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Posted by Dion Todd January 14th, 2025 930 Views 28 Comments
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni!" which is to say, "Teacher!" John 20:15-16 WEB.
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning to grieve but found the stone had been rolled away, and His body was gone. Then as she turned around, a man was standing there whom she didn't recognize. Mary thought that He was the gardener. Yet, when He called her by her name, she knew that it was Jesus. He calls His sheep by name, and they know His voice (John 10:3).
Mary wasn't far off, for God has done His share of gardening. He planted the original garden of Eden. Jesus often met with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). The empty tomb they were standing by was in a garden. The parables of Jesus tell of a caretaker that prunes and fertilizes (John 15:2), (Luke 13:6). The Lord knows how to make things grow.
Yet, sometimes the Lord can be working in our lives, and we don't recognize Him. Then later, we realize that it was Him. Jesus said that His sheep would recognize His voice (John 10:3). He is always there to care for us with fertilizing to make us grow or pruning us back to make us bear more fruit (John 15:2).
We often see it from the plant's perspective, and being pruned isn't fun. We can see no logical reason why the gardener would be cutting off our branches. That person standing in front of you, building you up, or tearing you down, may be sent by the Lord to help you along. Trust the gardener, for He has your best interest at heart. You are going to be better off in the long run.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me, and I put my trust in You. Your way is the best, and You understand the seasons of growing and pruning. I am in Your hands. Please have Your way in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.β (Jeremiah 29:12-13) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.
Dear Lord, I trust you as my gardner as you shape and prune me when necessary. I may not understand or enjoy this process but I know you always have my best interest at heart. I am thankful and greatful for your unending love for me! Thank you God for your most precious, loving, kind and compassionate son Jesus Christ. Amen πβ€οΈπ!! Amen πβ€οΈπ!! Amenπβ€οΈπ!!
Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me, and I put my trust in You. Your way is the best, and You understand the seasons of growing and pruning. I am in Your hands. Please have Your way in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! I am praying for the people in Los Angeles, California who have lost houses to the recent fires. Please pray for them that God gives them peace and a way to rebuild their house and their life after this tragic loss
Good morning, everyone, praying you have a most blessed Tuesday! Continued prayers for the victims of the fires and the storms π!
Comment from Debi Burton
20 hours ago
Good Morning Everyone! Yes, continuing prayers for California fires and the storms! ππ»π
Comment from Lynn Brown
21 hours ago
Good morning, joining in prayer for CA fires.π