Heavy Hearts

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

I just heard from a friend that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. This was just after texting a friend with encouragement after finding out the false charges they’ve been fighting have been solidified, and it’s become a political game to wipe her family out. That came just the day after i had read the obit of my sweet neighbor whose husband passed away last week. They were sweethearts.

All of this is in the midst of watching our friends in Ukraine fight for their lives while our world looks on without care. And I read a newsletter about the children in Africa who are living in refuge camps in the war torn areas of Bunia and the children rescued to an orphanage there whose parents have died in the war, all of them.

If I keep my eyes on the devastation, the heaviness of my heart would overtake my soul. But God…

Some people will stop reading right there.

They will simply brush this remark away because they don’t believe a true God could be good if all this heartache is in the world.

They will grow angry at these words because they don’t believe this God could be loving and kind if we still see war, destruction and starvation.

They will grow apathetic and turn aside because they don’t believe my God, or anyone else for that matter, is able to do anything of significance to change the brokenness in which we live.

But I have learned my God is able.

I have witnessed my God is faithful.

I have experienced my God’s transformation of so many circumstances where “impossible” was already in the headlines.

He doesn’t always perform the miracle as I thought should be.

He doesn’t always answer the prayer as I deemed should be answered.

And He doesn’t always bring resolution as I believed should be brought.

But I have always found Him to reveal Himself as God, nothing more, nothing less.

And that has always proven to be enough.

Because I am convinced He loves me.

And He loves you.

So, if you find yourself in my shoes today where your eyes are weary of the pain before you, and your ears are leery of what was heard yesterday, and your heart is heavy laden with the news you’ve received today, look up.

Look up to the One who can bring you peace within when the war rages outside.

Look up to the One who can bring strength when your body can withstand no more.

Look up to the One who can bring hope when all hope feels lost.

Now when these things begin to happen, lookup and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Luke 21:28

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Silly Saturday

August 26, 2023August 10, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

Funny Friday

August 25, 2023June 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Read That, Again. Now, Choose.

August 23, 2023August 22, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

This statement is the proof between maturity and immaturity.

It is the difference in the choice driven life and victim driven life.

It is the challenge of every human being alive.

You can either grow through your pain or allow it to consume you.

You can either choose to let it change you for good or for evil.

You can either live with determination or excuses.

It is up to you, and what you choose, what you allow will determine not only your outcome.

It will very likely determine the outcome for your children and/or those around you.

So, what will you choose?

How will you grow?

And who will reap the benefits ..or consequences?

Choose wisely, please.

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Silly Saturday

August 19, 2023August 10, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

Funny Friday

August 18, 2023June 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 7 Comments

Not my personal pic, nor do I know child.
Pic came from internet.

Bring Beauty to the Thorns

August 17, 2023August 15, 2023 / The WheatandTares

This life can be like a cactus many times.

The pain, the hardships, the struggles, they can all feel like piercing thorns that stab and poke into your most vulnerable moments.

The difficulties, the mishaps and failures can become like so many briars and dry patches that never seem to end.

But if I could encourage you today…

If I could give you one thought…

Blossom amongst the thistles.

Flourish amongst the bramble.

Don’t allow your circumstances to steal your beauty.

Don’t allow the heartache and brokenness to squelch your lovely fragrance and striking brilliance.

Bloom until you thrive and show the world there’s still elegance despite afflictions.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3

Walking Through the Fire

August 16, 2023October 29, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

Talking with a friend the other day she said, “We’ve been walking through the fire together, haven’t we?” My first thought was my fire is a small kindled ember compared to her recent turmoil, but the statement brought with it two kindred hearts and souls.

A mentor of mine once said to me:

You always need someone ahead of you in the journey to help you navigate the next steps, as they’ve been there and can help to give wisdom, challenge, reproof, and strength.

You always need someone beside you on this passage of life to link arms with, to uplift, to cry together, and to fight together.

You always need someone coming behind you into whom you can pour love, encouragement, guidance, and provide some shelter from the storm.

If you find all three, you can count yourself blessed.

If you cherish and nurture all three, you will be a better person for it.

If you seek all three, you’ll find you will forget more about your own problems and become a wounded healer, helping others across the broken bridges and rocky roads of this life.

And you’ll be receiving healing, affirmation, and compassion in the meantime.

So that even if you’re walking through the fire, you have a sister (or brother, for you guys) spirit joined with you to share in the heat and pain.

I am eternally beholden to my fire walkers who are blazing the path before me, showing me it can be done.

I am so grateful for those who are fire starters for whom I am able to spread the ashes to give some respite.

And I’m especially thankful for those right now who’s feet are as scorched as mine.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43:1b-3

Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace

August 12, 2023August 19, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 9 Comments

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

The most important thing I can carry with me at all times is peace.

But peace can be hard to come by in a culture that is full of chaos, in people who are full of flaws, and certainly in a self that can be up and down like a yo yo.

Material possessions can come and go. This world cannot be counted in for my security.

People whom you thought were dependable can let you down, both intentionally and not.

Family and friends are wonderful, but they are still people, still human.

They’re not meant to be my stability.

Anything of this world can fail tomorrow. Nothing is truly perfect or reliable.

But I have found One.

There is One who is ever faithful, ever dependable, and ever stable in all His ways.

Jesus.

Some hate Him. Some love Him. Some choose not to know Him.

But I have found He is all I need.

He has peace beyond our imagination that will surpass our circumstances.

He has love that is unconditional and will sustain us in spite of ourselves.

He has joy beyond our emotions that will consume us regardless of our environment.

And all that He has is free. It costs nothing. It requires no work. It demands no sacrifice.

All we have to do is believe.

…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of theLord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13