My Morning Prayer: You Are My Peace, Part 2

My Morning Prayer: You Are My Peace, Part 2
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley

You Are My Peace, Part 2
-Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table

 
Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life's circumstances]. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMP).    
 
Father, You are the author of peace…may Your peace be written upon my heart.
Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace…may Your peace rule over my heart.
Holy Spirit, You are the river of peace…may Your peace flow abundantly in my heart.

My Morning Prayer
-Marina Bromley

Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, may You write Your Peace upon my heart, and let it overflow into my life, my family, my home, my neighborhood, my workplace, my circumstances. Take hold of these things and cast out anything (in the powerful name of Jesus!) that causes angst and unbelief, conflict and despair, and root my heart and head in Your Word, the Bible. Let all other sources of rumors, opinions, even news, be silenced so that You are the loudest voice I hear speaking into my life, my circumstances, and the world around me—near and far away. I want to rest in You and Your promises. You have said that I will not walk alone, so let me see You, feel You, and know that You ARE with me, each step of the day. I love You because You first loved me. Let me show my love for You by loving others too, because You love them and want that no-one would perish. In Jesus' name. Amen.

#prayer #mymondayprayer #devotional #devotionandprayer #peace #Heismypeace #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #aplaceathistable #marinabromley

©2023 Roy Lessin, A Place at His Table, Meeting in the Meadow. Prayer and Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

Jesus Said…

Jesus Said…
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Jesus said, “I Am…

The way - Not a way. Not one of many ways. Not the shortcut way. Not the detour way. Not the misleading way. The only way! The holy way. The righteous way. The straight way. The narrow way. The way-home way.

The truth - Not an opinion. Not a point of view. Not a possibility. Not, “I have the truth”, but “I am the truth.” True truth. Uncompromising truth. Kingdom of God truth. Light truth. Morally right truth. Absolute truth.

The life - Not temporary life. Not a mediocre life. Not a purposeless life. Not a shameful life. Not a phony life. Eternal life. Fullness of life. Meaningful life. God pleasing life. Reality life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The Jesus way to God is God's way to God. No other door gives entrance to the Father’s house, to the Father’s provision, to the Father’s fellowship, and to the Father’s blessing.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6 NKJV).

#jesussaid #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #john14.6 #john14

©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Roy Lessin. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

The 3 Windows (A NEW devotion from Roy!), and an announcement!

Hello Friends!

Roy is often writing new material, and we wanted to take a moment to catch our breath and share one of his new posts today. We will continue with the series, "Jesus Name Above All Names" on Wednesday.

If YOU are a writer, we want to invite you to participate in an opportunity to share your heart on the topic of "Thankful and Grateful..." We will include the guidelines on Wednesday's post, so don't send anything to us yet! I wanted to just give a little warning to check back! 

As I said on Friday, I am taking a break from our "LIVE Readings" this week. I will return on next Monday to spend time with you again on Facebook LIVE. Please feel free to continue to send your prayer requests and needs, so we can pray with you and for each other! We are a community of Christians here and we can demonstrate God's love for each other by praying for each other. As Jesus said, "Love God. Love people." (my paraphrase of Mark 12:30-31 and Matthew 22:36-40). 

Have a blessed week, and enjoy this new devotion from Roy!

Grace and peace,
Marina
...

The 3 Windows 

 

At home I have a favorite window to look through. It’s the one in the living room. From it I have a perfect view of our backyard garden. At the moment, Zinnias and Black Eyed Susans have taken center stage. Our garden is presently visited daily by butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, American Goldfinch, and a frisky young rabbit. It all makes for quite a delightful show!

 

I have another window in my house that gives me a very different view. It’s the window of technology. From my TV and iPad the world comes streaming in. What I see often saddens me and makes me wonder where things are heading. Clearly there are more problems than answers, more sorrows than joys, more strife than peace, more anger than love, and more despair than hope.

Thankfully, I have a third window to look through. It is the window of Truth. It brings me breathtaking, heart-stirring, faith-building views of God and His Kingdom. This window is opened to me daily by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. What I see quiets my heart, gives me courage to press on, gives me confidence in prayer, renews my strength, and comforts me with the certainty of God’s eternal plan. 

 

This view also brings before me the face of Jesus Christ. It is the face of love. It is the face of my Shepherd, my Redeemer, my Friend, and my coming King. 

 

From my view Jesus’ voice can also be heard. He is saying, “Continue to look to me and wait for me. Continue to be faithful where I have placed you. Don’t be troubled, anxious, or afraid. I am with you. Take heart. I have overcome the world." 
...
©2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

2020

New Year, New steps, New hopes, New prayers, New opportunities to trust… New joys to you in all!

Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD. Psalm 40:4 (NLT2)

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

A Heart for Jesus, Part 4

Anna: A praying heart that trusts God’s word

One of the things that has always stirred my heart during the Christmas Season is the depth of meaning found in the lyrics of many classic Christmas Carols. In a little known Carol written in 1781, The People That in Darkness Sat, is this brief prayer, “Lord Jesus reign in us, we pray, And make us Thine alone.”

This prayer seeks to have Jesus in His proper place in our lives. The Christ child was born to be King, not just of the Jews, but also to be the King of our hearts. We were born to belong to Him, to know Him, to adore Him, and to live for Him. This prayer of surrender to the Lordship of Christ was evident in the life of Anna. Her heart was set upon the Lord, and her life was set apart to the Lord, long before Jesus came into the world.

We are introduced to Anna in Luke 2:36-38. It is the only place where she is mentioned in Scripture. We are only given a snapshot of her life, but what a powerful image it is! The Scriptures tell us Anna was a very old woman at the time of Jesus’ birth. She was widowed as a young woman, having lost her husband after seven years of marriage. After her husband’s death, she lived a life separated unto the Lord, frequently being at the Temple to pray and worship

Anna was a Jewish prophetess from the tribe of Asher. Asher was identified by Moses as “Happy and blessed…whose feet would be bathed in olive oil.” (Deuteronomy 33:24). This was certainly true of Anna, for she was bathed with unspeakable joy and blessing at the appearing of God’s Anointed One, the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord.

While at the Temple one morning, after a night of seeking God through worship, fasting, and prayer, Anna came upon Joseph and Mary at the very moment they entered the Temple with their newborn Son. We don’t know how many times Anna had prayed for the coming of the promised Messiah during her decades of intercession, but when she saw the child before her, she was infused with excitement and filled with gratitude. The promise of the Word of God that she held in her heart concerning the coming of the Redeemer of Israel had been fulfilled!

The life of Anna is another witness to the believer that God keeps His promises! The coming of God’s Son to earth, and His redemptive work upon the cross, are the greatest demonstrations of God’s love for us. The richest people are those who live their lives carrying the treasures of God’s promises in their hearts.

May the testimony of Anna stir our hearts to prayer this Christmas Season. The God who cares for us, invites us to call upon Him, and His invitation assures us that He hears and answers prayer. What a privilege it is to pray, and what a blessing it is to focus our prayers upon the promises of God. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts our loved ones can receive from us. We should also be thankful for all the blessings we have in our lives because of those who have prayed for us.

This Christmas Season, may the following prayer draw you closer to God’s gift, the One who is too wonderful for words…

Lord Jesus, I open my heart to You. You are the One who came for me, died for me, and rose for me. You are my Savior! Thank You for being present in my life as my Daily Bread, my Living Water, my Word of Life, my Prince of Peace, and my Song of Songs. I acknowledge You as the Guardian of my way, the Keeper of my heart, the Provider of my needs, the Security of my future, the Sustainer of my hope, and the Foundation of my faith. In darkness I receive Your light, in weakness I receive Your strength, in uncertainty I receive Your wisdom, in conflict I receive Your victory, and in hard times I receive Your overcoming grace. Thank You for being the Way that leads me to the Father’s heart, for being the Truth that keeps me from confusion, and for being the Life that can never be depleted or taken away. Amen!

Anna, returned thanks to God and talked of Jesus…And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him. Luke 2:38,40 (AMP)

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

A Heart for Jesus, Part 3

Simeon: A peaceful heart that holds salvation

A well-known line from a frequently sung Christmas carol includes these powerful words of hope and consolation, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" It is a truth that was upon the lips of Simeon long before it appeared in a carol.

Simeon was quite a man! In eight short verses from the Gospel of Luke we learn what was in his heart, and the treasures of grace that were in his life. The first thing we learn is that he is identified as a man. No other title. He may not have been a nobleman, but he was a gentleman; he may not have had great wealth, but He had heaven’s riches; he may not have been known by the multitudes, but He was known by God.

Simeon’s relationship with God meant everything. He took his commitment to God seriously, and that commitment shaped his character. The Scriptures tell us that he was a just and devout man. Simeon lived to do the right thing before God and others. If he was your neighbor, you could count on him to be a person of integrity.

He paid attention to the Scriptures. He knew the promise of the prophets concerning the Messiah, and his eyes of faith looked for His appearing. One of the most powerful statements concerning his life is from Luke 2:25, “The Holy Spirit was upon him.” The Holy Spirit upon any life makes that life beautiful!

Simeon carried within him a specific revelation. He was told by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn’t die and go to heaven until he had seen the Messiah alive upon the earth. One morning, as Simeon got ready to face the day, he sensed a leading in his heart to go to the Temple. A heart that is led by the Holy Spirit is a heart that is led with peace.

He was at the Temple just before Joseph and Mary arrived. They had come to dedicate Jesus and to bring an offering according to the Law of the Lord. What timing! It wasn’t fate that brought Simeon to the Temple that day, in that moment, it was the Holy Spirit. (The Scriptures tell us, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”)

Simeon approached the child with outstretched arms. He was about to hold in his hands God’s salvation! Simeon was overjoyed. His eyes looked upon the tender life of God in human flesh; His heart embraced the presence of the Prince of Peace; His soul rejoiced in the fulfillment of God’s promise; His words declared and affirmed the Gospel of the Redeemer—the One who would be a light to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people, Israel. Simeon was now ready to depart in peace and go to his heavenly home.

No matter how much we do during this Christmas season, if we miss God’s Salvation, we have missed it all. God’s Salvation is a person…that is why God’s Son left heaven and came to earth. That is why the angel said to Mary that His name would be called Jesus (meaning Salvation) because he would save us from our sins. Salvation is God’s gift to us. It is the greatest love gift ever given—Jesus is the heart’s one true light, the heart’s everlasting joy, and the heart’s perfect peace.

Peace on Earth?

Did peace really come to earth, The time of baby Jesus’ birth? If you mean, “Did sin decrease, Anger stop, and warfare cease?” The answer would, of course, be “no,” For Jesus faced a hateful foe. But peace did come through Him that day, From heaven’s home, to manger’s hay— For He’s the gift that will impart, Peace to every trusting heart. -Roy Lessin

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:14 (NKJV)

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

A Heart for Jesus, Part 2

The Shepherds: A praising heart that celebrates God’s presence

For some shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, a routine night of watching their flocks was about to turn into the most glorious night in history. An angel of the Lord, to be followed by a great number of the heavenly host, all filling the air with praises to God, were far beyond anything they could have expected to visit them that evening. And the message that was delivered to them from heaven was far beyond anything they could have imagined. Yeshua, (the Savior) is born? The Messiah? Now? To us? Here? In a manger? Their hearts embraced it all! What an AMAZING presentation God used to make the greatest birth announcement ever heard!

They moved as quickly as they could to the place where the angel had told them they would find the child. When they arrived in Bethlehem, they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby in the manger. It was just as the angel had told them…God had invited the lowly shepherds to be among the first ones to see the newborn Lamb of God. They couldn’t contain the wonder and the joy of it all! After leaving the manger, the shepherds could not stop giving praise and glory to God for the amazing things they had heard and seen that night.

The breath taking, heart pounding excitement about the birth of Jesus Christ that the Shepherds experienced is not only because “a child had been born and a son was given”, but that God was now present in human form. The God who dwelt in the Tabernacle and the Temple of Israel, now dwelt among them. Jesus Christ was everything God had to say to us, all He wanted to be to us, and all He wanted to do for us. Jesus was in reality, God become man.

To Israel, Jesus’ birth meant that God was now more than the God of the cloud and the pillar, more than the God of Mt. Sinai, more than the God who gave them the commandments written on stone, and more than the God whose awesome glory was manifest behind the vale in the Holy of Holies. The Apostle John writes to us about the daily wonder of being in the company of the Son of God…“ (Jesus Christ) the One which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.” 1 John 1:1 (NKJV)

Jesus was the Word made flesh who tabernacled among us…

— It was Jesus’ hands that lifted the weary, that comforted the sorrowful, that blessed the children, that welcomed the sinner, that touched the leper, that healed blind eyes, that opened deaf ears, that fed the multitude, and that washed the disciple’s feet.

— It was His voice that calmed the sea, that spoke peace to the fearful, that cast out demons, that brought life from death, that delivered the captives, that brought peace to the fearful, , that reassured the doubter, and that gave hope to the downcast.

— It was His face that looked upon the needy with compassion, that shed tears of sorrow at the loss of a loved one, that shone like the sun with eternal glory, and that expressed the joy of doing His Father’s will.

— It was His hands and feet that were nailed to a cross.

— It was His side that was pierced with a spear.

— It was His body that died and was raised from the dead.

The eyewitness accounts of the coming of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospels is a declaration of praise to each of us this Christmas Season—

Jesus came in a way that fulfilled so much;

Spoke in a way that taught so much;

Lived is way that revealed so much;

Blessed in a way that gave so much;

Died in a way that provided so much;

Arose in a way that conquered so much;

Loved in a way that meant so much.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:20 (NKJV)

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

A Heart for Jesus: Mary, A prepared heart

Mary:  A prepared heart that receives God’s promise

“Are you ready for Christmas?” I couldn’t begin to add up the amount of times I have been asked this challenging question by friends, coworkers, and store clerks throughout the years. No one likes the thought of being unprepared, especially at Christmas when there are so many things we need to do.

Whenever our lives get busy it’s important that our hearts don’t become overwhelmed. We need to be watchful that our Christmas preparation and celebration of Jesus does not distract us from our relationship with Jesus.

In the opening chapters of the book of Luke we are introduced to a few individuals whose hearts were prepared to “receive their King.” Included are Mary, Simeon, Anna, and the Shepherds. Although they lived at a different time, and were under different circumstances from our lives today, we can be encouraged to know that the things we see in their hearts can also be in ours.

When the book of Luke begins there was no Christmas Season. “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night” had not yet been written. The #1 song for believers at that time could have been titled, “How Long, O Lord? How Long?” The story of Mary begins in Luke’s first chapter. She lived during a very dark time in the history of her people. Nearly 400 years had passed since the words of Malachi had been written, and the Jewish people were still waiting for the promised Messiah. It is in the midst of this darkness, and the crushing presence of Rome that the spotlight of God’s mercy and grace shines the brightest. Mary is about to receive the greatest blessing ever given to any woman!

When Mary awoke on the day the angel Gabriel was going to pay her a visit, she had no idea who was coming to her house, or what the reason for the visit would be. She didn’t know this was God’s appointed time for the promise of the Messiah to be fulfilled, and she didn’t know she was to be God’s chosen vessel to carry the life of her Savior within her.

Mary’s story is one of a heart prepared for God’s visitation. When Mary first heard the words that Gabriel spoke to her, she was perplexed and responded with her mind. None of it made sense and so she asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” When the angel gave her more details, Mary’s next response was not from her mind, but from her heart. She knew this was not a time to reason, but a time to believe.

Here is a paraphrased version of her response, “I hear and receive your words, for I know they are God’s Words. I will keep them and cherish them in my heart. I am His servant-vessel and welcome Him to do in me all that He has promised.” This is an amazing, in-the-moment response from a young, engaged, teenage girl who just heard she was about to become pregnant through the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit.

Mary didn’t resist or argue. She didn’t offer another option or try to come up with a better plan. She didn’t try to put the angel off or ask for a few more weeks to think it over. She didn’t say, “This is not a good time for me! I love what you said and want to be the one chosen for this amazing privilege, but could it happen after I’m married so I won’t have the reproach of carrying a child without a husband.”

Mary’s heart was ready to trust, and ready to receive. It was a listening heart, a yielded heart, and a welcoming heart! It was a heart that heard God’s promise, and a heart of faith that was reassured by the words, “With God nothing will be impossible.”

This holiday season, as we remember Jesus’ birth and the first Christmas, our hearts can also welcome the reality of His presence. As we experience one of the busiest times of the year we can be assured—that His peace will fill our hearts, that His praise will be upon our lips, and that His joy will flood our souls. May your faith respond to His presence and to His promises, and may your heart-response to Him always be, “Let Your will be done in me according to all that You have spoken.”

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. This article first appeared at DaySpring.com  

Change

Now [in Haran] the LORD had said to Abram, “Go away from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you…So Abram departed [in faithful obedience] as the LORD had directed him. Genesis 12:1, 4 AMP

Perhaps this is a time of change for you. If so, it will be a change based upon clear direction from the Lord. It is a step that will take you down a new pathway and away from the familiar, the convenient, or the comfortable. It is also, like for Abram, a step that will open new adventures of faith. God will go before you and guide you to His appointed place.
.......
This is an adaptation of an excerpt from Roy's latest book, A Place at His Table - 365 Daily Devotions, which will be releasing in December 2019. It may be pre-ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/Place-at-His-Table/dp/1644544458

©2019 Roy Lessin, DaySpring, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

#DaySpring #MeetingintheMeadow #APlaceatHisTable #Devotions

Anxiety, Not Welcome

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad. 

Proverbs 12:25 AMPC

Anxiety—don’t carry it, walk with it, eat with it, live with it, or go to bed with it. Don’t entertain it, support it, encourage it—not in big things or little things, present things or future things, pressing things or perplexing things. It is a foe not a friend, a downer not an edifier, a binder not a freer. It will quickly introduce you to its close cousins, fret and fear. When anxiety knocks at the door of your heart or mind, be sure to renounce it, reject it, and refuse it any place.

.......

This is an adaptation of an excerpt from Roy's latest book, A Place at His Table - 365 Daily Devotions, which will be releasing in December 2019. It may be pre-ordered here.

©2019 Roy Lessin, DaySpring, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

#DaySpring #MeetingintheMeadow #APlaceatHisTable #Devotions

He Comes to Us

Join us as we begin to share from Roy's newest book, A Place at His Table - A 365 Day Devotional. Be sure to catch the details on how to pre-order below! .......

He is the Protecting Shepherd -Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

LORD, don’t hold back Your tender mercies from me. Let Your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. Psalm 40:11 NLT

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 insecure sheep,
He is the reassuring Shepherd.

...... This is an adaptation of an excerpt from Roy's latest book, A Place at His Table - 365 Daily Devotions, which will be releasing in December 2019. It may be pre-ordered here.

©2019 Roy Lessin, DaySpring, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Now Unto Him

Now unto Him-

Who is the love;
Who holds the hand;
Who knows the need;
Who helps us stand.

Who binds the wound;
Who mends the soul;
Who heals the heart;
Who makes us whole.

Who stills the storm;
Who rights the wrong;
Who stops the foe;
Who makes us strong.

Who brings the hope;
Who wipes the tear;
Who gives the grace;
Who holds us near.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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

He Remains

God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26 NLT2

 

When our energy is depleted, His power remains strong.

When our prayers grow silent, His intercession remains constant.

When our understanding is unclear, His way remains certain.

When our legs grow weary, His grip remains firm.

When evil seems triumphant, His judgement remains sure.

When all doors are closed, His pathway remains opened.

When things are shaking, His Kingdom remains unshakable.

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

The Lord Almighty

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)

There is power in heaven. All power! All power is in the Father. All power is revealed in the Son. All power is manifested through the Holy Spirit.

Nothing can add to God’s power and nothing can diminish His power. His power is perfect and His power is eternal.

The power of His word created all. John 1, Hebrews 1, Colossians 1 The power of His breath gives life. Genesis 2:7 The power of His gospel saves to the uttermost. Romans 1:16, Hebrews 7:25 The power of His blood cleanses the stain of sin. Isaiah 1:18 The power of His voice raises the dead. John 5:28-29 The power of His command stills the strongest storm. Luke 8:24 The power of His name brings the crippled to their feet. Acts 3 The power of His finger casts out demons. Luke 11:20 The power of His touch brings healing. Matthew 8:3 The power of His hand imparts blessing. Mark 10:16 The power of His promise means nothing can separate you from His love. Romans 8:38-39

"May God Almighty bless you.” Genesis 28:3 (NKJV)

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

What We Do

What we do is for the Lord…this is our mission.

What we do is in the Lord…this is our place.
What we do is unto the Lord…this is our motivation.
What we do is with the Lord…this is our source.
What we do is through the Lord…this is our strength.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). Romans 11:36 (AMP)

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