Tuesday, October 30, 2018

The Front Porch: Neighbors


Neighbors are so special,
They bring blessings without end;
Especially when your neighbors,
Turn out to be dear friends.
.
The love of God covers you on every side,
in every direction, inside and out, over and under, in front and behind.
.
The impact of a true friend upon your life 
is something that words can never fully express,
and something that your heart can never fully measure.
.
Be persuaded, that neither death with its voice of fear, nor life with its many cares, nor the attacks of the enemy which falsely accuse you, nor things present with their pressing claims, nor things to come with their dark shadows, nor the height of any mountains that stand in your way, nor the depths of a great trial that you may walk through, nor any person or circumstance which tries to quench your joy or rob you of your peace shall be able to move you away, by even a single inch, from the Love of God that covers and guards your life.
(Paraphrase of Romans 8:38-39)
.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
.
©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, meetinginthemeadow.com

Friday, October 26, 2018

Going Deeper

Going Deeper- Roy Lessin


I sensed the Spirit’s presence in the water by the shore;
Now I’ll walk out even further, for He tells me there is more.
And as I go out deeper, there is no fear or fret;
His promises assure me that I’m not finished yet!



Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through. Ezekiel 47:5 (AMP)


©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

The Front Porch; Making Memories

The Front Porch; Making Memories - Roy Lessin A front porch is a great memory maker. When you count your blessings, the number multiplies when you count a friend. “Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.” Psalm 6:4


We can look up to God because His love will never let us down. "The true measure of love is to love without measure!" - St. Bernard. May you daily be— Kept in God’s perfect peace, Blessed with His matchless grace, Assured of His caring presence, Sheltered by His awesome greatness, Covered with His steadfast love.
©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Adapted from Come Sit Awhile, by Roy Lessin.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Under His Wings


Under His Wings
- Roy Lessin

Under His wings, Under His wings,
Comes the joy of heavenly things;
Under His wings, Under His wings,
To His mercies my heart now clings;
Under His wings, Under His wings,
Oh the wonders His presence brings!

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
Psalm 91:4 (AMP)


©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow



Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Come Sit Awhile: Front Porch Thoughts

Come Sit Awhile: Front Porch Thoughts
- Roy Lessin

A friend loves at all times, Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV)

The Things You Find In A Friend
A caring way, A winning smile,
A willingness to go the extra mile;
A giving heart, A radiant glow,
A thoughtfulness that helps you grow;
A listening ear, A servant’s way,
A special bond that’s felt each day.
Porches are great memory makers.
A porch light is a very welcome sight.

The breadth of God’s love reaches into every need and
circumstance of your life…
The length of His love is unfailing and will faithfully
guide your way…
The height of His love will raise you up and lift you out of
every valley…
The depth of His love will daily draw you closer to His
heart.


©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Adapted from Come
Sit Awhile, by Roy Lessin.

Friday, October 12, 2018

The Word of God

The Word of God
-Roy Lessin

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

No warrior can dull its blade;
No intellectual can undermine its truth;
No skeptic can lessen its authenticity;
No mocker can weaken its foundations;
No philosopher can out-think its penetrating insight;
No leader can weaken its authority;
No religion can replace its transforming power.

The rebellious fight it, the disobedient ignore it, the stubborn refuse it, the indifferent ignore it, the lazy neglect it, the careless skim over it, the foolish despise it, the runaway turns his back on it, and the traitor renounces it.

The hungry eat it, the weary rest in it, the traveler is guided by it, the humble learn from it, the submissive obey it, the devout love it, the downcast find encouragement in it, the weary find strength in it, the sick are healed by it, and the wise build their lives upon it.

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV)


©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Come Sit Awhile: The Front Porch

Come Sit Awhile: The Front Porch
- Roy Lessin

The shade provided by a porch brings great relief as we seek shelter from the strong rays of the summer’s sun. God’s loving presence is also our protective covering, providing us with the needed relief and shelter from the trials and difficulties we face in life.
“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat…..”
Isaiah 25:4 NIV
There are front porches and back porches…side porches and wrap-around porches…screened porches and open porches…country porches and city porches…lake porches and ocean porches. The important thing about a porch is not its size, type, or location, but its usage. Porches need people to pass by, to walk through, and to sit down and linger awhile.
A porch is so hospitable that even a pair of dirty boots can find a welcomed place to land.
The best meal you can enjoy on a porch is when love is passed from heart, to heart, to heart.
“Love never fails.” 1 Cor. 13:8 NIV


When our hearts are heavy, love comforts us…when our hearts are fearful, love assures us…when our hearts are anxious, love quiets us…when our hearts are restless, love keeps us…when our hearts our troubled, love calms us…when our hearts are downcast, love lifts us—for love never fails.
The front porch provides the perfect climate for visiting, sharing, listening and caring.
Love turns a house into a home…grace turns a home into a haven.
“Then those who feared and loved the Lord spoke often of him to each other. And he had a Book of Remembrance drawn up in which he recorded the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.” Malachi 3:16 TLB
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 KJV
There’s a blessing in the sunshine,
And in the morning dew.
But one of my greatest blessings
Is the time I spend with you.
Jesus said to those who followed Him, “I have called you friends.” Think of it, the God of creation wants to have a personal relationship with us. God delights in being with us person to person, heart to heart, friend to friend. In His presence there truly is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. What better company could we possibly keep!
“How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133:1-3 KJV


©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Adapted from Come Sit Awhile, by Roy Lessin. Used with permission.

Friday, October 5, 2018

His Beautiful Ways


His Beautiful Ways
- Roy Lessin

It is in your times of deepest need that you discover the depths to which the tender, gracious love of Jesus Christ reaches out to touch you.

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT)



©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow.



Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Come Sit Awhile: Sleeping Out

Welcome back to Meeting in the Meadow! Roy found some delightful materials that were written and published several years ago.

The Come Sit Awhile gift-book series was a collection of heart-warming stories, scriptures, recipes, quotes, prayers, and inspirational thoughts of hope and encouragement. They had chosen the theme of the front porch because it not only speaks of a place where people gather, relax, and enjoy the pleasures of each others company, but it is also symbolic of a special place in our hearts where rest is found, where we enjoy the sweetness of God’s presence, and where priceless memories are gathered and cherished always.



Abraham…was called the Friend of God.
James 2:23

The brilliance of a full moon, the fragrance of honeysuckle, the sounds of crickets and frogs, the flashes of fire flies, the clean smell of the air after a summer’s storm, the darting of a hummingbird as it goes to gather nectar, the laughter of children playing in the distance, the secrets shared between best-friends on the porch-swing, the warmth of unspoken love that surrounds you— These are only a small part of the simple pleasures that are found by those who on spend time on the front porch.

Come Sit Awhile
Sleeping Out

I have many special memories from my growing-up years on our farm. One of those special memories is the experience of sleeping out on our screened front porch. The only disappointment I experienced on those nights was when, during a storm, lightning came too close to the porch, and I had to gather my bedding and come into the house…

The porch was on the West Side of our gabled farmhouse, and faced the rolling grain fields of our neighbors. The only piece of furniture on our porch was an old coiled-spring bed. Most of the year the porch was unused, but in the warm days of summer that porch became my treasured place. My heart will always remember the joys I found there—the wonder of gazing at the star filled heavens, the delight of the soothing sound of chirping crickets, the overwhelming beauty of lightning flashes from a distant thunderstorm, and the pleasure of the company of a girl friend as we laughed and talked long into the night.
—Charlene Lessin

©2018 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow.