reality

Where is Your Focus?

/ The WheatandTares
Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis, excerpt

If you’ve not read The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, I encourage you to pick up a copy. It is a phenomenal fiction from the perspective of a “strong” demon writing letters to another “weaker” demon, his nephew in training, about their assignment to a Christian and their antics and schemes to keep that Christian from serving their Enemy, God.

It is such an intriguing concept and high can shed many incredible truths on our purpose and plan as Christians to impact God’s kingdoms and the purpose and plans of the enemy to keep us that very purpose. It really is a great read, even if you are not a person of faith or have no concept of the “Christian life.”

This excerpt impacted me greatly as I read it, and it describes perfectly what we are seeing in our modern culture. So many are focused on people they don’t know or with whom they have no interaction on a daily basis, but find it easy to shout blame, find fault and constantly point fingers for the demise of our society.

We are all tempted daily to become distracted by the news, social media, or even “word on the street” as we search for someone to blame for the chaos. When we all should be looking inward at our own hearts, our own attitudes, our own thoughts that ought to be bringing conviction for change.

Not one of us who live on this green earth are able to say, “I am without sin.” By no means, can one of us claim perfection in our actions, our words, or even in our thoughts. We are no better than the most wretched among us. We all are born into sin, are tempted by sin, and are pursued by sin our entire lives.

The only difference between me and the one who receives a death sentence of eternal sin is that I have confessed my sin to the One who can forgive. I have surrendered my life to the One who created me and the boy One who can save me from myself. I have committed my life to His will rather than my own.

That is the only difference.

And that makes ALL the difference.

And that difference is FOR ALL.

This difference can be possessed BY ALL.

So, let us all stop being distracted by the accusations, the lies, and the enticing scheme to keep our eyes averted from truth.

Let us all begin to look inward and find the wrong and seek to find the One who can make it right.

And only then, can we begin to rightly “fix” the world around us.

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Psalm 51:1-6

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 51:7-11

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:12-17

Fear Not

/ The WheatandTares / 7 Comments
*I do not own this post, and I do not know this person. So, I am not endorsing or condoning anything of his other than this post alone.*

I screenshot this post way back in 2020 as a simple reminder for myself and others.

During those hard months of 2020, I felt myself tempted to be fearful.

Then, I felt myself tempted to grow angry at some who decided to walk in fear of the future.

Then, I felt tempted to get “preachy” at what Christians should and shouldn’t be doing.

Then, I just stopped and had what you might call an epiphany…

At times, there is an expectation from the culture around, maybe even a demand, that we, as Christians, should never worry, fear, fail or be sinful.

As Christians, I believe we often can have the same expectation or demand of each other.

As humans, truthfully, we should all realize this is a false reality that will only bring more pain, disappointment, and often, more sin and failure to each of us.

Being a Christian doesn’t mean we will never have troubles about which to be concerned.

Being a Christ follower doesn’t mean we will never face a terror by night, a tragedy or certain death that might bring fear.

Being a believer certainly doesn’t mean we somehow never fail or never fall into sin and live a perfect, “Pollyanna” lifestyle.

And if anyone ever told you those lies, or you picked them up for yourself along the way; then, I pray you will grab your Bible right now and start reading it, cover to cover.

Our faith isn’t based on some fairytale that paints a false reality.

Our faith doesn’t result from some superpower of strength and knowledge that alters the world in which we live.

And our faith certainly isn’t founded on a plethora of perfect people, living perfect lives.

No, our whole history is filled with the wretched, the broken, the flawed and the desolate.

The only difference between my life and someone who isn’t saved is my Savior, Jesus Christ!

Because with Him, I may not always be fearless, but I will certainly fear less.

Because of Him, I may not be ever be without doubt, but I will certainly doubt less.

Because of His grace, I may not be perfect, but I can definitely live my life seeking His perfection.

Because of His mercy, I may not become sinless, but I will definitely sin less as I pursue His purpose and His plan rather than my own.

So, if you’re struggling today to live out this Christian faith without mistakes, give yourself a break and just have a little talk with Jesus.

And if you don’t know “that guy,” I challenge you to simply say His Name. Take a minute and talk to Him, too.

You might be amazed at what you’ll find…

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41:10

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Hebrews 7:26-28

Narrow is the Path to Success

/ The WheatandTares

The road to success is filled with detours, roadblocks and alternate routes.

Where you decide to go will often determine where you end up.

Happenstance can occur, and you can end up on the “right” path, but truly this is a rarity.

Success takes focus.

Success takes hard work.

Success takes determination.

Success takes forward motion with no deviation.

You can’t find success by chaotic search, and you will never find it by standing still.

Success can only be found by just that…

A true search.

So, let’s go hunting and see what we find.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gateand broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Let Him Have Your Scars

/ The WheatandTares

Sharing a bit of my testimony with a group of ladies last night reminded me of some things I know to be true, but often forget in the healing process of life.

Your scars are not meant to be shameful.

Your scars are not meant to be hidden.

Your scars are not meant to be concealed.

If you’ll give those scars to Jesus, He will not only bring His glory from them, He will heal the wounds you have left as well.

Our scars tell a unique story, owned by no one else.

Our scars bring glory to Our Creator because He’s brought healing and strength.

Our scars show someone else how to respond to the pain and how to win.

Our scars show someone else they too can survive.

So, wear your scars humbly and confidently.

Our Lord does.

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:3-5

Comfort of Living

/ The WheatandTares

Each of us have a level of comfort in which we desire to live.

Each of us have a “redline.” You know.

That fuzzy little imaginary stroke that isn’t really there until you throttle it.

That line where everything is pressing in, and you literally feel like you’re going to go insane.

Each one of us have a degree of comfort in which we are willing to live.

At what level you are willing to live and of which learn to fly, there will be your leadership.

At which degree you have settled in and of which refuse to move, there will be your demotion.

Comfort can bring pleasure.

Comfort can bring complacency.

Comfort can bring static.

Too much comfort can bring cessation.

Where will you abide?

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branchthat bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1 Timothy 1:6-7

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

Have a Funny Monday!

/ 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

Flush It

/ The WheatandTares

Start this new year by flushing those things you don’t need.

Flush the anger. Flush the pain.

Flush negative thinking and self degradation.

Flush laziness, apathy and procrastination.

Let it all flow away from you and embrace those things that are best.

Embrace love. Embrace peace. Embrace joy.

Embrace positive thoughts and self evaluation.

Embrace determination, tenacity and advancement.

Let it consume you and propel you to a better tomorrow, a higher mountain top.

The valleys may come. The storms may rage.

But if you are pressing forward toward the best ahead, you can learn to dance in the rain.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

What’s Your Filter?

/ The WheatandTares

Everybody’s got a filter.

You hear through that filter.

You see through that filter.

Your perspective is guided, cleared and clouded by that filter.

You can choose to allow your filter to be filled with your pain or your victory.

You can choose to create your filter to be filled with good things or evil.

Th choice is yours.

Choose today for 2023.

Choose well.

Extra Note: I love coffee, but it’s not a great filter filler for my life. 😉😂

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

Live in Harmony

/ 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

Time Like the Tide

/ The WheatandTares

Time is like the tide.

It never stops.

It’s always moving forward.

It waits for no man.

It pauses for no woman.

It can bring peace or chaos, but you can choose.

You can plan and prepare, or you can simply let it roll on in.

But it will not be stopped.

It can catch you unaware, or you can come ready.

The choice is yours.

What will you do?

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:13-17