Check out this heartwarming anecdote about earning heavenly crowns and relying on God, sparked by a childhood memory of picking blackberries for a scrumptious pie. 😊 Don’t forget to share your own experiences! Plus, snag the mouthwatering blackberry pie recipe. 🌟🍰 #Anecdote #Faith #Perspective #Recipe #BlackberryPie

As I prayed, I asked for God’s help to do the good works He planned for me long ago (Ephesians 2:10), so that I may earn crowns to lay before Him in the Throne Room of Heaven. This concept comes from a sermon I once heard about how our good works earn crowns that we lay at the Lord’s feet.

Havenly Crowns and Our Dependence on God

In Revelation 4:10-11, a vision reveals the twenty-four elders in Heaven worshiping and honoring God by laying their crowns before Him. This illustrates that only God truly deserves glory and honor, regardless of the good deeds performed on earth. Believers will likely follow the example of the elders by casting their crowns before the throne as the ultimate expression of worship and thanksgiving. Jesus promised various rewards to faithful servants, including heavenly crowns, symbolizing the incomparable value of the gift given by Jesus. This perspective is further supported by the following verses: James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 3:11.

Reflecting on this, I became keenly aware of how small and dependent I am, much like a child unable to complete tasks without help, similar to my own children. This sparked a childhood memory. It was a beautiful time of year, somewhere between spring and summer. The earth was bright with sunshine, greenery, and blackberries for the gathering. My mom promised to make a pie if I gathered the blackberries, but I couldn’t gather enough on my own. I needed the help of my mom and sister. Together, we accomplished the work and she made the pie.

Likewise, we need the help of the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ to carry out the works, just as we gathered enough blackberries and my mom made the delicious pie. I trust that God will bring His work to completion, and His reward in Heaven will be greater than even the best blackberry pie on earth.

Share Your Experience

There are moments when a seemingly small thing, like a childhood memory, can unexpectedly remind us of a broader concept in Scripture. Is there a time when something happened in your life that helped you better understand a scriptural concept? We’d love to hear your story. Please share in the comments below.

For further study about the crowns, you can visit What is the verse about casting our crowns before the feet of Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Thanks for reading this short anecdotal devotional. If you enjoyed this, I suspect you might also enjoy the deliciousness of warm summer blackberries bursting in flavor. As a treat, here’s a Blackberry Pie recipe:

Blackberry Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 pre-made pie crusts (one for the bottom, one for the top)
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a large bowl, gently mix the blackberries, granulated sugar, flour, and lemon zest until the berries are coated.
3. Line a 9-inch pie dish with one of the pie crusts.
4. Pour the blackberry mixture into the crust
5. Place the second pie crust over the filling, and trim any excess overhang. Seal and crimp the edges.
6. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
7. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg
8. Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
9. If the edges of the pie crust begin to brown too quickly, cover them with foil.
10. Once baked, allow the pie to cool before serving. Enjoy a slice of warm, flavorful blackberry pie!