Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt

April 11, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

How does the heart reach when it only wants to recede?

How does the hand soothe when it only wants to clinch?

How does the soul breathe when it only wants to grieve?

The pain can sear the most vibrant minds.

The agony can halt the most passionate tongues.

The brokenness can sever the most intricate of dreams.

How does the path become cleared from the haze of confusion and chaos?

One step in front of the other.

Smiling when a frown would be more convenient.

Looking to the eyes when alluding would be more tolerable.

Gazing with love instead of hatred and realizing if you don’t, you’ll become the very things that have broken you.

And taking it to the feet of Jesus again and again, because without Him, none of this is even possible.

Then, get up anew each day and do it all over again.

So, go ahead.

Live life in your anger, bitterness and pain.

Or love like you’ve never been hurt.

Because His pain was so much greater, and He has still loved us.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
Luke 23:34

Be the Hero That You Are

April 10, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Stand up.

Stand tall.

Stand proud.

You mean something to someone.

And you can make a difference!

Seize the moment.

Be present.

Love, guide, confront, guide and nurture.

Reach a life to change a life.

You can do this.

Because there’s a hero inside of you just waiting to fly.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Silly Saturday

April 8, 2023March 31, 2023 / The WheatandTares

For all those who have struggled with your spelling this week,

For all those who go have tripped over words and stumbled over phrasing,

For all those whose Siri is not your best friend,

Just breathe. Just chuckle. Just have a good belly laugh.

Spellchecks won’t be in Heaven.

Happy Saturday! Enjoy your weekend!

A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Provers 17:22

Funny Friday

April 7, 2023 / The WheatandTares

How how are you flying today?

Take a moment to laugh at yourself.

Take a moment to laugh at the stupidity of others. (Not at the person, him/self, pls.)

Take a moment to evaluate, assess, regroup and move on.

You know what they say…

It’s Friday. It can only get better from here.

Enjoy your weekend!

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

Strength Will Come in Time

April 6, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

When you’re feeling weary, ragged and beaten, it’s hard to remember better days.

When pain consumes your heart, it’s difficult to have clear vision beyond the moment.

When you’ve been stabbed, betrayed, accused, and shattered, it’s grueling to look past the shattered dreams.

Yet, just beyond the horizon, the sun is readying it’s radiance.

Just beyond the forest, the brilliance will be peeking through.

When you feel it’s warmth and affection, strength will be revived.

When you see it’s radiance in full, hope will be renewed.

Hold still.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10

Tomorrow Brings Healing

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 / The WheatandTares

The saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.”

The truth is in the clock that is ticking and the hand that is scratching.

If the hours are sped up, the wound cannot mend itself and breathe.

If the hours are slowed, the agony can be unbearable.

If the fingers pester and pick, the cut cannot strengthen and bind.

If the hand never soothes, the bruise will still groan.

But if the hour glass does its duty, and the palms will appease,

The lesion is quickly dissipated, and the scar will begin to appear.

So, don’t stop the minutes.

Never withhold the care.

These are vital for our healing and our reviving.

Tomorrow will soon be here.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4

Reflections of the Soul

April 4, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Are you one to reflect or to react?

Are you one to shout or to soothe?

Are you one to pause and breathe or to stomp and run?

In high profile training operations, the first rule of explosive response, or any violent attack on a unit, is to assess yourself before assessing others.

For, if you don’t take the time to evaluate your bullet entry and see your blood,

You cannot accurately see or help to heal the one beside you.

In this life, you will have trouble.

You will have pain, and you will have sudden impalements to the soul.

How you respond and retaliate will determine how many others you can help save and heal.

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6

Where Does Your Heart Heal?

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Where do you go when you’re hurting?

What do you say? What do you do?

Are you the person who rants and rages over everyone and everything?

Even the child who simply wanted a hug?

Are you the person who sulks and simmers deep in the cave of your own selfish desires?

Pulling away even from those extending love?

What do you do when you’re bleeding from your wound?

Do you let it bleed, spilling over to every street corner, ever merchant, every friend?

Do you bind it up tight, removing the life, restricting it to imminent death?

What do you do when all is lost, all is shattered, all is betrayed?

Your responses in these moments of certain reality will determine your future and your impact.

Reply well, and you’ll become a king.

Return wrong, and even the gutter snipes may not want you.

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
2 Samuel 16:5-12