event

Happy Fourth 🇺🇸

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

What is freedom?

Is freedom being able to “do what I want when I want and however I want?”

Is freedom having an absence of confinement and restrictions?

Is freedom being able to speak, work, and live without rules and boundaries?

Truly, in this day and age, freedom seems to be negotiable to the person or parties making those decisions.

It seems to be even controversial, being derived from rest ace to tyranny or hatred for authority and demanded of by some who take it for granted or don’t even understand how it’s won.


However, because I am a child of God, my truth doesn’t change with culture nor with man.

My truth comes from the Word of God; so, when seeking the definition of freedom, I must seek what God tells me is true.

Jesus said, in John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Then, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

And Paul expounded in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

For Christians, Christ has given us a clear
picture of what freedom is and what He has meant it to be in our lives:

True freedom can only be found in the
redemption fo Jesus Christ!

So, if you are a child of the King today, you are FREE!

If you are saved by the Blood of the Lamb, and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, YOU ARE FREE!!

Let us rejoice in His freedom! Let us praise Him for the great things He has done!

Let us raise our hands and lift our voices with a grateful heart for the freedom He has brought us, both within our spiritual lives and within this country that we live, because we are free to worship Him today!

Monday Musings on a Whimsical Wednesday

/ The WheatandTares

What brings you JOY today?

What brings you JOY at Thanksgiving?

What brings you JOY on the “off days” when the holidays are through, and the workweek begins anew?

Can you even describe it?

Is it too lofty to grasp, or do the words overwhelm as your tongue struggles to form a word?

JOY cannot be found in circumstances or possessions.

It cannot be obtained in people or holidays or even in feelings.

It must be held deep within one’s very soul.

It must be allowed to live and breathe, as if it is a living being inside.

JOY can overwhelm and consume…

If you will simply let it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Friday Fun Day

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

Sometimes, in order to have a Friday Fun Day, you have to remember where you’ve been rather than where you find yourself today…

And you have to find the joys in the truths that exist…

Like having your son return from college to bring his piles of laundry home for you to wash…

Like having a husband who’s worked hard outside, clearing brush and a fallen tree and brought his clothes in for you to wash…

Like having your son love the outdoors so much that he gets out there as much as possible and brings his dirty, smelly clothes in for you to wash…

Laundry might not seem like a joyous celebration, and I’d much rather be on top of that majestic mountain on a beautiful day like today…

But I will make it a moment of joy as I remember this delightful date day with my man and hold the sweet love of my sons in my heart as I know they’re all safe and secure under one roof today.

Gratefulness is an attitude.

Thanksgiving is a lifestyle.

Appreciation is a perspective you choose to live out, or you find yourself missing out!

…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Whimsical Wednesday

/ The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

How close to the fire do you dare to stand?

How close to the flames will you live out your life?

The closer to the Light you venture, the warmer you will remain.

But you also risk the heat from the blaze.

Is it worth it?

Yes.

…their work will be shown for what it is,because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

1 Corinthians 3:13

And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.

Deuteronomy 5:24

Monday Musings

/ The WheatandTares / 14 Comments

I know it’s Tuesday… Tuesday night even, but this might just be a good muse; so, bear with me, please… 😉

So, someone was sweet enough to give us a whole bag? bushel? bucket? … bowl full of unshelled pecans…

They sat in the bowl for several days, and I finally had to concede there was no way I’d have time to shell them…

About that same time, that day or the next, a sweet looking, older Hispanic lady walked through our church parking lot and began hunting fallen pecans from the trees that overhang the property…

I thought, “Maybe I should put those pecans back in a bag and bring them with me, in case, I see her again. She might truly appreciate those…”

So, that evening, I poured them all back into a plastic bag and had to double bag because of the weight…

That next day, I purposely peered across the property, never seeing the little lady…

The next day and the next, I watched…

Until, a whole week went by, and I had almost concluded I needed to give them to someone else or simply throw them out…

But, I hesitated as I surely wanted to not waste them…

Two days later, as I was leaving for lunch, I noticed a couple on the little hill, picking up pecans…

I stopped and asked if they’d like some pecans, but our language barriers didn’t allow for communication. He just looked at me while his wife said something from afar…

So, I pulled the big bag out of my back floorboard and handed it over to him…

Oh, how I wish I could’ve captured a snapshot of the joy on his face when he realized what was in the weighted bag!

Honestly, you’d have thought I’d given him a bag full of gold! His wife, realizing what it was as I drove on, called out, “Mucho Gracias!”

…every day is a day for Thanksgiving…

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Proverbs 3:27

You may not have much to offer, and your gift may seem insignificant, but for that one who needs it, it will be like liquid gold that will touch their very soul.

MG 11/17/20

Thankful for the opportunity to give when I’ve been more than blessed. ❤️

Friday Fun Day

/ The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

Sometimes, you’ve just got to be whisked away by the sun, the waves and the wind.

Even if it is only in your mind’s eye that you sail away…

Happy Friday Fun Day!

Monday Musings

/ The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

Well, those that follow the Grizzle Grist Mill frequently may have thought I had fallen off the side of the earth! Lol! So sorry about that!

The last month has been a bit of a whirlwind around here, and I just didn’t take the time to blog; although, I desperately longed to! I guess we all have these ebb and flows in writing, right?

I have to admit, I do not like it. I do not like when I yearn and long for something and am not able to accomplish it because there are hurdles in my way. Those hurdles would be priorities; so yes, the lack thereof is “justified,” I suppose. But it is surely frustrating to me when my “to do” list outweighs my “want to” list.

Yet, I guess that’s just part of living life.

We all have our wants, and often, we have to choose between our wants and our “have to’s.” If we’re living wisely, our wants will mostly take a backseat to our “have-to’s” until there’s space to accommodate them.

If our desires always take precedent, we just become self-serving and self-indulgent. That always leads to self-imposing onto someone else those “have to’s,” which in the end, either causes pain, resentment, anger or a well rounded bundle of all three, or even a bit more.

So, I guess I’ll be thankful I remained diligent this past month in my have-to things, but I’m hoping to get back to some more “want to’s” in this next month! 😉

Blessings!

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…”

Colossians 3:23

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain,

Overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.”

Proverbs 6:6-8

Friday Fun Day

/ The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

Sometimes, to have a Friday Fun Day, you need to just sit by the rushing waters and let all the cares of this world wash away with the falls.

Sometimes, to find your peace, you’ll need to pause the calendar and step away.

Sometimes, to find your laughter again, you’ll need to take notes from the bubbling brooks and rustling trees.

Never get so lost in today’s “to do’s” that you forget about you.

Never get so consumed in the agendas that you forget those you value and love.

Now, go have yourself a Friday Fun Day! 💗

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”

Psalm 23:2-3a

Whimsical Wednesdays in my Musings

/ The WheatandTares / 9 Comments

Since I missed Monday Musings today, I thought I’d add it today’s whimsical thoughts, as I feel a bit melancholy today…

I don’t feel bad, and I’m not necessarily sad. I just feel a bit more somber than most days.

I suppose, it’s mostly because today is my grandfather’s 94th birthday. But he’s not here to celebrate. He’s in heaven.

We said goodbye to him 18 years ago (on Oct. 6); so, today is not a new day or even a surprise from what it has been for many years now.

Yet, I always miss him on these days. My life was changed that day, and as much as I’m so thankful I’ll see him again one day on the other side, it doesn’t change the fact.

I miss him deeply. And today, I’ve had a thought time shaking the invading blues.

The sun is shining brightly, the breeze is blowing slightly, and it’s a warm 79 degrees here in Georgia. My life is blessed, and I really cannot complain.

In fact, I am overly blessed, and he’d never want me to be sad, even in his absence. So, I’ll put a smile on my face until I feel it down deep in my soul.

For he is no longer in pain. He is no longer suffering. He is rejoicing in our eternal home, and I will see him again.

So, as my heart continues to heal, as it does with time, memories and purpose, I will lift my hands today and worship my King.

For He is worthy of that worship, and it changes me in the midst of my obedience.

…And it makes that smile sink a little deeper to the depths of my being to bring sunlight through the rain.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7

Saturday’s Musings of Treats and Whimsical Fun Days

/ The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

Well, this week was so jam packed, I didn’t even get a chance to sit down and write. The last 10-14 days have kind of been like this, but this week, I didn’t have the extra to add words to the page.

So, today, I thought I might conglomerate them all as one. 😂 I thought the title turned out quite original (lol); now, let’s see how the blog will end up. Maybe great. Maybe a little less than good. But it really doesn’t matter. You can at least say I tried!

A few weeks ago, I threw a little dessert together that I thought I’d share. It’s pretty simple, and you can pick up most items at your local grocery store, and you can adapt it to your personal preferences.

I started with a simple lemon pound cake. I just happened to have Sara Lee’s lemon loaf. I added a couple of scoops of key lime gelato (I love Talenti Gelato!) and dropped a handful of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries on top. And then, I drizzled caramel over all this.

Oh, it was so yummy! Truthfully, because it was a cooler day right at the end of September, I was wishing I’d had this “grand thought” back in the summertime; however, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment one bit!

This one thought, of enjoying a “summertime dessert in the fall,” led me to thinking, sometimes, we can miss celebrating a moment we should be celebrating!

We can get so bogged down with past regrets or future ambitions that we aren’t present in the moment we’re living. Yes, we need to deal with the past at times, but we should be able to put it in it’s proper places. And we should be pushing forward toward those goals and dreams we have ahead, or we’ll never get beyond where we are.

Yet, if we are seeking so hard after those things ahead, or we become overwhelmed by the sorrows OR joys of the past, we will miss what is right before our very eyes!

So, take a moment today.

Breathe I deeply and exhale slowly.

Let your eyes focus and settle in on those things and those people before you.

Cherish the laughter; embrace the tears.

Walk through the days with purpose and diligence.

It’s not always about where you’ve been or even about where you’re headed.

Sometimes, it’s simply about where you are and who is there with you!

Now, go give yourself a treat today and have a whimsical fun day! 😊

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & hard work.

Thomas A. Edison

“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

James 4:14