WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Posted on July 6, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulation. That’s why we have the gift of faith.” Joyce Meyer

Every step we take on this journey called life has been mapped out for us by the Creator of the universe. There will be twists and turns throughout the trip. We run into roadblocks and detours all the way. Yet, if we lose that wonderful gift from the Holy spirit – faith – our travels are pointless. With each deviation from that which was originally intended for man, we can either stray and fail or continue and live.

It’s taken me a lifetime to finally realize that letting God carry me through the times when I can no longer walk, is the only way to live. That doesn’t mean the expedition is going to be clear sailing all the way. In fact, it seems the more difficult the trek, the closer we come to our Maker. Our final surrender to Him, comes when our time of grace on this planet ends. We can then meet Him face to face in paradise and enjoy all that He has prepared for us.

Lord, help me to trust in you completely. I know that by doing so, you will lead the way in life here on earth and also in eternity. Give me strength to run the race, knowing that you are the One who knows what’s best for me and those I love. Amen!

Posted in aging, anticipation, anxiety, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

TRUSTING GOD ALONE

Posted on July 5, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

It’s been hot all week. In Minnesota anything more than a couple of days in the 90’s is considered a heat wave. We have extremes here in the Tundra, but it always amazes me how God provides for all of His creation even when the weather is unbearable. The birds can still find water to refresh themselves, and food to sustain them. The animals are given the ability to find places to rest and hide during extreme temperatures. If God takes care of these creatures by giving them what they need, how much more will He look after the ones He created in His image.

When I was teaching drama to young students, one of the exercises we did was a blind walk. We’d join hands and follow the leader with eyes closed. Only the one leading the group would be able to see. The rest had to rely on the sound of their voice and their other senses to “see” their way. I know many of them were peeking, but those that followed the directions and depended on the one leading, felt what it’s like to surrender to someone else – to let go – to trust.

There are days when I think there will be no end to the waiting, or no relief from fear or anger. I try to figure things out myself and don’t rely on the only One who can take care of me. He has a master plan – He knows before we do – He’s guiding us with love and provision.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for providing for all my needs in good times and bad, in fair or inclement weather. I know that I can count on you to provide for me and give me the true rest that comes only from your loving hands. When my heart is troubled, you are there. When things are going well, you are there. When I need you the most, you are there. I can count on you and you alone. Amen!

Posted in aging, God, trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

THE GREAT EXPERIMENT – AMERICA

Posted on July 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

George Washington referred to the United States as a “grand experiment” on January 9, 1790. It was an experiment, that’s for sure, but the results changed government, people’s rights, their points of view and their ability to be free of oppression. As we look at the achievements of America after over the past 200 years, we can honestly say that we have become much more than most people ever expected. What began as a cry for liberty exploded into a full blown frenzy – a revolution – lives lost in battle – great cost throughout those years – growth beyond compare.

I can’t imagine what George Washington was thinking as he took his oath of office those many years ago, and what he might wonder about the many changes in this country today. The thought of international rail travel, moving mountains to create them and a population that erupted from 2.5 million in 1776. In two and a half centuries the US has grown to 130 times its size and now stands as the third most populous country in the world. People from all over the world come to America in search of the American dream. Technology has blossomed from the use of kerosine lanterns to solar energy. George wouldn’t recognize our country anymore. Not to mention all the changes in technology, values, growth, wars, loss of life, he would be amazed at the size of our dwellings and business places. I wonder what he would think of today’s fashion trends.

I believe that there is still a remnant of people who continue to place our country in high esteem. During these summer holidays honoring her, we should look back, not only at the progress, but the cost. Many lives were lost during that Revolutionary War. Lives continued to be spent as a result of the wars our nation has endured. The morality of the 1700s is non-existent today. Unity has suffered greatly over time. Even our own governing factions can’t seem to agree on much. Still, in spite of all the ugliness that infiltrates a country over time, we still have the right to stand for what we believe in. We can worship as we choose. We have freedoms that other nations will never know. I am proud of my American heritage. I love this land and will always hold her in high esteem. I know that God will heal her, if we ask Him to.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Posted in 4th of July, America, Chrisian daily devotions, DAILY CHRISTIAN DEVOTION, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AMERICA – THE BEAUTIFUL

Posted on July 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©


Where is God?
Look around you at the churning of the deep, blue waters,
Reflecting and refracting the rays from the sun,
Feel His presence in the wind that drives those waves,
Take in the vast array of color, texture, brilliance, harmony,
Enjoy the sounds of silence,
The peace that comes on a hot summer day as your boat cuts through the water,
See His magnificence in each refreshing drop of water,
Experience the warmth of His loving caress as He carries you across that water,
Powerful soldiers of wood and foliage protect and shade you,
His hand touches the sky and makes clouds appear,
They dance through the vast expanse,
Changing,
Building,
Fading,
Returning again,
They form into angelic images and as quickly turn into menacing power,
He’s in the storms,
He watches,
Protects,
Guides,
Sees you through,
If you wonder where God is,
Simply look around,
He’s everywhere.
 
 
 

Though our nation is no longer just a Christian Nation, but one of a variety of faiths, those who still hold the values of the Judaeo/Christian founders of our nation still exist. If we return to those original concepts, God will bless our nation again. He will endure forever.

Posted in 4th of July, America, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SHROUDED IN MYSTERY

Posted on July 3, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The image I’ve chosen for today’s post is almost an exact replica of what I’m viewing outside my window this morning. The words that are attached to it, are indicative of what I’m feeling this morning. When you’re waiting for news that will change your life and of those around you, you can become engulfed in a fog – a dimly lit sky – that closes in on you. We pray for inner strength to get through these times. We ask why. We wonder what the next step will be. We cry. We hold tight to each other for strength. We rely on friends and family. We say we trust in God, but then question His purpose. We cry some more.

Comfort comes for a little while, but that fog closes in again the next day and the next. Life is so precious to us. We hang onto it without realizing something much better is waiting beyond. Words of comfort are given. “Trust in the Lord. Lay your burdens upon Him. Don’t give up. Be strong. You are loved.” All of those words often become second nature when we don’t know what to say to someone longing for the courage to endure. These are well intentioned words, of course. They are common phrases, designed to help, and they do for a while. Then truth reveals itself and more words are needed.

As I walk this journey with the love of my life, I can’t imagine not having him in it. I know that life is fragile. I know that aging is a signal for the end of it. I realize that God has a perfect place waiting for us beyond the grave and still I feel this emptiness in the pit of my stomach when I try to wrap my brain around it all. My strength falters so I must rely on God’s. I pray that He will guide us through this part of our journey together and help us to grow even tighter because of it.

Posted in aging, ENDURING LOVE, Faith, God's plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SUNDAY PRAYER

Posted on July 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

DEAR. SWEET, JESUS, Thank you for another day. Amen!

Posted in aging, Faith, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

THE COST OF FREEDOM

Posted on July 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER ©

What is the price of liberty? Where lies the victor’s prize?
Is it in bodies laying still, beneath the cold, dark skies?
The cost to win our freedom cannot be seen in life,
But in the brave hearts smitten to take away our strife.

Our Savior did this willingly when tortured on the tree.
He gave His life and rose again so we could be set free.
No human life could do this. It had to be from God.
So we could see His love for us both here and far abroad.

His word He gave to teach us all the things we need to know,
His life He gave to save us from the pain that lies below.
So lift your voice to Jesus. His love will never die.
He purchased us for paradise. He’ll care for us on high.

Posted in 4th of July, America, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, freedom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS . . .

Posted on June 30, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.  In God (I will praise His word), in the Lord (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-11

When fear overtakes me, I often forget that I’m safe in my Savior’s arms. The words of others, the fear of failure, the fright of bad dreams that wake me in the night – the dread of having to give someone bad news, the terror that comes when I face death or health issues.

All of these things make me tremble and feel helpless. When I’m haunted by fear, I know I can take comfort in the psalmist’s words. God fears nothing. He is almighty. His strength will give us the ability to deal with not only our fears, but everything that comes our way. All we have to do is ask Him. May God drive away all my fears and anxieties through His holy Son, Jesus. Like the Good Shepherd, who cares for each and every one of His sheep, He will lift me up in His arms, hold me tightly and lead me to eternity with Him.

Posted in aging, anxiety, fear, Good shepherd | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

ONE NATION UNDER GOD . . .

Posted on June 29, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I realize the fourth of July doesn’t come around until next Tuesday, but this is holiday that holds the key to the foundation of our country. In just over two hundred years, we might not recognize the America of 1776. Change is good, but not always for the better. I pray that our nation would return to its founding fathers for inspiration. Without them, there would be no United States of America.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

One nation under God,” is what our founders said,
But something happened on the way. They now say God is dead.
I know our God lives on. He stands at heaven’s gate.
And He will bring our nation back from greed, and lies and hate.

Under our power alone, we cannot run the race.
He sent His dear Son, Jesus, to die and take our place.
Because He is our God, He’ll never let us stray.
He holds our hands and leads us into His holy way.

When we turn back to God, His arms are open wide.
He doesn’t look at our mistakes, instead He looks inside.
So let’s get back to basics and remember who we are.
Our God’s not dead. He lives and reigns in hearts both near and far.

What is the price of liberty? Where lies the victor’s prize?
Is it in bodies lying still or in a winner’s eyes?
The cost paid for our freedom cannot be seen in life,
But in the brave hearts smitten to take away our strife.

Our Savior did this willingly when tortured on the tree.
He gave His life and rose again so we could be set free.
No human life could do this. It had to be from God.
So we could see His love for us, both here and far abroad.

His word He gave to teach us the things we need to know,
His life He gave to save us from the pain that lies below.
So lift your voice to Jesus. His love will never die.
He brings us into paradise to live with Him on high.

Posted in 4th of July, America, freedom, Poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ONE NATION UNDER GOD . . .

SHARING YOUR STORY

Posted on June 28, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Often when we share things going on in our lives, our words are unwanted or ignored. When we’re suffering through some sort of difficulty, whether it be financial, emotional, dealing with illness, a broken relationship, people don’t necessarily want to hear about it. When someone asks, “How are you,” and you lay your whole life before them, you will most likely lose your audience. Jesus spent His time on earth, telling stories – parables, they were called. Each of those stories had a purpose. When we share a story of a trial we’re dealing with, it just might help someone else in their journey.

We have a reason for our existence. A few years back I wrote a book called “Stages.” It dealt with the seven stages of life and included a memoir of sorts. It’s no longer in print, but that isn’t why I wrote the book. I had no thoughts of becoming a best-selling author. I only wished to leave a bit of history behind for my children and grandchildren. I started writing my blog 12 years ago as a way to share my experiences with others so they would know that there is a way to get through our earthly struggles. Relying on God, rather than myself, has added to my life’s purpose. In the past two years, my posts have turned to the aging process, relying on God and death. If that doesn’t sound like a thrilling story, let me assure you, it isn’t. I do believe that everything that happens to us in life, is for a reason. God created us to not only serve Him, but to help others in any way we can. Our own experiences, our trials, our battles, our successes can give hope to others who may be going through a similar situation.

Every second of each life is filled with opportunities to share them. Whether you write those stories in a journal, share them on a blog site, share over coffee, or simply keep a daily diary, you are sharing advice that might give someone else hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created a helper for him. Throughout history, we find that we need each other to help us get through the storms of life. We may not always get that help from each other, but we can depend on God’s intervention in all things.

 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Posted in aging, change, Faith, storms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

GOD’S PLAN OR MINE?

Posted on June 27, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

This proverb might like an old-fashioned idea. Aren’t we supposed to do what WE can to prosper? We have the mind and the talent to accomplish what we want in life. Why do we need God? All around us are words like; You can do anything you put your mind to; You are the one who makes things happen; it’s all about you! Don’t rely on anyone except numero uno.

We lose sight of God’s promises to give us the victory in every area of our lives. We think that we should be responsible for our success. It’s a matter of pride, isn’t it? I’m quickly learning something I should’ve been aware of a long time ago. Death will come to each of us in God’s timing. His timing is perfect because He’s God. He designed our lives before we ever came to be. Our lifetime has purpose and usefulness, but the end will be determined by Him alone. By surrendering all things to God, we’re letting Him do what He does best. His path will not be easy, but it will make us ready for the next step we take. He gives us the abilities and the means to carry out our plans, but He is the one who actually fulfills them. Even if we don’t reach our goals in life, we can be assured that we have true success through Him.

Each day we approach a new door. What’s on the other side depends on our ability to open that door and see. God has amazing things planned for each of His children. Trust Him to make the right choices for you as you travel with Him.

Posted in aging, anxiety, Faith, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GOD’S TEARS

Posted on June 26, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.” Longfellow

The last verse of Longfellow’s poem about rainy days, is appropriate for today’s post. This weekend brought us some refreshing rain. The lawns and gardens received an instant face lift with the addition of some welcome drops of water. I’m sure the farmers are happy too. When I was a child, it was said by someone that rain was the result of God’s tears. Here’s another one of those quotes from the old days. “Thunder is caused by angels bowling in heaven. I doubt that my Father, God cries or has a bowling alley up in heaven, but He certainly has a lot to be sad about. The state of our world is so far from His original creation. We have not been good stewards in caring for it as we should. He also watches as man’s hate can eliminate lives, break relationships, tear apart families. He sees young people choosing to wash the hurt from their minds with numbing drugs. He watches the unmarried woman choose to eliminate a new life. He hears the cries of the sick, the weak, the weary from every corner of the world. I can’t begin to imagine the cacophony of confusion in all of it, but He is God and He hears every cry for help. That’s the God I know.

Knowing that He is so much stronger than any one of us, makes us realize that tears are beyond Him. However, there was a time in history when He decided to live among us. He took on human form and was born like we were. His life was short, but impactful. He wept when he saw the condition of mankind. He cried for the death of a friend. His tears poured from his eyes like drops of blood, as He faced His own torturous death. God knows all about tears. He created them.

Those tear ducts that He placed in the first human beings served as an outlet for our deepest emotions. We cry when a newborn makes his debut. We cry at weddings when a new partnership is established. We cry when we’re in pain. We cry at funerals. We cry when we’re anxious, frustrated, lonely, helpless or sometimes for no reason at all. That last one is happening to me a lot these days. I will cry if I see a child at play. I cry when I’m washing the dishes. I cry when I’m laughing. I cry when I get good news or bad. The doctors keep telling us to stay hydrated, but how can you when you’re eliminated all that liquid from your eyes?

When we go through any kind of living – when those we love are sick – when we lose someone in death – when our future is uncertain – when you find the one to spend your life with – when you get a difficult diagnosis – when you wake up in the morning. All of those events can set off a deluge. Just remember that God is available 24/7. He will wrap you in His loving embrace, wipe away your tears and give you the courage to carry on.

Psalm 34:17 “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Posted in aging, Faith, healing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

DOING LIFE TOGETHER

Posted on June 24, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

We come to the weekend with great expectations. There are projects to complete. There are friendships to share – time to unwind from all the pressures of the last few days – a time to relax and enjoy nature. When you’ve been married to someone as long as I have, you hang onto every second, because you are never sure when that time is going to end.

The trumpeter swans in the painting are usually seen together in pairs. When one lands on a pond for sustenance and a quick swim, the other is sure to be there in a few minutes. Trumpeter swans are said to mate for life. I’m not sure what their life span is, but it seems God watches over them as He cares for all His creation. God not only creates amazing environments for His handiwork, but He gives his creatures a partner to share their lives with. I think about that today. He gave me just the right person to spend my life with. We honor each other every day through our commitment to our vows. There are so many detours in this life, but God has always been at the center of our family and with that, we can face anything. With Him all things are possible.

The road is full of stumbling blocks, we see them every day,
Our path is filled with hiccups which toughen up the way,
Our journey to eternity is filled with indecision,
We struggle through all daily tasks, requiring supervision,
The signs that lead to nowhere, just clutter up our walk,
We can’t decide which way to go, we simply talk the talk,
But when we walk with Jesus, our road is made quite clear,
The things that seemed impossible, lose all their haunting fear,
Our daily walk is easy when we simply trust in Him,
We’ll reach our destination and in the end we win!

Posted in aging, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Family, marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WORDLESS

Posted on June 23, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

What happens when a word spinner runs out of words?  Each day I wake with the hope of sharing God’s truth with others and I often find myself at times struggling for the appropriate thing to talk about.  This world is filled with a plethora of information – sometimes too much.  Why should my words make any difference?

For one thing, I hope that I never lose sight of the fact that I am not crafting the words that appear on this blog.  I am merely an instrument.  I also hope that what I say is a reflection of what God has done for me in every circumstance of my life.   If I become the center of it, the whole purpose has been defeated. There are times, however, when sharing our reality is necessary. Through even our most difficult situations, we can help those going through similar trials. Sharing also allows us to heal.

This morning I woke at 4 AM with a million thoughts running through my head and I decided to roll over and fall back asleep.  Now, three hours later, I am wordless.  So, I’m going to keep it very simple today.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Posted in aging, God's will, trials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

A FULL-FLEDGED LIFE SAVER

Posted on June 22, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

As this week has progressed and we’ve become slaves to the health care system, I can’t help but think about the One who saves us all. We put our faith in the professionals when it comes to fixing our cars – repairing broken teeth – creating a work of art – entertaining us – healing our bodies, but for the inside of us there is only one Savior. He gave up everything so that we could live with Him in Eternal Glory.

Life is fragile at any age, but it seems as we grow older the ability to break becomes more evident. Our medical system is broken. I know they do everything they can to help us, but the technology and business end of it has fallen short of what it used to be. Very often, we wait for answers – for tests to be done – more waiting – scheduling – waiting again. Gone are the days when a doctor would make a house call. Today we are referred to the ER before even seeing one.

I thank God today, that He sent His only Son to take care of every detail of our lives. We can make it through the testing, the waiting, the scheduling, the disappointments, the difficulties with the assurance that God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is with us. His love endures forever, and He will provide the answers we need when we need them. Our tears won’t stop. Our broken hearts will continue. Our future plans will be put on hold, but we can depend on the One who saves us. While we wait, we pray. Our family prays along with our friends. The voices of those prayers are heard by our omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God. Thank you for your prayers.

Posted in aging, Faith, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

LIFE IN WORDS

Posted on June 21, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Keeping a journal can be therapeutic. It can be a log of your daily life. It can help you organize your thoughts. For a writer, it can be a plethora of information to use in a future story or poem. Real life can be boring at times. Every day is not going to be filled with events – with appointments – with amazing thoughts – with inspiring words. Many pages in your journal might even remain empty. I once heard an elderly woman say that her life was as empty as the daily diary she kept. Maybe you don’t bother to write down everything. Maybe it’s necessary to simply live life and not keep a record of every single thing that happens.

For me, keeping a journal or diary is often found in my daily blog. You can learn a lot about me personally if you read it. You will see that I’m an aging woman, with a wonderful husband and family. I write a lot about them. You will observe that my life may seem full to the brim with activity, which may seem like boasting to some. I’m proud of my life so far. I’ve been up and down the ladder of existence for 81 years now. My brain is overflowing with ideas, with worries, problems, care for others and more than an 81-year-old brain can hold. I often forget some of the things that happen, so keeping a record is a good reminder for me. To get into the heart of me, you will see a woman that may be just like you – one who cries over nothing. A woman who loves life. A person who has finally come to terms with her God. One who realizes that life on earth is temporary. A mother, a wife, a sister, daughter, friend, confidante, encourager and care giver. Most of all you will see a woman who knows how to wear a mask. My outer self may exhibit confidence, courage and having it all together, while my inner self is doing internal flips of mood swings, indecision, fears and worry.

God made each one of us as unique individuals. We are His handiwork. Even when things are closing in on us, He is with us through it. He will never leave us. He loves us unconditionally and He gives us strength and the courage to stay the course.

THE MEANING OF LIFE by Kathy Boecher

Life on this planet is but a whisper in the scheme of things.
We are born, we grow, we learn, we work, we die.
What has happened to all those days in between?

They have become food for dreams, memories to ponder,
Hopes to continue striving for. They get foggier as we age.
The windshield of our existence needs to be defrosted.

We have but a few years to leave our mark – to create a legacy –
To share with others – to love and be loved.
If only there were more of them. There’s so little time and so much to do.

I feel a nagging desire to complete every goal I set out before it’s too late.
I have words to share, friends and strangers who need encouragement.
I pray that God will find a way for me to do all that I need to get done.

Posted in aging, goals, Poetry by Kathy Boecher, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

LIFE OUT OF ASHES

Posted on June 20, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

There are places we simply crave to be,

Serene, comfortable places where we can find solitude,

Tightly clinging to the quietness of alone time,

Away from the clamor of everyday life,

Isolated, apart from others, in your own little world,

Yet we are never completely alone,

We may be steering the ship, but God is guiding the way,

We may think we’ve got it all under control,

Until we hit a bump and capsize,

Gasping for air,

Pleading for salvation,

Longing to live, just one more day,

One more hour,

One more minute,

God holds us in the palm of His mighty hand,

He will never let us go,

He is there, setting the boat aright,

Keeping us alive,

Breathing air into our dying lungs,

So that we will surrender to Him,

He is our perfect Father,

He will see us through trials and tribulation,

He will rejoice with us during times of joy and celebration,

He will watch over us for the rest of our living,

And welcome us into His home,

Where we will live a perfect life forever.

Posted in aging, anxiety, armor of God, Poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Posted on June 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

My family means everything to me. This past weekend was filled with high emotions, tears, love and family – which can be overwhelming – but through it, I saw strength, faith, love, respect, honor and so much more. It was Father’s Day, so we celebrated dad in a whole new way. Our daughter from S. Carolina flew in to surprise us. Our son and his fiancee’ drove from S. Minneapolis. Our other daughter, her husband and daughter were also on hand to celebrate dad. It happens to be my birthday today as well, so there was that.

Last week was filled with fear, anxiety, lots of prayers and a continued connection to our God. Paul was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, after a slight blackout at his plein air painting class. He had been experiencing fatigue for a few weeks, but thought it was caused by the hot weather and air quality. It turned out he had a stroke. It was a small one, but nonetheless a stroke. He also had low hemoglobin – in a dangerous range – and needed three units of blood. During his stay, it was discovered that he has a lot more issues than he thought he did. They tested him in many ways – cat cans, MRI, endoscopy, etc., etc. They also discovered a mass in his chest x-ray, near his lungs, and a faulty heart valve. Lots of things to absorb and process. They will be doing a biopsy as an outpatient sometime this week.

On Saturday, as I was trying to keep my thoughts busy, I decided to tackle some spring cleaning that had gone undone. I was surprised when my two daughters showed up at my door. My oldest had flown in the night before, knowing all the details of our week so far. Our children are such a gift from God. Even though they are on loan to us for the time we raise them, they are bonded with us for life. So, Father’s Day was more than a blessing. We were all together. We were able to talk honestly about the future. Tears flowed, hugs ensued, and Kleenex ran out. As I look at the pictures above, I can’t help but thank God for my family. They know that heaven is waiting for all of us, and that the One thing needful in this life is our relationship with God and each other.

Psalm 127:3-5 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

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JUNETEENTH

Posted on June 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me


Way back in 1865, America was reeling from the effects of the Civil War.  Texas, however, had no part in the conflict.  In fact, many slaves moved to the Lone Star State to flee the battle.  When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, it took some time for the news to reach Texas.  Thus, slavery continued a while until Union General Gordon Granger, read General Order Number 3 from a balcony in Ashton Villa.,

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

The slaves in Texas were the last to be freed. This was a day of joy for them.  Freedom always comes at a cost.  The blood shed during the long conflict for emancipation was superfluous.  Years passed, lives were lost or changed forever, brothers fought against brothers.  In spite of that loss, we still continue to fight the Civil War in different ways.

Today, freedom is available to anyone who comes here seeking it.  Our doors are open to those who have been oppressed by other governments.  We extend the arm of friendship, but still bias and segregation remain.  Maybe not in the same way as before, but in the undertones of prejudice, anger, selfishness, narcissism and hatred.

Have we forgotten that America is a free nation?  Have the tables turned in the last 150 years?  Are we still engaged in a Civil dispute?  No matter what the case, it’s time to put away malice, fear mongering, news that incites people into violent behavior and begin to heal.  Freedom is a precious commodity and should be revered as such.  Once we have it, we should not abuse it.  Once we have gained it, we should be willing to give up old ways and start fresh.

We don’t have to wait until the war is over.  The battle has already been won.  We’ve been freed from a life of sin, by God, the Creator of the Universe.  In the end, we know the result of that battle.  It has already been won, by Jesus, our Savior!

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MY HEAVENLY FATHER

Posted on June 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The mountains might become a refuge, a hiding place, a fortress,

Or they could be a place to get lost,

To retreat,

To blend in.

When you try to hide from God, where do you go?

There is no place hidden from His sight.

He is all knowing, omniscient,

Omnipotent,

Omnipresent.

We can run away, but we are always under His watchful eye.

Should that give us cause to fear?  Yes and no.

God is a righteous judge.  He also knows when we have sinned.

Yet, because of His boundless grace,

We have no need to be afraid.

Instead, we can rest in each nook and cranny,

Walk confidently over each perilous ridge,

be sure footed as we approach craggy, dangerous path,

Because He is our rock,

Our salvation,

Our Father.

He will always be there to lift us up,

To straighten our path,

To guide and strengthen us.

Don’t hide.

Rest in His unswerving protection.

He will hold you in the palm of His mighty hand.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO MY FATHER, GOD – THE CREATOR OF ALL DADS!

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