Meet Me In The Meadow by Roy Lessin http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com An Online Devotional Journey Fri, 18 May 2012 13:48:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 The Kingdom and The Church http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/the-kingdom-and-the-church/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/the-kingdom-and-the-church/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:49 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3888 And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: Colossians 1:18 KJV

The kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28 AMP

Here are a few examples of how we may view the Church and the Kingdom…

As the Church we are members of Christ’s body; In the Kingdom we are royal subjects of the King.
As the Church we are humble servants; In the Kingdom we are mighty warriors.
As the Church we surrender all; In the Kingdom we are more than conquerors.
As the Church we take up a towel; In the Kingdom we take up a sword.
As the Church we kneel in prayer; In the Kingdom we stand our ground.
As the Church we are His bride; In the Kingdom we are His ambassadors.
As the Church we build up one another; In the Kingdom we pull down strong holds.
As the Church we rescue the perishing; In the Kingdom we reign in life.
As the Church we demonstrate His love; In the Kingdom we demonstrate His power.

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/the-kingdom-and-the-church/feed/ 0 What If… http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/what-if%e2%80%a6/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/what-if%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:24 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3886 What if we gave thanks in everything …would not our spirits be free of ungratefulness?
What if we rejoiced evermore…would not the sounds of grumbling and complaining be silenced?
What if we count it all joy…would we not have more pleasant dispositions?
What if we drank of the fullness of His Spirit…would not our cups run over?
What if we sought first His kingdom and His righteousness…would we not have changes in our priorities?
What if we cast all our cares upon Him…would we not be free of our burdens?
What if everything was by prayer…would we not be released from our anxieties?
What if we let the Lord fight our battles…would we not walk in victory?
What if we let not our hearts be troubled…would we not live free of fear?
What if we delighted ourselves in the Lord…would not our hearts be satisfied?
What if we let Christ be our life…would we not be fulfilled and completed?
What if our minds were stayed upon Him and our hearts trusted Him fully…would we not walk in the peace that passes understanding?
What if we took His yoke upon us…would we not find His rest?
What if we said “yes” to what He is asking of us in this moment…would we not know the joys of pleasing Him?

What if we did it now?

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/what-if%e2%80%a6/feed/ 2 Counterfeit and Genuine http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/counterfeit-and-genuine/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/counterfeit-and-genuine/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:44 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3874 …Not as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27

Today, there is a freedom that still leaves people bound; a life that still leaves people in grave-clothes; a fulfillment that still leaves people unhappy; a busyness that still leaves people empty; a security that still leaves people fearful; a camaraderie that still leaves people lonely; a wealth that still leaves people bankrupt.

Not so with Christ! His is the freedom that still brings people liberty; the life that still brings people righteousness; the fullness that still brings people joy; the purpose that still brings people fulfillment; the shelter that still brings people peace; the companion that still brings people completion; the wealth that still brings people eternal riches.

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/counterfeit-and-genuine/feed/ 5 Blessed http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/blessed/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/blessed/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:11 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3870 Seen any spectacular sights lately? Heard any beautiful sounds that touched you deeply? Imagined anything that stirred you to the depths? You haven’t seen, heard, or even scratched the surface of imagining what God has prepared for you.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/blessed/feed/ 2 Without Jesus… http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/without-jesus%e2%80%a6/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/without-jesus%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:25 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3866 The power of the Gospel is found, not only in Jesus’ words, but in Jesus’ life. The Gospel is revealed both in what He said and what He did. In the Gospel we see that Jesus not only came to give us His teaching, He came to give us Himself; He not only came to give us the kingdom, He came to give us the King; He not only came to give us salvation, He came to give us the Savior.

If we, as believers in the Gospel, tried to follow Jesus’ teaching without Jesus’ life we would be attempting the impossible. If we tried to live in the kingdom without the King we would be powerless. If we sought salvation without the Savior we would still be in our sins.

Jesus told us to obey His word, but He also said, “Follow Me.”  We cannot follow His word without following Him. The Gospel means that Jesus is everything to us.

Where would we be without Him? We would be…

Without every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
Without salvation (Ephesians 2:5-8)
Without His working in us (Ephesians 2:10)
Without intimacy with God (Ephesians 2:13)
Without peace (Ephesians 2:14)
Without encouragement (Philippians 2:1)
Without consolation (Philippians 2:1)
Without light (Colossians 1:13)
Without His kingdom (Colossians 1:3)
Without redemption (Colossians 1:14)
Without forgiveness (Colossians 1:14)
Without fullness (Colossians 1:19)
Without reconciliation (Colossians 1:20)
Without holiness (Colossians 1:22)
Without hope (Colossians 1:27)
Without all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)
Without a spiritual walk (Colossians 2:6)
Without edification (Colossians 2:7)
Without completion (Colossians 2:10)
Without spiritual life (Colossians 2:13)
Without purpose (Ephesians 1:11)
Without love (Ephesians 3:19)

Thankfully, He lives and all things are yours when you are in Him! There is nothing you lack when He is your all.

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/without-jesus%e2%80%a6/feed/ 6 Fret buster #102 http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/fret-buster-102/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/fret-buster-102/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:43 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3861 We have been brought through deep troubles, yet the Lord has not forsaken us. Anything human—plans, devices, fears—man naturally indulges in; but to trust in God implicitly is, foolishly enough, only a kind of last resource. But it is when we come to that, that we see the folly of anything else.” –Mackay

One day a mature Christian was beset by manifold temptations and weaknesses. On his knees before God he waited for comfort and help. Then these words suddenly were brought to his mind:  “The God that is enough.”

“Where are those words from? Are they in the Bible?” he wondered.

“The God that is enough.” Why, that would be the literal rendition of El Shaddai—that name of Jehovah that implies “perfect sufficiency—all sufficiency”; and the Christian had the comfort of which he stood in need.

But that comfort necessitates nearness to God. All fullness is indeed in Him—all that of which I stand in need; but it must be appropriated moment by moment. The manna must be consumed day by day; and each new day a fresh supply must be given, received and utilized.

What a beautiful verse is that in Deuteronomy 33:12, “…The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders.”

No other dwelling place is safe for us, His children, but that “between His shoulders.”  -Edith Norton

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/fret-buster-102/feed/ 5 Peace is Yours… http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/peace-is-yours%e2%80%a6/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/peace-is-yours%e2%80%a6/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:30 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3858 When you have laid all things at His feet,
When you have placed all things in His Hands,
When you have entrusted all things to His keeping,
When you have released all things into His care,
When you trust Him no matter what—
Then the peace that passes all understanding will rule in your heart.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3-4 AMP

I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return. 2 Timothy 1:12 NLT

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/peace-is-yours%e2%80%a6/feed/ 35 No Matter What… http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/no-matter-what/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/no-matter-what/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:15 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3853 Today’s posting is from our guest writer, Bonnie Jensen, senior writer for DaySpring Cards…so many of you have been blessed and encouraged by Bonnie’s devotionals.

***

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! ROMANS 5:3-5

In life, a mind filled with expectations often leads to disappointment. As a child, those disappointments lead to temper tantrums. As an adult, putting expectations in anything or anyone other than God leaves us feeling ‘shortchanged.’

It seems like a simple concept. Hope in God alone. Don’t put wholehearted hope in people, job, plans, or circumstances. But hoping in the unseen over the right-in-front-of-us is not always easy. Actually, it’s not easy at all. It’s hard. Especially when we find ourselves hemmed in with troubles.

God allows us to be challenged by something we don’t like to face, or be reminded of, as impatient, anxious, children. Difficulty makes us stronger. Failed expectations build our faith and develop passionate patience in us. Not the patience that eases our nerves at a stoplight, but the kind that makes us say, “No matter how deeply I’m hurting…no matter how many tears have fallen…no matter how hard this is…I’m holding onto hope—and God—with everything in me. I will not give up—because He will not let me down.

Our days are written, our purpose is in place, and our hearts are being shaped. Today. Hope in what you know and believe, accept with patience what God has brought you to, and get ready to receive what God will generously pour into your life. It’s going to drench you with the kind of blessings only He can give.

Bonnie Jensen


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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/05/no-matter-what/feed/ 15 This One Thing! http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/this-one-thing/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/this-one-thing/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:37 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3849 In this moment…there is only one voice for you to hear, only one choice for you to make, only one step for you to take, only one Master for you to serve, and only One heart for you to please that really, truly matters!

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:28-29 NKJV

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]]> http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/this-one-thing/feed/ 2 Bless the Lord http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/bless-the-lord/ http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/bless-the-lord/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:29 +0000 Roy http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/?p=3847 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV

Bless the Lord—

The Provider and your Provision,
The Healer and your Health,
The Caring One and your Care Giver,
The Blessed One and your Blessing,
The Holy One and your Holiness,
The Almighty One and your Strength,
The Giver and your Gift,
The Creator and your Creativity,
The Deliverer and your Deliverance,
The Protector and your Protection,
The Defender and your Defense,
The Warrior and your Victor,
The Eternal One and your Ever-Present Help in time of need.

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