Thank you to Our Veterans

November 11, 2022 / The WheatandTares

I felt like I had a bit of posting overload today, on Veterans Day, but maybe it’s simply because it means more to me today than it ever has.

See, I’ve always been thankful for our veterans, but when you learn a new story, receive a new testimony, and it’s all wrapped up in a life you never knew even living so close to you, your heart grasps a whole new level of gratefulness.

So many never share their stories.

Too many are haunted by their demons.

Even more just ask the question, “Why?”

To unravel these mysteries, it would take too many lifetimes to start, but I have one plea to those who served,

“Please, tell your stories. Share your pain and your victory. Maybe you can’t relive, but if you remain silent, it’s easier for us to forget.”

To reinstall the honor and respect from the young may take decades to come, but I have one plea to those coming behind,

“Please, listen to the ages. Read. Research. Ask. Be curious and be hungry for knowledge. For if we never grasp the value, it’s easier to forget.”

Lives have been lost. Scars have been branded, and tears have been shed to bring you freedom.

Let us not take it for granted.

Let us never forget their valiant sacrifices. ❤️🇺🇸❤️

Happy Fourth 🇺🇸

July 4, 2022 / 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!

Whimsical Wednesday

August 13, 2020 / The WheatandTares

A little late is better than never…

How far will you travel to seek your heart desire?

How deep will you search?

How high will you climb?

How treacherous will the adventure become?

Are you willing to go?

Life can be as fulfilling, heartbreaking, thrill-seeking or peaceful as you want to make it.

Live with no regrets.

Survive with no remorse.

Let your heart soar to new heights and rediscover something new to you!

Friday Fun Day

April 17, 2020 / The WheatandTares

Everyone is quarantined or at least too many are.

So, can we find a Friday Fun Day anyway?

Everyone is sheltered in place or at least more than I can count are.

So, is a Friday Funday even available?

Everyone is confined to their area or at least way more than I’d like to say are.

So, how can we find a Friday Fun Day in the midst of all this?

1. It’s in perspective. What do you see?

2. It’s in your thoughts. What do you say?

3. It’s in your decisions. What do you do?

You are only quarantined as much as you can see yourself contained.

You are only sheltered as much as you let yourself speak of the restrictions.

You are only held back to the degree by which you allow yourself to not move.

Whatever your situation, wherever you are, and whatever you commit to carrying out determines your own level of fun.

Your fun may not be my fun, but seek it out.

Embrace it.

Cherish it.

Treasure it and reminisce.

It is for your choosing.

Now, go have some fun!! 🎉

The Bottle

March 2, 2020February 29, 2020 / The WheatandTares

My feelings for you are all bottled up inside

The anger, the pain, the hatred, I so try to hide

I question my motives, my sanity, my right

You seemed so loving, never knew you’d take flight

I drown the sorrows, the fears deep in the bottle

I cry buckets while your smile I want to throttle

I doubt my rightness, my justice, my defense

You appear so pure, resentment doesn’t make sense

I cast the bottle out to the farthest sea

I dredge the shore seeking solace to be

I wonder my blame, my guilt, my freedom

You presume release, to my heart you say come

My thoughts of you have sailed with the ships

The forgiveness, the peace, the praise is on my lips

I stand firm in my liberty, my love, my claim

I have long forgotten you, my rejoicing in His reign

Penned – MG – 2/29/20

Friday Fun Day

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019 / The WheatandTares

Sometimes, you just need a bath…

Wash away the muck and mire of life’s journey. Purify. Purge. Expunge.

Blot out the ugly and the waste of living experiences. Scour. Sanitize. Refine.

Wipe off and polish up for a new beginning.

Fridays are a good day to accomplish a good cleansing. It’s the end of the work week, right before the free weekend.

Great time to make anew.

How ’bout it? Are you ready to let it all go?

Call It What It Is

September 16, 2019October 11, 2019 / The WheatandTares

*song doesn’t seem to be posting. Not sure if cut/past glitch or what. If problem continues, try clicking here.

Listening to this song just reminds me that, sometimes, you’ve go to “call a spade a spade.” Don’t walk through life looking for others to blame for your own wrong doings, and don’t look for justification for your personal sin; however, when it is clearly someone else who needs to own up to their fault, there is no need for you to walk in guilt and shame for their failure.

Don’t carry that baggage. Let them own it, and let it go.

That’s called truth speaking, and grasping this is called truth living. It seems to be a bit rare in today’s culture, but it really is a great place to be.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Now, be free, and have a Happy Monday!😉

Burn That Bridge

July 26, 2019July 26, 2019 / The WheatandTares

Yeah, I’ll probably just leave that right there…

When you take care of you, and you remove toxic, dangerous or destructive people from your life, it’s okay to burn a few bridges. It’s not mean. It’s not hateful. It’s not even a spiteful act on your part (granted, you don’t add a lot of hatefulness in words or actions😉). Just burn that bridge and move beyond.

That girlfriend who chased you down, and then, went a bit psycho when you needed some space… yeah, burn that number.

That boyfriend who beat you to a pulp, and then, said he was sorry, wouldn’t do it again… yep, need to light a little fuse.

That childhood friendship whose crises-to-crises living is sucking the life from your veins… yes, close that door, burn that rope.

That old flame who wanted you to cheat on your spouse just so he/she could “make you feel alive” one more time… yeah, you better take that lighter fluid and pour the whole can out.

Walk away.

Light that match.

Burn that bridge.

You’re better than that. You deserve more.

And those who truly love you deserve more.

Do it now before you second guess yourself.

Just do it … and breathe.

It Is Time

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

I’d like to ask our modern culture and our “evolved” Christian believers, when did we get to the place where Truth cannot be spoken for fear of offenses and Sin cannot be confirmed for fear of judgement? If we are a follower of Christ, Truth is absolute and irrevocable, and sin is sin, not “grace-filled” or “judgement-filled.” It just is, because God deems it so.

When did we get to the point where we care more that we not offend someone than we do about their very souls? When did we get to the point where we work so hard to preach grace that we forsake the reality of sin, hell and an eternal death? If we read the Bible, from the front cover to the very last page, God is so very clear.

We’ve come to the place where we’d rather argue, too often quite hatefully, with our brothers and sisters in Christ over the possible offenses taken or not taken over an issue rather than the merits of truth. We’d rather drum up dissension over the intentions of someone’s words rather than seek His Word for His truth on the subject at hand. We’d rather slash the hearts of our fellow kinsmen, and in turn, wound those who are listening and trying to find their own answers, rather than speak with love AND truth and let the Holy Spirit bring forth His conviction and mercy.

It sounds too much like the arguments of old when men and women would argue over the color of the pews and the length of the choir robes while their babies were battling issues of sex, drugs and rock and roll. It smells too much like the wayward youth of decades past who fought so hard for their independence and their owns rights that they forsook the ancient boundaries set before them to show them the only way. It looks too much like the sly dealings of darkness who always brings forth confusion, contention and chaos in order to distract, disengage and devour those who are most vulnerable and afraid.

Wake up, Church. Lift up your eyes. Look upon the One whom we have pierced! Gaze upon His torn flesh, His stripes, His pierced hands and feet. He was wounded for OUR transgressions! He was bruised for OUR iniquities! It was not for someone else. It was for our own prideful stance. It was for our own arrogant words. Not a one of us is not guilty. Not a one of us is worthy of the mercy and grace He gives.

It is time for us to stop claiming our own opinions and laments as Gospel. It is time we stop doing what is right in our own eyes. Lives are at stake. The innocent lie within the balance.

It is time we all repent. Moses stood between the children of Israel and God’s burning wrath. Moses stood between the children of Israel and the armies of Pharaoh. Moses cried out to God for their lives to be saved. Moses was their hero. Yet, he could never have brought them to freedom had they not listen, followed and obeyed him! He was not God, but He did show them God, and they chose to receive.

Whose hero will we be?

Whom will we follow?