BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING

Posted on October 22, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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In Romans 12:12 God tells us to be patient in our suffering.  This seems like a lot to ask, but when we think of what our Jesus had to go through it really isn’t.  Our suffering here is nothing compared to what He had to endure.

Still – we are merely humans and prone to imperfection so it isn’t easy for us to go through times of trial patiently.  We want to be able to control all areas of our lives, but occasionally we need to be reminded of who is in charge.

Depending on God isn’t as easy as it sounds  even for those who have become dependent on others to help them through some physical difficulty or impairment.  Something called “pride” often gets in the way.  We all love our independence, but there are times when we really need help.  That’s where the rest of this passage comes into play.

We have the hope that our problems and trials in this life are only temporary and if we ask for God’s help we are promised that we will get it.  The answers to prayer may not always seem to be the ones we wanted, but we can rest assured that God has our backs.  He will always be with us.

When things look hopeless, don’t lose hope in the One who gives  relief.  He is our constant companion in good times as well as the difficult ones.

Lord, often when I pray for patience, I am faced with another road block.  When I am surrounded by indecision, fear, hopelessness – help me to remember that You are my only hope.  I come to you today and ask that you help those who call on your name and give me the confidence that you will answer our prayers.  Amen!

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GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

Posted on October 21, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

gratitude

You may be a victim of domestic violence.  You might hold some deep dark secret that would condemn you if the world knew about it.  You may be in the throes of addiction.  Why on earth would you thank God?  Your life isn’t worth a nickel and God wants you to thank Him?

There is so much pain and sorrow in our world.  Many are at the ends of their rope because of it.  There are times when depression leads to suicide.  It may seem easier to just end it all when we can’t cope any longer.  Christians are being persecuted on a daily basis – not only in far off lands, but right here in the USA.  We are confronted with illness and even death – financial loss – indecision, hopelessness and despair.

God is worthy of our praise no matter what our circumstances.  He doesn’t cause our suffering – He is the One who relieves it.  He doesn’t kick us when we’re down – He lifts us out of the pit and carries us through adversity.  His love is so great that He laid down His life for us and promises perfection in eternity – no more tears or sorrow – no more pain.

Give thanks to Him in all circumstances – not because it is required of us, but because He is worthy of our gratitude.  He is our Heavenly Father who has only our best interests in mind.  He is the Son who showed us how to live and freely gave us forgiveness of all our sins.  He is the Holy Spirit who lives in us and gives us encouragement, faith, peace and zeal for God.

Give thanks to Him today and every day – in good times and in bad.

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My Shepherd, Jesus!

Posted on October 20, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

driving-green-pastures-with-sheep

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

Posted in aging, Encouragemet, Faith | 2 Comments

SPECIAL TIME WITH SOMEONE SPECIAL

Posted on October 19, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

grandchildren

There is something amazing about being a grandparent. It doesn’t only have to do with pride and a feeling of accomplishment, but is almost like having a second chance at motherhood.

My grand daughter and I had a special time this weekend.  We started out with a reading of our next play – in which she is one of the actors.  Then we went to lunch – a movie (with snacks) – shopping – and then out for dinner.  Funny how food always seem to play an important part in our relationship.

She will soon be twelve and I have to savor every moment we’ve shared over these years, because I know from experience, that once a child becomes a teenager, they don’t often hold the same esteem for their elders. Hopefully, we have created a bond a long time ago.  I’ve had the opportunity to hug and cuddle her when she was an infant – to watch her stumble as she took her first steps – saw her spunky personality develop and her enchanting smile become a permanent fixture on her face.

Entering the “tweens” holds lots of new things for children.  My one hope for this special young lady is that she will always rely on God for help in any of the problems she faces in  life.  I pray for her and my grandsons each  day and know that God will direct their lives.

Dear Lord, watch over these special young people.  Give them the hope of unconditional love, which you dish out so generously.  Protect them from the evil that infests the world and hold them tightly in the palm of your hand.

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” ~Alex Haley

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GREAT BLOGGERS

Posted on October 17, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

I haven’t been blogging for too long – about 6 months – but I have found some new friends with similar beliefs as myself.  Someday I would like to meet them all in person.  Their words have inspired, encouraged and lifted me up many times:

Levi Thetford, MZ Presser, Motivating Giraffe, Light for Life Inspirations, The true light and Beautiful Life with Cancer.  I have many more favorites, but these are on top of my list.  Check them out.

Kathy

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

DOES HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

Posted on October 17, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Nothing-New-Under-The-Sun

Think of what it was like in the 16th century, before the printing press was invented.   Folks had to rely on word of mouth for their information and  by the time they got it, it was so muddled, it was far from the truth.  (Actually pretty much like today’s news and information services.)

In those days, people were concerned about having enough food to eat.  They relied n the sweat of their brows to get the work done.  They feared  invasion  by warring nations.  Most of them had never read God’s Word.  Most of them didn’t know how to read.  (Sad to say some of our high school graduates have slipped through the cracks and can’t read either.)

The rich got rich and the poor got poorer  (also something like the news of our day as well.)

There were no great health care facilities.  Doctors were few and far between.  The average life expectancy was 40 years of age and if you were wealthy you might live ten more.   We are now living longer, have superior health care, but still don’t know how to contain communicable diseases – and there isn’t a cure for the common cold.

Have we made progress?  If you’re a history buff, you will soon see that it continues to repeat itself.  The passage of time often reveals that there is nothing new in the world.  Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to address that very thought.

Time goes swiftly by, but nothing really changes.  There will always be battles between good and evil.  There will always be wars and rumors of wars.  We face difficult weather, painful diseases, loss of money, jobs and some of our freedom.   We have Bibles in our homes and on our I-pads, but how often are they opened?  Is there any hope for a brighter future?

Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.  Our desire for  paradise is beyond the grave.  Until then take advantage of the treasure available in the Holy Bible.  It contains the real secret to success.

 

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LOOK AHEAD!

Posted on October 17, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

 inspirational-quotes

I’ve come to the end busy week in my world.  It started with my final week of coaching almost 90 kids in the fine art of public speaking.  It has been fun watching them develop their skills and to hear them say they were now feeling more confident about speaking in front of their classmates.  What a big step for them.

I’ve also spent most of the week revising and retyping a play I wrote a while back.  Tomorrow we will read through it and it will come to life once more.

When we complete a task and push forward to use it in some way, we are opening doors we never thought we’d be able to.

This is true in our walk with Christ as well.  He gives us some great tools in His Word.  It’s all there for us – words of encouragement, inspiration, hope, joy, peace and so on.  He gives us the reason to push ahead.

Some times and things are more difficult.  We feel trepidation, fear, anxiety and helplessness in venturing out of our comfort zone.  We don’t want to let go of  things that hold us back.  We lose sight of what lies ahead.

When I was in sales, I remember hearing the phrase – “The hardest door to open is your own.”  Our own insecurity is one of  the hardest things to overcome, but when Jesus is with us, we can do great things.

My students now have some tools too and they will succeed (not by what I have taught them) with the courage to look beyond their limitations.  God does that for us with every opportunity we approach in our lives.

Thank you, dear Lord, for opportunities of growth in our lives.  Give us the courage to look ahead instead of back to our final destination – Heaven!  Amen

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Time for a Kathy rant

Posted on October 16, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

It sounds like fodder for a novel. Espionage, corruption, criminal border crossings, a market for sex slavery, information breaches, drug cartels, the rapid spread of a communicable disease, unemployment, failed government intervention and bailouts of large corporations, a flawed health care system, a U.S. embassy under siege and overtaken with no US assistance, more folks receiving food stamps and welfare checks than ever before, misuse of the Internal Revenue Service, a questionable Secret Service Agency and the giving way to political correctness instead of questioning motives.

Our POTUS has had plenty of time to show that he is worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, but it seems he has also managed to undermine the strength of our nation in the name of peace. We have opened our doors to everyone including those who would do us harm. There are terrorists in our infrastructure. They have jobs, cars, money and they don’t even have to show an ID when they turnout to vote.

I have never felt so disturbed or concerned about the state of our country than I do now. This is not because we have a black president? I really believed we were going to heal as a nation under a black president, but it seems he has done more to hurt this issue than to help it. My biggest concern is that we have a president who doesn’t seem to care about his employers – the citizens of this great country.

It seems we can always find something to complain about when it comes to the person In charge. We complain about the Senate and Congress as well. That sort of thing has been going on for decades, but it seems to me that we have a right to complain when the job is being handled poorly.

Our voices can be heard on Election Day, but even elections are corrupted. It’s hard to know who to trust anymore.

We could throw up our hands in despair, or we can turn to the One who instituted government and has His hand on it. He will never let us down.

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OH HOLY SPIRIT – LIGHT DIVINE

Posted on October 15, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

 Holy Spirit

There’s much to be said for having enthusiasm and boldness in sharing God’s Word, but sometimes that excitement can be misinterpreted – sometimes we forget who is really responsible for changing hearts and bringing unbelievers to Christ.

He gave His disciples the task of spreading His truth, but He also said they wouldn’t be doing it alone.  He promised to be with them.  He wasn’t referring to being physically with them, but through His Holy Spirit.  We often give the Holy Spirit too little credit and like to think WE are responsible for converting others.

This is when we have to be reminded of God’s Holy Trinity.  He is One God, but consists of three separate entities.  Not only is this a tough concept to grasp, most folks don’t even bring it up because we can’t explain it.  It’s one of those subjects that requires complete faith.  We have to brush human understanding under the rug and trust in what God has to say to us through His Word.

We must be cautious in our zeal.  Jesus commissioned His people to do His work here on earth, but He didn’t tell them to hammer it home.  He delivered His message, while here, in a gentle way.  He didn’t stand on a soapbox or use majestic speech to win hearts.  He came in peace and kindness.  He approached those who were so desperately lost in sin and gave them rest.

I think we can come on too strong when we ourselves have been so blessed by Him.  I also believe it can become “me” driven at times and we may even turn it into something we feel we have to do to gain His favor.  There is nothing we can do to gain our way to heaven.  If we got what we deserved, we wouldn’t have anything to look forward to except the pangs of hell.  Because of what HE has done, we have been gifted with eternal life.  It’s all HIM!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

GOOD or EVIL

Posted on October 14, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

 James_4-7

Many of you are probably too young to remember the Looney Tune characters Tweety and Sylvester.  Tweety was a caged canary and Sylvester a hungry cat.  Each time the cat would approach the cage, he had a battle with good and evil.  Two little Sylvesters sat on his shoulders.  The one on the right was good and the other evil.  They were dressed in angel and devil attire.  Then the battle would begin.  Should he eat the canary or not.  The good guy usually prevailed.

We all face similar battles every day of our existence.  We are faced with choices which are often made with the help of our conscience (the good guy) – while the bad guy, Satan pushes us away from God.  It may seem a simple concept to some, but it’s something that is born into every human being.  Even the sociopath was once had a conscience.

If we arm ourselves with  all the ammunition in the Bible, we can push the bad guy out of our lives and he might leave us alone for a while – but it’s something we must do daily.  Satan wants us for his own – but his weakness lies in God’s Word.  Even Jesus used it to fight him off in the wilderness.

Precious, Jesus, shield me today with the armor of your Holy Word.  Keep me focused on its truth and allow me to share it with those who need you in their lives today.  Amen!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

SECRETS

Posted on October 14, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

I started writing a novel a few years ago.  Sometimes you have to put your writing away for a while and brood over it.  It’s in my head – I just haven’t had the time to sit down and finish it.   I just opened it again and here are a few of the first few paragraphs:

It was raining of course. It always rained when there was a funeral. At least it did in provincial little town of Atkin’s Corners. God seems to know that farm people don’t show much emotion in public, so it was up to Him to provide the tears when people passed from this world. Today was one of those days.

A parade of broken down cars and rickety old pick-up trucks wound slowly down the old country road led by a long black hearse. It was the same dilapidated limousine that carried folks to their final destination for more than 50 years. It was a miracle that rusted monster could still make it the ten miles from town.

The small cemetery was home to generations dating back to the 1800’s. The place didn’t get a lot of use anymore since most Atkin’s Corners high school graduates couldn’t wait to move to the big city the minute they received a diploma. Those who remained were getting cremated instead of buried now. The world was changing in so many ways. Cremation never used to seem the right thing to do. People always felt it necessary to say goodbye to a empty shell, even though the spirit of that body was no longer there.

The grave waited to receive the casket. The pall bearers gently retrieved it from its temporary home in the hearse and set it atop the waiting bier. There were no more than a dozen mourners; all full of grief but devoid of tears. The rain made up for them. The tracks of the tire treads quickly filled with water to prove that fact.

Reverend Albright tried to comfort with words from the Good Book but nothing seemed to placate this stoic crowd.  Funerals were a fact of life, just like milking the cows and paying your taxes. Only funerals were kind of like social events too. They gave folks a chance to talk about their loved ones in ways they rarely did. Somehow the deceased had attained instant success just because they were dead.

Most folks knew this lady – a fragile woman of 76 – who spent the majority of her years covering the secrets of her youth.  The trouble she wandered into in every stage of her life, brought her nothing but shame and humiliation.  Her body now gave way to death, but the secrets would live on.

Posted in aging, Life, reflections, Religion, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

WHAT’S YOUR LEGACY?

Posted on October 13, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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We all have a certain amount of drama in our lives.  Many have more than most.  Some lead rather normal lives and some never experience anything dramatic at all.  When you think about it, everything in our lives has some element of drama.

We are living out a story to pass on as a legacy to those we leave behind.  Did you ever think of it that way?  The lives we live today will represent us when we die.  What people remember most about us – what our accomplishments were – what we believed in – what we contributed to society.

We all have different roles in the scheme of things.  We all serve a purpose in progressing the story.  We are not merely pawns on a chess board, advancing to our goal  but living, breathing human beings with strong emotions and deep beliefs.

What is your purpose in life?  Do you have goals that will determine your future?  Do you live for today or is your focus on the hereafter?  We all have times when we think we have control over our lives – that we determine our futures – that we can go it alone.

We are not merely characters in a play.  God has a wonderful plan for everyone in creation.  His direction – His wisdom – His enduring love and grace – are all elements which can give us purpose.  He will guide us through trials, fear and doubt.  He will lift us out of the pit of depression.  He will protect us when the world seems too difficult for us to understand.  Our God is an awesome God.  He is our greatest heritage.   Pass it on!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in your Word

Posted on October 12, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

A book rests idly on a table gathering dust.
It’s easy to see that it has been ignored for some time.
The pages are dog-eared and worn out, but the content hasn’t changed.
Notes are scribbled in the margins – phrases underlined.

This is no ordinary book. It’s stood the test of time.
The words hold meaning still today.
The book is merely pages bound with leather on its spine.
Withered and torn it still can show the way.

The content of this book remains the same as it did so long ago.
As our mother strained dimmed eyes to read each precious word.
It is a gift from God’s Himself. His words through men did flow.
Inspired by Him, they penned each truth. His voice was all they heard.

Lord, you have made your truth available and free.
Now help me to remain so tightly intertwined with You,
Through this tangible, unchangeable love letter sent from You to me.
Through it my life is ever changed and others can be too.

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in your Word

MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

Posted on October 12, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

angels

I can’t help wondering how my guardian angel is doing.  I’ve lived for over seventy years and given that angel a run for his money.  I’m convinced he earns his wings over and over every day.  I imagine him to look pretty beat up from fending off the dangers that often beset me.  His hair is most likely completely fried or he doesn’t have any.  He has bags under his bloodshot eyes.  His hands tremble more than mine do and he definitely needs a chiropractor.

I do believe that God sends His angels to watch over us and that they sometimes appear to us in human form.  We might see them on a street corner, begging for money.  They could be knocking on our front door to tell us our house is on fire.  They might be there at just the moment when your at the end of your rope financially or spiritually. Many times we turn away and ignore them.

Mine has protected me through many difficulties.  There was the time I drove my car home with a broken axle.  I even turned a corner without it falling apart.  There was the time we had no money for Christmas presents and very little for food and someone placed a package of frozen beef on our car while my husband’s boss wrote a bonus check for my husband – the only one written that year.  There was the time when I felt my life drifting away as my blood pressure put me into shock.  When it seemed that we might not find a place to live, a friend provided a home for us

I could go on and on about all the times when we’ve been smiled upon by God and His angels, but it would take a whole book to cover them.  The point is that we never know when we might meet one.

Not only are we given God’s protection through His angels, we are brothers and sisters of the King of the Angels – Jesus.  WOW!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Walking with Jesus

Posted on October 11, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Footprints in the sand

pressed deeply by two sets of feet.

They have a purpose in walking side by side.

But when one set disappears it easy to see,

by the weight carried by those lone prints,

that one has lifted the other and carried him when he could no longer walk alone.

The burdens that the one carried are now placed on the back of the other.

Not only does He carry the burdens – He lifts the other to a perfect peace.

JESUS!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, jpoetry/prose, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

COLUMBUS DAY

Posted on October 11, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Columbus Day Ships

I remember the days leading up to Columbus Day when I was a child in elementary school.  We’d draw pictures of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.  We were told stories of how people viewed the world as flat and if they were to sail too far, they would fall off the edge.  We thought of the man, Columbus as a hero of sorts.  He paved the way for more discovery – the dawn of the Renaissance in Europe – and the spread of Christianity.

The truth of this man and his discoveries has been hidden from the history books for quite a while now.  In fact many of the early discoveries have become tainted with stories of greed, removing natives from their own land, brutally taking what wasn’t theirs.  The stories I looked forward to as a child have been corrupted and in some cases men like Christopher Columbus have become villains.  I think we  need to take a look at the history books our children are reading today.  They, like much in our world, have been polluted considerably.

What was the purpose of these early ventures by courageous?  The major trade routes of the time were controlled by the Islamic Ottoman Empire which dealt in the slave trade as well as piracy on the open seas.  In order for Europe to trade with the east, they needed to find a different way to get there.

Exploration of an unknown always holds a bit of excitement along with a great deal of trepidation.  Each day we are faced with things we may have never thought of doing.  We can think of it as an adventure or we can hide from the possibilities we might find.  We can push ahead with no fear, or we can shun what lies beyond our own front door.  Sometimes it takes great courage just get out of bed in the morning.

God tells us in His Word, to be strong and courageous.  He promises to be with us in all that we do.  With that in mind, we can do anything – even discovering what lies beyond our comfort zone.

I still consider Columbus a great man, but my greatest hero is the One who gave His life for me – Jesus, Christ.

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NOT GUILTY!

Posted on October 9, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

When you’re raising a family, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. As a young mother, I often felt overwhelmed with tons of menial tasks which seemed to sap my energy. I felt guilty for not spending enough time with my children. I felt guilty having a sink full of dirty dishes and laundry piled up to the ceiling. I felt guilty for not having a quality moment with my husband.

Guilt – guilt – guilt! It can eat away at your self confidence. It can devour you and throw you into a pit of despair. It can swallow up and spit out your faith.

I think this is one of the devil’s most insidious tools. He wants us to think we are unworthy of any kind of forgiveness or love. As soon as he grips us with these thoughts, he as gained a small victory.

Praise God that He has provided the answer for this ugly feeling. He sent His own Son – Himself in the flesh – to take all this guilt off our shoulders and bear it for us. Each of our sins has been washed away through His suffering and death. He did this willingly because of His love for us. What a friend we have In Jesus!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

HAVE WE SHORTCHANGED OUR YOUNG WOMEN?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

When the Feminist Movement got underway in the 60’s, women applauded the rights they demanded.  They burned their bras in protest.  They shed all evidence of the things they felt were binding them or holding them back.  Their cry for equality was loud and clear and set the stage for what would become a total different society.

Women, up to that point in time, were considered by some as second class citizens.  Their career opportunities were limited.  Society had loosened the reins somewhat and didn’t frown nearly as much on women working outside the home, but the stigma was still there.

We’ve come a long way, baby – or have we?  Today women hold high positions in almost every area of the “civilized” world.  They run large companies – they hold political office (and we may eventually see one in the White House) – their career paths are endless.

The Feminist Movement made a huge impact on society.  Many women now make more money than their male counterparts.  Women take time off to have babies, but soon reliquish the actual raising of that child to a nanny.  Women can choose to have babies or to abort them because it isn’t convenient.  Young women soon learn that power equals sex and morals are a thing of the past as long as you have protection.  Girls can physically become boys if the want to.  Women may be treated as equal, but they are no longer revered or treasured as God intended them to be.

Our young girls need to know they have value – not only to their parents, but to the One who created them.  They  are precious human beings who have been created in a way that allows them to produce new life, but they also contribute to the success of their children by encouraging them and instilling in them God’s truth.  They have dignity, strength, a compassionate spirit, tender hearts, the ability to encourage and inspire and so much more.  God did not create women for man’s pleasure, but as an extension of him.   We are all equal in His sight.

I am not against feminism, but I think there are limits and I also believe we have done a great disservice to the young girls who will someday become women.  Maybe the old ways aren’t so bad.

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

FAIRY TALES OR TRUTH?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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I grew up on fairy tales.  These stories filled my brain with hopes of finding the perfect mate, the wonderful life, the answers to all my dreams and hopes.  Unfortunately, those stories were also filled with fearful characters that got in the way of the protagonist.  There were ogres, evil stepmothers, dragons, frightening villains of all sorts.

Life can be that way too.  We begin our days filled with anticipation and desire for perfection.  On the road to fulfilling those dreams, we encounter all kinds of obstacles.  We soon find that our fairy tale existence isn’t what we thought it would be.  We try again and run into the same conflicts – over and over and over again.  Why can’t things just fall into place like we want them to?

I have found another book which may seem to be another treasury of fairy stories.  It is a book filled with the biographies of underdogs, kings, queens, the very rich and the poverty stricken, the sick, the weak, the abused, the physically strong, helpless victims, the obsessive compulsive, the paranoid and those who would easily sell their soul to the devil to get what they want.

The characters in this book face real and sometimes impossible circumstances.  They carried on in adversity –  they looked up instead of back – they became stubborn when they thought they knew better – they accomplished great fetes of strength – they rose out of the depths of despair and made successes of a life that seemed doomed to destruction – some of them gave up and tried to follow their own path.

This book has been accused of being filled with fantastic stories that are nothing more than fairy tales, but  it contains more truth than this world will ever know.  It was written by the pen of ordinary men, but the true author is God Himself.  He breathed His words into men and we can be convinced that they are truth.

The Bible is our greatest heritage.  It contains His thoughts and words.  It is a manual for life that far exceeds any self-help book out there.  It is a book for every man, woman and child.  The stories are not merely examples of the perfect life. They lead to the perfect life.  If you want a really good read – dust off and open that Bible which has been collecting dust on your coffee table.  Make it your goal to devour every bit of it on a daily basis.  It is not a fairy tale.  It is truth!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WORK, LABOR, JOB, EMPLOYMENT, TASKS, ETC., ETC., ETC.

Posted on October 6, 2014 by atimetoshare.me


“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”  Robert Frost

Many of the railroads in our country were cut through mountain sides and across wide rivers with simple tools, dynamite and many strong men who lost their lives in the process.  Many of the original buildings that lined the city streets in the 1800s are still standing while the ones built in the past few years have already been replaced.  Some of the old barn buildings have stood the test of time as well.

Physical labor has given way to computer technology and now muscles are growing weak and minds are engaged in ways of making work easier by replacing people with machines.

In a nation like the United States, we don’t think much about contagious diseases – we have the CDC to watch out for our health.  We don’t worry about our roads.  We have the Department of Transportation to handle that.  We may be concerned about identity theft, but the FDIC will help us out.  Our government can help in almost every area of our lives, except with our salvation – though sometimes I think they may even think they can do that.

No matter how hard we try to avoid working, we still have to face the fact that in order to earn a buck, we should work for it.  There are those who would rather sit by and let someone else do it, but work is part of our existence.  The minute we allow others to take care of us financially, we open the door to laziness, dependence, unnecessary neediness, entitlement and so much more.  God blessed man with the ability to work by designing the body with strong muscles and a mind that could figure things out.  He placed Adam as the caretaker of his paradise.

Thank you, Lord for giving us the ability to work well into our older years.  I know many are struggling to find jobs and are willing to work, but there are those who take advantage of the system and let others do their share.  Help us grow strong as a nation once more, by flexing our muscles and digging in to the work that still needs to be done.  Amen.

 

 

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments