NATIONAL NASCAR DAY

Posted on May 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Today is National NASCAR Day. Though I’m not an avid fan of NASCAR, I feel like I’m living on a racetrack right now. We live on a major highway – well we don’t physically live on the highway, but lately it’s felt pretty much like we do. Construction has been under way for two years now and we are right in the middle of it. I’ve talked about the urgency to accommodate the department of transportation whenever we get a letter from them. In fact, we have had to call on our kids to take care of our needs, only having to wait at least another few weeks, if not months, for any apparent progress on the racetrack in our backyard.

In the meantime, many of my beautiful plants are popping up where a new sound barrier will eventually act as a backdrop. So, there is that. Even in the din of pounding drills, heavy construction equipment and whizzing cars speeding in excess of the speed limit – there is beauty. God’s creation changes everything. We might get weighed down by the oppression of change. We feel we must depend on others to help us. We get depressed when simple tasks become impossible because of limitations on our bodies. We feel guilty when we have to ask for help. We put pressure on ourselves and look ahead to eventual change and moving someplace where all those difficult tasks will be taken care of.

I’m not very good when it comes to change. I manage to stuff all of those things into the back of my mind and continue on trying to forget about them. Maybe this is one of the perils of growing older, but it isn’t uncommon to feel those pressures at any age. I personally hold it all inside and then it comes out in a big explosion of tears, frustration, angry words and even stressed relationships. How do we handle these life changes? If you’re a real adventurer, you’ll stick it out and be perseverant – pressing on for the eternal prize. If you’re just getting started in the journey, you may be reluctant to take risks. You might succumb to the pressures in life and fall into depression. When you reach those middle years – when everything is supposed to be smooth sailing – the bottom might fall out and you have to go back to square one. As long as your body lets you, you can stay the course and continue.

There is another solution, which is often overlooked by most of us. Instead of trusting in our own actions, goals, aging bodies and work ethic that includes hard work and dedication – maybe we should turn our eyes towards heaven and trust in the One who offers to carry us through anything. Still, we struggle by trying to fix things ourselves. Eventually, we will die. There will be no more problems – no tears – no frustration – no physical pain – only peace and complete satisfaction. Let it go. Run the race while you’re living and trust that God will take care of the big stuff. Then we can make it to the finish line without regret, fear, danger – only perfection.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

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FLAWED

Posted on May 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

We don’t know how long Adam and Eve walked through the Garden of Eden before sin entered their hearts. We do know that when they disobeyed God, they were immediately cursed with guilt. Being flawed means that because of that disobedience, mankind was now doomed to a life of shame and defectivity. Sin entered the creation of God taking away the image of perfection and replacing it with a soul that was damaged, infected and blemished.

With that distance placed between us and God, there is no question that we try to hide our sins. If we were to lay out everything that haunted us from the past, there would be no one who’d want to associate with us. In addition, our relationship with our God has become dysfunctional. So, what are we to do? We can try to forget those sins and change our behavior, only to fail again. We can hide our past discretions but the fear of someone finding out becomes like a dripping faucet – constantly and relentlessly reminding us that we’re flawed. We might try to numb those feelings of guilt by taking drugs or imbibing in alcohol. Unfortunately, all those things are simply masking the problem. No number of lies can change the facts.

Take heart! Even though our sins darken our minds and souls, God made it possible to have a perfect relationship with Him. Instead of our works and good deeds, which are worthless in His sight, He sent His only begotten Son to live among humanity with a sinless soul. He would teach the people, heal them, revive them, encourage them and promise a future in eternity. This perfect, unblemished Lamb of God, died for all people – even sinners like you and me. When we humbly approach Him and repent of our wrongdoing, He forgives our sins. Grace is unconditional. There is nothing we can do except lay it all out before God. He has the solution. He alone can forgive our past and He will give us a future with Him, even when we sin again and again and again.

Yes, as long as we dwell on this planet, our hearts will continue to sin. Jesus died once for all people and all sin, but it is our responsibility to ask God to create a new life within us. With Him, we can change our ways, repent, confess and repeat. With gratitude for all He’s done for us, we can share that promise of forgiveness with others who have fallen into the pit of despair.

Posted in aging, Family, forgiveness, repentance, sin, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

INTEGRITY

Posted on May 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

There has been an appalling lack of integrity in the past fifty years. We see it in business dealings. It rears its ugly head in our colleges and universities. It even infiltrates the youngest of minds on the playgrounds of elementary schools. The word means “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” I don’t know precisely when this happened, but the devil is very insidious in his work on earth. He doesn’t usually cause turmoil in a notable way. It often takes years of backsliding for him to accomplish his desires to latch onto us.

In ancient times – like the 1930s and 1940s, there was a love of country and patriotism which has not been matched since. Two world wars had occurred. The time was ripe for loving our country. Over the next few decades, we became aware of scandals in government – racial inequality – discrimination – hatred – sexual revolution. See how Satan manipulates minds over time, rather than knocking us over the head with his evil plans? In the current century, we have an almost upside-down set of principles – good is now evil – everything is offensive to someone, but no one talks about our offensive behavior towards our Creator, God. Sin has virtually been erased from our vocabulary. There seems to be no one in government that we can trust. Our churches are floundering. The internet has in many cases replaced our ability to communicate in person. Integrity has been replaced with dishonesty, deceitfulness and chicanery. Instead of working together, we are often looking out for numero uno.

The common thread here is the evil of our enemy, the devil. The truth is that he was defeated a long time ago, when Jesus shed His blood and died so we could obtain eternal life. The fact that He rose from death and conquered the hold of the grave, gave Him the victory over the devil. Even though he is still allowed to prowl the earth in search of souls, his defeat is assured. In the end God won and so do we who trust in Him.

“ONE STITCH AT A TIME“

The air chokes with death and the scent of it.
Deep in the bowels of the earth, the demons dance for joy,
Hatred, twisted minds,
Overtly wounded souls disperse the winds of time,
Testing of integrity,
Questioning,
Doubting,
Past sins,
Guilt,
Repentance,
Reputations at risk,
Life is filled with this,
The ugliness of sin and the greatest liar ever,
Breath is snuffed out like a waning candle,
In an instant and without warning,
This is our reality,
Yet within that reality is small glimmer of hope,
A tiny fracture of light in the distance,
A light that gains strength as you draw near it,
A brilliance that never dies,
Hope remains intact,
It is our God,
Who never changes,
Though the world is slowly being devoured by evil,
Though it seems impossible to understand,
Though nothing is sacred anymore,
Though Satan seems to have the upper hand,
Even when life takes a back seat to death,
We must hang on to that glowing ember,
It is the only beacon in a blackened world,
For without it we will be swallowed up,
Trust in God, not man.

KATHY BOECHER©

Posted in aging, America, Internet, Poetry by Kathy Boecher, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

ROOTS

Posted on May 16, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Art by Paul T. Boecher©

A tangled mass of long spindly fingers, reach out desperately,

Longing for the life-giving, thirst-quenching desire to go on,

Roots, once deeply entrenched, now surface and meander through the muck,

Facing obstacles unknown, yet pushing forward, yearning for more,

Even though submerged in hopelessness,

Life can thrive when the roots run deep,

All the tangles, obstacles and bumps in the road will lessen,

When they are nurtured, loved and preserved by their Creator.

   KATHY BOECHER©

Posted in aging, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Family, God's plans, parenting, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A STORM TO REMEMBER

Posted on May 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

It was the first time the world had ever experienced rain. Up until this time in history, the earth had been covered with a canopy of moisture to nourish and sustain it. When God finally lifted it, it was as if He was releasing an accumulation of His own tears onto His creation.  The storm covered every living thing with complete destruction.

God is so patient. He waited a long time to let those tears fall.  Eventually all the abuse towards Him became more than apparent. He finally had enough. He needed to give His creation a wakeup call. When He ordered the man to build the ark that would carry Noah and his entire family, along with two of every species of all living things, He knew that at least part of His original creation would remain. A fresh start was planned for the only family on earth that still believed and trusted in God. He would eliminate the rest. Through this remnant, He would repopulate the earth with new life. He gave the people time to come and ask for forgiveness – to repent for their evil deeds – to leave their life of sin and return to Him, but it went unheeded. Noah and his family were the only human beings that knew God meant business, so they followed His instructions and survived.

When the time was right, the storms came. God spared no one except the Noah clan. One thing remained within that family. Though they were devout and honored God, they still carried their original sin – inherited from Adam and Eve. No amount of cleansing on their part, could possibly wash that sin away. Still God made a new world for them. He provided for their every need and stayed with them for the rest of their lives.

We continue to face storms in our lives every day.  We worry, we get angry and frustrated, we give up, we lose patience.  This world, even with all its beauty and splendor, is an ugly place. Sometimes we feel that the cloud hanging over us will never pass.  Life can be an ongoing storm if we let it. When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, he healed the split between His Father and us.  Because of His resurrection, our deep contusions and abrasions have been eliminated.  Through His passion we have been washed in the flood of forgiveness.  Now when storms come into our lives and it looks like they will never end, we can rejoice and dance in the rain. Thanks be to God for giving us the final victory through His only begotten Son.

“So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.” Isaiah 59:19 ESV

Posted in aging, America, anxiety, change, christianity, enouragement, Faith, God, history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Posted on May 14, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

When we take on the position of “mother,” we are accepting one of the greatest challenges life can give us. We’re given nine months to hold onto this precious life growing within in us – a time for mother/child bonding which can only come from such an intimate time. We’re allowed about 18 or so years to nurture, care for, instill values, share our dreams with and give our hearts to them. When they take flight, at that particular juncture, we hope they are ready to face life with confidence and courage. Though we have watched them leave the nest our hearts and souls follow them. We have become a piece of them, which they in turn will share with someone else as time goes by.

You never stop being a mom. Though grey hair has replaced what used to be, a mom will always think of her children and their welfare. When she puts on the brakes, she will extend her arm over the passenger seat to protect you, even if you aren’t there. She will dream about forgetting to pack your school lunch and wake up in a cold sweat. The tables will turn eventually, and mom will become the child rather than the caregiver. What goes around comes around. The seeds we plant as parents, will always return a great harvest and history will repeat itself.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MOMS OUT THERE!

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MOTHERS OF ALL SIZES & SHAPES

Posted on May 13, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Two lonely hearts once met and at that meeting found,

That God already knew new life would soon abound,

The two began a quest to build a monstrous nest,

They scavenged anything that seemed to meet the test,

This nest awaited eggs, the couple sat and waited,

The dad would find a meal to keep the mom abated,

As mother’s often do, she left her eggs alone,

She had to stretch her wings, but dad would take the throne,

And so between the two of them, a family came to be,

The little chicks sat all alone and screeched for subsidy,

The parents swooped and dove for those within their custody,

Soon they would learn to fly, yet questions still remained,

Would all of them survive, would life still be maintained,

And with each passing day, they left their mammoth home,

With fledgling wings now fluttering, completely on their own,

Yet in the nest on high, the smallest one remained,

Too weak to flap his wings, his strength had all but waned,

But mother’s love endured, she saw to this one’s needs,

She nurtures and protects him, with love she intercedes,

Today that little bird has flown to heights unknown,

Because of mother’s love, he soars now on his own.

My husband spent one year following the nesting of two osprey. He and a small group of men took photographs, wrote about their findings, observed the activities in the nest, and Paul created the above painting to document the daily discoveries. They originally intended to make a book out of their daily meetings, but that never came to fruition. Collaboration doesn’t always work, but we wound up with a lovely painting as a result. The poetry seems appropriate for Mother’s Day.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Family, Mother's day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

IT’S ONLY WEDNESDAY?

Posted on May 10, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

It’s Wednesday, again! When you get older, time seems to fly even faster than it did when you were going through puberty. There are days that simply are non-existent. Most of our days are filled with doctor appointments of one kind or another. We’ve been watching church services online for a while now, due to some health issues and my not being able to hear. So, we really don’t have a routine – a schedule – a calendar to relate to. What they don’t tell us about retirement, is that you rarely know what day it is.

Still there is something about Wednesdays. Maybe it’s a camel walking through the office announcing that it’s Wednesday because it’s also referred to as “hump day.” Wednesday is right in the middle. Once we arrive there, we have only two days left of the work week. When your mind is constantly at work on something creative – like writing, painting, brainstorming – that creates even more confusion. It’s kind of like an “Alice In Wonderland,” experience. You don’t know whether you’re coming or going. You don’t know what happened yesterday, so it’s difficult to plan for tomorrow. Curiouser and curiouser.

Wednesday can be something to look forward to or back at. It’s the center point of our week, so let’s make the most of it. Never look back at the mistakes you made up until this point. Always see the future and the goals you have set for that time. You still have two more days to do so. Of course, if you’re retired, you aren’t sure how much time you have left, but whatever God wills for your life can be an adventure in itself.

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FINAL EXAMS

Posted on May 9, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

This week many college and/or high school students will be taking final exams. I can relate to the pressure they’re under. I never liked taking tests. I would often wait until the last minute to cram every ounce of information into my brain – I could feel a cold sweat coming on, or at least a ton of anxiety – I’d be ready, I thought, and then the page would go blank on the day of the exam.

We don’t really perform well when our brain is under duress or empty of all the right answers. We try to cope. We muddle through. We guess a lot about the answers. We try again. Sometimes we give up and guess. The point is, we don’t find relief until the test paper has been graded and we pass.

Life is full of tests that can give us fits if we let them. We try to figure it out ourselves. We speculate on the right answers. We make wrong decisions. Our choices often result in poor judgment. Every one of those issues can be resolved by going to God in the first place. He has the answers for all our problems, tests and the possibilities that will affect us throughout our lives. Our God invites us to place our burdens on His shoulders. Life is filled with tests beyond your college years. If you get in a habit of praying about each of those situations, you can depend on help from your Creator, but it doesn’t hurt to study. Get into His textbook – the Bible – our true manual for life.

Posted in America, anxiety, Bible, confidence, depression, discipline, Encouragement, Faith, Family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

ANOTHER MONDAY

Posted on May 8, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Lucy may be crabby on Mondays, but by Friday, she’s really crabby. I, on the other hand enjoy every day that God wakes me up in the morning. Each day is a blessing when you get to be my age. Oh sure, our joints need lubricating, and our bodies need to be recharged. Our hearing lacks the sounds of birds singing outside our windows. Our sight, if not recently repaired through cataract surgery, isn’t what it should be. Coffee isn’t nearly enough to crank the engine. Oh, never mind. Mondays make me crabby too when I think about all those negatives. So how do we make Monday one of our favorite days of the week? The Bible has lots of good advice about thinking aging and accepting what we cannot change.

2 Corinthians 4:16 “ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

I love that verse, because it perfectly describes the feelings we experience as we reach the golden years of living. No one tells you how quickly that gold turns to shriveled skin, weak bones, short memory, hearing aids, supports for every part of your body. When you’re young you feel you can conquer the world. When you reach 80, the world has conquered you. I am fortunate to be able to continue doing what I love to do in my life. I can still come up with thoughts to encourage others every day through my blog, but I have to struggle to lead myself out of feelings of depression and sadness at times. Physically and mentally, I’m in fair shape for my age, but when I let it, my mind goes to dark places occasionally – thinking I have nothing to offer the world anymore. There is always a reason for living. We may have to self-examine and be honest with ourselves to believe that, but it’s true. Here’s another verse to help us through.

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

Knowing that God is with us to the very end sure can encourage us during those days when we don’t want to go on any longer. He placed us on this planet for a purpose and that carries a fair amount of weight, right? Don’t ever think your value is declining along with your body. What you leave behind will return through your children and grandchildren if you instill in them some of the values you have chosen over a lifetime. With that knowledge, you can make every day a good one.

Job 32:7 “I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.”

HAPPY MONDAY!

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GOD’S MAJESTY

Posted on May 7, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Within the mountain’s early dawn, His majesty is seen,
The skies fill up with brilliance, and glorious golden sheen,
His breath is seen in morning mist, His voice through eagles’ song,
His power displays in sunlit rays, He shines the whole day long.

His love for us unspoken, but seen in every rock,
He leads us like a shepherd protects his wandering flock,
I am so weak and fragile, like many a stubborn sheep,
My trust oft wanes, my fears o’er take, I toss through dream filled sleep.

My tears won’t stop, my faith grows weak, I stumble all the way,
But He’s right there, surrounding me, protecting me each day,
I’ll never grow to understand His unconditional love,
But thank Him that He grants it from His throne high up above.

My God, you are my fortress, my strength when I am weak,
You carry me through deserts, you lead me when you speak,
Through pastures green and waters clean, fulfilling every need,
You fill my heart with gratitude, my soul your Word does feed.

Posted in armor of God, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, God's will, Lamb of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Posted on May 6, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

So, we live next to a very busy highway, which has been under construction for a little more than two years. Two years ago, in the coldest part of winter, we were sent a letter that our fence would be removed in the process and that we should remove anything that was attached to the fence along with anything that would encroach the right of way. Our son came over the next day to remove everything except the fence – which the contractor said they would remove and take away. He dug through snowbanks while fighting below freezing temperatures. Three days ago, we received another letter. It said they would begin building the sound barrier wall between the highway and our property and we should have everything cleared. Again, they said they would remove the fence. We let our daughter and son-in-law know and to make a long story short, they came over yesterday after working all day and did the job, including taking down the fence.

What seemed like an impossible task for the two of us, became a piece of cake for them. It brought a few things to mind as we watched them work. First it reminded us of how we would work together when we were younger to accomplish a task. We recalled how sometimes we would get in each other’s way, but the work got finished. It made me think of how much we now rely on our children to do tasks that we’re incapable of doing. I also thought about what a blessing we have to be able to call on family.

When you think about it, any kind of construction requires more than physical labor. We need to prepare, plan, think out, replan, rethink, rely on a team to get the work done. Sometimes there are insurmountable obstacles – like health issues, aging, lack of muscle mass and a possible hefty price tag which we couldn’t afford. All of these things act as huge potholes in the process. We need someone to smooth out the rough edges. Our lives are in a constant state of reconstruction, but we have a Master architect, builder, designer, planner and a whole crew all rolled into one. Our Creator God knows all about our flaws and chinks. He is the potter who crafted each individual into a living, breathing, thinking human being. We will be crushed with the burdens of living, but He is right there, as our loving Father God, to rebuild us again.

Needless to say, we’re grateful for our family. We have a whole new view from our backyard. what once enclosed a fairly quiet garden area is now gone, but soon it will return. All good things are worth waiting for. God loves us as His own children, and all that He does is for our good.

“The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.”

Charles Dickens

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ARE YOU A PALEONTOLOGIST ?

Posted on May 5, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

During a time of restoration in our lives, both my husband and I took any kind of jobs just to make ends meet. I’d spent 13 years as a volunteer drama director at the high school our kids attended. With that experience I was able to start my own theatre business, teaching kids acting skills and creating theatre for all ages. My husband went to work for a nature center, because of his love for the outdoors and his street-smart knowledge of all things having to do with it. While the younger naturalists were checking things out on their computers, he was out in the elements, leading nature hikes and spilling over with all sorts of information for young minds.

One day, a child of six asked him, “Mr. Paul, are you a paleontologist?” Mr. Paul replied that he wasn’t, but that he was an old dinosaur. All the information he had learned in his childhood – not just in school, but hands-on information – made it possible to become something he never thought he would be. On many hikes someone would start humming the theme song from the Indiana Jones movies, because they felt like they were on an adventure with Mr. Paul – and they were.

Now both of us are old dinosaurs. Our working days are pretty much over when it comes to anything physical. We still work, using some of the skills we’ve learned along the way, but we’re limited because of our age. The life lessons we’ve learned through living them are still valuable. I would love to be able to share some of them with the new generation. I know they have a ton of information to share with me about technology, new math and artificial intelligence. There could be a whole new element to teaching which imitates teaching of the ancient days of learning. Sharing ideas – working through problems together – building each other up with encouragement and kind words – overlooking differences and realizing that we’re all the same in God’s eyes. Maybe there’s still a mountain of work for us to do as we grow old. I certainly don’t see any benefit in sitting around and waiting to die.

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MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU . . .

Posted on May 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I must admit, I’m not a great Star Wars aficionado. I know, I know, what’s wrong with that woman anyway? My kids enjoyed the Star Wars movies. I love Yoda and the baby Yoda characters. Didn’t much care for Jabba the Hutt, because he reminded me too much of my own battle with weight. Princess Leia had fancy hair, but not much else going for her. Harrison Ford, on the other hand, is still a hunk at 80 years old and continues to work as an actor, so I feel I have a lot in common with him. These movies brought a whole new dimension to sci-fi and space entertainment. H.G. Wells and Jules Verne works had nothing on Star Wars, even though they were far before their time.

The robots, C3PO and R2D2 were quite interesting characters, with personality traits and endearing features. Now AI is becoming an everyday word. Artificial intelligence is a whole new industry and I’m a little fearful that robots will eventually take over the world. A recent news story talks about how as we rely on the internet and artificial intelligence, our brains become inactive. The outside influences of all this information, which needs to be stored somewhere, will eventually sap us of our own intelligence. I wonder where that will take us. What happens if one or more of those AIs goes rogue and life as we knew it will never return.

Thank God, He never changes. We can rely on Him to be consistent in every way. So, for today, may the true Force be with you – and also with you.

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CANCELLED DEBT

Posted on May 3, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of your debts cancelled? What if today you receive notification that every debt you’ve ever incurred up until now has been paid in full? No more student loans. No more car or mortgage payments. You have a clean slate. What would you do?Some of us might go out and rack up more debt. Some might live debt free for a time and then realize they “need” something that requires taking out a loan again. Others might never go into debt again. Chances are we are all somewhere in the middle on this. Looking at the price paid for our freedom of the slavery of sin, we might feel guilty for what caused the extremely high cost. We may even try to forge a different path in life because of it. There is really no way we can take credit for that freedom, because it was a gift of love that we will never understand.

Those who believe that Jesus took on human flesh to live among the people of the world – to teach, heal, inspire and perform miracles – also know that He came as an example of how we should live. He taught us that revenge was not ours to distribute. He taught us to be slow to anger and careful with our choice of words. He preached that we should love each other in spite of our differences. He taught us to honor our governments, for God has set them up to bring order out of chaos. He told His followers that His kingdom was not of this world. He gladly gave His life to pay for the sins of all. He resurrected from death and now sits at the right hand of His Father in glory. He gives us the assurance that we can even face death.

Jesus paid our debt in full. We no longer need to fear death, but we must not fear living either. He gave us all we need to get through this cancel culture of ours. He has lived among us, so He knows what we experience every day. He gave us a lifeline that will be with us forever. Even in a world filled with turmoil, misunderstanding, revenge, hatred, lack of integrity, a cancel culture – we have hope. God provided a free ticket – a paid in full statement – a get out of hell free card.

“You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

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SAYING YOU’RE SORRY, BUT NOT SHOWING IT

Posted on May 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

In 1970 Ali McGraw uttered the words, “Love means never having to say your sorry,” to Ryan O’Neal on her deathbed.  I was a young woman at the time and the romance and sadness of the moment resonated with me.  It seemed the perfect thing for her to say, but was it?  There are times when the phrase, “I’m sorry” is just that – empty words. They don’t really mean anything, because they are said out of obligation.  Being truly contrite means that we know we have done something wrong and feel guilt over it. 

Why is it such a blessing to forgive someone for hurting you in some way – for embarrassing you or for causing you anxious moments? Why are we so afraid to ask for forgiveness?  Is it because  we fear rejection?  Is it because we hate to admit we’re wrong? 

What does God say about saying your sorry?  He expects it.  In order for us to receive all the benefits of His kingdom, we must come before Him with contrite hearts – begging for forgiveness – truly regretting our ability to keep His commandments – but also fully confident that He does forgive.  When we forgive another person, it frees us from anger, hatred and a whole assortment of emotions,   When God forgives – we are the ones who are free.  He gives us that freedom without cost.  He gives it because we say we’re sorry.  So love really means saying you’re sorry.

God, I know that I have fallen short of your commandments.  I also know that your love for me is limitless.  You ask only one thing of me – my repentance.  I’m sorry for not placing my complete trust in You. I can’t even begin to say all the things I’m sorry for, but I know that your have invited me to lay my sins on Jesus and that through Him I will receive your forgiveness.  Help me always to follow His example in my life and though I am free, allow me to be a servant for your name’s sake. AMEN!

Posted in aging, forgiveness, repentance | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY

Posted on May 1, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“As full of spirit as the month of May, and as gorgeous as the sun in Midsummer.”

― William Shakespeare

It’s May. It’s May – the merry month of May. Originating in Ireland this holiday was designed to welcome spring with regalia and fanfare. The April showers have given way to May flowers. We still have a few patches of snow on the ground, but soon we will see the beauty of this next season. The celebration of May Day would often come with bouquets of spring flowers – baskets of them set at a neighbor’s doorstep – a carousel with flowing streamers which allowed for a lovely circle dance. All of these were to welcome this beautiful month.

May 1st is also International Workers Day, which honors all those who struggled and gained through the ever-growing Labor movement. Here in the U.S., we honor our workers in September. Not that one day makes a difference. It seems politics of any sort manages to take advantage of holidays that indulge having a good time.

The origin of celebrating the first day of May, dates back many centuries to the Celts. They believed it was the most important day of the year. It divided the year in half and represented the difference between the darkness of winter evolving into the brightness of spring along with new life and fertility.

When Rome came the British Isles, they brought a celebration known as Floralia – a time to worship the goddess of flowers. So once again, a pagan celebration turned into a time to have fun and frolic. It probably was a good money-maker for the merchants of the day as well. Isn’t it funny that all those pagan holidays turned into times of jollyness?

So, today as I look out my side window, I see my American flag flying recklessly in the northwesterly wind. Trees are swaying with abandon. The sun has melted all the clouds and a brilliant remainder of azure blue is left behind.

HAPPY MAY DAY!

Posted in America, holidays, joy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SURVIVOR

Posted on April 30, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Life gets complicated,

Torrents of troubles rain upon us,

This brief time on earth is a mere whisper,

How do we withstand the storms,

How do we live through them,

How do we survive,

When life ebbs slowly away from us,

When friends and family pass away,

When financial worries overcome us,

When health issues surmount,

When it seems there is no end,

How do we survive,

We struggle to succeed,

Only to be battered down,

We strive to accomplish great deeds,

Only to be ridiculed,

We wonder how we fit into a world gone crazy,

How do we survive,

We’re amazed at the state of our youth,

We worry about the state of our churches and schools,

We fret over man’s inhumanity to man,

We mourn for the children of the world,

How do we survive,

God has a plan,

We know He is perfect,

He always delivers,

He won’t let us down,

Be still,

Know that He is God,

We will survive.

Posted in aging, America, anxiety, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, depression | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GOD’S PERSONAL NOTE TO YOU

Posted on April 29, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

Do you know how precious you are to me?
Do you not feel my presence every second of every hour?
Do you know that I want to take your problems, your worries, your fears and place them all on my own back?
Can you see my hand working in your life – helping you to make hard decisions – leading you from temptation and pulling you closer to me every day?
Do you know I want you to prosper?  I have a plan designed just for your life.  It may not be what you want or expect, but it will be abundant.
Do you know that I am the only one who really loves you with an everlasting and divine love?

Do you know that I paid the ransom for the sins that have held you captive for so long? There is no need for guilt, I cover you with my protective wings.  The price was paid once for all.

Do you know that I was not afraid to lay down my life for you, because I can conquer death?

Do you know that I am waiting for you in heaven?  There will be no tears, no sadness, only joy.

Your room is ready!  Do you know?

Posted in aging, anxiety, Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, change, Christian Poetry, God, God's promises, Heaven | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

HOW DID YOUR WEEK STACK UP?

Posted on April 28, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I love these old dudes from the Muppets Show. They would sit in their private balcony and review whatever was being presented at the time. Of course, their reviews were always negative and left me thinking “Is this as good as it gets when you grow old?” It’s true, that when we age, we tend to find the dark side of things rather than focusing on the good. If we season the darkness with a measure of humor, we will have a much better outlook on life.

So, when you get older, what is that better outlook? I think it’s the same as it was when we were children, but in slow motion. We can look at the world and find ugliness or beauty. As a child, all of our experiences are brand new to us. We can’t wait to try things we’ve never done. The thought of taking a rapid river run may not occur to us at the age of 80, but sitting in a kayak, floating down a winding river, doing absolutely nothing, can achieve the same result. Parachuting out of a plane might be compelling to some, but you can get the same effect by laying in a hammock and staring at the clouds. We can decide that the world is going to hell in a hand basket, or we can choose to buy a set of paints and create a painting of the beauty that dwells within that world. Our bodies are slowing down along with our minds, but that doesn’t mean we must throw in the towel.

You might find joy in traveling – in golfing – in art or writing – in making people laugh. Whatever you enjoyed doing at the age of twelve, you will probably get satisfaction from now. Our tasks as senior citizens are modified to fit our abilities and talents. Just because life is slowing us down physically and sometimes mentally, we’re still alive and we have purpose. Even when spring cleaning consists of dusting your furniture rather than a complete deep purge and sanitizing, we can do the task with gusto. We can still do the same things we did. We simply adapt to our new, old bodies and push on for the prize.

“You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand” Psalm 16:11

Posted in aging, America, anxiety, armor of God, art, change, confidence, Dreams, Encouragement, Faith, perseverence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments