peace

Do Something

/ The WheatandTares / 7 Comments
George Floyd Memorial
Minneapolis, MN

So many words are spewed about

So many syllables are given out

This one says you should say that

That one says you should use this format

So many demand justice and revenge

So many scream inequality must end

This one brings a torch and a brick

That one brings a hand that constricts

How does this violence bring harmony to souls?

How does this hatred bring peace to console?

Can’t you see the only answer is unified prayer?

Can’t you see the only action is our hearts stripped bare?

May we search deep within for the sin that lies dormant.

May we recognize the enemy of the cross is our torment.

Our battle is never because of my skin color or yours or because of a simple nod.

Our battle is always with the one who steals, kills and destroys the children of God.

Penned – MG – 6/10/20

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Do Something

/ The WheatandTares
George Floyd Memorial
Minneapolis, MN

So many words are spewed about

So many syllables are given out

This one says you should say that

That one says you should use this format

So many demand justice and revenge

So many scream inequality must end

This one brings a torch and a brick

That one brings a hand that constricts

How does this violence bring harmony to souls?

How does this hatred bring peace to console?

Can’t you see the only answer is unified prayer?

Can’t you see the only action is our hearts stripped bare?

May we search deep within for the sin that lies dormant.

May we recognize the enemy of the cross is our torment.

Our battle is never because of my skin color or yours or because of a simple nod.

Our battle is always with the one who steals, kills and destroys the children of God.

Penned – MG – 6/10/20

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Where Do You Rest Your Eyes?

/ The WheatandTares

Going through the recent pandemic experience, I have noticed something about human nature. I’ve always known this to be true, but throughout this season, I have seen the evidence portrayed more vividly than ever before.

Where you rest your eyes in life will determine where you end up.

Just as, if while walking along a path, when you never once glance down, you may trip over a tree root or sidewalk, you will trip up in life if you constantly hold your head up in pride and never kneel down in humility.

Just as, if while running along the road, when you never look up, you may run into a tree or get run over by a car, you will run into a wall of anxiety and get run over by an avalanche of fear if you constantly keep your head down and never look beyond your problems.

Just as, if while climbing a mountain, when you refuse to persevere, you’ll never see the beautiful sunset in the horizon, you will be blinded by life’s circumstances if you consistently give up before you achieve the end goal.

Where your eyes search, there you will remain.

Where your eyes reside, there is where you will find your heart.

Take courage to seek peace.

Take courage to seek truth.

Take courage to seek faith.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 6:33

Waterfall Thoughts

/ The WheatandTares / 7 Comments

You rush here and there

Never seeing

Never hearing

Never understanding

You race like the cascading waterfall

Never resting

Never seeking

Never breathing

You tumble down with no regard

Never thinking

Never feeling

Never caring

You crash on the rocks of turmoil

Never weeping

Never laughing

Always pretending

The pools of serenity whisked away

Never stopping

Never pausing

Always escaping

The waterfall never ends.

Penned – MG – 5/23/20

Peace, Peace, America 🇺🇸

/ The WheatandTares

I used to sing this song to my boys as I rocked them to sleep at night.

No matter how rambunctious or adventurous their day had been, miraculously, it always seemed to calm them.

I wish I could symbolically “sing” this over our nation tonight…and even our world.

It may be a bit old fashioned, but maybe take a minute to listen…

https://youtu.be/lZtuYAgHIvU

Fight Right

/ The WheatandTares

You scream for justice as you violate another’s land.

You demand equality while you jeopardize another’s family.

You shout revenge at the same moment you take another’s life.

How does this fix the problem?

How does this restore the home?

How does this heal the land?

Your actions beings more frustration.

Your words brings more confusion.

Your temper brings anger.

It’s a never ending cycle.

It’s a never relenting emotion.

It’s a never healing wound.

Violence can never bring resolution.

Looting only brings more revolt.

Riots only being more rebellion.

Can you not see the turmoil?

Can you not see the pain?

Can you not see the death?

There is but one answer.

There is but one relief.

There’s is but one solution.

Lay down your arms.

Lay down your venom.

Lay down your hate.

We can change this world only when we change our hearts first.

Now, go start a revolution.

A Call to Arms, Peacefully

/ The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

We are to bring peace to this crazy world.

Peace, love, hope, and joy

How can you bring peace when you’re full of anxiety?

How did you bring Hope when you’re hopeless?

How can you bring courage when you’re fearful?

We are His ambassadors!

We are to bring His message to this fallen world.

Have we forgotten our place?

Have we forgotten our calling?

Rise up! Take your place!

This place is a disaster because the church is a disaster.

We have just as much divorce, drugs, anxiety, etc., as the world has.

This should not be.

He called us out to be separate, a royal priesthood, set a part for His will and His way.

We’ve spent too much time trying to fit in, to conform to the norm.

Rise up! Stand your ground!

Our fight is not against flesh and blood.

We have forgotten our enemy while he has lulled us to sleep.

We have grown lazy in our opinions and agendas, forgetting Whose opinion matters most.

We’ve got to return to our calling.

We’ve got to return to the mountain.

Don’t shutter because He’s mighty.

Praise because He’s holy.

Worship because He’s gracious.

Shout because He is merciful and just.

We serve a King not a people.

We are an army to storm the gates of hell not lie in the puddles of our own ambitions and desires.

Rise up! Take your place in the kingdom of God!

This world is desperate for a Savior.

Can you hear Him calling?

Can you hear their cries?

How can you ignore it?

Why do you walk away?

If you do not fight now, you will lose the very things you clinched so tightly.

They are like sand sifting through your hand.

We are Ambassadors of Christ.

Grasp the things of His kingdom.

Seek Him first.

Chase Him, church.

Arise, oh daughters and sons! Arise!

Take your place and reap the harvest!

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

What is Hate? What is Love?

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

If a man dying underneath the blended knee of a cop doesn’t make you heartbroken, we need to re-evaluate.

If a cop dying underneath the violent barrel of a another man’s gun doesn’t make you cry, we need to re-evaluate.

If a man dying underneath the treacherous hands of another’s man’s hands doesn’t make you sad, we need to re-evaluate.

If a man’s reputation dying beneath the slanderous words of another man doesn’t make you somber, we need to re-evaluate.

If a man’s wellbeing dying beneath the murderous actions of another man’s hate doesn’t grieve your heart, we need to re-evaluate.

It is not the color of one exalted above the other.

Racism does not come in only one dark shade or another.

It can be as black as a shadow that has never seen light or as white as sunlight that has never known darkness.

If you only proclaim it comes from one group or another, we need to re-evaluate.

May we all remember, media spews only their personal biases, and our reposts only refuel their cause.

May truth be revealed to our hearts as we each turn back to HIS ways rather than our own.

May justice reign as we call it out from ALL sides, rather than just one.

May mercy prevail as we seek His heart instead than our own.

May we all re-evaluate our hearts, our thoughts, our actions.

And may we return to His cause and not “theirs” … whomever you choose “theirs” to be.
(*note: grammatical errors of “you/we” are not accidental)

Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.”

Peace Like a River

/ The WheatandTares / 14 Comments

How’s your peace level today?

It seems everyone is in a crisis to one extent or another.

Turn on the news, and there’s not a sliver of hope.

Turn on the talk shows, and there’s nothing but sarcasm and ridicule.

Turn on social media, and it’s either cynicism or disbelief, hatred or dictatorship.

Where do you find peace, hope and love?

Where do you find sanity for your mind and solitude for your soul?

Step outside and let the cares wash away.

Step down to the river and allow the fears to fade into the ripples.

Listen to the birds that sing; they neither toil nor spin.

Listen to the breeze and the trees; they neither fret nor frown.

Maybe we should take a few lessons from the Creator of creation.

Maybe we should step beyond the noise and take a seat down by the river.

Psalm 23:2, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

*I do not own this music or any rights to it. This is “The River,” by Karen Peck and New River

Rest in Knowing

/ The WheatandTares

When the winds blow harder, the sails fill up; yet, the boat doesn’t crack.

When the waves threaten to burst forth, the tiller is set; yet, the keel doesn’t buckle.

When the thunder rolls and the rains pour in, the sails don’t shatter, the mast never weakens.

When the storms of life threaten to overtake the heart of your ship, make sure your anchor is secure.

There is only One who can carry you through the hardships, the hurricanes and even the shipwrecks.

He is the Only One who is an eternal safe harbor.

Penned – MG – 4/16/20

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:2-6