Hiking in Pearls

Month: May 2023

  • Walking with God in Blackberry Winter

    Walking with God in Blackberry Winter

    Cool gentle wind blew over the farm yesterday as I walked between the rows of long vines that bowed back to the earth. White flowers dotted the vines between clusters of tightly fist buds that had yet to bloom. Suspicions confirmed, blackberry winter had set in. Time had proven regardless of if the season was early or late the blooms coincided with cool weather. Tracking the event proved there was more than coincidence at work.  

    As I reach my hand out to stroke the petal of a bloom, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit stirred through my soul, “this is the wisdom of God made known.” Heart racing from a word spoken by my King I began to research the effects of weather on pollination. Science confirmed the wisdom of my God, giving glory to Him alone.

    “All fruiting plants have an optimal temperature range for the pollination/fertilization process. High temperatures can reduce pollen production, prevent anthers from releasing pollen, kill pollen outright, and interfere with the pollen tubes that serve as conduits for uniting sperm cells and eggs (fertilization) inside undeveloped seeds (ovules). High temperatures can even injure flowers before they open.” University of Maryland, extension.umd.edu pollination of Vegetable Crops in a Changing Climate.

    Fruit Growers News at fruitgrowersnews.com reports that, “low temperatures prolong ovule viability and stigma receptivity” and “that low temperatures are beneficial for extending the EPP (effective pollination period) and reaching higher fruit set.”

    The blackberry vine begins to bloom and the temperature dips proving the manifest wisdom of God. Year after year the bloom is protected from heat that there might be a high fruit yield so that we, the creation of His hand may receive an abundant blessing from Him. I close my eyes and think of past summers. Who but God could make black fruit swell to reflect light? I linger in the moment and can almost taste the waves of sweet juice that crash over my tongue as the tender berry is pressed against the roof of my mouth. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33 KJV)

    Thank you, Lord for showing me Your touch on the blackberry vines. Father, forgive me if I have neglected Your Glory by accepting the work of Your hands as normal and mundane as I race through the days at a mind blistering speed. Remind me again Lord of the wonder in the bird song, the scent of a rose and the miracle of new birth. May they not be dismissed as common. I am reminded of the scripture that, the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 KJV) Father God, open my eyes to see Your fingerprints all around me, throughout nature. There is none other besides You worth of my praise. Amen.

  • Lessons From The Silence

    Lessons From The Silence

    And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;

    Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

    And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,

    Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up they bed, and go unto thine house.

    And he arose, and departed to his house. (Matthew 9:2-7 KJV)

    Read it again. Did you catch it?

    Salvation came before the healing.

    There are so many scriptures that swirl through my mind as I read the passage above. I think of Proverbs 13:12 KJV Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. My heart sinks with the man who had the palsy and the hearts of his friends, hope deflated as they looked on. They knew this man Jesus of Nazareth would heal their friend.

    I can almost hear the banter as they carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, “You know, after the Rabbi heals you, you can carry me around for once!” “Yes, you can use your legs and bring me a meal!” another jested as laughter filled the dusty streets.

    But the healing didn’t come at first.

    “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

    Were the words uttered before the room fell to a deafening silence. It is in this brief moment of silence that a great lesson is uncovered.

    It was never about the healing.

    Jesus came to show us the way to The Father and bring salvation to the captives. Yet it seems in the process of time, in the moments of silence we have forgotten our joy should be rooted in our salvation. We have left our first love and we have run after the gifts, after the blessings rather than The One who Blesses and in doing so, our hope is deferred and our hearts sick.

    We mumble of our discomfort as our Heavenly Father allows a burden to be placed on our back. We buckle under the weight and joy is erased from our minds. I think at times, the healing doesn’t come and the silence stretches on through the months and often years because we have elevated the healing to the place of a god and we chase after it rather than pursuing the Lord God. We no longer meditate on the Lord, but on our sickness. Our discomfort has been given place to dominate our thoughts.

    Jesus reminded the seventy in Luke 10:20 KJV,

    Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

    It has always been about Jesus and the salvation that He alone offers. My prayer is that as trials and tribulations come, we learn to suffer well. I am reminded of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 KJV, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state that I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

    Jesus, being our living example showed us how to suffer well as His blood poured into the earth from the cross. The very place from which a new word, excruciating meaning “at the cross” had to be created in an effort to communicate the pain in which He endured on our behalf. It was here, He prayed for those who parted His raiment and cast lots as He offered,

    “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 KJV)

    He gave hope to the thief beside him when He uttered the words,

    “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43 KJV)

    In a time of great distress for Mary, Jesus brought comfort to His mother as He called out,

    “Woman, behold your son!” Then to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27 KJV)

    Father God, I thank You for Your patience with us, Your children, as we learn to suffer well. As we learn to endure. Father forgive us for the many things we’ve allowed to distract us from You, the joy of our salvation. Teach us Lord to glorify You in the moments of silence and to offer hope to those around us just as Jesus did from the cross. Remind us again that it is the Joy of the Lord that is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV) Lord, we love You and praise none other but You alone, our Lord, King, Savior and God. May we abound in all things as You strengthen us whether the healing comes or not. Lord let us wait on You alone. May our hope rest in the salvation You have so freely given us. Let us hope in nothing less, so that when we lay down this flesh and step into eternity with You that our desire will be fulfilled and be a tree of life as we stand in the courts of heaven. Let us never forget the words of Your Son Jesus Christ, “Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Amen.

    For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)

  • Sowing Seeds for Eternity

    Sowing Seeds for Eternity

    As I walked past snow mounds in the parking lot, I was surprised at the bustle I encountered. Supposing an itch created from the isolation of the snowstorm created such a stir, I meandered through the aisles collecting the items I had set out for. Rounding a corner, my heart was stirred as the hope of spring greeted my vision. Multiple racks filled with an assortment of seeds encouraged my imagination. The drought of winter had created a longing for summer and the opportunity to work the ground and watch it bring forth fruit.

    Enthusiasm for the coming season caused me to ignore the crowd that began to huddle around these same racks, a scurry of excitement began to manifest as hands flung to and fro snatching colorful packages. I was shocked at the sudden interest in gardening since my family typically found ourselves alone before these racks as we made our selection of seeds for the spring.

    Picking up a package that promised me Baby Boo pumpkins I began to decipher the discussions that surrounded me.

    “Are you canning this year?” Two women of my equal age continued their conversation.

    “Yes. I’ve never done it before but I think my mom has,” uncertainty filled her response.

    “Oh, look, there are some jars,” their voices trailed off as they hurried away from my presence.

    Talk of growing a garden resumed between those who stood to my right, “I don’t know, I guess we hang a light over them,” the younger of the women said.

    “I heard that too. I don’t know, I have never grown a garden,” replied the older in nervous laughter.

    I noticed the age of these two women, the younger belonging to the generation of my parents and the elder of my grandparents, I was taken back by their confession that neither had grown a garden. Eager to help my fellow man I offered a highlighted summary of beginning a garden. The women lapped up the information I offered. My family lost in the background, waited as I answered questions. The elder of the two thanked me for the information and saluted us with a wish of luck, adding, “who knows what things will cost in the store or what we will be able to get.”

    While my husband guided our van home, my mind remained at the seed rack where strangers formed bonds over fear. Etched into my mind, I could think of nothing other than the scene from the store and the words of the women as their husbands stood by in hopeless silence. I wished for the opportunity to turn the hands of the clock back. To stand with those women once again and share with them the seed that produces eternal life rather than the empty ramblings of grow lights I had offered.

    The media I use reports the same as theirs: Russia invades Ukraine. Civilians are targeted. Implications for America. I have found a life lived for the temporary is easily unsettled by such reports while a life lived for eternity remains steadfast. Our hope is not found in tomorrow or in what we eat and drink but in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ and His beautiful gift on a cross from Golgotha.

    Our heavenly Father, the One who took delight as He formed us in our mothers’ womb for such a time as this, has given His word of Truth for these times. We find the red letters recorded in The Gospel of Matthew, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Of, Wherewith shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need for all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33 KJV) The time has come that we must ask ourselves, do I believe these words and if I believe them, do I live it? Does my peace rest in my Heavenly Father?

    Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV) We are entering a time when we must remember that salvation is not about comfort and happiness in this world, instead, it is about being made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ so that we may stand before a Holy God on the day of judgment. There are times like David, we must encourage ourselves in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV) and recall the words of Paul, written from a prison cell preparing to face Nero, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

    In closing, I whisper a prayer for those of us with fearful hearts. May we be strengthened in the power and the might of the Lord. I ask that the Holy Spirit make us quick to sow seeds of the hope that is in us and that the peace that passes all understanding would wash over us. As a child of God, these promises belong to us, may we experience them in fullness and boldly declare them to those lost in turmoil around us.

    Written March 14, 2022