Unto You, Part 3: A Child Is Born, a Son Is Given

Unto You, Part 3: A Child Is Born, a Son Is Given
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The earthly life of Jesus Christ began in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, but before that time He was alive, not on earth, but in heaven. He was alive because He has always been. He is eternal. He is God. When He left heaven and came to earth He was given the name “Jesus” which means “the One who saves from sin.” Before that time, when He was with His Father in heaven, He was known to us by many other names. Some of those names were Yeshua, Jehovah, I Am, The Word, Holy One, Captain of the Lord’s host, and Messiah. He was there, in the beginning, making the world and all that is in it. Everything was created by Him, and for Him.
 
When He came to earth it was the most miraculous thing that had ever happened since creation. His life entered the life of a virgin named Mary. The Holy Spirit did this miraculous work within her. When Jesus entered the world as a baby He was God come in the flesh. He was Mary’s baby, but He was God’s Son. The Creator entered creation as a man. Why did He do it? He came because His Father sent Him—not to impress us with His miracle power so that He could entertain us, not to educate us so that we could learn more facts about heaven, and not to provide us with new rituals so that we could become more religious. He came because we had sinned and needed to be forgiven, because God wanted us brought back into a loving, holy, caring relationship with Himself, and because the only way that we could ever be reconciled to Him was by His Son coming and offering up His body as a sacrifice for our redemption.
 
What incredible love is in the heart of God for you. Jesus came as a visible expression of that love…nothing is deeper than that love. He came so that you could have sweet communion with Him…nothing is sweeter than that communion. He came to be your companion always…nothing is nearer than that companionship. He came so that His presence could be within you…nothing is dearer than that presence.
 
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV).

#christmasseries #christmasdevotions #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #gift #theonlygift #untoyou
 
©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

Unto You, Part 2: The Star

Unto You, Part 2: The Star

-Roy Lessin

One night, in one place, one special star appeared in the heavens, for one ordained length of time, and with one specific purpose. This star was like no other star that had ever appeared to human eyes. All the other stars in the night sky are lights declaring the glory of God, but the light of this star appeared to point the way to the One True Light. The other stars spoke of the great work of creation, but this star proclaimed the coming of the Creator to earth. The other stars revealed God’s handiwork, but this star revealed His mighty arm of salvation. There was something else that was unique about this star, it moved. It was God’s heavenly guide.
 
No one ever born has ever had his or her own star appear in the sky as a Divine birth announcement. No one has ever had a star appear as a travel guide giving directions to those who sought the place where the child lived. The wise men from the East not only saw the star and understood its uniqueness, but they also knew its purpose. They called the star “His Star,” the star of the King of the Jews. They also knew that “His Star” meant that God had sent His promised gift from Heaven, for they made their journey not as tourists, but as worshipers.
 
God always guides seeking hearts to the One True Light. As the world around us grows darker, the Light of Jesus Christ shines even brighter. It is a Light of truth, hope, purity, and beauty. That Light shines through the faces of those who know Him, through the eyes of those who see Him, through the character of those who walk with Him, and through the hearts of those who love Him.
 
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV

#christmasseries #christmasdevotions #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #untoyou
 
©2023 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

Unto You, Part 1: The Only Gift That Love Could Ever Give

Hello Friends!

Welcome to our new series, Unto You.

Join us each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout December as we focus upon Jesus—who He is, why He came, and the difference He makes within each heart that knows Him.

May your heart fully celebrate Jesus, God’s eternal love gift who was given unto you.

-Roy

Unto You, Part 1: The Only Gift That Love Could Ever Give
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
 
The modern world looks at Christmas and fills it with clutter, noise, and busyness. The clutter can blind us from seeing the truth, the noise can keep us from hearing the truth, and the pace can keep us from finding the truth. God’s gift came in such a simple way, in such a quiet manner, and in such a lowly place. The crowds and busyness were at the inn at Bethlehem, not at the stable where Christ was born. Who would look there for anything important to happen?
 
At the manger there were no flashing lights to get the crowd’s attention, no sale signs to attract the shoppers, and no bands to stir up some passersby’s excitement. But, out of town, on a peaceful hillside, the heavens opened. A few humble shepherds, whose hearts were ready to listen, heard the most remarkable message that had ever been spoken.
 
Today, God is still drawing us back to the quiet waters of salvation, the lowly place of worship, the peace of His presence, the simplicity of the cross, the beauty of His face, and the only gift that Love could ever give...God’s only begotten Son.
 
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)

#christmasseries #christmasdevotions #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #gift #theonlygift #untoyou

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

Reflections From the Heart of God, Part 6

Reflections From the Heart of God, Part 6
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

He calls you by name. You are His beloved child, the apple of His eye, and the delight of His heart.

Today you are in the exact place He wants you to be, and tomorrow He will be with you as He has always been—in goodness, in kindness, and in faithfulness.
 
You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance (Psalm 65:11 NKJV).

#reflectionsfromtheheartofgod #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #helovesus

©2023, 2005, Roy Lessin, DaySpring. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

My Morning Prayer: The Humble Place

My Morning Prayer: The Humble Place
-Roy Lessin and Marina Bromley

The Humble Place
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15 NLT).

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 reveals to us our true needs and causes 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.

My Monday Prayer

-Marina Bromley

Lord God, You are my Father and Shepherd. You provide for me and direct me. You guide me to where I need to be in life circumstances and surround me with exactly what I need to be more dependent upon You. Thank You.

As the world is focused on the material things of Christmas, help me to continue to look in the manger, being grateful for all You have given me. Thank You for walking with me through difficult circumstances, for being Light in this dark valley, for comforting me in physical and emotional pain, for providing for me before I know what I will need for tomorrow. The "manna" of Your body and blood is more than enough to carry me through each day. I praise You for the forgiveness of my sins. I rejoice that You will return again one day. Give me courage to testify of Your goodness, which far surpasses worldly possessions.  Help me to be content in the "just enough" for today, and to trust You for tomorrow. Continue to make me transformed into Your likeness, to be filled with Your riches, and to be walking in the fullness of Your joy as You work within me Your eternal purpose. I ask all this in humility, that You loved a sinner such as me. In Jesus' name, amen.

#mymorningprayer #mymondayprayer #cometothetable #thehumbleplace #godprovides #heisenough #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow #marinabromley #devotion #prayer #devotionandprayer

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