Jesus: Commander of the Lord's Army

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as a commander of the army of the LORD, I have now come." -Joshua 5:13-14 NIV

When he met the Lord, Joshua assumed He was a common warrior, not the Divine Warrior. Joshua was in for a huge surprise. He was not confronting a human figure, but the pre-incarnate Son of God. Joshua attempted to find out which side this warrior was on and discovered that the Commander of the Lord's Army did not come to take sides but to take over.

Joshua did not meet a high ranking military officer but the commander and chief of heaven's army. He was in charge of the entire angelic host and His warriors could never be defeated. It didn't take Joshua long to discover that he was not on a battleground but on holy ground.

Jesus is your Mighty Warrior in every battle of life that you face. He has come to take over and be in charge of every circumstance you face. The next time you consider who is against you, quickly turn your attention to who is for you—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the heavenly host, the body of Christ, and the prayers of God's people are all on your side. You cannot lose, for He is victorious; you cannot be defeated, for He has conquered all; you cannot fail, for He will always lead you in triumph.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. 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
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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!
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©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.

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©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
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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.
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©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

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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.

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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.

Jesus: Bright and Morning Star

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. -Revelation 22:16 NKJV

When in an airplane on a dark and cloudy day, it's always exciting to break through the clouds into the bright sunlight that shines above them. In the atmosphere of our lives, every moment that we soar above the clouds we experience the sunlight. Jesus is the sunlight in our day, and He is much more. As the Bright and Morning Star, He bathes the start of each day in brightness. 

Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I sense that a spirit of darkness or heaviness has come upon me during the night. This sense of darkness, whatever the source, does not have to set the tone for my day. Jesus is my reality, and each morning He is my Bright and Morning Star. It is His light that sets the tone for my day, not my troubling dreams, not my feelings, not my temptations, not my subconscious mind, and not any spirit of darkness. The brightness of Jesus' name means that He makes the beginning of each day magnificently clear and good.

As the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus also brings hope into our day. We were made to hope, to plan, to imagine, and to anticipate certain things. We all need something to look forward to. Jesus is our hope and our expectation. He is coming one day according to His promise. He will not let us down. He will not disappoint us or fail to meet our expectations of a bright new day and a glorious forever.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: The Bridegroom

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly and heartily on account of the bridegroom's voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete. 
-John 3:29 AMP

There are many things that can bring families and friends together, but a wedding is one of the most joyous. I recently attended the wedding of a member of our family. As we entered the church, we took seats a few rows from the front. Soon the parents, grandparents, and special family members were ushered in and took their seats. Next, the groomsmen came out and walked the bridesmaids down the aisle. With excitement and expectation, everyone waited for the entrance of the bride. 

The processional began, and the bride entered the back of the church. As the heads of everyone turned toward the bride, my attention shifted to the bridegroom. I intently watched him watching her. As she moved toward him, his eyes were fixed upon her. His face beamed with delight. He was overcome with her beauty. Tears began to pour down his cheeks. The closer she came, the more he glowed. He couldn't wait to make her his own. That moment helped me realize how much Jesus, our Bridegroom, is looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb and the coming of His bride, the church.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Author and Finisher of our Faith

 -Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. -Hebrews 12:2 KJV

We have often heard the comment, "You can start well, but you must also finish well." This can leave us with a wrong impression if we take it to mean that Jesus starts our Christian life for us, but it's up to us to finish it.

We start out our Christian life by focusing our faith on the finished work of Christ upon the cross; we maintain the Christian life by focusing our faith upon the risen Christ; we carry a hope for our future by focusing our faith upon the second coming of Christ. Past, present, and future are all tied up in Christ alone.

We start well, live well, and finish well by keeping the eyes of our faith fixed upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Jesus is the starting point and the ending point of our faith journey. You will finish well, not by seeing how many good things you can do, but by never taking your eyes off Jesus.

Looking to Jesus means to pay attention to Him and to put your focus upon His face. Looking to Jesus leads to following Jesus. What did Jesus do when you looked to Him for salvation? He saved you. What does Jesus do when you look to Him each day? He lives His life in you. What will Jesus do when you look to Him at the end of your journey? He will come for you.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Apostle

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Wherefore...partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. -Hebrews 3:1 KJV

One of the meanings of an apostle is someone who is sent from one place to another as an ambassador. An ambassador is an official representative of the highest rank. Jesus Christ is our Apostle, our "Sent One." He was sent from heaven to earth as God's representative and ambassador. "I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell" (John 12:49 AMP).

When people are in danger or trouble, a rescue team will be sent out to find those people and bring them back to safety. As a young boy living on the east coast, I went with my mother for a vacation at the beach. During our visit we were caught in a powerful hurricane. When my uncle learned of the danger we were in, he immediately came to rescue us.

God the Father sent His Son to rescue you. After His death and resurrection, Jesus told his disciples that He was sending them into the world in the same way the Father had sent Him (John 20:21). Jesus has called you to be His "sent one" and represent Him to the world as His ambassador.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. Photo by Marla Koch.

Jesus: Life

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

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

The following quote is something everyone can relate to: "I had planned a great day for myself, filled with the things I like to do, but when I got out of bed, life happened and my plans changed." Every day, for each of us, life happens—people oversleep, burn the toast, hurt their backs, get emergency phone calls, have flat tires, lose their keys, miss a flight, catch a cold, or experience a thousand-and-one other unexpected things. When we say "life happens," what we really mean is "circumstances happen."

Life as viewed through our circumstances is only one type of reality. A mother may say, "My reality is taking care of the kids." A businessman may say, "My reality is meeting deadlines." Everyday is filled with the reality of the circumstances of life.

However, Jesus said that He is the Life—the Reality. Circumstances happen around us; the life of Jesus happens within us. The reality of Jesus Christ is greater than the reality of our circumstances. It is Jesus' reality ruling in our hearts. Life happens to everyone, but it is His reality that can keep us moving through our circumstances in quietness, in confidence, in righteousness, in peace, in strength, and in joy. When life happens, let Jesus happen in you.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved. 
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Jesus: Amen (and the guidelines for a writing opportunity!)

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

These are the words of the Amen. -Revelation 3:14 NIV

When we hear the word "amen,"  we often think of it as the end to a prayer. We wait to hear it as a clue that the person who is praying has finished. When Jesus says He is the Amen it means something far greater. It means that we can be certain about everything He is and everything He has to say. Think of it as God saying, "My Son has My final approval over everything He has said and over everything He has done."

When Jesus says amen to His Father's words, He is saying that He is the fulfillment of everything God has said. In modern language, saying "you can count on it" is a way of convincing someone that what we have said is reliable, dependable, and trustworthy. Amen is that and more. Amen is the vow, the guarantee, and the oath of God stating that everything He has said has been sealed with a binding promise.

Amen can also mean "verily."  When Jesus used it at the beginning of a sentence he was saying to those around Him, "Listen, what you are about to hear is absolutely true and accurate. Everything I have to say is exactly what you need to hear." Have you read something today in Scripture where Jesus has said to you, "You can count on it"? That is an Amen! 
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

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Guidelines For a Writing Opportunity

A Writing Opportunity!

As we turn the corner to Thanksgiving, we wanted to open up an opportunity to have you, our readers, share your thoughts on "Thankful and Grateful".

Please read the guidelines carefully!

1. This is open to all of Roy's followers here at Meeting in the Meadow on Facebook, and our blog at meetinginthemeadow.com. Each author may only submit one selection.

2. Submissions must be on the topic of "Thankful and Grateful" and must be within 100-200 words and E-mailed with the subject heading "Thankful and Grateful" to meetinginthemeadow(at)gmail(dot)com (replace words in parenthesis with proper symbols).

3. A minimum of 3 submissions will be chosen to share here on Meeting in the Meadow. Each submission chosen to share will receive a copy of Roy's new release, "Psalm 23: Verse by Verse and Thought by Thought" by Roy Lessin, in either e-book or print. Writers selected from within the U.S. will be given a choice of e-book or print. Writers selected outside of the U.S. may only receive an e-book copy, and it must be emailed to an active Kindle account. No exceptions. If prize transfer can not be achieved, it will be forfeited.

4. Submissions must be original to the author and will be checked for plagiarism. Submissions must be received by November 16th, 2020. Selected Authors will be contacted with a request for permission to edit and share, and we must receive their permission prior to sharing the week of November 23rd-27th, 2020.

5. All selections are final. This event has no connection to Google Blogger, or Facebook, and is meant in goodwill to inspire and encourage thankfulness and gratefulness.

-Marina

https://www.amazon.com/Psalm-23-Verse-Thought-ebook/

Jesus: Light of the World (And a Writing Opportunity!)

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." -John 8:12 NKJV

The world is a dark place. There are many false lights that beckon us: Look to me. Follow me. If we attempt to walk by "false lights" (2 Corinthians 11:14), we only go deeper into darkness. But there is a Light that shines brighter than any lighthouse and can save any battered vessel from being smashed upon the rocks of sin. Jesus, the Light of the World, will always banish the darkness of selfishness, evil, fear, confusion, bondage, and dead religion.

When Moses built the Temple, he followed God's pattern. There was an outer court which had the natural light of the sun; there was the inner court which had the light of the menorah; there was the holy of holies which had the light of the glory of God. The glory of God was the light of His presence.

The light that Jesus brings to us can only come from His presence within us. Jesus said that His light is the light of life. He lights up the deepest place within us—where we live, move, and have our being. When His light is in us we are spiritually alive. His light in us means that every step we take is a step of life. Following His light doesn't rob us, it restores us; it doesn't sadden us, it gladdens us; it doesn't weaken us, it strengthens us.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

A Writing Opportunity!

As we turn the corner to Thanksgiving, we wanted to open up an opportunity to have you, our readers, share your thoughts on "Thankful and Grateful". 

Please read the guidelines carefully! 

1. This is open to all of Roy's followers here at Meeting in the Meadow on Facebook, and our blog at meetinginthemeadow.com. Each author may only submit one selection. 

2. Submissions must be on the topic of "Thankful and Grateful" and must be within 100-200 words and E-mailed with the subject heading "Thankful and Grateful" to meetinginthemeadow(at)gmail(dot)com (replace words in parenthesis with proper symbols). 

3. A minimum of 3 submissions will be chosen to share here on Meeting in the Meadow. Each submission chosen to share will receive a copy of Roy's new release, "Psalm 23: Verse by Verse and Thought by Thought" by Roy Lessin, in either e-book or print. Writers selected from within the U.S. will be given a choice of e-book or print. Writers selected outside of the U.S. may only receive an e-book copy, and it must be emailed to an active Kindle account. No exclusions. 

4. Submissions must be original to the author and will be checked for plagiarism. Submissions must be received by November 16th, 2020. Selected Authors will be contacted with a request for permission to edit and share, and we must receive their permission prior to sharing the week of November 23rd-27th, 2020.

5. All selections are final. This event has no connection to Google Blogger, or Facebook, and is meant in goodwill to inspire and encourage thankfulness and gratefulness. 

-Marina

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