Christmas

Milk and Cookies, Coffee and Cake

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

No matter your persuasion, no matter your choice,

Get ready to celebrate. Get ready to share some joy.

Even in the hardest moments, even in the deepest grief,

Someone needs your smile. Someone longs for your love, even if it’s brief.

No matter your tradition, no matter your religion,

Get ready to shower love. Get ready to share some cheer.

Even in the hustle and bustle, even in the busiest season,

Someone desires your embrace. Someone yearns to hear the true reason.

So, pour a glass of milk and set out the cookies.

Brew up the cocoa and drain a hot cup of Joe.

Share the purpose of peace and show them how to cope.

Share the story of Christmas and show them The Hope.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:20-23

Christmas Spirit

/ The WheatandTares

Are you ready? Are you prepared?

Two days and a little more, it will be upon you.

Less than 72 hours, the event will appear.

Some declare they’re equipped and arranged…

Ever since Turkey Day!

Others say it’s too soon. It’s too fast…

It can’t be here right now!

For me, I’m ready; I suppose.

Yet, if I am truthful, this one has been a little strange.

Not because I don’t want it, and not because another gift has to be made.

My heart has just felt a pause.

I want to savor and cherish, yet I feel the moments slipping like sand.

I want to ponder and reflect, and I feel the hours melting like wax.

I sense the whirlwind of activities attempting to steal away the peace and joy as I cling.

So, I will sit and soak despite the noise.

I will breathe deep and exhale slow.

Grab a cup of coffee or mocha with me, and step back to enjoy.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19

Be still, and know that I am God…

Psalm 46:10

Everyone’s Crazies

/ The WheatandTares

The holidays always bring with them interesting family dynamics and semantics.

For some, it’s just simply dealing with the edges of uncomfortable scenarios and conversations, but nothing real out of the way.

No harm. No foul.

For others, it’s complete removal from the dysfunction and toxic environment which accompanies family, celebrations and traditions.

Survival of the Fittest or Crabs in a Barrel.

For most, it can just be learning to navigate between the two extremes.

The Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Wherever you find yourself during your yearly festivities, strive to do better.

Better yet, don’t just strive to survive.

Learn to thrive!

Your thriving isn’t going to look like another’s.

So, do what you can do to succeed.

Their crazies aren’t yours, and yours aren’t theirs.

They don’t have to understand.

Happy Crazy Holidays.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 92:12-15

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider thatthe longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they doalso the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know thisbeforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:14-18

Holiday Blues

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

A memory popped up today through technology in one of those ways that it can these days.

It was just five years ago, but the changes that have come would make it appear it’s been at least a decade.

It seems the holidays bring such highs and lows to my heart these days, that at times, I feel distracted.

And my heart is grieved.

It’s not really that I’m altogether down; yet, the grief I feel in those moments seem to bring clouds to the happiness of the season.

My arms ache for those who are gone, and I long to embrace.

The day of thanks came and went with less people gathering around the table, and so many shifts have occurred.

My eyes fought back the tears.

The morning after used to be filled with laughter of little ones as we went out on an adventure, but those boys are all grown and flown away now.

My smile resisted the complaint.

I decided not to cry. There’s too many things for which to be grateful.

Yet, the holiday blues are knocking at the door.

Don’t let them in today. For if we do, they’ll be tempted to stay.

So, I’ll pick up my step and go decorate the tree and hum those Christmas carols once more.

For even through grief, my heart can sing as I remember His grace, and let Him wash away the pain.

Today, I will embrace the goodness that God has given and the hope He has promised.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Merry Christmas to you!

/ The WheatandTares / 33 Comments

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2:8-14

Merry belated Christmas! (and Whimsical Wednesday)

/ The WheatandTares / 5 Comments

I didn’t post yesterday; even though, it was Christmas AND Whimsical Wednesday. I do hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a very whimsical day!

Overall, it has been a beautiful Christmas season here, as well as, a miserable one for my sweetie. Having the flu on Christmas is absolutely no fun. It was nice to be with his family, and I’m so thankful they treat me as one of their own, but I sure did miss him during all the festivities.

Praying you and yours made lots of happy memories and everyone stayed and stays well! 😉💗🎄

Tuesday’s Treats #194

/ The WheatandTares / 8 Comments

The Grizzle Grist

Location: North Georgia

I know I’m a bit late on posting today, and this is usually my day to review a restaurant, but since it’s Christmas Eve, and I have a short moment here between a family lunch and our evening festivity’s, I thought I’d share a little recipe with you that a family tradition. 😊🎄

I love to bake, and I especially love to bake around the holidays. So often, the calendar is too full to do all the baking I’d like to accomplish, but I always try to get in, at least, a little. There’s one item that is almost always on the list of things I am to bring to a family function. These are called marble-top brownies, but I’m not sure you’ll find this particular recipe anywhere, as I made my own version about 20years ago, and they’ve been a family tradition ever since.

Now, I believe in EASY; so, get ready for a bit of “straight-out-of-the box” instructions, and please, don’t snub your nose if you’re more of a “straight-from-scratch” kind of gal. I’m sure you can modify this to your own desires and likings. 😉

Marble-top Brownie’s (Momma Mia Style)

1 box favorite Brownies Mic (I like Betty C’s)

Ingredients to make the brownies (this will vary – typically egg(s), oil and water)

1 pkg Cream Cheese

1/2 c. Sugar

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1 egg

Bag of Coconut Flakes

Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Preheat oven to 350. Spray the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix brownie ingredients as directed into he back of the box. Once mixed well, pour batter in bottom of pan. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add egg and mix just until blended (don’t over mix). Pour over brownie mix and spread till all brownie mix is covered. Take knife and “cut” batter and turn to make swirls of brownie and cream cheese mix. It will have a marble effect. (*Note, don’t make it “dirty;” in other words, don’t over marbleize, or the cream cheese will be more brownie mix than creamy.) Sprinkle coconut over mix, followed by chocolate chips. Bake for 28 mins or until cream cheese is almost set and edges are slightly golden.

*Once out of oven, use a plastic knife to cut into brownies. This makes cutting so much easier and less messy.

Hope you enjoy these! Merry Christmas!🎄

*Sorry for the Saran wrap pic below. They’re already readied for Christmas lunch tomorrow! 😉

Friday Fun Day

/ The WheatandTares / 5 Comments

Have you decorated for Christmas yet?

Social media seems to blow up with pictures of Christmas decorating right after Halloween and, then again, the weekend after Thanksgiving.

So, I’ll join in and show you a few of my favorites…

These aren’t fancy decorations, but each one sparks a sweet memory, because they’re each from a childhood. Mine, our oldest and youngest son’s.

I am a sentimental soul; so, I have lots of “favorites” on the tree, but I thought I’d share just a few of the simplest ones today.

What’s a few of your favorites?

Do you love or despise Christmas?

What is one of your favorite memories of the holidays?

Hope you have a Friday Fun Day!

Choose Well

/ The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

I saw this post the other day, and I thought, “This describes exactly how I’m feeling and what I needed to hear today!” It was Christmas Eve morning. I had 2 church services to attend, songs to sing while on praise team, a devotion to share during offering, Christmas gifts to deliver, people to greet and names to remember, smiles to give and necks to hug. All that before 11:30 in the morning, and I’m not exactly a morning person… Really, it was no different than any other Sunday (except the gifts), and I really do love what I do; yet, that morning, I was feeling frazzled, stressed out and insecure.

Honestly, I had stayed up too late the night before, and I was feeling weary. I had been excited about Christmas coming, and I had gotten everything done about 11:00pm; yet, I just kind of piddled until I got sleepy, an hour after midnight, which doesn’t fare too well when you rise at 6:00am on Sunday!

I was, also, going through a bit of an emotional battle, feeling unworthy, insignificant and internally “bluesy.” All of this was adding up to make the day a very sour lemon! Then, I came across this pic that I had just saved the night before, thinking I might use it for a blog one day, (lol!) and it was as if everything came full circle right a that moment. I was reminded of my philosophy for living: Life is what you make it. It’s all in your perspective and the choices you make.

I didn’t need to let my circumstances rule my emotions. I didn’t need to allow my feelings to be my guide, and I could not permit my choice of lack of sleep and struggling thought patterns to dictate how I would worship my God, engage with people, and follow through with the commitments I had made.

I had a choice to make, and I decided to choose well. I chose to breathe it all in. I chose to slow down, be deliberate and be aware. I chose to have joy, to rejoice in our Savior, and to be thankful in my heart and my head. I chose to savor life and those around me. I chose to smile and allow the wonder and happiness of the moments to not only fill my smile but to fill my soul and my whole being.

It was Christmas Eve, and this one only comes once. More importantly, it was Sunday, and we live in a free country where we can still worship as a congregation. We serve a great God who is worthy of all our praise! I wasn’t going to miss that! It was, also, the day I get to see a lot of people who may or may not be there tomorrow, because after all, none of us are guaranteed the next breathe, and in this crazy world, you never know what might happen!

It was an amazing day, and I am so thankful I made the right choices. 😊

We all have choices to make everyday, every hour, and even minute to minute. What will you choose today?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

Merry Christmas to you and yours! We pray this will be a joyous holiday season filled with laughter and good times! God bless!

Ps. Thank you for being a great reader; even though, my blogging has been pretty lax the last part of this year. My goal is to begin again just as soon as I can, and I believe I will have quite a bit of catching up (for you) to do! There have been many new and exciting things going on here, and I’ve just kind of taken a break from the daily writing habit, but I need to and will begin again soon!

*note: I do not possess or own this pic. Found it from a simple google search.*