My life so far has been a great opportunity for me to grow closer to God. I consider it my time of grace. God has been patient with me. He knew before I did that I would have moments of doubt, times of worry and fear, feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. He waited.
He knew that I needed to figure things out, but He didn’t rush me or force me into formulating what I believe, He knew the mistakes I made, the foolish choices, the worldly ideas that started to infiltrate my mind and still He waited.
Sometimes, in our zeal to bring others to faith, we push too hard. We let our own thoughts overpower the work that God has no problem doing. What we should do is plant the seed and allow God to nurture it and bring in the harvest. We need to be patient and wait for results, just like He is with us. He waits.
One of the best things we can do while living is to trust that God has already laid out a plan for us. With Him beside us, we can make a difference. We may never see the results in our lifetime, but the impression we make while living will go on through future generations. The things we do to glorify Him, how we treat others, our encouragement, words and actions will not go unnoticed. The waiting will be over as we enter His kingdom, where He waits with open arms.
Encouragement Is like oxygen. By giving it we are allowing others to breathe.
The Weeble was invented in 1971 by toy company, Hasbro. They are a variety of children’s roly-poly toys. They’re still available on the market under the Playskool brand. These egg-shaped toys are weighted at the center of the bottom, allowing the toy to tip, but bounce back to the upright position. It entertained children for a while, but they soon became frustrated when the toy refused to stay down. Maybe that toy had some influence on their work ethic in the years to come. It showed them that no matter how many bumps or bruises we take in life, we can always get up and start all over again.
After a while though we often get more than frustrated when the punches keep coming. We feel sort of like a punching bag that has seen better days. Our exterior is wearing out. Our insides are weakening. Eventually all the air comes out of us, and we’re flattened. All that punching is bound to have an effect on us. Blow after blow changes us. We can become sarcastic, uncaring, hard skinned, victimized – or we can bounce back up and start all over again. A strong person will live this way. Being a Christian creates a protective shell allowing us to bounce back. This isn’t to say becoming a Christian protects us from the perils of life. We’re capable of muddling through life a lot better.
This life is temporary. There will be struggles. Even if you possess great wealth there will be problems. I believe that God allows those issues into our lives to draw us closer to Him – to convince us that He’s in control of everything – to refine us into the perfect life which lays ahead.
“You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Yesterday we were invited to attend a baby shower as a family. The new arrival is expected at any time. Anticipation for this event had been highlighted by a quick visit from our South Carolina and Illinois family. Little did we know, the shower turned into a surprise sixtieth anniversary celebration for Paul and me. We entered the event center and were greeted by friends from churches we’ve attended, the art and theatre communities and family. How they kept this secret was amazing. We were even more surprised when my only sibling came to hug us, all the way from Nashville.
Sixty years ago, we were getting ready to pledge our lives to each other. Yesterday, we got a chance to look back at those years and thank God for each wonderful person who has touched them, a family that loves each other to the moon and back and a lifetime filled with love, laughter, tears and struggles. So much has happened during those years and will carry on through the years to come through the next generations.
Thanks to each one who was there to celebrate with us. Thanks to all who participated in the planning and keeping a secret. Thanks to God, the thread that binds us all together. As we danced (sitting down) to our song, “Misty,” as tears fell. Happy tears. Reminders of all we’ve shared and will continue to share in eternity.
The simplicity of the Gospel often boggles the mind. We are expected to believe something extraordinary – inconceivable – impossible. We delude ourselves into thinking there has to be more to it than just a childlike faith, but the truth is that God in His infinite wisdom laid out His plan for humanity so many years ago – simply.
We were created by Him – we need His divine intervention because of our inherited sin. He loves us so much that He came to us in human flesh to teach, admonish and die for us. He rose from death showing His power over it. He returned to heaven to prepare a perfect place for us to spend eternity with Him.
Too simple, some might say. Isn’t there something we should be doing to speed up the process – to help God along with the work that needs to be done – to work our way into heaven? It’s not about us. It’s about the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator of heaven and earth. When human reason gets in the way it gets complicated. All we need do is believe that He has our best interests at heart. He loves us with a love that is beyond comprehension. He designed us perfectly. Because of man’s desire to be equal with God, reason got in the way of that perfection and that ended paradise as it was intended to be.
Because of God’s perfect plan for humanity, all we need do is believe. When that happens, God helps us to lead lives that honor Him. He loves us without condition. He laid down His life for us. He’s waiting to meet us in person in heaven. Very simple – not complicated.
When I think of family, I think of happy times, anxious moments, days of stress and sometimes even anguish. Still there were times of hope and being sure that we were all tightly woven into a patchwork of threads that don’t break -that keep getting stronger and fuller with time. I think of sharing the same spoon, toothpaste, clothes, jokes, memories and a greater part of our growing up years together.
We started out as two from different backgrounds some 60 years ago. Then three unique individuals were added to the mix – each with their own special personalities – each a branch growing from the same root. Our family tree has always been deeply rooted in the solid foundation of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As with any family there are the idiosyncrasies, individual paths and new challenges that make us who we are. With each new direction we take, being grounded in the same faith, we know that we’ll have a joyous reunion one day in heaven.
You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family, so make the most of the one you have and enjoy every moment – even the difficult ones. Family isn’t only blood, it’s the best support group you may ever have.
Looking back and looking forward both bring challenges and joy. My problem is that I often lose sight of the highlights of the past week and the good things that lay ahead. Many times, we get lost in the mundane issues of living and we lose sight of those events that brought a glimmer of hope, a laugh, a beautiful landscape, the sound of birds singing, the smells of apple pie and pumpkin spice. All the positive things we encounter each and every day, get swallowed up by the daily news and the cacophony of the world outside our front door.
This past week for me was filled with a conglomeration of tears, hysterical laughter, good friends, family, wonder about the future and if I would survive another day. These can become all-consuming if we let them weigh us down. The next week is full of excitement. We have a new baby coming into the family. We’re going to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary. We’re expecting a visit from our S. Carolina family. It looks like an amazing week ahead. There are days when nothing happens, but weeks that can be full to the brim with excitement and wonder.
It’s all in how we look at things. If we worry and fret about the small things, how will we handle the big stuff that often gets in our way? We can stew about what might be or we can enjoy the moment. I prefer the second option, but that doesn’t happen every day. So how do we look forward instead of retreating into the past and the mistakes that we’ve made? The Bible has an answer to that.
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? The Bible should be our first point of reference in every aspect of our living. In good times and bad, God is there for us. He never leaves us. Through Him we can gain confidence that every day is worthwhile. Being positive about the future is partially the result of the past. Knowing that we have the Creator of all things at our side, takes the pressure away. He does this because of His unconditional love and care for us.
When you consider having a family, be prepared for tons of frustrations – giving up the things you enjoy doing for yourself – keeping one eye opened while you sleep – never getting the laundry done – a sink full of dishes -maintaining your sanity – not having enough time or money for things you used to take for granted – not having the energy to do those things. Have I convinced you not to have children?
Consider this: you’ll be raising this helpless individual in a world full of anger, hatred, hopelessness and despair. Chances are that child will not make it into college unless they are prepared to spend a lifetime paying back their student loans. Of course, maybe by then the government will be footing the bill. By that time, society will have degenerated so much that families will be a thing of the past. Are you convinced yet?
Actually, parenting is a learn as you go process. No manual will tell you about the feelings you’re experiencing as you mop vomit off the floor or hold a child with a fever. No one lets you know that your trips to the grocery store will now include more convenience meals and feeling guilty about that. You will soon learn that your tears come more often and you’re on an emotional roller coaster most of your waking hours. All the parenting magazines neglect to say how your child will immediately act up, the minute you sit down. You have to discover on your own that your life is no longer your own. If this sounds like a picnic, don’t forget to expect rain. I am not a pessimist, but I have some experience in the art of parenting. I would never have been chosen as mother of the year, but I do know that kids are a gift from God. They are on loan to us for a lifetime. You will love them even when they aren’t loveable. You will be proud even when they fail. You will lay your life on the line for them, because they are part of you. Having a child is a blessing, even when they’re driving you crazy.
With all that being said, I can highly recommend having a family. It is one of the most rewarding, challenging, educational, foolish things you will ever do. By the way, my parents did move a lot when I was young, but I always found them!
Faith is impossible if you rely on reason or logic. Faith means giving up control. Faith is taking for granted a truth that you can’t make sense of. It requires surrender. When we are tested in this world of ours, so is our faith. When we say we have faith in something, we are trusting without question. I wrote this a long time ago, but it still applies. As the world crumbles before our eyes, we tend to lose our faith. This is the time when we most need to put it into practice. “Lord, help me in my unbelief.”
Faith is one of those words used to explain something that we can’t see. It’s putting our trust in something without having proof of its existence. But it’s so much more than that! To have faith, we must have confidence that the unseen actually exists. We must be willing to give our full allegiance to it. We must use that faith to penetrate the walls of fear, hate, anger, sadness. Our hearts must be so consumed with faith that no other path will do. Faith is an obligation, but it’s also a free gift from the Holy Spirit. It’s ours to keep and as a result of it, good works will follow. Even they are not our own doing. Our good deeds are placed in us by the one who gave them to us. The very Spirit of God Himself. His love – His mercy – His patience – His compassion – His forgiveness Covers us – encourages us – takes us in His arm and comforts us. He bathes us in His righteousness and washes away all our iniquities.
KATHY BOECHER
My faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
The image I’ve chosen today is of a vintage roller coaster. To tell the truth, the ups and downs kind of resemble what happens in our daily walk. There are twists and turns, new journeys into the unknown and emotions that rise and fall as suddenly as this dangerous amusement park ride. We may never know when they’re going to strike, but they certainly do, leaving us emotionally and physically drained.
If we look at life in those terms, we could be seen as having fatalistic attitude. I prefer to think of these bone chilling, frightening and often easily overcome dips and surges as detours, roadblocks or obstacles that are part of this world. Life is a roller coaster, particularly during pivotal stages, but we get through it pretty much unscathed.
When we reflect on Jesus’ final days of living as a human being, we see highs and lows in the very extreme. He was betrayed by one of His closest followers. He prayed feverishly that God, the Father would find a different course for the salvation of mankind. His tears fell like drops of blood as he struggled in the garden. His followers came to his defense when the soldiers came to arrest Him. Peter would strike a guard with His sword and cut off his ear. Only hours later, Peter would deny ever knowing Jesus. The scourge would cut through Jesus’ flesh as He was beaten. Those who once called Him, “Rabbi,” turned against Him and their cries of “Hosanna,” quickly changed to, “Crucify Him.” He would be spat upon, humiliated, scorned, hung on a cross and put to death. Yet, death would not defeat Him. He came back to life on the third day, proving that He indeed was the Son of God. Talk about a roller coaster ride.
The human spirit – created by God Himself – is an amazing equalizer. Jesus demonstrated His humanity while He lived among us. He gave His last breath for our forgiveness. He died so we would live forever. His example should be our guide as we travel through the perils of life. When we go through the trials placed before us, we know that our Champion is right there with us. He will use those barriers to protect and enrich our journey and to build us up rather than crushing us.
Today, September 16th, has been set aside to remember the horror of the demise of a race in America. It has been designated as National Trail of Tears Commemoration Day. I wrote an article about the effects of this horrific event and how an invasion of immigrants led to the crushing of an entire race of Native Americans. It can be found under the title May 28, 1830, INDIAN REMOVAL ACT SIGNED. It is fitting that every American revisit this time in history. We cannot simply hide these events under a rug and forget about them. What happened on May 28, 1830, was nothing less than a massive takeover of a remaining native tribe. They were relocated from lands that were fertile and flourishing. The twenty-five-day journey would leave many dead on that trail.
We should always learn from our mistakes. History teaches us the ugly side of life and how we can change the way we think in next generations. May God forgive those who set these wheels in motion and give rest to those who suffered through the pain.
This familiar painting once had a prominent place in our home. It was a constant reminder to take all our cares to Jesus in prayer. Prayer was taught to us at an early age, not because it was a tradition, but a necessity. As years progress, our prayers become more and more personal. We include all sorts of things in those words. When we are sad, hurting, anxious, lonely, fearful we seem to rely on prayer more. We are told in the Bible to lift our hearts to God in everything we go through in life. There is nothing like talking with the Creator of the Universe. As each day begins, turn to the Master. Thank Him for allowing peaceful sleep. Praise Him for the beauty of another day. Lay your troubles on His shoulders. You can be sure that He will hear you and act on your requests. Not because He’s a great genie ready to grant our every wish, but because He loves us and cares for each of our needs. As we begin another week, pray for His presence in your life.
Dear, Holy, Father,
You know every single one of our needs before we even ask for help. I come to you today and ask that you bless us throughout the coming week, with the comfort of that promise. Sometimes it seems like there’s no good left in our world; that we’ve lost control over everything. Maybe you want us to know that we don’t have control – that you are the one who sets the time and day for everything that happens. As we face problem after problem or lose sight of the blessings you’ve laid right before us, open our eyes to those precious gifts. Help us put our focus back on you and your love for us. Remind us of your patience – your consistency – your eternal presence in all that we experience here in life and will enjoy in eternity. You have promised throughout time, to be with us. I know you always keep your promises and that your healing is real and not something made up to keep us thinking positively. Heal our nation – heal those who face life threatening situations – heal our thinking. Let us be assured that you have our backs and that we can bear anything that the world throws at us. As we walk through each day this week, guide us into your light and give us your wisdom to work through each of those situations. In Jesus name. Amen!
Here it is – Saturday. Another week has melted into the past and it’s been filled with all kinds of emotions. As the days pass, it seems they go much faster as I grow older. One may even dribble into the next and suddenly another week – another month – another year goes by in what seems to be an instant. Bodies also change with time. As we age our skin no longer holds its supple elasticity. Now age spots and wrinkles appear with a vengeance. Along with skin, gravity has invaded every muscle, and sagging occurs in spots we can’t even see. Our clothes fit differently. Our teeth are replaced with fake ones. Our hair is falling out. Our energy is sapped. Like a fading tree in the forest, we are dying inside and out.
To top it all off we sweat less, we pee more and as we dry up in some places, bodily fluids still escape in the form of drool. It isn’t just when we sleep, although I have been known to wake up in a pool of it from time to time. Drool is a sign of sleeping with your mouth wide open. It can be caused as salivary glands go into overdrive when stimulated by something good to eat. We often associate drooling with little babies or animals. When we’re babies, it’s cute. When your 82, it’s not. In any event, it is a sign that you’re losing control.
Maybe this problem is part of the circle of life. I mean, we come into the world drooling and leave it in much the same way. We start out as helpless infants and come full circle at the end. We begin by wearing diapers and may end up wearing them again. Our eating habits change. Our speech changes. Our hearing suffers. All of our senses deem us senseless at the end of life. That along with a body that has lost most of its usefulness shrivels and drools. I much prefer to look at drool like I look at wrinkles. I consider wrinkles to be embedded smiles. Drool is nothing more than sparkles exuding from the corners of your mouth. One good thing about going through this process is that you no longer have to shave your legs.
I suppose Mark Twain would’ve been considered a radical in his time, and even today he’d be politically incorrect, but he made a lot of sense. He didn’t mince words when it came to the politicians of his day and often those words are still applicable. It’s time for a change. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready. As a loyal American, I will always love my country, but I’m not thrilled about the way it’s moving. A lot of changes have been made in my lifetime. There have been amendments to the Constitution – corruption in government – fake news – technology that brings us too much information for us to make intelligent decisions.
We’re living in a time of chaos. Our Constitution has been revised, dishonored and spat upon. Our morality is at an all-time low. Christian values are looked upon as old fashioned and unnecessary. We’re told not to offend, yet our own beliefs are being challenged. Technology has changed the complexion of communication so much that we don’t even talk face to face. Our law enforcement is looked upon with disdain while criminals are not admonished for wrongdoing. All the accomplishments of Martin Luther King and others like him have been dismantled. Bad is good and good is bad. It seems as though everything is upside down.
It’s time for a big change – mostly a change in attitude by Americans. Many of us grew up in a time when patriotism was still alive. It needs to be re-kindled. Our flame will slowly die out if we don’t do something about it and the choice we make for a presidential candidate, who wants the old America back, is critical.
Someone once said, “Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine.” Change can be good; it can drive us crazy; it can be difficult, but it will happen to everyone. When something disrupts our comfort zone it can really shake us up. The world is in a constant state of flux. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand how changes in morals and ideas occur, but it just shows us how sneaky the devil is. He gets into our moral fiber and slowly eats away at it until it becomes totally unrecognizable. God, on the other hand, never changes. We can trust in his consistency. He has our lives and our country in His hand. I pray that we will return to Him for guidance.
“TIME PASSES” by Kathy Boecher
Sitting, waiting, thinking, Time goes by – nothing changes. We try to understand, we work hard – nothing happens. We try to control, we blame God – no difference. While we wait, life goes on. We sit, we wait, we think. We try to understand, our labor continues, We think we can control, we blame God. Finally, we give up. We stand up, we cry out in desperation, we pray. We realize that nothing that we do will make a difference. We throw up our hands and let go and let God do His work. Life changes, but He remains the same.
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Martin Luther
What if there was no tomorrow? What if the world ended today? What if – what if – what if? I can relate to what Martin Luther said in the above quote. Even though the future looks dark, even when we don’t have a great deal of hope for our country, even when it seems that the world has already gone to hell in a handbasket, we can’t give up. The future is secure when you know that God is in control.
Life here on planet earth can be rough. We hear about horrible acts of inhumanity on a daily basis. The news is filled with them. It wouldn’t take much to just throw our hands up in despair. There are so many roadblocks along the way. They start as we enter the world. Trying to make our way through the birth canal is quite a feat in itself. Every day after brings a new challenge and they will continue until we take our last breath. We hear rumors of wars, stories of wildfires eating up an entire countryside, hurricanes that devastate and crush everything in their way. Crime continues to reach the headlines. Young lives are destroyed with fentanyl and other drugs. The devil is working hard to make tomorrow look empty and hopeless. At a certain point in the life cycle, we may even wish for it to end, but that isn’t God’s plan for us.
He has made it possible for us to look forward to our life after death. There will be no more detours. There are no tears there – no suffering – no anxiety or stress. God’s heavenly paradise awaits everyone who chooses to follow Him. Sounds so easy, doesn’t it? The choosing is easy, but the following requires a lot more. We can’t simply ask for forgiveness and then go on living the way we did before. Jesus gives us the perfect example through the life He lived when He took on human form.
Today will lead to tomorrow, but if tomorrow doesn’t come, will we be prepared for the end of life as we know it? We push on with the hope of heaven. We look forward to each tomorrow. We live for God. When it looks like all is lost, remember that tomorrow is another day. (No reference to Scarlet O’Hara here.)
“If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they’re yours; if they don’t they never were.”
Richard Bach
We all have people in our lives who bug us, bring us down, don’t understand us, are not a positive influence on us. What are we to do when a relationship becomes unhealthy for both individuals? The answer may be simply letting go of that relationship. Sounds easy enough, but for most of us, doing so is difficult and takes us out of our comfort zone.
When the situation becomes too much to handle, we find it tough to let go. Yet, in order to begin fresh, we have to relinquish the things that have a toxic effect on us. A form of tough love is required. Releasing that person is sometimes the only way. In fact, you may even be showing them a stronger love by doing so.
When you’ve tried to mend a relationship and nothing works – when you’re stuck in a mundane job that’s going nowhere – when you’ve tried to maintain a good attitude – when your friends betray you, you simply have to look at things differently. We have the ability to free ourselves and the other person. Through that letting go, we’re showing a certain amount of mercy. We’re making it easier for life to progress rather than regress.
There are things to consider though. You may lose someone you care about – you might regret it – you can feel a lot of guilt. Guilt in turn nags at us like a dripping faucet and it can’t be repaired easily, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be. Sometimes a period of absence allows you to discover new avenues or find a way to mend the old ones.
We all have people in our lives that drag us down or don’t allow us to flourish. Jesus told us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. He also told us not to conform to the world’s standards.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Roman 12:2
Letting go isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s the only option.
The beginning of a new week allows us to shed the past – to look ahead – to feel God’s light in our waking moments = to share that light with others. Each day should be filled with that purpose. God has blessed us so much with His light – the Light of the World. We should be filled with its heat and tender warmth in a cold world. Let your light shine today and every day.
These last years of aging swell into an endless swirl of emotions,
We can’t seem to pull ourselves out of sadness, depression or anxiety,
There is only one way to eliminate those destructive feelings,
But how do you harness the sun and capture the magnificence of its light?
God is the source,
Some have tried to manage the physical light that encompasses them,
Some struggle to bring illumination back into their lives by setting goals & dreaming dreams,
Some never find it,
Some are filled to the brim with it,
Some will continue to spend their lives searching for it,
God is the source,
He created light from darkness – it was His first creation,
Separating the night from day – setting time into place,
He controls the sun, the moon and stars,
He lights the world with His radiance,
He is the source,
When the world seems so ugly and dark,
When it seems that nothing will ever be bright again,
When the darkness of sin has penetrated every aspect of our daily living,
Filtered light kisses tiny petals, Morning mist embraces each leaf, Golden rays enliven, Breathing, Inspiring, Giving hope, Fear and anxiety drowned by the beauty, Bringing peace, Lifting up, We start anew, We gasp for fresh air, We believe, We know, We are convinced, We can look forward, Little faces of joy, Spring forth, From the dirt of the earth, Cleansed and renewed, A new day, A fresh start.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
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