HOW DO WE AVOID THEM?

Posted on June 27, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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The world has been evil since the first act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden.  Every generation since has become imbedded with Satan and his minions and become more and more corrupt and degenerated.  I don’t like being the gloom and doomer, professing the coming of the end of the world, but it sure looks like it’s upon us when you read the verses in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

We are given key events leading to the end of days, but we are told that we won’t know the time the Lord will return.  He’ll come as a thief in the night – in the moment we least expect him.  It isn’t for us to know, it’s for us to be prepared.

With all the changes in our country’s moral fiber, governmental interference, media misinformation and just plain sin and lazy Christians, we are on the same road most civilizations experience before they go into decline.  We need to wake up!

How do we fix it?  We pray – we try to use the remaining time bringing the good news of Jesus to everyone – we become involved in the fight to bring back our nation to its origins.  We can’t simply sit back and complain.  We are to be in the world, but not of it.

We read that we should stay away from the ungodly, but they need to hear about God’s love too.  We can’t avoid what’s happening.  If we’re to be proud of our country again, we must stand up for its original precepts and design for its success.

Besides, it’s pretty hard to avoid a rainbow header on WordPress,  It’s hard to see sin taking over as it has.  We are not going to change the world we live in, but as a united group of Christians, we can still stand up for our country and fight to bring her back.  In the end God will win.  In the meantime, He has a lot of work for us to do.

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THOSE WHO TRUST IN GOD WILL POSSESS THE LAND

Posted on June 26, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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A day doesn’t seem to go by where we don’t hear about some heinous act of evil.  A week ago we mourned with those in Charleston over their loss.  Today in France we see results of more evil, hateful minds.  The devil is  active even though he’s been defeated by the Son of God.  As followers of Christ, we must never forget that he continues to have the ability to infest souls and infect hearts with his ugly plans to win us back.

The devil is referred to as a roaring lion on the prowl – sneaking around in the shadows, waiting to devour his next victim.  Sometimes we try to diminish his power, but he is still alive and well. We may not see him as vividly as we have in these recent events.  He can wheedle his way into our thoughts, our words and our actions without a problem.  It’s enough to make even the staunchest quiver and fall.  We are all victims.

Our life here on this planet is will be filled with Satan’s influence until we succumb to death.  God has given us a free will.  We can choose to continue living an eternity in  the depths of the evil one’s kingdom. Consider this – hell will be like the news headlines of today multiplied to infinity, with no hope of relief.

The better choice is to trust in the power of God – know that He has taken the sting and finality out of death – provided a room for us in paradise – where the devil will have no power over us again.  Sounds too easy, doesn’t it?  It is!  That’s the beauty of it.

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GOD’S LOVE, MY STRENGTH

Posted on June 25, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

He’s like a whisper on a silent night,
His lofty wings protect me in His sight,

A voice so quiet yet it roars,

My heart ignites, my spirit soars,

He is my strength, my confidence,

Through Him alone lies my defense. 
God of Creation, Redeemer divine,

Your power and your majesty I can call mine,

Through your Holy Spirit, my soul has been freed,

You’ve given me more than I ever could need.
The Father of all things now lives in me,

He’s erased all my sin and iniquity,

He leads me and guides me in all of my ways,

His strength gives me courage for all of my days.
My Savior, my Counselor, Redeemer and friend,

When I walk with you, I cannot comprehend,

All the things I can do. For your strength lives in me,

I am blessed by your love. Your grace sets me free.
KATHY BOECHER©

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I AM INSPIRED

Posted on June 24, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

Before each nerve was sewn, or breath of life inspired,

Before each muscle formed, or potter’s clay was fired,

He knew me even then. His hand was on my heart

He shaped me with His power. With Him I am a part.
The years have withered me. My body groans within,

To see how far we’ve fallen and dwell within our sin.

Though we have been forgiven, we falter every day,

Our faith has been diminished by things we do and say.
Dear, God be by my side as life flows fast away

Refresh me with your living Word and breathe in me today,

Assure me that your precious blood has paid for every sin,

And lead me to your heavenly gate where new life lies within.  

KATHY BOECHER©

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INSPIRE ME

Posted on June 23, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

What does it take to be inspired, especially when it comes to your relationship with God? For me, there are no fireworks, no feeling of physically bonding with my Savior, no Road to Damascus moment like Paul experienced.
When I think of God, I stand in awe of Him. He’s the one to whom I’m accountable. There is more a feeling of reverence and respect than one of looking at Him as my friend. On the other hand, He’s the best friend I could ever have. Even when I reject Him, get angry with Him and don’t understand Him, He is consistently the same.  

I don’t think you need a inspirational awakening when you are devoted to God. He is our Father, our brother and the fire that excites our need to tell others about Him. His message saves lives and renews spirits. When others are inspired by the words, “you are forgiven” and “you are a child of God,” it inspires those receiving the words.
I’ve experienced miracles in my life and each time I knew they came from God, but the true in-breathing – divine inspiration – miraculous moment comes when we include others by giving them a piece of this hope and letting God do the rest.  

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FORGIVEN, ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Posted on June 23, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

  We often tend to give into the devil’s claim that we should wallow in our guilt.  How could God forgive a wretch like me?  I’ve not shown Him the honor He deserves – my life is full of imperfections – even though I want to change, I keep making the same mistakes.

We all fall victim to these misconceptions.  We beat ourselves up with guilt and falling short of God’s expectations.  Many often give up in despair, believing there is no hope of heaven for them, but the book of Hebrews clearly states that Christ did it all for us.  He paid the price with His own blood.  He died once for all.

Still we are deceived into believing that we need to do something to work our way to heaven.  In doing so, we’re really doing a disservice to the work that has already been completed.  This is just how Satan wants us to think.

The perfect sacrifice has been made by the High Priest.  It was the only way whereby our salvation could be won.  Believe it!  It’s true.  Our sins have been forgiven and now we wait for His return – when He will come in all His glory to take us to our heavenly home.  Now is our waiting time – our time of grace – to share that wonderful news with a sin sick world.

Rejoice in this wonderful free gift from God.  Guilt no longer can hold us.  We are free at last!

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HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Posted on June 21, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

  
Most men can father a child, but it takes a certain kind of man to be a dad. Our Heavenly Father gives us the perfect example. He is called Father for a reason. In His infinite love He created a lovely place for us to live – providing for every physical, emotional and spiritual need. All He asked was that we be obedient to Him and trust in His direction for our lives, and yet He gave us a free will to choose. Even in our disobedience, He laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice for His kids.

Dads still provide for the physical and emotional needs of their children, but have often let that spiritual side of things slide. We’ve been directed to train our children in the way they should go – God’s way – but it doesn’t seem as important now.

A truly loving dad will always give his kids the one thing needful to support them in decision making, counseling, relationships, patience, provision. The best gift a father can give to his children comes with no strings – no attachments – no cost. It is a solid foundation that leads your precious offspring to the paradise God originally intended for all of us.  It lies in His Holy Word, the Bible.  Through this message from the Father of the world, we have the gift of life everlasting.
A father’s love can be richly blessed when the Heavenly Father lives in his heart and leads him in his parenting.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 

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HEAL OUR LAND!

Posted on June 19, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

 

 Dear, Lord, it seems that each day brings another story of man’s inhumanity towards others.  Have we become so calloused and numb to the fact that there is a simple solution to this problem?  I know that evil exists and that the devil is running rampant, but I also know that you have already defeated him and if we place our trust in you, we have your promise to heal our land.

Remind us, oh, Lord, that you have our future in your hands.  Our country was founded by men who trusted in you.  I pray that we see a great revival of that same spirit through the power of your Holy Spirit.

Engage us as citizens of this great country, to return to our roots, to trust in you once more and turn from the evil that has infected our land.  Only you can bring us that everlasting peace.

I pray that emotion doesn’t get in the way of common sense, that people learn to help their fellow man once more and that we learn to solve problems without violence.  I trust in your undeserved love in Jesus’ name.

AMEN!

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BRING ON THE KIDS

Posted on June 17, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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The Gospel message is so beautiful in its simplicity.  Our human minds want it to be more.  We want to be able to wrap our intelligence around it and figure it out, but God is so awesome, He’s already done that for us.

Jesus was tired from a long day of preaching.  His disciples held back the crowds so their brother could catch His breath, but that didn’t stop the kids.  They were just as eager as their adult counterparts to see this man who did miracles and spoke amazing stories.  They wanted to be involved.  Jesus chastised His followers for turning them away by saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of God.”

In that statement, God is telling us that He’s available for everyone all the time.  We don’t need to be Bible scholars or have brilliant minds.  We don’t need to figure it out, all we need to do is believe – to have faith in Him.  Our relationship with God should be like that of little children.  They were eager to hear, enthusiastic in their approach and fearless in their desire to be part of hearing the Savior’s words.

It doesn’t take a brain surgeon or a nuclear physicist.  All it requires of us is the simplicity of faith – believing in something we can’t see, but being confident of its existence.  God doesn’t look at our wisdom or our good works and say – “OK, you’re in!”  He tells us to have the faith of a little child and we will surely inherit His kingdom.

It’s so easy – so uncomplicated – so perfect!  Yes, Jesus loves me!!

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HE LOVES ME!

Posted on June 16, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Remember when you were young, pulling the petals off a daisy to determine if someone loved you?  There was always a 50-50 chance that the special someone you wanted to love you did.  The odds weren’t that great, were they?

When we look at our relationship with God, there’s no doubt as to how He feels about us.  He loves us – even though we are unlovable.  He loves us, with all our baggage and ugliness.  When others would betray us – when we are the lowest point in our lives – when we feel the pangs of guilt and shame, He looks beyond our sinful nature and loves us still.

It’s one of the greatest mysteries of all times, but still one of the most beautiful.  From man’s first fall into sin, we were all condemned to an eternity in hell.  Disobedience to the One true God was unforgiveable.  No sacrifice was pure enough.  No amount of good works was sufficient.  The only way to receive forgiveness was for God to do it for us.

That’s why He came to this world in human flesh – like us in every way, except that He was sinless – the unblemished lamb of God.   He took our sin, placed it on His own back, carried it to the cross and died there to redeem us.   He then was resurrected to show us that if we believe in Him, we too will rise from death.

This is the greatest love anyone can have for another – to lay down His life.  God loved us so much that He stretched His arms out to die for all and still held them tightly as His prized possession.

His love is like no other.  It’s perfect in every way.  He loves us!!

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WHEN I GROW WEARY

Posted on June 15, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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There are days when I wonder if I have enough energy to make it through another hour – when my body cries out for relief – when the work continues long after the body has been spent.  Every muscle and ligament is stretched to the limit.  I just plain wear out.  We all experience weariness.  Even the very young will run and play with great energy and all at once collapse and fall asleep.

When we’re tired, the best place to turn for relief is to God, the creator of all things.  He made the earth and all that was in it in only six days, but He rested on the seventh.  We can find rest in Him.  He has promised to lift us up and renew our strength.  Our life can find new vigor in His words to us through the prophet Isaiah.  When our hope lies in Him, we will soar like the eagles, even on our most difficult days.

Thank you, Lord, for always giving me more than I need.  Your promises are never empty.  You provide for my physical well- being as well as my spiritual strength.  I praise your holy intervention in my life.  Amen.

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REJOICE IN YOUR GIFTS

Posted on June 13, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

I wrote this last June after the completion of my children’s performance.  It still fits as we close another show tonight.

Every time my little group of young, aspiring actors complete a show, it makes my heart swell with pride. Not only because of their hard work and accomplishment, but the fact that they have discovered something within themselves that they didn’t know existed.
God has blessed each of us with certain gifts – some may have the ability to be encouragers, while others possess a good work ethic. Some have the talent to be great writers, musicians, artists. There are those who reach the top rung of the ladder of success when it comes to knowledge.
All of us are capable of greatness in our lives if we look at our abilities as opportunities to express the handiwork of our Creator. The talents bestowed on us are meant to be shared. To keep them to ourselves is in fact being selfish.
Be generous with your talents. Spread them around. You will reap benefits beyond your imagination, but remember to give the glory to the one who gave them to you!

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ON WITH THE SHOW

Posted on June 11, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Tonight I am blessed to see the fruit of five months of hard, yet fun, work with a group of young actors.  As with any important endeavor, the result is often the greatest reward, but we must never forget who is behind everything we do.

Holy God, I entrust my students to your tender care.  You have given each of them talents, confidence, and ability.  I have grown to love each of them as my own and want only the best for them.  Be with them tonight as they reap the benefits of their hard work.  Help me and them to realize that whatever we do, you have ordered it and it is to you whom we should dedicate it.  You’ve allowed these dear children to learn the importance of working together as a team.  You alone give them the skills to work through problems in a sensible and kind way, by putting others before themselves.  Help us remember that you are the source of all good things and that with you beside us, all things are possible.  Amen

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NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

Posted on June 8, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Solomon spent a lifetime chasing the wind.  In all his years of wealth, fulfillment and pleasure, he continued to struggle with the meaning of life.  I do too.  I often wonder why we go through difficulties.  Why do we have to get sick?  Why do we suffer financial problems?  Why must we watch loved ones endure pain and death?  Why aren’t there enough jobs to go around?  Why is there so much corruption in our nation’s leaders?

It seems funny that Solomon would have to worry about anything.  He had it all.  He had servants to attend to his every need.  He had more money and status than anyone alive at his time.  He could party until the cows came home?  His harem was full and so were his coffers.

No matter what we accomplish on this side of heaven, it won’t mean a thing when we face our Lord and Judge on that final day.  The same One who will judge us, has already paid the price.   All that is required of us is to repent of our sins and follow Him.  Still, even the super heroes of the Bible had doubts, fears, questions and a lack of faith.

It seems too easy to most folks.  It’s natural for us to want to be involved in our salvation, but this is one area we have no control over.  God is so much in love with us that He was willing to demonstrate it by placing Himself on a cross.   He suffered death, but His power resurrected Him, just as He will do for us when we die.

A new life awaits us when we let go of things under the sun and focus on the true Son!

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THE WEEKEND – AT LAST

Posted on June 6, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Well, you’ve made it through another week.  You may not have accomplished everything on your plate, but you came through reasonably unscathed.  Now it’s time for some rest and relaxation, but before that take a moment to thank God for your ability to get out of bed this morning.  Thank Him for breathing the breath of life into your nostrils for another day.  Thank Him for the sunshine that seeps through your window.  Thank Him for this day of rest and replenishment.  Thank Him for your provision. Thank Him for your health, strength and mind.  In other words – give thanks!

We have so much to be thankful for, even beyond our own physical needs.  We have been blessed with a direct line of communication with the Creator of the universe.  The One who crafted us before we were born is available to us 24/7.  Can you even imagine how cool that is – to be in unencumbered relationship with God?  No baggage, no requirements – except that we repent and believe that He has done the work we are unable to.  Wow! I’d say that’s  reason enough to be thankful.

Have a great Saturday!

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IT’S FRIDAY!

Posted on June 5, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Well the work week is over – that is unless, you work on weekends, are a parent, a caretaker or any other job that means you work all the time.  We look forward to the weekends, because we can catch up on things that didn’t get done during the week.  How did that to-do list work out for you – the one you wrote on Monday?  I don’t even bother to write them anymore.  Every day of life is filled with things that don’t fit on that list.  If we had to write down every interruption, we’d throw it away in frustration.

Some things are never going to get done and that’s OK, as long as the necessary things do.  I’m not talking about the mounds of laundry, the weeds in the garden, the dishes in the sink or the dust mounting up on the furniture.  The important stuff includes spending time with God in prayer or in just meditating over His Word – sharing the love He’s shown you with someone else – being kind to others – not giving up – finding good in every situation – trusting in God’s unfailing attention to every detail of your life, down to the second.

With Him at the helm – every day can be a new beginning.  There will always be tomorrow.

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WEDNESDAY – NEW DAY

Posted on June 3, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Dr. Seuss was a word master.  Within his fun little verses he held great wisdom.   We all have a choice which direction we choose for our lives.  Choice is not just a term used for selfish reasons, it can be life changing.  Take Wednesdays for example.  You can look at this day two ways – as being that much closer to the weekend or as having completed two days of something good.

Yesterday I enjoyed weeding one small section of my hillside garden.  My old body isn’t as agile as it used to be and traversing the terraced terrain was intimidating at times.  By the end of the day, my bones ached and my lungs were full of dirt, but I had a sense of accomplishment.  No one was standing over me as a task master forcing me to do it.  I was doing it because it was a perfect day – I get great personal satisfaction pulling out the deep roots of those nasty weeds – I also enjoy the time I have to reflect on things.

Today I woke up with sore muscles, but with a better attitude.  We can choose which direction life takes us.  God has blessed us with amazing brains and bodies.  We can really often do more than we think we physically can.  Other days our bodies loudly say “no” and we choose not to.

When it comes to our salvation we also have a choice.  We can choose to accept that God doesn’t think twice about saving us – or we can continue to live under the guilt of sin and believe there is no hope for us.  Whether it’s the beginning of the week, the middle or the end, we can count on God to walk with us every day.  It’s a great choice.

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HOW DID MONDAY WORK OUT FOR YOU?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Yesterday I talked about Mondays being a chance to start fresh.  Actually it’s good to set goals, plan ahead, look forward, but most importantly look up.  If we try to accomplish even the simplest of tasks alone, we’re setting ourselves up for failure.  God wants us to rely on Him in every situation.

No matter how many lists we write – plans we make – goals we set – things are so much easier when we aren’t alone in doing them.  I may have great intentions on Monday, but life doesn’t always cooperate.  Things get in the way of the doing – an unexpected phone call, a forgotten meeting, a set of keys locked in the car, a road block or detour that takes you in a different direction.  We can’t completely regiment our lives with a preconceived schedule.

We shouldn’t beat ourselves up if we don’t get those things done, but put them back on the list for another day.  We shouldn’t feel defeated, but trust that God’s plan is so much better.  Any delay can be construed as an opportunity in His eyes.  An interruption might lead us to helping others.  Maybe God wants to use us in a different way than we intended  at that moment.

Our walk with Jesus is like a work in progress.  We don’t magically wake up Christian.  It takes commitment, dedication, sacrifice, work and a whole lot more.  Once we learn to let go of our own desires and interests and turn everything over to the One who made us, the burdens of life become more bearable.  They aren’t going to go away, but we’ll be able to endure them. Even when we fail, He’ll be right there to lift us up again.

So trust in Him.  He will lead you to your final destination.

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MYSTERY

Posted on May 31, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

Many stories and books have been written with mystery being the genre.  Most of the time the mystery is solved by the last page or, if you’re very clever, before the story ends.

God’s book, the Bible, includes some mysteries as well.  There is the mystery of the conception of Jesus – women conceiving and baring children beyond menopause -a man being swallowed up up a whale and living to tell about it – a natural disaster that consumed all but eight of the earth’s human beings – and on and on.

One such unexplainable mystery is the trinity of God.  How can there be three distinct Gods and yet only one God?  How can the Father and Son be the same entity?  Isn’t it a lie for God to command us to love only one God and still He is three separate entities?  All of these are pressing questions that weigh on those who think they are dealing with someone who is on the same plane as them.

God is far superior to us.  He’s the One who created us, so His intellect is far beyond our understanding.  The minute we try to figure Him out, we are trying to set ourselves above Him.

What we can do is accept the trinity as His amazing truth through faith – which is really the source of our relationship with Him anyway.  The evidence of His trinity is hidden within the pages of His Word and will be revealed to us fully when we meet Him face to face.  For now, just believe Him when He tells you something is true.  You can trust Him.  He is the Holy Three in One!

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MY SHEPHERD JESUS

Posted on May 30, 2015 by atimetoshare.me

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Slowly crossing the sands of time –  into a pasture green sublime.

I’ll rest my feet and wet my lips, with waters clear and cold that grips.

Through danger I will walk with Him.  He guards me from each foolish sin.

He takes my hand and leads me now to comfort me and show me how

to live my life and live it right and when I stray He sets me right.

When my own final hour comes near, I’ll face my death with no more fear.

I’ll trust in His unfailing love – which He bestows from up above.

With Him in paradise I’ll live.  He promised me He did forgive

each one of my transgressions.

Kathy Boecher©

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