Wild Blackberries...

Sitting in my chair, trapped inside my travel trailer due to social distancing requirements and rain that has continued for the past week, I spotted these white flowers growing near our fence line.  Just a couple the first day and now several dozen.  My curiosity took over and I ventured out to look at them.  Pretty little white flowers growing on a vine of some kind.  Ahhhh!!!  I remembered later that my mom had mentioned some wild blackberry bushes that had once grown along the fence near our place.  That started my researching.  I googled pictures of blackberry bushes/vines and of the blooms that they would have.  I am 98% certain that I am the proud owner of some wild blackberry bushes!  I am hopeful at least!

HOPE!  Funny how God placed those vines right outside the window of my chair, where I have stared out at a little part of my safe world this week.  I can't help but believe that these little flowers have been placed here to remind me that the world is still a beautiful place and that there is still hope for life and beauty in this world.  They also remind me of the provision that God provides.  Fresh blackberries!

Right now there is hope for some fresh blackberries.  Hope in the life that is growing despite all that is happening around it.  You see these berries have their own troubles to face.  First, this rain is relentless.  There is a new river flowing past them each day.  Second, they must survive the cows.  Yes, the cows.  They are growing along the path that the cows travel daily behind our home.  They often stop and try to nibble on the vines, even when I yell at them from inside the trailer!  LOL!  The good news is that the flowers have a protection against this outside threat.  They have thorns!  Thorns to keep them from being eaten and stopping their future crop of blackberries from coming into full ripeness!  I am so thankful for these thorns!  Because of these painful thorns there is still HOPE!

As I sit here tonight, day 7 of realizing that this quarantine life is really happening for many of us, I remember that hope is something that many do not have.  Fear seems to have taken over so many lives right now.  Turning on the tv or logging on to Facebook is all it takes right now to feel overwhelmed with hopelessness.  The media, friends, family, and almost anyone posting about this new virus will tell you all the horrible things that are to come.  Schools are closed.  Churches are closed.  Restaurants...closed.  Jobs are being lost.  People are dying.  Life as we know it is over!  Doom and gloom is everywhere!  Hope is gone...

Doom and gloom has tried to take over my life, but hope has kept me going.  You see we have a hope that this world does not understand.  Our hope comes from God.  We can know that we will have better days again because we know a God that loves his children and will see us through this time of uncertainty.  We must continue to share this hope with those that are being overcome by fear.  Fear is not of God.  Fear is a trick of one who would pull us away from the shelter of our God. 

I'll leave you with some power scriptures.  Pray with them.  Share them with others.  Read them over and over.  Let them bring you HOPE!  Hope in our Father who loves us and will see us through these days of uncertainty.

In Him...Denise 



Philippians 4:6-7:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 16:33:  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 

John 14:27:  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Deuteronomy 31:8-9:  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  

1 Peter 5:7:  Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  

Matthew 19:26:  But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'  

Proverbs 3:3-6:  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.