Meeting in the Meadow, by Roy Lessin

Monday, January 9, 2023

My Morning Prayer: Jesus Reaches Out to Touch You

My Morning Prayer: Jesus Reaches Out to Touch You
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley, Meeting in the Meadow

Jesus Reaches Out to Touch You
-Roy Lessin

He [Jesus] put forth His hand, and touched him (Luke 5:13 KJV).

He reaches out to the sick and brings healing.
He reaches out to the hungry and provides bread.
He reaches out to the guilty and extends mercy.
He reaches out to the repentant and brings forgiveness.
He reaches out to the lepers and makes them clean.
He reaches out to the fearful and gives them peace.
He reaches out to the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.

My Morning Prayer
-Marina Bromley

Father, I invite You to come and sit with me. Let me feel Your presence—Your Spirit covering me, the warmth from Your hand on me, the gentle beat of Your heart as I draw near to You.

I come to You broken and hurting. I am guilty, and I repent for the wrongs I have done against You. I am fearful, brokenhearted, dirty, hungry and sick. Lord, forgive me through the blood of Jesus Christ.

If it be Your will, work these things out for my good, because I love You. Make me more like You, and teach me to extend Your grace and mercy to those around me that need a touch from You. In Jesus' name, amen.

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#mymondayprayer #roylessin #marinabromley #prayer #devotion #jesusreachesouttotouchyou #jesusreaches #jesustouchme

Friday, January 6, 2023

God Words: #1 Immutability

Happy New Year! We are blessed to be starting off 2023 with a new series from Roy called "God Words." Our prayer is that these new devotions will encourage you in your walk with God and remind us of all He is. -Marina

God Words: #1 Immutability
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

I, the Lord, do not change (Malachi 3:6).

Immutability means God will never change. He can’t. It is impossible. God cannot deny Himself. Who He is, He will always be. For God to change He would have to become less than He is, or more than He is.

God is perfect. He is without flaw, error, or weakness. He lacks nothing. He doesn’t need to improve, become wiser, more loving, or more mature. He is never taken by surprise, unprepared, or caught off guard. Nothing is too hard for Him, and nothing is impossible with Him.

Knowing God is immutable should help to quiet our anxious hearts. Here is one example why:

God tells us in Deuteronomy 7:9 that He is faithful. Because faithfulness is a part of who God is, it means He is eternally faithful. He can never change and become unfaithful!

Because God’s faithfulness will never change it means there will never be a time when we cannot trust Him with all our hearts, no matter what our circumstances or difficulties are.

Dwell in the land and feed on My faithfulness (Psalm 37:3).

It should bring our hearts great comfort and reassurance to know that if we have confessed our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us 1 John 1:9. Think how unthinkable it would be if 1 John 1:9 read, “God is unfaithful to forgive and cleanse us.”

When I cannot feel the faith of assurance, I live by the fact of God’s faithfulness. -Matthew Henry

Never dream of His failing you. The God who has been sufficient until now can be trusted to the end. -C.H. Spurgeon

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Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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).

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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

Monday, January 2, 2023

My Morning Prayer: Prayer Reflections from the 23rd Psalm

My Morning Prayer: Prayer Reflections from the 23rd Psalm

These past few days we have focused on the 23^rd Psalm, verse-by-verse and word-by-word. As we start the New Year, let’s pray Psalm 23 with detail and intention. May we remember the fullness of who He is in our life, in our world, and who He wants to be for us, and to us. He is aware of everything going on and will walk with us through it. He is intentional in the things He allows, and has purpose in it, to bring people closer to Him and to enlarge His kingdom. He is never caught off-guard, never surprised. He has a plan, and we are included in it. He is the Lord of everything in our past, and our future. May we live the coming year bringing Him honor and glory. -Marina

Prayer Reflections from the 23rd Psalm
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

1. The Lord is my shepherd.
What could be sweeter or dearer than to know that no one is nearer to your heart, your soul, or your deepest desires than the Lord. His caring eyes are upon you, His protecting hands are over you, His assuring voice speaks peace to you, His loving heart responds to you. You can come to Him in quietness and confidence, in faith, in hope, in trust, in thanks, in worship, in praise, and in prayer.

2. I shall not be in want.
You will never lack anything that His grace cannot give you, and He will give to you over and over again. Because His supply is abundant you will never be without…because His heart is full you will never be empty… because His resources are endless there will never be a time when He cannot meet your needs. Your life couldn’t be in better hands. As you come to Him in prayer remember how much He desires to bless you.

3. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
The place God daily brings you to is green with life and nourishment…Cool with delight and refreshing…pleasant with freedom and beauty. It is a place of rest to quiet your heart…a place of hope to renew your spirit…a place of joy to delight your soul. You are so blessed to be able to share the Lord’s quiet company. It pleases His heart to hear your heart speak words of praise and thanks to Him.

4. He leads me beside quiet waters.
In your quiet times or busy times God has a quiet place for you to rest. As you gaze upon the waters of the Holy Spirit, you will see the reflection of His face. His waters are present to wash you, delight you, and refresh you. They will bring you rest from all your fears, worries, cares, and anxieties. In His quiet place there is no weight upon you, no confusion around you, and no clouds over you. It is the place where you can peacefully open your heart to Him.

5. He restores my soul.
It is delightful to come before the Lord in quietness, in adoration, and in prayer. As you kneel at His feet and gaze upon His face, renewal gently comes. In your weariness you will be refreshed, in your weakness your strength will be renewed, in your heaviness your heart will sing a new song. His wings will be your covering, His faithfulness will be your shield, His loving kindness will be your sweet reward. Beautiful are His ways with you.

6. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
As you walk the paths of prayer you will be guided into everything that is true and right…into all that is best for you and others…into all that will take you to the highest expressions of His love. He will lead you by His way, by His words, and by His will. He will guide you down the paths that lead you straight to His heart. Each prayer He answers will be for your good and for His glory.

7. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
The greatest thing your heart can experience when you are alone with God is His presence. He is greater than any of His gifts. What He is to you is greater than anything He can do for you. His lovingkindness is better than life…in His presence is fullness of joy…at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. When God gives Himself to you there is nothing higher that He can give.

8. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Comfort in prayer comes by knowing that the One you look to is always looking out for you. He is not only with you, but He is actively doing everything that is necessary to keep you safe within His care. You can be assured that above you are His tender mercies…around you is His unfailing love…and underneath you are His everlasting arms.

9. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Even though you may have a lot of things that come against you, you have so much more going for you. While your enemies try to rob you of your joy, God spreads a lavish table before filled with spiritual blessings of goodness, kindness, and love. As you come to Him in prayer you find a table your soul can delight in…your faith can feast upon…and your heart can rejoice in.

10. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
When you come to God in times of personal dryness, when you are in need of help or healing, or when you are in a desert place, you will find His loving hand pouring out the oil of His Spirit upon you—comforting, refreshing, and filling you to overflowing. His oil heals and soothes, calms and relieves, and causes your face to shine with the glow of His presence.

11. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
How glorious and wonderful are the things that follow you into prayer—kindness, beauty, goodness, mercy, grace, favor, blessings, faithfulness and lovingkindness. In His great generosity He has given to you freely, bountifully, cheerfully. He has given you the finest, the highest, the deepest, and the fullest measure of His love. All that He has given He will continue to give to you all the days of your life.

12. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Prayer is for time, not for eternity. Now you are a pilgrim with needs to be met and people to minister to along the way. One day you will be in your Father’s house, the need for asking will have passed away and only praise will remain. In Jesus, your future is secure and your destiny certain. Today is the time to bring before Him all those who, like you, are in need of hope and encouragement on their journey home.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:1-6).

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#psalm23 #prayingpsalm23 #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #mymondayprayer

Sunday, January 1, 2023

23 for '23: Part 3

The title of our New Year posting is 23 for ‘23. It’s a reminder to carry Psalm 23 in our hearts throughout 2023. As His sheep, we will need the nearness of our Shepherd as never before.

Psalm 23 is being presented in an expanded format—word by word and thought by thought. It is our prayer that you will not only read Psalm 23 but feed upon every word.

This is Part 3 in our 3 part series. Please visit the blog here to read Part 1.

-Roy Lessin

23 for '23: Part 3
Psalm 23: Verse by Verse and Thought by Thought
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:1-6 KJV

Verse 5: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Thou: God of details. God who provides. God of Abraham. My God. Jehovah-Jireh. The One who sees, knows, cares.

Preparest: Every place prepared before I arrive; every provision met before I am even aware of what I need. Not haphazard. Not unplanned. God ordered. God ordained. God maintained. God sustained. All things set in dazzling array, in its proper place, for its proper purpose, in its proper time. The plans of His heart being revealed to me.

A table: God’s table. A daily table. A forever table. A table set by Him. His gathering place. His dining place. His banqueting place. Beautifully arranged. Abundantly filled. A place of feasting, of communion, of pleasures forevermore. A place where I can linger. A place to speak of His victories, to celebrate His joys, to learn of His ways, to share in the things that delight His heart and mine. A place where I can taste and see that the Lord is good.

Before me: My special place. Reserved. Complete with my own nametag. The perfect spot. Seated right next to Him. Receiving my portion directly from His hand. Leaning my head against His breast. Knowing I belong. Knowing I am right where I need to be, right where I want to be, right where I was made to be—breaking bread at the family table.

In the presence of mine enemies: Not in la-la-land. Not in a make-believe world where difficulties, temptation, and the forces of evil do not exist. Being in His light while surrounded by darkness; feasting upon His truth though lies and deception lurk in the shadows; receiving His affirming love while voices of accusation and condemnation cry out to get my attention. Knowing He is for me even though the enemy comes against me. Certain that no foe can keep me out, shut me out, or cut me off from what He has prepared at His table. Knowing He is my portion. Certain He is enough.

Thou: Abba Father: The One who calls me His own. God of every invitation to be where He is. The One who says, “Come follow Me.” “Come be with Me.” “Come know Me.” “Come sup with Me.” The Host of all hosts, greeting me with welcome arms.

Anointest my head with oil: Anointed by my King and High Priest. Anointed with the oil of gladness. Anointed with the anointment of His fragrance. Equipped. Enabled. Empowered. Holy Oil—making my face to shine; causing my heart to sing; softening my hands to touch others. Refreshing my life, restoring my soul, renewing my spirit—protecting me from being sun-parched, keeping me from being weather beaten, shielding me from all that would crack, dry, deplete, blister. Fresh oil. Ever flowing. Ever being poured out upon me.

My cup: Earthen cup. Heart-shaped. Cup of need. Cup of longing. Cup of thirsting after Him. Lifted up for filling. Lifted up to receive. Cup of trust, cup of faith. Cup of asking, cup of drinking. Cup of blessings, cup of everlasting joy.

Runneth over: God of abundance! Not drip-drops. Not trickles. Not small portions. Not rations. Not squeezing out a little moisture from His promises. God of the pouring forth. God of the rivers of living water. God of the waterfalls of grace. God of the artesian well. God of the showers of blessing. God of the exceeding, abundantly above. God of the overflow. God of the more than I could ever ask or think. God of so much more. Allowing me to drink of everything pure, everything good, everything right, everything true, everything satisfying, everything that flows from His heart to mine.

Verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Surely: No “I wonder?” No “I wish!” No “I hope so.” Without a doubt. Without a question. Without a concern or worry. Knowing whose I am and who He is. God of His word, God of His promise. God of His covenant. God of His oath. God who cannot and will not fail, falter, or forget.

Goodness: Not meanness. Not cruelty. Not unkindness. His goodness. The goodness of God—the goodness in His nature, the goodness in His character, the goodness in His being. Everything about Him good—every thought, every action, every attitude, every decision, every work, every word. Good in His will. Good in His gifts. Good to me. Good every moment. Good all the time. Extending goodness—not as little as He can give, but as much as He can give. Being the best, giving the best, wanting the best. Delighting to shower me with His graciousness—time after time, over and over, now and forevermore.

And mercy: Sweet mercy! Welcomed friend! Wonderful companion! New every morning. Fresh from His heart. Lifting condemnation. Releasing my past. Breaking my chains. Freeing my spirit. Renewing my hope. Securing my future. Mercy upon mercy. Mine in abundance. Kindly extended. Beautifully given. Graciously bestowed.

Shall follow me: Not “There’s a good possibility.” Not “A 50/50 chance.” Will follow! Never to retreat, abandon, or flee. Absolute certainty. Promised by the God who cannot lie. His benefits and blessings—mine to receive. Mine to enjoy. Mine to celebrate. Keeping me from being defeated. Guarding me from being pulled back into my past. Protecting me from being overtaken by things I cannot control. His divine escorts on my pilgrim journey.

All the days of my life: Not once-in-a-while. Not hit-and-miss. Not off-and-on. Now just on good days. All my days—cloudy days. Stormy days. Busy days. Quiet days. Days filled with joy. Days filled with sorrow. Days when I feel up. Days when I feel down. Every day. Every moment. Every step. Every breath. Every heartbeat.

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever: The forever place—not temporary, not momentary, not transitory. The Father’s house. My reserved place. My prepared place. Home! Never to be kicked out, evicted, or left homeless. The place my faith has thought upon. The place my hope is set upon. The place where I belong. The place I was made for. Jesus’ place. The place where I am welcomed. The place where I am received. Mine by inheritance. Mine by grace. Mine forever and ever. In the company of the redeemed. In the presence of the Lord. Seeing Him face to face. Knowing even as I am known. Completely fulfilling all my heart has ever longed for since the moment I took my first breath.

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Our complete collection of New Year postings by Roy Lessin are available in a 32 page booklet titled, Psalm 23—Verse by Verse & Thought by Thought. The booklet is appropriate to send to a friend as a card of encouragement, or to keep at your table to remind you how much your Shepherd cares. Details for purchasing are available online through Art Set Apart and you can purchase your copies here.

#meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #psalm23 #23psalm #newyear2023 #23for23 #newyeardevotional #newyearprayer #versebyverse