NEVER GIVE UP

Posted on May 21, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

f726e2f34dd133eed91461ccad1e9862

We all experience our own hell as we walk through life.  Some days are worse than others – some are completely free of it – while others seem to hold absolutely no relief.  Winston Churchill spoke these words when in the midst of what seemed an unwinnable war, but they resonate for any circumstance we face in life.

Jesus, the true Son of God, Son of Man, faced off with the devil some two thousand years ago and defeated him.  His power has no hold on us anymore as long as we put our faith in our Savior.  We can even face the pangs of hell while here on earth and keep on pushing through with His help.

If you consider what our fate should have been, had Jesus not paid the ultimate price, the flames of damnation would have swallowed us up the minute we were born.  Our God loves us too much to allow that to happen.  He has clothed us in the fire proof garment of His Word and through it we can face the toughest challenges Satan throws our way.

We will face days that seem hopeless, times when life seems futile, hours when fear tempts us, minutes that suck the life out of us and seconds that frustrate us.  With God’s armor, we have the protection necessary to make it through the fire.

Don’t ever give up.  God as a plan for each second of our lives.  He is in control and He loves us more than we deserve.  With Him we can face even the scorching, flames of hell, because He has already won the victory.

Posted in armor of God, Christian daily devotion, Hell, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

FRIENDSHIP OUTREACH

Posted on May 20, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

Someone once told me that if you have something precious, and you don’t share it with others, you’re being selfish. That really makes sense, especially if you have a specific talent like singing, or writing or painting. If you keep it all to yourself, you are denying others the pleasure of having it in their lives too.

We, as Christians, have the greatest treasure in Jesus, Christ and because of the joy that message brings, we must not keep it to ourselves. In fact we are commissioned to get the Word out. This is a gift that must be shared not just with other Christians, but with those who are looking for answers in their lives. Everyone has something in their life that is causing pain or conflict.  Start listening to them, rather than talking about yourself.  It doesn’t take long to see where their needs lie.

In doing this, we aren’t be judgmental or Bible thumpers.  We’re merely trying to give them an antidote for their affliction.  Letting them know that Jesus is available for them shouldn’t be pushed on others.  It’s a gift from God Himself and more precious than any monetary gain.

Talk to your friends, your co-workers and even people you meet for the first time. You don’t have to bombard them with the story, but as your friendship grows, they will see that you have something special to share with them. Your joy will be contagious and the word will spread like wild fire.

Use me, Lord to show others the joy I have in my heart because of you. Amen!

Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, love, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

REUNITED

Posted on May 20, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

funny old people cartoons-6

We’ve been spending the last two days with my wonderful sister and her husband.  They’re both 5 years younger than us and their youthful spirit is much like the first couple in the above cartoon.  I am represented by the one in yellow, although she’s in a lot better shape than me.  The guy in the chair is my congenial husband.

I’ve been experiencing hearing loss for a couple years now and this disability has led to some interesting conversations within my family.  My husband has a creative mind, which moves from one subject to another quickly, so I have a hard time keeping up with him. Add to that, trying to decipher the words and make sense of them, has added a whole new dimension to how we communicate.

As we age, all sorts of different things happen to us.  We don’t move as quickly. We lose our flexibility.  We sag, we droop, we weary faster.  Our memories turn to the way long ago, but we can’t remember why we’re moving on a quest for who knows what, to another room.

Here we are in Nashville, TN, sharing some great time with my sister and her husband.  We’ve re-named by brother-in-law, for all the amenities he’s providing during our stay.  As he tends his garden, we call him Juan.  When he chauffeurs us on various tours, we call him Jeeves.  I’m certain we’ll come up with a name for all the bussing of tables he’s doing.  I wonder if any of that is politically correct.  Bruce has a wonderful business mind interspersed with a great sense of humor.

My sister remains vivacious and a constant source of laughter.  These are things I most admire in her.  Add to that, her beauty, poise and graciousness, she has become a real Southern belle over the years.

As I reflect on all the years that have passed between us, I can see similarities between us.  We’ve each had our struggles with raising children, challenges in careers and always a resolute spirit which keeps us connected.  Knit all of that together with God being at the head of our homes, is a perfect recipe for living.  I thank Him for making this reunion possible.

 

 

 

Posted in aging, Christian daily devotion, Family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 20, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

935213_585203338165327_260718340_n

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

GOODBYE, DEAR FRIEND

Posted on May 20, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

untitled

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Times of turmoil and confusion, peace may seem aloof or gone,

Yet the Lord of all creation,  stills the waters and the storm,

He will calm the rumbling seas, He can give relief from pain,

He can help you through all trouble, making loss into your gain,

You have trusted His compassion, and put  faith in Him alone,

He provided your salvation He  will take you safely home.

Posted in art, Chrstian daily devotions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on GOODBYE, DEAR FRIEND

ROAD WARRIORS

Posted on May 19, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

il_570xN_951825104_pqrc

We arrived safely in Nashville, TN last evening after two days of pretty intensive driving.  I guess we now qualify as road warriors.  Each day seemed to be filled with clouds, which made it easier to travel, but those clouds kept following and we kept pushing forward.  Puffy white clouds were voluminous and ominous against a landscape which coughed up dust, both in the fields and on the road.  Eventually the storms caught up with us, but because of perseverance, we missed the severe weather, but we couldn’t evade the heavy rain.

Life can be like a road trip. (I sound like Forrest Gump, don’t I?)  We travel along this road of living, not sure where the next road block or construction zone may occur.  We press on, because we know that the end of the trip is going to be worth it.  At times we encounter storms – sometimes big – other times bigger – but we know we must reach our destination, so we stop once in awhile.  We evaluate the situation.  We rest and renew while we’re in that desert moment, and pray that God will help us along the way.

Determination hasn’t been one of my strong suits, but my husband is a true road warrior.  He has no problem driving an eight hour stretch with a few stops for gas and other things.  I tend to get a little more tired, more frustrated and kind of a pain in the neck, but still I try my best to weather the storms. and remain positive.

God has promised to be with us in all our travels, our endeavors, our dreams, our failures, losses and gains.  All we need do is ask Him to come along for the ride.  Our final destination is worth the bumps in the road, when God rides with us, and oh what that destination will be!

Posted in aging, Christian daily devotion, marriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 19, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

547503_584810894871238_1331692985_n

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on May 19, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

jedi_master_220325

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 18, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

603594_584313411587653_88482903_n

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

ROAD TRIP!

Posted on May 17, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

2

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty had a great fall,

Instead of King’s horses and all of his men,

He took a log road trip.  He’s not been seen again.

Not exactly like the original, but my friend Julie got me to thinking with her post today about picking up the pieces.  All of our lives are filled with things that crack us, twist and turn us, make us feel as though we’ll never get up again.  Some days are worse than others.

I also read another post by Paige Givens which illustrated how hearts can easily become bruised, crumbled, bent out of shape and even when repaired, they are never the same.

We can allow these distractions to beat ourselves up – to put ourselves down – to wonder, why me – to give up, or we can use them to help us heal.  God knows all about our bruises and scars.  He made it possible for them to be erased.  I’m sure my two blogging friends will agree that life is not easy.  We suffer, we cry, we argue, we feel wounded, we struggle, we get angry, we fret and worry and all those emotions are natural, but God doesn’t want that for us.  He loves us too much to see us suffer.  Instead he erased all the cracks, the bumps and bruises, the mistakes, the failures, the sins and gave us a second chance.  What a blessing to know that we are given second chances every day.

For my family, there have been numerous deaths this year.  Each one of these loved ones carried a piece of me along with them.  My heart ached and wept for them.  So instead of selfishly feeling sorry for ourselves, we decided to proceed with a long awaited road trip.  We are confident that those departed loved ones are now enjoying the benefits of heaven.

It’s time for us to pick up the pieces – to flatten out the wrinkles – to begin to live again without sadness.  It’s time to laugh.   So Paul and I took off today for the big road trip.  We started out with talk about the route we’d take, which was already mapped out by Triple A.  We joked and started talking to each other as true Minnesotans, Lena and Ole.  We laughed.  I felt like we were on our honeymoon again.

In the past road trips have included frequent potty stops, food stops, more potty stops, singing camp songs, sightseeing, camping in the great outdoors, enjoying nature and by the end of the week equally joyful to return home. This trip feels different  It is kind of a release.

We aren’t done yet, but I have a good feeling about it.  Picking up the pieces is really easy if you let God put you back together again.  I’ll keep you posted on our fun vacation.

Posted in aging, anxiety, armor of God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 17, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

155670_582094918476169_954999521_n

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

THERE IS NO SHAME IN CRYING

Posted on May 16, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

sacred tears

What will heaven will be like?  Will we all be sitting on white puffy clouds singing and playing golden harps?  When someone we love departs this world, it’s natural for us to wonder.  As Christians, we have the joy of knowing  they’ve just moved into a perfect place where tears no longer exist.

But what about those who remain?  When a person has impacted so many people with her love for Christ, her willingness to serve and positive attitude, there are bound to be tears.  Tears of sadness, because we will miss having her in our lives.  Maybe a bit of selfishness causes us to resist letting go of this loved one, but I think it’s because they had such a strong connection with us.  Part of us is now missing and naturally we cry.

Our Savior, Jesus, experienced this same loss when His friend died.  He wept.  Tears can be filled with pain, hatred, scorn, fear, hopelessness or they can be enveloped in love,  friendship, relationships, hope, love and faith.  Each droplet allows us express our love for that person.  We’re not showing weakness, but a deep, unspeakable love.

When we know that God doesn’t fudge on His promises, we are assured that heaven is waiting for those who have repented and gone on to follow and serve the Lord.

The tears for me have been shed.  I wept for the potential loss of this wonderful person before she passed.  I cried for her diminishing body.  Tears fell for the thought of losing her.  I cried for the family that adored her. I wept as she suffered the devastation of cancer, but now I can rejoice, because I know her tears are over – even though ours will continue.

What will heaven be like?  We won’t know until we get there, but I believe that God has special things for us to do – things that we exceled at on this planet.  In my friend’s case, she was like Martha in her service to others.  She will undoubtedly be in charge of all the details of the banquet.  She’ll share her famous recipes, her caring nature, her love for Jesus, and her everlasting smile, which will now go on throughout eternity.

Posted in Christian daily devotion, death, life after death, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 16, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

547639_582003845151943_1079820217_n

AND ON THE WAY HOME I HIT A WRITER’S BLOCK.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

AROUND AND AROUND

Posted on May 16, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

6d32a042fbded1f0688d9a43ce42a422

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

When I feel alone and troubled,

By the cares of this world,

I turn to You,

When I think I can no longer endure,

The jabs and punches of life,

I turn to You,

When I’m tired and worn out,

By fear,

Hate,

Anger,

Greed,

I turn to You,

When I come to you in prayer,

And ask for your forgiveness,

You turn to me.

Posted in art, Christian daily devotion, repentance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

ANOTHER ANGEL IN HEAVEN

Posted on May 15, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

d2957bd6ebe3526e32ba979074c8711c

Today, my best friend went to heaven.  It’s been a long journey for her and her loving family as Cancer invaded her body and finally overcame her.  I wrote about this amazing friend a while ago.  She and her husband were the first people we became friends with when we moved to Minnesota.  That friendship has remained for over 44 years.

When you lose someone so close, a bit of your own heart dies with them.  Your life will never be the same without them. When God gives you the peace of eternal life, there is a lasting assurance for those who die – for life goes on.  What a joyous day for my Christian friend.  We can enter God’s realm, with no fear – just confidence.  He’s already bought us back from the clutches of the devil, the world and our own flesh.

To my best friend: My thoughts of you will always bring back wonderful memories. On this sad day, I am at peace knowing that your tired, broken, body has been renewed and perfected.  I know that you’ve taken your rightful place as an heir of heaven.  I’m confident also that we will meet again.  My prayers go out to your family and friends as we all mourn our loss, but rejoice in your gain.

Earlier today, I posted about second chances.  In life we have lots of them.  In death we won’t need anymore.  We will be completely free of sin.  We will soar with eagles.  We will meet our Lord, face to face.

Goodbye, my beautiful friend.  You’ve always been more than an inspiration to me.  You’ve taught me how to stand by your man – to be faithful, loving and kind – to reach out to others who are in need of comfort – to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation – to thank God in countless ways.  We’ve laughed and cried together.  We’ve experienced loss and regained hope together.  We’ve struggled through those tough parenting years.  We’ve grown together and have been knitted into the fabric of the body of Christ – together.

I love you, my best friend forever.

“Friends are the angels that lift us up when our wings have forgotten how to fly.”

Author Unknown

Posted in Body of Christ, Chrisian daily devotions, Friendship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

DO OVER DAYS

Posted on May 15, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

2nd chances - God_of_second_chances

I started last week with great enthusiasm.  I got out my garden tools and set about the task of pruning some dead branches.  In my enthusiasm, I pulled one back that had no intention of leaving its home, so it whacked me in the face.  I saw stars immediately and thought it was curtains for me.  The result was a huge shiner which is still visible.

Later in the week, while taking a bath, I reached for a wash cloth I’d left behind.  As I sat back down, the non-skid mat slid from under me and a slipped back into the water, knocking my already bruised head against the ceramic soap dish.  A huge bump ensued and again I thought this was my final swan song.

We often have days like that, which generally fall into the Murphy’s Law category.  As we age, the odds get even stronger. Every mishap is deemed a lack of control and a sign of growing older.

I forget simple things, especially when trying to multi-task, which I wasn’t particularly good at in the first place.  I leave one room on a quest for something and by the time I reach the next room, I’ve totally forgotten what I was going for.  Maybe it has something to do with all the head banging I’ve been inflicting on myself.

Every day is really a do over for most of us.  The start of a new week, gives us impetus to start over.  We think about starting a new diet – notice I said “think.” We plan to change our attitudes.  We strive to do better in school or in our jobs.

God has given us a second chance.  He gave it to us in the form of His only begotten Son, Jesus.  By paying the complete ransom for our sins, we now have a fresh start.  We can be confident that our fate is sealed – our sins forgiven – eternal life awaits.  The do over was done once for every human being.  Hang onto that good news and move into this week with new gusto.  God has watered the desert of our hearts with living water.  Time to quench your thirst and move on.

As you enter this new week, remember that He did this once for all.  The work is done and no matter how we goof up, He will always love us unconditionally.

 

Posted in aging, Christian daily devotion, Motivation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 15, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

602168_580009558684705_800030851_n

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

EVEN WHEN I’M OLD AND GREY

Posted on May 14, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

03c03f57b78cf00a9eb6e9f4d3677c7a (2)

ORIGINAL ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

 “God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”

Psalm 71:17-18

“Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Our God is worthy of our praise. He makes sure we get up in the morning, He provides a way for us to survive, He delivers us from those who would hurt us physically or verbally, He satisfies our needs and then some, He loves us, He protects us, He forgives us when we turn our backs on Him, He doesn’t remember our past or future sins because He has taken them away. He is always there for us when we feel down, when we need a friend, when we need encouragement or discipline. He hears our prayers and acts on them. In other words, God is everything. Whatever we do in this life is a reflection of Him and His amazing love for us. Praise the Lord!

sOur God is worthy of our praise, even though He doesn’t need it. He causes us to get up in the morning, He provides a way for us to survive, He delivers us from those who would hurt us physically or verbally, He satisfies our needs and then some, He loves us, He protects us, He forgives us when we turn our backs on Him, He doesn’t remember our past or future sins, because He’s taken them away. He’s always there for us when we feel down, when we need a friend, when we need encouragement or discipline. He hears our prayers and acts on them. In other words, God is everything. Whatever we do in this life is a reflection of Him and His amazing love for us.

PRAISE THE LORD, BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT!

 

Posted in aging, DAILY CHRISTIAN DEVOTION, Mother's day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on May 14, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

936955_585169928168668_1937265220_n

LIFE WITHOUT APOSTROPHES.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on WRITERS’ FUNNIES

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Posted on May 14, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

10805685_4731945153628_3188907988113569784_n

 

Posted in Mother's day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY