THEY CAME TO HEAR

Posted on February 23, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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There were those who left their jobs and families behind to follow Him.  They gave up everything to be a part of it.  Some of them became His inner circle of workers and would someday continue to share the words He was now speaking to the crowds.

It was a new message.  For centuries our people had been bound by the tradition and ritual of our religion.  We knew that our God demanded perfection from us, but we it was a demand couldn’t keep because of the chains of sin which bound us.

Soon it became a tradition of good works and nothing we could do was going to take away our sin.  No sacrifice or offering could pay the price for disobedience to God. Only a perfect sin offering, without blemish could do that.

When Jesus spoke, people listened.  His message was filled with the hope we all longed for.  He talked about a kingdom not of this world.  He shared words about life in eternity with Him and complete forgiveness of sins.  These words were balm to heal the stinging ears that heard them.  His voice could reach from the middle of a lake to even the youngest in the audience.  He spoke with complete power and authority.  They hung on every word.

Soon the crowds grew so big that His time no longer was His own.  He often retreated to the mountains or the sea to regain His strength.  As a mother, I grew more and more concerned over the pressures being placed on His shoulders, but continuing to trust in God’s plan, I knew that this was nothing in comparison to what lay ahead for Him.

I could do nothing but wait for God’s will to be done.  In the meantime I would join the crowds, be still and listen.

 

 

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MEMORIES

Posted on February 22, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Memories can surface when we least expect them. There are times we tuck them away knowing they have value, but you aren’t quite sure what it is until you need it the most.  My thoughts were swimming with thoughts of my boy.

I recalled the time following his birth. There were so many events that simply didn’t make sense.  For example when the Magi came to us bearing gifts fit for a king. I knew my Son was from God, but I had no idea that the world would also receive Him in the same way.

I learned the significance attached to their gifts.  The gold was a gift reserved for royalty – the frankincense was the sweet smelling fragrance offered to God – myrrh was used in as an embalming spice after death. Each of these gifts were reminders of why He was sent to us in the first place.

There was the visit to the temple to present my Son to God.  A sweet, elderly gentlemen was there to greet us as if he knew we were coming and had anticipated it for his entire life.  He spoke these words,

 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

When Simeon spoke these words, I didn’t understand them fully, but I stored them in my heart, because I knew they would give me peace some day.  Memories are like that.  Some we hide away because they’re too difficult to bear. but they resurface at just the right time to remind us of how God’s plan has worked in our past to bring about our future.

Each new event was preparing me for the fulfillment of that plan.

 

 

 

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RANDOM THOUGHT – SIMPLICITY

Posted on February 21, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

photo 1 - Copy (4)

Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Setting goals for the future is considered good planning.  Learning to make do with what we have is submitting to God’s planning.

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THOSE HORRIFIC HERODS

Posted on February 20, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

Our people had been subjected to foreign rule for as long as I can remember.  The Herods considered themselves to Jews, but they were deeply rooted in the traditions and laws of Rome.

Each day was filled with challenges. Women were considered second class citizens, but held in high esteem by our husbands and families.  Our daily tasks included gathering water from the well, grinding wheat into flour, making bread, milking the goats and making cheese.  We also spun wool from our sheep into thread and then wove cloth and made it into clothing.

Life was hard, but we endured, because we knew that God had a plan for our lives.  We didn’t have the luxuries of the very rich.  There were only two classes of people – the rich and the poor.  The middle class consisted of the merchants, but even they had to submit to Roman rule and heavy taxes.

I’ll never forget the fear that filled my heart at the time my first born Son’s birth.  Herod, the Great had ordered the death of all boys under the age of two.  Every mother wept at the thought of losing babies, but some escaped.  We fled to Egypt for refuge. There were those that perished at Herod’s order.  So many babies were killed needlessly. Blood flowed like rivers through the streets.

Now another Herod was ruling.  This one was as brutal as the other.  John, the Baptizer’s mother knew him as the man who took the life of her son. After being thrown into prison for stirring the people with his words, his life was snatched from him as his head was severed from his body and presented to Salome as a trophy.  The cruelty never ended with this family.

I wondered what would happen next under these devilish facilitators of Roman rule.  Would we never be free of them?  My heart weighed heavy with these thoughts as my Son continued His ministry.  What would happen next?

 

 

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RANDOM THOUGHT – HIDING PLACE

Posted on February 20, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

photo 1 - CopyOriginal art by Paul T. Boecher©

Psalm 32:7 “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Sela!”

What a blessing to know that God protects all His creatures with His power and love. Even the birds and animals are often hidden from their predators.  If He takes care of them in such a way, how much greater He will watch over us.

 

 

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PREPARE THE WAY . . .

Posted on February 19, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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My relative, Elizabeth had a child shortly before my Son was born.  It was quite astounding since she was way beyond child bearing years.  However, this was all part of God’s amazing plan for the world.  When her son, John was born, his father Zechariah said these words,

“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John would prepare the way for God’s salvation by being the voice in the wilderness that would bring many to repentance through the refreshing waters of baptism.  He would be the forerunner of the Light of the World. His message would lay the ground work.  My boy would fulfill it.

This was an entirely new message for the people.  We had lived under the bondage of the law for centuries.  Traditions, laws and animal sacrifices were part of it.  They were our way of keeping God’s commandments, but they were impossible to keep. There was no sacrifice or offering that could pay the ransom for sin.  We were all slaves to it.  My boy grew up with these traditions and knew them better than any rabbi.  Even as a child, His reading of the scriptures resonated with people.  It was as if He wrote the words Himself.

John went on to preach repentance and continued to baptize many with water, but he also pointed the way to a mightier One who would follow and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  More words to ponder on …

 

 

 

 

 

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THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Posted on February 18, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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His wisdom and knowledge of the scriptures surpassed many of the most religious leaders of the synagogue.  As He traveled the coast of the Sea of Galilee, many were amazed at His words  – His healing – His parables  His determination – His love.  Soon He amassed a large following.

He chose several to leave everything behind and follow Him and they did so willingly.  They would soon be a very important part of this walk.

I watched from the sidelines as the crowds huddled around Him; all hanging on every word.  I worried that He wasn’t getting enough sleep.  His work was relentless and He rarely found time to rest.  As a concerned mother, I took the family with me to talk about this.  I wanted to make things easier for Him.  Some people were beginning to call Him a religious fanatic and many thought He had gone crazy.  I knew it wasn’t true, but couldn’t bear to see my dear, Son subjected to such ridicule.

We pushed through the crowds, but couldn’t get close enough to catch the slightest glimpse of Him.  At last I was able to get word to Him that His family wished to see Him.  His powerful voice rang out over the crowd, “My  mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it.”

The words pierced my heart.  At first I felt rejected and hurt, but then it occurred to me that He wasn’t turning us away.  He was inviting us to participate in the work He had begun.  That invitation was meant for the entire assembly as well.  He was calling us to be part of the promised inheritance of God’s Kingdom and eternal life with Him.  It was another moment to tuck away in my heart.

And so, His ministry began.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RANDOM THOUGHT – MORNING

Posted on February 18, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

photo 3 - Copy

Original Art by Paul T. Boecher©

Job 38:12-13 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?”                                                                                       

Mornings are the best time to capture light when you’re an artist, but even the old masters couldn’t come close to the majesty God creates with His paintbrush. He calls up every color of the rainbow and creates the most intricate patterns and designs for our pleasure. We are at the middle of the shortest month of the year and can start looking forward to seeing some of those amazing shades of blue and green again. White is nice and it gives a clean look to things, but there is nothing like color to liven us up again. We need those tinges of red and yellow to warm us. As each day of our life passes, we need to take time to enjoy the beauty that God has given us through His amazing color wheel.

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RANDOM THOUGHT – DEATH

Posted on February 17, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

psalm 23

Original art by Paul T. Boecher© “The Valley of the Shadow of Death”

Deep within the darkness of death, there lies a golden light leading the way to eternity.  Even though terror lies all around, that light continues to shine.  In the center of it all, man suffers or perhaps just falls asleep, but the fear of death is real.

As Jesus prayed in the garden and sweat drops of blood – as He ate His last meal with His disciples – as He was beaten and smitten for our afflictions – as He took the laborious trek to the cross – death was at the center of His mind, but in His heart, the light of eternity beckoned and He was more than willing to share it with the world.

 

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SUNRISE – SUNSET

Posted on February 17, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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The little boy I watched grow from a tiny, helpless infant was now a strong , young man with confidence in His step, determination on His face and love in His heart.  It was difficult to understand how such an ordinary child could change the world – but the words of the angel, which I had tucked away in my heart, now made sense.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

He was like any other little boy.  He scuffed His knees, experienced hunger, cried and ached from hard work.  He had a great desire to learn and spent any spare moments studying, but always remained obedient and respectful to us..

We traveled to Jerusalem each year for the Passover Feast.  This was another time for celebration and homecoming along with a reminder of the days when our forefathers were delivered from bondage..  Other family members made the pilgrimage so we were sure everyone would be safe.

Our boy was nowhere to be found.  Of course He was old enough to fend for Himself, but my heart was sick until we discovered Him exactly where I knew He’d be – in the temple.  The teachers were amazed at His wisdom and understanding of God’s Word.

When we confronted Him, He reminded us that He had to be in His Father’s house. I realized that He no longer was the little child I carried.  He was now a young man, following in His true Father’s footsteps.

It was then that the floodgates of memories opened.  Everything that had been foretold about Him was now coming to fruition. Anticipation and fear gripped my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A WEDDING TO REMEMBER

Posted on February 16, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Weddings are a time of reunion in our family.  The young couple had pledged their love – food was served – relatives had arrived from all over. It was a homecoming of sorts – the first time I’d seen my son in quite a while.

He was no longer the little boy I rescued from the cuts and bruises of childhood, but now a confident and determined man.  His face exhibited a knowledge that only comes from experience.  I ran to greet Him and felt His strong arms tighten around me.

The party was full of conversation and laughter and delicious food and drink.  As I watched Him, it occurred to me that He no longer was the little boy who grew up under our roof.  He now exhibited a quiet strength and determination.  I knew that His real mission was underway.

I remembered Him as a young boy working alongside his stepfather.  His hands gripped the wood and crafted something wonderful from it.  Little did I realize that those same hands would some day be nailed to a cross made of wood.

A flood of memories came roaring into my mind.  Before His birth I was told that the Messiah would be born from my womb – how His blood would be shed for the salvation of the world – thoughts I had stored in my heart for years.

Time passed quickly and soon the wine had all been consumed. When I told Him about it he said, “What does this have to do with me?  My hour has not yet come.”  I quietly acquiesced, but knew in my heart that He would take care of it.  I told the servants to follow His directions to the letter.  I knew His miraculous work was about to begin.  He was no longer mine alone.  He now belonged to the ages.

 

 

 

 

 

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AND SO IT BEGINS …

Posted on February 15, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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40 days without nourishment – living in a vast emptiness – alone, weary, hungry, weak, easy prey for the adversary.  Jesus was about to begin His ministry as the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  No, He wasn’t being led into temptation. He was being prepared for His remaining time on earth. It was  necessary for Jesus, in His humanity, to face the slings and full quiver of arrows Satan was preparing to throw His way.

There are many beautiful lessons in this event in spite of the difficulty that went with it.  Jesus acted in humility.  He was led by the Spirit and accompanied through the ordeal with Him. (What a comforting thought for us as we face difficult times.) He defeated the devil with the use of Holy Scripture.  The devil’s goal during the temptation was to subvert God’s plan for salvation, but Jesus had other plans.

Jesus is the perfect example of how we should live our lives during adversity.  We’re going to face tests as we travel through life.  If we remember that God is by our side through them, we can be confident. By using God’s Word, we have the strength and ammunition we need to defeat Satan and his lies.

When the devil at last realized that his misuse of scripture was no match for the sovereignty of God, he left Jesus.  At that point, God, the Father sent His angels to minister unto Him.

We will never have to face the torment that our Savior did, but when faced with temptation, we have the necessary armor to repel it.  The Holy Word of God – the Bible.

Dear God, remind us that you remain steadfast through your Word.  You are all we need to defeat the power of the devil.  Amen!

 

 

 

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RANDOM THOUGHT – LOVE

Posted on February 14, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

  
Original art by Paul T. Boecher©

Love means pouring yourself out for the benefit of another, by putting them first.  It keeps no record of past mistakes.  It is not self serving. By taking on the servant attitude of our Savior, we soon are awakened to what true love is all about.  If we love each other as we love ourselves most of the difficulties in relationships would slowly disintegrate.

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GOD’S VALENTINE

Posted on February 14, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

John 3:16

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RANDOM THOUGHT – LIGHT

Posted on February 11, 2016 by atimetoshare.me


“Golden Moment” acrylic on canvas 20×16 by Paul T. Boecher©
Ask any outdoor painter when it’s the best time to create art and they will undoubtedly say – in the morning or at twilight.  During these brief moments, God has taken every color out of His paintbox to capture the perfection of light and shadows.  Across the towering peaks, beside each tree branch or within a mountain lake, you’ll find a rainbow – brilliance – a masterpiece, just waiting to be transferred to a canvas.  Even the wildlife take on a shimmering, golden glow. Even the best artist can’t match God’s splendor, but they can try to come close.

Kathy Boecher

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LOVE WITHOUT EXPECTATION

Posted on February 11, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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In this season of Lent – repentance is the key thought – humbling ourselves before our God – asking for His forgiveness for our sinful ways – giving thanks for His gift of salvation.  Because of these things, we may want to sacrifice things that we’ve been hanging onto to tightly.  We might fast or meditate on God’s Word. These things  are good, but salvation isn’t the result of them.  That happens only by the grace of God.

The act of unconditional love is something we humans have a great deal of trouble with.  It’s tough for us to forgive when we’ve been hurt by words or deeds.  We tend to add those hurts to the baggage that gets heavier each day.  Unconditional love requires us to put others before ourselves and that’s a tough concept. We may wonder what’s in it for us?  how will I benefit? We may even falsely believe that love is for fools and a sign of weakness.

Lent marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar in our churches.  What a perfect time to start over by making a to-do list or some unselfish resolutions.

How about doing an act of random kindness each day?   As we contemplate the sacrifices Jesus made for us, let’s turn our hearts outward.  Here are a few ideas:

  • Shovel someone’s sidewalk.
  • Visit a nursing home and talk to someone for an hour.
  • Read a story to a kindergarten class.
  • Give someone a hug.
  • Share the Gospel message.
  • Bring a crock pot meal to a shut-in.
  • Care for your neighbor’s pet while they’re away.

The list could go on and on, but the point is, this is the perfect time to turn our thoughts to others, as Jesus did for us.

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LOVE IS …

Posted on February 9, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

 

patiencePatience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.  So says the dictionary. Patience also means putting others needs ahead of our own.  It should be so easy, but our natural inclination is to put ourselves first.  After all, that’s what the world tells us to do.

Even when we love someone so much that we’d do anything for them, we often find it hard to be patient with them.  That old sinful nature gets in the way and we almost instinctively deal with our own feelings and needs first.

Often when I ask God to give me patience in a certain situation, He seems to place another roadblock in my path.  I don’t think He’s doing that to frustrate me, but to fine tune me. Patience comes with waiting and we don’t like to wait.  We want everything right now!

We often carry baggage into a relationship so it’s important to take a good look at our own shortcomings.  Sure it’s good to have a solid self-image, but when you truly love someone, your self-image is now intertwined with theirs.  That person becomes the focus of your life.  When they hurt, you hurt.  When they need help, you long to help them.  When they make sacrifices for you, you want to do the same.  When they struggle to succeed, you become their cheerleader.

Patience must be worked on by all of us and it requires an open mind and strong heart.  It also requires help from God.   Put it on your prayer list.  After all, He’s the most patient of anyone.  He’s still waiting for us to put our complete trust in Him.

 

 

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TEN GREAT BIBLE VERSES ON LOVE

Posted on February 8, 2016 by atimetoshare.me
  1. gods-loveSong of Solomon 4:10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
  2. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
  3. John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  4. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
  5. 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  7. Luke 6:35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
  8. 1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
  9. 1 Peter 4:8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
  10. John 15:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

With Valentines Day drawing near, think of the impact these words can have on someone you love.  God’s love is incomprehensible to us, but He lays the groundwork through His Word, the Bible, by showing us how much He loves us.  WOW!

 

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SUPER SUPER HERO

Posted on February 8, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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Another Super Bowl has come and gone and men who are simply much larger, stronger, physically capable than most can now rest on their laurels.  Isn’t it amazing how willing some are to place their hopes and dreams on such qualities?  Unfortunately, these same athletes will be burned out in a few years and their careers will be snuffed out along with their physical capabilities.

Millions of dollars have been spent on the hottest advertising space, but soon something new and more appealing will come along and that product will be replaced.  Sports paraphernalia has been purchased and will be long forgotten in a few months.  Food and drink have been consumed at parties all over the country and the remains are simply a mass of dirty dishes and hangovers.

Super Bowl has become a mega-entertainment industry.  I’m afraid we’ve become saturated with hero-worship and self-interest as a nation.  Everything is instantly available for us in the comfort of our own homes.  We’re amazed by power and strength.  We love being entertained, especially when it’s being provided by someone other than ourselves.  We look up to those who have more prowess than we do.  We admire those who do better than we ever could and often put them on pedestals.

It’s difficult to understand how we can be so hungry for a hero and yet there are still are those who find it difficult to believe in the greatest hero ever to walk the earth.  He was a simple, quiet, humble  man with supernatural powers beyond our understanding- a man who served rather than being served – a brilliant, compassionate man who suffered a horrific death on a torturous cross and overcame death, so all of humanity could obtain freedom from the bonds of sin.

That’s what I call a real Super Hero.

 

 

 

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RANDOM THOUGHT – NOSTALGIA

Posted on February 6, 2016 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART BY PAUL T. BOECHER©

The ravages of winter have all but covered the once fertile fields of this beautiful, old barn, but life still exists within and without.  The memories emanating from my grandparent’s farm continue to remind me of a simpler life – a life without so much complication, worry, derision – just normalcy.  I’m certain that farm living isn’t perfection, but it’s a diversion from what we view as the rat race of the every day.  Maybe that’s why Jesus referred to the farmers and shepherds of His time.  Lots of lessons to be learned – not only about life, but how to live it – not only about God, but all He does through His creation and nature – not only about compassion, but selflessness, hard work and sharing – not what we learn by reading, but by what we actually see occurring in the field.  I could easily spend my remaining days in such a peaceful environment.

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