Hospitality, Part 6

Hospitality, Part 6
Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

This is a high call and an honor. An ‘as unto the Lord’ attitude makes it a blessing for everyone. Peace and rest come as we walk in what He has for us. If we feel unsettled and unrest within then it’s a good thing to consider if we’re in a place that is not for us. It’s a restful place to do only what we are called to, but a restless place to try to fill someone else’s place. 

Do we understand the awesome place of keeping our hearts in right attitude before people and the Lord? Anger and resentment and jealousy, to name a few, can block the beautiful ministry of the Holy Spirit in our midst. I much more desire His way than my selfish way. It’s so much better. It’s so much purer. It’s so healing.  To have His presence fill our lives and our home is so much better than an atmosphere of strife or confusion or unrest.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT).

#hospitality #meetinginthemeadow #charlessin #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Hospitality, Part 5

Hospitality, Part 5
-Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Living in the middle of nowhere on the edge of the Ozarks. That’s what we thought. Come to find out it was amazing how the area drew people to visit and live. One day while stirring a pot of soup on the stove, our phone rang and it was a friend from California traveling with his wife whom we had never met. They were wondering if they could come by for a visit as they travelled to a nearby city. One thing I have learned in the ministry of hospitality is how important it is to let the Holy Spirit be the Director of who comes.

It is an atmosphere of a home that people relax in and find it easy to open their hearts. It has been a privilege to sit around the table with a piece of pie before us sharing hearts and needs. What a joyous visit it was as we had the privilege to hear her heart pour out, another opportunity of hospitality.

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13 NLT).

Char Lessin was raised on a Minnesota farm and grew to love the Lord at a young age. She and Roy met while they attended Bethany Fellowship in Bloomington, MN and early in their marriage they served together as missionaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico. She continues to serve the Lord through their home in NW Arkansas, ministering to the people that the Lord brings to her.

#hospitality #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #asuntothelord #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Grace Nast, Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Hospitality, Part 4

Hospitality, Part 4
-Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

I desired to do more hospitality in our home but I held back as I was embarrassed with our drapes. They were clean, but had water stains. Our carpet was an outdated ugly green, our dishes were old and handed down from others and did not match in color or design. One day as I sat at our kitchen table thinking about these things the Lord took me back to a meal served to us when we were first married…

    

The most unforgettable meal I have been served was in a poor village in Mexico. We sat on cement blocks for chairs on a dirt floor. We ate off of chipped dishes. The hostess made us rice, beans and eggs on tortillas in a pan set on an open fire in a hole in the kitchen wall, her stove. There was no furniture to fill the room. The experience of that visit which was so unusual was the peaceful yet powerful presence of the Lord.  The reality of her walk with the Lord radiated on the face of our hostess.  I could have been in a palace with royalty, for the experience lifted me out of the poverty into the richness of His presence. She served us with joy and graciousness like I had rarely seen. Her example taught me that happiness is not in things. The Lord filled her home, and that filled our hearts…

I realized it was not my carpet or my drapes or my dishes that would minister to people, but it would be the presence of the Lord touching hearts, just as I had experienced when sitting on cement blocks in a home of mud bricks, in a poor woman’s home in central Mexico.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV).

...

Char Lessin was raised on a Minnesota farm and grew to love the Lord at a young age. She and Roy met while they attended Bethany Fellowship in Bloomington, MN and early in their marriage they served together as missionaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico. She continues to serve the Lord through their home in NW Arkansas, ministering to the people that the Lord brings to her.

#hospitality #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #asuntothelord #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Grace Nast, Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Hospitality, Part 3

Hospitality, Part 3
-Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

Some close friends of ours from California had taken their vacation to come visit us in Arkansas. One afternoon while they were out canoeing on a nearby river and exploring, I thought I would surprise them and my husband with a blueberry pie! My husband loves pies and blueberries were in season. The whole time I was making that pie I was imagining how happy they would be and how expressive they would be in their enjoyment of the pie! They would think what a great baker I was and my husband would tell me in front of them what a great pie it was!  

 

Come serving time I cut my husband a piece and in handing it to him he said, “I‘m sorry but I’m just too full, I couldn’t.”

I was in shock! All my expectation burst and I felt very disappointed.  In that moment the Lord spoke very clearly to my heart and said “You baked that pie for man, not me.” Trying to please people can bring a striving and discontentment to the heart. But, what peace when we do all things to Him.

 

One day, many years later, I was expecting guests and went ahead and baked cookies for their arrival. When they came and I offered them the cookies, their response was, “We couldn’t, we just came from the Wooden Spoon Restaurant. We are way too full!” 

 

It was a test, but I think I passed, as they had been baked as unto the Lord.

...

Char Lessin was raised on a Minnesota farm and grew to love the Lord at a young age. She and Roy met while they attended Bethany Fellowship in Bloomington, MN and early in their marriage they served together as missionaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico. She continues to serve the Lord through their home in NW Arkansas, ministering to the people that the Lord brings to her.

#hospitality #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #asuntothelord #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Grace Nast, Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Hospitality, Part 2

Hospitality, Part 2
-Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

I began to do the laundry and the dishes with an attitude of ‘as unto the Lord’ and what joy and peace began to fill me! His presence began to fill those places in my day! When having guests for dinner I would look forward to preparation beforehand and clean up afterwards as His presence would be so real and special at the kitchen sink. In fact, as my whole day became ‘as unto the Lord’ my day was surrounded in His presence! He met me at the vacuum cleaner, at the washing machine, in the car running errands— everywhere! Tying my child’s shoelace - what a privilege! Serving my family brought such heart happiness. Nothing could or would replace it.

 

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23).

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus… (Ephesians 3:17).

...

Char Lessin was raised on a Minnesota farm and grew to love the Lord at a young age. She and Roy met while they attended Bethany Fellowship in Bloomington, and early in their marriage they served together as missionaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico. She continues to serve the Lord through their home in NW Arkansas, ministering to the people that the Lord brings to her.

#hospitality #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #asuntothelord #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Grace Nast, Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Hospitality: Part 1

Hospitality Part 1
-Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

I had finally arrived on foreign soil! I would now happily ‘serve the Lord’ as a missionary telling the people about Jesus! I would finally ‘be spiritual’! 

 

I had also arrived at my lifelong dream to one day work in an orphanage.

I found as time went along that our laundry, preparing our meals and mopping floors interfered with my vision of what I thought serving the Lord meant. Playing the piano at a Sunday evening church service only helped strengthen my vision a little bit! Sorting used burned down candles and raggedy clothing that people had donated to an orphanage barely helped the image. The ‘generosity’ of people in their giving was near embarrassing as I unloaded box after box of broken things.

 

One day while riding the bumpy roads into town on our way to the post office to fetch our mail, I was feeling disappointed and discouraged as missionary life was not the exciting life-changing experience I had envisioned.  I heard the Lord speak very clearly to my heart that day and said, “Char, I have called you to be a homemaker and serve me within your home. Your ministry is hospitality to your family and others.” Suddenly a calm and peace flooded over me that I really liked. 

 

The scripture that brought rest inwardly was, “Whatever you do, do it whole heartedly as unto the Lord, and not to men.” I would learn through the rest of my life what this verse would mean. It was no longer my minds’ image of how I should look and be, but rather what the Lord had for me! The attitude of ‘as unto the Lord’ would change me. I would learn that the ‘whatever’ would be washing a cup, doing the laundry, and vacuuming the floor or grocery shopping. It would be serving at my kitchen sink rather than a pulpit.

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23 AMP).

...

Char Lessin was raised on a Minnesota farm and grew to love the Lord at a young age. She and Roy met while they attended Bethany Fellowship in Bloomington, MN, and early in their marriage they served together as missionaries in Mexico and Puerto Rico. She continues to serve the Lord through their home in NW Arkansas, ministering to the people that the Lord brings to her.

#hospitality #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #asuntothelord #mrsroylessin 

©2023 Roy and Char Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Grace Nast, Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 7, The Caregiver's Blessing

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 7
-Roy and Char Lessin

The Caregiver’s Blessing…
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

May you have the power to understand…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. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:18-20 NLT).

#1: God cares for Caregivers.

#2: In weakness I find His strength.

#3: There is grace enough for today.

#4: Love never ends.

Char’s Story: Part 4
-Char Lessin

In spite of all the improvements I have experienced, I am left with limitations which are guidelines as to what I can and cannot do.

 

Each morning I am very aware of the Lords’ mercies which are new every morning—I receive daily of those mercies and live on them!  Without them I would not be able to go through the day, but He is faithful to give me His daily bread.

 

Having gone through my own weaknesses I am able to feel what many others go through in their needs. I do not forget what total loss of strength is. It is real, but the strength of the Lord is also real! I know my strength comes from Him every day.

 

In going through such an experience as Parkinson’s, the thing I have come to appreciate the most is when people listen. For me, a listening heart is most comforting.  I for one, have at times, been insensitive to peoples’ needs rather than being compassionate. I want to be a vessel of caring, because caring is healing to the one in need.

 

To be a caring person one needs to be emptied of selfishness and personal gain so we can be aware of what the Lord is doing in the lives of others. To give of oneself, wholly yielded to Him, gives the Holy Spirit freedom to flow.

 

The body of Christ has been such a blessing to me. My family and friends giving of themselves to my needs in such practical ways leaves me full of gratitude. They are servant-hearted people and this is their ministry. I can’t find the words to express what it means to be on the receiving end of a cup of water being handed to me, when I’ve been too weak to get it myself.

 

Each person knows the calling they’ve had in given moments to ‘minister to Char’! I have been on the receiving end, over and over, of someone’s beautiful hand reaching out to extend the hand of Jesus, and to hold me up in Jesus’ name.

 

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23 NKJV).

…..

#caregivers #caregiverencouragement #parkinsonspatient #parkinsonsstory #charsstory #roylessin #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #devotional 

©2022 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 5, The Caregiver's Song

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 5
-Roy and Char Lessin

 

The Caregiver’s Song
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Father, You’re the strength that lifts the burden,
You’re the oil that soothes the pain;
You’re the sunlight when there’s darkness,
You’re the shelter in the rain.
You’re the hand that brings all healing,
You’re the song that calms all fear;
You’re the peace that brings all comfort,
You’re the God who’s always near.

The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory (Psalm 118:15 NLT).

 

Char’s Story: Part 3
-Char Lessin

One evening, Roy invited a man over from work. His wife was also invited. Both were total strangers to me. I learned that she and her husband had just moved to our little town from San Francisco where she had worked with the homeless. 

 

During their visit, while I was walking ‘the loop’ in my home, I heard the Lord’s voice clearly say I was to ask her to pray for me. In obedience, I asked her and she did. Right there in our living room she prayed for my healing! 

 

The following weeks she came to sit with me from time to time, and she would walk the loop with me and cry with me. As we shared with each other I quickly realized I was included in God’s plan for them, when He brought them to our town and into our home.

 

                                          *****

 

Our family doctor had tried to persuade me to go to a Parkinson’s specialist for some time. I did not want to because I did not want to go on any medication.

 

On my next visit to my family doctor he looked at me and said, “It’s time.” I knew he was right and I should trust him. I gave his nurse the go ahead and she got me an appointment. Normally it was a few months wait, but she was able to get me in to the specialist immediately.

 

When I arrived at the Parkinson’s doctor’s office I knew I was squeezed into the scheduling, but I was there and would wait. I learned it was his nurse who was to meet with me because his schedule was too full. However, when the doctor looked out his office window and saw me walking around the waiting room he told his nurse he wanted to see me and to send me in! We spent an hour in his office. He assured me he could help, and sent me home with a prescription in hand.

 

With the first pill my body began to quickly respond. Suddenly, I was able to move about like I hadn’t in a few years! It was as if a miracle was taking place!

 

The next two weeks I spent in an excellent rehab hospital. Anything the physical therapy people asked me to do I would respond, “But, I can’t!”

 

They would respond, “Yes, you can!” They explained that Parkinson’s did not have control over me, but I had control over it!

 

During one of my sessions the therapist asked me to pick up my water bottle. Slowly, I did. She said to me, “Parkinson’s just picked up that water bottle. Now you pick it up.” I saw the difference!

 

When the time came for me to leave the hospital I walked out to the car on my own. My physical therapist clapped as I walked, and she rejoiced with me over the progress that was made while in their care.

…..

#caregivers #caregiverencouragement #parkinsonspatient #parkinsonsstory #charsstory #roylessin #charlessin #meetinginthemeadow #devotional 

©2022 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 3

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 3
-Roy and Char Lessin

 

Hands To Serve
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

God will work through your hands…
To support someone who is weak…
To raise someone who has fallen…
To uphold someone who is weary…
To wipe a tear…
To hold a hand…
To give a cup of water…
To embrace…
To carry a burden…
To impart a blessing.

Char’s Story: Part 2
-Char Lessin

The lady that struggled to get out of her car at the post office was me! I was one who used to easily spring up from her car seat, but now I pulled and squirmed in every direction to get out of the car for my mail.

Because I had lost the ability to make upward movements, I would get stuck if I sat down. There was only one chair in our whole house that I could sit on and get myself up from without help. I would briefly sit in it for a breather. Otherwise, I was ‘walking the loop’ through the kitchen, dining room, and living room because my body could not remain still. Balance also became a real challenge, needing to hold someone’s arm or the furniture when walking.

 

The weakness that took over left me nearly helpless. Therefore, Roy had to do everything, including bringing me a glass of water. He assured me that we were in this together and showed me his love in every way, including making baked oatmeal with blueberries! There were times I asked for it 3 times a day as it was so delicious!

*****

I had been one that rarely cried, but there was now a long period of time when I cried a lot. I was being transformed into a new person. I had been strong in my personality and needed softening.

 

During this time the Lord so tenderly sifted out selfishness and pride which had built up in my heart through the years. He gave me a new heart, broken with the beauty of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

 

I learned not to be afraid of the Lords’ dealings with my heart, for I was drawn into His presence. I would not exchange that for anything. His presence became my medicine! His presence is where I wanted to be.

…..

#caregivers #caregiverappreciation #parkinsons #roylessin #charlessin #marriage #meetinginthemeadow

©2022 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 1

Prayers and Promises for Caregivers: Part 1
-Roy and Char Lessin

Discovering God’s Care for Caregivers
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Caregiving can mean a short term assignment or a long term commitment. For many, caregiving has come unexpectedly and has changed their plans, challenged their schedules and altered their priorities.

Although different, the needs of a caregiver can often be as great as the needs of the one in their care. To be a caregiver is a reminder that to do good is not always easy; to give sacrificially is not always recognized; and to be available is not always convenient.

Caregivers can grow weary, even in well doing. All Caregivers need strength, patience, support, and encouragement. It is important for the caregiver to know that God cares for them.

(The Lord has been sent)…to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come… To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory (Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT).

Char’s Story: Part 1
-Char Lessin

 

I was married with young children, home on vacation in Minnesota, when we went on a visit to see my uncle Norman who was living in a nearby nursing home in Fergus Falls. I hadn’t seen him in a while so I was quite shocked and unprepared when I saw him. He had normally been a story-telling entertaining auctioneer—a friendly and loving man with a hearty laugh, but he was reduced to being nearly expressionless as he slowly walked toward us. I was frightened and didn’t know how to respond to my kind uncle I had known all my life. He had Parkinson’s.

*****

When my doctor told me I had Parkinson’s I was totally filled with peace. For me, this peace was a miracle. 

 

I was the type of person who could ‘do it all.’ I could also do it speedily! It was with delight I set out about my day. Hospitality was a true joy. It was a ministry I loved and the Lord had called me to. But it was a love I eventually had to let go of because I could no longer shop, clean the house, or prepare the meals.

 

My husband, Roy, became the one who did our laundry, the meal preparation, and the shopping.  The thing that was impressed upon me was how he lived before me daily with an attitude of selfless giving and joy in serving. He went from one task to the next with cheerfulness.

 

The caregiver, when committed to serve as unto the Lord, is a vessel of the best medicine available for the person in need.

.....

#meetinginthemeadow #caregiver #caregivers #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #caregiversupport #marriage #roylessin #charlessin #dayspring

©2022 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.