A Double Portion

The weeks that rest at the change from August to September here in Ireland are stained purple from the wealth of wild blackberries.  I was overjoyed to not miss the picking as I detailed here in a previous post.  Now, at the end of October those days are gone.  All that remains of the wild hedges are the dried nubs of a bounty spent, with just the odd berry remaining as a reminder such as I encountered on this day.  This is just the way nature works, and yet God surprises.

 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.   Isaiah 61:7-9 (NIV)

I went for a walk down the country lane near my friend Tania's house.  Despite the fact that October is almost over, we carried containers with us as she had reported seeing a second batch of blackberries ripe for the picking.  She had already picked many earlier in the year and the plants seemed to be finished, yet here we were with a new crop ready for the harvest.

Tania picking the second crop of blackberries this year.

We reveled in the sunshine as we collected from the prickly boughs.  We were amazed how much bigger the berries from this crop were than the first.  It was also shocking that they seemed so untouched by the snails and spiders that often infest the bushes in the earlier months.  The sheer volume of berries available, and even still forming was so overwhelming, we laughed as we went along.

 With the Ireland hard hit by the global economic crisis, folk know too well the pains of trials.  Certainly the Israelites knew the oppression of their times as well having endured war and slavery.  But Isaiah brought a message of freedom from the Lord that extends to us today through Christ.  I am overwhelmed by a God who would go to such lengths for an undeserving me.  While He gave us salvation, He also promises everlasting JOY!  The reason is simple, and is the same reason Christ came, because He so loved (John 3:16).  Didn't we see this connection with love when Elkanah gave Hannah the double portion (1 Sam 6)!  It wasn't earned.   It was honestly a gift of love.  And isn't this just like God's grace.

I have two full litres of the most gorgeous berries now, ready for cobblers and jam and all sorts of goodness to last me through the winter.  Even though the cold is inevitable, prices are still high and jobs are still few,  I am reminded with this second crop, this double portion,  that God has given us the inheritance of His kingdom against which these trials cannot stand.

May we celebrate the freedom He has brought us through Christ and 

may we go forth with the JOY of His promise fulfilled!

This post is linked with the lovely folk at Spiritual Sundays!