Stop to Smell the Roses … and Count Them, Too.

May 12, 2021June 26, 2021 / The WheatandTares / 5 Comments

Take your pick. There’s plenty to go around.

I love roses. Really, I love flowers of almost any kind, but I’ve always been partial to roses, poppies and Gerber daisies.

Particularly, in red and hot pink… but these orange roses above are absolutely beautiful as well!!

And lately, I’ve been drawn to them more and more while being reminded of the phrase, “Stop to smell the roses.”

See, life has just been crazy busy lately. Busy in good ways, I suppose, but busy nonetheless. And I find my heart longing for a pause…

A pause for refreshment. A pause for reflection. A pause for renewal.

In everyday life, and especially, in the busy days of life, if you don’t have those pauses that bring refreshment, reflection and renewal, you might very well die. If you don’t die, you might drown in the heaviness around you. If you don’t drown, you might just grow resentful or depressed or burnt out.

You’ve got to pause. And you can’t pause with chaos in your head. You’ve got to pause away from the frantic. You’ve got to pause out of the panic. You’ve got to pause beyond the emotion and turmoil.

Get alone till you’re not alone anymore.

Sit still until you are still.

Breathe until you do breathe.

And then, inhale even deeper and smell those roses.

And then, take another minute to count them.

I promise you. If you’ll do this often, you’ll find you can face tomorrow a whole lot easier. … doesn’t mean tomorrow will be easier. It just means you’ll be a little stronger to face it.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:5-7

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! 😊❄️☃️

Travel to Another Land

July 28, 2016July 30, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

We went to a place recently that I’d like to share with you. It almost seems like a far away land, one of which I’ve read in a book of fairyland or heard of in a dream. It is so beautiful, I long for these days when I return to the routines of mundane.

When I stand at the top of this mountain, I feel like I can fly. I feel as if I’ve been snatched away from this earthly home, from the care and the concerns, from the responsibilities and burdens of this life. I feel as if no harm, no evil, no danger can come my way.

It is a place of beauty, a place of tranquility, a place of senrene peace. My heart longs for it when I am away. My soul yearns for its return.

It makes me wonder if this is a tiny glimpse into what heaven must be like…

Will you join me?

Mood on the Mountains

July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

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.

The Quiet

July 5, 2016July 9, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

Sometimes, you just need to get alone in the quiet. Steal away to feel the calm of the breeze and the song of flight.

Be still.

Listen.

Breathe.

Can you hear Him calling you beyond the trees?

He can heal you. He can restore you. He can make you whole.

He will love you. He will strengthen you. He will set you free.

I promise, you’ll feel better than you came. You’ll leave a little lighter, and you’ll long for a soon return.

“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

Sky Blue

June 9, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 8 Comments

The sky is so hard to describe in mere words; thus, I’d like to “paint” a picture of sorts…

When the Son seems to be hiding from view, will you still seek Him?

When all is bright, cheery and beautiful, will you still remember Who He is?

When the hustle and bustle of your world is rising above your head, and you can’t see anything beyond the demand of today, will you still search for more?

When the storms roll in, and the seas rage the shores of your life, where does your faith stand? When the winds seem to overpower your resolve and the clouds block your view of Him, will praise still be upon your lips?

Will the promise of hope be found implanted in your heart, never to be shattered by pain, loneliness or fear?

For the dawn of day shall shine again! Stand your ground. Hold on, my love, your salvation is here.

Simply rest in His peace. Trust in His sovereignty, and bask in His glory. It will shine like a star in the sky.

Daily prompt: Sky

What Makes You Tick?

May 12, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

I wanted to do a little different post today. I’d like to hear from those of you out there who frequent The Grizzle Grist Mill, as well as, those of you who might be dropping by for the first time today…

This photo not only sums up one of my favorite places, but it always turns my thoughts towards my Savior as well. For He is Living Water. ❤️ John 7:37-38

I was scrolling through my iPhone pictures this morning, and because I probably tend to be a photo hoarder, I have way too many pictures stored there! However, even when I clear the storage down to just a few (100 😳), there are a handful of photos that I like to keep in there. It made me wonder if there might be others “out there” who do the same thing? Are there some things that you keep close just because they seem to be a part of you? Is there a photo or a possession you have that just seems to sum up who you are and what you’re about?

For the sake of online safety, I don’t post any present day photos of my guys, but my little family is a great big part of me!

What makes you tick? Will you kindly share one or two of them with us today? 😊

I love this man with all my heart! ❤️

My childhood home will always be a part of me.

Chasing Sunsets 2

May 5, 2016May 5, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

I love to chase sunsets at the beach. This past April, we went to the Pensacola, Florida area for Spring Break, and everyday we were there, we chased the sunsets in the evening. It was so fun, and we made so many memories. I love the white sands of the Gulf. I haven’t been to all beaches in the States, but I seriously doubt you can find those anywhere else in the U.S.

I always love sunsets, regardless, my location, but the sun seems to set so much bigger at the beach. When it drops behind the horizon, it appears to just melt into the ocean. The tides sounds peaceful and serene lapping the shoreline, and the seagulls and other creatures give the feeling of calm and tranquility.

img_6706-1 Each day we would race to get to the end of Fort Pickens and run the edge of the point to try and capture the beautiful rays of that setting ball of fire. Yet, no matter how many times I clicked that camera, it never seemed to completely grasp the scene set before me. It was simply breathtaking.

I have since missed those days watching the sun with the surf surrounding me…

img_6707-1

PS. I posted pictures of our sunset adventures during that week entitled, “Chasing Sunsets;” thus, the reason for my “2” on this post. However, since I’m posting this for the Daily Prompt posts, and I don’t know many here, I thought you guys might not mind my reposting a few of those. I hope you enjoy. 🙂

Daily Prompt: BEACH
Beach

The Dance At Sunset

April 13, 2016April 13, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 7 Comments

Chasing Sunsets

April 11, 2016April 12, 2016 / The WheatandTares / 12 Comments

Since its late in the day today, and I failed to post this morning, I thought I’d just share with you a little of what we did this past week while on Spring Break. Hope you enjoy.
We chased a few sunsets…