October 13, 2024


“For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.  (1Timothy 4:810)

This reminded me of my berry picking days growing up. I just plain out didn’t like it….. sticky, prickly, hot and sweating. I always had to wear long sleeves (it was 90 degrees!!!!) and no matter how many clothes you wore you still got all scratched up. 

Well one day I just informed mom that I wasn’t putting on those heavy jean pants, long sleeved shirt and boots to go berry picking, besides that a few more scratches couldn’t be that bad compared to being roasted alive…………… 

well………………… 

It just so happens  that poison ivy grows in berry patches too and really likes to get in scratches and spread all over your body. 

Believe me itching like that, not to mention the humiliation of being seen with it all over me (and why is Calamine pink? isn’t it humiliating enough to have red blotches everywhere???)

Then having to explain how I got it, was just way more awful than sweating for a few hours. 

Needless to say I bet my mom had a good laugh to herself, about my lesson learned the hard way. (I did kinda lean towards the “school of hard knocks” growing up…not that I was in the least hard-headed!). HaHa! 

Being a Christian is not easy. We have to work on it every day and not just Sunday. If every person who passed through our lives came ready to accept the gospel there would be no daily challenges to be met or hidden talents to be uncovered. 

Just like picking berries is often not a lot of fun but if you do not pick then there is no berry cobblers to eat.  The same with people if you do not love them they will never find God.

Let’s all take a few minutes from our busy scheduled lives and pray and reflect on how we can be better servants of God. Who knows maybe we can pick a few berries for God. 

Prayer- “Father we come to you thanking you for all of our blessings.  We ask Father that you help us to be more diligent in our service. Help us when we are out seeking the lost. Help us to look for the good in everyone. Help us to guide others to you and we will give you all the glory, honor and praise. Amen.”

the Church Mouse 

Work hard; Pray harder!