When Your Heart Fails to Grieve

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares

A grieving heart can be suffocating, almost to the point of death.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s like the winter storm that brought in the ice and hail.

The ice forms the piercing icicles, and the hail forms the impaling snowballs.

A grieving heart can walk through the snow, feeling the cold, bracing for the darkness of the forest.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s as if the soul is plunged into the abyss among the trees.

The mist rises, the shadows deepens, and the trail is never to be found again.

A grieving heart can be broken, wandering, and flailing to find it’s way.

But if the heart fails to grieve, all the wolves in hiding come out to feast.

All the demons once held at bay come forward to claim their spoils.

Lay down your shield. Lay aside your dagger.

Let the River run through your heart as the tears flow freely.

The pain may be earth shaking, but yet to feel no pain, is to sever the only hope that remains.

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26

No Apologies Needed

May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 / The WheatandTares

I don’t know who Meredith Grey is, but her statement is truth.

When someone else breaks you, breaks your heart, or even your mind, you owe them no apologies for how you repair those things.

You owe no apologies for backing away.

You owe no apologies for being silent.

You owe no apologies for taking time to heal.

If your mouth runs away with you, if your attitude is hateful, or your actions become revengeful or damaging in return,

Then, you may need to apologize.

However, if you are simply healing from your wounds,

If you are repairing what has been broken,

If you are removing yourself from further damage and recklessness,

No apologies needed.

No excuses made.

Just carry on with your recovery.

And everyone else can go on wondering.

You’ve got a comeback due.

You’ve got a race to be won.

You’ve got a championship to be achieved.

Don’t waste time with words or explanations.

Keep on keepin’ on and do what must be done.

You’ve got this.

And it’s even better when He does!

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

Find Your Tribe

May 18, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares

It has been said that you are the average of your five closest friends…

So, whose mission are you on?

And what’s your average?

Not everyone you meet is going to stay with you on the journey.

And not everyone you want to stay will do so.

Some may not be able to handle your load.

Others may not be able to carry their own.

And still others just aren’t going the same way you are.

Don’t grow angry with them and don’t hold it against them.

And by no means, beg them to stay.

Just gently, say goodbye and let them go their way.

They weren’t meant to travel along.

For if you demand they come along or stay too long,

They will hurt you, or you will wound them,

Or others will become damaged in the process.

Just let go.

Release them to be free.

You will be amazed at the freedom you will find.

Even if you have to shed tears as you move forward.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
Proverbs 29:11

Keep it Low

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

I’ve heard people brag about all their achievements and success.

I’ve watched as they receive the awards, the accolades and applause.

And there have been tiny moments when I want to raise my feathers higher and proclaim.

And then, I take a step back and remember to wait for the ovation.

I remember to pause and let someone else sing my praise.

It’s so much better when the cheers come from another’s lips rather than your own.

It’s so much more rewarding when the hand claps come from the crowd rather than your own hand to your back.

Especially, when your enemies get to hear it loud and clear.

So, keep on keepin’ on.

Stay the course.

Finish the race.

And run it well.

When it’s a worthy cause, and you’re a well placed runner,

Your praise will arise.

And you won’t have to say a thing.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:30-31

How’s Your Heart Today?

May 10, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

This world is full of chaos, confusion, lies, deceit, destruction and devastation.

The list really could go on beyond this written page.

The people we encounter are both full of all of these experiences within their mind.

And the list for these could fill a book.

Everyone you meet, greet, and get to know has the opportunity to woo you or wound you.

Everyone you encounter has the potential to dump all they’ve received onto you, or they may ask to help carry your load.

There are no guarantees, no promises, no contractural agreements to make it as you wish.

And you’re not responsible for them.

You can’t control them.

You can’t dictate, command or place your expectations and know without a shadow of a doubt they will comply.

But you can control you.

You can be responsible for your reaction, your words, your attitudes and your interactions.

Respond with truth in love.

Respond with live in grace.

And respond with grace in hope for a better tomorrow.

And if you just can’t, check your heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9

Just Keep Walking

May 9, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Your journey may not look like someone else’s, and it may feel you’re all alone.

Just keep walking.

Your path may seem hard and unachievable, with a rocky, uneven, treacherous terrain.

But just keep walking.

Your heart may be racing; your legs may be failing, and you may be breathless.

But just keep walking.

Keep walking toward your goal.

Keep walking toward your joy, your peace.

Keep walking toward your brighter tomorrow.

Never return to the abuse, the turmoil, the destruction.

Run away from the toxic attempts to reclaim your soul.

Run away from the confusion and dysfunction.

Run away from the vicious lies and conceit that thirst for your demise.

Never look back to the broken shards of those shattered dreams.

The you who was there is no more.

The you who was then can never be again.

Those expectations, desires and demands can’t fit you anymore.

You’d be as a butterfly crumbling her wings to fit back in the cocoon .

Your heart would be as the bird clipping her flight to crawl back inside the shell.

Your mind would become as the prisoner who once tasted freedom then slammed the prison door and became insane.

Just keep walking toward your hope that has become today.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14

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