AN EMOTIONAL TIME OF YEAR

Posted on December 9, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I didn’t realize there was really such a thing as a blue Christmas. Elvis touched hearts many years ago with a song about spending Christmas without the one he loved, but there actually is a day on the calendar set aside for Blue Christmas. It’s December 21, which is also the longest day of the year and the beginning of the winter solstice. There are many reasons to be joyful during this season as we prepare for the birth of our Savior, Jesus, but there are also times when we don’t feel so happy or sentimental. In fact, our emotions can run like the highs and lows of a rollercoaster. Some of those memories stir thoughts of those who are no longer with us. We remember happy times together as a family. There are thoughts of Christmases when there was more than enough and those that were comprised of homemade gifts and a simple meal together.

Jesus was born as a human baby on Christmas. He grew up like any other human child – worked beside His stepfather – played with other children – skinned His knees – and laughed and cried like children do. He grew into a man of sorrows, experiencing all the ups and downs that we do. This was part of His mission. He came to live among us and share in our sad times as well as the good ones. He knew and continues to know the human experience. He was aware of God’s plan for humanity and willingly laid down His life for all of us. A greater love than man has ever known.

There will still be times that Christmas brings on more of the sad, depressed, overwhelmed feelings than we’d like. We often pray that the season will go by quickly and we don’t have to feel the tugging at our heartstrings. Yet, we must honor the God/Man, Jesus who came to reconcile us to God the Father. This is the way it had to be, because there was no way we could purchase our redemption. Because of His mercy, love and sacrifice, we have a clear path to heaven – a place where there are no tears, no pain, no sorrow – only joy.

There is no doubt that Christmas time brings great joy, because we are again connected to God as forgiven. Still, we are at a time when emotions overflow. Thoughts of sadness, loneliness and emptiness will fill our minds, but the glory of God coming directly into our lives to save us, is more intense than any human emotion can evoke. Praise Him. Honor Him. Place Him at the center of your life and trust that He will heal all our sorrows and pain. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Posted in Advent, depression, Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

WHAT A WONDERFUL NAME IS JESUS . . .

Posted on December 8, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

The name of Jesus is just one of His many signatures. However, this is the name that the angel told Mary to name her future son, who had not yet been conceived in her. Hers was an unnatural conception. She was a virgin – but was chosen by God to carry the Savior of all mankind within her own body. What an honor! The Holy Spirit – God Himself – would come upon her and conceive the child like none other had been conceived. The name, Jesus, literally means “rescuer or savior.” That is exactly what Jesus is. In times of trouble, we can call on his beautiful name and know that He will carry our burdens. In times of loss or grief, we can depend on His strong arms surrounding us with unconditional love. When relationships fail, when we find ourselves in insurmountable situations, we can trust that the name of Jesus will always rescue us.

There are many today who carry the name of Jesus, but there is only One true Jesus. The one who saved all of us from death and damnation. He alone is our Savior. As we think of a helpless infant snuggled in His mother’s arms, it’s hard to imagine Him as a king. As we see Him grow into a man without any sin, we often wonder what was so different about Him. When we see Him hailed by the crowds one week and crucified by the same group a few days later, this doesn’t look like our champion. When His body hung lifelessly on the cross, even His disciples were confused. When three days later He returned to life, He became magnified like none other. The name of Jesus is such a powerful name. One that changed the world.

Posted in Advent | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

Posted on December 7, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I’m certain  my parents never forgot the day when the news came over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed by the Japanese.  I am also convinced that the memory of 9/11 will live vividly in my mind until I die.  In both of these events a piece of our freedom was destroyed along with the lives taken.  Never again would people feel safe from foreign enemies.  Our nation was not only broken – it had been deeply violated.

We can’t change history.  We can’t go back and have a chance at a do-over.  We can learn from it though.  In all of the Bible’s history, every time God’s people walked away from Him and began to serve other gods and their own special interests, He would give them a wake-up call to bring them back to Him.  He gave them victory over their enemies when they relied on Him and put their complete trust in Him.  He accomplished impossible deeds through His people when they allowed Him to do the work.

He continues to do this for those who follow Him today.  He never lets go of us.  He protects, He comforts, He gives us back our freedom, He has paid the ransom to win us back, He loves us unconditionally.  There is no one in this life that has that kind of love for us.

When our hearts are troubled – when it looks as if there is no hope for our troubled nation – when the evils of this world seem to be overtaking us – that’s when we must return to God.  We should never forget the important times that shaped us as a nation. God has never forgotten us. He doesn’t give up on us.  We should never give up on Him.

Posted in America, history, memories, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MY MOM

Posted on December 7, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
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My mother was a part of the Greatest Generation – those who held tightly to their spiritual beliefs, weren’t afraid to go to war to defend their country or to stay at home and work for the war effort – people cared about each other in a way that has long since disappeared.

She was only 20 years old the day after Pearl Harbor.  At that age, many of our young people today, have never experienced the ravages of war.  Many have lost their patriotism, given up on their country, are afraid to stand up for truth for fear of offending anyone. There is no longer a fear and awe of the One True God.

My mom would’ve been 95 today.  I wish we could still be celebrating her birthday with her, but  I treasure the precious memories she gave me.

My parents never had much materially.  Dad held two or three jobs to make ends meet and my mom could stay at home and raise the family.  We always had a Christmas tree – even if it was the last one on the lot.  There were handmade ornaments, tons of tinsel and popcorn on a string to finish it off.  Christmas cookies were made from scratch and decorated with great care. My sister and I were always beautifully dressed for the church active Christmas activities.  Mom curled my hair with rags and transformed my naturally straight hair into lovely, golden locks, held tightly in place with a ribbon that matched my dress. At times that hairbrush turned into a weapon.  Though she never raised a hand to spank us, we knew that brush could do a pretty good job of scaring the pants off of us.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I knew.  She worked at having perfect eyebrows until the day of her death.  An eyebrow pencil was a regular resident in her purse and she often said, “don’t let me go to the hospital or die without my eyebrows. She made the best soups with homemade dumplings and noodles – hand shredding vegetables and simmering the brew over the stove.  She rolled dough for the noodles and placed the dough over the back of the kitchen chair and then cut it into yummy pasta. I thought more of her as an older sister.  Our twenty-year age difference allowed that.  She had an amazing faith and she and my dad made sure we had a Christian education, even though it meant more jobs for dad and a reluctant agreement that mom would work to help pay for it.

The most wonderful memory she gave me was to have a patient love. She showed that in her relationship with my dad, my sister and I, but she also was incredibly thoughtful and had a genuine concern for other people.  I guess that’s what endeared her to everyone. Mom taught me what Christmas really meant.  It wasn’t the pretty dresses or presents – it was about sacrifice at the highest level.  That was all I needed to know.  She lived as a follower of Christ and as a servant of Him and others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!  SEE YOU IN HEAVEN.

Posted in aging, America, parenting | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

O TANNENBAUM

Posted on December 3, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

In the Garden of Eden You planted two trees, with fruit so divine and sweet.

One was given for eating, the other not so, but temptation the soul did defeat.

Man had fallen from grandeur to deepest despair, He needed redemption within.

So you gave him the purest – the unblemished lamb – to take on the burden of sin.

When we travel to heaven, we’ll see that sweet fruit, that grows on the Tree of Life.

It will heal and restore us and give us new life – from troubles and pain and strife.

He will take us and lead us to pastures of green and still waters will He provide.

We’ll at last be united and joined with Him there – as His perfectly treasured bride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Advent, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Christmas, tradition | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

GOD WITH US

Posted on December 1, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

GOD WITH US – POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER

You came to a world filled with darkness and sin,

You loved us devoutly without and within,

Your love conquered all through a child meek and small,

Dear, God, Your Son came, and He died for us all.

You took away sadness and filled us with peace,

You give us a hope that defies life’s surcease.

You gave Your life for us so we could be free.

Sweet Jesus, Your blood you did shed on the tree.

Your body lay lifeless, but rose on that day,

To conquer the devil – our ransom to pay,

So now we look forward to that special time,

When we will live with You in heaven sublime,

Come quickly Lord, Jesus, and carry us home,

Remove all the darkness, bring light where we roam,

Be with us forever and love us each day,

Sweet Jesus, we love you, what more can we say?

The most exciting adventure known to mankind, began at the very beginning of creation. God made man in His own image. He loved His human creation so much that, even though they betrayed and disobeyed Him, He came to dwell among them and take away their sin. Isaiah foretold this great, unimaginable love seven hundred years before it happened. We can look back at these early prophecies and see how they were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, but are we prepared for His return? Every day, God’s promises are kept. Every day we can see His hand at work in our lives. We can see the threads being woven together to bring us closer to Him, but can we truly imagine God living among us? The day is coming when that prophecy will also be fulfilled. It is the highway paved with gold that leads to our reunion with our heavenly Father. Prepare for the next adventure. It’s right around the corner.

 “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

Posted in Advent, anticipation, God's promises, Jesus, Poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW – PART FOUR – A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

Posted on November 30, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

This is the final episode of looking through a window. It seems rather fitting, as we are now in the season of Advent. Our focus should be on the fulfillment of God’s promise to all people, when He sent His only Son to become human flesh and dwell with us.

It was the Christmas of 2019. Our children from South Carolina were coming to town to share in this wonderful holiday with us and our family here. All the decorations were in place. Our little tree was filled with all the ornaments we’d collected over the years. There was snow scattered across the yard, filling the trees with a diamond glimmer. We’d looked forward to this amazing time with family for months and it was finally here. We’d all meet at church and then go on to my youngest daughter’s home for dinner and celebration. Unfortunately, the plans changed when my body announced the presence of another kidney stone. It seems almost like an annual event, doesn’t it?

My Christmas Eve was spent in a hospital bed, surrounded by those I love and a staff of caring doctors and nurses. Suddenly it was time for the visit to end. Each family member filed out of the room, leaving me with a kiss on the forehead to treasure for the rest of the night. What once was a room filled with laughter and sharing, was now silent and empty. The nurse turned down my lights, allowing me to get some needed rest, but there was none. All the joy that filled the room earlier continued to resonate in my heart. Sleep did not come. I kept thinking about that very first Christmas and the commotion the Holy Family experienced when they arrived in Bethlehem. The town was buzzing with activity. Families that originated in that little town were gathering to be counted in the census. The inns were bursting at the seams. There was nothing available for Mary, Joseph and the Child of God that would be born that very night. Settling for a small spot set aside for mother sheep and their newborn lambs, the couple went through the birthing process. The Lamb of God was born that night – the unblemished Lamb who would take away the sin of the world

As I recollected the story of Jesus’s birth, I looked out of my huge hospital window at an expanse of a foggy sky and a barely visible landscape covered with mist. My heart was longing to being home in the arms of my husband, but something I hadn’t planned on happened instead. Out of the murkiness of that thickening haze, appeared a small light. It continued to grow and fill the sky with a warmth that permeated the gloom of that moment. I thought of the Star of Bethlehem and what the shepherds must’ve felt as they gazed upon it. A warmth I can’t explain covered me within and without.

Most folks might think I was imagining all of this, but I don’t believe that was a figment of my creative mind at all. God gave me extreme comfort in that moment. I do believe that miracles happen all the time. We simply need to open our eyes and hearts to them. In fact, I can probably list a Christmas miracle for every year I’ve been alive. So here we are again. Another Christmas season approaches. Our family will all be together again. There will never be another Christmas like the one of 2019, when the Star of Bethlehem paid a visit to me in the hospital, bit each Christmas will remind us of the miracle that was born on Christmas Eve.

May you experience all the miracles God has in store for you this Advent season. Don’t stop looking out of your window either. You might be surprised by what you see.

Posted in aging, Jesus, light, miracles | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW – PART THREE

Posted on November 29, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

When I started writing this series on November 13, I had full intention of continuing to part three on the 15th. That was the day I had already scheduled to have my king-sized, one centimeter kidney stone blasted from as an outpatient. Instead, I remained in the hospital for four more days with sepsis, a slow recovery and feeling as though I was approaching the gates of heaven. So, here I am again. The stone is gone. As a friend of mine who shares this malady said, “I thought about making a necklace out of those nasty things.” For some unknown reason, I am one of those who mass produces these killer biproducts. Today, I decided it was time to get back in the groove. For those of you who put up with my daily words, thank you for your prayers and know that I thank God daily for all of you.

Getting back to windows – I remember a story about a woman who watched her neighbor hanging freshly washed sheets on the clothesline to dry. The woman wasted no time criticizing her neighbor for her lack of laundering skills, because the sheets still looked dirty. Little did she realize that it was her own unwashed windows which were causing the problem. Our point of view is so important, isn’t it?

Today I have the pleasure of feasting my eyes on the renewal of our landscape with a beautiful coating of fresh snow. Yes, my windows are dirty, but the dancing snowflakes and swirling movement captured by the wind, makes it look like one of those glass snowballs we used to gaze upon as children. Everything looks so freshy cleansed by the life-giving water in this form. Like those snowflakes, we’re all unique in our design and creation. God has already planned out our futures and His plans are to bring eternal life to everyone.

What is your point of view today? Do you look at things from a positive or negative view? This snow could be viewed as a problem for those on the road – an inconvenience – a backbreaking experience or we could just sit back and enjoy the beauty of the moment. I choose the second option today.

“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 ESV

Posted in aging, inspiration., purpose, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW – PART TWO

Posted on November 14, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

When we were living in our last house, I had created a monster of a garden on the face of a hill that sat in front of our house. Maneuvering across that hill to weed and pamper the perennials I’d planted over several years, was quite a fete – one that would be out of the question now. There were times that I felt my neighbors’ eyes focused on me as I traversed the hill and would often lose my footing and sometimes ended up rolling down that embankment. It was as if the neighbors were waiting for something disastrous to happen to me, or like judges at the Olympics, they were holding up score cards to indicate my agility.

Well, those days are long gone. I still have a garden, but there’s no chance of rolling down the hill. Now I’m just lucky I can stand up after sitting down for so long. Yesterday I began a series on looking out of our windows. My last sentence referred to our point of view. If you are the one being observed through a window, your point of view is going to change quite a bit by the situation. Maybe you’re not too concerned about what people think about you or what you’re doing, but the imagination of the viewer can certainly create interesting stories.

In 1954, James Stewart appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock movie called, “Rear Window.” He was temporarily disabled and forced to stay in his apartment in a wheelchair while he recovered. In the process, he became engrossed in the view from his window. He even named some of his neighbors for what they represented to him. The opera singer, the newlyweds, Miss Lonely Hearts, the couple on the fire escape and the composer. Oh, yes there was the little white dog too. He was privy to all their activities from the view he observed each day. As the story progressed, there was one neighbor that caused him great concern. He believed that the man had done something horrible to his wife and was about to dispose of her body. Stewart even convinced his housekeeper and his girlfriend that there as something fishy going on. Binoculars weren’t sufficient, so he resorted to using the telescopic lens on his camera to get a closer look.

Most of the things we see from our side of the window is totally innocent and without much fanfare, but what happens within our imagination can muster up the darkest thoughts. Even though we have no evidence, our brains can conjure up stories that have no basis in truth. So, what’s your point of view? Are you on the inside looking out or on the outside looking in? Are you using this time to reflect on your own life or putting your imagination to work? One thing about windows is that not only are you getting and outside view, but the reflection you see is showing you who you really are.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Posted in aging, reflections, truth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW

Posted on November 13, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

My maternal grandparents owned a farm. The house was charming, but I often wondered how a family of ten could inhabit the space comfortably. It was a two-story home with no bathroom until much later on. I would often spend summers in that place. Through my time there I discovered hiding places, old chapter books, romance magazines and an amazing view out the window, while sitting on a window seat. Maybe that’s where I developed my love for looking out the window. The road leading to the house was lined with tall lodgepole pine trees which stood like sentries guarding the way. I intensely watched as farm hands worked the land, birds nested in the arms of those trees and furry critters scurried here and thee. All this was observed while cuddled up on that window seat, with a book in my lap.

This habit of looking out the window has been a constant in my life. Today, we live in an old farmhouse with four tall windows in the dining room. I usually write my daily blog from this spot. I don’t have a window seat, but I still can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, without having to leave the house. In spring and summer, the birth ad new life appears in the form of green grass and flowers. In Autumn, the colors come to life and invade the trees like the palette of an incomparable artist. In winter there is a blanket of glistening snow to gaze upon.

There is something magical about looking out the window, until we start seeing the ugly side of life. I guess it all depends on our point of view.

Posted in aging, memories | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN

Posted on November 12, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I choose to think of the seasons of the year as a calendar representative of our days on this planet. In the Spring, new life begins. We’re nurtured, attended to and loved. This is the childhood of living. The time to play and learn as well as grow and flourish. As we approach Summer, our senses become alive with all kinds of emotions and determination. We think we know it all, even though a lifetime of learning is waiting in our future. The heat of this season emulates our independence, our feeling of invincibility and our desire to achieve. In Autumn, we are at middle age. We have reached the pinnacle of living. Our skin dries out, we become wrinkled and weathered, but we still are alive with the brilliance of hopes and dreams. In Winter the temperature turns cold, the snow flies and we hunker inside to stay warm. The lifeblood within us is fading. Still, we press on, because we know that Spring will come again and renew us with eternal life.

Relish the seasons. Enjoy every second you’re given, by the Grace of God. Each day we are blessed with second chances. Use your time to put Him first in your life and He promises you the benefits of Heaven.

“The harvest, which is our life as we now live it, is the result of seeds planted at an earlier time”
― Jim Rohn, The Seasons of Life

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

THICKET

Posted on November 12, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A mass of weeds and undergrowth, beclouds the path ahead,

Broken limbs and fallen branches, left for naught but the dead,

Slippery slopes where water danced, now are dried and barren,

Yet the calmness of this refuge, peace to say a prayer in,

When we desire the hand of God, and nothing will suffice,

When life won’t go the way we wish, when there’s no good advice,

A quiet thicket in the woods, a peaceful quiet place,

Can lift our saddened hearts to Him, and His eternal grace,

When we are lost and broken down, when there’s no place to go,

When life becomes impossible and bitterness we sow,

There is no place, but God’s strong arms to lift our spirits high,

He shelters us from worldly pain, relieving ’til we die,

And then a paradise He gives, with no adversity,

A place where peace and quiet reign, for all eternity.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Inspiration, isolation, peace | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD

Posted on November 10, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Since today is Throwback Thursday, I thought I’d share an old post from 08-24-15. This story from the Bible has always amazed me. To imagine bones coming back to life creates visions of Stephen Spielberg’s creative mind. It seems an impossible story, but it’s true, as is everything that appears in this amazing book. Nothing but the voice of God, Himself.

In 1999, an adventure/horror movie called “The Mummy” hit the big screen and we were witness to the dead coming back to life – embalming garb and all.  Flesh began to cover near skeletal bodies – muscle replaced withered flesh – blood flowed through lifeless creatures once more and it scared the heck out of us. There’s a similar story in the book of the prophet Ezekiel.  His vision of a field of dead bodies inspired by God was returned to flesh and blood.  God’s breath brought new life from death.  This part of the Bible is one of those seemingly impossible stories, but it certainly gives us a clear image of how God can restore life. The people of Israel had a long history of being held in captivity.  They often became slaves to the religion and culture of their captors.  This example of God’s restoration is to assure us that we’ll receive new life, even when our bodies have been broken and die.

Are you in a point in your life right now where you feel there’s no hope?  Do you struggle with a severe illness or disability?  Is your pattern of existence a day to day battle to simply get by?  Are you in a broken relationship?  Have you gone a long time without a job?  Do you live with addiction?

God doesn’t promise a life without problems.  In fact, when man separated himself from God by his disobedience, we all became inheritors of sin, but God, in that very moment of betrayal, provided a way out for us.  The promise was a Savior who would bring eternal life to those who follow Him. We’re all broken, but there is hope.  That promise God made so long ago still lives today, just as we’ll someday live again with perfect bodies – with no pain – no sorrow – no tears – NO SIN!

Posted in death, eternal life, Faith, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WEDNESDAY WISDOM – INFO OVERLOAD

Posted on November 9, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

When I was a kid I loved this saying –

“The less you know, the more you study – the more you study, the more you know – the more you know, the more you forget- the more you forget, the less you know – so why study?

It made perfect sense to me, and I often feel that way today.

Sometimes I think our lives are too full of information.  It’s at our fingertips – within our vision and it can be heard in seconds.  Unfortunately, sometimes the information is so fast, that many of the details have been skipped over and we jump to conclusions before really knowing all the facts.  We can go into a mob mentality in a fraction of a second and make judgments before we have even heard the evidence.

It’s important for us to be informed – to learn – to study, but it’s also vital that we get the truth.  The world is flawed – we can all agree on that.  The Word of God isn’t.  The messages it has to offer have more wisdom and knowledge than we can learn in a lifetime.  Every time you open it, you will find something pertinent to what is happening in the world, in your life and in your relationship with your Creator and others.

Psalm 56:8-11 “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Truth, comfort and peace in a time of turmoil and insanity.

Posted in aging, America, depression, hope | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on WEDNESDAY WISDOM – INFO OVERLOAD

STOP THE NOISE

Posted on November 8, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

CACOPHONY – A harsh discordant mixture of sounds.

Another mid-term election is already in progress. It began many months ago and has ramped into a frenzy of accusations, name calling, hatred, anger and just plain annoying noise. Like the constant dripping of a leaky faucet, we’ve been inundated with some of the meanest words I’ve ever heard. This thing called “voting” seems to be our only remaining right as citizens of the United States. We should be eager to cast our ballot, because of that. Our voice is heard on Election Day, but is it?

The noise of every day bantering between supposedly upright candidates,

Is like a deafening pounding in the ears,

There is no respite and won’t be until it’s over,

Or will it?

We wonder,

Who

Will

Win?

The only thing we know for sure is,

We won’t.

I cannot stand in judgment,

EVERYONE ON THIS PLANET IS GUILTY,

Of being a sinner.

We are not qualified to judge,

I hear the prattle, the babble, the puffing up of self,

I don’t hear sensibility, only ugly accusations and dirty laundry,

I see a rerun of the last election,

Egos,

Special interests,

Overly excessive spending for negative advertising,

Money that could pay off part of the national debt.

Yet even in all this turmoil there is hope,

There is refreshment in the peace of God’s redemption,

He has promised to heal the land of those who put their faith in Him,

Only He can judge.

Only He can save.

Only He can win.

Soon it will be over.

The rhetoric will die out.

We will grumble and complain, or we’ll rejoice that our candidate won.

We will endure more years of who knows what.

We will get through this, because in the end God wins.

Posted in Elections, Inspiration, judgment, Voting | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

Posted on November 7, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

This year is going much too fast. It seems the older we get the swifter the journey. Our bodies are telling us to slow down, but our minds are still in high gear. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I’d share some thoughts about the blessings God has bestowed on me not only this year, but throughout my life. I first would like to give thanks Gor His presence in my life and the knowledge that I will someday see Him face to face. I want to thank Him for the gift of family. Both my husband and I have been nurtured in His Word throughout our lives. This past few days has given us a view of the benefits of that nurturning. He has gifted us with three amazing children, the loves of their lives, and three astonishing grandchildren. They have started us on a new journey – getting organized and preparing for the future. It was an amazing weekend with all of them. They are definitely servants of God and we are richly blessed.

The poetry I wrote several years ago, expresses the love of family and the gifts God continues to bestow on us through them.

You temper us along the way,

To make us perfect day by day.

At times it seems like waiting is the only thing to do.

We think our prayers aren’t answered, but that just isn’t true.

Our future you have crafted, we know your plans are great.

You pave the way to prosper us, you teach us how to wait.

Through waiting you grant patience to a heart that’s filled with pain.

You’ve conquered death.  Eternal life is now our very gain.

Oh thank you, God for Jesus, on this day in every hour.

For taking on our hardships and turning them to power.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, Family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

DON’T MESS WITH MY PSYCHOLOGICAL CLOCK!

Posted on November 6, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Here we are again, back to normal time – whatever normal means.  The thought of getting an extra hour of sleep used to appeal to me. When we had a dog, they never seemed to get the memo. Their wakeup clock was set for the same time every day. I’ve become an early riser over the years, and my hours of awake time usually run out by 9 PM, so now I’ll be ready for bed 9 PM but it will actually be 8 PM. The question is, will I be tired at 8 PM?  I suppose it all balances out over time, but this twice a year changing of the clock seems so senseless to me.  They’ve begun stretching the time a little each year.  At this rate, we might be on actual time in 2042 or so, which would make me over a hundred and I don’t think I want to wait that long. Will I get hungry at the same times? Since I’m almost always hungry, it won’t make much difference, but my body may have another opinion.  Will I arrive early to church?  Well, we used to be the first ones there, so that shouldn’t be a problem.  We may just have to wait for an hour until someone arrives to unlock the door.

I guess the early thinking on this subject was designed for those in agriculture.  With days stretching out to longer time periods of daylight, they would make use of the extra hour to sow, harvest and reap.  Now most of them get up with the cows, which will be an hour earlier.  The cows can’t change their time to be milked, but farmers will need to get up earlier to take care of that chore. Have we become slaves to time?  Maybe so.  Maybe this is just another government attempt to keep us focused on the mid-term election.  Like we really need to watch another political ad, right?

Well, here it is, 8:30 AM and the sun has apparently risen. By 4 PM the sky will turn dark, and I’ll feel like crawling back in to bed, but we can’t miss the football games. That’s a whole other post.

So, we’ll complain about the change of time again. We’ll take at least a week of getting used to the change.  Our minds tell us one thing, but the clock on the wall holds a completely different story.  We’ll scoff at the first person who came up with this antiquated idea.  We’ll accept it and live with it.  Something like sheep staying with the herd.  Baaaaaa!

Posted in change, daylight savings time, Humor | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

FRIDAY WISDOM FROM VICTOR HUGO

Posted on November 4, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Victor Hugo is probably best known for his novels written during the French Revolution. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Les Miserable” have been made into popular movies over time. He was considered a romantic. He was also an artist and a poet. In my opinion he had a way of knitting words together in a very special way. The craftsmanship and love of the written word is apparent in his work. He was also an advocate against the death penalty. He lived most of his life in France and died in Paris. He witnessed the perils of the French Revolution nd wove them into his stories and poems. His lifestyle wasn’t much different than the artists of his day.

France at the turn of the 18th century was under an oppressive government.  There were despicable working conditions – extreme punishment for stealing a loaf of bread – prisons and workhouse were full – sin ran rampant.  Out of the ashes of that existence rose the French Revolution.  A few became many, just as happened during the American Revolution.  Victor Hugo wrote this story of redemption to show that there was hope even in the darkest of situations.

We, as Americans, have had a long history with the people of France.  We’re bound by the cords of democracy.  They came to our assistance in the early days of our country’s existence and sent troops to help us establish a free country.  We not only owe them a debt of gratitude but should consider them our brothers. Is it time for another revolution?  Perhaps the cry for freedom must be heard around the world once more.

In the musical,”Les Misérables,” the song, “Who am I,” resonates with the doubts and fears of a man who has lost sight of God in the struggle of his life but finds the truth of redemption later on.  Let’s not wait to discover who we are.  We’re redeemed by the God of the Universe, so freedom is truly ours.

Posted in aging, America, Poetry, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

THROW BACK THURSDAY – FAMILY

Posted on November 3, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

This is one of those old church photographs, taken some forty years ago. Things have changed a lot since those days, but there are few things that are especially noticeable. Paul has more hair than the rest of us. We all had home-styled haircuts as you can see by the bangs on all of us. Most of that heavy black hair on Paul is gone or turned to a salt and peppered look. As I look at this photo, the one thing we all have in common is smiles that reflect our love for each other.

We will be gathering this weekend as a family all together, once more. Our daughter, Amy (our firstborn – pictured standing) will be flying into Minneapolis today to check in on her aging parents. We plan to spend some time with the other two as well. Because these times of decision are coming upon us – change of health situations, needs to work, financial issues and a future that will continue on with some more changes – a family meeting will occur. I feel so blessed to have all my family involved in the plans we’ll be making for our remaining lives. Both of us turned 80 this year. For the most part, you’d consider us vibrant, senior citizens. We love what we do with our time. Both of us are creative people with pretty good minds. Although some might consider us a little off the wall. There have been ongoing health issues this past year and we’re all in agreement that our current living conditions are not right for us anymore.

My prayer today and throughout this weekend is that we can all move forward as a family – that Paul and I remain open-minded and agreeable – that we approach these tough decisions with God’s help and at our center, as He always has been – that we listen with open ears and receptive hearts – that we enjoy our moments of laughter together. I know that God will guide our choices and our future, because He has always been at the head of our family.

Joshua 24:15 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Posted in aging, Family, God | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Posted on November 2, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

There are going to be days when you don’t have much to smile about. Days when, if you do smile, people will wonder why you are. Those are the days when you need to smile the most. Getting over a hurdle can be more than a physical obligation. It takes every ounce of courage and faith you can muster. The problem arises when you lose that smile and fall into a deep depression. It’s so much harder to pick yourself up and start over again.

God gives us a reason to be joyful even when we don’t always feel that way. He has given us His gifts of grace, love, peace, confidence and faith. He walks with us through our darkest hours and is there to encourage us through each of them. He knows the pain of sorrow and sadness. He gave up His throne in heaven for a while, so that He could experience every one of those emotions. His compassion for us is endless, even when it looks like He may not be at hand to answer our prayers. He is always available. He will never leave us. He will protect, defend and comfort us in our times of need.

We do have many reasons not to lose that smile of ours. It tells a lot about us. We are loved. We are one with our Creator. We are assured a home in heaven for eternity. What don’t we have to smile about?

Posted in armor of God, depression, Faith, Inspiration, Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment