A Box Full of Boxes

May 15, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Memories are like boxes sometimes.

You can close the lid and toss them into the bin, believing they’re done.

But as you pick up that larger box to throw them all away,

Those little suckers will come tumbling out like a waterfall.

When you bend over to pick up one, three more flip to the floor.

When you place those back on top, a whole passel come plummeting out,

As if they’ve got to make a nose-dive to the base level.

Almost like dominoes, they come cascading down the path.

Will they relent? Will they end?

They come back with every holiday and trend.

They push their way into every crevice, every crack,

Reaching for a new freedom, seeking shelter from what has been.

Will they be cast down? Will they bend?

I place them in the dark, into the new room

Waiting to surprise a new, non-alerted bloke

Waiting in earnest anticipation to capture another one’s journey bouncing down memory lane.

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create…
Isaiah 65:17-18

How Many Roses Do You Count?

May 4, 2023 / The WheatandTares

The old adage says, “Stop and smell the roses.”

And I like to add, “Stop and smell and then, count the roses.”

When you stop and encounter the beauty, it causes you to pause and reflect.

Yet, when you stop, encounter, and inhale, you not only pause and reflect, but it causes you to also embrace the reflection.

So, I wonder how many roses do we actually stop to count?

Take a minute to pause today. Or take a few more.

Smell the fragrance.

Reflect on the beauty.

And then, look around you and embrace all of its majesty.

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:28-33

Breathe In Deep

April 12, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Take a minute to breathe today.

Breathe in deep.

Breathe in the fresh air.

Breathe in peace and serenity.

Breathe in sanity.

Breathe in goodness and grace.

Take a minute and regroup from all the chaos.

You will see better.

You will hear better.

And you will live better.

Just breathe again, and let your mind be consumed with the beauty that is before you.

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Silent Chaos

March 24, 2023March 25, 2023 / The WheatandTares

You can talk all day and never be understood.

You can talk “till you’re blue in the face” and never have comprehension.

Oh, but when you have who someone who gets you,

When you have that someone who understands even without words,

That’s when the chaos is silenced.

That’s when the storms are calmed.

It’s not because the tragedies change or the situation miraculously alters.

It’s simply because that someone will speak to the depth of your soul and bring a peace within.

That is when your heart is understood.

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
Psalm 139:2

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:27

Learning to Forgive

March 13, 2023 / The WheatandTares

It’s easy to tell someone to forgive until you’re the one who is wronged.

It easy to tell someone to forgive until you’re the one who is falsely accused.

It’s easy to urge that one to forgive until it’s your baby who’s wounded.

It’s easy to urge that one to forgive until it’s your baby who’s wrenching in pain.

It’s easy to say forgive when it’s not you seeking justice.

It’s easy to say forgive when it’s not you seeking revenge.

But when it is you…

But when it is yours…

But when it is all encompassed in your house, your home, your heart…

That’s when the Golden Rule isn’t so clear.

That‘s when the “seventy times seventy” is harder to reciprocate.

Yet, He said it for a reason.

He said it for your freedom.

He said it for your release.

For when you truly forgive, regardless of the apology, that is when you are truly free.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15

Steal Away

January 14, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Steal away to a better place today.

Even if it’s only in your mind’s eye or in your memories.

Enjoy the warm breeze on your face, the cool sand on your toes.

Breathe deep and exhale slowly.

Receive the reprieve for the moment.

Just sit and soak and let all the worries and cares wash away with the tide.

Then, open your eyes, realize your reality, but don’t dread it.

Know that your strength has been restored, and you can escape away again tomorrow.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Play a Song for Me

January 11, 2023January 11, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Play a song for me.

Play a song of heartache. Play a song of joy.

Play a song of trend. Play a song of decrepit.

Let me hear the melody . Let it fill my soul.

It will wash away the sorrow. It will wash away the pain.

For music is a healing song that will woe the flesh to bend.

Music is a song of peace, an anthem to the derelict.

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
1 Samuel 16:23

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16

Have a Funny Monday!

January 9, 2023 / The WheatandTares

I know it’s Monday.

I know it’s the typical day to be grouchy.

But try something different.

Try something new.

Slide on a shiny coat.

Put on a bright smile.

Put a spring in your step and a skip in your walk.

And if that doesn’t work, then just stop.

Take a deep breath and take a moment to daydream for awhile.

Dream of a land far, far away that you’ll one day run to.

You’ll have no more worries, now more tears, and no more pain.

And have a Happy, Fun Monday!

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4

Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5b

Live in Harmony

January 4, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

Great words to live by today and for this new year.

If your life is in harmony with God, you can withstand the storms that may come.

If your life is in harmony with God, your security will be found in Him not them.

If your life is in harmony with God, your peace will be solidified in His will, His way, and His purpose not this world.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Everyone Has a Prison

December 27, 2022 / The WheatandTares

No matter who you are, where you came from, where you’re going,

We all have a prison to live in.

It may be your career, your education, your ambition that demands your concentration, your dedication.

It may be your possessions, your economic status, your greed for more that commands your toil, your allegiance.

There is a prison, and it beckons your name.

It may be your pain, your heartache, your past that haunts your thoughts, your recollections.

It may be your anger, your temper, your impulse that forces your allegiance, your agreement.

There is a prison, and the door is open wide.

It may be your children, your spouse, your family that claims your devotion, your approval.

It may be your health, your well-being, your countenance that orders your commitment, your adherence.

It may even be a wall of bars you’ve allowed someone else to control the size, the depth, the yielding of your attendance that confines your submission and your surrender.

We all have a prison waiting, which one will you choose?

You can also decide love, joy, peace, and goodness will be your eternal home.

This prison will bring more freedom than you can ever imagine.

Then, you’ll want to lock the door and throw away the key.

Choose well. For once the latch is turned, you may never leave your abiding cage…

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