Author: The WheatandTares

Remember Your Purpose

/ The WheatandTares / 1 Comment


I hear the screams “Hypocrisy! … Hypocrite! … Deceit!” Yet, the very ones whose mouths move are of that reputation. 

I hear the cries for “Justice! … Unity! … Peace!” Yet, the very fists raised are fighting against the solution. 

I hear the rants toward “Hatred … Cruelty … Death!” Yet, the very teeth chattering gnash against reason and resolution. 

My brothers speak ill of another as result of simple disagreements and competition. My sisters spin vicious webs of gossip as a conclusion of jealousy and conceit. Yet, we call ourselves children of a King. 

Can I tell you, THIS OUGHT NOT BE! 

Where is the love of Christ? Where is the discipleship of a Savior? Are we His followers, or are we just playing a game? How can we reach them when we cannot reach each other? How can we share love if we cannot give love?

This world needs Truth. 

This world needs Love. 

This world needs Hope. 

This world needs Redemption. 

We were placed here for a purpose, and that purpose is His and His alone. That purpose is to find the lost, and let them be found! That purpose is to bring Him glory even if it means bringing us shame. 

Let us remember. 

Let us never forget. 

He is our purpose. 

He is our goal. 

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil. 2:1-4

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Mood on the Mountains

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I love to sit and watch the sunset, the sunrise, or anything else on the mountains. The range is so mesmerizing to me. I thought I’d share today…

Max Patch, NC







Cosby, TN


All of these pics, except the first, were taken from the same location  within one week of time. It is amazing to me the moods the mountains can bring. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little rendition. 

Happy Anniversary!

/ The WheatandTares / 6 Comments


This showed up in my notifications tonight, and I just wanted to say, “THANKS!” 

It’s amazing that I’ve been blogging now for two years. This has been a really fun ride, and I look forward to many more. I have to say, “Thank you,” to all of you who have dropped by for a spell, become followers, or who have simply taken “a peek” at a post or two. This blog wouldn’t be what it is without your support and encouragement these past two years. 

I have almost 500 followers, and to some, that’s not many at all; yet, for others, it may seem this too far out of reach. However, for me, this number is a joy to have at the two year mark, and hope-filled, I look for many more. 

Thanks again. I sign off tonight with a full heart, reminiscing over the words of encouragement and love that have been sent my way during the last two years. I hope this blog has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me, and I look forward to many more (years and posts) to come. 💗

Tuesday’s Treats #25 

/ The WheatandTares

Amicalola Lodge Restaurant

Location: Amicalola Falls State Park, Ga.

This was a pleasant surprise. We ate here several time YEARS ago and got burned BAD each time; so, we have just refused to try it again, until an evening in May, when we were at the Falls, and our boys were about to starve. We contemplated driving back into a town (30 minutes or more) to get them something, but with the recent renovations of the lodge, we decided to give the restaurant another try. We were glad we did.

It was a Friday night, and the restaurant was having a “Surf and Turf” seafood buffet. Everything was really tasty. The salad bar was great. They had fried shrimp, clams and mussels, baked fish, steak and crab cakes as the main entrees. The sides were green beans, roasted new potatoes and grilled veggies (squash and zucchini), and maybe another I didn’t try (?). These all were delicious!

They also had a gourmet chef who would cook your shrimp and pasta dish to order. The fried shrimp and steak weren’t too good, but the crab cakes and baked fish were delightful. The chef took a little too long to cook my shrimp scampi, and the shrimp was, actually, a little overcooked, but the taste was yummy!

They had a pretty good spread of desserts: pecan pie, banana pudding, chocolate cake and an assortment of cookies. The pecan pie was Amazing, and being from the South, I can be pretty picky about pecan pies! It was so chock full of pecans, and it tasted like homemade.

 

sorry for the reflection, but I wanted you to see our view from the table. 😉

The lodge is always beautiful with the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the mountains, and that view is continued throughout the restaurant. So, you get a delicious meal with an incredible view. We will definitely come here again when we’re visiting the falls.

If you’d like to check out this, or other state parks in ga, you can find them here.

Hope Is Free

/ The WheatandTares

Hope is here. It is available to all. It is unconditional, and it costs you absolutely nothing.

The Hope I have is redeeming  it is strengthening. It is unwavering, and it is unifying.

This Hope that I have found isn’t like others propegated by many. It is not gained only by the rich and elite. It does not have to be earned by hard work or good behavior, and it is definitely isn’t obtained by violence to those who do not believe.

This Hope is for any who will ask and believe. It will give you peace amidst the storm. It will sustain you through life’s most difficult journey, and it will even give you Hope for eternity.

ilovemybible.tumblr.com

Jesus is the Hope of the world.

He loves you, and He longs to be your Savior. He doesn’t demand your allegiance, but once you give it, you’ll never want to take it back. He doesn’t force you to love Him, but once you do, you will never be the same.

He stands with open arms. He doesn’t require your purity before you believe. He never commands perfection in loyalty. He simply says, “Come. Come as you are.” He will love you. He will cleanse you. He will redeem you and transform you. You will never be the same.

Won’t you come?

Won’t you simply believe?

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Answer to Friday’s Angle #74

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How did you do yesterday?  

 
If you guessed a bridge overpass, you guessed right! 😊 

   

Hope is Here

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

This world needs hope. There is nothing more strengthening, nothing more encouraging, and nothing more unifying than HOPE.

Hope is not found in politicians, and it’s not found in world events. It cannot be found in personal agendas, and it can’t be found in people. These things might bring temporary hope, but this isn’t the hope to which I’m referring.

I’m talking about a Hope that can bring peace, a Hope that can bring love, a Hope that can bring healing. This is a Hope that can bring Light to a darkened and desolate world.

This Hope is Jesus Christ. He wasn’t just a man who roamed the earth. He wasn’t just a good prophet who had some nice things to say, and He certainly is a God who died and is still buried in a tomb.

No, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the God who was and is and is to come. He is our Prince of Peace.

His Hope does not have to be earned. His grace does come with a price. His love is unconditional and free for all who ask and believe.

He is standing with His arms open wide. Just come to Him today. Let His love wash over you and redeem you. He longs to give you the Hope of Who He Is.

rhondaerb.com

Friday’s New Angle #74

/ The WheatandTares

It’s Friday, and it’s time for another New Angle! 😊

  
Check back here tomorrow for the answer! 

To Write or Not To Write

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

If I was asked to speak to young writers (young by either years or experience), this is what I would tell them…

WRITE. BE INSPIRED. BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!

Write, Write, Write!

Write when you’re passionate…let that pen bleed. Write when you’re not passionate…push that pen to speak. There will be times, you won’t have much to say. Write anyway. It doesn’t mean you have to share it with the world. Just write it to keep the words flowing. I have heard it said… 

…if you dream of being a writer, then you must begin writing today! 😉 Write when you’re “blocked.” This is when outside sources come in handy. Sources like the daily prompt on WordPress is a great option. Keep journals. Don’t limit yourself; use different mediums. Try drawing, word art, poetry, typing and even word games to prompt your senses. Social media is a great outlet, too; however, be careful here! Remember, whatever you put out in the internet world can stay there forever…and sometimes, it can come back to haunt you (Avoid drama)! 😉 Try writing with different styles, different themes and different methods. Write short stories, fiction, essays, poetry, blogs, songs, etc. Enter contests, writing sessions and other opportunities where your writing can be stretched and subjected to someone outside your sphere of influence. Over time, you will be amazed how strong your writing will become. 

Be Inspired!

Read everything and anything to gain inspiration. The more you read, the more inspired you will become. Find a mentor within your orbit who loves writing even more than you do, someone who can gently critique your writing styles to help you consistently improve. Find a mentor outside your orbit to whom you can look for inspiration, as well as, after whom you can model a portion of your style. If you are a person of faith, it is incredibly important to read your Word and become grounded. There are so many fallacies in this world that if your foundation is not the Word of God, you will find yourself swayed by every wind and doctrine that comes along. Unplug. Get alone at least 30 minutes each day. Unplug from electronics and get out in nature. You will be amazed how inspiring this can be!

Believe In God!

This portion was written specifically for the audience of whom I had prepared; however, it’s great advice for the masses…

God gave you a gift; use it! He wouldn’t give it to you if He wasn’t going to use you, even if it’s for no one else but yourself! 😉 Believe in yourself. God does. Take a minute to read through Psalm 139. YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made, and He has created you for His purpose. Find that purpose as you write about it. Don’t ever let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Too many authors, poets and writers, if they could return from the grave, would tell you there’s treasures in those words they buried while living. 

Believe in others as well as yourself. Be willing to submit your works to others. Remember, iron always sharpens iron. Friction can bring out magnificent beauty in the gold. As well, be encouraging of those around you.  You will find as you lift up another, you will be blessed, too!

Well, I do hope this has been helpful, and I’d love to hear from you! What have you found to be helpful in your writing endeavors? What inspires you? 😊

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In Whom Do You Trust?

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source: unknown


Walking through life without faith is like standing before a mighty wave, looking at its beauty yet never realizing the peril that rises before you. Traveling this journey without God’s guidance is like gazing at this wall of water believing it will simply recede and never bother you again, because you are human and you can avoid the ocean rushing in. 

No, the tide comes in slowly but surely, and the mood of the sea can change in an instance to leave you broken and desolate. If you are not prepared, and if you do not have the proper lifeboat, you may be swept away, never to return. 

Does redemption save you from all the heartache in the world and make your little orbit perfect? By no means, but it sure does give you peace through the storm, and it pours out strength in the valley. 

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So many taunt and say, “Your cross is just a crutch, something you lean on, because you are weak.” I can declare boldly, and without reservation, “I can’t even walk without holding onto His hand!” I am stronger with Him than I am alone! He is my Redeemer. He is my Joy. He is my Peace. He is my everything. 

If you doubt Him, I challenge you to simply ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Just say His name. Once you give Him a shot, you’ll never be the same. I promise.