ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Your Word, Lord, is perfect. Its teachings are true,
By faith we accept it, not by what we do,
Your words can give strength to our weak minds each day,
Our path is made straight by the things that you say,
You reach out your hand and you touch me with love,
I long for the day when I see you above.
Winter has officially arrived in my neck of the woods with the snow filled skies opening on our “new” old house. I love the frosty, fluffy, white stuff as long as I don’t have to go anywhere. The fresh blanket has covered the darkened earth – the sun casts diamonds here and there and the change of seasons begins.
The icy grip of the world has also covered many churches, causing some to accommodate politically correctness or those wanting only to feel good. We must be on guard to make sure that the church is faithfully following God’s Word.
Many folks have a difficult time with some of the concepts and teachings of the Bible. For example, no one likes to hear about their sin. The idea of a world flood is unimaginable. It’s incomprehensible that a virgin gave birth. It’s impossible for a man to return to life after suffering a horrendous death.
As we reflect on the birth of the Savior, let’s remember how important the Bible is to us. The Old Testament is filled with stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances – God’s covenant with man to send a Savior – And how God works everything for our good.
In the New Testament we receive the fulfillment of the ancient prophesies, beginning in a little town called Bethlehem. It reveals the love of God for all humanity, giving everlasting life to those who believe and trust in Him.
Lord, I’m grateful for a church that remains based in your Holy Word. Each passage takes on new meaning in all of my circumstances. Thank you for inspiring men with your Holy Spirit, keeping your words alive and the lines of communication open to you. As the shepherds approached Bethlehem, their hearts must have jumped for joy as they bowed to the King of Kings – Jesus, the Messiah. Amen!
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
I once in poverty did lay, my heart was full of need,
You came and took my sins away and now I’m rich indeed,
You gave your richest treasure – your one and only Son.
You are my greatest pleasure. With you I now am one
This series pertains to Jesus’ lineage and the women who played a part in it. I do not claim to be a theologian, but as a dramatist and writer I believe that the Bible is full of stories about average and not so average people who played an important part in HIS story from the beginning to infinity and beyond. With that in mind, I will speak in the voice of the first person.
EVE, THE FIRST WOMAN
I know that God had His hand in every part of my existence. In just six days He crafted the universe, with all the beauty of the stars and moons and the sun that served the planets. His finger stirred the waters and they separated, exposing dry land and leaving water to nourish the lush vegetation. He formed all the animals of every species and each bird was made for a purpose. He breathed oxygen into the lungs of my husband, Adam and saw that there was a need for a companion for him, so He took a rib from the man’s body and formed me to be Adam’s wife.
Everything was perfect. Our dwelling was a paradise with a canopy of moisture over us to give life to all living things. There was nothing we lacked. Everything was provided by our God. He asked nothing in return, except for our complete obedience and confidence in Him. One of His first commands to us was not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Our dependence on God was critical to our relationship with Him.
That was then, but this is now. Through my doubt – my lack of confidence in God – my weakness – I became the devil’s pawn. He entered Eden in the form of a serpent and attacked my free will. His words made me wonder if I could gain the same level as God. At that moment, I questioned God’s plan for me and my actions would lead Adam down the same path. As soon as we ate from the forbidden tree, our eyes were opened and we were ashamed.
Sin entered the world and our first impulse was to run and hide from the very One who knew everything about us. We couldn’t hide. His power was so much greater than ours, yet we fled and covered ourselves.
Our Father loved us, but our sin couldn’t go without consequences. Life changed for us. Adam, the man who named every animal, would now work weed infested terrain in the heat of the day. I would have children, but not without suffering. The beauty of our garden was taken from us and we were cast out of it.
Both of us deserved that punishment, but our sin would pass from one generation to another. Sin would cause death and we we’d never see or talk to God again in the way we once had. It broke my heart to know that my sin would also cover my children.
W fulfilled God’s command to be fruitful and multiply. Along with populating the world, we saw the effects of that first sin. We would know death. We’d see every possible sin against God and humanity. Our punishment fit our crime.
The temptation of Satan occurred at a tree, but God made a promise. He told the evil one that he would be crushed by one of my offspring. This descendant would be bruised upon a tree. His death would conquer the devil and give to everyone the gift of eternal life.
God’s Word is true and He always keeps His promises.
This Christmas season is filled with new lessons , even for an old ladu. I used to have a fireplace mantel in my old house. My “new” old house didn’t come with one, so I had to do a bit of adjusting to my Christmas decorating this year. The stockings are now hung by the washer and drier, rather than the chimney. My collection of hand carved Santas remain in an unopened box somewhere in our garage and will have to wait until next year to be displayed. In the past I’ve spent time in rehearsals, so getting my tree and house decorated didn’t occur until the week before the actual holiday.
This year, I have most of my tree trimming, cookie baking, house adornments done. The lesson for me – I’ve spent too many hours working rather than enjoying the beauty of Christmas.
When my time was so consumed with teaching, I tried to use those teachable moments . I remember rehearsing yet another Christmas pageant. Several of the cast were obviously thinking about other things.
Those little darlings fidgeted as we talked about sin. They giggled at their Bible costumes. We talked about how long those Israelites waited for a Savior and how they almost gave up. They tugged at their head coverings and tried to dismantle their props. One shepherd complained that he didn’t have the right costume and by the time our talk concluded, he no longer was wearing it.
We talked about patience. At that point mine was wearing thin. I wondered why they don’t close down school for the month of December. Those little minds certainly weren’t focused on learning.
Then it hit me. My impatience wasn’t allowing me to enjoy the beauty in all of this. We all need a Savior no matter what our age – we don’t deserve to be forgiven, but we have a gracious God who loves us anyway – we are all impatient for Christmas.
So as the angels spoke about getting ready for the Savior with their halos tilted to one side; the sheep talked about how much better David’s singing was then their current caretakers; the shepherds meandered all over the stage rather than pretending to sleep – I listened to my inner voice tell me how imperfect everyone is and how much we need Jesus.
Lord, please give me patience – right now!!
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Majestic pines, remain fresh and green,
A light dusting of snow tickles their branches,
Glistening like diamonds across the once lush landscape,
Within that icy mass, brilliance pours forth,
Color still remains alive in the frigid temperatures,
Our souls can be cold and close to death,
But the Son of God will warm them once again,
The message of His coming burns within us.
He was an upright man; a descendant of Aaron; a priest who served the Lord. He and his wife, Elizabeth followed the teachings of Moses and because they were from a priestly family, they served in the temple. They had one desire that would make their lives perfect. They wanted a child to carry on the family name and release Elizabeth from the scorn of being unable to conceive.
Zacharias went into the holiest part of the temple to offer the purification ritual. The offering of incense was a traditional part of the Hebrew instructions regarding the sanctity of the temple. The incense carried a sweet aroma to God, allowing Him a sweet smelling dwelling. It was also done to eliminate the stench of the animal sacrifices.
While he tended to his duties, the Angel of the Lord came to him. This angel had been working overtime lately, but he certainly had something important to say. He told Zacharias not to be afraid. Are you kidding? I wonder how I would react if all of a sudden a heavenly host came to talk to me. I’d be terrified. When Zacharias heard that he’d become a dad, he was stunned. He didn’t believe a word of it and because of this, he literally became silent for nine months.
We often don’t believe God’s messages to us when they’re out there as plain as day. I pray that I don’t miss the boat because of my stubbornness or ignorance. God’s forgiveness is so simple. All we need to do is ask for it and trust that He always has our best interests in His hands
The prophet said it plainly. The Son of God would come
To be the perfect sacrifice for each and every one.
The words have been fulfilled. The Lamb of God was slain;
Our sins have all been washed away and we have hope again.KATHY BOECHER©
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
From the icy mountain,
Through crevices in the face of granite,
Water flows to the Jordan River,
Fresh, vibrant, clean, restorative,
John, the teacher of repentance,
Calls,
Reaches,
Touches souls,
Cleansing all who repent to be prepared,
To wait,
Watch,
Anticipate with excitement,
The coming of the Savior of the world,
It touches many,
The Son of God,
Meets His baptizer,
John is deeply humbled,
The effect of that rippling water flows out,
Unto the ends of the earth,
The Savior will come again,
We will meet Him face to face,
Let us share that good news,
There are still those who have not yet received it,
The most glorious message ever to be told,
Wash your sins away in the blood of Jesus,
Be cleansed, refreshed, restored in the water of baptism.
Another one from last year. Originally posted 12/15
If you’ve ever read, “The Best Christmas Pageant, Ever!” by Barbara Robinson, you’ll remember how the nativity was portrayed by the five Herdman children – the worst kids in town. The only reason they came to Sunday School was for the snacks.
Gladys, the youngest, wanted to play the part of the Angel of the Lord, because she figured it was the best part. After all – out of nowhere – there she was in the middle of everything – Shazam! Kind of like a super hero with magical powers.
It makes me wonder who was the Angel of the Lord anyway? How do you refer to this angel? Do you simply call her “Angel of the Lord.” Do you greet her by saying, “How’s it going, Angel of the Lord?”
As this story unfolds we see a little family who has been deserted by their father and their mother works two jobs to keep them alive. They are well known by the welfare department as well as the police and fire departments. This tight knit group of hooligans is bound together tightly and the Christmas story is new to them, but it kind of fits their lifestyle.
Jesus was born in a difficult time – in poverty – in a time in history filled with sin and corruption. His little family was cast aside by relatives, who thought Mary and Joseph had betrayed their premarital vows of chastity. They had no money, no one to turn to and yet they faithfully carried out the work God.
Angels don’t speak to us today like they did before the Bible was actually written, but if they did, you can bet we’d sit up and take notice. Still I wonder what it would be like to talk to the Angel of the Lord. Someday, I’ll get the chance.
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON ATIMETOSHARE.ME 12/4/15
A young girl of about 13 is about her duties in the house. She’s possibly weaving cloth or sewing items for the humble trousseau she would bringing to her pre-arranged marriage. She was used to working hard. Everyone had to pull their own weight in her tiny village. It was part of her upbringing to be busy from morning to night with hard work.
It was a poor community. The inhabitants hadn’t a king they could call their own for over 500 years. This tiny little town in the hill country, had been the sight of many battles in history, including Pharoah Necho and Nebuchadnezzar. The fact is it was an insignificant city and a most unlikely place for the mother of God’s own Son to reside.
As she busied herself with daily tasks, a stranger entered and greeted Mary as highly favored and blessed among women. She must have wondered who he was talking to. Here she was, a lowly servant with absolutely no status in the community and she was being referred to in such a way.
She most likely was taken back and surprised, but also afraid. I can’t imagine what was going through her mind at that moment, but she sat quietly as the stranger laid out God’s plan for the next portion of her young life. She didn’t throw her hands up in disbelief, or pass out in shock – she listened quietly, digested what the angel was telling her and then asked the one logical question – how can this be, seeing I know not a man? The astounding answer would boggle the mind of most of us today, but Mary accepted it with complete faith when she said, “Let it be to me as you have said.”
This is one of those events in the Bible that makes no logical sense. We, like Mary, have to give in completely to God’s plan and accept it based on faith. We need to ponder all the events leading up to the Nativity and see how God uses even the least of His people to accomplish His greatness and love for all of humanity.
“Time always seems long to the child who is waiting – for Christmas, for next summer, for becoming a grownup: long also when he surrenders his whole soul to each moment of a happy day.” Dag Hamarskjold
Advent is a season of waiting and preparation – a time of repentance and reflection. As we await the birthday of the Savior of the world, we need to take time to recall the reason for season.
The children of Israel waited for centuries for Him. Countless prophecies are woven through the Old Testament which clearly described how He would be conceived, where He would be born, the kind of life He would live, the price He would pay to redeem them. How they could have missed Him, but just how will we receive Him when He returns.
As children wait with anxious hearts for Christmas, the anticipation often clouds the true reason for the waiting. Why must we wait? Why can’t we simply have Jesus with us right now? We grow weary. Patience wears thin and life can become futile at times. Many times we simply give up.
The fact is, we do have Jesus with us right now. He’s our breath and life – our oxygen. He came to us in the form of a tiny baby, grew up and played in the streets of Nazareth with other little boys, He lived a life of poverty, felt every blister as he worked alongside his step dad. He was frowned upon by the elite – nothing good ever came from Nazareth. He gathered a flock of followers who were not only intrigued by His words, but captivated by His presence. He waited for just the right moment to fulfill the work He was destined to do. He suffered and died, but he rose from death and lives eternally – just as we will when we leave this world.
Life can jab at us in ways that torment and beat us up, but Jesus went through so much more so that we could receive the greatest gift ever.
I CAN’T WAIT!
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY THE BOECHERS
Moon beams sift through pines on fallen snow.
Moon beams sift through pines on fallen snow.
Light sufficient to find the way back home.
A heavy load weighs on resistant ice below.
Weight of the world upon that glistening dome.
The tree of life stands firmly in its place.
It will not move in any time or space.
For God so loved this world He would not spare
The One who came to us – His love to share.
To melt the ice of frozen hearts in sin.
Renewed, refreshed and washed by Him within.
ORIGINAL WOOD SCULPTURE BY PAUL BOECHER
For most of us, memories of past misdeeds are things we’d rather not remember. We’d rather tuck them away in the deepest recesses of our minds and never bring them to the light of day.
If you’re a parent, you may recall plucking one of those negative memories out of the depths when one of your children is enduring a similar issue.
I have been blessed with a short memory. God knew when He made me. That I’d have a problem with guilt so he built that into me when I was born. The ugliest, most difficult times have been captured in my brain, but are difficult to recall. I guess it’s a defense mechanism to keep me from reliving the pain.
Sometimes remembering is vital to our moving forward. If we forget how we’ve arrived at a certain point, we become stagnant and apathetic.
The things we learn as children will be the basis for our belief system, a guide for living and a reason to look forward to eternity.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to yourDeuteronomy 6:6-7English Standard Version (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Jesus has forgiven all of our sins – past, present and future. Now it’s up to us to live for Him.
I love old Christmas movies. They stir up all kinds of wonderful feelings and memories. One special one that comes to mind is “A Christmas Story.”
I think it really hits home because it takes place in the town where I grew up and I can relate to a lot of the situations; for example having our holiday meal in a Chinese restaurant; going to see Santa at the mall and getting rushed through before you can itemize your wish list; having the turkey fall to the floor before it can be served; getting just the right tree and trying to decorate it to dad’s perfecting eye.
There was one thing that happened to a little boy when he was double dog dared to put his tongue on a cold metal pole. Well, apparently that kid didn’t know that he would stick fast to that pole for a very long time.
When God invites us to stick to Him, we know that it will be a good thing. We may still have struggles in our lives and there certainly will be pain and sorrow, but we can be sure that He won’t let us go.
What a comfort that is for those of us who can’t make it through life alone. Stick tight to Him and He will cling to us with a strength we can’t begin to understand.
A light streams through resistant clouds. It brings a glimpse of heaven,
As once in darkness bathed in shrouds, it’s filled with hope once given.
The light came forth in darkness, so many years ago.
And shone upon the Son of God, in humble manger low.
He could have come in glory, with angels at His side,
Humility He chose instead, when with us He’d abide.
Oh, sweet and loving Jesus. You came to give us life.
You promised to be with us in all our earthly strife.
You walked alone to Calvary and hung upon a tree –
You suffered pain and shed your blood. You did it all for me.
You rose from death to give me life, the ransom you did pay
No longer in the grip of sin, I now with sureness pray.
How can I thank you, Jesus, for bringing me Your light?
Use me and let me praise you, through all Your Holy might!
I love tradition but it doesn’t carry the same punch it used to. Maybe it’s because we want to make new traditions that fit our lifestyle and some of the old ways are nothing more than old-fashioned.
Did you know that the practice of having a Christmas tree was first started in the 16th century? The beautiful fir trees that lined the forests of Germany looked like God had sprinkled glitter all over them. The people often often hung apples on them as a reminder of the Tree of Life. They also added lit candles to depict the Light of the World.
I have memories of going to the woods to cut down a tree. We’d bundle the kids up so they could barely move. We trudged through deep snow and since my husband has an eye for perfection, we had to find just the right tree. He then would take out his axe and begin chopping. This is where the fun began. The kids loved the idea of cutting down a tree each year, but the tradition died after a while. Like many traditions, they simply don’t fit our lifestyle anymore.
I also remember making fresh egg nog for my family during the holidays. It was made from fresh, raw eggs – cream, sugar and nutmeg. Occasionally the adults would add a bit of brandy to spice it up. That doesn’t happen now, because of the danger of salmonella poisoning.
Traditions come and go, but the message of the season should never be clouded by a change in our lifestyle. Jesus came to us at Christmas. He was born of a virgin – conceived by God Himself – became our brother. That isn’t tradition. It’s a fact and one that will never change.
As we prepare for the advent season, let’s take time to look at some of the old-fashioned traditions, but not forget the One that never goes out of style – JESUS!
Isn’t it great to know that God has sent His own angels to protect us each day? I have spoken about my angels and the shape they must be in by now. I have given all of them a run for their money. God knows that I need legions of them to help me.
In the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” we are introduced to George Bailey’s guardian angel, Clarence Odbody who is in the process of earning his wings. This lovely, tear jerking movie explores what life would have been without George in it.
Have you ever wondered if the world would be a better place without you? I think at some point each one of us may have asked ourselves that question. God has the answer. He created each one of us for a purpose. He talks about this in Jeremiah 29:11 –
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
As we approach the holiday season, I think we need to revisit that very thought. Why were we born – what does God have in store for our future – where does our hope lie? Isn’t it a great comfort to know that He is in charge. He has our entire existence planned out for us. He formed us in our mother’s womb and knew us before we were born.
Maybe we need to think more in terms of this. What would life be without Jesus in it?
Thank you, Lord, for your gift of life. Thank you for watching over me in times of great difficulty as well as times of joy. Thank you for Your Son, Jesus, who came to carry my sins to the cross and forgive me, even though I don’t deserve it. Amen!
Judgment Day is coming! It will be a day when every skeleton falls out of our proverbial closet; a day when all our secrets sins will be revealed; a day of fear and trembling – if we are not in tune with our Judge.
When I was a kid, I had this vision of God, the Father as one with fiery eyes, a fierce scowl on His face, pointing His accusing finger directly at me; ready to sentence me to the fiery pit of hell.
We should be afraid of His judgment. If it was up to us, we wouldn’t have a chance. All sin is equal in His sight and all of it deserves eternal punishment – from the evil thoughts we have to the murderous, slanderous, selfish, immoral, malicious deeds we perform in our lifetimes. God doesn’t measure our disobedience.
All sin is the same to Him and sin deserves death. That horrific judge, sitting on His throne of justice, demands perfection. Because He knows we can’t do this alone, He provides a way out of our eternal prison.
He sent His only Son to take our place. His precious blood was shed for the washing of our filthy souls.
Now we can stand clean of all sin, before the throne of God and know that we have his everlasting forgiveness. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The good news in a nutshell.
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