LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS

Posted on September 25, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL T. & KATHY BOECHER©

Last night as we drove home from the country, I half expected to have a deer jump out into the darkened roads.  The sun goes down much earlier now and deer have been known to be more than a little distracted this time of year.

It got me thinking about how distraught we can become by the cares and problems of life.  Even when things seem to be moving along smoothly, something smacks you right between the eyes without your ever realizing it was coming.  Times like that can come out of nowhere and change your whole way of thinking – steal your joy – cause you to fret – and as you become older, those things can even take your very life.

Us old fogies like to think as little as possible.  Our brains are full of years of useless information and we much prefer not adding too much more to the mix.  Our joy can easily dwindle since it seems to take more energy to be happy than to grumble.  We also have a habit of worrying about things that really don’t matter.

However, whatever the age,  we should put things into  perspective and when cruddy stuff happens, we should be like the proverbial duck that sheds trouble like water off his back.  Fortunately, as Christians, we’re invited to lay our cares at the feet of Jesus and He will carry our burdens.  I’d say that’s a lot easier than trying to figure things out alone.  He has taken our sin to the cross, buried it in the grave and given us new life through His resurrection.

With news like that, we can leap like a deer and overcome all obstacles – and God even provides the means for us to do so.

 

 

 

Posted in art, Christian daily devotion, Inspiration, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WAG THE DOG

Posted on September 24, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

A POST FROM MY ARCHIVES A COUPLE YEARS OLD, BUT STILL PERTINENT TODAY

In 1997 a film was released which was filled with espionage, media hype, a war, a scandal, a movie producer with exceptional PR skills and lots of things that eventually came true. It was right before the Clinton-Lewinsky incident. The movie was an interesting story intended to be comedic, but it stirred the imaginations of many conspiracy theorists.

Could such a plot be unfolding right before our very eyes? The President’s ratings go down and there is another crisis to handle. The Congress has pretty much lost the confidence of its employers (us) and the Senate seems to have totally forgotten who they work for.

Rahm Emanuel quoted this early in our current administration’s beginnings.

“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

Another movie, “the Manchurian Candidate” also dealt with the possibility of a Vice President being groomed by the Manchurian Global Corporation. The man’s mother basically sells her soul to the devil to make this happen. The plan is that once he’s elected, an assassination attempt will be made on the president, thus giving the job over to the son. The main plot is a global takeover by the Communist regime.

These stories can make us wonder just how much of this stuff is true.

Our world is and will be in constant turmoil until the Day of Judgment, but we must never lose sight of the fact that God remains in control. If we continue to trust Him, we can be assured of a great outcome.

Lord, our world seems to be imploding. We see signs of end times each day. The ugliness of sin has inhabited every civilization. We turn to you in prayer, to bring comfort to all who suffer and are being persecuted. We pray for those who are starving and diseased. Protect them with your caring hands.  Strengthen us through your Holy Word.  Amen!

Posted in Christian daily devotion, God, politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!

Posted on September 24, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

We’ve had our share of rain this past week in Lake Woebegone – or at least in the surrounding areas of Minnesota.  As we pray that none of it seeps into our now “sold” house, nor into the one we are about to move into, many have not been as fortunate.

Storms can cause inconvenience, loss of electrical service, downed trees and destruction beyond measure, and when floods are involved – loss of life, property and life savings can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

We all face storms day by day.  Perhaps the money isn’t there for your next rent payment, or you’ve lost your job or received news of a life threatening disease.  Maybe your spouse has left you or your family has deserted you.  You may be facing physical, spiritual or mental issues.

Whatever storms we have, we can thank God for not giving us more than we can endure.   He knows us so well that even the difficulties we face each day can be handled, if we lay them on His shoulders.

Job’s flood came when he lost all his material assets, his livestock and home, his wealth and his children.  Even his body began to deteriorate.  We aren’t told how long his suffering lasted, but to hear his story, we know that it seemed like an eternity.  Still he was able to declare God’s love for him when he stated,

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.   And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  My heart faints within me!” Job 19:25-27

Job’s confidence can be ours too when we trust in God’s amazing plan for our future now and in eternity.  He’ll never give us more than we can handle and when we reach the breaking point, Hell provide a way out for us.  He promised!

Posted in Christian daily devotion, Faith, storms, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

PURE LOVE

Posted on September 23, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

When we give something of ourselves to benefit others, God tells us to do it with a loving heart. If there is any malice in the doing or giving, we aren’t doing it His way. His love is an example for us, but we can never really love like He does.

Our old sinful nature always gets in the way of the pure love we start with, and often turns sour. There can be personality clashes, differences in how to do things, high expectations and low results, and much more.

These are merely tools the devil uses to turn us away from that pure love of God to the tainted and perverted love that Satan offers. In his deception he can make us feel bruised, used and abused. 

Why does God allow the devil so much power over us? Once we are God’s children, aren’t we supposed to be free of those feelings?   God doesn’t want us to be tempted, but He gives us a free will, which allows us to choose.

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Lord, help me keep things in perspective. You have control over everything in my life and without you in it, I am nothing. Help me to be reminded of your love for me. Help me in turn love others with a small measure of that love.  Amen!

Posted in Christian daily devotion, Inspiration, love, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

GROWING OLDER

Posted on September 22, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART BY PAUL T. BOECHER©

For the past two years I’ve gradually been losing my hearing.  My kids no longer bother to call me on the phone, because I can’t hear them anyway. Texting has become our MO lately.  Recently, my husband has had a plugged ear and is experiencing much of the same issues I’ve been going through.  Our conversations over the past weeks have been interesting to say the least.

My doctor tells me that working with young children for so many years, could be the cause of this hearing loss.  Sometimes it might just be a convenient excuse not to listen to the chaos and noise of those same young children.  I’ve heard a lot about the inconvenience and the getting used to hearing aids, so am not too eager to try them.

When any of your senses begin to fade, it’s just another reminder that we’re getting that much closer to the grave.  To buy a hearing, you have to take out a loan and mortgage your first born child, so I have continued to ask people to repeat themselves over and over.  Maybe I should invest in one of those old fashioned ear horns to take the place of those expensive electronic devices.  In fact, I’ll bet my husband could craft some matching ones for us.  While I continue to wait for that to happen, I’ll continue to say “Huh?” repetitively.

 

Posted in aging, art, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

WACKY HOLIDAYS

Posted on September 22, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

Today is the official start of autumn.  It also happens to be Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day and Business Women’s Day.  If that’s not enough for you, you might prefer to celebrate White Chocolate Day, Ice Cream Cone Day, Dear Diary Day or World Car Free Day.  I’m not quite sure where these bizarre holidays come from, but they can be great fodder for blogging, when nothing else comes to mind.

I love autumn so this particular signals the beginning of refreshment for me.  Those hot, sweaty days of summer are gone and we can pull out the flannel shirts and jackets once more. Of course, most of mine are already packed for moving and sitting under stacks of other boxes within our garage.  Come mid October, I may be able to access them again.  While waiting, I’ll pray that the first winter snow storm holds off until at least October 16th.  I have no idea where my mittens are.

In the meantime, I can go hug an elephant, (if I can locate one on the streets of Minneapolis) buy an ice cream cone, leave the car at home and write in my diary about all the business women who have chowed down on white chocolate and transformed into hobbits.

Instead I will turn my thoughts to packing more boxes and getting organized before the final moving day – whenever that may be.  Did I mention that the entire home selling and buying routine is a pain in the neck?  I’m sure my readers are as tired of hearing about it as I am.  I’ll be very glad when it’s over.  Put that in your diary, Kathy Boecher.

 

 

Posted in humility, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

NOTE TO YOUNG AND OLD

Posted on September 21, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

 PROVERBS 2:29  “The glory of young men is their strength,
    but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.”

I’ve talked about how important it is for kids to know they have value.  The same is true for us old fogeys.  I think we forget that somewhere in middle age, because we’re so busy building a life – raising a family – making time for everything that has to be done.  When we’re on the outer edges of life (beginning and end) we tend to lose faith in our abilities.

I have a concern for our teens and their gnawing desire at times to end their existence because they just can’t take it anymore.  Life can be overwhelming when you’re going from one stage in life to another.  The same is true for us seniors as we see our lives melting away, our strength being sapped, our dependence on others for help, etc.  Heaven looks pretty good to most of us.  We’re promised a place of no more pain, no more sadness, no fear – only joy.  I guess even kids who grow up in Christian families with strong Christian values sometimes find this world a tough place to live in and the emphasis placed on Heaven can make the thought of being there even more enticing.

The devil has a way of twisting God’s truth.  He wants us to believe that we’re worthless – that either we aren’t capable of a good life or we’ve worn out our usefulness in it.  He also wants us to believe that death is the only answer and if we end our lives we will have eternal bliss. He makes the thought of heavenly bliss seem so much better than this life.   This is one of Satan’s biggest lies and it destroys lives every day.

WE CAN’T LET THE DEVIL DECEIVE US IN THIS WAY!

Our lives have a purpose no matter what our age.  Young and old alike still have a lot to do.  We need to join hands and work together to accomplish them.  With God at our side we can do great things.  The young can bring enthusiasm to their elders – they can help them with the physical things they can’t do anymore – they can learn from their elder’s years of experience.  The old can give back some of their knowledge and wisdom though mentoring – they can advise on career paths – they can encourage and build up their younger counterparts by helping them realize their potential and worth.

There is so much work yet to be done in this world.  It  seems the evil in this world is well on its way to overtaking the good, but our God is more powerful than anything the world has to dish out.  He is our fortress, our strength and our protector.  Put your faith in Him – not in yourself – not in the ways of this world.  If you walk in His ways, He will give you a life with abundant joy.  What is to come in heaven is the ultimate bonus – not an excuse for us to walk away from what God has planned for us.

Posted in aging, Christian daily devotion, Religion, social issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

HARVEST TIME

Posted on September 20, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Our world is a mess.  Life has little meaning anymore.  Terror strikes fear into the minds of all.  We worry and fret over who are leaders will be.  Church attendance is at an all time low and humanity puts its trust in themselves rather than others or God.  We may even think there is no hope for the world.

Take heart, dear Christians.  It’s harvest time and the fields are ripe.  September is half over and soon all the beauty of fall will be swept over with a white coating of snow.  Is there time to do the work?  Are we up to it?  The seeds have been planted and now we must begin the hard work of reaping what has been sown before it’s too late.

Now more than ever, our world needs to hear about their Creator, their Redeemer and their Comforter.  We can’t accomplish this great task without God.  We can plant the seeds, but He’s the One who changes hearts and minds.  Our obligation is to lay the ground work of the Gospel message, live by Christ’s perfect example, nurture and watch it grow.  God will bring forth the fruit.

We should never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit.  Often we egotistically believe that we are the ones making a difference in someone’s life, but we are simply the sowers of seeds.  The Spirit is the One who brings the seeds alive and inspires a new life in the souls of men.

Today is the beginning of the harvest.  Have you planted any seeds lately?

 

 

Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

GOING HOME

Posted on September 19, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL AND KATHY BOECHER©

A little house is all we need to knit our lives with love,

A place where we can simplify, with God’s help from above,

He found this place just for us, prepared it with His hand,

A home that’s stood the test of time and firmly it does stand,

We know that it’s by God’s design and He will live there too,

Where ever He does lead us, He’ll also see us through,

His presence always will be felt, with us He will reside,

He’ll guide us through the rest of life and stay right at our side,

And when our final days draw near, He’ll linger with us too,

And take us to His throne on high, where promises come true.

 

 

 

 

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

RE-ENACTED

Posted on September 18, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART BY PAUL T. BOECHER©

My husband, among other things, is an 1800s artist re-enactor.  He loves the 1800s time period and the rugged lifestyle that went along with it.  The artists of that era, were the media of today.  Not only did they create beautiful works of art, they traveled with explorers to unexplored lands.  They also photographed with their paint palette and canvas.  The original plein air painters of America.  Through their paintings, we have a recorded history of how people lived, where they walked and what they did.

Times change daily for us and lately we’ve seen a lot of change.  This year Paul was unable to attend a re-enactment that he performs in each year because of all this house chaos.  Sometimes we have to give things up in order to move forward.  This was one of those things.

For those of you going through any struggles at the present time, don’t forget that some of the most difficult times in our lives are evidence that God is working within us.  Someday we will look back at these troubles and see why we had to endure them.  Perhaps they are for us to help another going through the same difficulties.  Sometimes it’s simply to toughen us up for the next round.  All of the time, we can rest assured that God is in the midst of us, making us ready for eternity.

When we face the most perilous things in life – He is there.  When we suffer illness – He is there.  When financial matters invade every inch of our being – He is there.  When we receive blessings undeserved – He is there.

In all things, let us praise the Lord.  Let us give thanks even in times of change or adversity.  Help us, Lord, to be strengthened through your Word, and lifted up by the fellowship we receive in our church community.  Amen!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

ARE WE BRAINWASHING OUR CHILDREN?

Posted on September 18, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON ATIMETOSHARE.ME 9/22/15

Growing up in an old German congregation, where fire and brimstone was the fare of the day, it was hard to find a smiling face leaving that church. Conservative Lutherans are often accused of being too serious, but with a weekly dose of death and damnation, it was enough to literally scare the hell out of me.

I also grew up in a home which provided the correct amount of discipline, reproved with words – but an occasional spanking wasn’t out of the question. Children don’t come out of the womb perfectly prepared for life. They need to be given instruction on how to behave , they must be taught manners, good behavior and the correct way to relate to others.

When we raise our children, it’s necessary to provide those tools for them so they know how to fend for themselves in the real world. The same is true when we give our children Christian values as a foundation for life.

Kids usually balk at going to church. Kids don’t like discipline either. None of us like to be reproved, but both things are necessary if we’re to survive in a world of chaos, fear and daily peril. Many people feel that both of these areas of our child rearing are nothing more than scare tactics used to instill the fear of God into little minds. We were blessed to attend a baptism of twins today and the importance of baptism rang true again. Blessing these little ones with God’s holy presence within them is the best thing parents can do for their kids.

The words I heard from the pulpit of my childhood would help me realize my need for a Savior. My childhood home wasn’t all tied up in discipline. Most of it was motivated by love. The connection is obvious to me now.

When we train a child in the way of the Lord, we aren’t brainwashing them. We’re giving them valuable tools to get them through life.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

STOP THE INSANITY 

Posted on September 17, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

Another act of violence occurs daily shattering lives and injuring minds and hearts. 

I generally don’t like to take a political stand, but when our high government officials take a shot at gun control every time something like this happens, it’s hard for me to be quiet. 

I am not a gun slinger. The only time I fired a gun was when I shot a squirrel that was tampering with our bird feeder, and I felt tremendous guilt for a long time. 

 What really needs to be addressed is the behavior of people and how they settle their grievances, anger and problems.  Why must violent behavior erupt over menial issue? Have we diverted our attention so inward, that we can’t talk to each other anymore?

We hear of young teens taking their own life because of being bullied.  Words of thoughtless “friends” are the weapon for those senseless deaths.

We are all born with the ability to kill. It’s part of our sinful nature. We need to be taught to love and care for our fellow man. The best source for that education is the Bible. The precepts in that precious book tell us how to live and love our neighbor.

Someday there will be life without sin – free from evil and senseless behavior, but while we wait for heaven, let’s work on how our young people are taught to love, communicate and solve problems without violence.

It all starts within the involvement of loving parents and a solid relationship being established with the Creator and Redeemer of the world.

Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, God | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on STOP THE INSANITY 

TIME PASSAGES

Posted on September 16, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

It seems we spend most of our lives in a hurry.  s We often race through life without really taking time to enjoy it.

We’ve been in this quandary for so many years, it’s become habit.  Now we have the opportunity to spread our wings and fly.  We are moving into a smaller house – our expenses will be downsized along with our living space – our work load can now be lessened so that we can spend more quality time together.

This is why we got married so long ago.  We both shared the same hopes and dreams.   We learned to compromise when we thought we were individually right.  We grew together in our Christian faith.  We became more and more in love as time went by.

The last few months have been taxing to say the least.  We scoured our present house and eliminated a lot of memories from existence.  We said goodbye – finally – to things long outliving their usefulness.  We threw away and donated a ton of things, but we still encumbered with so many things. It’s amazing what one accumulates in a lifetime.

That in itself has been a heart wrenching experience.  We then moved the things we were going to keep, into the garage so we could have our house staged for showing.  Thankfully we were able to keep some of Paul’s wonderful art work on the walls.  We endured the in and out of the house routine, with dog in tow as people came to look at this house which now looked totally devoid of human habitation.  After much frustration we settled on an offer that went $20,000 under the list price. Not what we hoped for.

During this time, Paul had to have 5 teeth pulled, our dog pooped on the carpeting several times, I had a play to produce and a summer camp to prepare for.  There were a number of funerals and a couple of life threatening diseases continue to plague two dear friends.  The car gave up the ghost a couple of days ago.  I also lost the space I was using for my theater, so that business has been put on an indefinite hold.  We searched desperately for a new home and thought we might be living on the street for a while, when we finally found the one we made an offer on.

Monday we go through the inspection process on that house and pray that everything will be acceptable – then the appraisal and hopefully concurring closings on the same day.

It’s been more than a whirlwind of activity in our house, but I believe we’ve grown together even more through this process.  Did I mention that we’re old?  We’re still vital human beings and want to continue with our passion for the arts.  In the meantime we are learning to be patient, discerning and slow to anger.

Maybe in a month or two, I will slow down and wonder what all the fuss was about. MAYBE!

 

Posted in anxiety, Christian daily devotion, trust, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

THE CHASE

Posted on September 15, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The circle of life can seem cruel at times,
We’re pushed and chased by fear each day,

Either by people, circumstances, natural disaster, whatever,

Where do we turn when we just can’t cope,

Where do we hide when problems continue to bear down on us?

Who will rescue us?

God is our refuge and strength,

An ever present help in time of trouble,
He alone assures  us of protection,

Safety,

Confidence,

Defense against our enemies,

Even after death,

We know we have eternal life,

Thanks be to God,

He gives us the victory.

Posted in art, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

THE UGLY SIDE OF LIFE

Posted on September 12, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

Every day there is one shocking news story after another.  We’re bombarded by tales of inhumanity murder, greed, lust, idolatry, treacherous acts of violence and hatred.  Occasionally we’re treated to a “feel good” story, but it seems they’re few and far between.

What do we do about a society that seems to have run amok?  Some blame all this horror on the internet and the easy access to bizarre and disgusting behavior.  Some say the end of the world is coming soon.  Others believe our nation is on the verge of collapsing like the Ancient Roman Empire.

Solomon, in all his wisdom, knew that every act of depravity, lust and deceit were common since the beginning of the world.  He had innumerable wives, excessive wealth, power and was admired as the wisest man alive but still he realized that the only thing under the sun that mattered, was his salvation.  When all the diversions were cast aside, he remained a sinner, just like you and me.

Sin came into the world, not by God’s doing, but by man’s.  Both Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.  Eve, for being tempted into believing the devil’s lies and Adam for not taking a leadership role and refusing. Both of them desired to have the same knowledge that God possessed.

Sin is sin, no matter how small or how large.  Thanks be to God, He has provided victory over it, by offering His Son as the perfect sacrifice. We now have the opportunity to thank Him by serving Him and bringing others to Him.  Our world will always be corrupted by evil, but there is hope for another paradise that awaits us on the other side of the grave.

Posted in Christian daily devotion, Faith, sin, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

RAGING WATERS

Posted on September 10, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A mighty torrent of raging water gushes through the mountain passes,

Tumbling over granite,

Seeping through the tiniest cracks,

Forging a path of energy on its way,

Life hits us like that sometimes,

The waters come crashing around us in waves,

We think we will be overtaken by them,

We fear drowning,

It is then that God leads us to the still waters of His compassion,

He guides us through the perils of our existence,

He refreshes us when we’ve endured them,

He restores us through His mighty hand,

He holds us close in His tight embrace,

Lead us through this life, dear, Lord,

To pastures green,

Nourish us through your Word,

Lead by your great example,

And bring us home safely to You.

 

Posted in Christian daily devotion, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

TAGS

Posted on September 5, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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This familiar tag can  be found everywhere.  My mother did everything by the book and nearly had a heart attack when my husband ripped a tag off of a pillow.  She was certain  the police would be there in an instant to arrest him for disobeying the law.

The tags that come in clothing are annoying and thank goodness they’re now disappearing.  Tags often wind up on the outside, making everyone think you have your clothes on inside out.

Life is filled with tags and labels.  Unions put tags on things to assure the public that they’re purchasing a product which has been inspected and approved.  Labels can take the form of bullying, when used in a derogatory  way. When we park in a no parking zone, we get tagged.  Companies use branding to make their products familiar to the public and thus marketable.

I’ve had many labels attached to my name over the years, but no name compares to being a Christian.  It’s not a guarantee that you’ll have a life free from pain or sadness.  It isn’t protection against persecution or ridicule.  It doesn’t give you a “get to heaven free card.”

On the other hand, it saves you from the guilt of sin.  It gives you hope for the future and eternity.  It shields you from the slings and arrows the world throws at you.

Being a Christian also carries responsibility.  By claiming the name of Christ, means you obey His Word and commandments.  You love your neighbor as yourself and you share His amazing grace with others.  This label should be a reflection of what our Savior has done for us, not what we have done for ourselves.

Lord, make me an instrument of your Word. Amen!

Posted in Christian devotion, christianity, Jesus, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

GET ME OUT OF THIS!

Posted on September 3, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Some days,  I just want to scream and holler at God.  I want immediate answers to my prayers.  I pray that life would go smoother.  The nagging voice of the devil uses this weakness to tempt me into simply giving up.

I seem to be in the midst of death – watching people push through painful treatments for disabling and often tragic endings.  I live in a time when sin abounds and is seen as totally acceptable, simply because we’ve forgotten God’s  Commandments.  My country suffers under the weight of it.  Many are still unemployed, the economy is a mess and our leaders fill us with promises and never deliver.

There is the act of human sex trafficking.  Children and adults being sold into a different kind of slavery – yet something is driving the need for this – Sin.

Prostitution, drug addiction, murder, theft, rioting, looting, abortion, disregard for those who have been chosen to protect and serve, and corruption in some of those same protectors.

We’ve discovered, that anyone can be president – including those who know how to run a business, but have no experience in government.  A woman can become president – even though history has proven her inability to tell the truth.  Crimes that should be severely punished, not to mention her lack of value for human life.  So this election will make the history books in one way alright, but whatever happens, we can be it will be infiltrated with corruption.

Our only hope and sure defense against the sin of this world, is not political correctness, or acceptance of all kinds of behavior.  God is our refuge and strength.  So instead of throwing up my hands, as Satan would love to have me do,  I must daily remind myself that God wins in the end and so do I.

 

 

 

 

Posted in anxiety, armor of God, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

EVERY DAY HEROES

Posted on September 2, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

Every day heroes are those who think about others rather than themselves. They are the moms and dads who make sure their children have a better life than they did. There are teachers who devote their lives to helping young minds grow and learn. They are husbands that love their wives even when they grow old, and the wives who have shared in the good as well as bad times.  Every job has a purpose and God gave us the gift of labor so we could help each other.

Our country was founded on hard work and determination.  Men, women and children of all nationalities  cut down trees, blistered their hands, wore out their backs and knees and didn’t think twice about it.

Today we sit within the comfort of our own homes with fenced in yards.  Many don’t even know their neighbors, much less are they willing to help them.    Often we don’t ask for help, because of pride or becoming reliant on others to do things we should be able to do.

Every day heroes can also be those who get out of bed each day and aren’t afraid to claim the Good News of the Bible.  Some even travel to foreign lands and face persecution for it. A true hero doesn’t think about how good he’s going to be perceived for his deeds, he does them because God is working through him.

Help us all to be heroes for you, dear Lord.  Through your Son, we have received the greatest example of how to approach our daily tasks.  His servant attitude made him the greatest hero of all time.  Amen!.

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PRAYER FOR HEALING

Posted on August 31, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

The ugly “C” word has consumed my circle of friends lately.  My husband also has undergone treatment for this degenerating, disheartening malady.  I often wonder why God choses some to suffer through these things and others go unscathed.

When Job went through the devastation in his life, he had lost all his worldly goods, his children, his friends and his health.  He felt worthless and came to a point where he simply wanted his life to be over.  His friends weren’t much help with their words of “comfort.” They tried to understand what great sin he had committed to be so overwhelmed with trouble.

So often we blame ourselves when things look bad.  We wonder, as time and pain progresses, what we did to deserve this. We become devoured by our circumstances and it’s difficult to look beyond them.  Each day becomes a gift and yet our suffering or angst continues. At times like this, our only alternative is turn to our redeemer, just as Job did in the depths of his hopelessness.  Even though Christ had not yet come to the world, Job knew that He existed and that death would have no dominion over his faltering body.

How do you lift someone up who feels close to death, or is overwhelmed by the future?  My heart is aching for those friends of mine facing the upcoming treatments for their illness.  I wish there was something I could do to fix it, but as my husband says, “some things we just can’t fix.”

The only One who can heal bodies, lift hearts, restore waning faith, redeem sinful souls and give us eternal peace is Jesus – who suffered more than we will ever have to because of His great love for humanity.

Lord, dwell in the hearts of my friends and all who are going through painful difficulties.  Keep them strong in your promises and relieve the suffering they may endure.  In Jesus name, Amen!

 

 

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