COMING ATTRACTIONS – LOVE WEEK

Posted on February 8, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

It seems this little month lacks in number of days, but there are plenty of things to celebrate.  It’s been designated National Heart Month, Black History Month, National Weddings Month and it boasts of such celebrations as Ground Hog Day,  Mardi Gras, Presidents Day, Valentines Day and believe it or not – Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day.

Sharing your love with another person is something unrestricted to one day or one month out of the year. It should be an every day occurrence. Unfortunately, we have days when we don’t always feel that soft, warm and fuzzy, Hallmark kind of love. Some days there are bills to pay and not enough money to cover them. Some days we get upset over little things, like how the toothpaste is dispensed from a tube or dirty laundry laying on the floor. Some days we get tired of the same old stories, the silly jokes, the ridiculous demands and the rut we seem to have created for ourselves.

Love has to do with sharing time, thoughts, plans and goals, dreams, words, a special touch, a kiss, a hug and time. It isn’t easy. If you look at God’s advice on love in the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 you will soon realize that it takes a great deal of work. We often don’t think of it that way when we first fall in love. Our thoughts are on how we feel rather than the other person’s feelings. This often carries over into our relationships as they grow and we come to realize that being selfish is the most important trait to get rid of if you’re to succeed.

Love takes patience, which requires us to put the other person first. Love takes time to develop. Love at first sight rarely happens, but even when it does, it must be nurtured along the way. Love requires kindness and caring for the other person. This doesn’t mean we put them on a pedestal, but we share in the relationship – each bringing their own special seasoning to the table. Love cannot let pride get in the way. When that happens, we’ve lost track of the other person and their needs and put ourselves on a pedestal. Love does not keep a record of wrongdoings. If so, the relationship would soon crumble and fall apart. We need to work through the wrongs and the good times together.

However it’s more than a partnership. Love was first shown by God when He created this earth. He made perfection out of nothing and then created man to take care of it. The woman was created from man and was designed to be not only a companion, but an extension of himself. When we place God at the head of our relationships, we have the true meaning of love. He loved us first and continues to love usthroughout eternity.

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STANDING STILL

Posted on February 7, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART  & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Our lives on earth are temporal – a whisper hushed and still,

We’re placed here by the Father’s hand and through His mighty will,

He guides us through the depths of pain, He takes our hand and leads,

He washed our every sin away and cares for all our needs,

When faced with darkness, fear and loss, He lifts us in His arms,

Protecting us from Satan’s wiles, his misery and charms,

When life becomes to hard to bear, He takes our cares away,

He gives us hope, He shelters us, to see another day,

So turn to Him upon this day, when all seems lost and gone,

Rejoice in His unending love, replenished every dawn.

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THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A HUG

Posted on February 7, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

There is nothing in the world like a hug. It’s the only thing you get back the minute you give it away. To be cuddled in someone’s embrace is a wonderful feeling. When we are lonely, when we hurt, when we feel loss or hopelessness a hug can lift us up out of those sad places and give us a reason to go on.

As the past year has shown me, I really miss the hugs. Being separated from those we love and care about, it’s been as though a piece of my security has been erased. When we don’t have the luxury of experiencing that personal touch, we feel cheated in a way.

Every day we are promised that kind of comfort from our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ. He is our protector, our healer, our guardian, our source of love and confidence. In this month where so much emphasis is placed on love, let’s look to the one who gives it unconditionally.

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

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WHAT IS IT YOU SEE?

Posted on February 6, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

In the heart of the forest, what is it you see,
The death of the bush or the loss of each tree,
They die for a while, and rise up again,
Spring pushes each bud, giving life deep within.

Our days undefiled and sins now washed clean,
The pure life of Jesus, will help us convene,
The darkness of winter can leave deep remorse,
We wander away and relinquish our course.

The coldest of days will be warmed through the night,
Our Savior will comfort and holds each one tight,
He won’t let us go, if we trust in His Word,
Our souls are renewed and our steps undeterred.

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RUNNING AWAY DOESN’T WORK

Posted on February 6, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

The room begins to close in on you. You feel suffocated in your inner most being. Your heart begins to race – your mouth is dry – your hands begin to tremble – your breathing becomes heavy and almost chokes you. The hair on the back of your neck bristles and you feel faint. This is how you feel when you experience fear.

I think I first began to fear small spaces when I was about the age of five and was locked in a linen closet by my one year old sister. I don’t recall what mischief we were up to, but I know the bathroom door was locked and I had locked it. Now I was trapped! All five years flashed before my eyes in an instant. I was convinced that my air would soon run out and I’d die in that closet – entombed in a casket of towels and wash cloths.

My mother tried to no avail to pick the lock, kick the door in, whatever she could think to do, She finally resorted to calling the police. A fire truck was dispatched and a giant fireman squeezed his way through the minuscule window – terrifying my sister. I’m sure she had dreams about monsters in red hats for a long time.

It was a heroic deed as he rescued us from certain death. Facing two screaming little girls who had no idea who he was and a hysterical mother on the other side of the door deserved the Medal of Honor.

At the same time in my life, I found it easier to face the difficulties of life by running away from them. When things got tough, I packed my little suitcase and threatened to leave. You would think after all my 78 years of living, I wouldn’t still feel that way, but I do. I have learned to turn to God for the big stuff, but I still like to think I can handle the little problems that surface each day. When I can’t I continue feel the need to run away.

Life can close us in when we have fear. The uncertainties we face every day are enough for some to require straight jackets. How do you handle your fears? I’m still in the process of figuring that one out. I know I should have faith that God has my back in all circumstances, but sometimes even that isn’t enough. Prayers can help, but fear will once again rear its ugly head.

Everyone on this planet has something that eats at them. Our fears don’t just magically disappear when we become Christians. Sometimes we face even more of them. It’s a tough journey. Life can pull, tug at us, push us around and cause us to give up. The only thing to alleviate those anxious moments is turning to God’s Word. Within those pages we can find comfort, peace, patience and God’s plan for us.

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Posted on February 5, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Sparkling facets of frost are scraped from our windshields so we can get a clear view of the road, but do we take time to really inspect the beauty of that frost?

The tiny patterns etched into ice by the finger of God Himself are just one example of His majestic power.

Each snowflake has it’s own pattern and becomes a kaleidoscope of intricacy.

We hurry through life without often noticing the many gifts given to us through nature.

The sun casts a wintry glow upon frozen lakes, the sound of crunching snow crackles beneath our feet. The chill in the air enlivens every nerve in our bodies. All the senses are aroused. It’s winter.

Soon it will be gone. Enjoy it while we can.

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ORDER IN CONFUSION

Posted on February 4, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Our world is full of tragic news and difficult decisions.

We struggle to find good in all the strife and dark divisions.

The devil uses all these things to tug within our reasoning.

Manipulating all our thoughts, with his own special seasoning.

But God’s power is much stronger. He’s crushed the serpent’s head.

He took the devil’s strength away when He rose from the dead.

That evil creature walks the earth, in shadows and in darkness.

He preys upon our weaknesses. He thrives upon our starkness.

He lurks about like lions prowl and forage for their food,

But never will he find surcease for he can do no good.

The day will come when victory descends from up above.

When God will come to judge us all with justice and with love.

Lord, give me wisdom from your Word. Protect me with your arm.

Keep me within protective wings that shield me from all harm.

You’ve conquered death and so will I, as long as I trust You.

You’ve taken all my sins away. There’s nothing I can do,

Except to spread your Word of truth and love as you loved me.

Now shield me from all evil and set my spirit free.

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DEJA VUE ALL OVER AGAIN

Posted on February 2, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

I don’t know about the rest of you, but Ground Hog Day has become the norm for the past year. You wake up, same time every day, go to the bathroom mirror and see the same face, brush the same teeth that have been sitting in the same cup every night prior – and wonder what would have happened had you not gotten out of bed. Before you even open your eyes, you know that you have been given another day to live and experience.

We are in a Ground Hog rut. It started when the pandemic hit. Each day has been running into the next and eventually we have an interesting result – the same crumby day, over and over and over again. We try desperately to add something new to the mix, but it doesn’t change things. We try to get our creative juices flowing, but we still see our shadows and there will be at least six more weeks of isolation – again and again and again.

I never placed much stock in the groundhog. They make an appearance in our neighborhood occasionally, but they’re just another critter, hoping for spring to bring its glow and promise of a brand new day. Still, like that furry little fuzz ball, not much changes, so we go back into the routine which has become almost oppressive lately. Like hamsters on a wheel, we keep plugging away and get nowhere.

Some days hold more promise than others. We see a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. We look forward to witnessing the sunrise in all its glory. We pray for social interaction. We find communication electronically is nothing like face to face connection. Words are misinterpreted. Thoughts are unknown. The voice isn’t enough. Yikes, I think I may be depressed!

There is hope, in spite of all the yuck around us. If I didn’t have that knowledge, I’d be doomed for a life in the pits. God is my hope for tomorrow. He has planned all of my days and knows what will become of me in the scheme of things. I know His plans are perfect and I have to trust that He knows what He’s doing. It’s hard to turn this over to God, but He tells us to do so. He offers His back to carry our burdens. He extends His hand to lead us through all of them. He has provided us with the hope of an amazing future in eternity.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!

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SCREAMS IN THE NIGHT

Posted on February 1, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have used my time in isolation to watch old movies – mostly of a mysterious nature. I’ve kind of run out of the usual like, “The Maltese Falcon,” “Casablanca,” “North by Northwest,” “The Double Man,” and so many more. I love stories that I can get involved in, like putting the pieces of a puzzle together to find a solution. There are also a ton of television series that have appeared over the years, such as “Columbo,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Magnum, PI,” all the Sherlock Holmes stories – each one presenting a crime to start and then taking the steps necessary to put everything into perspective.

I’ve recently gotten into a British series called, “Midsomer Murders.” I love the English language, but have had to resort to closed captioning to understand the words more clearly. That alone can lead to some interesting stories. Anyway, the series takes place in a group of villages which make up the county of Midsomer. I’m not sure what the population is of this area, but with all the murders going on there, I’m quite sure it’s getting smaller by the minute. In every episode so far, at least three or four victims are done in.

The pandemic has left me with a change of sleeping habits. I used to go to bed at about 9 PM every night. Now I have difficulty falling asleep, probably because I’ve been doing little except watching the tube. It might have something to do with the content of what I’m watching, but nonetheless I take my nightly rest closer to midnight. As I remain glued to the television, my husband is sawing logs in our bedroom, which is upstairs. He makes a couple trips down the steps each night and has often wondered what I’m watching, with all the eerie music and sound effects. I think he may believe I’m gathering methods for a mystery novel, or even his own demise. Of course, that’s just plain silly. Although stranger things have happened.

In the meantime, my brain is on overload. I need to find an outlet for this creative spurt. Perhaps I should write a series of murder mysteries that take place at a gym. I could use my I-Pad to store ideas as I get in a few miles on the treadmill or rowing machine. I could spend time in the pool devising a plot for death by drowning. I could go to the weight room and watch others flex their muscles, while I come up with a story that would instantly deflate them. Of course if I used a gym as a setting, I’d have to actually work out, wouldn’t I?

On to plan B.

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MOSAIC

Posted on February 1, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A composition consisting of color, hard edges, shadows and thick paint,

Many faceted strokes of the brush, gliding across the canvas,

Laden with motion, texture and spirit,

Each piece of the painting is a painting in itself,

Yet joined by a master – scrumbling, pushing,

Racing to catch the light,

Gliding across the once empty space,

With brush strokes blending, embracing,

Loving and molding,

As we are many pieces,

We stand alone on a blank canvas or in a chunk of clay,

Alone, we have our assets, our own beauty, our capabilities,

As part of joint effort, the art becomes complete,

Each piece fits into the mosaic of unity,

When we join together – combine our talents and ideas –

Forget our differences – see how we compliment each other,

The work of art – the masterpiece – the pounded clay,

The fractured pieces – the restoration –

All coming together, joined tightly,

Working as one.

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LORD, STRENGTHEN MY SOUL

Posted on January 31, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Just when I think I can’t go another mile – when I’m exhausted and worn out from fighting the battle of life – when the days grow shorter and there isn’t enough time to get things that need to be done accomplished – there comes an energy that helps me go on.

Time ravages us.  It takes away the elasticity from our skin.  Our flesh becomes thinner causing bruising to become more apparent and wrinkles to appear.  We sag in places that we never did before and our spirit can easily begin to falter as well.  That’s a time in life when we need to re-energize.  We need to let the aging process go on, but never allow our spirit to die out.  This is  a point in life when we can do the most for others.

Time may be passing quickly, but there is still work to be done.  We could take the easy way out and rest in our past successes, but there are those who are crying out for our knowledge – our lessons learned – our experience.

Allowing Jesus to work through these tired old bodies, permits amazing things to be accomplished.  A young child can learn some of the most important values of life.  A teenager can discover his potential – a young mom or dad can learn from the experiences you’ve gone through as a parent – a business man or woman can obtain success through the lessons you learned in your working life – an aging friend who is facing a serious illness can gain strength through the Savior you have to share with them.

Our flesh grows weary as time goes by, but our spirit should never give up.  These can truly be the golden years if we allow God to work through us.

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TURN AROUND

Posted on January 31, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

When I feel alone and troubled,

By the cares of this world,  by anxious moments and depression,

I turn to You.

When I think I can no longer endure,

The jabs and punches of this life, the blows of daily sentience,

I turn to You,

When I’m tired and worn out,

By fear,

Hate,

Anger,

Greed,

I turn to You,

When it seems there is no sanity left in the world,

When man thinks only  of himself and not others,

When demons seem to appear at every corner,

I turn to You,

When I lose a friend in death or they suffer pain or illness,

When I struggle to forgive those who have wronged me,

When my existence seems to bear no purpose,

I turn to You,

When relationships go bad, my memory begins to fail, my mind can’t organize or prioritize as it used to,

When my words become tangled and undecipherable,

When my age begins to show,

I turn to You,

When my days grow shorter,  my time seems empty, my days are ebbing to an end,

When existence is sapped and breath seems unattainable,

When my prayers are filled with tears and loss,

I turn to You,

When my body tells me it’s time to die,

When I come to you in prayer,

And ask for your forgiveness,

You turn to me.

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FRESH AS A DAISY

Posted on January 30, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

The bright and friendly face of a daisy is welcoming and delightful.

It’s crisply starched collar of white surrounds its face with freshness.

No one is dressed as perfectly as these.  These bountiful blooms cheer a garden.

They add blessing to it.

They intersperse,

Create the perfect backdrop for the more pretentious flowers,

Are willing to take a back seat,

Yet without them, the garden would lack energy,

Excitement,

Balance,

Contrast,

Stunning reminders,

That it takes more than one flower to make a garden.

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TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. .

Posted on January 30, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

“Yesterday was plain awful.” as Little Orphan Annie once said. It sometimes feels that way, but some days really are worse than others. We wake up with positive thoughts, which are suddenly cut short by bad news. We go through the day with high hopes only to have them come crashing down in just an instant. Scarlet O’Hara had her own way of dealing with the struggles of every day. She’d turn on the charm, use her feminine wiles and be able to face each rising of the sun with the confidence that she could win some unsuspecting young man to her way of thinking and save the day because of it.

I am the naive one, who believes that laughter is my secret weapon, however lately there has been very little to laugh about. The outside world seems to be my enemy. I’m given to bouts of sadness, loneliness and helplessness. Usually I don’t have trouble shaking those feelings, but this has been one heck of a time for everyone. Our sadness can easily turn to depression, frustration, loss of hope and even take us to dark places we don’t need to visit.

We’ve been experiencing a time like I’ve never seen during my entire life. Things have shut down. We can’t visit our favorite restaurant, theatre or venue of entertainment. We’re stuck in a rut, which far outweighs the usual cabin fever we usually experience at this time of the year. When you become a slave to old movies and mystery shows that kill off more than three people per episode, you’re trying to escape, but only by putting yourself in one of those rabbit holes. When the daily news becomes reason for you to fret – when politics gets in the way of your enjoyment – when anger festers to the point of lost relationships – when isolation separates you from those you love – when you’re told to be tolerant of every kind of behavior except for the beliefs you hold dear – when people who have touched your life die – when egos get in the way – all those things intensify with being in a state of being alone.

I am fortunate to have a spouse who I can share my frustrations with. He has always been supportive of my feelings and concerned for both for my spiritual and physical welfare. Yet if I were to be on my own, I still have someone who can make life bearable, because He’s experienced so much more of life than I ever have. Tomorrow is another day, but with Jesus, it can be the best day ever.

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

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TIME STANDING STILL

Posted on January 29, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Paul is currently teaching a virtual class on painting a still life. By making a grouping of random items, he shows how light bounces from one item to the other and creates shadows while picking up colors from each other. The painting is also a reflection of the artist and their own interpretation.

Light, shadows, reflection – an assortment of random objects,

Frozen in a diminutive space – all distinctive yet joined by stillness and solitude,

Augmentation emerges from the busyness and activity of the every day,

But there are times when it must be put on hold for just a moment,

suspended in time, reflected upon,

God says  to be still and know that He is in control,

He has all things in His protective hands,  His plan includes everyone,

Though we are a smorgasbord of individuals,

a buffet of divergent feelings, needs and emotions,

We can be joined in tranquility and peace, by letting go and letting God work.

Allow the Master Artist to mold, to shape, to color and design your future.

He holds it in the palm of His hand.

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CITY BLUES

Posted on January 28, 2021 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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THE OLD ROUND BARN

Posted on January 27, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Here is another painting which holds many separate stories. Our lives are filled with many pieces, all coming together to create a masterpiece.

Within the city limits stands a relic from the past,

It used to hold some animals, but those days are long passed,

Today it holds many treasures, of times from long ago,

Their memory is restored again, and leaves an afterglow,

The barn is round and filled with love, with ancient tools it flows,

The things you find within these walls, will make you understand,

That nothing’s new under the sun, when in the artist’s hand,

What one may think is useless now, has found a life renewed,

What once was lost has now been found, a freshness now exudes,

We too are like that ancient shell, our sin has made us so,

Our bodies age, our sight grows dim,  our vigor is now slow,

But through our great Creator God, redeemed, restored we stand,

Our sins have all been washed away by His almighty hand.

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MISTY MEMORIES

Posted on January 25, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

MONDAY MORNING MEMORIES OF WARMER DAYS

Our days go swiftly, like an early morning dawn,
They often pass so quickly, they pass and they are gone,
We turn each page anticipating,
We long for and are waiting,
For time to take us home,
We set our course on human need and soon are pushed aside,
But holding to God’s master plan, with Him we’ll soon abide,
The lakes will turn to ice,
The trees will sacrifice,
And winter now does loom,
The end of days, a time to pray, repenting of our sins,
We softly cast our cares on God, we know He always wins,
In times of stress or pain
We look to Him for gain,
New life beyond the tomb.

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SERENITY

Posted on January 24, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Ancient of days,

Tranquility and peace,

Time to ponder all that is important,

Moments to smell the flowers,

To enrich,

To delight,

To foster imagination,

Through tendrils of motion,

Inspired rainbows of color,

Gentle breezes,

Quiet,

Peace,

Yet even in that serenity,

Lies turmoil,

Fear and anxiety,

Death,

Time changes,

We wonder where those winsome days have gone,

We long for one brief moment,

When we can simply be alone with God,

To travel this earth with Him,

To be lifted through our abyss,

To be carried by His strong arms,

We don’t have to wait,

He’s with us always,

Even unto the end of the world.

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DEATH HAS NO HOLD ON ME

Posted on January 23, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

I don’t understand why God allows some of us to go on living for so many years while others are taken at an early age. It’s one of those mysteries that don’t make sense to me.

I do know that God has a purpose for everything under heaven. Perhaps the old among us are meant to be here to advise, encourage or strengthen those who are going through many of the trials we’ve endured. Maybe the young die so that their families become stronger through their passing and will be a witness to God’s compassion even during suffering. I know if I try to figure it out, I am also challenging God’s wisdom.

Lord, help me today to trust in you. Bring me closer to you through your Word. Prepare my heart and the hearts of all believers, for our final days on earth; so that we may be completely blessed by our future life with you in eternity. “No guilt in life, no fear in death; This is the power of Christ in me. From a life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.” Amen!

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