BORN AGAIN OR REBORN?

Posted on March 25, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
Jesus and Nicodemus discussing rebirth through the Spirit of God in the book of John, Chapter 3

I’m amazed by the extraordinary stories of how people come to faith in God. Many of them have been extremely inspirational and demonstrate the zeal of their faith. My story is different. Some might even find it boring. I’m a Christian. I ‘ve been one since my baptism as an infant. I went to Christian schools through high school. I was confirmed in my faith when I was 13. I married a Christian man with high morals and a love for God which I had not yet experienced, despite my long connection to the church. It took me a long time to really understand who God is and how He has changed the course of my life over time.

I was the child that always followed the rules, but in my mind, I never felt good enough to be saved. I always felt that there was something more I should do or say or believe. My dad was very strict and often downplayed my importance so you might say I was verbally abused, but he was doing the best he could. He had no father figure in his own life, so didn’t understand how to be one. I looked at God the Father as I looked at my dad. I was sure I would never have a solid relationship with either of them.

In my younger years, I saw hypocrisy in the church. People would go and worship on Sunday and live totally different lives during the week. I saw my church build into a business rather than a house of worship. I saw a lot of human error, but later realized that we can only do God’s work with Him as the CEO. The minute we get in the way, corruption occurs. The pastor of my youth was a “fire and brimstone” preacher, and I was always terrified that I would spend eternity in hell. The fact that he spoke from a raised pulpit, put the fear of God in my soul, but not in the right way.

I’ve never experienced the vivid feelings of exhilaration or enthusiasm that I hear from new Christians. It’s always just been there for me. Many years and many churches later, I’ve learned that wherever the Word of God is taught, God is there. It really has nothing to do with us or our feelings or any kind of extraordinary revelation. God is there. For me, the journey has been one of slow and steady growth. I know that I’m a work in progress and the work won’t be completed until I join my Creator in heaven.

I believe that God crafted me before I was even born. He knew that I would have difficulty with my weight. He knew that I would have a dad that drank too much and used words to put me down. He knew that it would take me years to rely on Him and that didn’t matter. He knew that even though my self-image was in the pits, I’d one day feel beautiful and useful to Him. He also chose the right people to put in my life. I didn’t have a “born again” experience. I’ve had a “lifetime” experience being crafted by my Creator. God has whittled away at me – carving each little bit of my character – punching at the clay to form my life into what He wants it to be. He has given me challenges which I can now use to help someone going through the same difficulties. By creating a free will in me, He has also given me the ability to choose what I believe. I choose Jesus. I will die knowing that He is my Savior and King. I pray that I have a few years left to share how Jesus has woven His way into my heart – how He has mingled hope in times of despair – how He has held my hand when I was unsure – how He carried me through life threatening moments – how He continues to hold me on the last leg of my earthly existence – how He can make a real difference in the lives of those who don’t know Him yet.

Posted in grace, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TRUE CONFESSION – I ATE MY DAUGHTER’S HOMEWORK

Posted on March 24, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
Disclaimer – this is not the original artwork. That is long gone.

Funny things happen to me all the time. Either that or I’m not all there and everything just seems funny.

My youngest daughter brought an assignment home to finish for her art class. It was made of paper mâché and when it dried completely, she was able to paint it. She was very proud of her work. It was really cute and she put extra effort into making it extra special.

Everyone turned in for the night and the little paper mâché sculpture sat unconcerned on the kitchen counter.

It was one of those nights when I semi-woke up and wandered aimlessly into the kitchen. I wasn’t fully conscious. This wasn’t unusual since I was often found sleep walking. The house was dark. There wasn’t a sound to be heard except the growling coming from my stomach. Even though I was in a dream state, I felt the pangs of hunger.

My hands reached out in the darkness and landed on the dog art. Slowly I lifted the innocent victim to my lips. I opened my mouth and my eyes. It looked like dark chocolate, but it didn’t smell like it. It didn’t smell like anything. My pearly whites wrapped themselves around the morsel and bit down. It was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever tasted. I immediately woke up, spit the tidbit into the garbage, rinsed my mouth out with water and went back to bed.

The next morning, I was sharply awakened by screams coming from my youngest child. I ran to see what happened and there she was with the decapitated dog in her hand. I had a hard time explaining the truth to my family and to her teacher. I had eaten her homework, but looking back, it was one of those funny things I was talking about.

This event took place over 40 years ago. But we still laugh about it. Finding humor in unlikely situations can make you look like a real idiot or it can help you keep your sanity.

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

MELTING IN FEAR

Posted on March 23, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Joshua 2:24

The image above depicts what our landscape looked like a couple days ago. Within just a short period of time a snowfall of six inches, added to what was already on the ground. In just another short span most of that snow had melted. It looked like we were going to be blessed with an early spring. Living in Minnesota, we know that it can snow all the way into May, so even though folks were donning their shades and flip flops, we knew it was only temporary. Last night the spring rain turned into snow and here we are again, with a fresh slushy snow on the ground. It seems like a kind way for God to water the earth that was scorched by drought last summer. Snow melts slowly and delicately nurtures the soil.

Before Joshua and the army of the Israelites circled the walls of Jericho, the people within those barriers were said to be melting in fear. They had seen the army of this large band of people, and it shook them to the core. The spies that returned with news of the city of Jericho could tell that the people were terrified of God’s army. So much so that they melted in fear.

As we watch the newscasts regarding the devastating war that seems to escalate each day in Ukraine, I can’t begin to imagine the fear that these people are experiencing. Not only is the population being forced from their homes, but men, women and children are losing their lives. The fear must live within those on both sides. For those carrying out the unprovoked terror ordered by a power-hungry man it must be equally difficult for them to follow those orders. As these events progress without outside help, we see fear controlling even the strongest of people.

Fear is almost as destructive as the weapons being used in this battle. I’m sure that’s why heads of government use the tactic of terrorism when the wage their battles. Getting into the mind of people and manipulating them to live in fear of death, danger, hopelessness is vicious warfare indeed and quickly causes folks to lose their faith. It’s a magnified form of bullying at the cost of innocent lives.

It’s hard to see God’s hand in any of this, but He is there. He has a purpose for everything that happens in this life. It is far better that He is in control, because He already knows what the outcome will be. His love for all people, indicates that He wants to bring everyone back to Him. Even in the face of the most horrible things, we can take courage in the fact that Jehovah is in charge. His promises are always kept. His plans are always for our good. He loves us more that we are worthy to be loved. He sacrificed His only Son to atone for our sins. We have eternal life because of that. We also have the inheritance of His kingdom.

Our fear can melt us, but with God as our Champion, we will always win the victory. I call that a generous gift from Him – a slow melting of our hearts in submission to Him alone.

Posted in fear, Jesus, Lent, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

RAINY DAYS & MONDAYS

Posted on March 22, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

“Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As a child I used to think of rainy days as a time to escape to my books.  I loved to read, and a rainy day was the perfect time to do so.  I also used to think that rain was the result of God’s tears falling over us and cleansing us from our sins.  Mom used to say that thunder meant that the angels were bowling in heaven.  It’s funny all the ideas we can conjure up when we think about rain and storms.

However, there’s nothing funny about the storms we experience in our daily lives. There really is no escaping a rainy day.  It’s all part of God’s plan to nurture the earth and bring forth fruit, but sometimes the storms become impossible to handle and we get flooded with worry. The things we hope for don’t always come to be.  Our prayers aren’t always answered in the way we want them to be. Our desires often give way to the needs of our families and many times there are not enough dollars to cover them.

I always wanted to dance in the rain, like Gene Kelly did in the movies.  What fun to stomp on those puddles and let the drops trickle down your face as you did a soft shoe down the lane.  In a way, doing so meant making something good out of a bad situation.  When we can accomplish that, with God’s help, we can really sing in the rain. Even the toughest of situations seem a little less difficult if you can find some good in them.  For example, you’re late for work because you couldn’t get the kids moving this morning.  It so happens, had you left at your usual time, you may have been involved in an accident that occurred along your normal route.  Or maybe your electricity went out because of the storm and a kind neighbor offered to store your refrigerated items in their home. Suppose your health is failing and you may even be facing death.  Someone comes to spend the day with you or do chores for you or simply prays with you.  The storms seem a little easier then.

Wouldn’t it be fun to be a kid again, don your rain boots and go splashing through the puddles?  God made rain for a purpose and maybe part of that purpose is to give us hope for a brighter tomorrow. So go on and enjoy the moment – the day – the rain. What’s stopping you?

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

WORLD POETRY DAY

Posted on March 21, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Today is World Poetry Day. You will find most of my poetry has to do with my faith in God and all He has accomplished for me and the entire world. My earthly inspiration comes from my husband’s artist hand. We have been together for many years, and I think we make a pretty good team. That is because God has always been at the center of our relationship.

Poetry is just another way of expressing what we feel, believe, hope for, our goals and all the trials we face. It is the marriage of words and rhythm. Once in a while the words rhyme, but they don’t have to, if they come from the heart. I think some of the greatest poetry ever written are the Psalms in the Bible. They have a cadence – a rhythm – the makings of a song. With each crafted word, inspired by God’s own breath, we hear all the petitions of man along with his fears, confession, repentance and praise.

We all have the ability to be poets. Like any art form, it must be exercised to be perfected. Like any gift from God, it must be implemented. When we use it for His glory, He will bless the words.

GOD IS EVERYWHERE, by Kathy Boecher

When I grow weary from the weight of life,

When every step becomes a heavy strife,

There’s no relief, no respite for my load,

The path is full of obstacles untold,

Each pothole, crag and deep embedded crack,

Becomes too much for this old, weary back,

But God is there at every twist and turn,

To raise me up when troubles churn,

To take the weight and soften every sting,

To wash away my tears and make me sing,

He’s with me everywhere I go,

Since Jesus loved me, this I know!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

SUNDAY PRAYER

Posted on March 20, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ART & INSPIRATION FROM KATHY BOECHER

Dear Holy, God,

You are the bright and shining star.  You make the birds to sing and the waters to spring up and rain pour down to nourish your creation.  My heart delights in your name.

I wonder sometimes, what you must think of this world.  How did we stray so far from your glory?  How did things get so messed up.  You created the earth to be a paradise for all its inhabitants and one act of disobedience set the wheels of sin into motion.  From that day forward, paradise was lost.  Still, you made a covenant with man, to send a Messiah – a mighty warrior who would wash away the filth of sin and bring all people back into your grace.

We certainly don’t deserve any special treatment.  We continue to infect this planet with the darkness of sin. Our wrongdoings are countless.  On our own, we’re clothed in one common denominator.  We will all die.  Yet, because you are also a graceful God, we can look forward to life eternal in the paradise you intended for us in the first place.

I know I will soon face death.  It is one of the inevitable facts of life.  I’m not afraid of death.  I’m more concerned with those I will leave behind.

Please, dear, Lord, look down on your creation.  Have mercy on us once again.  I know you already paid the supreme price to forgive our sins, but we still need your constant attention.  Be at our sides as we face the unknown.  Be our guide and walk ahead of us – showing us the way you want us to live.  Walk behind us, lest we fall.  Support us with your truth, the Holy Bible.  You alone are our refuge and strength.  With you all things are possible.  Amen!

Posted in Art & inspiration from Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

THE POTTER & THE CLAY

Posted on March 18, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

It’s hard to imagine ourselves as a lifeless piece of clay or dead mass of rock, but when you see the final result – it’s an amazing piece of imagery.  We are in the Master’s hand.  He takes us and shapes us.  He sometimes has to push us to get us motivated.  There are days when he has to re-do us – not because He has made any mistakes, but because we are unwilling to surrender to His will.  If clay would be left on its own, it would stay the same forever.  With God as the potter –  we take on shape – we have purpose – we live. 

It isn’t always going to be easy.  We know we’re going to have obstacles.  Some days we think we’re finished, but the Potter has different ideas.  Some days we think we know better than Him and that’s when we have to be pushed down again and re-made.  As any good pot knows, there will be a fire to face at some point.  We will all have to go through trials in this life, but when we’re finished we will be ready – for eternity with the Master.

Isaiah 64:8  But now, O Lord, you are our Father;  we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.”

THE POTTER & THE CLAY

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

A lump of clay – no life – unanimated – uninspired,

Left to the hands of the Potter,

He pushes and prods with the strength of His hands,

He manipulates with the tenderness of His fingers,

And creates something beautiful from the unrecognizable,

He chisels details – two eyes, a nose, a mouth,

A human form, with flesh and blood,

He breathes life into newly formed nostrils with His own exhalation,

Then He sets it aside – letting His handiwork rest for a while,

Left to its own will and devices,

Alone,

No life,

Inanimate,

Uninspired,

The creation is led by its own desires and passions,

It wanders aimlessly through an unknown existence,

Without the Creator, it cannot think clearly,

Its mind is controlled by desires,.

Crashing,

Tumbling,

Falling,

Deeper into a pit of nothingness,

Alone and out of control,

Because it has not yet been exposed to the Light,

The Potter stops until His masterpiece is found,

He takes it into His loving hands,

He brings it closer to the Light.

He refines,

Warms,

Reshapes,

Remolds,

Inspires,

He erases the blemishes,

Polishes and finishes,

The Creation experiences the Light,

It feels the warmth,

Bends at the touch,

It is irresistible.

Through the Potter’s loving touch,

The clay now experiences eternal life.

Posted in America, creation, Encouragement, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

GOD’S RAINBOW

Posted on March 17, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Many years ago, I wrote a musical play based on Noah and the Ark. It was called, “The Rainbow Promise.” In the final scene of the play, a rainbow appears to assure the people who were saved from the great flood, that God promises never to destroy the world with another flood. That symbol has been used in many ways over the years. On St Patrick’s Day, we often see a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. In today’s world it has been used for a variety of causes, but the first rainbow, set in the sky by God, Himself, is truly a promise that God will keep.

We could be in for storms in this life. Each one may seem worse than the past. Each one carries new burdens – depression – anxiety – anger – fear – discontent – but at the end of each storm, we can count on a rainbow from God. His promises are never broken. His Word is always true. The real pot of gold at the end is waiting for us in heaven. He made sure that the entire world would be saved from the infection of sin when He sent His Son to save it. The only condition is that we have faith and believe that promise. Those are also gifts from the Holy Spirit and not of our own doing. Jesus already died for every sin. The debt has been paid in full.

As I write these words, I can’t help but look at this story as make believe and happily ever afters, but the truth is, God has provided us with just that. The rainbow can be a reminder of His love for us and His fulfillment of His promises. No matter what the world throws at us, we have been redeemed and can look forward to eternity in paradise where there is no more sorrow, no more tears, and peace everlasting. The very first rainbow should help us remember that.

Posted in anxiety, God, God's promises | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

WATCHING THE SNOW MELT

Posted on March 15, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

The days are much longer, the sun’s here to stay,

We’ve turned life’s cold corner and it’s a new day,

The once frozen waters are now clear and blue,

Earth covered with new growth and fresh sun kissed dew,

The sweet songs of springtime come from every tree

The long dormant branches, don buds that grow free,

The dark days of winter relinquish their hold,

A peace lies in springtime which never grows old,

The grass pushes forth and new life finds its way,

Through mulch and dead leaves it comes out now to play,

I sit here and wonder how life starts anew,

How death can evade us yet carry us through,

The darkness of days to a bright shining light,

I think then of Jesus and of His great might,

He’s cast off the shackles and burdensome load,

Our freedom He’s purchased, and made straight the road,

Perfection awaits us in Heaven’s sweet home,

Exploding as springtime, no more shall we roam.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, Nature | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

THE TRUE MIRACLE WORKER

Posted on March 14, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Job suffered greatly, all in a matter of a few days. He lost all his wealth, his belongings, his house, livestock and land. He even lost his children. With each passing moment he watched as those things were swept away in an instant. His friends tried to convince Job that he had done something to anger God to receive such loss. As this once wealthy, prosperous, kind, loving man, sat in the ashes – body festering with boils – he had the faith in God’s true identity and knew that he would rescue him. He was completely aware that God alone was the Miracle Worker he needed.

Miracles were at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and carry on to eternity. He continues to do miracles every day – even during hardships, time of pain and illness, days of oppression and war. His miracles are not always flashy. Sometimes we really have to look hard to find them, but they exist, nonetheless. With our eyes always open to them, we will experience the divinity of Jesus in our lives too.

His first miracle at Cana was done to show that Jesus was no ordinary man. He is divine. His disciples were amazed – His mother had faith in her Son’s divinity – the guests at the wedding were astounded to find the best wine being the last to be served. The miracle changed six jugs of water into more than 120 gallons of the finest wine that was ever set before man. There would be more of these astonishing feats. People would be healed from their disabilities, restored to good health, relieved of demons, even resurrected from death. These were not simple magic tricks designed to amaze the crowds. This was the hand of God Himself, interceding in the lives of mankind. The greatest miracle would come when this “man” Jesus, would suffer and die for the sins of the world and overcome death and the grave. We have that miracle waiting for us at the end of our days here on earth. God has promised that death will have no dominion over us.

“Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles.”   George Bernard Shaw

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WHAT TIME IS IT?

Posted on March 12, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

Well, here we go again. Slaves to the guy who switches out the clocks twice a year. It seems we’ve been hearing about this time change to daylight savings for days now. The hype is exactly that – hype. I’ve discussed my thinking on this whole debacle over time, but it really has gotten quite amusing. The fact that my car hasn’t been driven much since November, I didn’t change the clock on the dashboard. In fact, it won’t be necessary now, so I feel like I’m ahead of the game.

However, when I woke this morning at 5:50 AM, I thought the time had already changed and it was really 6:50 AM. I then realized I was looking at my phone for the time and it wasn’t Sunday yet – so I went back to sleep until 8 AM. Tonight, I will change all the clocks on the various appliances. We have one old fashioned clock in the kitchen which still uses numbers and a dial to tell time. The battery ran out recently and I decided to take care of changing it tonight. It’s been 8:45 for about a month.

I keep trying to figure out why this whole thing got started and apparently it was designed for farmers to have more daylight to get their chores done. It’s kind of nice to have days that last until 10 PM, but for now we will have to wait a while for that. In the meantime, will it be dark when I wake up tomorrow for church? Most likely. For us Minnesotans, we get used to long nights from November to June. All of this is almost too much for an old lady who is already living on borrowed time.

Posted in aging, daylight savings time | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

GOD, BE IN MY HEAD!

Posted on March 11, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

H. Walford Davies composed the hymn, “God, be in my Head,” and it was published in 1910. It has undergone some changes in arrangement over time, but the words remain the same. Those words sum up the Christian walk from birth to death and beyond.

This hymn says it all when it comes to our relationship with God. He should be in every aspect of our living from the moment we wake up in the morning until we lay our heads and fall asleep at night. We should be learning about Him on a daily basis, through His manual for living, the Bible. We should use our talents and gifts to further His kingdom.

In these times of great tribulation throughout our world – during the pandemic which still has us all a little shattered and undone – the weather catastrophic events which have wiped out property and possessions – an unprovoked war which we grow more incensed about each day – the killing of innocent unborn children – the pathetic drop in morality and giving in to temptation – the homeless, the hungry, the poor – it’s more than necessary that we return to our Creator, God who controls everything. As heinous as it all seems, it’s part of a much greater plan which will one day be revealed to us.

We must be sure that our children, grandchildren and future generations learn to rely on Him too. The image of God and His love for us should be emblazoned on our hearts and imprinted into our souls. This should be something we do out of gratitude for what He does for us every day of our lives.

Thank you, Holy God, for your ever-present love. I don’t deserve it, but you give it freely. Be with me in every step I take today and every day. Give me strength, faith and hope in your promises. Let me never forget the sacrifice you have willingly given for me.

Posted in America, God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

INTERNATIONAL WIG DAY

Posted on March 10, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

I haven’t done one of these “days of the year” posts for a while, but since it’s InternationaI Wig Day along with “Throwback Thursday,” I thought my famous wig story might be appropriate for today. The actual event took place some time in the 1970s and the story has been added to over the years, but it never seems to get old and it’s pretty funny as well as true – with the exception of a fib or two. There is no moral to this story. It’s just meant to make you smile.

The Women’s Liberation Movement was in full swing. I was living in Appleton, Wisconsin at the time and my career was that of a stay-at-home mom. My sister was living in Minneapolis with a little one of her own. We both thought we were liberated, but the truth is, we were stuck in the throes of house and hearth.  One day, however, we did take a day off to go golfing together.

We packed our clubs into the car.  Mine generally sat in the dining room corner, untouched and dusty from lack of use.  We hired a babysitter and off we went to one of the most challenging of courses in my town.  I didn’t have time to fix my hair properly that morning, because of three children – need I say more? So, I popped on a wig, which wasn’t unusual in those days.  I was feeling rather perky and looked cute in my Florence Henderson, stylishly coifed, shaggy hair.  We decided to splurge and rented a cart.

I wasn’t used to such luxury.  I hadn’t golfed in over ten years.  I was out of shape, but my hair looked good.  It was the perfect setup for what was about to happen.  I was in charge of driving the cart, even though my sister paid for it.  There’s something about being the oldest that has its benefits.  The cart was in fair shape, but what we didn’t know was that the brakes weren’t.  As we flew down a hill to the 9th hole, I realized that there was no way we were going to stop unless we ran into something.

As usually happens to me in cases like this, my short 30-year life passed quickly before my eyes.  I thought for sure this was it – again.  I thought about abandoning ship, but that thought was interrupted by the invasion of a firmly planted oak tree, which became our resting place.  In that short period of time, all our golf clubs scattered – many of my children’s little toys which had secretly been hidden in the bag, were strewn across the green grass.  My wig was perched on my head sideways.  My sister and I pulled ourselves together and proceeded to gather our belongings as a couple young, burly men ran towards us.

Little did we know that they were part of the Green Bay Packers football team.  You see, the Packers have always been involved in community and many of them owned businesses around town.  They helped us set the cart upright and offered to drive us to the clubhouse, but of course there were no brakes.  We thanked them for their kindness.  One of them noticed the toys strewn about and asked if they belonged to us.  In that moment of being rescued by two professional football players, all I could do was say, “no!” After they left, my sister and I retrieved the toys and replaced them into my bag as she laughed hysterically and said, “Your wig is on the side of your head.” Of course, I was mortified.

This is just one of the funny stories my sister and I have shared. I guess I should write a book and call it “A Tale of Two Sisters.”

Posted in Humor, team work | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

SPRING BREAK 2022

Posted on March 9, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

The calendar reads March 9th, but there is still a foot of snow on the ground, the temperature is hovering around 14 degrees, the sun is shining and for many young people it is a week designated for celebrating the end of winter. Spring break brings thoughts of careless carousing and foolishness that is better forgotten, but I suppose it might be called a rite of passage.

When winter’s final grip releases her icy hold on us, it’s such a relief. Our spirits soar, our coats come off, mittens are hidden in the recesses of the closet not to be donned for at least a few months. We breathe in fresh air instead of the stale, musty, dusty stuff that has permeated every inch of our homes. Curtains open, sun bathes each room with warmth and comfort. Windows may be cracked an inch or two simply to wash away the smells of the past duration. Memories of blooming gardens seep into our minds.

Interesting remnants of the long season pop up everywhere – the snake of a hose that never got rolled up in time for the first snow; the remains of withered weeds and overgrowth of un-mowed grass. The Adirondack chairs have now been designated as the Catarondack chairs, where the feral cats curl up and catch some rays.

King Solomon had a lot to say about the seasons in Eccleasiastes 3:1-8

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

I’m not sure Solomon is talking about spring break, but I think he’s covered part of it. There is a season for everything – a time for all things – but God is the One who controls all of it. With that in mind, each season has a purpose in our living as well. They can represent each stage of life we go through. In the spring comes new life – new beginnings, freshness and promise. In the summer heat of adolescence comes the coming of age, the rites of passage and learning about ourselves and others. In the autumn we start to fade some. Our colors are still brilliant and beautiful, but our capacity to do much physically, is waning. By the time winter comes, our bodies have withered and are ready for heaven.

So here we are – another SPRING BREAK. The world continues on a wayward path. Wars and rumors of more abound. Hatred and anger run rampant in our city streets. Justice is demanded but not always given or received. COVID remains a threat. Gas prices will undoubtedly go through the roof. Still, we can rely on the fact that God is the One who controls all of it – and the end result will always be good.

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HOW CAN I SERVE THE LORD?

Posted on March 8, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

The arts have always been a wonderful way for us to express our thoughts and emotions and to use our God given talents to communicate them in one way or another. There are those who have the ability to share their ideas with the spoken word. The words can incite, excite, ignite or inspire others to action. The singing voice can uplift, delight and stimulate. The pen of the writer can create words to motivate, entertain or bring about change. The artist who creates pictures is taking us to other places with the use of his pencil or brush. Music has been known to soothe the savage beast and a dancer can use creative movement to breathe life into a piece of music.

We may not all be artists, musicians, orators or writers, but God has created us with certain gifts. Maybe you have the gift of encouragement. You might be good at building things. Your talents may lie in business or the medical arts. It is up to each of us to use what our gifts, to thank God for all He has done for us and further His kingdom. May He continue to use us for His purposes in this sinful world.

“Let none hear you idly saying, there is nothing I can do. While the lost of earth are dying, and the Master calls for you; take the task He gives you gladly; Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calls you,

Here am I, send me, send me.”

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JESUS VS SATAN – ROUND ONE

Posted on March 7, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

It seems that most important events in the Bible take place in the wilderness and many of those same events occur over a period of 40 days or years. Jesus has just spent 40 days of fasting and prayer in a remote, desert place. During his time of preparation for His upcoming three-year ministry, He is weak and weary from His days in isolation. He has eaten no food, so His stomach is crying out for food. He is probably dehydrated, worn and weathered by the dry, dust filled desert and vulnerable. Vultures could very well have been hovering overhead. His prayers have been ceaseless and undoubtedly, He has not had any restful sleep during this entire time.

Certainly, His heavenly Father could have sent His angels to minister unto Jesus – to feed and provide for Him – to tend to His needs. Jesus, after all, was the true Son of God, but He was also human and His humanity and divinity were about to be tested. God’s purpose for Jesus was the plan He laid out for mankind on the day that Adam and Eve fell into sin. Jesus would become the living sacrifice, the unblemished and perfect lamb of God. Jesus would follow through on every step of that plan and win the victory for our inheritance into heaven. At this particular low point of his journey, He was about to come face to face with His adversary, Satan.

In this hour of temptation, Jesus was able to defend Himself with the Word of God. The devil knows our weaknesses and how to use them against us. Jesus was just another victim for Satan, because he obviously didn’t acknowledge Jesus’ divinity. He may even have thought that he had the advantage over him, by using that very Word to destroy Him. Ultimately his plan backfired and he departed from Jesus with his tail between his legs.

Jesus fought the devil in the desert and defeated Him with the Word.  He fought the devil on the cross and carried every sin – past, present and future – to the grave and punched the devil in the gut.  When He rose again on the third day, He laid Satan out with his power over death when His risen body left the tomb, He proved to the world that He is risen indeed.

The devil is still among and we constantly need to be on guard.  He comes in insidious ways so we need to protect ourselves from his arrows with the armor of God.  Using God’s Word is our sure defense – another gift.  With that, the devil doesn’t stand a chance.

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Posted in Jesus, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

THE FINAL SACRIFICE . . .

Posted on March 6, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER© The sculpture of the cross of Christ, exhibits the pain and suffering that Jesus willingly gave for our benefit. He died so we may live.

Blood flows from a beaten, smitten corpse, hanging on an instrument of torture.

This One not taking life, but giving it through holy, precious blood.

That is righteousness, bought and paid for the ugliest and most sinister of us.

Complete payment for all. 

The victory over death has been accomplished.

Refreshing,

Cleansing rain falls softly on an eager earth,

Thirsting for relief,

Longing for renewal and rebirth.

The tears of God bring respite for the dying soul,

He gave His only Son to fill a gaping hole,

The hole that widens every day,

When we forget to turn to Him and pray,

As branches dance and lightening fills the air,

I think of Him who takes away each care.

We see the need for God’s power to inspire us once again,

To cleanse our hearts and wash our dark souls in His refreshing rain.

When bruised and injured we do fall, before our Father’s throne
And look upon the lamb once slain for all sins to atone,
Our pain is nothing next to His, our wounds are all but naught.
The blood He shed, His torturous death, were all with insult fraught,
But still the Son of God went forth in dignity and strength,
He took our place and bore the cross until His dying breath,
Three days went by. He shunned the grave and rose to life again.
He did this so I too could claim a life in heaven with Him.
Sweet Jesus you have walked the road that I deserved to go.
You did this oh so willingly and You knew just what to do
So when I’m feeling battered and pulled in many ways,
Remind me of the walk you took and please accept the praise.

Posted in Christ's passion, Jesus, Lamb of God, Lent, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

TO SOAR WITH EAGLES

Posted on March 3, 2022 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The glory of the Lord is painted throughout His creation,

Wafting down from the heights of heaven as an eagle,

Upon whose tremendous wingspan touches every cloud,

Carving through granite mountains with the touch of a finger,

Glistening in the silver lined clouds,

Reflecting across still waters,

Racing through the wind to places of majesty,

This is God’s handiwork,

This is His voice,

His Touch,

His view,

His creation,

Only He can make a mountain,

Only He can piece together a valley,

Only He can fill empty spaces with refreshing water,

Only He can create colors of such beauty,

Only He.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged | 4 Comments

ASHES TO ASHES

Posted on March 2, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

No one likes to acknowledge that they will die. It’s one of those things we try to keep in the back of our mind until a friend or loved one passes away. It raises its ugly head when you receive a difficult test result from the doctor. We’re reminded of it during this season of repentance as we think about the great sacrifice Jesus made to pay for our sins so we can be with Him in heaven.

Today is Ash Wednesday – a day when we’re reminded of the cost of our salvation. Ashes on the forehead is a reminder of that cost and also give us time to repent of all our wrong doings and sins. Some will give up something important in their lives – something that has controlled them for a while – something that takes them away from God – something that we’ve grown accustomed to over a long period of our existence. It is necessary for us to repent before God will grant us forgiveness. We must first put our faith in Him and trust that He has our lives in His hands.

No one likes to admit their wrongs. We don’t like to be reprimanded, reminded or forced into submission. God doesn’t want that for us either. Our sins have already been forgiven through the final sacrifice of the most holy, unblemished lamb. However, our God wants us to be like the woman who was accused by the Pharisees of adultery – and told by Jesus to go and sin no more. This time of repentance is for us a time of grace which God gives us to admit our guilt, ask His forgiveness and go and sin no more.

I used to have a computer that enjoyed pointing out my mistakes.  The beast of a box would chastise me whenever I made an error.  It would verbally scream, “it’s not my fault” at the slightest flaw.  That infernal machine put up with my yelling back at it, “Yes, it is!” for a number of years. Sin is like that.  We make a mistake, and a little voice goes off in our heads to tell us about it. We’d rather not be reminded, so we throw the voice away or muffle it with self-righteousness.  We try to cover up our wrongs with good deeds, but none of that is going to get rid of the sin. That little voice within us (our conscience) is like a trigger, sounding an alarm.  It’s an alarm we need to pay attention to.

Today, as we observe Ash Wednesday remember that we are all mortal and will experience death, but because of a loving God, we will receive eternal life through Him.

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IS THERE SUCH A THING AS GOOD GRIEF?

Posted on February 28, 2022 by atimetoshare.me

We know that grief is a very common emotion among us humans, yet when we’re experiencing it, there is nothing anyone can say or do to keep the tears from falling – the heart from longing – the mind from remembering. Our Savior, Jesus, knew all about grief. He wept when his friend Lazarus died and yet he waited to go to Mary and Martha for a little while. When he got there, He cried with both of them and proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead. I often wonder how Lazarus felt to awaken from his death and come face to face with Jesus. I’m confident that will be the case with all believers who pass from this world. We will meet Jesus on a very personal level, because he alone has made it possible.

Recently we’ve lost many friends due to COVID. There have been those who passed because of natural causes, or it was just their time. Part of that has to do with the fact that our friends and relatives are growing older along with us. Some have passed quietly while others fought bravely until the end. We never know for sure when our final breath will come, but we can be sure that it will come one way or another. The grief and pain we feel when we lose a friend or relative is something that can’t really be described in a few words. There are many stages to go through, according to the “experts.” The “experts” can’t predict how the tears will fall unexpectedly at inopportune times. The “experts” can’t heal the pain inflicted as you recall times spent with your loved one. The “experts” can’t explain away the heartbreak you experience as you go through this process. Those who hope in the Lord will also grieve, but they have something to give them peace in their loss. That is the perfect promise of eternal life with our Brother, our Savior, our Redeemer, our King, our Jesus. He will be there when we rise, just as he was for Lazarus, welcoming us into his kingdom with wide open arms and tears of joy.

Eyes welling up with tears,

Hearts broken,

Aloneness,

Empty,

Cold,

Bitter,

Angry,

The light fades,

Days grow shorter,

Winter captures your world,

Sleep comes,

Followed by depression,

Fear,

Loss,

All these will soon pass away,

Life continues, even when death comes,

If you believe,

If you are connected,

If you know what God has accomplished for you,

Eternity awaits,

In the darkness,

One light,

One small glimmer,

Faith growing,

Confidence building,

Life will go on.

POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

Posted in aging, death, life after death | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments