As I walked in the garden today, I reached the place where the Master Gardener was and I was tickled. I saw him sitting on a park bench! There was a pathway in front of that bench. The Master Gardener said, ” I brought some flowers to plant around the bench and beside the pathway today.” I asked, “Lord is this place just for you and me, or will others come this way?” He replied, ” Let us plant these pansies and see. The sun is bright, cheery, and full of life today. Let’s get some sun!” “Yes Lord.” Is what I said as a smile was not just on my face but from my heart!
Category: encounters
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A Day of Rest!
I was aware today and so spoke what I knew. “It is a day of rest in the garden Lord! I want to sit with you for a while, just quietly and in trust. I have been busy in my heart and mind today.” Master Gardener: “Sit by me then, and let’s drink of love Krista.” Me: “Yes Lord!”
Later on: “Lord, how can I move on and forward and guard my heart, but be who you created me to be still and grow?” Master Gardener: “Pray.” Me: “Yes Lord! Lord?” “Yes Krista?” I yield to you. I let go!” He smiled and pulled my head to his chest. “That is what I need from you, he said,- trust, surrender, patience, and keep your heart and eyes on me. I am your completion, perfection, and destination!” Me: “Thank you for this day of rest! The Master Gardener: You are most welcome Krista.
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You Followed My Lead
As I came to the center of my garden I saw my Lord resting against a tree and I decided to sit down next to him and smile. Me: “I love you Lord! What do you have for us today?” The Master Gardener: “Pray Krista. Yesterday I said it was a somber day and you followed my lead. You were still, quiet, and stayed close enough to learn a truth I needed you to see. I just need your trust and continue to follow me closely. I will lead you out, but will you follow me?” Me: “Yes Lord, I will follow you, but you must help me- for my help comes from you and I can do all things with you! I surrender! All!” The Master Gardener: “Let’s rest a while before getting to work.”
We rested a while and then got up and back to work. I have been careful again, to keep my eyes on him. Something I realized is he really is in charge. He knows what he is doing and he has his perfect timing. Sometimes we see something and set out to fix it right away, but if he is no leading the work it is in vain at best, destructive and disruptive at worst.
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A Somber Day!
I approached the Master Gardener in the center of my garden today. I found him at work already and his face set to the work at hand.
Lord, what are we doing in the garden today? Learning. I need you to yield and grow. It is a somber day and important. Watch me and listen closely today. I will lead you! Yes Lord! This is where I picked up my rake with the Master Gardener and began to work along side of him, very closely.
Later in the afternoon: Lord shall I know why it is somber? Are there things to be left behind today or is it something else? What is important today? Are you asking or requiring something from me? Is there something you need or wish to show me? Lord show me, tell me, you can have it All! Well, Lord I will get back to work with you now! I trust you!
And as I was typing this out he told me what he wants from me today: TRUST!
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The Way Out!
Today I am making decisions and carrying on by faith and choice, and boy is that needed. I don’t always feel brave, I don’t always find it easy to get my instructions from the Lord and stick to them, but it is a good work he is doing in me and coming to him often is a good thing. I think I will share what I wrote this morning with you.
I am still learning and growing. I humble myself before you Lord, today! I need your healing, wisdom, and guidance. Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. In the center of my garden Lord, is this that or is it Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion?
The Master Gardener: I have heard your request and I see your heart. Follow my lead, watch me, and follow my instruction! Me: Yes Lord- I submit my full life to you and I follow your lead now.
I struggled with some of the same things I have brought to him, but the point is I have come to him for help. He is the one that sees all and has the way out and forward. I pray for your joy today friend and courage!
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Acceptance!
Lord trees have been uprooted from my garden. We also have taken up many weeds and here we are in the center of the garden where the tree we just removed has left behind unseen mess. How I know this is, this morning you sent me a love note with insight, beauty, and truth in it. And doubts and unbelief began to creep in right after. Was it from you? Was it a moth and not a butterfly? Was it not you telling me I have become that butterfly, etc. But it was a butterfly- I checked! Thank you Lord. I receive your truth about me! Forgive me, I turn away from doubt and unbelief. I guess that tree left roots and weeds underneath. Will you help me pull them up today? Let’s start to plant new trees and plants to fill up this garden with You and Your life! The master gardener replied: Yes!!!
It is what God says about you and I that matters. That is the truth! And when he needs to show us something in our lives that is unpleasant we can swiftly deal with it by turning to him in surrender and he will help us! Song of Solomon 6:3 I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.
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A Step Out of Victimhood!
My day began a little worn feeling. I had a question or two for the Master Gardener. As we worked the water from a pond in the Center of my garden caught my eye. A glint of light danced in one corner. The Master Gardener told me I could go take a look, so I set down my tools and went to the edge. He stirred the water and let me see, if I dared, my own reflection. I began to look and then see. He told me I would need to face what I saw there, if I really want to be free. For you see footholds remained in me, that had to be shunned and turned from. Things in me had to be faced in order to be free. So I looked, I faced myself, then Him- The Truth. I let go, I repented. Things in me were wrong. Not just things done to me. He helped me forgive myself and others and now I must go for He is beckoning me into the water to baptize me a fresh in his love and I must go!
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Pausing
I have headed into the Center place of my garden today, to just sit and be with the Lord, the Master Gardener. The weather has grown hotter and today is a cooler day. It is a perfect time to remember what this garden is all about and get back to the core. It is Him and me and two hearts entwined. The outer parts of the garden can have some attention, but today, I remember to come here daily and just be. For I have nothing apart from this love Jesus gives and His life. The heat has caused the blossoms to be beautifully full and fragrant! I think I will ask Him to help build me a canopy for refuge to shelter me from the heat this summer will bring. I have been dealing with the heat and those trying to get into the inner part of my garden, but the Master gardener knows how to teach me to catch the little foxes and so I shall!
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For Purpose!
There is a lot to do in my garden this week. I want to sit and enjoy, but first the work must begin. Sowing seeds for a fall harvest today, this means i need to work the ground and ready my soil and I am seeking the help of the Master gardener to help me in this stage. I sometimes mistake weeds for plants and plants for weeds. There may be a few plants to keep and place in another part of the garden. I also have a lot of learning to do today. It is wonderful to be alive and to begin to be more intentional in my garden. Even the pain takes on new meaning and at the end of even today, I will be able to sit and reflect and enjoy some of the fruits of my labour! I am not labouring alone, I found this doesn’t work, Jesus is hear guiding and providing for me. I am in a season where maybe one or two others step into this garden, but I have areas now only for me and Him. It is becoming a larger part of my garden too, but I see now that this is by design and not to punish me or others, it is for purpose! I pray you ask and yield to the guiding and help of Jesus in your own life! He loves you and so do I!!!
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Center Garden
Today I am beginning with watering the new apple trees in the previously neglected space. They have new tender shoots! Things are now in order and established and I can tend to the surrounding areas of my whole garden. It has been a very needed time to put into this center garden, this is what I will call it going forward. Even yesterday I was unsure if things were sorted in it. As time has progressed today and I am back and reflecting, I see that the work is done and I now only need to tend to it regularly, like the whole garden. I guess it was just the perfect time in my life to venture into the inner part of my garden, find it in much disrepair and then sort it out. I had forgotten about it, and to be honest, there was some of it I was not even aware of being in existence! However shocking this may be, it was cruelty, pain and control that shrouded it from my sight. Now I can learn, discover and grow in all areas of my life. I pray your joy is full today friend. I hope you invite the Master gardener into your plot…He has such a way with our lives and causing them to bloom!!! I am currently looking back at him and we are sharing a knowing smile. For it is Him and I alone that know what a miracle my garden has become!!!
Butterfly Vuela 