When Your Heart Fails to Grieve

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares

A grieving heart can be suffocating, almost to the point of death.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s like the winter storm that brought in the ice and hail.

The ice forms the piercing icicles, and the hail forms the impaling snowballs.

A grieving heart can walk through the snow, feeling the cold, bracing for the darkness of the forest.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s as if the soul is plunged into the abyss among the trees.

The mist rises, the shadows deepens, and the trail is never to be found again.

A grieving heart can be broken, wandering, and flailing to find it’s way.

But if the heart fails to grieve, all the wolves in hiding come out to feast.

All the demons once held at bay come forward to claim their spoils.

Lay down your shield. Lay aside your dagger.

Let the River run through your heart as the tears flow freely.

The pain may be earth shaking, but yet to feel no pain, is to sever the only hope that remains.

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26

No Apologies Needed

May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 / The WheatandTares

I don’t know who Meredith Grey is, but her statement is truth.

When someone else breaks you, breaks your heart, or even your mind, you owe them no apologies for how you repair those things.

You owe no apologies for backing away.

You owe no apologies for being silent.

You owe no apologies for taking time to heal.

If your mouth runs away with you, if your attitude is hateful, or your actions become revengeful or damaging in return,

Then, you may need to apologize.

However, if you are simply healing from your wounds,

If you are repairing what has been broken,

If you are removing yourself from further damage and recklessness,

No apologies needed.

No excuses made.

Just carry on with your recovery.

And everyone else can go on wondering.

You’ve got a comeback due.

You’ve got a race to be won.

You’ve got a championship to be achieved.

Don’t waste time with words or explanations.

Keep on keepin’ on and do what must be done.

You’ve got this.

And it’s even better when He does!

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

Find Your Tribe

May 18, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares

It has been said that you are the average of your five closest friends…

So, whose mission are you on?

And what’s your average?

Not everyone you meet is going to stay with you on the journey.

And not everyone you want to stay will do so.

Some may not be able to handle your load.

Others may not be able to carry their own.

And still others just aren’t going the same way you are.

Don’t grow angry with them and don’t hold it against them.

And by no means, beg them to stay.

Just gently, say goodbye and let them go their way.

They weren’t meant to travel along.

For if you demand they come along or stay too long,

They will hurt you, or you will wound them,

Or others will become damaged in the process.

Just let go.

Release them to be free.

You will be amazed at the freedom you will find.

Even if you have to shed tears as you move forward.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
Proverbs 29:11

Keep it Low

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

I’ve heard people brag about all their achievements and success.

I’ve watched as they receive the awards, the accolades and applause.

And there have been tiny moments when I want to raise my feathers higher and proclaim.

And then, I take a step back and remember to wait for the ovation.

I remember to pause and let someone else sing my praise.

It’s so much better when the cheers come from another’s lips rather than your own.

It’s so much more rewarding when the hand claps come from the crowd rather than your own hand to your back.

Especially, when your enemies get to hear it loud and clear.

So, keep on keepin’ on.

Stay the course.

Finish the race.

And run it well.

When it’s a worthy cause, and you’re a well placed runner,

Your praise will arise.

And you won’t have to say a thing.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:30-31

How’s Your Heart Today?

May 10, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 2 Comments

This world is full of chaos, confusion, lies, deceit, destruction and devastation.

The list really could go on beyond this written page.

The people we encounter are both full of all of these experiences within their mind.

And the list for these could fill a book.

Everyone you meet, greet, and get to know has the opportunity to woo you or wound you.

Everyone you encounter has the potential to dump all they’ve received onto you, or they may ask to help carry your load.

There are no guarantees, no promises, no contractural agreements to make it as you wish.

And you’re not responsible for them.

You can’t control them.

You can’t dictate, command or place your expectations and know without a shadow of a doubt they will comply.

But you can control you.

You can be responsible for your reaction, your words, your attitudes and your interactions.

Respond with truth in love.

Respond with live in grace.

And respond with grace in hope for a better tomorrow.

And if you just can’t, check your heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9

Just Keep Walking

May 9, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Your journey may not look like someone else’s, and it may feel you’re all alone.

Just keep walking.

Your path may seem hard and unachievable, with a rocky, uneven, treacherous terrain.

But just keep walking.

Your heart may be racing; your legs may be failing, and you may be breathless.

But just keep walking.

Keep walking toward your goal.

Keep walking toward your joy, your peace.

Keep walking toward your brighter tomorrow.

Never return to the abuse, the turmoil, the destruction.

Run away from the toxic attempts to reclaim your soul.

Run away from the confusion and dysfunction.

Run away from the vicious lies and conceit that thirst for your demise.

Never look back to the broken shards of those shattered dreams.

The you who was there is no more.

The you who was then can never be again.

Those expectations, desires and demands can’t fit you anymore.

You’d be as a butterfly crumbling her wings to fit back in the cocoon .

Your heart would be as the bird clipping her flight to crawl back inside the shell.

Your mind would become as the prisoner who once tasted freedom then slammed the prison door and became insane.

Just keep walking toward your hope that has become today.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Keep Growing

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Said to possibly be the oldest oak in Florida (Tampa area).

When you stop growing, you start dying

No matter your age, no matter your limitations

No matter your intelligence or your pedigree

Life and death is a choice we have

Growth or stagnation is our decision

What will you decide today?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rootedand built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

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

Is the Tunnel Lit?

May 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Too often, we get tunnel vision, and we can’t see beyond the destination.

But sometimes, we need to pause. Take a step back and let a little more light in.

With more light comes clarity.

With more light come purpose.

With more light comes Truth.

For Truth is Light, and light pierces the darkness.

Let the Light shine in today.

It will bring forth a better tomorrow.

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12