In today’s guest post, Amber shares a thoughtful reflection on gardening, Scripture, and the challenge of recognizing what truly belongs in our lives. Using the parable of the wheat and the tares, she reminds us that Christian discernment online matters, especially when bots, distractions, gossip, and harmful influences can blend in with the good. Her encouragement is simple but timely: know what you’re planting, guard what’s growing, and ask God for wisdom as you choose your allies.
Can you tell which is upright prairie coneflower foliage and which is broomweed? Similar plants grow together for a reason. Like the parable of the wheat and the tares, one may be desirable, and the other invasive, yet nearly impossible to tell apart.
Wildflowers are perfect for a country garden since they’re easy to grow. However, some have thorns, some are toxic, and others will take over and choke out eveything else. When gardening today, I had to use my Seek app to identify a young plant. When I discovered it was broomweed, I pulled them all out. The leaves resembled its ally the coneflower, but the woody stem gave it away.
The term “allies” in taxonomy refers to closely related species.
In gardening, it refers to plants that grow well together. Often, they are the same. Broomweed is an aggressive, undesirable plant that competes with grasses for nutrients and moisture. It reduces space for grass and is unhealthy for cattle in large quantities. Broomweed isn’t really good for anything unless you need … a broom.
In contrast, prairie coneflower provides beneficial forage for grazing. The larger flowers produce attractive blooms. Both plants are from the same family, Asteraceae, which includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters.
These days, it is hard to tell the difference between AI and human generated writing unless you’re familiar with a particular person’s work and know their “voice.” Bots and scammers innundate our inboxes. It’s easy to get frustrated with all the junk out there, and sorting through it can waste precious time better spent on other things.
In the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus describes a plant growing among wheat that is almost identical to it in the early stages of growth. The farmer in the parable tells his servants to leave the tares until harvest rather than disturb the roots of the wheat. However, Hebrews 12:15 warns we should be “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” So when do we weed the garden, and when do we leave the tares alone?
When it comes to fake accounts, many email providers have tools for easy removal. Often, it can separate spam messages for you. In social media, sometimes it’s easy to tell, sometimes it isn’t. There are tools for blocking certain types of comments or key words. Use your settings, but don’t let it absorb your time.
More dangerous than bots are “friends” or followers who gossip, slander, or misuse Scripture. Click-bait debates can be stumbling blocks. Before posting or commenting, reflect on how, or if, Jesus would want you to respond to an issue. Instead of being distracted by negativity, try to be clear about who you are and what you stand for. If what someone posts is not uplifting and encouraging, unfollow them or remove them from your account. Most importantly, pray for discernment and spend time studying the Bible, so you know what the truth is. If a platform is willing to promote your work but also promotes content that does not align with your beliefs, it may not be the right one to use. Be careful who you choose as an ally.
In summary, if you can’t tell if an account is a bot, don’t stress. Only be sure what you sow is wheat. But when something is obviously detrimental, like bitterness or gossip, rip it out by the roots. Happy gardening!
Title: Frame of Reference
Author: Amber Gabriel
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
One down. Two to go.
Prima ballerina Iryna has spent years preparing for her American tour—and the chance to reconnect with the boy who once held her heart. But when a fellow dancer is murdered, her dream trip turns into a waking nightmare. The chilling message left behind makes one thing clear: she may be next.
Rick Carter wasn’t expecting to fall in love, but seeing Iryna again awakens feelings he thought were long buried. As their relationship deepens, so do the threats surrounding them—cryptic warnings, dangerous encounters, and a growing sense that someone is watching their every move.
As the attacks escalate, Rick is forced to confront his doubts about faith and loss, while Iryna must decide who she can trust in a world that suddenly feels anything but safe.
With time running out, they must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. But when fear tightens its grip, will they rely on their own strength—or trust God with the outcome?
Amber Gabriel is a Central Texas author, artist, and teacher who lives on a ranch with her husband, four dogs, and a herd of Black Angus.
From a young age, she possessed a profound passion for reading, beginning with a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. Her kindergarten teacher eventually hid the book to encourage her to explore new titles. Now she has her own copy.
Another early influence was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. Inspired by a story about muralists, she drew a crayon sun on her bedroom wall. While this sparked a lifelong love for visual art, leading her to paint professional outdoor murals, her literary interests remained just as strong.
In middle school, an English teacher predicted she would one day become an author. Though she spent years crafting stories in her head while focusing on painting, she eventually merged her creative talents. Today, she specializes in speculative fiction, writing stories that navigate complex, difficult themes but ultimately conclude with hopeful, happy endings. She now shares her imaginative worlds with readers, hoping they find as much joy in her characters as she does.
Email:
Address: 15 Lucky Lane
Phone : 501-289-9319
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