Friday, May 31, 2019

Grace


God is full of grace. What a wonderful word grace is to us, what a wonderful gift it is in us, what a glorious provision it is for us. Today, take a few moments and welcome the truth of His grace…

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 KJV

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 NIV


And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32 KJV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7 KJV

God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1 KJV

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus3:7 KJV

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 KJV

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6 KJV

But grow in grace…  2Peter 3:18 KJV

Grace be with you…  2 John1:3 KJV

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

God Watches Over You


Have no fears or worries,
Simply be at rest—
Trusting in your Father,
He knows what is best.


His love rests upon you,
Angels are everywhere—
Your heart can be certain
You are in His care.

Clothing, food, and shelter
His love freely brings—
Faithfully He’ll keep you
Covered by His wings.

Everything He’s promised
He will surely do—
God, Who sees the sparrow
Watches over you.

“Under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4 KJV


©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved. 

Friday, May 24, 2019

Greatness


But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14 NLT

The kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God both celebrate greatness. The difference is found in how greatness is defined. While the steps on the world’s ladder of greatness go up—as in “climb the ladder of success”—the steps on the kingdom’s ladder of greatness go down. They don’t go down as in “darkness, bondage, fear, or defeat”—they go down as in “humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.”


When the disciples asked Jesus about who was greatest in the kingdom, Jesus didn’t direct them to the biggest one in the crowd but to the smallest, not to the most successful one but to the neediest, not to the one who had all the answers but to the one who needed to be shown the way. Greatness in the kingdom was identified as childlikeness (Matthew 18:1-5).

As we look upon a little child we discover three characteristics that help us understand kingdom greatness:

Humility- Humility is a disposition that says, “There is no greatness in me.” Little children are not concerned about their status, title, or how much they know. As kingdom people our prayer should be, “Lord, help me to be less so You can be more.”

Dependency- Little children are dependent upon another to provide for them, guide them, protect them, and care for them. As kingdom people we are as dependent upon the Lord as a branch is upon the vine.

Trust- Little children live in simplicity. Life isn’t complicated. They don’t live under a cloud of doubt. As kingdom people we live by faith, and our trust is fully in the Lord.

The song of the kingdom is not How Great I Am, it is How Great Thou Art. Kingdom greatness is found in God Himself—His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever! Our greatness is found in having the childlike characteristics of humility, dependency, and trust in the Lord that allow us to discover His greatness.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Author

Hear what the Spirit is saying- Write holy words- Overflow with goodly themes- Declare freeing truth- Speak in gracious tones- Dip your pen in the ink of light-
Write as expectantly as the dawning of a new day, as boldly as the brightness at high noon, and as tenderly as the hues painted across the sky at sunset.


Write with the light that causes kingdom seeds to grow.
Write with the consolation that will dry the tears of the brokenhearted.
Write with words that shed light upon a darkened pathway, hope upon an anxious soul, and understanding upon those who seek to know the way.
Write words that dance like starlight, beam like moonlight, and glow like candlelight, even on the darkest night.
Be a ready writer.
.
Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
Psalm 45: 1 NLT

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Friday, May 17, 2019

Changeless


I am the Lord, I do not change. Malachi 3:6 AMP



God never changes. He doesn’t need to. He is perfect—without flaw, error, inconsistency, mistake, or poor judgment. He doesn’t have good moods and bad moods. His goodness, purity, holiness, and character are eternal.
God Doesn’t Need to Change—
He has never been unjust.
He has never been untrue.
He has never been unwise.
He has never been unaware.
He has never been unloving.
He has never been unreliable.
He has never been unrighteous.
Because God is eternally changeless He is eternally faithful.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

7 Voices of Guidance


The purpose and foundation for all individual guidance is revealed in the following statement by Jesus…
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38 (NKJV)


Here are 7 key questions to help you know and do God’s will for your life…

1.      What is Jesus saying? My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (NKJV)

The most important answer to God’s guidance for your life is to know Jesus and listen to what He is saying. You do not want to follow the voice of a stranger. He is Your Shepherd and you are His sheep…He leads and you follow.

Remember, He will always lead you on the path of what is right and good.

2.      What is your heart saying? Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Through prayer, align your heart with God’s heart. Let your highest purpose be to please Him and have His approval upon all you do. Believe with all your heart that there is no better plan for your life than His plan.

Remember, God makes no mistakes and He will never fail.

3.      What is God’s peace saying? And let the peace of God rule in your hearts Colossians 3:15. I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people. and to His saints. Psalm 85:8 (NKJV)

God is the author of peace and not confusion, fear, or worry. God will lead you peacefully, there is no need to rush into anything or panic. If you don’t have His peace about something it is best to wait.

Remember, God is never late and His timing is always perfect.

 4.       What is Scripture saying?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)

The Scriptures speak truth, not fantasy. They give light to your path, not shadows. If God has spoken against something, don’t be for it; if He has spoken for something, don’t be against it.

Remember, God’s word will make straight paths for your feet and not have you running around in circles.

5.      What is the Holy Spirit saying?
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is…be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:17-18 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit has been sent to be your Helper and to guide you into all truth. His will is always in agreement with God’s will, the voice of Jesus, and with Scripture. He will not only lead you, but He will also equip you.

Remember, the presence of the Holy Spirit means you will never walk alone.

6.      What are circumstances saying? Abraham’s servant said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."
Genesis 24:27 (NKJV)

Everything that happens around us or to us is not always in agreement with God’s will. Circumstances are what God uses to confirm His will, not dictate His will. Just because something looks appealing, it does not mean it is something you should do.

Remember, God can use circumstances to block or release you.

7.      What is godly counsel saying?Plans are established by (godly) counsel; By wise counsel wage war. Proverbs 20:18 (NKJV)

We can’t please everyone, or have everyone’s approval. It is not wise to go around asking for people’s opinion about what you are to do, but it is wise to consult with godly people who know you, care about, pray for you, and want God’s best for your life.

Remember, the most important response to God is your faith and obedience to what He directs you to do.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Friday, May 10, 2019

You Shall Not Want


   The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1


To the lost sheep, He is the seeking Shepherd;
To the needy sheep, He is the providing Shepherd;
To the hurting sheep, He is the comforting Shepherd;
To the bruised sheep, He is the healing Shepherd;
To the anxious sheep, He is the peaceful Shepherd;
To the wandering sheep, He is the guiding Shepherd;
To the fearful sheep, He is the protecting Shepherd;
To the lame sheep, He is the carrying Shepherd;
To the discontented sheep, He is the fulfilling Shepherd;
To the parched sheep, He is the anointing Shepherd;
To the timid sheep, He is the reassuring Shepherd;
To the fallen sheep, He is the merciful Shepherd;
To the nervous sheep, He is the quieting Shepherd;
To the heavy laden sheep, He is the restful Shepherd;
To the lonely sheep, He is the ever-present Shepherd;
To the weary sheep, He is the restoring Shepherd;
To all His sheep, He is the Good Shepherd.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

The Humble Place

For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].  -Isaiah 57:15 AMP

We need to travel the lowly path and seek the humble place before God. We cannot take the high place of pride, the exalted place of self-significance, the lofty place of personal achievements, the arrogant place of personal goodness, or the haughty place of self-sufficiency.

God’s grace works within our lives to strip us and reduce us, to mold us and shape us, to conform us into His image and to transform us into His likeness. God must reveal to us our true needs, and cause us to see how truly dependent we are upon Him. God does this, not to leave us empty, but to fill us with His true riches found in Jesus Christ; not to leave us downcast, but to be our glory and the lifter of our heads; not to make our lives miserable, but to bring to us the fullness of His joy; not to make our lives meaningless, but to work within us His eternal purpose.


Don’t be discouraged today if you sense God’s hand doing its sanctifying work in your life. If He is trimming your wick, it is only to make your light shine brighter; if He is shaping your vessel on His potter’s wheel, it is only to increase your capacity for Him; if He is allowing you to be pressed within His caring hands, it is only to release the flow of the sweet wine of His Spirit.

Humble yourself under His mighty hand, His sure hand, His firm hand, His caring hand, and as you do, allow this prayer to be upon your lips:
Father, work in me what I cannot work; do in me what I cannot do; be in me what I cannot be; live through me what I cannot live—for I know it is through You, and You alone, that my life will be to the praise of Your glory.”

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Friday, May 3, 2019

God’s Opportunities

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT


Each day we can respond to the opportunities God places before us. Not opportunities to be famous, powerful, or rich, but opportunities to glorify Him. These opportunities will often be found amidst the ordinary days, and routine moments of our lives.

Today, may God give you the opportunity to manifest an attitude that reflects what He thinks and feels; to perform an action that expresses what He wants to do in a certain situation; to share words that speak His heart and His truth into someone’s life; to express kindness that extends His grace and mercy to someone in need.

God, here are my hands, work through them as I give myself to your assigned tasks; here is my voice, speak your words through me as I follow your prompting; here are my feet, guide them in the paths of righteousness as I obey your leading; here is my heart, fill it with the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things…the love that never fails—for your glory. Amen.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.