Our Heart’s Desire

January 26, 2018 / The WheatandTares

Yep. It’s a daily struggle, a daily, deliberate exercise of picking up my cross and following Him. … Just keepin’ it real. … How about you?

the grizzle grist mill

The soul longs for solitude; yet, it loathes the loneliness. We seek out friends to fill the empty space only to push them away when times get tough. We pull them close for the thrill seeking adventures and shove past them for the broken dreams and torn up paper houses. It’s a constant push and pull to gain the happiness for which we seek.

The mind yearns for stability; yet, it rejects true wisdom and grace. We search for the highest success and desire the richest affairs only to plummet to the depths of despair as we fail the test over and over again. We chase after dreams and compare with the elite, always trying to get ahead only to cheat and compete, biting and clawing at anything or anyone who might come close. It’s a constant push and pull to gain the happiness for which we seek.

The heart cries…

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The Pain Refines Me

January 26, 2018 / The WheatandTares

Yeah, painful people bring a deeper character to my soul. Painful people are like sandpaper on my heart, and God uses them to polish out those rough, fleshly, selfish places I’d like to hide. Painful people should really be seen as a joy when encountered. For when they inflict the pain, it’s the perfect opportunity for our God to do three things: 1. Polish our soul a little more. 2. Fight our battle for us 3. Comfort our hearts in a way we’d not experience without the pain.

Yeah, painful people can be for our good and can bring out the best in us…if we’ll let them.

…now, if I can just remember this and embrace it the next time that pain comes along. Lol. 😉😂

Fight, Flight or Freeze?

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

Mashable.com

What do you do when the storms of life come? We all have a natural instinct to fight or flight, and some just simply freeze, regardless, the size of said storm. Each of these reactions can cause us to find victory or defeat, depending upon the needed reaction for the given moment.

The difference between your success and failure through the storms of life will be the awareness you have and the wisdom you use to determine the reaction to what comes. Sometimes, you must stand and fight that demon coming against you, because your victory comes through the conquering of that bully that’s trying to suck the very life out of you. Sometimes, you better duck and move, because dodging the lighting bolt and getting out of the way will be your safety and survival. Still other times, staying out right where you are will give the needed time for your army of support to come to flank you on either side, and through that needed help of family and friends, your faith and your God, the battle is won!

So, no matter what your natural inclination is when the storms come, the most important thing is to use wisdom to know the best reaction to act upon. Sometimes, your very survival will be dependent upon the wisdom of that one moment.

Tuesday’s Treats #104

January 23, 2018January 18, 2018 / The WheatandTares

Ostannya Barykada (or “The Last Barricade”)

Location: Kiev, Ukraine

From the secret code needed to gain entrance into the hidden door to the walls covered in Ukrainian memorabilia, the restaurant surrounds you with the pride and patriotism of Ukraine. You cannot help leaving feeling like you’re taking a bit of Ukraine home with you.

The menu is in both Ukrainian and English; so, don’t worry if you don’t speak the language. Be sure to start with the warm bread that is a bread bowl with melted Brie inside. Oh. My. Goodness. Yum! It is rye bread of which I’m actually not a big fan; yet, when paired with the cheese and jam, it is absolutely delicious! The chicken Kiev and fried potatoes and mushrooms are absolutely incredible, as is the steak and cherry dumplings. We weren’t brave enough to try the mashed potatoes with catfish, but one in our party did get regular mashed potatoes, and they were quite tasty.

The whole experience is definitely worth the effort to find this hidden gem in the middle of Kiev. I found an article on the restaurant, and I will share it here, as it doesn’t seem they have an actual website.

Got Character?

January 20, 2018 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

What do you do when things don’t go your way? Do you pitch a fit, and throw a tantrum, get mad and not speak to anyone?

What do you say when you are falsely accused, maligned or slandered? Do you strike out in revenge, slander right back and fight and claw to bring about your own deserved justice? Do you take the “martyrdom high road,” and manipulate the ones accused with guilt and shame to bring retribution? Or do you recede into nothingness, pretending you don’t care, it doesn’t matter, and you don’t matter anymore?

How do you react when everything falls apart, and it seems the world is closing in around you? Do you cry, scream, become apathetic or create scenarios of denial all around you?

Life brings with it sufferings, unfair events and painful injustices. Sometimes, it will kick you in the teeth and, just for the fun of it, kick you again when you’re down. Sometimes, it just is what it is, and there’s not a blessed thing you can do about it.

What you do in those critical moments will determine your character, integrity and stability in handling far more than that moment for all to see and know for a lifetime. What you say and do in that moment can make an impact for life.

So, I ask you again… what do you do in those crucial moments? What do you say? How do you respond? How do you react?

Where Do You Run?

January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 / The WheatandTares

When the trials of life settle in like a cold, hard rain, where do you run?

When the pain beats in your chest in rhythm with your own heartbeat, how do you keep breathing?

When all seems lost, and the world feels as if it’s closing in around you, what do you do? Who do you call?

Some run to a friend. Some run to a lover. Others find solace in a bottle or a pill. Still others fight it, deny it or even lash out at all those around like a wounded animal.

Yet, can I tell you there is One who will never fail? Can I tell you there is One who will bring comfort and strength, grace and peace?

His name is Jesus, and He’s reaching out His Hand. He’s calling to you in the rain.

Can you hear Him? Just say His Name.

*I do not own nor possess any pictures in this post. A simple Google search led me to each.*

Got Snow?

January 17, 2018 / The WheatandTares

We went to the North Georgia mountains the other day, and I thought it’d be appropriate to post them today with so many getting snow across the country.

Did you get snow? I’d love to see your pics and know where it’s from! 😊❄️☃️

Tuesday’s Treats #103

January 16, 2018December 29, 2017 / The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

Cafe Intermezzo

Location: Atlanta, Ga

This place is so cool! The atmosphere is different than the Coffeeshop I visited a few weeks back. It’s more of a “cafe” venue, but that definitely doesn’t take away from the enjoyable surroundings.

The desserts are amazing, and the coffee is so strong, it might get up and walk out on you 😂, but everything is delicious! They have a plethora of desserts from which to choose, and they have actual meals to order, as well, but we’ve only had coffee and desserts.

We ordered the apple pie and cherry pie ala mode. I had the Coccoloccino with white chocolate added. Oh. My. Word. Delicious!! The others in our party had the s’mores cheesecake, black coffee, and another non-alcoholic coffee, but I don’t remember the name, and I can’t find the coffee menu on the website. (Yes, they have a food menu and a coffee/beverage menu that’s like a book!)

The noise of the place was surprising a good him at about 10:30 pm on a Wednesday night, but it wasn’t overpowering. It was a comfortable atmosphere for our party of 7 to chat and fellowship for a while.

The special things around the cafe are what is so intriguing. They add special touches within each room to give it character. Like right near the bar area, just in the wall, three or four gold racks had been placed and a few newspapers were hanging. Coming from the restrooms, there were two huge mirrors placed on either side of the wall; so, when you stood there, it was as if your person went on forever. My son called it the infinity mirrors. Near the end of this post, I will post a pic that I rarely ever do for restaurants. I will post you a picture of the bathroom! They were so cool! They have the old fashioned, wood grain, Barclay Victorian style toilets. It looks like it’s right out of the scene in Godfather II. The ceilings had copper tile, and the time and attention they put into ever detail shows.

They have several locations within the Atlanta area. We had been to the Peachtree Street location many years ago and loved it. This might, we were at the Ashford-Dunwoody Road location. For more information, check out their website here.

True POWER

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 / The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

Where do you find your power?

Where do you find your strength for living?

Where do you search for might when all seems lost, and you feel you can’t take another step or even another breath?

Ok, so this will be controversial, but I’m not really looking for a debate or a fight. Just gonna share with you what I know to be true in my life.

Some chase after fame, fortune or prestige. Some run after men/women, programs or jobs. Others seek for friends and family to bring them encouragement and stability. Still others try to find their strength, and even their peace, in a bottle, drugs or sex.

I’m here to tell you, all those things will fail you. All those things will, eventually, leave you broken, desolate and hopeless. Only One can bring you all the hope, peace, strength and power you need. His name is Jesus, and He loves you right where you are!

If you don’t know Him, just say His Name. Just ask Him to reveal Himself to you today. He’s pretty good at that. 😉💗