Roy Lessin/Meet Me in the Meadow

[Judy Harder]

Today, may the blessing of God come in fullest measure—to you, in you, on you, over you, around you, and within you;

May you know and experience the fullest measure of His favor—His hand working all things for the good on your behalf;

May you know the smile of His pleasure—knowing that all is well between your heart and His;

May He provide you with the means and the opportunities to bring the heart of His goodness to others—blessing them in ways they never expected.

May God bless you in a way that is perfectly suited for you!

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each one according to the blessing suited to him. Genesis 24:28 AMP

[Judy Harder]

A Sunday Scripture
Jul 15, 2012 01:30 am | incourage




Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

~ Isaiah 40: 30-31

[Judy Harder]

Returning to Bethel, Part 1
Jul 16, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


And he (Abram) went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Genesis 13:3-4 NKJV

When Abram left Haran he received the covenant promise of God, assuring him that God would bless him and make him a blessing, and that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. However, Abraham needed to wait until he arrived in Canaan before God gave him the promise of the land.

It was here, in the land of Canaan, that Abram camped near Bethel. It was here that he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord, and it was here that Abram returned after traveling to the land of Egypt during a time of great famine and difficulty (Genesis 13:1-3).

We could say that Bethel was Abram's returning point and anchor point in the land of Canaan. It was here he was assured that he was in God's appointed place—it was not to the south, in Egypt, that God would fulfill His covenant promises to Abram and his descendants.

Like Abram (Abraham), every heart needs a Bethel—a place to return to, a place where you can remember what God spoke to you and how He revealed Himself to you in His mercy and love. Bethel is not the place where God meets with the multitudes, but with the individual. Bethel is your private place alone with Him.

Bethel is the place of prayer where you hear more from God than He hears from you. Bethel is where God assures you He will be with you in your journey, where you make your vows to God and come into agreement with His plan, where you are assured of His presence and His call upon your life.  It is at Bethel where you plant your feet, build your faith, establish your going, and build your altar of worship and devotion.

It is good for your heart to return to Bethel when you face times of uncertainty and conflict, pressures and insecurity, persecution and misunderstanding as you step out in obedience to follow the Lord.

[Judy Harder]

Classic Tuesday: You Can Because He Can (a repost)
Jul 17, 2012 04:00 am | Mandy


Today I would like to share the post, You Can Because He Can, originally featured December 2, 2009. It has blessed many readers in the past and I hope it's a blessing to you once again.

God Bless,
Mandy Butler

You Can Because He Can

I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Job 42:2 NKJV

You can ask the Lord
because He will not give you a wrong answer.
You can wait upon the Lord
because His timing is always perfect.
You can trust in the Lord
because He makes no mistakes.
You can hope in the Lord
because He holds your future.
You can rest in the Lord
because He is in control of your life.
You can lean upon the Lord
because He is completely faithful.

[Judy Harder]

Returning to Bethel, Part 2
Jul 18, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel. Genesis 28:18-19

Jacob, like Abraham, was someone who needed to return to Bethel. Jacob had his first experience at Bethel soon after leaving his home and setting out to visit his uncle, Laban, in a distant land.

Jacob had left home with the blessing of his father, Isaac, and with the urgent counsel of his mother, Rebecca, who feared for Jacob's life because of the anger and jealousy of his brother, Esau.

On his journey, the Bible tells us that Jacob "...came to a certain place and stayed there overnight." What a night it must have been—away from home, alone, uncomfortable, uncertain, distressed, and wondering what was ahead. Would Esau pursue him? Was his life in danger? How would Laban treat him? Would he find the wife his parents entreated him to find?

What happened to Jacob that night was something he never imagined.With a rock for a pillow, Jacob stretched out upon the ground and fell asleep. In the night, Jacob dreamt about a ladder that reached from earth to heaven and upon it traveled the angels of God. And that was just the beginning! Following the angels, God Himself appeared to Jacob—It was in this place, at this time, and in this way that God's covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac became God's covenant promise to Jacob. From that night on, Jacob knew that the land where he slept was his land, and that through his seed, all the families of the earth would be blessed.

To make this night even more amazing, God revealed His personal love and care for Jacob. God reassured Jacob with these words, "And behold, I am with you and will keep you (watch over you with care, take notice of) wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you." Genesis 28:15

Jacob was blown away! The encounter with God was so full, so powerful, and so meaningful that Jacob could no longer sleep. When Jacob awoke it was nothing but "WOW!" "I'm not in the middle of nowhere," he thought, "I'm at the gateway to heaven...this is God's house...I saw Him...I heard Him...I know Him...He has revealed Himself to me."

Jacob was in awe of God...Jacob feared, he trembled, he revered...he turned his stone pillow into a pillar and anointed it to mark the stop. It became his place of dedication and surrender to the plan and purpose of God—and Jacob called the place Bethel (God's house) and made a vow to serve God for the rest of his life.

Do you carry God's promise in your heart? Do you have assurance that He is not only the God of others, but that He is also your God? Do you hear him saying to you, as He spoke to Jacob so many years ago, "I am with you and will keep you. I will not leave you... I will fulfill all I have told you." Has He heard you say "yes" to His call and "yes" to His promise? Is it settled in your heart that you will serve Him all the days of your life?

[Judy Harder]

Returning to Bethel, Part 3

Jul 20, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


AND GOD said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel. Genesis 35:1

It was in the land of Haran, 20 years after leaving home, that Jacob heard the voice of the Lord calling him to return to the land of promise. When God spoke to Jacob, He identified Himself as the God of Bethel (the place where Jacob first anointed the pillar and made his vow to God).

Upon Jacob's return to the land, God told Jacob to return once again to Bethel. When Jacob arrived at Bethel, God manifested Himself to Jacob and reassured him with a "welcome home" blessing.

Through this blessing God reaffirmed the promise of the land and the impact of Jacob's descendants upon the earth. God also did a new thing and changed Jacob's name to Israel (the man who encountered God). This was a key time for Jacob to refocus upon the purpose and plan of God for his life, and to also renew his dedication and devotion to the one true God.

Is this a time for you to return to your Bethel? Is it a time for you to renew your vows and refocus your faith? Returning to Bethel will bring you back to worship, to surrender, to trust, and to the covenant promises of God.

For many, returning to Bethel can mean allowing your heart to take you back to where you first met the Lord, where He first revealed Himself to you, or where you first placed all at the feet of Jesus in full devotion, surrender, and trust.

For some, returning to Bethel may actually involve traveling to a geographical place and recalling what God did for you there. As J. H. Jowett reminds us, "Let us get back to the altar of early consecration. It would be a blessed thing to visit the very spot where we made our first spiritual vows, to go to the little village church, to sit in the old pew, and under the influence of sacred memories renew our covenant with the Lord."

Whether you are actually returning to a geographical place, or to a place of the heart, it is important for you to wait upon the Lord and listen for His voice reassuring of His call upon your life and His care for you.

Has He called you away from the familiar, from friendships, or from family ties? Have you stepped out in faith and obedience to His call and followed Him to His appointed place? Has God brought you to your Bethel and promised to bless you there?

Have you stepped away from your God-given place? Have you become insecure, fearful, or troubled? If so, it is time to return to Bethel—to the altar of surrender, to the place of worship, and to the sweet fellowship and communion you had with God. Return to Bethel and allow God to assure you once again of His presence, His promises, His blessing, and His love.

[Judy Harder]

Fret buster #104
Jul 23, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


In whatever measure you fail to live without anxious care you are living beneath your privilege in Christ. Anxiety is a proof of doubt of either God's ability or His willingness to care for you adequately.

Fretting over a trial delays the day when God can remove it. He knows all about it and designed it only for your enrichment and the perfecting of His work in you.

God has provided a place of rest for weary hearts which requires no years of waiting to attain, only the courage and faith to appropriate immediately.

God can give you rest in the struggle before the time comes for you to rest from the struggle.

-J. Elwin Wright



I lay my wants on Jesus;
all fullness dwells in Him;
He heals all my diseases,
He doth my soul redeem:
I lay my grief on Jesus,
my burdens and my cares;
He from them all releases,
He all my sorrows shares.
I rest my soul on Jesus,
this weary soul of mine;
His right hand me embraces,
I on His breast recline.
I love the Name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;
Like fragrance on the breezes,
His Name abroad is poured.

-Horatius Bonar, 1843 (His first hymn)



He never comes too late;
He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in vain;
Until He cometh, rest.

-B.T.

[Judy Harder]

Total Trust
Jul 25, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:14 NKJV

In our relationship with the Lord, our trust in Him is vital to spiritual growth, health, and vitality. We cannot walk with the Lord in light and in truth unless we trust Him. To put our trust in the Lord means that we entrust our present lives into His hands and our future to His keeping.

Commitment is a key element of trust. When there is mistrust, doubt, or fear we will hold back and keep our distance. Without total trust in the Lord we will not depend upon the Lord, but instead, we will begin to depend upon other things, other resources, or other people.

What does it mean to put our total trust in the Lord?

Total trust in the Lord is a consistent trust (Psalm 34:1).
Since we don't have a part-time God, we can have a full-time trust.

Total trust in the Lord is a complete trust (Proverbs 3:5).
Total trust keeps us from half-hearted living.

Total trust in the Lord is a confident trust (Psalm 9:12).
When we trust in the Lord we do not need to second-guess the Lord.

Total trust in the Lord is a contented trust (Psalm 5:11).
A trusting heart is the gateway to a joyful life.

Total trust in the Lord is a comforting trust (Psalm 36:1)
Trust quiets the soul and keeps it from seeking shelter in places outside of the Lord's covering.

Total trust in the Lord is a conquering trust (Psalm 18:2)
The victory of the Lord is the certainty and security of every trusting heart.

Remember, trust doesn't guess, it knows; it doesn't wish, it believes; it doesn't panic, it rests; it doesn't flee, it abides; it doesn't despair, it hopes; it doesn't retreat, it stands.

[Judy Harder]

Kingdom Work
Jul 27, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


God works and we work, but God must work first. Our work is to respond to His working. The work we do in the Kingdom is the result of His working in us. Our work comes from Him, our work is done through Him, and our work is done for Him.

Regarding Paul's work in the Kingdom he tells us, "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10."

Kingdom work can be viewed in three different ways:

The first way is "Work." Work with a bold capital "W" represents God's working out His will according to His plan and purpose. God's plan for us includes what He wants us to do through our obedience. God's purpose for us includes what He desires to accomplish through our obedience.

The second way is "WORK." Work with all caps represents our self-effort in the Kingdom as we try and serve the Lord in our strength. This type of work is hard, tiring, frustrating, and discouraging. We strive and work hard but see very little fruit.

The third way is "work" with a lowercase "w." This represents our co-working with the Lord. He is the capital "W" and we are the lowercase "w." This is work that flows out of grace. As co-workers in the Kingdom we take upon us the yoke of Jesus as we yield fully to Him. His is the easy yoke that brings our spirits rest, produces fruit, and glorifies the Father.

[Judy Harder]

Great Quotes
Jul 30, 2012 04:00 am | Roy


[Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them. Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man's eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17 AMP

"A defect of vision may be found among men and women of the Kingdom of God—they see the enemy; they do not see their allies. They see the giants, but they do not see the Lord; nor do they catch a glimpse of the mighty but secret forces which follow His command...Nothing so saps our fighting power as the apprehension that we are sure to be beaten...It is vital that we cultivate the spiritual sight which gives reality to the unseen world."  – J.H. Jowett