Recent Blog Entries
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Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers; But his delight is in Yahweh's law; On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its se... -
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. Don't quench the Spirit. Don't despise prophesies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16'22 WEB.While travelin...
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When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8...
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- led by Lynn BrownThis is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
The Gardener
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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 WEB
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb of Jesus to grieve but found it empty. As she turned back, a man was there she did not recognize and she thought that He was the gardener. Yet, when Jesus called her by her name, she recognized Him.
In a way Mary was right. God planted the original garden of Eden, and the tomb itself was in a garden. Jesus often met with His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). Parables of Jesus tell of a caretaker that prunes and fertilizes (John 15:2, Luke 13:6).
Sometimes the Lord can be working in our life and we do not recognize Him. Then when He calls us by name, we know that it is Him just like He said that His sheep would (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 even more fruit (John 15:2).
We often see it from the plant's perspective and can see no logical reason why the Gardener would be cutting off our branches. That person that is standing in front of you, building you up, or tearing you down, may be used by the Lord for His purpose in the long run. Trust the Gardener, He has your best interest at heart.
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 seasons of pruning. I am in Your hands. Have Your way in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Happy Sunday! Please join us for this Sunday''s message, the second part in the Holy Spirit series. To join, just click on the Watch link on the site menu, and you will see the Join link there. For those who have been participating, the page will look different today because we are trying a new streaming service. As always, service starts at 11am EST. We encourage you to drop in 15 minutes early, especially this week in case you have any technical questions. Have a blessed day!
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Amen.
Good Morning-- lost sheep? hum, interesting! refreshing Teaching!!!
thbank you lord amen
Amen the Gardner is always pruning away the ugly dying branches and grafting in new budding branches. He is an expert at perfecting us. I have learned to treasure His pruning for it shows me how much He cares for me and that He is working in my life.
I love the image of God as gardener because it's easy to relate to how I work in my garden. Thank you for this reminder, Pastor Dion. Blessings to you and all those who gather in the RHM service today! I look forward to watching and learning this evening.
Amen!! Thank you Pastor Dion for you daily devotion. :-) I pray I keep getting closer to the Lord that he keeps giving me direction in my life so I knw what's best for me to please the Lord. I prat in Jesus, name. Amen! <3
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 seasons of pruning. I am in Your hands. Have Your way in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! I hope to be in the flourishing season now as God has begun to open up opportunity and pour out long awaited blessings of a bit more financial stabilty coming up on the horizon! It's not here yet but I can see glimps of it coming <3 That's not true!!! WE have been very blessed for the last 11 months alone just by the mighty ways in which God has provided and shown himself as the great giver and creator and provider and loving Father! As well as through really tough times even before this past year of unemployment (which was really a blessing of healing and time spent growing closer to our Heavenly Father). Who could ask for more than time off to heal emotionally and total provisions supplied in awe inspiring ways sometimes! YES! WE have some catching up to do but man has it been a wonderfully wild ride learning how to lay it all at the feet of Jesus and KNOW he won't disappoint. I know God will provide ways to get us back to where we need to be :) I still get anxious but I can quelch that doubt and fear much faster these days thanks to the awesome support and encouragement given daily by a loving Father through a wonderful community and a loving and devoted Pastor and wife team who bring it all together! God bless you Pastor Dion and Sylvia! God bless you all who are my family in Christ and have supported and encouraged us through thick and thin and back agian <3 We love you all!
Amen, God always knows just what we need!
Amen.
Amen
Amen
Have your way Lord
Amen!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Dion. 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 seasons of pruning. I am in Your hands. Have Your way in my life, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen, Ticardo, God bless!
A few years ago my sister and I visited Israel with a group from my church. We arrived early to the "empty tomb" of Jesus in the garden where we celebrated a very meaningful Communion. As we sat in an area overlooking the tomb, we watched as a "gardener" worked to prune the bushes nearby. My sister and I smiled at each other, obviously thinking the same thing ~ "that could have been Jesus". How amazing that the gardener would be there at just that moment. We felt truly blessed.
What a wonderful blessing, Joan, thank you for sharing <3!
Thank you dear Pastor, for the beautiful message!
Amen