The Dynamic Duo; A Thanksgiving Devotion

Hello Friends! Happy Thanksgiving! We are happy to share this special, timely message from Roy Lessin to encourage us through this Thanksgiving Day.

May you be healthy, and may you feel the presence of the Lord with you today, as we give thanks to Him.

-Marina, for Meeting in the Meadow

The Dynamic Duo; A Thanksgiving Devotion
-Roy Lessin

There are two words found in a scripture passage about prayer that can make a powerful impact upon your life. 

The scripture is Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The two words that make a dynamic duo are thanksgiving and peace.

Thanksgiving is something you speak to God in prayer, and peace is something God gives in answer to your prayer.

Think of it as receiving two answers to your prayer. Peace is the first answer. It is an immediate answer. 

The second answer is related to your specific request. This answer will come in agreement with God’s timetable. His perfect wisdom determines the right timing. What better way to wait on the Lord’s answer and timing than with a heart at rest and a mind at peace.

And what do you do as you wait? Thank Him!

Thank Him for His peace that keeps your heart and mind from becoming anxious, impatient, worried, or fearful. Thank Him for His wisdom that is providing the answer that is without flaw and will most glorify Him. Thank Him you can pray. Thank Him that He cares. And thank Him that you can, at all times, fully put your trust in Him.
...

#meetinginthemeadow #thanksgiving #waitonthelord #pray #waitinprayer #peace #thankhim #roylessin

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Guest Post: Grateful and Thankful: Sarah Kelley

Our last featured essay on "Grateful and Thankful" comes from a long-time friend and reader Sarah Kelley, from West Monroe, LA, where she owns the Blessings Bookstore. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your encouraging words with us today!

For those who normally tune in to our Facebook LIVE sessions, we will be taking a break from them for a season. We love getting to engage with you online and hope to return sometime in 2021.

Again, thank you to everyone who submitted essays on the topic, and be sure to continue to read Meeting in the Meadow for upcoming news and features.

Grateful and Thankful for you...
Marina, for Roy and the Meeting in the Meadow Family
...

Grateful and Thankful
-Sarah Kelley

It’s true, somedays we say, “Hallelujah!,“ other days,  “Hallelujah, anyhow!” but for children of God, it always should be “Hallelujah!”  That’s because a grateful heart has made a choice, a determined effort, to praise the Lord in the midst of whatever the day brings.

God’s Word teaches that He loves, and lives in, the praises of His people.  When we choose to live with a grateful heart that will “count our blessings”, the Holy Spirit arises in our hearts.   

His presence is always greater than the any adverse circumstances because that Almighty presence brings with Himself an overwhelming knowledge of God’s unchanging love, His immeasurable peace, and an unspeakable joy beyond understanding, right in the middle of the difficult situations sent by the enemy to steal, kill, or destroy.

The “numbered” blessings far outweigh the troubles because of their eternal value.  When we change our focus from the visible to the invisible, and set our sight and trust  on the unseen, but very much alive and true promises of God, we are choosing a higher path, where spiritual blessings fall like refreshing rain on our parched souls.  So, make the choice of thanks-living and dance with me, in the rain!
...
©2020 Sarah Kelley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

The Gift We Give To God - A Thanksgiving Devotion from Roy Lessin

Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice.  Luke 17:15 AMP

The Gift We Give To God 
-Roy Lessin

The Bible tells us that one day Jesus’ heart of compassion responded to the desperate cries of ten lepers. They were outcasts without hope, without friends, separated from society and human contact. Some people ignored them, some pitied them, some despised them, some wept for them, but none could change them. Jesus was their only hope. “Have mercy on us,” was their collective cry.

Jesus responded to them with a word. Not a word of sympathy or pity, but a word of power. It hit them like a thunderbolt. “Go show yourself to the priest.” What a statement! According to the law, you went to see the priest to verify your healing. And as they went, in obedience to His word, they were healed—all ten!

To be instantly healed from leprosy was amazing. It meant everything—a place in society, a job, hugs and human affection, belonging, acceptance, purpose, value. But what is even more amazing is that only one out of the ten was grateful enough to return to pour out his heart of thanks to Jesus. 

In Timothy we read, “In the last days…people will be…ungrateful.” We live in an ungrateful world. To listen to most, you would think that either God didn’t exist, or if He did, that He was indifferent, unkind, and uncaring.

God’s generosity to us in Jesus Christ is overwhelming—God gives us a clean heart, a joyful heart, a loving heart, a peaceful heart—yet, there is one thing God cannot give us, and that is a thankful heart. Thankfulness is our gift to Him.

...
©2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

 

Guest Post, Grateful and Thankful: Megan Lackner

Today we are continuing with our Guest Posts on Grateful and Thankful. Thank you to everyone who submitted an essay to be considered! May your heart be encouraged by today's words.

Featured writers are receiving a copy of Roy Lessin's re-released book, Psalm 23: Verse by Verse and Thought by Thought. You can find it on Amazon here (the print book will be released any day now!). Be sure to follow Roy's Author Page on Amazon to find out about other book releases.

Happy Thanksgiving,
-Marina, for Roy and the Meeting in the Meadow Family
... 

Grateful and Thankful
-Megan Lackner

I think we can all agree that 2020 has not been a great year. So many cancelled plans, so much loss and pain. When it comes to a year like 2020, what should our response be?

Are we supposed to be grateful when all around us we only see hard things? The answer is yes. It comes down to our perspective. We can choose to see all we’ve lost, or we can choose to see all the moments we gained.

Families have had time to be together, people checked in on one another. Would any of this have happened were it not for COVID?  We can be grateful during these times. Yes, there have been terrible losses and a lot of pain this year, but there has also been this amazing focus on what really matters, on realizing that this life is not permanent.

To be truly grateful is to shift our perspective from our situation to our God. Nothing in life is guaranteed, this year has certainly proved it. I think that is the blessing from this year, the learning to be present and soak up all that you have right now, because you may not have it forever.
...
©2020 Megan Lackner, used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Guest Post, Grateful and Thankful: Miriam Jacob

This week we will be featuring the essays on Grateful and Thankful, as submitted by our readers. 

Thank you to all who submitted an essay! The featured writers are receiving a copy of Roy's re-released book, Psalm 23, Verse by Verse and Thought by Thought. You can find it here in ebook (the print version will be available in the next week or so). Be sure to follow Roy Lessin's Amazon Author Page to find out more about future releases!

Happy Thanksgiving!
-Marina for Roy and Meeting in the Meadow

...

Grateful and Thankful
-Miriam Jacob

Lord Jesus, thank You for making us rich in Your love. 

Thank You for all good gifts from You, the Giver of Life.

Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, gratitude to God.

We thank You for Your goodness, Your boundless love.

Your love for us makes us want to give You our very best.

Your great love inspires us to surrender our hearts to You.

Lord, we are thankful and grateful to You for loving us.

Thank You for adorning us with Your glorious beauty,

for seeing us through the mirror of Your divine love.

Thank You for giving us the priceless gift of Yourself.

You give Yourself to us in love, and we are thankful.

Your sweet love is our most precious treasure, 

the most valuable gift we can ever get in life.

Our hearts are aglow with love for You.

Your love surpasses all.

We give You our hearts.

We love You, Lord.

We are thankful,

We are grateful.

...

You can read more of Miriam Jacob's writing on her website here. She can be reached through her Facebook page. 

©2020 Miriam Jacobs, used with permission, all rights reserved.