WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Posted on April 27, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I guess you could say I was a child that grew up on “screen time.” My screen was an 8″ black and white TV, upon which I spent Saturday mornings wallowing in Looney Toons cartoons. I would then spend the rest of that Saturday at the movie theatre, watching technicolor movies with fabulous choreography and music. Today screen time is more apparent as kids walk around with a screen attached to their hand. However, you might say I was breaking ground for today’s generation.

One of my favorite cartoon characters was Sylvester, the cat. That poor creature spent his entire existence trying to consume Tweety Bird, but never accomplished the deed. Either Granny would whack him on the head with her broom, or his conscience (good or bad) would lead him into temptation or drive him away from it. Maybe this is how I was introduced to my own conscience. It’s an inner voice that’s built into us at our conception. Or as Victor Hugo once said, “Conscience is God present in man.” He also said, “The sewer is the conscience of the city.” Either way our conscience can often determine what our actions will be.

If you were Sylvester, your ultimate goal would be to eat a canary. Your good conscience would fight for Tweety and fill you in on all the bad that would occur if you succeeded in your goal. Your bad conscience would tell you to hang the consequences and go for instant gratification. It used to be that Sylvester’s good conscience won out. Today – not so much.

For me, my screen time has switched to looking out our window to feast my eyes on nature and the wildlife that surrounds me. The playful squirrels that eat our bird food while dangling from the bird feeder by one foot are amazing. The feral cats abound. I’m sure someone is feeding them, because they all look extremely healthy. The birds try to make a stab at the seed but must be satisfied with the remnants scattered on the ground. Since it is spring and everything is coming alive again, the view is most enjoyable. However, there is the ugly side of life too. The apparent passing of drugs on the street or human trafficking and a visual police presence. To top it off feral cats are mating on a catarondack chair. They should get a room!

So how does conscience play into all this? I guess what I’m wondering is whether the conscience has become so numbed by public opinion, a WOKEsociety, political correctness or is the world actually devolving into something I don’t recognize anymore? Good is now evil and evil is acceptable as good. Maybe we’re all living in a world of Looney Tunes.

Posted in aging, America, God, humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

PRESS THE PAUSE BUTTON

Posted on April 26, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could hit the pause button and stop the world for a while?  Some days are more chaotic than others, but right now we all need to slow down and take a deep breath.

We’re faced with news of terror in the world by an evil group of radicals that are intent on conquering the infidels.  War is waging in far off countries and there is nothing we can do about it, except offer our prayers. Our city streets are cluttered with crime and violence that never ends. Even our own neighborhoods and country roads are infested with violence. Our homes are nothing like the Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver of old.  Now single parents raise children and fight to survive, often causing children to grow up much faster than they should. They are left to raise themselves basically and don’t know how to deal with the pressures of life.

There is no longer a middle class.  You’re either rich or poor.  Entitlement has all but eliminated the desire to fulfill the American Dream.  Government has invaded every area of our lives beginning at our birth (and conception) to our death. Political correctness has become so much a part of our vocabulary that there’s bound to be something that will offend.  God has all but been eliminated from our conversation as a nation.  Peace is something you must obtain by taking a pill or meditating.

Hit the pause button.  Stop – listen to the beautiful message from God.  He has given us a Savior – a Redeemer – a Comforter – a King.  Jesus is exactly what we need right now and always will be.  He lived a perfect life, but still had human flesh.  He lived in poverty but had a loving family and was schooled in God’s Word.  He learned a trade, got hungry and tired, but still was God and King of the universe.  He suffered humiliation and pitiful scars, so that we could be heirs of His kingdom.  He conquered death and lives and reigns on the throne of God.

Life doesn’t have to fill our hearts with frustration, fear, anxiety, pain.  We have the most perfect peace through the promise that He will return again to judge the world. 

Come quickly, Lord, Jesus, Amen!

Posted in anxiety, compassion, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

SILENT, BUT DEADLY

Posted on April 25, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I am part of the “Silent Generation” or more commonly known as a Traditionalist – or those born from 1923-1945. We all have our pluses and minuses, but many of us old timers seem to think that the Newbies are on the road to destruction. I have to admit I’m one of those old Fuddy Duddys myself at times.

I grew up in an age of discovery which brought us the first automatic washing machine, the first television set and beautiful gas guzzling cars. It was a time when war was in the past, but still held the threat of possible nuclear actions. We had regular air raid drills when I was in school, where everyone would hide under their desk and cover their heads. I’m not sure how that would’ve saved us from anything, but we did it. Everyone knew all the words to the National Anthem; Coke was something you drank from a bottle; recycling meant taking that bottle back for a two cents refund.

Our entertainment consisted of going to a movie on Saturday and spending the entire day watching the same movie over and over for a quarter. I grew up with Shirley Temple and Judy Garland and experienced some of the most fabulous musicals ever to hit the screen. Of course in those days, movies weren’t rated.  They didn’t have to be.  They were melodramatic, over acted and delightfully unlike reality.  Today everything is about reality.  Who wants to be entertained by things that happen every day.  BORING!

Disposable bottles, diapers and phones were unheard of. Fast food was a sandwich we made ourselves. Our “social media” was getting together at a friend’s house to talk. or actually physically playing outdoors until it was time for lunch and supper.  We also communicated face to face, without the use of technology.  I remember calling each other on a tin can with a string.  Don’t ask.

Now us old fogies struggle with technology, and we live much longer than our predecessors. We see the mistakes that are being made in our government, in the raising of children, in education and in society as a whole. Because we’re living longer, we worry that we won’t have enough money to make it through the month.  We skimp on prescriptions so we can eat.  Our minds are still functioning, but our bodies are screaming for us to slow down.  The aged do not get the respect they deserve either.  Whatever happened to the fourth commandment? Oh, my, I sound like an old woman. Wait – I AM!

In my opinion, we should be like our forefathers and die young. Then we wouldn’t have so much time to sit around and complain about the younger generation.  In the meantime, let’s find the good in our world while there’s still some left.  The more we focus on the negative thinking of the media, the internet, the world – we become crabby, stodgy, old folks.  As long as we’re living longer, we should make the most of the rest of our lives.

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LIFE STORMS

Posted on April 24, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

PHOTO FROM PINTEREST – STORMS IN MINNESOTA TWO YEARS AGO

We’ve been in a short duration of what is to come in Minnesota. Storms pop up suddenly and often without warning. The skies can be brilliant blue with a faint whisper of clouds and immediately become filled with darkness and ominous cumulus formations above. Usually this leads to the month of tornadoes and extreme changes in temperature – which we’ve already experienced in April. In a way it’s like the patterns that fill our lives day by day. We can have bright sunshine and joy one day and be overrun with darkness and depression the next. We never know what will happen next. We can endure those storms by thanking God for placing these challenges in our walk. There will be storms – but they don’t have to defeat us.

Thank you, dear keeper of my soul, for giving me another day. Thanks for giving me opportunities to share your love with others. Thanks for your forgiveness each and every moment for things I have done and things I am about to do. Thank you for providing my sustenance for each day. Thanks for giving me a loving spouse and family. Thank you for allowing me the strength and endurance to carry me through. Thank you for loving me. Amen!

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LESSONS FROM NATURE

Posted on April 23, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL T. & KATHY BOECHER©

A seed drops,

It burrows and nestles into rich soil,

It springs forth with new life,

Fragile branches at first,

Growing strong with each passing day,

Expanding, stretching, embracing the sky,

Reaching for the face of its Creator,

It bends and twists in the storms of life,

It blossoms and thrives in good times,

It grows stronger in bad times,

It withers, it shrivels, it dies,

But it doesn’t end there,

The circle of life continues,

Watch, observe, delight in God’s hand in it.

The ability to observe is inherent in all of us unless our eyes have been blinded from birth, but even then, God gives us four other senses to allow us to breathe in everything in our existence.  We may not be able to see the brilliant colors, the majestic mass of a tree, the vastness of the heavens or the beauty of a sea or landscape, the power of an eagle, but He blesses us with other ways to “see”.

Every artist, whether a writer, painter, sculptor, actor, musician or dancer must observe everything in life in order to portray it in a believable, convincing way.  Studying every idiosyncrasy, examining each detail, with all the senses God has given us, allows our interpretation to be expressed in unique and wonderful ways.

Praise the Lord for the special attention He has paid to every detail of this life.  He calms the storms, He makes things grow and develop, He provides for every living thing, He gives life, He provides for eternity.  With Him, our salvation has been assured and life everlasting waits for those who believe in Him.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Encouragement | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

MAKE ROOM FOR LAUGHTER

Posted on April 23, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

It’s not easy to find humor in the events of today, but I think it’s mandatory. Laughter has always been good medicine. Even the Bible talks about how important it is for us.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

That in itself is a good reason to laugh. Who wants dried up bones? I believe that God infused laughter into our humanity so that we wouldn’t lose hope. If we can find humor in an otherwise depressing situation, things don’t seem quite so bad anymore. One of the reasons I married my husband was that he had a great smile and he made me laugh. He had to – he married me. Our world is filled with so much bad news; it’s time to start laughing again. It may seem impossible to find anything to laugh about, but it is still a good remedy for a heavy heart.

This funny quote makes me laugh, because I’ve experienced it.

“I am thankful for laughter except when milk comes out of my nose.”
– Woody Allen

Ella Wilcox said it in her poem “Solitude.

“Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth;

It has trouble enough of its own.”

If you are feeling down today, look up. But be careful – there may be a low flying flock of geese overhead. Happy Saturday!

Posted in anxiety, depression, Humor, joy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

COUNTING YOUR STEPS

Posted on April 21, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

No, I don’t have a Fitbit, but I recently discovered that I can see how many steps I take by going to an app on my phone. The first day, I felt really hopeless when only 250 steps showed up on the app. The fact that I didn’t carry my phone with me wherever I went might have had something to do with it. So, I decided to keep it in my pocket throughout the day. I was amazed when I reached 2000 steps. I thought maybe it had to do with the fact that my legs are short, and I need to take more steps to accomodate for that. Feeling a bit cocky, I told someone about my achievement, and they were eager to share the fact that they were up to 50,000 . To an old lady like me, them’s fighting words. I guess you could say I have a competitive spirit, even though I don’t demonstrate it often.

I’ve been doing the step counting for about a month now and I feel good about it. I’m more aware of getting the exercise I need, even it requires me to tap my feet more often, or dance while holding on to the countertop, or running in place for a minute or so. My trips to the mailbox also help, along with taking out the trash and getting from the house into the car, etc. I really rack up the steps on grocery shopping day. So, what if I’m hanging onto a grocery cart? My feet are moving. I walk into the store unassisted. I grab a cart and proceed through the aisles at a rapid pace, because this is definitely not my favorite thing to do anymore. I pack my own groceries. I wheel them to the car and place them in the trunk and unload them when I get home. On those days I’m doing over 5000 steps. I’m not very consistent, but I am moving and at almost 80 years old, that ain’t bad.

Aging robs us of many things, but if we put our mind to it, we can accomplish the seemingly impossible. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. If this helps you to be conscious of staying healthy, it’s a good thing. We might even slow down the process some.

Posted in aging, America | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEHIND YOUR FRONT DOOR?

Posted on April 21, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I think we all go through times when we’re living in the middle of a huge mess. Maybe you didn’t have time to do the dishes. There are magazines from twenty years ago stacked in a corner. Your bed is unmade, the laundry is stacking up and you’ve forgotten to make lunches for your kids to take to school. It’s times like these when someone invariably shows up at your front door. Will you invite them in? Will you step outside to talk to them? Will you hope that if you don’t answer the door they will leave, thinking you aren’t home? We don’t like people to see the chaos we’ve created in our own lives. However, in the midst of all that chaos, there are many lessons to be learned and taught.

Dad has been working two jobs so that mom can stay at home with the kids. He’s exhausted most of the time, but when he comes home and finds them all asleep, he doesn’t fail to kiss them goodnight and tuck a surprise under the pillow. It might be as simple as a penny or a stick of gum, but it’s a memory that will live with those children for a long time.

Mom has been working overtime as well. Not only does she have a house to take care of, but there are places to transport the young ones, grocery shopping, lawn work, vet visits, medical emergencies or a discussion with a schoolteacher about a poor grade. She is also required to maintain the family budget, provide nutritional meals, make sure everyone is healthy and maybe even have a few minutes to herself. When it’s time for the day to end and the housework is still undone, she has time to talk to the children about their day – their grades – their fears – and give lots of hugs and positive thoughts. I doubt they will even realize the dishes are still in the sink, but they won’t forget her desire to care for their needs before her own.

We all would love to have the perfect home – with no dust bunnies under the bed – with everything in its proper place – no chaos or confusion – the ideal setting for a family. Or is it? The messes will always be there, but the relationships won’t. Take time to focus on how you can best help your family and the little things that they’ll remember forever.

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WHERE CAN I GO TO HIDE?

Posted on April 20, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A hiding place where no one knows or sees or hears the truth,

A place where you can tuck away the trespasses of youth,

When hearts submit to God’s sweet call to come and be with Him,

Those sins will soon be washed away, and we can dwell within,

For God is our true shelter, He loves us as we are,

When hidden in His sacrifice, we won’t stray very far,

Our sins have been forgiven, Our path has been made clear,

The Lord of Heaven saved us, with His own Son, most dear.

Don’t try to hide from Jesus, He’ll never let you go,

He loves and understands you, He dwelt with men you know,

He knows our every problem, He feels our every pain,

But through His gift of passion, His loss was for our gain.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

CITY SCAPES

Posted on April 20, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

City within a darkened world, has beauty all its own,

The wires that lace throughout the space, the litter lying there,

The sounds of box cars hooking up, a place where crime is sown,

Where homeless search the garbage cans, to find a snack to share.

Where vagrants sleep while raccoons watch, to find their own sweet snack,

To dine on others leftovers, seems common to them both,

The train rails screech as cars are joined, they thunder and they crack,

The large abandoned buildings stand, as sentries without growth.

Still skies above are clear and bright, above the scene they dance,

They fill with clouds of discontent, soon darkness falls again,

Some stay awake throughout the night just waiting for a chance,

To try again to start their life and jump a moving train.

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HAPPY EVER AFTER

Posted on April 19, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
Vector version of my own calligraphy

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER – ARE THERE HAPPILY EVER AFTERS?

If every day held fairy tales and happily ever afters,
Our lives would soon grow boring. We’d be hanging from the rafters.
So, God gives us all challenges through every single day
To know that He’s beside us, in each and every way.

Those tests can often leave us feeling lost and all alone,
But if we just rely on Him, He’ll take us safely home.
Where happily ever afters are the menu for each day –
Where peace and full contentment keep us longing for to stay.

So, as we trod this blackened road of pain and great despair,
We can be sure that Jesus knows and tends to every care.
So, trust that He’ll be with you. You will never walk alone.
He came to pay for all our wrongs from His great heavenly throne.

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BECAUSE HE LIVES, SO DO WE!

Posted on April 18, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

What will remain when we are gone, what memories will stay,

How will the world remember us when we are far away,

The treasures that we leave behind are often just a breath,

A moment in this world of ours leads to eventual death.

 

Yet when we leave a piece of us, an act, a thought, a dream,

Some words of true encouragement, are more than what they seem,

When we can look outside ourselves and touch another soul,

Our lives will be sufficient then to reach our final goal.

 

When opening up our hearts in love,  our motives will be true,

Our tears and laughter will be shared in everything we do,

To live in true humility is not an easy task,

But when we do, we will be blessed with afterglow that lasts.

Posted in Poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WAITING FOR THE SON

Posted on April 17, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

His bruised and smitten body lay quiet in the grave,
He gave His precious blood for me and all the world to save,
There are no words to thank Him, to give love in return,
God’s promise is fulfilled, within my heart does burn,
The words are ever etched within this heart of mine,
My sins have been forgiven, by God’s own Son divine,
I wait for Easter morning, with confidence and hope,
To see Him resurrected gives me a way to cope.
Sweet Jesus waiting there. Your love will never fail,
I put my faith in You. No other can prevail.

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EASTER MEMORIES

Posted on April 17, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I recall the times when we would get all dolled up for Easter. Even the term, “dolled up,” is kind of telling. We put on our best. We wore brand, new clothes, shoes, hats, gloves and other adornments to celebrate the resurrection of the King. Like most traditions, those days often pale in comparison to the perfect message of Easter. No matter how we come to church, no matter where or how we worship, we are all coming to praise Jesus for His gift of eternal life and freedom from the guilt of sin.

Resurrection Day is the most glorious day of the church calendar, but it’s also imprinted on the hearts of everyone who believes in God’s amazing grace and love for the entire world. The hosannas and alleluias will fill the air. The timpani will sound, the trumpets will blare, there will be beautiful flowers on the altar and songs of praise will ring out all over our world. The “noise” of Easter can’t hold a candle to the peace that it gives us. Jesus went uncomplaining forth – He suffered on a cross – He spoke to His followers and even forgave those who were putting him to death. He breathed His last and died – yes, He died. On the third day, He overcame death. He came back to life in a glorified body, with only the scars on his hands, feet and side. Those remained as proof that He indeed is the Messiah. The suffering was over. Jesus, Christ was risen – risen indeed!

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18

EASTER BLESSINGS TO ALL OF MY BLOGGING FRIENDS. MAY THE LOVE OF GOD REMAIN IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND GIVE YOU ETERNAL PEACE!

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A DAY OF UNREST

Posted on April 16, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

It was the Sabbath day – a day dedicated to rest and meditation. Jesus’ body had been interred in the tomb of a rich man. Time would not allow for preparing the body for burial, because the Sabbath required no work of any kind.

It was a fact that Jesus lay dead in that grave, but the leaders of the Sanhedrin wanted to make sure that the body wasn’t stolen by His followers – which would create even more of an uproar. They remembered that Jesus spoke of rising from the dead. If His body disappeared, it would open a whole new can of worms. They went to Pilate and asked that extra security be placed at the tomb so this wouldn’t happen.

Where were Jesus’ followers? We know that John took Mary, the mother of Jesus to his home, but what about the rest of them. Peter, after his denial of Jesus, must’ve felt great remorse and went into hiding fearing for his own life. Judas, the betrayer had already committed suicide. What about the rest of them? Surely, they must’ve recalled the words of the Messiah as they sat at the last supper together.

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.  So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 15:20-22

Those words were spoken only two days before. They were uttered by Jesus to give his disciples hope and peace of mind for the events that would follow. I imagine all they had in mind was grief at the loss of the One they called, Messiah. They were confused, frightened, anxious, depressed, really afraid for their own lives. Aren’t we much like them in that way? When our faith is challenged – when ugly things happen in our lives – when there seems to be no future – our first inclination is to run away. Our God is omniscient, which means “all knowing.” We can’t hide from Him. We cannot run away from Him.

As we ponder the happenings of Holy Week, let’s remember that our fears and anxieties will soon come to an end. As Jesus foretold – “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” A new day is coming. The day of Resurrection. Don’t let anything take away the wonderful joy of that message.

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A LIGHT THAT SHINES FOR ALL

Posted on April 15, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER


Our world is filled with sadness – depression all around,
Where can we turn for comfort when there’s none,
The darkness draws around us – no respite can be found,
We search for answers but they never come.

The days close in upon us, we feel that no one cares,
We walk in darkness and in hopelessness,
We lose our will to carry on, our eyes are filled with tears,
We think we’ll never be free of the mess.

It’s then that God will rescue, when we are laid down low,
And come before His throne with saddened hearts,
He grants us His forgiveness, our sins He will let go,
The sting of death no longer He imparts.

A child will come and lead us, His promises are real,
The work has been completed through the Son,
Our God will not forsake us, through all the things we feel,
With Him we can face life with joy and zeal.

He came to earth to save us, He then became a man,
Experienced things that we now suffer through,
He was also there before our time on earth began,
And soon He will return for me and you.



Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Good Friday, Lamb of God | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A LIGHT THAT SHINES FOR ALL

GOOD FRIDAY?

Posted on April 15, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I never quite understood the meaning of the words, “Good Friday.” What’s good about it? Today we’ll hear sermons and watch movies depicting the horrendous torture and death of Jesus of Nazareth. We will experience the pain of the lash, the crown of thorns, the humiliation and crucifixion of an innocent man. Our minds will be filled with thougths of death by execution, blood spilled, betrayal, denial and followers running away and hiding. The whole story is filled with disturbing and dark images. Why Good Friday?

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1

God was there at the beginning of time. He loved the world He created and continued to do so throughout history. Even though the first sin occurred in the Garden of Eden, God also gave Adam and Eve the promise that He would provide a Savior to take away the indelible mark of disobedience. This Savior would be flesh and blood like every other man, but He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and thus was without sin. He was both God and man. As we read in the Bible, the history of the Israelites was filled with laws and expectations of obedience to God. Time and time again those laws were broken, and the people drifted away from God. Still God remained faithful to his chosen people and eventually sent the promised Savior, Jesus – His one and only Son.

It was all part of the divine plan of salvation that Jesus come to take the sin of the world upon His own shoulders. He would carry that load to the cross for our sake. He didn’t have to do it this way. He was God, after all. He chose to show His unconditional love, by humbling Himself and allowing His holy self to be humiliated, scorned, beaten and killed for our benefit.

For years, the people offered sacrifices to God as a means of atoning for their sins, but none of those oblations would suffice until the worthy lamb of God, Jesus was offered up on the cross. That’s the reason Good Friday is so good. Instead of focusing on the cruelty of that day – or the bloodshed – or the mocking of an innocent – let’s think about the love God poured out, by paying the price Himself. What a magnificent, loving, sacrificial, unconditional perfect God we have. He gave the ultimate sacrifice by laying down His life for us. He rose again on the third day, so that we could be assured of the same resurrection after our own death.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

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HE KNEW . . .

Posted on April 14, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

As the days wore on leading up to the Passover Feast, Jesus continued to teach. It seemed to Mary that He was more urgent in His message.  There was so much He wanted His followers to know and yet He knew that His time on earth would soon be over.  He had so much that He needed to tell His disciples and so little time to share it all.

As the leaders of the Sanhedrin plotted against Him, Jesus sent Peter and John to arrange for the last meal they’d share together. As Jesus traveled back to Jerusalem from Bethany, He knew full well that He was walking into a trap designed to silence Him forever.  He went forth, like a great warrior ready for His battle for the redemption of humanity. It was after dark when He arrived with the others. They entered the upper room where the Passover Feast awaited them. Since it was the custom to wash feet upon entering a house, Jesus prepared the water and started to wash His disciples’ feet.

They had just walked two miles from Bethany, through the rough terrain and into a city now inhabited with thousands.  The streets were cluttered with filth and their sandal-clad feet were now covered with scum.  Still Jesus insisted on washing their feet.  It was an act of a servant, but also another opportunity to teach His followers.  He wanted them to know what was expected of them as His disciples – to care for each other in deepest humility and love. He then proceeded with the feast – again a mysterious act of submission.  Jesus was offering Himself as the final sacrifice and this was how He was teaching them to honor Him after He left them. He spoke of the betrayal and denial to come from Judas and Peter.  He knew they wouldn’t be able to stay awake as He prayed in Gethsemane. He knew Peter would cut off the ear of Malchus, the soldier.  He knew His band of brothers would desert Him when He was arrested.  He knew He’d be bound, spat upon, flogged, harassed, humiliated and suffer death on the cross.  He knew and yet He went bravely forward as the sin-free, unblemished lamb. He knew that the sacrifice was the only way to fulfill God’s covenant to the world. 

He realized that He was about to face a court of those who hated and feared Him.  They would call Him a heretic, a radical, a fool, a blasphemer.  He would endure the scourge as it tore through His flesh.  He knew what was coming.  Yet He went forth as the long-awaited Messiah.

His mother would weep in the darkness of that night, because she also knew.

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THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL

Posted on April 13, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

At first his heart was filled with excitement to simply be with Jesus.  Like the rest of the disciples, the message appealed to him.  He had grown up with the promise of a Messiah and this Jesus seemed to fill all the prophesies written about Him.  Like many of his brothers in the faith, He didn’t fully understand God’s plan. Jesus’ words resonated with an authority that commanded their attention.  Their world was full of rebellion over Roman rule.  Poverty lined the streets of the common man. The time was ripe for these words.  What Judas didn’t understand was that Jesus was not an ordinary man.  He was the Son of God.

Being the treasurer of the group, Judas always had money on his mind.  How would they feed all the people that had gathered?  How would they supply themselves with the necessary gear to survive the elements?  When Jesus had his feet washed with expensive nard, Judas considered it a waste of something that could easily be turned into quick cash.

We often look at Judas with disdain, but he was truly a product of his environment – as all of us sinners are.  By being so focused on the material things he missed what was right in front of him. He had God with him – right in his midst – and he didn’t recognize.  We aren’t much different. We may go through life without thinking about Jesus and the importance of what He did for us.  We get wrapped up in the things of this world like money, politics, doctrine, government, material things and we simply put Jesus on the back burner, when He should be the main focus of our lives.

When the devil entered Judas’ thoughts, he was overtaken by greed and betrayed the One who had come to save the world.  When Satan gets into our heads, we do the same.  We need to put our total focus on the One who has already conquered sin and guilt instead of our own selfish needs. So, let’s cut Judas some slack.  We aren’t much different than he was.  We need Jesus to intercede for us.

Let’s remember our own daily betrayal of Jesus through our thoughts, words and deeds. Let’s ask God for forgiveness, and let’s be confident that our sins have already been forgiven. May He then give us strength to live our lives for Him.

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EASTER BUNNY VS. JESUS

Posted on April 12, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

As I was doing my weekly grocery shopping the other day, I was amazed to find a whole section devoted to Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, peeps, sugary treats, cavity makers and artificial grass – along with baskets of all sizes and shapes filled with toys and more sweet stuff.  Maybe it has something to do with growing older, because when I was a young mom, the Easter bunny was a big part of this most holy of days.

When our children are growing up, why do we feel we have to sugar coat everything?  I mean it’s the same with Christmas and other Christian observances as well.  Anything wrapped in chocolate becomes our focus.  The truth of Good Friday isn’t pretty at all.  It’s raw and ugly.  The suffering Savior, bruised for our iniquities died.  He was buried in the secure tomb of a rich man.  He overcame death and foreshadowed our resurrection through His own.

Again, maybe it’s because I’m aging ungracefully.  My ideas about Christian holy days has deepened over time and I get a little miffed at the thought of my salvation being covered with jelly beans and chocolate eggs.  Maybe it’s because I can’t afford to indulge in those special treats and gifts as much as I once did.  Maybe it’s because our world has forgotten what was involved in that original Easter morning.  Instead of being shrouded in empty burial cloths, we’ve chosen to view Easter as the coming of spring.

What is Easter all about?  Is it all about me?  Is it all about celebrating?  Is it just another day?  Is it about fancy clothes and gorgeous spring flowers?  Is it time for another extravagant feast with special food and over indulgence?  Yes to most of those questions.  Unfortunately, the most important of Christian holidays has been commercialized into just another flashy, marketing extravaganza.

Truly, Easter is all about JESUS!  HE is the One who took on the sin of the world.  HE did so willingly, because of His love for us.  HE suffered, was humiliated, broken, pierced, spat upon, tortured, bloodied and abandoned by God.  HE endured all of this so we wouldn’t have to.  HE died.  HE conquered the devil and fulfilled the covenant between man and God.  HE ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY!

Take time this Easter weekend to think about why we Christians are so happy about this amazing grace. Ponder the cost.  Get down on your knees and thank Jesus for what HE has done for us and bring on the Alleluias.

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments