The crisp mountain air fills sumptuous valleys with a haunting haze, Just enough to mute the colors ever so slightly, Beyond the fog, lies a green pasture where the rest of the day will be spent, Taking in nourishment, basking in the sun, delighting in God’s bountiful garden, Savoring the beauty, Enjoying the warmth, Indulging in some quiet time, Before the night again envelopes the space where danger hides in every corner, Where fears may over take, Where time stands still, And God steps in again, Comforting, Protecting, Embracing, Ever watchful. Rest in His loving arms.
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” Morticia Addams
I live in a small town in Minnesota. It was one of the first towns settled here, because it was located on The Mississippi and the Rum Rivers and supported an ever booming lumber industry. Over the years, my town of Anoka, MN has earned a rather dismal reputation. We are the Halloween Capitol of the world. We are also a city of transient people. We happen to live in the center of town amongst some of those early homes that were originally settled here.  Our home was built in 1875. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1949 and restored at that time. Some of the original structure remains. There are ghosts supposedly stirring among many buildings in our community, but our house has shown no evidence of the super natural. Over the five years that we’ve lived here, we’ve seen many, many changes. Neighbors come and go. I often wonder about the people that inhabited our home over the years and how their “normal” changed over almost a hundred and fifty years.
Certainly we’ve been exposed to a great number of inventions that made life a lot easier. Manual labor has been replaced by machines and physically we aren’t as active as our predecessors. They ate from the bounty of their fields, gardens and livestock. We shop at fancy super markets and have a world full of extraordinary foods at our fingertips. Life didn’t last as long in those days. I guess people just wore out after time. Today we age well into the seventies and beyond, because of medical advances.
The biggest changes I’ve seen in my seventy nine years have to do with moral issues and things having to do with family relationships. In my neighborhood alone, there is evidence of drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, divided families and loneliness. In years gone by, we knew our neighbors and were able to reach out to them in some way. Today, we have built barricades, added fences, security cameras and alarms systems for our protection. We often live in fear of the next crime occurring in our backyard.
Yesterday, a police chase led to a serious accident and the pursuit of an armed individual. This was at around one o’clock in the afternoon. There were many emergency vehicles and obvious injury involved. This happened less than a block from our home. This weekend there were more than eleven shootings in Minneapolis. Time isn’t the only thing that changes people. In just the last 20 years, we experienced a terrorist attacked on our nation – saw political leaders rise and fall and be crucified by a press that seemed to be bent on innuendo rather than fact. We saw changes in what was “proper” or “politically correct.” Bullies were denounced by bullies. A cancel culture decided it was better to rid ourselves of our history. An anything goes attitude sprang out of an enabled population and then came COVID19.
I wish I knew what the answers were to all our current problems. I do know that we’ve turned our back on God and tried to solve things on our own. I can only pray that God will intervene and hear the prayers of His people. He has chosen us to be His people. All we have to do is say “yes” and follow Him. Too easy maybe for some. Yet I haven’t seen a better option yet.Â
The mermaid in the photos was sculpted during the year 2001 by my husband Paul Boecher. It is mounted on a bar at the Newsroom Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. The bar is shaped like an old pirate ship and the mermaid is to indicate the masthead. (Disclaimer) I did not pose for this piece of art, but it is pretty cool. There’s an interesting story that goes along with the day it was delivered and installed.
Paul had worked diligently over a number of months in his warehouse studio. The statue is entirely hand carved and painted. The delivery was to be made only a week after the horrible tragedy of 9/11/2001. This was a very trying time in our country, with dedicated police officers on patrol looking for anything unusual. You can imagine how cautious everyone was. Even the most innocent item could create a stir. Paul wrapped the mermaid in a quilt to protect her, placed her in the back of his pick up truck and covered the entire space with a tarp. He then proceeded downtown to make his delivery.
Suddenly police sirens were going off and red lights blazed behind him. Being the good citizen that he is, he pulled over. An officer asked him to roll down his window which he did. He then asked Paul what he had in the back of his truck. Paul honestly replied, “It’s a mermaid.” Of course the policeman was not about to take any wise cracks so he ordered Paul out of his truck and asked for the keys to the topper. to which he complied. The officer put him up against the truck and began to frisk him as he tossed the keys to the other officer who would then open the back and uncover the evidence.
The first officer called out, “What’s he got in there?”
The second officer replied, “It’s a mermaid. Then all three observed that it was indeed a mermaid as Paul explained that he was making a delivery. He also thanked the officers for their hypervigilance and continued to park and make his delivery.
It was a comical event that we continue to talk about to this day, but it also has a good message. The officers were doing their jobs. They weren’t at all abusive. Paul didn’t argue with them and was completely cooperative. The mermaid was just icing on the cake.
For several years, my husband would don his frontier clothes, make his way to a rendezvous of several other re-enactors from the 1800s and give a historical lesson to school aged children about life on the prairie in that time period. He’s often said he’s actually an 1800s kind of a guy.
Way back in those days, there were no cameras.  There was no way to physically document the beauty and vastness of the wide open spaces. Artists would often travel along with explorers like Lewis and Clark. They, like all plein air painters, had to deal with the elements, extreme temperatures, days of strenuous travel and much more. Their goal was to paint the wilderness the way it was – natural and wild. This would stir people back east to travel west and settle that part of the country. Paul would always try to involve his audience by having them imagine a world without smart phones, the internet or Instagram. Most of the time it was impossible for them to fathom a world like that.
The simplicity of living in those times. with men like John Muir, Seth Eastman, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran would have suited my husband just fine. His survival skills would allow for it. His love of the outdoors would satisfy that passion. His desire for adventure would fill every day and he might even grow tired of it after a while. The hard work of setting up his tent and having to endure a full day of classes wore on him. He certainly would’ve survived the arrows of the natives or hunger better than the tiring work of keeping the attention of grade school children. He still talks about doing it again some day and probably will, but in a less strenuous venue.
Those times are being lost to history books, which will eventually will hold little interest to young minds. We have turned to simply looking to the future and forgetting the past, but there is so much we can learn from our forefathers. Some of the most imaginative, creative, intelligent minds flourished during those early years. The re-enactors are even going the way of the old history books and many are dying off. Who will continue to tell their stories? Guess well have to leave that to the authors.
“The future inhabitants of this region, wherever they may place their houses, may be sure that they have been anticipated. An afternoon sufficed to lay out the land into orchard, wood-lot, and pasture, and to decide what fine oak or pine should be left to stand before the door, and whence each blasted tree could be seen to the best advantage.”
In the movie, “City Slickers,” Jack Palance played a crusty old cowboy with a world full of wisdom. His words to Billy Crystal were intended to get the city dude to think about what’s really important in life. “One thing . . .” he said, but he never finished. What was that “one thing,” that would change his attitude for the future. What’s the “one thing” that has the power to do that in our lives?
When we’re children, our minds seem to focus on the small things. We learn quickly to use our imagination to create something out of nothing.  Everything is new to us and we explore life with the challenge of discovery. As we grow older, we lose some of that ingenuity. We learn that some things can hurt us – some things lead to getting ourselves into trouble – some things can change the way we do things in the future.
I think it’s important for us to think about some of the little things in our lives that bring enjoyment to us – like looking at the clouds and trying to paint pictures out of them; or examine a leaf and see all the intricacies within it; or find pleasure in the smile of another person; take a leap of faith; do something silly just for the fun of it.
As time takes its toll on us, we get so wrapped up in the details of living, that we forget to look at the whole picture. God created the world for our enjoyment. He also created each of our senses so that we could soak in every part of that environment. When we reach our golden years, some of those memories are rekindled, because our lives have diminished to a snail’s pace and we have more time to look at them again. The circle of life I guess.
Our world is full of enough tragedy, hate, ugliness and bad stuff. Maybe it’s time to become childlike again. We need to look at life with new eyes and savor every minute of it. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Our existence on this earth is limited. We have just so much time to accomplish our goals, but while we’re working towards them, let’s not forget to enjoy the little things that God gives us along the way.
I am fortunate enough to live in a state that demonstrates exactly what all four seasons are all about. Our winters are long, but filled with glistening snow, ice and cold air. The sound of snow plows fills the air with an orchestra of music. We struggle to walk on ice – we slip and fall whether or not we are young or old – we wear more clothes to keep warm and we take our lives into our own hands when we get into a car to go to the store. How different that season must have been for those who lived when there were no plows or cars or evenly heated homes. We hunker down into our winters, sip hot chocolate, read a lot more and observe the glory of God through our windows.
In spring, we’re greeted with new life all around. Tiny blades of new grass, seeds sprouting into fresh growth, life resurging and spreading, changing the landscape in just a few weeks. The trickle of ice falling off the roof – the streams and rivers crackling as the frozen surface opens and breathes again. The senses come to life at this time too, because there’s so much to take in.
In summer, we reach the peak of the growing season. Tomatoes ripen on the vine and luscious fruit is ready for picking. Corn is almost ready for harvesting. A canoe or kayak floats down the river and a sail opens up to catch the wind and carry its passengers across a lake. Flip flops replace fleece filled boots. Less clothing is required, but when you’re old, you still cover up those sagging arms and wrinkly legs.
Autumn is the best of all, in my opinion. The air is fresh and crisp, I will soon be rid of my allergies and can finally get outside and do some necessary gardening jobs. The colors are amazing. The animals are more active and provide entertainment through our dining room window as well as sitting outside. The sunburned leaves are falling everywhere, but they create a beautiful carpet to cover and protect the lawns and gardens from the coming winter months. Pumpkins are carved or made into pies. Apples create a wonderful aroma as they are now ripe and ready for picking.
Life is like the seasons and each has its own beauty and purpose. Look for it. It’s not far from sight. It’s right outside your own front door,
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11
PHOTO TAKEN ON THE BORDER OF MINNESOTA & WISCONSIN YESTERDAY
Yesterday was the perfect day for a drive. The skies were filled with clouds and even though it looked like rain, God held off for a while so we could enjoy the beauty of His amazing art work. The air is turning cooler in my neck of the woods. Little splashes of color have started showing up on neighborhood trees. There’s something wonderful about the change of seasons, that simply must be enjoyed without words. The things we observe in nature can give us a clue to how much God loves this planet and all He has created.
With every turn of the highway, we were greeted with another beautiful landscape, Newly mown hay bales lined the now barren fields and a patchwork of gold, green, amber, rust and red was displayed for our pleasure. When you don’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy trips, cruises or adventures, you make the most of what’s available right under your nose. So we usually take one road trip a week. One reason is to get me out of the house, which sometimes feels like a prison when you have no destination.
However, with no destination, the adventure becomes even more exciting. As we drove through the hills and valleys we were greeted by beautiful barns, silos, fields of standing corn and a plethora of wildlife and birds. We stopped at a root beer stand and split a bison burger. We’ve often done this to save money, but also because our appetites aren’t as needy as they used to be. We still have the luxury of dining out, but now it’s at a different venue and just as tasty.
The enjoyments we treasure on this earth are but a glimpse of what awaits us. While we’re here, we owe it to ourselves to be cognizant of God’s gifts to us and hold them in high esteem.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
I’m a big fan of Maxine. She tells it like it is and I often do too. I’m much more courageous when I don’t have to confront anyone face to face. The written word is my battleground and I spurt out things that are better left unsaid.
As we grow older, we often feel entitled to speak our mind. We feel we’ve earned the right, simply by living this long. We feel a certain honor has been bestowed on us, because we’re old. In ancient times, men lived well into their centuries rather than years. Poor old Methuselah had to endure 969 years. Can you imagine hanging around for that long?
Of course the world was still in its early stages of existence, and the population was not yet at its maximum. As Methuselah’s grandson, Noah, pushed ahead, following God’s direction to build a huge ark, the people were in a terrible state. They ‘d fallen away from their creator and couldn’t be convinced that He was going to destroy all humanity except for Noah’s family.
Methuselah kicked the bucket before that happened, but imagine the degeneration he witnessed in those 969 years. I wrote a play about the Noah story several years ago, and the kids who were to play the part of those perishing in the flood asked me if this was a true story. I told them that it was and they really didn’t want that part at all.
Facing death is frightening. Facing extermination is even worse. God promised never to destroy the world in that way again, but there has to be a limit to what He will stand for.
I started this post, in hopes of imparting some humor today. The fact is, there is no humor in what’s going on in our world. If we don’t wise up pretty soon, we could be facing extinction. That’s no laughing matter, but I won’t leave it at that. There is still hope for a dying civilization. His name is Jesus.
After 9/11 every American had a sense of fear as part of their very being. In a way the terrorists had been successful because the peace we knew in this country was now disrupted and corrupted. For many months after, we were afraid that something like this might happen again. But out of the dust of the broken buildings and broken hearts, came something that has always been a part of the American spirit; a renewed courage and unity that represents all that is good in the United States of America.
What happened to that spirit in such a short span of time? We were united in our zeal – ready to fight the fight – eager to respond – angry, vengeful and dressed in the armor to defend the land that had so fiercely been invaded by terrorists. Years of war have left us numb. What we hoped to accomplish wasn’t. The enemy wasn’t ready to give up and still prowls the earth. After all these years, he has crossed our borders, infiltrated our infrastructure and put a giant chasm between us. The once United States became selfish. Violence erupted over and over again. School shootings were becoming the norm. Lack of concern for life became apparent. Kindness took a backseat to ego and we retreated into our own little safe places. During those twenty years, the economy again became strong and an “anything goes” mantra filled the air. Kids were rewarded for participating – not excelling. More and more gangs formed in the streets. Police integrity was called into question and often ignored. We became a nation of protestors – unsatisfied with just about everything. It became politically correct to disagree with anyone who did not agree with you. Then came COVID19 and caused people to cocoon even more. Fear, dissent, hatred, anger, hopelessness all resulted, leaving us with a fractured and divided nation.
Dear, Holy, God,
I pray that our nation will never forget who we once were – a nation under You and your divine intervention. The ugliness of humanity was experienced on 09.11.2001. The power of unity and working side by side for the better of the whole rather than the individual, seems to have vanished over time. Renew in us a new spirit, Lord. One that will honor you and glorify your name. We are mere mortals. Our death is imminent, but you have promised us eternal life. Give us the confidence to endure the rest of our earthly existence and make a difference. Amen!
Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strenthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,:
Today is a day of remembrance of a horrific act by terrorists on the United States some twenty years ago. When we remember this day, it’s almost always filled with images of the twin towers on fire – people jumping from windows – amazing acts of heroism – loss of life and the affect it had on Americans along with the rest of the world.
Last night I watched a documentary , narrated by Tom Brokaw entitled, “Operation Yellow Ribbon.” It is well worth watching, because it shows the truth of the human spirit and what can happen in times of great tragedy. Did you ever wonder how they cleared the skies leading to America and countries close to it on this fateful day? It was an amazing accomplishment. One of the airports used for this purpose was in a tiny little town of Gander, Newfoundland. The International Airport in the northeast part of North America was considered the largest airport in the world when it was built and was used mainly for military flights and a refueling site during WWII. On 09.11.2001, this airport was used to assist in clearing the skies of planes that were intended to land in the US or coming to it.
The Canadian airport at Gander is home to less than 12,000 people, who became willing heroes to the people on the 38 planes that had been redirected to land there. There were 7,000 passengers and crew that needed a place to stay until their flights could resume. None of them knew what was going on in New York, other than the fact that there was a terrorist attack. Imagine being in a strange country under such circumstances. The people of Gander came to the rescue with makeshift lodging, meals and clothing for the confused. tired and uninformed crowd. Soon they would see footage of the attack on the World Trade Center and watch in disbelief as the story unfolded before their eyes.
In the documentary, we see the human spirit at work for the fellow man. It talks about a couple returning from Ireland whose son is a New York fireman. They would have to wait until they returned home to discover that he perished as a first responder to the attack. There was a story of a couple that met during this time, from two different parts of the world, fell in love and eventually married. There were many, many more stories that occurred during this time and each one of them attached a piece of the heart to it.
Even in the tragedy of that horrific day, we saw the good side of humanity. We will never forget the carnage, but we should never, ever forget the goodness that came from that day. Even though it doesn’t seem any good could come from such an event, God planted people within the mess who cared about other people. Their kindness and self-sacrifice should be imprinted in our minds forever. Without those attributes we would be nothing. Thank God for allowing His love to surface even in times of crisis.
ENMITY - Noun - a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism.
Enmity isn’t a word we use very often. My first introduction to it was in Sunday school a long, long time ago, when we were told the story of how Adam and Eve fell from grace and God put enmity between Himself and them. I didn’t know the exact meaning of the word at that time. I also don’t recall ever using it in conversation with anyone, but it’s a good word to truly describe the battle that exists between God and the world. Thankfully, God also provided a way for that battle to be won through His own Son, Jesus. Still there is an enmity within us. The enemy within is our conscience and it wages war with us daily. The only way to calm that voice is to believe that the war against Satan has already been won. It may seem that he is visibly active, but because of Jesus payment we can claim victory over death and the grave.
When we wrap ourselves in the comforts of this world – when we give way to the voices that beckon us to join them in doing evil deeds – when we forget to turn to our Creator God for refuge – that enmity is going to fester to the boiling point and consume us. We can’t hide from the world. Even though we are under God’s protection and avoid those enticing voices, we don’t always have a clue as to how evil our world really is. There are times when I wonder what the new normal really is. Because we’ve built a wall against those things, we don’t even know what we’re fighting anymore.
Twenty years ago, America was attacked by terrorists. Who ever would’ve thought that the USA could be hit in such a way? We thought we were invincible as many still do. We thought we were strong enough and smart enough to evade this kind of invasion, but the truth is we weren’t ready for it. The same is true with our daily walk with God. The only way to prepare for an invasion by the devil is to put on the armor of God. He is our protection. He is our Redeemer. He is our God.
However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware of the danger within. The enemy is on the move all the time. He’s looking for the souls of those who will join him in everlasting torment. We face a daily war. As Barak Obama once said, “We are no longer a Christian nation.” As much as I recoiled when I heard that remark, what he said was true. Our nation is one of many beliefs, philosophies and religions. With every newcomer to our land, we are sharing the freedom to worship as they wish. However, our nation was founded on Judeo/Christian values, under God. Will we ever return to that point? Maybe not, but Christians can rekindle the fire by telling others about the joy of Christ and His wonderful gift to humanity. Only God can light the fire and eliminate the enmity and He already has.
I’ve often voiced my opinion about the news media and how it’s changed over the years. Gone are the days of Edward R. Murrow, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. Who even remembers Paul Harvey? He was the one who put his own spin on the news of the day – perhaps leading up to our current bend in journalism, but he always had a moral to the end of his story. Today we have Wolf Blitzer, Tim Russert, George Stephanopoulos, Harris Faulkner, Sean Hannity and a plethora of others. Our television sets our filled with news outlets and hundreds and thousands of opinions. By the time it reaches our screens and our eyes and ears, we don’t always know what to believe.
I recently saw a photograph of a group of people standing in a food line during the Great Depression, when the only place the hungry could turn to was government funded meals. I thought how easy it would be for us to become a nation of sheep and how we are still relying on our government to take care of us. With each passing year, it seems that the endless wallet of Washington is not only a necessity, but a open invitation to spend someone else’s hard earned dollars.
The same is true of our own government. It has become so convoluted over time, that the numbers of individuals working for the government are staggering. There’s bound to be corruption in this portion of America, just as there is in any other facet of life. The average American is the guy who works hard to care for his family’s needs. He spends time cooking on a grill in the backyard, cuts his grass, goes to church and may have a beer with friends. He is not really knowledgeable on the workings of the country other than what he sees on his computer, phone or TV set. He didn’t go to school to study politics or journalism. Maybe he never got a college education. He’s mostly interested in his own family unit and how they are affected by their government and the news of the day.
When we become so reliant on the government to foot the bill, we’re in fact being led like sheep to the slaughter. When we depend on the news to be nothing but the truth, we’re also setting ourselves up to fall off a cliff. So is it better to hide from both those entities and not get involved to save us from becoming depressed and hopeless? I’ve been an advocate for limiting time spent watching the news. Still being uninformed isn’t really the answer either. We need to trust someone for the truth. We owe it to ourselves to search for it. We can’t expect someone else to think for us – to form our opinions – to become sheep. God gave us a brain so we could come up with solutions – find a better way of doing things – learn what is true and become discerning in life.
As soon as we let go of that thought process, we’re taking one step closer to the end result – a human LAMBSLIDE, right into a pit of destruction. Trust in God and His ability to bring order from chaos. Trust in yourself to search for the truth without the influence of others. You will find that truth in God’s own Word to us – the Bible.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 ESV
Signs of autumn are in the air. Leaves are slowly losing their grip and soon will be ready to tumble. Acorns are piling up and seeds of all kinds are nestling into the earth to start the regeneration of life to come. The air is fresher, the colors brilliant, the crops are ready for harvest and the smell of apple pies penetrates our nostrils.
It can also be looked at this way. No more warm days of summer; no more lazy days on the beach; birds escaping in hoards to warmer climates; and tons of yard work and/or shoveling to do. The way we look at things in life can have a great effect on how we live it. A negative observation often leads to negative behavior and attitude. Lord, help me to look at things the way you intended them to be – as a gift from you, with no strings attached. May I find beauty in all of your creation.
Seasons of life are just seven, yet sometimes they last even more,
Our last destination is heaven, but think of what's passed on before,
Each chapter is full, each page covered too,
The people pass through are many or few,
There's laughter and sadness, and tears fill our eyes,
Our goals are oft met, but the time often flies,
What we have accomplished upon this sad earth,
Will not be remembered or have any worth,
What matters is this and not a bit more,
That God was there with us, and will be evermore.
I started using the closed captioning feature on our TV set because of my hearing loss. Since my husband doesn’t suffer from the same malady, it seems the perfect solution. Reading the captions can take something away from the performance, because of the time it takes to read them. Fortunately there is a plus side to this. Some of the captions are more entertaining than what’s taking place in the action.
For example on one news report a while back, the reporter was talking about a politician who had been on the job for only six months before resigning. The caption read, “She was on the John for six months.” I imagined that if she had been on the John for six months, she more than likely got fired.
As you may know, I love watching old mystery television series. On a recent English performance of a Miss Marple series called, “A Body in the Library,” the word body took on a whole new meaning. At one point there was a potty in the library. At another, the potty was in the diaper. I never did find out how the potty got there or who it was, because I was laughing so hard at the misinterpretation of the closed captions. Can you imagine being the person responsible for writing the closed captions? Especially when the performers have a heavy English dialect or some foreign influence to their speech. It would be understandable to exchange “body” with “potty” because of the way the word is spoken. I can picture the interpreter trying to figure out as they go, what is being said. Of course it’s probably done by computers, undoubtedly use\ing phonetics to repeat the word on the screen. There might even be a real person in there trying to come up with more entertaining entertainment, especially if things are getting boring and need to be kick started. It would be fun to find out who actually does this job and how it’s done. In the meantime I can only imagine.
The fact that I’m losing my hearing is not only frustrating, but causes me to realize that I’m not a spring chicken anymore. My doctor suggested the loss was caused by years of working with young children. The high pitch of their voices played a number on my ear drums. Again, I will not let my age get in the way of my sense of humor. I can still laugh about some of my own interpretations of what someone says to me. My husband is used to my infirmity and has always been very kind about it, but it has to be frustrating for him as well. Hearing aids are not an option for a number of reasons. The fact they are so expensive, leads the list, but I’ve also seen people who wear them struggle to sift through outside noise as well as the voice they’re trying to hear. So instead, I will watch my TV shows with closed captioning and laugh at the most inopportune time. I will mistake what someone says to me for something else and laugh about that too. I think I’ll be OK as long as what I laugh at isn’t inappropriate.
Of course if I’m watching the news, I will probably just turn it off. Some things are better left unheard.
1 Samuel 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As our world swirls around us in a sea of turmoil, it’s difficult not to get depressed or troubled over it. Even knowing that God is in control isn’t always enough for those of us who have seen the destruction of mankind and his wars. Our memories serve a purpose. They allow us to ponder over the entire situation before action is taken. In the heat of attack upon our own nation, however, we tend to think differently about responding without action. On December 7, 1941 suicide bombers attacked an American naval port in Hawaii, causing the US to enter into WWII. On September 11, 2001, we were stunned to see planes crashing into buildings and fields within our borders and thousands of lives lost. When we’re under attack by an enemy and see the resulting carnage right under our noses, we react immediately. Our reactions are based on revenge, but also in defense of our country.
War is never a final solution to any problem. Usually it leads to more of them and eventually to a lot of rebuilding, restoration, endless meetings by governments trying to come to a settlement, and trillions of dollars spent over time. There is always going to be collateral damage.
We are fighting a much greater battle than with any Taliban or ISIS soldier. Our war is a constant, daily combat with the devil. He has been let loose to do his dastardly work among us. How do we respond? Do we take up arms against him and his minions? Do we fight with every ounce of strength in our body? Do we give our lives to save others from his control? The devil is an unseen enemy, but one we will have to confront in our lives. Yes, and even those who feel they are “right” with the Lord are going to meet this enemy with strength beyond our own ability.
The battle has already been waged, fought and won by Jesus, Christ, the Savior of the World. When He laid down His life for us, He was carrying the weight of every sin ever committed. He suffered the bite of the scourge, the spit of an angry crowd, the humiliation and scorn of a common criminal. Yet He had never committed a sin. As His body rested in the tomb on the day after His horrible crucifixion, He was putting the devil in chains – leashing him, but still allowing him life until the day of final judgment. Jesus’ victory over death is our guarantee of a release from the grave and life everlasting. The battle is won and it belongs to the Lord.
We can fight our earthly battles with fervor, resolve, patriotism, whatever, but we can never win our own salvation. Jesus is our champion, our soldier, our victor over death. With that in mind we can face any enemy or situation that Satan throws our way.
Light in darkness – sweet redemption – all my sins He melts away, He brings life from deep depression – cradling in His arms each day, In darkest hours I make confession of my guilt. I bare it all, He forgives and grants me healing. He is there to take the fall,
Frozen landscapes soon are hidden. Only pastures green remain, He will lead me by still waters ’til He comes to earth again, No fear of death will e’er surround me. I know it cannot sting me now, I’ve given him my one possession – it is my life I do endow,
The man in the picture is my husband, Paul. You’ve seen much of his art on my site,, along with my poetry. Not only is he an accomplished artist and sculptor, he’s a teacher, a naturalist, a business man, an evangelizer, a true cowboy without a horse, a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He’s done many different things in his 79 years. One of his favorite things to do was to re-enact a frontier artist from the early days of the settling of our country.
In those years, so long ago, there were no smart phones, no computers or internet and no cameras. To let people know what lay beyond the average person’s eye, artists were commissioned to go along on expeditions to paint what was discovered along the way. Can you imagine experiencing great mountain ranges or the bubbling paint pots and geysers of Yellowstone for the first time? Can you picture camping close to Native American villages and visiting unknown cultures? The raging waters of wide and perilous rivers, the uncharted terrain, the stories, the people – all of it was being experienced by these early explorers as they traveled across the land.
Paul has always said he was born in the wrong century. He likes every opportunity to witness God’s magnificent handiwork. Nature has been sort of a sanctuary for him, having been born and raised in the inner city of Milwaukee and residing on the second floor of the family business – a funeral home.
Those early explorers didn’t carry bottled water or have air conditioned homes to return to at night. They slept on the floor of the plains – got their water from a nearby stream and hunted for their food. Times have changed, but I don’t think the American spirit has died. It’s just getting used to all the comforts afforded it in the past couple hundred year.
As we look ahead to this weekend and the ending of summer, let’s not forget those who built this great country of ours. We honor our veterans and those currently serving, but let’s remember those who forged ahead, without fear, to discover just what a gift this land is. Thank God for America. We still honor our flag. We still hold to the truth of the Constitution. We can travel across the vast horizons and behold the glory and majesty of our land –  freely.Â
As vehicles get packed for a weekend of camping, summer fun, recreation and travel across this great nation, let’s keep in mind those early explorers as well. They had no idea what they’d face the next day, but they were compelled to see what lay ahead. God still has great plans for our land. I’m sure of it.Â
With all that’s going on in our world right now, I had hoped to write a post with encouraging words about how God has this all in the palm of His hand and we’re going to get through it. Those words don’t mean much when you have to greet a son or daughter at the airport as their flag draped coffin is lowered from the plane. It doesn’t mean much when the winds of a hurricane reach 175 mph and destroy everything in its path. When we’re close to being in another war – when our lives are being controlled by a virus – when all hope seems to be turning sour – those words don’t carry much clout.
We all go through trials and it may seem that God is no where to be found. Has He deserted us? Is He punishing us for bad choices and behavior? Are we getting our comeuppance? Why does God allow these trials if He’s a righteous God? Why does He create weather that destroys and insurmountable events that crush our spirit? Well, God isn’t like that. If I were to receive what is coming to me, I would’ve been living on the street, dumpster diving, begging for a crust of bread. If I were to get what I deserved, I could count on no future – no hope – no salvation.
God is a God who forgives our sins, because He loves us. He is patient – kind – selfless – caring and more than tolerant of the sin that infests our world. He has the power to wipe out the entire human race, but instead His plan includes the greatest love story ever told. Many would think and say that there is no God and that if there was, He has forsaken us. Yet the truth is that His intention was that we live in paradise with Him and enjoy all the benefits of His kingdom. His love has no strings attached. We are unable to work our way to salvation. Even so, He laid out a plan for our redemption that relied on the greatest sacrifice ever.
His plans are always good and the results are always amazing. We may not see it when we’re struggling through the mess we’re living in, but it’s all part of a plan He drew up at the time of Creation. Through God, we have hope for a future. We have a promise that we know will never be broken. We have life eternal waiting for us. In the meantime, this simple message needs to be shared with others. We have an obligation to share this good news so that they will have hope even when it seems like there’s none.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
atimetoshare.me 
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