should love our enemies and do good to them that hate us.  Our natural response to someone who is bullying is to fight back – to defend ourselves – to do something equally mean in return.

In the few short years, prior to entering school, parents can determine how their children handle bullying.  During that time, a child’s future is being determined.  What they’re taught, will be challenged when they get outside your home.  They need the armor of God, when they’re under our protection and as they enter the world of bullies.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”  Matthew 5:11

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29

 

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A NEW DAY

Posted on September 5, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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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 burrow into the earth,

Regeneration of life to come,

The air is fresher,

The colors richer,

The crops ready for harvest,

And the smell of apple pies tickles our nostrils,

No more warm days of summer,

No more lazy days on the beach,

Birds gather into flocks and escape to warmer climates,

The way we look at things in life can have 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 the seasons,

Is finding beauty in all of Your creation.

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ELECTRONIC CHAOS

Posted on September 4, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Every time a computer glitch occurs, I can count on being tied up for at least eight hours.  This amazing device, which normally can save hours has the capacity to make a sweet old granny very cranky.

This morning I opened an email telling me that my bank account has been charged with an amount I didn’t authorize.  There isn’t enough in my checking account to cover this charge so now it is in overdraft mode.  I am pretty good about keeping tabs on my bank numbers, so this immediately shook me to the core.

It drives me crazy how we depend on these devices for so much of our daily goings on.  I look forward to reading others’ blog posts, checking my emails and taking a peek at Facebook each morning.  I usually reserve my early morning hours for writing my own blog and doing those other things.  I’m pretty much glued to my laptop during my waking hours. Now I will be frustrated until at least noon.

Isn’t it funny how we let a screen determine the course of our day?  Maybe this is another test to divert my attention from some of the other things in my life.  My grandson leaves for S. Korea tomorrow for a one year stint teaching English.  I know it’s going to be a wonderful adventure for him and it will help view another culture and basically take the next step in his life.  I’m happy for that, but as with most motherly instincts, we find it hard to let go of our children and grandchildren.

Both of my daughters are trying to discover reasons for certain health issues.  My son will be leaving a job he’s worked at for 20 years at the end of this month, because the company has closed the doors.  Again, the mom in me wants to make it all better, yet I know that even in our difficulties, God has a plan for all of it.

There are always hiccups in life – side tracks that take us off course or lead us down an unknown path.  When we trust in God’s promises, that doesn’t always eliminate our worry.  We pray earnestly and trust His divine providence, but what if the prayers aren’t answered the way we think they should be?

We Christians go through the same difficulties as everyone else.  One may lose a child to death.  Another struggles with financial problems.  Some still hang on to past sins and, even though we know our sins are forgiven, we still have trouble forgiving ourselves.  Guilt is a terrible cross to bear.

We are not guaranteed a life of perfection when we become followers of Christ, but we are given assurance that whatever problems we face, are part of a bigger picture – part of the final outcome.

So now I feel better.  Sometimes we just have to vent.  God will always remain consistent.  He controls the universe and His work is perfect.  Our partnership with Him will always be for our good.  Even the tiny detours that upset the apple cart can be considered blessings.

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DEATH OF A NATION

Posted on September 3, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Over the weekend, we went to see the newest film by Denesh D’Souza about the death of a nation.  It was an interesting film regarding the involvement of the Democrat Party in slavery, racism towards all races other than white, creating a lie that would eventually turn all of that onto the Republican Party.  As many things have turned upside down in just my lifetime, I found his historical story very interesting.  The facts he presented were proven by historical events.

Within the film he made much reference to the Nazi Regime led by Hitler, showing how his philosophy was based on white supremacy – a population’s growing dependence on government – obliterating the Jewish race, Catholics and many more.  D’Souza draws comparisons between the Germans and the United States, even saying that we were the example the Germans used in creating their own form of governing.

As with any news articles or books, we have to be open minded today.  Unfortunately, political correctness has become so commonplace, we dare not speak for or against anyone.  There was however the story within the film, that emphasized what can be done to combat things that are going on today.

Within the film, we saw a story of a young woman named Sophie Scholl.  She belonged to the White Rose Movement, a group that opposed the Nazi Party, comprised of young people who felt it wrong to discriminate against other races.  She, her brother and some friends actively wrote and distributed leaflets containing their beliefs.  During this time she is known to have said:

“How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”  Sophie Scholl

This piece of the puzzle made me want to know more about this woman and her work in the resistance.  I did a little research and discovered that she was a Lutheran college student from a family of Christians who also felt this new government was wrong.

Her religious convictions included believing that every race has rights and their extermination was totally against God’s teachings.  They were arrested for distributing their thoughts on paper.  Sophie was executed by beheading.  She was willing to put her life in danger and eventually lost.

It gets me to thinking about the activists showing up in our streets on a daily basis.  They’re not like the peaceful young people of the White Rose Movement, simply expressing their beliefs to a uninformed country.  Today, activists are violent in their approach.  They seem to think that by doing damage to other people and their property is the way to deal with their frustration.  This seems to be common in our society – to approach any problem or difference.  We need to start teaching our kids how to live without conflict, how to solve problems peacefully and how to communicate again.

HOW DID THAT PHILOSOPHY GET LOST?

We have a whole group of young people in our country who are not like that.  The kids of today are scared about the future of America.  They should be.  I’m scared too.  The corruption, lies and false news permeating our country is colossal. We can’t be complacent about this.  Our children need to educate themselves, do the research, figure out how to approach the problems peaceably and get out there and do it.  The longer we sit still, the faster we will reach our demise. They are the heroes of tomorrow.  We need our young people to take up the gauntlet.  They are the future leaders of our country.

 

 

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KNOCK, KNOCK – WHO’S THERE?

Posted on September 1, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Doing door to door sales in the 1980s was always the hardest thing for me to do.  I was never sure what I’d find on the other side, but I kept on knocking on doors until I’d miraculously find someone home who wasn’t crazy or a serial killer.  Times were different in those days. Today there aren’t too many folks doing this type of soliciting anymore.

I always wondered why they said the hardest door to open was your own, until I actually opened mine and took the plunge.  With any kind of job seeking, you have to be active in the process.  You can’t sit on the couch waiting for someone to hire you.  When one of my grandson’s thought about getting a summer job, he thought all he needed to do was pick up an application.  My point here is that we need to be involved, connected and active.

Searching for a job is tough.  Today you fill out the application on line.  Your resume is electronically sent.  You don’t always get a live interview until you’ve gone through another long time of submitting forms, answering questions, taking tests and totally losing it.   For anyone who’s technically challenged, this whole deal is filled with anxiety.  We may get through part of the application process when everything suddenly crashes.  You spend more time trying to do it on the computer, than it would’ve taken to go to the company with your resume and fill out an application and talk to a human being right there.

The doors we open in the hiring process, may not be as readily available as they once were, but we will have to go through many in order to achieve our goal.  This isn’t only true in our work life, but in our spiritual walk.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

When we pray, we should come humbly before Almighty God, with repentant hearts.  We’re told to ask, which is hard, when we think we’re entitled to everything.  When we put God first in our prayers, He’ll hear our petitions.  We’re told to seek – the action I was talking about earlier.  We trust in God’s will for our lives, but we still need to be active in our study of His Word – getting it at church or home devotions – sharing it with someone who needs God’s intervention.  Finally He tells us to knock and the door will be opened to you.  What a welcoming thought – to be standing at God’s door, gently tapping upon it and not having to wait a second before He’s right there inviting you into His kingdom. That’s the final treasure we’ll find in heaven.

This passage in the Bible is talking about our relationship with God, but it also applies to everything in life.  When God is present we can confidently pray and expect to be answered.  It may not be the answer we’d choose, but He knows what’s best for us.  Knock on that door – opportunity of a lifetime is waiting.

 

 

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SEPTEMBER THOUGHTS

Posted on September 1, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The sands of time embraced me and I suddenly was old,

My heart still longs for paradise, along the winding road,

It will be like nothing I’ve ever experienced in this lifetime,

It will take my breath away,

Yet I my lungs will be filled with fresh air,

There will be no tears,

No pain,

No anxiety,

No fear,

No temptation,

No want,

Only perfection,

The weathered and leathered skin will again be supple and firm,

The aching joints will regain their strength and last forever,

The brittle bones will be replaced with new,

My memory will return,

My mind will be clear,

Any disease that has infected my body will be eliminated,

I will appear guiltless before my Judge,

What an awe inspiring adventure awaits me!

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HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD

Posted on August 31, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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In 1999, an adventure/horror movie called “The Mummy” hit the big screen and we were witness to the dead coming back to life – embalming garb and all.  Flesh began to cover near skeletal bodies – muscle replaced withered flesh – blood flowed through lifeless creatures once more and it scared the heck out of us.

There’s a similar story in the book of the prophet Ezekiel.  His vision of a field of dead bodies inspired by God was returned to flesh and blood.  God’s breath brought new life from death.  This part of the Bible is one of those seemingly impossible stories, but it certainly gives us a clear image of how God can restore life.

The people of Israel had a long history of being held in captivity.  They often became slaves to the religion and culture of their captors as well.  This example of God’s restoration is to assure us that we’ll receive new life, even when our bodies have been broken and carry no life at all.

Are you in a point right now where you feel there’s no hope?  Do you struggle with a severe illness or disability?  Is your pattern of existence a day to day battle to simply get by?  Are you in a broken relationship?  Have you gone a long time without a job?  Do you live with addiction or abuse?

God doesn’t promise a life without problems.  In fact, when man separated himself from God by his disobedience, we all became inheritors of sin, but God, in that very moment of betrayal, provided a way out for us.  The promise was a Savior who would bring eternal life to those who follow Him.

We’re all broken, but there is hope for everyone.  That promise God made so long ago still lives today, just as we’ll someday live again with perfect bodies – with no pain – no sorrow – no sin.

NOW HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on August 31, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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THE OLD HOUSEBOAT

Posted on August 31, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

ORIGINALLY POSTED 8/31/2015

The old houseboat still maintained a look of elegance,

Even though paint was chipped and faded,

The bough slightly battered from a constant,

relationship with the shoreline,

She sat quietly moored under wispy tree,

Softly caressing the disintegrating pier,

How many years had passed since her maiden voyage?

How many months had slipped by,

Since she cut stealthily through the strong current?

She sits untouched – idle – lonely – forgotten – devoid of life,

Oh that the walls could speak and tell us of the days gone by,

The parties, the celebrations, the intimate, secret rendezvous,

Promises made and vows broken,

Lives changed for just a fleeting moment,

As she carried them downstream,

Washing their troubles away,

Was the life sucked from her when those who lived there,

Didn’t return,

Abandoned her,

Leaving her to fend for herself,

Did she die when they did,

We’ll never know.

Only that she kisses the shoreline now,

Instead of the waves.

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MIRACLES

Posted on August 29, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

God lifts the hawk into the sky with wind beneath his wings,

The talons are poised and ready, within him his heart sings,

If God can guide the mighty hawk, through perils on its way,

And lead him to a tasty meal, providing every day,

If God can conquer gravity, and send the birds to soar,

We simply can not imagine, the gifts He has in store,

For every single one of us, He’s eager to provide,

A huge banquet feast awaits us, beyond the other side,

His miracles are certainties when we expect each one,

You’ll see them in the mountain side, at each new rising sun,

You’ll see them in a child’s first steps, or when he leaves the nest,

Whatever God has planned for you, it’s always for the best.

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EXPECT MIRACLES

Posted on August 29, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

MIRA

As we push through life we can see miracles occurring all around us. They might happen at the right time – they’re answered prayers – they encourage us to go on – they give us something to look forward to.  The greatest miracle of all was the promise fulfilled by God Himself as His Son took the sins of everyone to the cross.  He suffered for us.  He died for us.  He rose again to show us that we will also rise from death.  He did this once for all.

Because God is so in love with us, He demonstrated that passion through His forgiveness.  Everything about our Savior is a miracle, from the immaculate conception to His victory dance before the devil as He conquered death, sin and guilt.  As we look forward to our own rebirth into a place covered with God’s love, we can be assured of miracles happening constantlhy.

To realize a miracle, we must first believe they exist.  Faith is the necessary component – just as our faith in Christ, Jesus.  So while we live, whatever hopes and dreams we have, if we pray for God’s will to be done – we know that miracles will happen.  We may have to look for them.  Sometimes they’re clouded by pain, fear or loss, but they’re there.

God is working out a plan for each individual life and He knows what He’s doing.  He loves us with an unconditional love.  He gifts us with salvation.  He walks with us through life.  He raises us to eternity.  The twists and turns we encounter are merely His way of getting us back on track.

Some might ask why He doesn’t answer their prayers  – especially when they have no hope.  They wonder when the testing will be done.  They ask why miracles don’t happen to them.  They wonder why they aren’t included.  They don’t understand why they can’t cut a break.  To those who don’t believe in God’s providence, they may never know that miracles are a part of every day.

This isn’t another fairy tale which tells us to believe that everything will turn out good.  Miracles happen – often when we least expect them.  Look for them – believe in them – expect them and share them.  When we were children our innocent faith allowed God into our hearts.  Let that childlike faith return as you look at miracles as part of God’s plan for your journey.

“What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles; it was a miraculous world.”
― G. K. Chesterton  

 

 

 

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