WINDY, WHIRLING, WET & WATERLOGGED WEDNESDAY

Posted on April 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Waves of wind test the endurance of newly budding trees. The American flag is waving furiously at me, as I look out my side window. The watery blast of April rain is greening up the brown grass and forming new life everywhere. Snow, wind, rain, heat – all evident in the past week in Minnesota. April is a month of transition, I guess. We see changes all across our country – not just in my state, but everywhere. With each passing year, I never fail to marvel at the evidence of God’s power in the weather. Tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, washing, cleansing and renewing the remnants of the past season. Some of those storms are so powerful, they cause devastation, material loss, loss of life and more. In the midst of all that pain and suffering, stands our Father, God, Jehovah. He is in control – not to cause us pain, but to bring good from it.

The storms of life are hard. Why does God allow those times to penetrate our hearts and souls to the point of depression, anxiety and despair? With each peril we endure, we have the assurance that He is still the same as always. We can count on Him and should depend completely on Him for peace, tranquility and comfort. He isn’t sending these storms to destroy our faith, but to build it. That might seem ludicrous to some, but it makes perfect sense to me.

Who do you run to in times of trouble? Who do you rely on when you can’t take life anymore? Where do you go when all other hope is lost? The darkness of the storms will always provide a rainbow, and beauty can be found in even the most difficult of situations. He is the One who formed the world and the entire universe. He knows what He’s doing. When storms come, you can be sure He’s got this!

“He stretches out the north over the void
    and hangs the earth on nothing.
 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
    and the cloud is not split open under them.
 He covers the face of the full moon
    and spreads over it his cloud.
He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters
    at the boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of heaven tremble
    and are astounded at his rebuke.” Job 26:7-11

Posted in aging, Faith, storms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

ARGH

Posted on April 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Today’s message will be short and sweet. I went in for my final cataract surgery yesterday and told them I was disappointed in the patch they gave me last time. I was hoping for a black one to complete my pirate ensemble. “A black one,” the nurse asked. “I don’t think we have any of those.” So began my pre-op. I asked her later if she felt like she was running an assembly line, she said, “Well, we have 30 surgeries today and sometimes it feels that way, I guess. I hope you don’t feel that way.” When the surgeon came in, he asked how my eyes were doing, and I asked him how his were. He replied that his were great. I don’t think he got the joke.

Needless to say, I felt like an idiot for asking, but it does almost seem like a production of sorts when you go in for this kind of procedure. Now I sit and wait again for this eye to heal and hope both eyes will be normal again. Today I probably will make a lot of spelling mistakes and typos, but I have enough trouble with that anyway since most of the letters and numbers have worn off of my keyboard. At least I made an appearance today – without my pirate patch.

Posted in aging, anticipation, healing, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

MIRROR OF THE SOUL

Posted on April 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Today is my second cataract surgery. The first went well and I’ve been able to see true color out of that eye and everything is much brighter. Now I can’t wait for the other eye to match up. Our vision is such an important part of our lives. Seeing things clearly makes all that we see, so much better. There is more to our vision than we even take time to think about.

Last week I felt quite proud of myself. I washed two of the kitchen windows n- inside and out. This is an accomplishment for me. I put off doing this chore last year because of the road construction going on outside our home. That work continues, but I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I took action. Washing two windows doesn’t sound like much, but I’m 80, so there’s that. Of course, the next day it rained, but it didn’t matter. Those windows are still cleaner than they were before, and it has opened up a whole new view of work that has to be done outside. When you get older, you learn to do some of these tasks little by little.

We grow so dependent on our eyes that we often take them for granted.  Right now, our landscape is painted white with snow, but there are other colors.  At this time of the year, when the sun begins to move closer to us, that golden orb is a welcome sight.  It pierces through the crystal atmosphere, creating diamonds across an alabaster landscape. Sometimes the light can be irritating as I try to come up with an idea for this morning’s post.  It cuts through my vision and even leaves me slightly blinded by its presence.

The sun’s power is incredible.  The warmth slices through the hanging glasslike stalactites turning them into little puddles on the ground.  They will soon succumb to the evening cold and refreeze for another day.  The glow of the sun also gives us hope that winter will soon end – that there is a new beginning, new life and promise of warm walks in the summer heat.

In a world of darkened by sin, our eyes crave the true Light a light which never goes out and sets us on the path to heaven.  Jesus is the Light of the World.  Through Him, we can identify the darkness of sin.  Through Him, we have a way out. Through His death and resurrection, we’re promised an eternity where there will be no more need for light, because God is our all-sufficient illumination.

Thank you, Lord, God, for the skill of my eye surgeon. Guide his hands today to restore my eyesight to where it should be. You alone are the great Physician and I rely on your constant care.  I thank you for opening my eyes completely to your grace. In Jesus name, I thank and praise you for your almighty power.  Amen

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SUFFICIENT GRACE

Posted on April 16, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The following is a story of how we hang on to things that we learn as and how they carry over to adulthood.

I was about nine or ten, I guess.  We had just moved to the lowest level of a four-story apartment building.  My dad was now the custodian for the building we started in at the time of my baby sister’s birth.  That first apartment was on the top floor, and I have memories of the ice man coming to deliver ice for our refrigerator.  He’d start at floor One and by the time he reached us, the huge block of ice had dwindled down to half its size.  When we moved to the second floor, my sister locked me in the linen closet in our also locked bathroom.  A crew of Milwaukee’s finest firemen arrived to rescue us, but the only way in was a tiny window that led to the fire escape outside.  A gigantic fireman pushed the window open with his foot and managed to wiggle his way through, much to the chagrin of my sister who exploded into screams and tears.  He unlocked both doors and sent us out to our terrified mother who had nothing to say but, “Wait until your father gets home.”

During those years, we attended church services at an old Gothic German Lutheran Church.  German services were still held there in the 1950s, but we attended the service we could understand.  The edifice was magnificent.  The beauty of the inside of the sanctuary was as breath taking as the outside.  Pipes lined the wall in the choir loft to spread the joyful organ music to every inch of the place. At the front of the church was a statue of Christ ascending into heaven surrounded by cherubs.  The stained-glass windows each told a different story.  The ceiling had paintings on it as well.  There was so much eye candy for little eyes.  The pulpit was also beautifully crafted with stairs leading to the spot from which the pastor would deliver his sermon each week.  The pulpit was covered with more Gothic influence.  A canopy of sorts dwarfed the preacher as he spoke.  There was a particular Sunday when two little ones, sitting in the front row, were misbehaving.  The powerful voice of the pastor shouted for them to “STOP.”  It scared them into submission.

That incident set the stage for my life in that church.  Several years, and many Sundays went by and all that I heard from that little preacher with the big voice, was that I was doomed to a life in hell.  Fire and brimstone was the fare of the day.  For some reason, his final words were almost whispered as he said, “But, by the grace of God you are saved.”  I almost didn’t hear them.

It’s taken me years and years of struggling with my own self esteem issues and my feeling of my worthlessness to God, to overcome those words.  Today as I get closer to my 81st birthday, I realize that I wasted those years on self-pity and unworthiness.  We recently heard a powerful sermon on things we wish we would’ve known sooner.  It made me think of all the time of grace I had missed out on over so many years.  I had a relationship with God, with my church, with my family, but it was incomplete.  I have always felt in the back of my mind that I’m not worthy of God’s grace.  So often we go through the motions of worshipping, the rote of the liturgy, the memorized prayers, without actually thinking about them.  All the glory and beauty of a church doesn’t make a difference to God.  He knows our hearts.  When we strive for larger numbers in our congregations, it really doesn’t matter to Him either.  When we share His message with others, it does matter.  Anything that WE try to do is going to fall short of the glory and honor He deserves.  He has it all mapped out for each of our lives.  He loves us more than we can ever love back.  That’s what grace is – unconditional love.

You’re never too old to learn something you wish you had learned sooner in life.  I’m getting there.  Maybe that’s why I’m still alive.  I’m making up for lost time.  Thank you, Jesus for waiting for me to catch up.

Posted in aging, anxiety, grace, Hell, SELF ESTEEM | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SPRING RAGE

Posted on April 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A mass of melting snow trickles gently over rocks and crevices,

Weeping as the tears of God,

Hemorrhaging from each pore within the granite,

Shards of glasslike ice – intertwining, mingling, coexisting,

Fraternizing, socializing, coming together,

Churning and percolating over each nook and cranny,

Until what once was an insignificant  droplet,

Rages into an incomprehensible force.

Posted in America, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, change, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

DEATH & TAXES

Posted on April 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Woo hoo, it’s April 15th and time to get your taxes paid or receive a refund. I never did quite understand why we should be taxed on what we earned by actually working. It seems ludicrous in a way that the laborers of the country should be responsible for those who don’t. Ben Franklin wrote these familiar words to a friend when he was in his 80s, proving that he still maintained a sense of humor.

“Our Constitution is in actual operation. Everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

Those words don’t hold much hilarity today, especially when we see how out of hand our taxes are and how out of control government spending has become. We also know that death is a certainty. April 15th is Tax Day – a day which will bring fear to the strongest of us – a day we know is coming, but rarely plan for – a day that was instituted in 1913 when the sixteenth amendment was ratified.

It’s interesting to note that one year prior to this, on April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank when it hit an iceberg – losing 1500 souls in the process. There were more than 700 survivors who kept the memory of that fateful day until their own demise occurred. I have recurring dreams of being on that ship as it sank. Every time I see photographs or movies that recall the tragedy, I become very uncomfortable and anxious. It’s almost as if I was there on that “unsinkable” vessel. I don’t believe in reincarnation, but this dream is very disconcerting.

Back to the two dates coinciding – death and taxes are truly real and certain. God tells us to render to those who rule over us. We are to respect our government and pay what is required. Our death is also certain, but the payment for our sin has already been paid, by God’s own Son. By His death, we are assured of life everlasting and no more taxes.

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ONE WEEK CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

Posted on April 14, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Last Friday we meditated over the crucified Son of God as His arms stretched painfully upon a cross. His human life was being sucked from Him with the burden of our sins weighing heavily on His back. His final breath came. The earth shook. The temple curtain was cut in two, making it possible for all of us to go directly to His Father without intervention from a priest. The sinless Lamb of God was dead.

Easter Sunday came. We raised our voices in loud Halleluiahs and thanksgiving, because that same shell of a man, defeated the grave and came back to life. His life for ours. What a gift! What a treasure! What joy! A week has passed. The joy has been replaced with the same things that troubled us before we celebrated Easter. We continue to worry about things we have no control over. We descend into despair. We get edgy. We let the world get to us. Within such a short period of time, our joy has been erased by the turmoil around us, but now is the time we need to remember it the most.

We have just gone through the season of Lent, where we contemplated our sin, repented and turned it over to Jesus. We went through Holy Week starting with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The King of Kings entered the city on the back of the foal of a donkey. In deepest humility, he rode on to die. Then He gave His life on Good Friday. Within the Passion of Jesus. we witnessed praise, humility, anger, frustration, intense prayer, pain, suffering, betrayal and denial. We experienced some of those emotions ourselves as we walked through history with Jesus. Now, a week later, life goes on as usual.

In a way, we’ve prepared for this event for a long period of time, just like a special birthday or anniversary, an opening night, a letter from a publisher or good news from the doctor. The event occurs and then things return to the way they were. However, things are not the same. Jesus changed everything and He continues to do so, even today. With that in mind, we should be on fire to be like Him – to serve others – to share His amazing grace with others – to dedicate ourselves to Him with our talents and time – to treasure the outcome awaiting us in Heaven.

He is risen! He is risen INDEED!

Posted in anxiety, Christ's passion, Easter, Faith, Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

PEARLS OF TRUTH

Posted on April 13, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

There’s really nothing funny about getting older. The fact that you have become your mother isn’t really all that bad. You loved your mother, right? I know I did. She came to live in our home when she was my age. It was kind of a last resort. She’d been living in Florida for several years after marrying her second husband. During that time, she continued to suffer from back pain from many botched surgeries in her younger years. She watched her second husband pass away. She was always a vibrant woman in spite of all her physical ailments. The chronic pain was often masked by her laughter. She’d become dependent on pain killers, so it was a matter of “getting her clean,” when she first arrived.

When I look in the mirror today, I see her. I see the wrinkles in her face – her smile – her sense of humor – her love and compassion. I hope those are things that others see in me. As we walk through this journey called life, we can often get overwhelmed by our circumstances. Aging is definitely not for the faint of heart. That’s why I’m involved in a theatre troupe that focuses on aging with an open mind. My character’s name is Pearl, which is why I’ve chosen to go with the cartoon in this post.

We have no control over what happens to us physically, but we can teach ourselves to accept the things that happen to us both physically and mentally. Instead of working so hard on staying young – on curing old injuries – making new bodies out of worn-out ones – let’s start putting some humor back into our lives. It sure beats the alternative. While we’re at it, our attitude will often change the way we feel.

Posted in aging, America, anxiety, encouraagement, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DOWNSIZING, PURGING OR SPRING CLEANING?

Posted on April 12, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Some folks call it Spring cleaning while others call it de-cluttering, downsizing or purging.  I call it hard work.  When we go through the memories of the past, or struggle over what to hang on to and what to get rid of, it should be a piece of cake, right? “Simplify,” they say.  “It’s only stuff.” or “you can’t take it with you.”  Very true, but to go through a lifetime of accumulated memories isn’t as easy as you’d think it should be.  There are the baby books of your children, countless photographs, things from Great Grandma’s dining room, dust covered and unused things that hold some value to us – often because they hold memories rather than monetary value.

Then there are the things of actual value – the accumulated words of poetry, fiction, stories and plays written.  The compilation of a lifetime of artwork.  Things that describe who we are and what we’ve accomplished. Does any of that really hold any true value? Sometimes it does. Watching Antiques Roadshow and Storage Wars, we see that much of our trash can be valuable to someone. It’s a matter of getting in touch with the right people at the right time.

We know our years are numbered. Our stuff will probably still be in the same place we left it when we die. Our kids will have the pleasure of getting rid of most of it, maybe making a few bucks off of it, or just toss it away. The fact is, we can’t take any of it with us, so why is it so hard for us to let go of it? Memories, like faded photographs of our ancestors, will get tossed in a box with no identification and only guesses who they might be. Purging can be cathartic, but it can also be painful.

Any change in life is difficult, but if we realize that God is in control of all of it, we should be relieved of any anxiety or fear about the future.  Even when everything is a little out of focus and unsure. Letting go of what’s behind us isn’t always easy, but how will we ever know the joys God has in store for us, unless we follow His lead.  He has promised to bring us safely to our final destination.

Posted in aging, change, Daily devotion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Posted on April 11, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz
I wonder where the boidies is
The boidies are high in the sky
Dropping whitewash in my eye
I’m a good boy, I don’t cry
I’m just glad the cows don’t fly

I say this poem with great skepticism since I live in Minnesota and you never know what the weather is going to do. Last week we were in the 40s and this week we’re jumping up to the 80s. It’s enough to get us all revved up for gardening, cleaning up our yards, engaging in spring cleaning (skip that one) and new life popping up all around. When I see the crocuses beginning to push out of the ground, I know that spring is right around the corner, but who knows. We could be in the middle of another blizzard next week. The joys of living in the frozen Tundra.

All the cries about climate change mean nothing to those of us who endure 40 below zero temperatures for at least six months. Flannel is the choice of the day, with lots of sweaters, socks, crazy hats and gloves. Not to mention puffy coats and mukluks. (Google it if you don’t already know.) What we will see around here, as the temperature rises, is folks dressed in shorts and flip flops with down vests just in case.

I really can’t tell you why we live in this climate zone. I guess I just keep hoping the warming trend doesn’t take a hundred more years to get here. I’ll be dead by then and it won’t matter. In the meantime, I’ll sit back – breathe in the mold and pollen – wait to hear the sounds of road construction in my backyard – watch the feral cats, squirrels and birds – and ignore the dust collecting on my furniture.

Posted in change, Climate change, Humor, New life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

FEAR OF HIGHS AND LOWS

Posted on April 10, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

We’ve just come down from a high emotional season of the Passion of Christ. Yesterday we rejoiced that our bruised, smitten, tortured and dead Savior has overcome the grave and risen from death. Our joyful Halleluiahs were raised in song and praise. His mission was accomplished. The price paid. The devil defeated. As we plodded through the season of Lent our hearts were heavy at times, yet full of amazement at the power of Jesus. We traveled through our own time in the wilderness as we reflected on our own journey. We witnessed His emotional prayer in Gethsemane. We watched as the innocent servant gave His life for all of humanity. It was an emotional ride for all of us who took that walk with Him. Now, as a new week begins, we’re brought back to the reality of our everyday lives. How does your Monday stack up?

Maybe we rise with a mixture of emotions. Our first impulse might be the need for more time to sleep or the urgency of getting to the bathroom.  What should I wear? Did I wear that a few days ago?  What should I have for breakfast?  No time – I spent too much time trying to decide what to wear. Once on the job, you continue to struggle to make difficult decisions, face serious problems and come up with solutions.  It doesn’t end when you punch the time clock.  When you arrive home, you’re faced with millions of choices.  What should you have for dinner?  Why didn’t you stock up at the grocery store before coming home?  Will you have time to make it to daughter’s dance lessons and drop off your son for football practice?  Did you feed the dog?

OK, these are pretty mundane emotional ups and downs.  How about this?  Will I get good results from the doctor?  What if the lump is still there?  How will my family deal with this?  I lost my job, now what do I do?  What will we do if we have to bring mother into our house to live?  How do I handle dementia?  My friend is facing divorce.  What do I tell her?  How can I help when I have so many things on my own plate?  The world is filled with nothing but bad news.  How can I remain positive?  How do I deal with my child’s being bullied at school?

I could go on and on about the everyday crises we face, but I don’t want this to be a depressing post. Jesus gave us a solution to this dilemma when He said, “Come unto me, you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Those words don’t always cut it when you’re facing foreclosure and bankruptcy, or you just discovered your mate is having an affair.  Our first impulse is to try and figure things out for ourselves.  It might even seem like a cop out to just say that God will take care of things.  We have this inborn need to be in charge of our own destiny.

God isn’t telling us to not be involved in these things, but He’s inviting us to turn to Him first.  We really need to surrender to His will in every area of our living.  He has promised to give us the answers we need if we trust in His wisdom, love and power FIRST. That is the true beauty of Easter. God put us FIRST, because of His unconditional love for us.

When you ride a roller coaster, you feel anticipation,
The thrill of each wild moment, freedom of inhibition.
Your spirit soars as you reach each rising peak.
Your stomach rushes to your throat. You can no longer speak.
The valleys and the curves, the twists, the highs and lows,
Resemble life in every way and God, the Father knows
That everything relies on Him to find the even path.
He loves His fallen children, though they deserve His wrath.
He asks us to return again to His dear, loving arms.
For He alone can calm our fears and mend life’s fearful harms.

KATHY BOECHER©

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EMPTY GRAVE – FULL HEARTS

Posted on April 9, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

John 20-6-7 “Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”

The moments after finding that Jesus had overcome the grave must have been overwhelming for the disciples.  All the anxiety of deserting the Savior and doubting Him must have choked them, but to see with their own eyes that He no longer was held by the chains of death must have put them on cloud nine.

We are fortunate to have it all written down for us in God’s Word, but they had nothing to go on except raw emotion, which had been torn to shreds in the past few days.  Still the evidence was right there.   There was no physical remnant of His presence except for the empty clothes that He was buried in.

Peter and John wasted no time in returning to tell the others what they had seen.  This wasn’t just another miracle.  This was God’s holy hand fulfilling every promise He had given to His people from the day they decided to disobey Him.  Their despair turned into pure excitement and they couldn’t wait to tell others the news.

As we remember those empty grave clothes scattered there, let’s never forget that God never makes a promise that He won’t deliver on.  He has promised us eternal life if we ask for forgiveness and believe that He has paid the ransom.  When I die, I  am confident of that truth and the grave and hell will never touch me.  Now I can’t wait to let everyone know about this perfect love.  This is good news for everyone.

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

A joyous Easter to all of you.

Posted in Easter, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

CHOICE & CONSEQUENCES

Posted on April 8, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Every day we’re faced with choices. When you think about it, most things we do are based on our choices, but we often fail to look ahead to the consequences. If Jesus, the man, had a choice in the matter of our redemption, do you think He would’ve proceeded in the same way that he did? In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to His heavenly Father to release Him from the task at hand. His conversation with God led Him to the choice of going through torture, pain and suffering. He would face a criminal court and be condemned to a painful execution. He would be mocked, shamed, bullied and forced to carry His own cross. By giving up His life, He would submit to God’s will and save the world from eternal death.

On this silent Saturday, I think about things like this. What if? If Jesus was just a man, the choice would be obvious. He’d run away and hide. He’d fear for His life. He’d do anything to reverse the entire process. What if He only thought about Himself? He certainly could have done a miracle and avoided the whole kangaroo court. Barabbas would have died instead of Him. If His human side were to take over, He would never have gone to the cross. Why would He put Himself through that. We would then still be under the curse of death for our bad choices.

We as human beings make lots of choices in our lifetime. Most of them are designed to make a change – to set a goal – to have a child – to pull the plug – but all of these choices will have an effect on us personally. Our choices – good or bad – will always have consequences – good or bad. Choice: We choose to be successful. Consequence: We fail or succeed. Choice: We choose to undergo surgery to lengthen our lives. Consequence: We live for another ten years, or we die on the operating table. Choice: We choose to have sex before marriage. Consequence: We become pregnant or scarred for life with guilt. Many times, the consequences will lead to a whole list of other consequences.

Thank God today, that His Son didn’t turn His back on us and walk away. His mission was to sacrifice His own life for the benefit of all of humanity. Jesus is also God, so He could’ve chosen a different path, but He didn’t. The ultimate sacrifice was to lay down His own life for others. Jesus is our role model. He lived for us, not Himself. He served others, not Himself. He taught the masses, fed thousands and healed many, but He struggled, was tempted, tortured and endured all of it because of us, not Himself.

I think one of the hardest things for us to do as human beings is to place others ahead of ourselves. As far back as the beginning of time, mankind has made choices – not for God, but for themselves. Even then, God promised His creation that He would bring about a perfect solution to that problem as well as all the others we face. All we have to do is be like Jesus.

DEAR HOLY, SON OF GOD, JESUS – You came to earth to live among us. You didn’t have to make that choice. You didn’t have to lose your life because of others, but you did. Because you lived and died, we know you were true flesh and blood, but you are also Omnipotent, Ominpresent and Omiscient. You rose from death and defeated Satan. You are the One true God, and you love us so much that you gave your life for us. Thank you for making that choice. Amen

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HE THIRSTED

Posted on April 7, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

(A fictional story of what might have happened on that original Good Friday. Many were moved by crucifixion of Jesus. Many came to follow Him. Many prophesies were fulfilled. The truth of the story is that He lived a human life – suffered an agonizing death – and rose again in a transfigured body so that we may live with Him in eternity forever.)

By this time, Jesus was a pitiful sight. He had been hanging on that cross for three hours. His body was weak from attempting to catch His breath. Blood flowed from every part of this shell of a man. The crown of thorns we placed on His head during His arrest, cut sharply into His scalp creating even more blood. Mixed with the sweat and spittle from the riotous crowd, His hair became a matted mess. We, the soldiers in charge of the crucifixion detail, had just finished casting lots for His robe. It was nothing special – a seamless piece of woven cloth that would fetch a fair sum back in Jerusalem.

As we entertained ourselves, the man hanging in the center – the One who called Himself the Messiah – uttered a few sentences here and there. Most of His words remained slurred or difficult for Him to speak. When He said, “I thirst,” one of the other soldiers prodded me to offer him a sponge filled with vinegar. This was just another form of mocking of this criminal and His ridiculous claims. You wouldn’t believe how many had come before Him, claiming to be the promised Messiah and descendant of King David.

I reluctantly filled the sponge with vinegar. Another soldier gave me a hyssop branch to attach to the sponge. I then lifted it to the dying prisoner. Being on the cross for so long had obviously dehydrated Him. Thirst was one of the side effects of crucifixion. Someone from the audience recalled using hyssop in the Passover celebration, as a reminder of the painting of the door posts with the blood of an unblemished lamb. Those Jews and their traditions. I suppose they thought this was the Lamb of God they always talked about.

As the man sucked in the vinegar, I couldn’t help but notice His bruised and blackened eyes. Below the swollen lids, I could see compassion as well as a spirit of forgiveness. I had never seen this in a dying criminal before. It was as though He was fighting through the pain just for me. When I saw that His life was drawing to a close, I removed the sponge from His lips.

After many years passed, I began to learn more about this man, Jesus. In reading the scriptures of old, I came across a Psalm that referred to giving vinegar to the Messiah to drink. I later discovered that this was another prophesy about the Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah. It was like a revelation of the truth of the man and His life – His death – His resurrection. I recalled His eyes and a feeling of relief fell over me.

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THE EMPTY CROSS . . .

Posted on April 7, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

THE EMPTY CROSS – Sculpture prototype by Paul Boecher

The photo accompanying this post is of a cross that hangs in our home. It was originally designed to appear at the front of a church. The cross is empty, but the scars of the suffering which occurred remain. My husband decided against this commission several years ago, because a member of the committee reviewing it thought it was too gruesome. His decision was based on his commitment to the truth of Jesus’ suffering and the cost that our Savior paid for our iniquities. Jesus no longer resides on the cross. He died there, yes, but His body was resurrected on the third day as He promised it would be. Because of this price – this gift to us – we will not have to suffer the pangs of death. He did it for us.

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DROPS OF BLOOD

Posted on April 6, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44 ESV

When Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane, His mind was on one thing only – His mission for coming to this world.  He was a man, but He is also God.  Because of His human nature, He prayed to His heavenly Father, asking that He might be spared from his impending journey.  Because He was also God, He knew there was no turning back – no running away – no hiding, because it was His will which must be carried out

God’s will demanded full payment for the sins of the world.  That payment came in the form of His own flesh. That’s not an easy concept to understand.  God paid the price by His own death.  He was the sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. No other blood sacrifice would suffice.  No animal or human being could cover the cost.  This was all part of God’s promise of redemption way back in that other garden – Eden.

Jesus’ prayer was one of a man talking to His Father.  In the end He realizes that there is no choice.  He could’ve sent an army of angels to protect Himself and His men, but He went willingly.  His tears were not for Himself, but for you and me and every human being that ever lived.  His prayer was so intense that He sweat drops of blood.  The sweat He bled was real and shows the depth and intensity of His prayer.

Through this event, we learn that it’s OK for us to cry when we hurt, when we suffer financial loss, death of a family member or friend.  When we’re depressed or worried tears will fall. It’s part of our human condition. Our tears hold no magical power, but they do allow us to grieve.  They cleanse the pain away for a while.  They act as a buffer against  outside anxiety.  They open our hearts to the Savior who went willingly to His death to rescue us.

Mountainous clouds entwine in a sky of black,
Filling with tears from the Lord of all.
He sees and He knows our tribulation.
The depth of our sorrow is in His hands.
There is nothing we can do to take away our sadness.
We cannot change the course of our lives,
But He has turned His tears to cleansing waters.
Through the death of His beloved Son.
Washed – forgiven from sin’s deadly pain,
We can dance in His refreshing rain.

                                                                                               KATHY BOECHER©

Posted in 4th of July, Holy Week, Jesus, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

Posted on April 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

It’s located just outside the city of Jerusalem.  The garden below was a designated cemetery for the Jewish people.  Many of them are buried there.  Jesus seemed to find solace in that place.  He spent much of his time talking to his followers from that very site. It was the perfect place to retreat for prayer and contemplation.

The night was still – the sky dotted with a billion stars.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, looked up and couldn’t help but recall God’s promise to Abraham. God told the patriarch that his descendants would far outnumber those stars.  It was with faith that Abraham believed God’s promise.  It was faith that led him to sacrifice his long-promised son.  It was God that provided a substitute.  It is God who provides all of us with the faith we need when faced with difficult times. He gives us His Holy Spirit to breathe that faith into us. He gave His Son to die for us.

God always keeps His promises.  The thought of giving up her Son weighed heavily on Mary’s heart. Even though giving up the life that had grown within her own body for nine months, she knew she had to trust that there was a purpose for all this.  Would her boy’s life end and simply be added to the numbers buried on that mountain? She remembered the words of the angel Gabriel.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Her faith had to remain strong this week, because she knew it would be put to the test.  Looking up at those stars, she could see God’s handiwork woven into each intricate pattern. Each tiny globe of light was a beacon that filled her heart with hope rather than despair. She knew that God’s will was about to be done. On Tuesday of that Holy Week, Jesus and His followers retreated to the Mount of Olives. They cut through the cemetery at the foot of the hill. The Messiah knew His time was drawing to a close. His Father’s will would be done.

Posted in Faith, God's promises, Holy Week, Jesus, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

AN INCREDIBLE WEEK

Posted on April 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

It was the most incredible week. The city of Jerusalem was filled to capacity and beyond. People had come from all over the country to celebrate the Passover. Jesus entered the city gates on the back of a donkey to cries of Hosanna to the Messiah – the son of King David – the rightful heir to his kingdom. Even though they honored Him with praises and the waving of palms, they would soon be screaming for His death. Behind closed doors, one of His own disciples was making arrangements to turn Jesus over to the leaders of the Pharisees. Jesus would continue His ministry in His earthly kingdom – turning the attention of His followers to the Kingdom of Heaven. Those closest to Him were told He would soon be leaving, and they couldn’t understand.

In that week – that very holy week – Jesus turned over the merchants’ tables, casting their wares upon the ground and sending doves into their escape. He overturned the tables of each vendor who was taking advantage of this holiday to make money. His rage was justifiable. His Father’s house, intended as a house of worship, had become a den of thieves. The Passover meal was set in an upper room. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an act of a servant. He instituted a new meal, which would replace the Passover Feast.

He prayed feverishly that the cup He was meant to drink would be taken from Him, yet He submitted to the will of His Father. He prayed while His followers slept. A group of soldiers was led by His disciple, Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Another of His disciples, Peter, would try to defend Jesus by using his sword to cut off a soldier’s ear. Jesus healed the man. That same disciple would denounce knowing Jesus three times. Jesus was arrested, put on trial and declared guilty of blasphemy. He was brutally flogged to the point of death. He was mocked and ridiculed by the Roman army. A sign naming Him the “King of the Jews,” was placed at the top of the cross He would carry to Golgotha. Long, iron spikes pierced His hands and feet to the execution instrument. He would hang there for three hours asking for forgiveness of His enemies – feeling the pain and distress of losing oxygen and being bitten by flies. His already beaten body would endure more pain than anyone could bear. When He could breathe no more, He died. All of this occurred at the time of the evening sacrifice. The Lamb of God had taken the sins of the world to the grave.

That was not the end of the story. As we meditate on Jesus’ last week, let’s realize the extent He would go to release His creation from the grip of sin. He gave His life so that we could inherit His Heavenly Kingdom. So today, we can look at an empty cross and know the price that was paid for our salvation. It is a time of sadness, but our joy will overtake. In just three days He would also conquer the grave, the devil and our sins.

HOSANNA! GOD HAS SAVED US!

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THE HILLS CRY OUT

Posted on April 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©


Cutting through the depths of granite, crushing stone along the way,
Even though our God has planned it, it still takes our breath away,
Mountains high and surface rugged, deep crevasses cut within,
Rests the hand of One so tender, who destroys our every sin.

Waters surge and pour refreshment, cleansing all within its path,
Though we simply don’t deserve it, Jesus calms His Father’s wrath,
Takes us to the realms of glory, when our days on earth are done,
In the rock of our salvation, sin is dead, the victory won.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, PALM SUNDAY | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MY LORD AND KING

Posted on April 1, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY  BY KATHY BOECHER

You are my Lord and King. Without you I am lost.
My praise to you I bring, for paying the great cost.
You died upon the cross to save a wretch like me.
You suffered pain and loss upon that dreadful tree,
You gave your life for me, and others who believe.
You died to set me free. Your truth I’ll never leave.
Help me to mirror you; to walk within your light;
To share all that you do – your power and your might.
You’ve given me your Word – a manual for my life.
With it I now have heard the answers for my strife.
Prepare my heart for you. Let me your servant be.
May everything I do reflect your love for me.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, Jesus, Lent, PALM SUNDAY | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments