ABUNDANCE

Posted on April 8, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

Fields of gold rolled into a vast expanse of provision,

God abundantly cares for every living thing,

He sustains those who call upon His name,

He cares for those who don’t,

He controls our coming and our going,

He is in the rising sun at dawn and in its setting at twilight,

Each living creature is under His watchful eye,

His presence, His knowledge, His power are everywhere,

His majesty is beyond our comprehension, His wisdom incomprehensible,

He created all life with intricate design,

Each nerve and fiber having purpose,

He crafted with an artist’s hand and intelligence unknown to us,

He knows our thoughts, our needs, our hopes and goals,

He sees our imperfections and wants to make them right again,

He even provided the solution for our sinful state,

Because He loves us still.

He gives us the victory over death, by allowing us eternal life.

KATHY BOECHER©

 

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ANSWERED PRAYERS

Posted on April 8, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Sometimes it seems like God isn’t listening, even when our prayers are constant.  There are days when you don’t know what to pray for, because the world is in such a mess and it doesn’t seem that there’s any hope for it.  Once in a while, you feel as though you’re just repetitively reciting words without thinking, while other times you empty your heart to God and beg for answers with tears in your eyes.  Prayer is a powerful thing if and when we use it.  It’s a gift from God – an invitation for us to lay our burdens on Him – to ask for the impossible and hope for the necessary – to receive healing, to stop worrying, to build our faith, to come closer to our Heavenly Father.

As we approach Him in prayer,  remember that He’s in control of the outcome.  When He answers right away and we receive the results we want, He still wants our gratitude and our submission.  When we don’t hear from Him right away, He’s putting things in place to make the answer possible.  When prayers are not answered at all, it’s because He knows it isn’t what’s best for us or part of His plan.

When friends pray with you there is a communion of like minded people in alliance with you.  Don’t be embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to ask others to pray for you as well, because the act of praying holds enormous power.

Jesus has a direct line to the Father and because of that, we do too.  He tells us to ask, seek and find.  Through Him we have open communication with the Creator of the Universe.  Pray – I know it works!

 

 

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A BOTTLE FULL OF TEARS

Posted on April 7, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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A while back, I was trying to convince my granddaughter to put her crabby thoughts into a crabby box and forget about them.  She laughed at the image and it got her smiling again for the moment.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just get rid of those icky moments that stalk our lives – times when we get angry, frustrated, hateful, envious and all the other negatives that prey on our hearts and minds.  Then there are the moments of sadness, heartbreak, worry, disappointment, the unknown – things that cause us to shed tears.  When life spins out of our control and there are no answers and only confusion, it’s natural to cry.

God has a solution for downtrodden hearts.  Within the Bible are numerous invitations to turn to Him with our problems.  In Psalm 56, He even promises to take all our tears and put them in a bottle.  What a beautiful vision that is.

When we can no longer hold our feelings inside, we need a release for them.  I’m certain that God created tear ducts to help us.  When we’re inspired by something that touches the core of our hearts, we may automatically shed tears of joy.  When we think of those who have passed before us, tears often flow. When something touches our funny bone so much that we can’t stop laughing – saline falls out of our eyes and onto our cheeks.

The description of placing our tears in His bottle is so significant, because it demonstrates God’s awareness of our sadness as well as our joy.  He keeps each one of our tears safely tucked away and provides comfort for us.  To top it all off, He has made it possible to end to the need for tears.  When we arrive in heaven, there will be no more of them.

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STILL WATERS

Posted on April 6, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Though fears assail and haunt me, my Jesus will be there,

He knows my every weakness, He feels my every care,

Through valleys dark He leads me, He’s always at my side,

To waters still He guides me, refreshment He’ll provide,

Wherever life should lead me, my soul is in His hand,

He never will desert me, on this great hope I stand,

Through triumph and defeat, He knows just how I feel,

He gives me so much hope when at His cross I kneel.

Our time on earth is short, our days are numbered here,

But with His precious love,  eternity is near.

Dear Jesus, be with me as through this life I go,

Help me to share your love, with those who need to know.

KATHY BOECHER©

 

 

 

 

 

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OUR TIME OF GRACE

Posted on April 6, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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When we take our first breath, we begin a time of grace. For nine months we’ve been safely tucked in our mom’s womb, protected by her body and sheltered from the ugliness of the world. When we emerge from the boundaries of that safety, we experience the first pangs of sin – our little lungs fill with air and our first response is to scream.

God tells us that we are sinful by nature. It was passed onto us by the first humans and will continue to be this way until we die.

Does God want us to experience suffering so that heaven will look so much better? Does He enjoy watching us squirm when we fail in business or lose all our worldly goods? Does He sit up on His throne and simply watch as His creatures battle serious illness, domestic violence, broken marriages, greed, evil or disappointment?

God can change use bad in our lives for our good and the good of others. For those who put their trust in Him completely, He’s promised His presence and love. He will never let us down, even though the world may crumble around us.

Does that mean we can go through all pain and sorrow without feeling anything? We still experience anxiety, pain, difficulty understanding, depression, hopelessness. We still feel persecuted, downtrodden, lost. God uses even our most difficult situations to bring good. Maybe our situation can help another person deal with their struggle or demonstrate what faith can do.

Each footprint we leave on this planet can be filled with hope or determined by negativity. The choice should be simple, but how can our minds understand when someone says God is fine tuning you and making you ready for heaven.

As Job said when he struggled with his lot in life, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” We have been given a time of grace from God – it’s called a lifetime – how we choose to spend it is really up to us. Do we allow the pain of this life to overtake us or do we trust in God to be with us every step of the way?

 

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DAYS OF OLD

Posted on April 5, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

Were things so great in days gone by, or slower and less confusing,

To reach your eyes up to the sky and paint the clouds to your amusing,

An elephant or eagle’s wings, a shepherd with a flock of sheep,

beside an angel choir sings.  Each memory in your heart you’ll keep,

Don’t let those golden days slip by.  Your eyes keep focused on the sky,

Our days are numbered, but we may enjoy each precious single day.

KATHY BOECHER©

 

 

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THE GOOD WIFE

Posted on April 5, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

 

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Today I was going to write about Job’s exhortation accepting the bad things that happen along with the good.  When confronted by his wife to denounce God, he said, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”   This led me to find out what it takes to be a good wife. The Bible has a lot to say about a nagging wife, a quarrelsome wife and even an excellent one.

On the TV show, The Good Wife, the wife is anything but good, but seems to get away with it, because it’s what viewers want to see.  Women from my era remember the June Cleavers who stayed at home to raise a family.  They did the dishes in a crisp, white apron, wore nylons, girdles and dresses to clean the toilet.

Some women grew dissatisfied with that life and fought for their rights to pursue careers.  They burned their bras and girdles, protested and cried for equal rights. Now women hold executive roles in business as well as politics.  They have so many more opportunities than ever before, but still  become like a dripping rain – annoying with their demands – raspy voiced in their pursuit of their desires – a pain in the neck.

Men  have taken on a much different job description over time.  Husbands now fill the hole left by moms whose careers bring home the bacon.  They are made to look foolish on TV shows and commercial.  They have been pushed into the background in some instances in favor of the super woman.

To get back on track, what is a good wife?  This is a portion of Proverbs 30:10-31.

“She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”

 

 

 

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BLUE HAIRED WOMAN

Posted on April 4, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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There are things that happen when you age that I never expected.  Your memory fades.  You can leave a room on a mission to do something, but forget it completely when you arrive at your destination.

Your body sags in places that always did sag, but now it’s more noticeable.  The lines in your face are now look like a piece of petrified wood.  Your skin becomes loose and seems to expose every underlying imperfection.  Your speech is sometimes slurred.

Your hair is thinning and dull.  Your eyes form cataracts or you become victim to loss of sight completely. Your hearing also fails.  On top of all that, you can’t begin to do the things you did twenty years ago.

In other words, growing old is not for the faint of heart. 

It takes a lot of courage to walk into your golden years.  Often your source of income is meager, you may still have to remain employed and you’ve collected a lifetime of stuff – things that have meaning to you, but no one else.  We’ve become our parents.  All the frustration we felt as young adults has now been passed on to our children.

Boy, this is a depressing post!

There is hope, even for us old fogies.  The Bible says this about aging:

Psalms 71:18 – Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.

Leviticus 19:32 – Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I [am] the LORD.

Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.

Philippians 3:20-21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Lord, growing old is not fun, but you give us hope through your Word, that our place in heaven is reserved for us.  Help us all use our final years, digging in your Word so that we are ready when we finally meet you.  Amen!

 

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REJOICE AND BE GLAD

Posted on April 3, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Today is the Lord’s day.  Let us rejoice and be glad in the beauty of it, seizing every opportunity to praise our heavenly Father for His many gifts, His love for us and our salvation through Jesus, Christ.  May the glow of Easter Sunday remain with you all through the coming days, months and years.

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DREAMS

Posted on April 2, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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The story of Joseph, the young interpreter of dreams, has intrigued people of all ages for centuries. Joseph didn’t always make friends when he related the meaning of  dreams, but he continued to do so.  I’ve been known to have some very weird dreams which might even raise Joseph’s eyebrows or at least cause him to see to it that I get psychiatric help.

Occasionally the yucky memories I try to forget, sneak out of those hidden places in my mind and make their way into my dreams. I wake with an unsettling feeling and sometimes in a cold sweat. The dream seemed so real that I thought I was waking up in it.

We can’t escape disappointments – unhappiness – shattered hopes or missed opportunities. Those things are part of who we are. Those experiences can shape us or destroy us if we let them.

God invites us into His loving arms each day. He promises to hug us with His protection, love, hope and His forgiveness. Yes! All our wrongdoings have been erased. We have a clean slate. We have a second chance when we face into our sins and sincerely repent of them.

As we learn to accept that unconditional forgiveness, we can shake off those feelings of guilt and shame. The devil wants us to believe that it’s still necessary for us to do something to pay our own way, but that isn’t how God works. We can never out do Him.  His mercy endures forever.

Lord, please give me the confidence to know that the dark things I am guilty of have be forgiven and forgotten by you through your very own Son, Jesus.  His sacrifice for me and the entire world isn’t just a dream.  It’s a reality. Amen!

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WHEN SHOULD I RETIRE?

Posted on April 1, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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I didn’t really begin a career until thirty some years ago, when my children were in high school.  During that time, they were attending a school that didn’t have a drama department and since I always enjoyed that part of my own high school experience, I volunteered to get it started.  I had no formal training so I went back to college and took as many theater classes as I could.  Thirteen years of volunteering later, I found I loved doing it so much that I continued to teach in other venues.

When I “retired” at 65 I had a 5 year plan to phase out of work and actually begin to enjoy my old age. Somehow I can’t seem to give it up.  I enjoy bringing out the best in kids – showing them that they matter and have a voice.  I love to see them develop self-confidence and growth through drama.

Now my hearing is beginning to fail me and I’ve become the grandma I used to tell my students to speak loudly to.  My voice isn’t as strong as it used to be and it often cracks.  My memory is slowly ebbing and often escapes me entirely.  Still, I feel I have something to offer.  I know the day will come when I can no longer physically do this, but I almost hope I die first so I don’t have to experience the pain of withdrawal .

God’s word tells us about many great things were accomplished by the elder in society.  For example Noah completed building the ark when he was over 600 years old.  Moses was 120 years when he died and he still had all his faculties.  On the other hand, the Son of God, Jesus, lived for only 33 years and oh the things He packed into His time on earth.

 

 

 

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DON’T WORRY!

Posted on March 31, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

flowersOriginal art by Paul T. Boecher© Watercolor sketch

God’s hand is in everything.  We see it in the beauty of nature, in the intricate balance of science, in the geometric design of every living thing.  If He takes so much care in the provision of these things, how much more will He watch out for us – the highest of His creation. Never doubt that you are more valuable than anything to Him.  He gave His Son to prove how much He loves us.

Matthew 6:28-29  “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

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MEAT & POTATOES

Posted on March 31, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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After another holiday of stuffing ourselves with all kinds of good things to eat, calories and sweet treats, I can’t help but think about how important our diets are.  I’m not talking about the stuff we put into our mouths, but the things we inwardly digest from God’s
Word.  There is more than the comforting taste of meat and potatoes.  God’s Words are filled with gravy and magnificent desserts as well.  A feast of humongous proportions awaits you at every turn of the page.

When we feel attacked from all sides, when our motives are questioned, when our lives seems like they’re going nowhere and when troubles seem to be piling up higher than we can possibly handle, how do we go on?
There are examples of people just like us in the Bible. There were the very wealthy, the physically disabled, the poor, the emotionally and spiritually challenged, those who felt no hope – people just like us. Their stories help us to face what I we’re going through.
God didn’t just send extraordinary people into the world to show His power. His writings about the average guy, with typical needs show up throughout His word. The Bible is filled with the struggles of many of heroes like David, Samson, Solomon, Moses and the greatest One, Jesus.
Don’t just consider the frosting when digesting these words.  The bitter taste of sin is tucked within the pages as well.  It’s important for us to see those words too.  Without them, there is no need for a Savior.  God tells us the most wonderful of love stories when He shares the gift of His Son to the world.  Through Him, we will never go hungry again.

 

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RIPPLES

Posted on March 30, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

imageOriginal art by Paul T. Boecher©

Water remains stagnant until life comes into it,

When it does, the water becomes full of endless movement,

Swirling, tumbling, flowing, ebbing, descending, spreading,

Taking it to a totally new dimension,

Life is like that when we are set into motion,

If we simply walk through it and don’t stay and make a lasting imprint,

Our presence becomes insignificant,

When Christ lives in us, life is imminent,

We can stir the waters, make ripples, make life wash over the world and cleanse it,

Sharing God’s love with others does just that.

KATHY BOECHER©

 

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I’M NO GOOD!

Posted on March 30, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Martin Luther spent the greater part of his young life trying to live up to his father’s expectations of him, his peers’ opinions of him and the church’s requirements of him.  He thought if only He was a better person, lived a pious life, said more prayers, beat himself up both mentally and physically he might measure up.  When the scriptures were finally revealed to Him, he realized that his sin had been paid for – his place in heaven was guaranteed.  Nothing that he could do would ever match that.

So often we go through life trying to meet the “standard” of perfection.  We dress the right way,  go to church,  help others, take care of our families.  Our lives seem perfect – or are they?  Do we feel defeated when we don’t succeed at the pace we want?  Do we give up when we  can’t take the everyday stresses of life?  Do we belittle ourselves until people finally agree with us?

God doesn’t want us to live that way.   If we give up on ourselves, were in fact giving up on Him.  His hands formed us.  He breathed the breath of life into us.  He walks with us every day.  He has a plan for our lives.  He has prepared perfection for our lives after death.   Our works are done not to buy our salvation, but because of our gratitude for what has been done by Him.

Lord, because of Your love for me, I’ve been made perfect in Your sight.  When I start getting down on myself, remind me of Your constant presence in my life.   Help me to remember how much You gave to buy me back.  In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

 

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GOD PROVIDES

Posted on March 29, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

He prepares a feast for me, He gives comfort to my soul,

He feeds me with His Word, He makes my body whole,

I trust in His unfailing love to lead me everyday,

He carries me when things seem bad, He took my sins away,

Though life is short and days drag on I know that He is there,

To comfort me and make me strong, my burdens He will share.

KATHY BOECHER©

 

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COME UNTO ME

Posted on March 29, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

 

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There are days when I wish I could simply walk into heaven and know that God would be waiting there with open arms.  There are other days when I feel there is still so much I should do here on earth.  No matter where I am, I can rely on the fact that wherever I am, Jesus is right beside me, carrying me, lifting me away from the things that hurt me – cuddling me when I feel lost or heavy hearted – protecting me from the dangers of getting old – giving me courage when I have lost hope – inspiring me with His everlasting love – filling me with a fraction of that love so I can love others.

Jesus has promised to give us all these things and more.  Whether our days are numbered or we still have time on this planet to share our knowledge of Him with others is immaterial. He has a plan for each of our lives and we can count on the outcome being amazing when we trust that promise.

Consider today as the last day of your life.  What will you do with it?  We can go through the motion of living like we do every day, or we can become bold in professing our faith to others and giving them something concrete to hang onto.  We can lay our burdens on Jesus and have the freedom to profess the wondrous things He’s done for us.  Don’t wait until tomorrow.

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NOW WHAT?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Their world had been torn apart.  The tomb was empty.  Jesus was dead and now someone had stolen His body.  It was more than they could bear.  The early morning revelation must’ve been one of the most exciting part of the disciples’ walk.  For three years they had followed Him.  For that same time, they began to realize who He actually was.  When that time ended with a cruel death for their Messiah, they must have been crushed.

So often our faith is put to the test.  We wonder why our Savior has deserted us.  We don’t understand the course of our time of grace on earth.  The deck seems to be stacked against us.  We can’t imagine where God is in all of this, but He was there all the time.

On the third day after His brutal crucifixion, Jesus fulfilled His promise.  He conquered death, He defeated Satan, our sins have been forgiven and a new life awaits us in heaven.

Now what do we do?  Do we tuck it away and forget about it for another year?  Do we bask in the moment only to forget within just a day or two? Do we hang on to that truth and keep it to ourselves?

Even when He appeared to His followers, they had a hard time believing it was Him.  We, who have never even seen Him, find it even more difficult sometimes to understand His role in our lives.  Don’t forget Him.  Don’t hide Him in your hearts.  This is such amazing news, so full of love, that it is too good to put away.  Tell your friends, your neighbors and those who don’t yet know Him.  Jesus never left us. He is always there for everyone.  All we have to do is believe.

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

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THANK YOU, JESUS

Posted on March 28, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

glory

Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

I cannot imagine life without him.  He has filled me with confidence when I had none.

He has bound my innermost wounds and caused their healing.

He makes each moment of life important even when those times are filled with worry.

He provides for all my physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

He has shown love unimaginable – compassion undeserved – redemption for all.

He is always available, always near even in the dark of night.

He won’t forsake, even though I often forsake him.

He took my place, suffering the cruelty I merited, going willingly because of his undying love.

He lives now in my heart and every breath I take.

How can I thank you. Jesus?

KATHY BOECHER©

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HE IS NOT HERE. HE IS RISEN!

Posted on March 27, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

He died that I could live. He suffered pain and loss.
He gave all He could give, upon that rugged cross.
But on that awesome day, so many years ago,
He for my sins did pay, so freedom I would know.
The story didn’t end there. He came to life once more.
To show me that I too will live within His heavenly door.

Kathy Boecher©

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