GIVE IT TO GOD

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:31,32 KJV

I used to have a terrible temper before I invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour.  I was angry all the time.  Jesus gave me a new heart and took the anger, hatred and bitterness away.  I still get angry at times but as soon as I realize what is happening, I give it to God and ask Him to help me.

One of the most vicious attacks from satan is when he tempts us to be angry with each other and say and do things that not only hurts others but also hurts God and breaks His heart.  It is okay to be angry as long as we forgive the ones who hurt us just as God forgives us when we hurt Him.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26, 28).  When we go to bed angry without forgiving the ones who have hurt us, the devil uses that to cause problems with one another.  It’s like putting coal on a fire.  We must forgive from our heart.

How dare you and I go to a Holy God and ask Him to forgive us if we’re not willing to forgive those who have hurt us?  There was only one perfect person who ever lived or will live and His name is Jesus.  We hurt others just as they hurt us.  If we don’t forgive from our heart, we haven’t forgiven them.

Heavenly Father, we’re sorry that we hurt You at times when we don’t forgive the ones who hurt us.  Help us to love one another unconditionally.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 31, 2015

HIS LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 8:12 KJV

Some people are sadder during the winter time than they are in the summer because of the darker days.  I am one of those people.  I need it to be bright all of the time.  If you are like me, we have good news.  Jesus said that if we will follow Him, we won’t ever have to walk in darkness because He is our light.

Jesus tells us in the Bible.  “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:15, 16).

Do people see the light of Jesus shining through us when we smile and by our actions?  Do they know that we love Jesus by our actions?  Are we an encouragement or a discouragement to our family, to our loved ones and to everyone we see?  What about Jesus?  Are we an encouragement to Him?

If God lays it on your heart to send an encouraging email or a letter to someone through the mail or to call someone on the telephone, don’t wait!  Do it as soon as God lays it on your heart.  Your email, your letter or your telephone call may be what God will use to encourage someone.  We need to be obedient to Him.

Heavenly Father, please help us to be an encouragement to one another.  Thank You for the many times You have encouraged and comforted me through the years.  I love You and appreciate You so much.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 30, 2015

BEGINNING OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 KJV

When God gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins, it was the beginning of unconditional love.  Jesus, our precious and loving Saviour had never sinned yet He walked that lonely road to Calvary and there allowed them to crucify Him for your sins and for my sins.  Nobody loves us like God and Jesus love us.

I believe when Jesus said “It is finished” as He was hanging on the cross that He died of a broken heart.  Jesus could have come down from the cross but He stayed on the cross because He loves His Father and wanted to be obedient to Him and finish the mission His Father had given Him.

God loves you unconditionally.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you.  You can hurt Him every day and break His heart but He will always love you.  Knowing that He loves us unconditionally should make us want to do everything we can do to make Him happy.

Heavenly Father, not only do You love us unconditionally You also comfort us when we are discouraged and heartbroken.  Thank You for loving us so much that You gave Jesus to die for our sins.  Thank You, precious Father, for adopting me into Your family.  I love You so much.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 29, 2015

WHAT WE DO

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV

It’s not what we say to people that proves to them that we love them, it’s what we do for them.  We should tell them we love them but then we should do something for them so they will know that we love them.  If God tells us He loves us but never does anything for us, we would wonder if He really loves us.

However, God does many things for us every day.  The most important thing He has done to prove to us how much He loves us is giving His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  What an amazing unconditional love flowed from the heart of our Heavenly Father for us on that day.

We can tell Jesus that we love Him every hour of the day but it is what we do for Him that proves to Him that we love Him.  How can we prove to Jesus how much we love Him?  We can prove to Him that we love Him by serving Him with all of our heart and with all of our time, not just when it is convenient for us.

If we want to serve Jesus and make Him happy, we will have to shut off the television and get out of our comfort zone.  Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins.  He had never sinned but He allowed them to crucify Him for your sins and for my sins.

Heavenly Father, help us to love one another unconditionally.  Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that You died on the cross for us.  I love You with all of my heart.  Jesus, You are worthy to be praised and adored.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 28, 2015

WORSHIP FROM OUR HEART

“O COME, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

Psalm 95:1-3 KJV

I am so glad that the Bible tells us to make a joyful noise.  I have been told that I can’t sing.  I was asked to leave a choir and it broke my heart but I needed to leave because I was not singing on key.  However one glorious day when I go to Heaven, I will sing in the Heavenly choir for all eternity and I will sing on key.

When we sing to Jesus do we mean what we are singing?  We sing “I surrender all” but have we surrendered all?  We sing “Just as I am” yet many times we try to work our way or buy our way into heaven.  Do we worship Jesus when we sing or are we thinking about other things?  We should worship from our heart.

May God help us to worship from our heart and concentrate on Jesus instead of wondering if the pastor will stop preaching on time or worrying if the roast we left in the oven will burn before we get home.  O how Jesus deserves to be praised, loved and adored.  He is the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Who You are, for all You have done for us and for giving Jesus to us not only to be our Saviour, but also to carry us through all our dark valleys.  Thank You for adopting me.  Jesus, I love You.  Thank You for dying for me and for never leaving me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 27, 2015

ANOTHER VICIOUS ATTACK

“I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Psalm 18:1-3 KJV

Sunday was a wonderful day.  God spoke to my heart and helped me write three devotions.  When we serve Jesus, it makes satan very angry so I knew satan was going to attack me.  I was right because the very next day satan tried his best to discourage me and stop me from serving Jesus.

Jesus has warned us to be on the alert for the attacks of satan.  However, sometimes we forget to be on the alert and without any warning satan launches another vicious attack against us.  When Jesus warns us about something, we need to take Him seriously because He loves us and He wants to protect us.

Jesus said “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8, 9).

Heavenly Father, I love You so much.  Thank You for loving me and protecting me and for giving me the privilege of serving Your beloved Son.  You are a compassionate, tender loving Father and I appreciate You so much.  Thank You for the many times You have comforted me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 26, 2015

GOD MISSES US

“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry.”

Luke 15:21-24 KJV

Someone said to her friend “My daughter is getting married and I am sad because I am going to miss her.  You probably don’t understand how I feel because you have so many children but my daughter is the only child I have.”  Have you ever felt lonely and been brokenhearted when one of your children left home? 

Her friend said to her “I do understand how you feel.  It doesn’t matter how many children we have because when my daughter moved out it broke my heart.”  Do you realize that it breaks God’s heart and He misses us when we don’t talk to Him every day?  God misses us when we don’t spend time with Him.

There are times when we hurt God.  Hopefully, we don’t hurt Him on purpose but He is faithful to forgive us and to reassure us that He still loves us.  Let’s make a special effort to do things we know will make God happy.  How do we make Him happy?  We make Him happy by being kind and loving to His Son.

When is the last time you told God that you love Him?  Did you hug Him today with your kind and loving actions and words?  Do we love Him unconditionally just as He loves us or do we just love Him when He does what we want Him to do?  May we always love Him and praise Him and give Him glory.

Joanne Lowe

March 25, 2015

ADOPTED BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

Romans 8:14-16 KJV

I heard someone say “My parents didn’t love me”.  I used to feel the same way.  I really believed my parents didn’t love me.  However, I know now that they did love me even if they didn’t tell me that they loved me or hugged me.  There are some people who don’t feel comfortable showing their emotions.

There is a verse in the Bible that comforted and encouraged me during those years when I believed that my parents didn’t love me.  “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).  What really breaks my heart is that my parents didn’t know how much Jesus loved them.

I cried because I wasn’t always loving and respectful to my parents and asked God to forgive me.  It’s easy for us to point the finger of guilt at someone else.  However, it’s a lot more difficult for us to point the finger of guilt at ourselves, isn’t it?  The Bible makes it very clear that we are not to judge each other.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” (Luke 6:37).  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If we will make sure our own heart is right before God, we won’t have the time to judge others”.

Are we hugging others for Jesus?  If we don’t feel comfortable hugging them physically, we can hug them with our words.

Joanne Lowe

March 24, 2015

HIS GRACE REALLY IS AMAZING

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:4-9 KJV

One of my friends gave me a beautiful picture for Christmas.  It has the words to the hymn “Amazing Grace”.  As I was looking at it hanging on my wall, I thought His grace really is amazing.  One of the definitions I found for grace in Webster’s Dictionary is “the free unmerited love and favor of God”.

There is absolutely nothing we can do to deserve God’s love and our salvation.  It is because of God’s unconditional love for us and His amazing grace that He gave Jesus to die on the cross for your sins and for my sins.  O how God loves you!  Rev. John Newton wrote the beautiful hymn “Amazing Grace”.

This hymn brings tears of happiness to me to know that God loves me so much.  “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home”.  Thank God for His unconditional love for us and for His amazing grace.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and for Your amazing grace.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  I love You and I appreciate You allowing me to serve Your Son. You are a loving, protective Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 23, 2015

JESUS IS NEAR

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”

Psalm 34:17-19 KJV

Pastor John McFarlane Moore wrote one of my favorite hymns “Burdens are Lifted At Calvary”.  I love these words in this beautiful and inspiring  hymn.  “Troubled soul, the Saviour can see, Ev’ry heartache and tear; Burdens are lifted at Calvary Jesus is very near.”

Not only does Jesus see our tears, He also feels every heartache we have.  Jesus knows how it feels to be discouraged and heartbroken.  When our precious Saviour was here on earth, I’m sure that He was discouraged many times because of being ridiculed and rejected.

We know that Jesus is near to us but are we near to Him?  Does Jesus have first place in our heart and in our life?  How much time do we spend with Jesus during the day?  If we are too busy to fellowship with Jesus, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedule and give Him first place.

Heavenly Father, thank You for comforting us when our heart is breaking and we feel like we can’t take another step or give another smile.  Jesus, thank You for the many times You have lifted me up and carried me through the dark valleys in my life.  I love You so much.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 22, 2015

SECURE IN HIS LOVE

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.   Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:35-39 KJV

No matter what happens, there is nothing and nobody that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  It doesn’t matter how many vicious attacks satan hurls at us, or how many lies that he tells us because we are protected and are safe and secure in God’s love. 

Civilla Durfee Martin wrote one of my favorite hymns “God Will Take Care of You”.  “No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you; Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.”  I’m so glad that God takes care of us.  We have a loving, compassionate and protective Heavenly Father.

Are you weary?  Do you feel like going to bed and staying there?  Lean upon God and allow Him to take care of you.  God loves you so much that He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for your sins so you can be saved and go to Heaven for all eternity.  You are secure in His love.  O how God loves you! 

Joanne Lowe

March 21, 2015

DISCOURAGED

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.  If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

John 14:26-28 KJV

Are you discouraged because you sometimes feel that nobody cares about you or understands you?  Jesus understands how you feel.  I believe there were several times that Jesus was discouraged when He was here on earth because people continued to reject Him, condemn Him and ridicule Him.

Jesus knows how it feels to be rejected, humiliated, made fun of and scorned.  I think there were many times when He felt all alone except He knew that He was not alone because His Father was always with Him except when He was hanging on the cross dying for your sins and for my sins.

Our Heavenly Father is a holy God and He can’t look on sin so He couldn’t look at Jesus on the cross because Jesus had taken our sins on Him.  How it must have hurt God when He had to turn away from His beloved Son.  What an unconditional and matchless love God and Jesus have for you and for me.

There are times when our pastors feel like giving up because they are discouraged.  Let’s remember to pray for and encourage our pastors because they do so much for us.  Thank God for our pastors and their families.

Joanne Lowe

March 20, 2015

ARE WE WATCHING

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” 

Matthew 26:36-40 KJV

When Jesus saw His disciples sleeping instead of watching like He asked them to do, He must have thought they didn’t care about Him.  How can we sleep when someone we love is in pain?  Jesus has done so much for us and He asks so little of us.  Are we watching as Jesus has asked us to do? 

Has our heart broken as we cried for all of the pain and the anguish, the ridicule and the beatings that Jesus suffered and endured for us because He loves us so much?  Have we had a Gethsemane?  Have we prayed all night for people who haven’t accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour?

May God help us to watch and pray every day.  There are many people who are hurting and lonely.  There are some people who are even suicidal.  They need to know that someone cares if they live or die.  It is very important and even urgent that we love one another unconditionally just as Jesus loves us.

Have you told Jesus how much you love Him?  When is the last time you hugged Jesus with loving words and actions?

Joanne Lowe

March 19, 2015

GOD DEFENDS US

“AGAIN there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.  And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou?  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

Job 2:1-3 KJV

When satan attacks us with his poisonous vicious lies and people say cruel things to us that aren’t true, God defends us.  What a healing salve and comfort it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that God will defend us against satan and against all those who try to hurt us.

God defends us but He also corrects us when we need it.  There have been a few times when God had to take me out to His woodshed.  However, He always reassured me that He still loves me.  Parents should follow the example that He has set and tell their children they still love them no matter what they have done.

Heavenly Father, thank You for defending us and for loving us even when we fail You and hurt You.  I pray that we will do things that make You happy instead of doing things that hurt You.  I pray for every child in the world.  May they feel Your love for them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 18, 2015

WE CAN FACE TOMORROW

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.”

Matthew 28:5-7 KJV

In the words of Bill and Gloria Gaither who wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn “Because He Lives”, we can face tomorrow because Jesus rose from the grave.  It doesn’t matter how many crises we might have in our lives today our precious Saviour will help us and encourage us. 

Thank God for Jesus, our risen Saviour Who has risen from the dead just like He said He would.  I love the words in this beautiful hymn.  “God sent His Son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!”

If you are discouraged and heartbroken, please don’t give up.  Cry out to Jesus and ask Him to help you.  He loves you so much He died on the cross for you and He will be faithful to carry you through all your dark valleys and set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.

What a privilege it is to be loved by the Saviour of the world.  One happy day, He is coming back for us and we will see Him.  O how I long for that day.  We will see Him face to face and we will also see our loved ones again.  What joy and what happiness will be ours for all eternity.

Joanne Lowe

March 17, 2015

GOD VALUES YOU

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:29-31 KJV

Have you ever thought nobody loves you and that God doesn’t love you?  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that He not only loves you unconditionally, He also values you.  We put our valuables and the things important to us in safes but God puts you in His heart because you are precious to Him.

You are so valuable to God that He gave Jesus to die on the cross so you can be saved.  O how God loves you and values you.  He loves you and values you so much that He even knows how many hairs you have on your head.  If you ever think God doesn’t value you, remember He gave His Son to die for you.

We are valuable to God but He should be much more valuable to us.  He loved us when we were sinners and were not worthy to be loved.  However, because of His compassion, grace and unconditional love for us and the cleansing blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we can go into the presence of God.

Heavenly Father, You are compassionate, forgiving, and tender and You really love us.  Thank You for caring about us and for loving us unconditionally when we were so unlovely.  I love You so much, dear Father, and I appreciate all that You have done for me through the years.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 16, 2015

ARE WE FLEEING

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.  But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.  But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea so that the ship was like to be broken.”

Jonah 1:1- 4 KJV

Are we fleeing from the call of God on our life?  It doesn’t matter where we go because God sees us.  “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?  or whither shall I flee from thy presence” (Psalm 139:7).  We may not be called to be a foreign missionary but every Christian is called to spread the unconditional love of Jesus.

We read in the Bible.  “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).  God spoke to my heart on October 4, 1998 and called me to be a home missionary.  I didn’t know what God wanted me to do.

When I walked down the aisle to the altar to surrender to the mission field, the pastor told me to start telling people Jesus loves them and God would let me know what He wanted me to do.  It wasn’t until January 24, 2005 that God gave me the privilege and the mission of encouraging pastors and writing devotions.

What joy and happiness has been mine to have the privilege of serving Jesus these past ten years.  If you want to have real happiness and joy in your heart, start serving Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

March 15, 2015

JUST THE OPPOSITE

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”

Psalm 144:15 KJV

Have you ever heard someone say this “familiarity breeds contempt”?  It is just the opposite with Jesus because the more we know Him; the more we understand how much He loves us and how much He has done for us.  We should be more familiar with Jesus than with anyone else.  What a precious Saviour!

When we are lonely, discouraged, and brokenhearted and feel like giving up, He is our Cheerleader.  If we will listen with our heart, we will hear Him say to us “You can do it because I will help you.”  Jesus picks us up in His arms of love and carries us through all the dark valleys in our life.

Bill Gaither wrote the beautiful hymn “The Longer I Serve Him”.  It describes why my heart overflows with joy to have the privilege of serving Jesus.  I love these words.  “Since I started for the Kingdom, Since my life He controls, Since I gave my heart to Jesus, The longer I serve Him, The sweeter He grows”.

Pastor Robert Clair Loveless wrote the hymn “Sweeter Than the Day Before”.  I have had the privilege of serving Jesus full time for ten years and it is true that every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.  Do you realize that it is a privilege just to say the precious name of Jesus?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  May we be found faithful in our service to our precious Saviour all the time, not just when it is convenient for us.  Plant a desire in our heart for us to know Jesus better than anyone else.  Jesus, thank You for loving me and for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 14, 2015

RECIPE FOR PEACE

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 KJV

Rev. Warren D. Cornell wrote the inspiring hymn “Wonderful Peace”.  I love the words in this hymn.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  “I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control; For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul!”

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3).  If we will trust Jesus and keep Him first in our thoughts, Jesus will keep us in perfect peace.  Not only does Jesus give us peace, He also gives us happiness.  We have a loving Saviour.

Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote a beautiful and inspiring hymn about Jesus “Happiness Is The Lord”.  “Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor, Having a change in my behavior, Happiness is the Lord.”  I invited Jesus into my heart on August 14, 1980 and I have been so happy and peaceful.

Jesus gives us peace and happiness and He gives us something else.  He also gives us joy.  “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).  If you want joy, stay in the presence of Jesus.  O how He loves you!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  Precious Saviour, I love You with all of my heart.  Thank You for loving me so much that You died for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 13, 2015
  

FISHERS OF MEN

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

Matthew 4:18-20 KJV

There are people who get up very early in the morning to go fishing.  However, some people won’t get up early in the morning to allow Jesus to make them fishers of men.  Why is it that we can stay up very late at night to watch television but we are too tired to visit people who are hurting?

May we realize how important and how urgent it is to be fishers of men.  There are people who will not go to Heaven if Jesus comes back for us today or God calls them home.  O that we would fall in love with Jesus and do all that we can do to serve Him.  He not only loves us, He died on the cross for our sins. 

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for watching television so late at night and then are too tired to call and visit people the next day.  People who are lonely, hurting and who desperately need to know how much Jesus loves them and that He loves them unconditionally.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 12, 2015

IT IS WRITTEN

“AND Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil.  And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Luke 4:1-4 KJV

Have you ever been tempted to do something you know that you shouldn’t do?  I think if we are honest with ourselves all of us will have to admit that we have been tempted.  There is nothing wrong with being tempted.  Even Jesus was tempted but He never sinned.  He just said to the devil “It is written.”

Temptation only becomes sin for us when we do what we know we shouldn’t do.  “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  Jesus set the example for us to follow when we are tempted to do something wrong.  We should also say to the devil “It is written”.

Jesus has also told us to love one another unconditionally just as He loves us.  Can we honestly say from our heart that we always love one another unconditionally?  I can’t say that because there are times when I have to ask God to forgive me when I get angry about something.

Heavenly Father, help us to love one another unconditionally just as You love us.  Jesus, thank You for setting the example for us to follow when satan tempts us to do something wrong.  Father, may we do things that make You happy instead of hurting You and making You sad.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 11, 2015

GOD SEES US

“The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.  He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”

Psalm 33:13-15 KJV

We need to remember that God sees us.  He sees us when we do things that hurt someone.  He also sees us when we are kind and loving to one another.  What does God see when He looks at us?  Does He see things that make Him happy or does He see things that hurt Him and break His heart?

Someone said “What I do in my own home is my own business.”  That is not true because everything we do and everything we say is God’s business.  God sees us when we hit our spouse or our children and He also hears us when we say cruel words to them.  May God help us to be kind and loving to one another.

There is a big difference between spanking and hitting our children.  There are some children who hide when they hear their parents coming because they are afraid of their parents.  How comforting and reassuring it is to our battle scarred heart to know we don’t have to be afraid of our Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a Father we can trust and not have to worry if You’re going to hit us.  Your unconditional love for us and Your tenderness heal our broken heart.  Please help us to love our children and one another with unconditional love as You love us.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 10, 2015

ALL THE TIME

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”

Psalm 62:6-8 KJV

Our Scripture instructs us to trust in God at all times.  Can we honestly say that we trust Him all the time or do we sometimes doubt Him?  God has proved His love for us and faithfulness to us many times.  Rev. Thomas Obediah Chisholm wrote one of my favorite hymns about God “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”.

Our precious Heavenly Father is so faithful to us all the time.  What about us?  Are we faithful to serve His beloved Son?  Do we serve Him all the time or just when it is convenient for us?  I don’t think it was convenient for Jesus to come to earth and die for our sins on the cross but He came willingly.

May God help us to serve Jesus all the time.  It will make God very happy if we will get out of our comfort zone and serve His Son.  Our Saviour gave His life’s blood for us.  We should not only serve Jesus, we should be eager to serve Him.  We have a precious Saviour Who loves us so much He died for us.

Heavenly Father, You are a tender and compassionate Father and we love You.  Thank You for Jesus and for all that You have done for us and for all that You do for us every day.  Thank You for protecting us from the vicious attacks of satan and from the dangers in the world.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 9, 2015

PRAY FOR AND ENCOURAGE THEM

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah 3:15 KJV

God has given us pastors which feed us with knowledge and understanding.  However, pastors get discouraged at times just like we do so we need to pray for and encourage them.  When is the last time you prayed for your pastor and family?  A pastor said “Please pray for my wife because she takes care of me”.

Our pastors do so much for us.  They are on call twenty four hours a day.  There are times when they get up in middle of the night and go to the hospital to be with those who are sick.  There are times when pastors are criticized.  Many years ago, I received an email from a pastor who wrote this to me.

“My wife and I are very discouraged.  We were excited when we moved here but the people are not very friendly and sometimes they criticize me”.  May God have mercy on us if we are criticizing and hurting our pastor and family.  Our children need to hear us praying for and encouraging our pastor.

Heavenly Father, thank You for our pastors.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please encourage them and let them see fruits of their service to You.  Reassure them that You love them unconditionally and appreciate their service to You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 8, 2015

THE GREATEST GIFT

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:10-14 KJV

We give gifts for Christmas, for birthdays and for anniversaries but the greatest gift ever given was when God gave Jesus to us to save us from our sins.  How it must have hurt God when He gave His beloved Son to us because He knew that His Son was going to be beaten, abused, ridiculed and crucified for us.

Why did God give His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins when we don’t deserve to be forgiven?  It is because God loves us so much that He opened His heart of compassion and mercy to us.  What an amazing unconditional love flowed from God’s heart for us when He sent Jesus to die for us.

We have a tender loving, compassionate, merciful and forgiving Heavenly Father Who loves us unconditionally.  We also have a Saviour Who loves us so much that He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and there allowed them to crucify Him on the cross and endured pain that you and I will never know.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  We love You and appreciate You.  Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for our sins.  We love You, precious Saviour.  We love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 7, 2015

ARE WE GOING

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Isaiah 6:8 KJV

Have we answered the call of Jesus to spread His love?  Are we going?  We will have to shut off the television and get out of our comfort zone if we want to spread the love of Jesus to those who aren’t saved and to those who are discouraged, lonely and hurting.  Have you said to Jesus “Here am I; send me”?

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, said on one of her teaching tapes while talking about the people we sit next to in church.  “They look fine and they look darling but inside they are dying”.  Someone said “We’ve been to church together for twenty years but nobody knows me and my wife”.

Why is it that we don’t share what is in our heart with one another more than we do?  It could be because we don’t think people really want to know or they might not understand or even laugh at us.  There is someone Who wants to know and Who will always understand and His Name is Jesus.   

Heavenly Father, I love You so much.  Thank You for trusting me and for giving me the privilege of serving Jesus.  These last ten years have been the best years of my life.  What a joy it is to tell others that our precious Saviour loves them and that He loves them unconditionally.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 6, 2015

DID HE HEAR US

“GIVE ear to my words, O LORD, consider my mediation.  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

Psalm 5:1-3 KJV

Did we pray when we got up this morning or did we let other things distract us?  If we didn’t talk to God, then we not only hurt Him, we also broke His heart.  God loves us and He wants to fellowship with us.  When we don’t talk to Him in the morning, we don’t have a very good day.  It’s not His fault, it’s our fault.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us when we forget to talk to You or we just don’t take the time to pray.  We’re sorry that we hurt You.  Help us to listen to You when You tell us something just as You listen to us when we tell You something.  We love You, dear Father and we appreciate You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 5, 2015

I DON’T REMEMBER

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

Isaiah 43:25 KJV

Have you ever regretted something you had done and asked God to forgive you?  A couple of days ago I remembered something I had done for which I had asked God to forgive me.  Even though God has forgiven me for saying something unkind to this person, it still bothers me that I said it.

I told God that it still bothers me that I was unkind to this person and God spoke to my heart and said “I don’t remember you being unkind”.  When God forgives us, He not only doesn’t hold it against us again, He doesn’t even remember what we did.  What a faithful loving and compassionate Heavenly Father He is.

O that you and I would follow the example of our Heavenly Father and forgive those who hurt us and not hold it against them again.  I think we sometimes forget there was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His name is Jesus.  Our Saviour has commanded us to love unconditionally.

Heavenly Father, what a comfort it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that when You forgive us for something we’ve done, You not only forget it, You never hold it against us again.  Please help us to love and forgive others as You forgive us.  Thank You for caring.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 4, 2015

A GOOD ADDICTION

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8 KJV

There are many people who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex and all other things that hurt Jesus and break His heart.  However, there is a good addiction.  It is an addiction that every person in the world should have and that addiction is to be dependent on Jesus.  He will give us all that we need.

Jesus will not only give us everything we need, He will also give us things to make us happy.  Jesus wants us to be happy.  “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  What a loving Saviour we have.

If you have been looking for acceptance and happiness in the world and have become addicted to things that will only hurt you and make you more unhappy, give your heart and life to Jesus.  He will give you happiness and if you will stay in His presence you will also have the fulness of joy.

We read in the Bible.  “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).  I urge you to become addicted to Jesus and allow Him to fill your heart to overflowing with joy and happiness.  He loves you so much He died for you.

Joanne Lowe

March 3, 2015

    

TWO DEVOTIONS PRAISING JESUS

“I WILL bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

Psalm 34:1-3 KJV

I have written two devotions praising Jesus today as my heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for my precious Saviour.  He is worthy to be praised and adored.  He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!  There are not enough words in the world to tell you how much I love Jesus and how great He is.

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you so much that He walked that long lonely road to Calvary and died on the cross for you?  He endured an agony and excruciating pain that you and I will never know.  He did all of that because He loves you.

One of the definitions for endure in Webster’s Dictionary is “to experience (pain or suffering) for a long time”.  I believe when Jesus was hanging on that cross for us with the blood running down His body that He felt like the pain, the agony and the suffering would never end.  O how He suffered for our sins.

I have said this many times and I will say it as long as I have breath.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  Not only does He love you, He loves you unconditionally and He will never leave you not even for a minute.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

We know He loves us.  He has proved how much He loves us.  What are we doing to prove to Him how much we love Him?  Did you tell Jesus how much you love Him today?

Joanne Lowe

March 2, 2015

OUR FAITHFUL SAVIOUR

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Jeremiah 31:3KJV

Jesus is our faithful Saviour.  He never fails us.  When we need Him, He is always ready to help us.  Even when we hurt Him, He still loves us and helps us.  O that you and I would be like Jesus and love people even when they hurt us.  May God help us to love one another unconditionally just as Jesus loves us.

Joanne Lowe

March 2, 2015

GOD SAID

“COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”

Isaiah 40:1 KJV

God said for us to comfort His people.  He didn’t ask us to comfort them.  He told us to comfort them.  Are we doing it?  When we see people who are discouraged, brokenhearted and lonely, do we comfort them?  How do we comfort them?  We comfort them by telling them that Jesus loves them.

However, it is not enough to just tell them Jesus loves them.  We must prove to them that Jesus loves them by our kind words and loving actions.  One of the best ways to prove to them that Jesus loves them is to hug them.  If you don’t feel comfortable hugging people, hug them with loving words.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many times You have picked me up and rocked me when I was hurting.  You are a tender, compassionate and loving Father.  I love You and I appreciate You.  Thank You for caring.  I pray for every person who is hurting.  Please comfort them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 1, 2015