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4. Be Patient Blackberries, I have found, are not necessarily ripe when they turn black. You have to wait for them to get black and plump. If you do not, you will have a tart experience. God never picks fruit early. Instead, He patiently waits for you to glean and grow before moving you into the next phase of life. And no matter how we may wish it to be different, there is no way to demand our own timing and still have a sweet outcome. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, but it our own timeline always be tart.   3. Never Overlook the Thorns
Thorns in my finger tips, stabbing through my pants, and sticking my posterior. At one point I thought there was blood running down my leg. There is no wisdom in crashing in for blackberries without considering the pokies. Similarly, gratefulness in life does not require, nor does the Bible recommend, ignoring the suffering or difficulties. The wisdom is in avoiding those that can be avoided, dealing with or enduring those which cannot be, and keeping an eternal perspective in all situations. 2. Never Overlook the Fruit I was by myself picking blackberries in a public park (blackberries are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest). Some people will never go blackberry picking. It's too hot. Too cold. Takes too much time. Causes too many pokes and scratches. But the berries! They are worth it. And I was just struck by how they are free, visual, tactile proof of God's great goodness. It's easy enough to only see the hardships and the pain in life, but God has lavished such blessings upon us in so many ways. What a travesty to miss His hand in our lives because we are looking too closely at the "thorns".  1. Look Up It's my misconception that the best technique for berry picking is looking down. I blame strawberries and raspberries. But with blackberries, the key is to look up -- both for more luscious berries, but also to avoid low over-hanging thorns. In life, looking up -- living before God -- is key to enjoying His blessings but also important to avoiding pitfalls. When we focus on ourselves, we hit things we could have avoided in relationships, "entertainment", career and on and on. When we are enmeshed in our circumstances, they take on the size of God and we get tangled in things for which He has provided a way of escape. But when we choose to direct our attention consistently to God, we see Him more for Who He is. And therefore, we realize and enjoy the good things He has given.  |
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
November 2025
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