I LOVE A PARADE!
Just a few days ago, we celebrated the birth of our nation in our new home town of Anoka, Minnesota. When we moved here last fall, we also moved to a new church so that we could attend services with our daughter and her daughter. Since that time, our granddaughter has been confirmed in her baptismal faith and we’ve grown even closer as a family.
Today, our church home town of Andover, Minnesota will participate in an old fashioned parade with floats and marching bands and treats being handed out to the crowds of children. So, we’re going to be riding atop our church’s float. The float has a western theme because our one day vacation Bible school also has this theme. By being a part of this event, we’ll be inviting children to attend VBS and their families to come and see what our church is all about.
I’ve never been on a float before. I’ve been involved in building them though. When I was in high school we created some of the most amazing floats you’ve ever seen (at least we thought we did) out of crepe paper and chicken wire. Since my class had an abundance of artistic and creative kids, you were never quite sure what the float had to do with the celebration, but they definitely were different.
As we’re becoming acquainted with a new town in our new “old” house, we’re also becoming a part of a new church family. This has always been the way for us. Whenever we’ve made a move from one town to another, we’ve also changed churches.
This church is lots smaller than the one we left, but we feel there’s a place for us here. God has work to be done everywhere and we’re glad to be a part of building His kingdom. Who knows who we’ll meet today? Just pray that I don’t fall off the float!
Posted in Christian devotions, church, Family, Uncategorized
Tagged encouragement, FAMILY, home town, Inspiration, nostalgia, oarades
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WHAT IF …
Repost from 7/8/16
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
What if humanity was more like the animal kingdom,
Carefree and unconcerned about where to find their next meal,
What if we lived in harmony without prejudice, violence, hatred,
What if our leaders really cared about those they lead,
What if the people once again had confidence in them,
What if our true leader were to come to earth again,
What would His thoughts be about the state of this world,
Would He accept what we’ve become,
Would He forgive what we’ve done,
Would He sentence all humanity to eternity in hell,
What if we were just like the animals?
What if our minds weren’t so full of thoughts, hopes, dreams,
What if we had become so full of hatred, violence and sin,
That God stopped loving us,
What if God never sent His Son to save us,
We’d be no different than the beasts of the field.
SILENCE!
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” Mother Teresa
“The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.” Charlotte Bronte
The idea of silence being golden is true on so many levels. When we are in the midst of an argument and suddenly become absolutely silent, the power of that moment can be immense. When we keep silent about something that can change the way people think, we’re withholding a great treasure. When we are silent as someone else pours out their heart to us, we are being empathetic and encouraging. When silence becomes a tool to become more powerful, it is a waste of precious energy.
God tells us to be still and recognize that He is God. When all the prayers have already been said and there is no visible answer it’s hard to remain silent. We feel we should step in and do something to force the issue. Silence is a great commodity when turned over to God and His amazing power.
With each prayer, we should be assured that the prayer will be answered. God does that all for us. He tells us to be quiet and let Him do what He does. That means, our input is no longer needed. It’s now in the hands of the One who created the universe.
Lord, today remind me that you are in control of all things that occur in my life. You’ve got my back and I am confident that you will lead me in the right direction. Help me to place my complete trust in you and to be still. Amen!
Posted in Christian daily devotion, God, prayer, Uncategorized
Tagged encouragement, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Peace, prayer, silence
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TODAY YOU ARE TWENTY TWO
Where did the years go? It seems only yesterday that you and I were playing drums with the pots and pans and you were chasing the dog around the table. You – the first of my grandchildren – the brainy one, the serious one, the dedicated, structured, play by the rules one.
We always expect the most from the first – the first time we encounter a change in our lives – the first words out of our mouths – the first date – the first job – the first kiss. God gives us a whole lists of firsts to greet each and every day. Finding the balance is the hard part. Expecting too much from those first times can lead to high expectations, but also allows us to reach for the stars.
You are now a man – not the little boy anymore – but I still treasure so many of your growing up moments. When you first discovered the bugs living under a rock and how upset you got when I stepped on one of them. Your compassion for that bug should’ve been a clue as to the man you’d some day become. There were the laughs we shared, the disappointments, changes, goals accomplished, hopes and dreams, all things that helped to shape you into who you are now.
You’ve been blessed with wonderful parents, who love you and have always given you an opportunity to grow in your faith and trust in the Lord for all things. Your love for Him is so evident in all that you do. I pray that you will continue to depend on Him as the guide for each event that carries you through life. With Him at your side, you can’t lose.
You are at a point now, where you will soon be making career choices and life changing decisions will be almost a daily occurrence. I am confident that you are on the right path. There will be many more “firsts” coming your way. Embrace them, greet them with high expectations, allow them to continue to shape you. You are God’s child and you are loved by many.
Happy birthday, Jordan!
Posted in Christian daily devotion, Family, Uncategorized
Tagged encouragement, FAITH, grandchildren, growing up, Inspiration, manhood, trust in God
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WHY ME?
Everything that happens in our lives is for a purpose. The purpose isn’t always made known to us, but if you believe in an all knowing, ever present and all powerful God, you can be confident that He has your best interests always at the forefront.
No matter what your age, you can find great comfort in the fact that God is always in control. Even when we think we know better than He does, He’s still patient with us. He continues to put up with our defiant behavior. He allows us to make mistakes, yet He’s there to pick us up when we fail.
We may have convinced ourselves that we’re the only ones who have ever gone through difficult times. We feel that God has something against us and isn’t listening to our prayers anyway. This is when we need Him the most.
If you spend just a few minutes every day, you’re sure to find at least one miracle in your life. How about the weather? How about the beautiful children you’ve created? How about the roof over your head? How about a spouse that loves you? How about a God that has sacrificed everything for you?
The flashy movie kind of miracles don’t always happen, but if we search hard enough, we can find those too. How about the Christmas bonus you received just in time to buy Christmas gifts for your children? How about the storm that skirted just past your house and saved you thousands of dollars in repairs? How about the hyper-active child who discovered they could channel their energy into music, art or drama?
When you feel like the world is collapsing in on you, when you can’t seem to pull yourself out of depression, when things are spinning out of control, turn to God. His power will calm even the vilest storm. His mercy will be showered on you. His consistency will give you hope. His love will never fail.
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IN SEARCH OF …
There are so many classic lines in the movie, “Monty Python’s In Search of the Holy Grail,” like the one shown above. The movie consists mainly of gallows humor, but for some strange reason, I find it funny. The fear of facing into difficult decisions, situations or simply living can stifle us in so many ways and that isn’t funny.
Many of us find it easier to run away from danger than to face it. Some of us simply don’t have the courage or the backbone to confront difficult situations. There are those who feel that running from a tough situation is a way of not having to cope with it. It also takes courage not to run away.
When I was a child, I ran away from home at least five times, before I was ten. I thought that by leaving, my parents would really miss me and whatever it was that caused me to run would be resolved. Of course I always came back after walking around the block once. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was totally dependent on them. It got to be a joke in a way. “Oh, Kathy’s leaving again. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush.”
I always thought it would be great to run away and join the circus too. I’d dream of being a great circus star and making millions as a trapeze artist. I have since become aware that circuses are a thing of the past and there isn’t much money involved. In addition, I’m terrified of heights.
When I became an adult, there were times I wanted to run away – from the responsibilities of life, the financial issues, the arguments, the fear of failure, the challenges of parenting, meeting a deadline. Life isn’t easy. There are moments when we all feel like we want to run away. Unfortunately we aren’t always taught how to cope with the obstacles that we might run into.
Now that I’m in my “senior” years, I wish I could retreat to my youth. I wish I had done things differently and I didn’t have to face a life of depending on others or failing health. The truth is we can’t run away from life. There will be difficulties. There will be pain. Things won’t always go as we want them to.
Psalm 139:7-10 shows us that we can’t run away from our Creator.
” Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Realizing that God is with us in every aspect of our lives might frighten us. When we become aware of what’s going on inside of us, we soon realize we aren’t living upright lives. We aren’t following His commandments. We aren’t living up to God’s expectations? We can’t fulfill God’s expectations for our lives alone.
God as our judge, but He’s also the One who provides perfect justice, even though we don’t deserve it. He gave the greatest gift to all men when He sacrificed His own Son for the redemption of us all. The words of this Psalm show us that God is also our protection.
Don’t run away from Him. Run to Him!
Posted in armor of God, Christian devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged Anxiety, encouragement, FAITH, hiding, Inspiration
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GOD’S PROVISION
Last night, fireworks were at their peak, but were nothing compared to the glorious show God provided afterwards. A beautiful light show filled the sky as refreshing rains fell throughout the evening to cleanse the effects of a dreadfully hot day.
It’s been hot all week. In Minnesota anything more than a couple of days in the 90’s is considered a heat wave. We have extremes here in the Tundra, but it always amazes me how God provides for all of His creation even when the weather is unbearable.
The birds can still find water to refresh themselves, and food to sustain them. The animals are given the ability to find places to rest and hide during extreme temperatures. If God takes care of these creatures by giving them what they need, how much more will He look after the ones He created in His image.
There are days when I think there will be no end to the waiting, or no relief from fear or anger. I try to figure things out myself and don’t rely on the only one who can really take care of me.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for providing for all my needs in good times and in bad, in fair or bad weather. I know that I can count on you to provide for me and give me the true rest that comes only from your loving hands. I praise you for your bounty. Amen!
Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, creation, Uncategorized
Tagged COMFORT, encouragement, FAITH, God's provision, Inspiration, relief, storms
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GOD BLESS OUR NATIVE LAND
ORIGINAL ART PAINTED PLEIN AIR AT AN 1800’S RENDEZVOUS BY PAUL BOECHER©
“It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being, and we therefore yield to our neighbors, even to our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves to inhabit this vast land.” Sitting Bull
As an American, I am proud to call the United States my home. Not simply because of the freedoms we have grown too accustomed to, but also for the fact that this nation is a compilation of many nations.
I’ve been told that I may have an ounce of native American blood flowing in my veins. I wouldn’t be surprised, because I have just about every other kind. Maybe I should have my DNA tested by Ancestry.com. My heritage includes Irish, English, Swedish, French and German. I guess you could say I’m made up of a whole conglomeration of countries.
If I do, in fact have native blood, I would be even more proud to call myself an American. Without the original natives, our country would never have come to be. They were there when the first pilgrims landed and set up a colony. They were there to guide newcomers across unknown territories and teach them to track and kill game for their provision. They were willing to share their lands with them.
We are a nation of many cultures – many origins – many beliefs and backgrounds. When the founders wrote the Constitution, they knew that many more would come and that document would have to allow for all of that. Our founders had a strong commitment to the truth that all men are created equal and should have equal rights under the law.
As we celebrate this special birthday of our nation, we should recall our own heritage and how each one has played a part in the blending of what we now have. God bless our country – a coming together of many and the unity of all.GO
Posted in 4th of July, art, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged 4th of July, America, Art, encouragement, Inspiration, Patriotism, Unity
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MY COUNTRY ‘TIS OF THEE
My country tis of thee – who is the “thee” referred to in this song? Read the lyrics and you’ll see that it is God. Somehow, God has gotten placed in the background somewhere and we’ve forgotten to give Him the honor due Him.
Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in 1831, only 55 years after the Declaration of Independence had been signed. Marian Anderson performed the song at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Martin Luther King, Jr. recited the first verse of the song toward the end of his famous, “I Have A Dream” speech at the same location, on August 28, 1963. Crosby, Stills & Nash performed the song on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The song has raised a patriotic fervor whenever sung. Maybe we should start singing it at the beginning of every day. The words continue to instill hope when we realize that God is really the founder of our nation. His miraculous intervention with the events leading up to our independence were apparent, as a ragtag army of everyday men went up against the most powerful nation in the world.
That small group grew into a great nation itself, and though it has problems of its own, it remains the best country, where freedom continues to ring.
- 1
- My country, ’tis of thee,
- Sweet land of liberty,
- Of thee I sing;
- Land where my fathers died,
- Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
- From ev’ry mountainside
- Let freedom ring!
- 2
- My native country, thee,
- Land of the noble free,
- Thy name I love;
- I love thy rocks and rills,
- Thy woods and templed hills;
- My heart with rapture thrills,
- Like that above.
- 3
- Let music swell the breeze,
- And ring from all the trees
- Sweet freedom’s song;
- Let mortal tongues awake;
- Let all that breathe partake;
- Let rocks their silence break,
- The sound prolong.
- 4
- Our fathers’ God to Thee,
- Author of liberty,
- To Thee we sing.
- Long may our land be bright,
- With freedom’s holy light,
- Protect us by Thy might,
- Great God our King.
So as we don our red, white and blue today, let’s never forget the One who purchased our freedom from sin – Jesus, Christ. Because of our God, our country has remained strong. As soon as we return to His ways, we will once again be blessed as a nation.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Posted in 4th of July, America, Christian devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged 4th of July, America, Country, encouragement, Freedom, God, Inspiration, Patriotism
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BRING ON THE FIREWORKS
Soon it will be time to get out the fireworks, set your lawn chair alongside the road and wait for the parade to pass by, to cheer and celebrate, but how many of us really know the reason we’re so happy?
Patriotism or love of country has dwindled somewhat in the United States. It seems only yesterday that we would decorate our bicycles with red, white and blue crepe paper; we’d line the streets to watch parades; our hearts would swell with pride when the flag was displayed.
I know that God has been a part of our country since its inception. Christian men signed the Declaration of Independance which begins with this sentence penned by Thomas Jefferson:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
This set the precedent for the “American Dream.” It nurtured the notion that success comes from hard work, the sweat of the brow and tears of disappointment – but it also contains the notion of never giving up. Somehow, over America’s short history, that dream has turned into a nightmare. We are a nation of many people – from many nations –from different governments, different cultures, different backgrounds – but with the same hopes for a new start in the land that offers so much to so many.
I remember feeling my heart beat with excitement along with the drums traversing down the street in perfect syncopation. The 4th of July was a special day, because it reminded us of our freedom – free to worship as we please – to speak our minds – to govern ourselves – to live as brothers with those who choose to live and work here.
We all crave freedom. We want the comfort of not living in fear. We desire the security of protection. We long for the hope of peace and contentment. We need to rekindle the pride that our founders had when they signed that amazing document. Our nation is worth so much to us as Americans. There is no other country on earth that allows so much freedom.
As we approach this National day of celebration, we should do as John Adams suggested many years ago.
“…It ought to be commemorated as a day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bell, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
The signers of that document set a precedent that has lived for over 200 years. Those who have fought for our country have shed their blood for her. She is worth the fight. Thank God for allowing us to flourish and may He continue to bless our nation and restore our honor for her.
Posted in America, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged 4th of July, America, Freedom, Hope, Optimism, Patriotism
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