Saturday, October 31, 2015

ARE WE A BLESSING

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
Genesis 12:2 KJV

Ira B. Wilson wrote the beautiful hymn “Make Me a Blessing”.  Are we a blessing to others?  Not only is it a privilege to be a Christian, we also have a responsibility to be a blessing to others.  There are many people who are lonely and discouraged and feel like nobody loves them or cares about them.

Those of us who have invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour need to tell others how much Jesus loves them and cares about them.  There were times when people would come to my home and invite me to church but nobody ever told me that Jesus loves me.  I didn’t know Jesus loves me.

Do you know that Jesus loves you?  He really does love you.  He loves you even when you fail Him and hurt Him.  We all fail Him and hurt Him at times.  Jesus loves you so much He allowed them to crucify Him on a cross of horror and endured an excruciating pain that you and I will never know.

Let’s make a special effort to be a blessing for Jesus.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world.  O how I love Jesus.  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I’m living.  What a Saviour!   What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  I long to see Him face to face.  What a happy day that will be.

Joanne Lowe
October 31, 2015

Friday, October 30, 2015

WINGS OF LOVE AND SAFETY

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
Psalm 17:8 KJV

Pastor William Orcutt Cushing wrote one of my favorite hymns “Under His Wings”.  The words in this inspiring hymn are so true.  “Under his wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!  Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.”

I have many good friends and a very special best friend but as much as they want to they can’t take the heartaches from me.  They can encourage me and comfort me but only Jesus can be my Refuge when my heart is breaking.  O how I need Jesus!  I need Him every minute of every day.

His wings are not only a refuge in sorrow, they are also a place where we know that we are loved unconditionally and protected.  If you are hurting today, allow Jesus to cover you with His wings of love and safety.  Jesus will never leave you, not even for a minute.  He loves you so much He died for you.

Jesus tells us every day that He loves us but sometimes we play the television or radio so loud we can’t hear Him.  Jesus is not going to shout.  We need to be listening for His voice.  Years ago,  I left a church because they played the music so loud during the invitation, I couldn’t even pray.

I usually have Christian music playing all day but there are also days that I don’t listen to the music so I can talk to Jesus and wait for Him to speak to my heart.  He always speaks to my heart and tells me He loves me.  What a privilege to fellowship with the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!  O how I love Jesus.    

Joanne Lowe
October 30, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

HAVE WE DONE OUR BEST

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.  He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:14-16 KJV

Ensign Edwin Young wrote a beautiful hymn “Have I Done My Best For Jesus”.  “I wonder have I done my best for Jesus, Who died upon the cruel tree?  To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!  I know my Lord expects the best from me.”  Have we done our best for Jesus?  Every Christian has to answer this.

If Jesus comes back for us today, are we ready to meet Him?  Are we doing our best for Jesus?  Do we love one another unconditionally as He loves us?  May God have mercy on us if we are hurting Jesus because we aren’t loving one another as He has commanded us to love one another.

Doing our best for Jesus means we will have to shut off the television, get out of our comfort zone and go tell everyone we see that Jesus loves them unconditionally.  After all that Jesus has done for us, we should do everything we can do to make Him happy.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus.

Heavenly Father, there are times when all of us fail Jesus and hurt Him.  Please forgive us and put a desire deep in our heart to go and tell others of His unconditional love.  Thank You, dear Father, for the privilege You have given me these last ten years to serve Him.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 29, 2015


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

ONLY HIS LOVE

“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
Matthew 14:27-31 KJV

James Rowe wrote one of my favorite hymns “Love Lifted Me”.  Every time I hear these beautiful words or sing them, I get tears of gratitude to Jesus in my eyes.  “Love lifted me!  Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help Love lifted me”.  I know from personal experience that only His love can lift us from despair.

Many years ago, I had checked myself into a mental hospital because I had no desire to live.  I hated everyone and I was afraid of everyone and everything because I had been raped and beaten.  I crawled underneath my bed and it was under that bed in the mental hospital that Jesus came to me.

Jesus put His arms of compassion and love around me as He lifted me up from under the bed and He said “Joanne, I love you.  It’s safe for you to come out from under this bed.  I won’t let anyone hurt you”.  What joy filled my heart when He told me that He loves me.  Yes, only His love made me want to live.

If you are hurting today, tell Jesus.  Only His love can lift you out of the pit of despair.  Jesus really loves you and He cares about you.  He loves you so much He died on the cross for your sins so you can be saved and live with Him in Heaven forever.    

Joanne Lowe
October 28, 2015

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

WE MAKE THE DECISION

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  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 4:30-32 KJV

Many years ago while listening to a Billy Graham crusade, I heard Dr. Graham say in his sermon “Don’t you blame your parents for what you did.  There comes a time in everyone’s life when he or she makes the decision to do right or wrong.” That sermon really convicted me and I asked God to forgive me.

Until I heard Dr. Graham preach that sermon, I had blamed my parents for everything bad that had happened to me.  I was ashamed of myself for blaming my parents.  We need to understand that our parents are just people like we are.  They cry and hurt just like we do and they need us to love them.

We don’t know what happened to our parents when they were children that makes them act like they do.  A man’s dad threw him out of a second story window and so this man was abusive to his children.  Instead of judging our parents, we need to love them and pray for them.

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, said on one of her teaching tapes “Be kind to your children instead of always yelling at them.  They’ll probably faint.”  Let’s start being kind to our parents.  They need to see the difference Jesus has made in our heart and life since we asked Him into our heart.

Joanne Lowe
October 27, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE LOVED BY JESUS

“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 31:3 KJV

Webster’s Dictionary defines everlasting as “lasting forever”.  Think about it, Jesus, the Saviour of the world loves us with an everlasting love.  Even when we hurt Him and fail Him, Jesus still loves us.  He loved us yesterday.  He loves us today and He will love us tomorrow and for all eternity.

I write about the love of Jesus a lot because until we know Him and grasp in our heart how much Jesus loves us, we will never know real happiness.  Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote the hymn “Happiness Is The Lord”.  The words in this hymn are true.  I know this from personal experience.

I love these words in this beautiful hymn.  “Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start; I’ve found the secret, It’s Jesus in my heart!”  Our spouse, our parents, our children and grandchildren and our friends can’t give us true and lasting happiness.  Only Jesus can give us true happiness.

I wonder if we have ever really thought about what a privilege it is to be loved by Jesus.  If ever someone has a right to hate people, it is Jesus.  He was beaten beyond recognition, cursed, spat on, mocked and ridiculed and willingly died on the cross for our sins so we can be saved.  O, how our Saviour loves us!

Jesus, I love You with all my heart and I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  Thank You for dying for my sins.  You are so precious to my heart. 

Joanne Lowe
October 26, 2015


Sunday, October 25, 2015

OUR LOVING REDEEMER

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Luke 23:34 KJV

Avis Christiansen wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  The hymn is “Blessed Redeemer”.  “Father forgive them!” thus did He pray, E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away; Praying for sinners while in such woe No one but Jesus ever loved so.”  Those words came from His heart.

Jesus set an example that we need to follow when He said, “Father, forgive them”.  Can we honestly say that we ask God to forgive those who hurt us and really mean it?  Do we forgive those who hurt us?  We need to remember that none of us are perfect.  All of us sin and hurt Jesus at times.

How dare you and I go to a Holy God and ask Him to forgive us if we’re not willing to forgive the ones who hurt us?  If we want the ones we hurt to forgive us, we had better forgive the ones who have hurt us.  There was only one perfect Person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus.

Our loving Redeemer not only shed His blood on the cross for our sins, He never leaves us not even for one minute.  O how Jesus loves you and me.  His love is unconditional and it will never end.  He loves us as much today as He did yesterday and He will love us as much tomorrow as He does today.

What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!  He is the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God.  How it thrills my heart to know that one day every knee with bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord!

Joanne Lowe
October 25, 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

DO THEY SEE HIM

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV

Early this morning as I listened with joy in my heart and tears in my eyes to Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris singing the beautiful heart touching hymn “I’ve Just Seen Jesus” on a Gaither Video, I got so excited because one day I will have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  How I long for that day!

My heart’s desire is to make Jesus happy.  I want others to always see Jesus in my smiles and hear His love for them in what I say to them.  All of us should want others to see Jesus in us.  Do they see Him in us?  There are many people who are lonely and hurting and they don’t believe anyone loves them.

I know this is true because for over forty years I really believed nobody loved me or cared if I lived or died.  I didn’t know Jesus loves me.  No one had ever said to me “Joanne, Jesus loves you”.  If someone had told me that Jesus loves me, I don’t believe I would have gone through that crippling depression.

It is very important that our children see Jesus in us and that our family sees the difference Jesus has made in our heart and life since we invited Him into our heart.  Do our children know we love Jesus by the kind words we say and the kind things we do?  May God help us to lead our children to Jesus.

Joanne Lowe
October 24, 2015



Friday, October 23, 2015

BELLS OF 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 KJV

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt wrote a very beautiful hymn “He Set the Joy-Bells Ringing” The words in this hymn are beautiful.  “He placed my feet upon the Rock, The only sure foundation; He shows me wonders of His grace, The blessings of salvation.”  Jesus set the joy bells ringing in my heart.

What a precious Saviour we are privileged to know. One glorious day we will see Him.  On that happy day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!  Jesus will finally get the respect that He so richly deserves.  How I long for the day when I will see Him face to face.

If you want to have the fulness of joy in your heart and be truly happy, stay in the presence of Jesus.  It is only when we are in the presence of Jesus that we can be happy all the time.  Jesus laughs with us and He weeps with us.  He cares about us so much He died on the cross so we can live forever in Heaven.

What about you?  Do you have bells of joy ringing in your heart?  If not, open the door of your heart and let Jesus come in.  For some people, Jesus has been knocking on the door of their heart for years.  Please don’t keep Him standing at the door of your heart another minute.  Invite Jesus into your heart today.

We read in the Bible.  “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).  What a precious promise to us from the heart of our loving and compassionate Saviour. 

Joanne Lowe
October 23, 2015

Thursday, October 22, 2015

WE NEED HIM ALL THE TIME

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5 KJV

Evangelist Isham Emmanuel Reynolds wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “Jesus is the Friend You Need”.  The words in this hymn are so true.  “When the sun shines bright and your heart is light, Jesus is the Friend you need; When the clouds hang low in this world of woe, Jesus is the Friend you need.”

We need Jesus when we’re happy and we need Him when we are sad.  We need Him all the time.  Jesus never leaves us.  He is with us when we are on the mountain top and He is also with us when we are going through dark valleys.  He is our constant Companion.  We can trust Him with our heart and with our life.

It is a privilege just to say His precious Name.  What a beautiful Name, the Name of Jesus!  Have you grasped in your heart yet how much Jesus loves you?  If you ever think nobody loves you or cares about you remember the cross and the pain and agony that Jesus suffered for you so you can be saved.

It is wonderful to know how much Jesus loves us and all that He has done for us but how much do we love Him and what are we doing for Him?  Does Jesus know we love Him?  Jesus deserves to be happy after all He has done for us.  How do we make Him happy?  We make Him happy by being kind and loving to others.

Jesus hasn’t been here for over two thousand years.  He has left us to hug for Him.  When is the last time you hugged someone for Jesus?  If you don’t feel comfortable hugging people, hug them with words of love.  Tell them how much Jesus loves them.

Joanne Lowe
October 22, 2015

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

ETERNAL PEACE IS COMING

“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.  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.”
John 14:27-29 KJV

Jesus left us His peace but as long as we are in this world we will have problems and heartaches.  However, we can still have His peace in the midst of all the violence and wars.  One glorious day, Jesus is coming back for us and there will be no more wars, hatred or violence.  What a wonderful day that is going to be!

Thomas A. Dorsey wrote a beautiful inspiring hymn “Peace in The Valley”.  “I am tired and weary but I must toil on Till the Lord come to call me away Where the morning is bright and the Lamb is the light And the night is fair as the day.”  Jesus left us His peace but one day we will have everlasting peace in Heaven.

Think about it, there will be no more murders, rapes, hatred or anything else that hurts Jesus and breaks His heart.  Not only will we be with Jesus for all eternity, we will also be with our loved ones who are already in Heaven.  What a reunion that is going to be when we are reunited with our loved ones.

If you are going through the valley of discouragement and heartache, allow Jesus to pick you up in His loving arms and carry you until the pain goes away.  He loves you so much He died on the cross for you.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love Jesus.  He is my Joy. 

Joanne Lowe
October 21, 2015


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME

“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

A little girl was talking to her daddy and she asked her daddy “How much do you love me?”  If we were to ask our Heavenly Father how much He loves us, He would reply “I love you so much that I gave My only begotten Son to die for your sins on the cross”.  We have a compassionate Heavenly Father. 

No one loves us like God and Jesus love us and nobody ever will.  Their love is unconditional and it will never end.  I know I write about Their love for us a lot but until we allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge, we will never be happy.  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge into your heart?

Pastor Frederick Martin Lehman wrote a beautiful and inspiring hymn about the love of God.  It is one of my favorite hymns “The Love of God”.  “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;”  O how our Heavenly Father loves you and me.

If God were to ask us to tell Him how much we love Him, could we honestly tell Him from the depths of our heart that we love Him with all of our heart?  We can say anything but God can see into our heart and He knows if we really love Him or if we are just giving Him lip service.  What does He see in our heart?

Heavenly Father, You can see into my heart and You know how much I love You.  There are times when I fail You but You know I love You.  Thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus into the world to die for our sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   
   
Joanne Lowe
October 20, 2015

Monday, October 19, 2015

ONE DAY

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV

I am very sad today and I don’t know why I’m sad.  My arthritis is hurting but it always hurts.  I feel like crying.  I want to write this devotion but I feel like going back to bed.  We read in the Bible.  “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Jesus knows and He understands how it hurts when we are sad and lonely, discouraged and feel like crying.  Jesus felt the same emotions we feel and when we cry He weeps with us and when we laugh He rejoices with us.  There is good news.  One day Jesus is coming back to take us with Him to Heaven.

What a day of rejoicing and happiness that is going to be.  We will see our precious Saviour face to face.  There will be no more crying and no more parting.  Not only will we be with Jesus forever, we will also see our loved ones who have already gone to Heaven.  How I long for the day when I will see Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who feels lonely and broken hearted.  May they feel Your love for them as they have never felt it before.  I pray for every pastor and evangelist that You would encourage them and give them fruits for their labor.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 19, 2015

Sunday, October 18, 2015

A CHRISTMAS OF LOVE

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:9-11 KJV

I wonder if we are happy and rejoice with exceeding great joy when we celebrate the birthday of Jesus.  Do we spend money we don’t have?  We should give love, unconditional love to our loved ones.  The children are excited when they open their gifts on Christmas but what about the rest of the year?

It’s not the size of the present or the cost of the present that shows our love.  It is what we do every day of the year.  There are some people who give big beautiful presents to their family and friends but neglect to call or write them the rest of the year.  Money doesn’t buy happiness.  It is love that makes us happy.

God owns all the money in the world.  He could have given us money instead of giving Jesus to us but then we wouldn’t have the privilege of having our sins forgiven so we can go to Heaven when we die.  God loves us so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  What an amazing love!

Someone said “My brother-in-law has ruined every Christmas and he’s bound to do it again this year”.  We should love the ones who hurt us and forgive them just as God loves us and forgives us when we hurt Him.  Christmas will be here in two months.  Let’s make this Christmas a Christmas of love.

Joanne Lowe
October 18, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

FREE BUT NOT FREE

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 8:36 KJV

Thank God for our brave men and women who have given their lives for our country.  However, we can live in a free country but if we haven’t invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour we are still in bondage to satan.  It is only when the blood of Jesus is applied to our heart that we are free.

Are you free?  Has there ever been a time in your life when you admitted you were a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour?  This question is for everyone including myself.  God loves every person in the world and He wants all of us to be saved.

It doesn’t matter if we preach, teach Sunday school, sing in the choir or play the piano or organ.  The only thing that is important and urgent in this life is to know for sure that Jesus lives in our heart and that we have given Him not only our heart but also our life and all of our time.  Is Jesus first in your heart and life?

Inviting Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour is the most important decision we will ever make.  It is more important than choosing the person who we want to marry or where we want to live.  Jesus, the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS wants to live in your heart.  Open the door and let Him in.

Precious Heavenly Father, You give us unconditional love and You love us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins so we can be saved.  Thank You, Father.  We love You and we appreciate all You have done for us and all You do for us every day.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 17, 2015

Friday, October 16, 2015

THEY ARE HUNGRY

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
Mark 10:13-16 KJV

I have had children come to my home and ask me for food.  They were hungry because they didn’t have anything to eat at their house.  However, they were not only hungry for food; they were also hungry for love and acceptance.  We need to feed our children but we also need to love our children. 

Many years ago, the church I was attending had a mission’s conference.  The home missionary and the foreign missionary showed slides of their work.  When I saw those slides, I wept.  Not only did the children in foreign countries look hungry and sad, the children here in America also looked hungry and sad.

How sad that children here in America are hungry for food and also hungry for love.  One day every one of us will stand before a Holy God and give an account of how we treated children.  Jesus loves children very much and He is very protective of them.  We can trust Jesus to protect our children.

Heavenly Father, I pray that every parent will not only feed their children with food but also with unconditional love.  Please touch the hearts of parents and children and draw them closer to one another but especially closer to You.  Thank You for our family.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 16, 2015

Thursday, October 15, 2015

FROM DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
1 Timothy 1:15 KJV

I received an email from someone who wrote “Not everyone who asks God to forgive their sins and invites Jesus into his or her heart will be saved.”  That is a lie straight from the pits of hell.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that everyone who invites Jesus into his or her heart will be saved.

It made me very angry when I read that email because I’m sure that it hurt Jesus and broke His heart.  Jesus doesn’t need me to defend Him.  However, when you love someone as much as I love Jesus, you want to defend the person.  I love Jesus with all my heart and I long for the day when I will see Him.

We read in the Bible.  “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).  When we ask God to forgive our sins and invite Jesus into our heart, we go from darkness into the light.  Jesus is the light of the world.

Philip Paul Bliss wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “The Light of the World is Jesus”.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  I love these words in this inspiring hymn.  “No darkness have we who in Jesus abide; The Light of the world is Jesus!”  Do you have this Light in your heart?  Have you said yes to Jesus?

I walked in the darkness of sin and hatred for many years.  When I invited Jesus into my heart on August 14, 1980, I went from darkness and hatred into the Light of Love.  Jesus, the Light of the world is now the Light of my heart and my life.   

Joanne Lowe
October 15, 2015

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

STRIPES OF LOVE

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:3-5 KJV

Jesus, our precious Saviour was beaten beyond recognition.  He endured and suffered pain and agony that you and I will never know.  I believe that every time they hit Him and pounded the nails in His hand that He felt the pain in His heart.  What kind of love is this, that He would willingly suffer this pain for us?

This is an unconditional love that only comes from the heart of our Heavenly Father and our Saviour.  Nobody loves us like They love us and nobody ever will.  I believe God also felt that pain and agony every time they hit Jesus.  God loves His Son so much and wonder of wonders, He also loves us.

It is a privilege to be able to go to God in prayer.  We are not worthy to go into His presence but because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross when He shed His blood for us, we can go into the presence of our Heavenly Father.  Think about it, God loves you very much.  You are precious to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and for sharing Jesus with us.  Jesus, thank You for dying for our sins on the cross.  I love You so much, dear Jesus.  How I long to see You face to face.  One day I will see You face to face.  I’m going to give You a big hug when I see You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 14, 2015

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S HEART

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
Matthew 17:5 KJV

O how God loves Jesus!  He is very proud of His Son and God wants us to love Jesus, listen to Jesus and serve Jesus.  Do we listen to Jesus?  I think if we are honest with ourselves there are times when we can’t hear Him talking because the television or radio is too loud.  He’s not going to shout so we can hear Him.

It hurts God and breaks His heart when we put other things and people ahead of Jesus.  Why is it that we can get up very early in the morning to go fishing but we can’t get up early in the morning to spend time with Jesus?  Someone said “You will make time to do what is important to you”.

The question every one of us needs to answer is “How important is Jesus to me?”  We can say that Jesus is important to us but Jesus can see into our heart and He knows if we are being honest or just giving Him lip service.  O that you and I will put Jesus first in everything we do.  He deserves to have first place.

Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love Jesus.  He is the joy of my heart and the reason I’m living.  What a privilege it is to serve the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!

What a privilege it is to be loved by God.  Our Heavenly Father is a tender compassionate and forgiving Father.  Think about it!  God, the Creator of the world loves you so much He gave His own Son to die on the cross for your sins so you can be saved.

Joanne Lowe
October 13, 2015

Monday, October 12, 2015

DISCOURAGEMENT

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

One of the definitions I found for discourage in Webster’s Dictionary is “something (such as a failure or difficulty) that discourages someone”.  I have had a lot of problems with my computer and email and I am starting to get discouraged.  I have had to do four system recoveries on my computer. 

However, I know that it is satan who is trying to stop me from serving Jesus.  That will never happen!  I will serve Jesus as long as I have breath and as long as He helps me.  After all my precious Saviour has done for me, I am willing to do anything and everything I can do to serve Him and make Him happy.

Jesus Himself warned us to be on the alert for the sneaky attacks of satan.  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8).  We must not let satan discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus.  Our Saviour will help us.

If you’re discouraged, tell Jesus and allow Him to help you.  I was so discouraged this morning that I wanted to go back to bed and stay there.  Our precious Saviour was rejected and ridiculed so many times that He understands and knows how it feels to be discouraged.  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus.

Heavenly Father, You are the great Comforter.  Please comfort and encourage us when we feel like we can’t give another smile or take another step.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.    

Joanne Lowe
October 12, 2015

Sunday, October 11, 2015

GOD UNDERSTANDS

“And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Luke 23:32-34 KJV

A little girl saw her mother crying and she said to her mother “Why are you crying, momma?”  The mother with tears running down her face said “Because my little baby has died”.  God understands how we feel and why we cry when a loved one dies.  He not only understands how we feel, He also weeps with us.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, God had to turn away from Him because Jesus had taken our sins on Him.  God is a Holy God and He can’t look at sin.  How it must have broken God’s heart to have to turn away from His Son.  Yes, God understands how our heart hurts when a loved one dies.

We have a compassionate tender loving Heavenly Father and He longs to comfort and encourage us.  If you’re hurting today, climb up on His lap and allow Him to rock you and kiss your tears away.  God loves you so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for you.  O how He loves you.

Heavenly Father, we love You.  Thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  We love You, Jesus.  Thank You for dying for our sins.  We love You, Holy Spirit.  Father, I pray You will comfort all who need comforting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.  

Joanne Lowe
October 11, 2015

Saturday, October 10, 2015

JESUS WILL HELP US

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Hebrews 13:6 KJV

Curtis S. Kauffman wrote the inspiring hymn “Keep in Touch With Jesus”.  “Would you be a victor over every foe, Conquer every trial in this world below; Overcome temptations that each day you meet?  Keep in touch with Jesus; He will keep you sweet.”  Jesus will help us and He will keep us sweet.

Our world is filled with hatred, violence, murders and all other things that hurt Jesus and break His heart.  I heard on the news about people being killed at universities.  God never meant for us to live this way.  We can’t make it in this world without our precious Saviour guiding us, helping us and protecting us.

One day all the violence will be over and we will have no more heartaches because Jesus, the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS is coming back to take us with Him to Heaven.  What a joyous and happy day that will be.  O how I want to see my precious Saviour face to face.  I love Jesus so much.

If you are hurting and discouraged, allow Jesus to pick you up in His loving arms.  He will carry you through all the dark valleys in your life and will be faithful to set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  We can depend on Jesus.  Can He depend on us?  Are we serving Him with all our heart and time?

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins so we can be saved and go to Heaven.  What about you?  Are you going to Heaven?  Have your sins been washed in the blood of the Lamb?  If not, give your heart and life to Jesus today.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe
October 10, 2015

Friday, October 9, 2015

THE MOST EXPENSIVE PRICE

“What?  know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 KJV

The newspaper reports a house was sold for millions of dollars.  However, the most expensive price that has ever been paid for anything was the redeeming cleansing blood of Jesus that He shed for our sins on the cross so we can be saved and go to Heaven.  Jesus shed His own blood for you and for me.

Marvin P. Dalton wrote the beautiful inspiring hymn “Oh What A Savior”.  “O what a Savior, O hallelujah!  His heart was broken on Calvary, His hands were nail scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life-blood for even me.”  Jesus gave His own blood for you so you can have your sins forgiven and go to Heaven. 

What an amazing love Jesus has for us.  Not only was the heart of Jesus broken when He died, God’s heart was also broken because His Son had been beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed and rejected.  Jesus had taken our sins on Himself and God can’t look on sin so He had to turn away from Jesus.

Yes, Jesus’ heart was broken on Calvary and we are still hurting Him and breaking His heart when we don’t allow Him to be first in our heart, in our life, in our time and in everything that we do.  Jesus has the right to be first in our life because He died on the cross for our sins.  What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe
October 9, 2015

Thursday, October 8, 2015

DON’T GIVE UP AND QUIT

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
Proverbs 24:10 KJV

I’m sure when Jesus was here on His mission that He felt like giving up and quitting many times.  He was human just as we are and felt all the emotions we feel.  He was ridiculed, rejected, cursed, spat on and He endured an agony and excruciating pain that you and I will never know.  What a loving Saviour!

Helen L. Lemmel wrote the beautiful hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”  May God help us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

If Jesus had gave up and quit, you and I would be on our way to hell for all eternity.  Thank God that Jesus didn’t quit, that He loves us so much He was willing to leave His Home, His Father and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins.  What a Friend, what a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

The next time we are tempted to give up and quit we need to ask Jesus to help us.  He understands how we feel and He will pick us up in His loving arms and will carry us through our dark valleys until the pain goes away and He will be faithful to set us again on the mountain top of happiness.

I’ve said this many times but it is so important that you allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge. Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  He laughs with you and weeps with you.  He also sits beside your bed when you can’t sleep and holds your hand.  O how Jesus loves you.

Joanne Lowe
October 8, 2015

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

HAVE WE CROWNED HIM

“And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Luke 23:32-34 KJV

Jennie Evelyn Hussey wrote “LEAD ME TO CALVARY”.  “King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary”.  Have we crowned Him King of our life?  Does Jesus come first in our heart, in our life and in everything we do?

It is very difficult and painful for me to think about my precious Saviour dying on the cross for my sins.  However, it is very important that we remember the unconditional love He showed us when He died on the cross for us.  There is no greater love than the love that Jesus has for you and for me.

We can tell people we have crowned Him but Jesus can see into our heart and He knows if we are just giving Him lip service or if we are serving Him from our heart.  They crucified the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS and He had never sinned or done anything wrong in His life.  What a loving Saviour we have!

Jesus asked His Father to forgive us even while hanging on the cross in excruciating pain.  He set the example for us to follow.  I wonder if we can honestly say that we have asked God to forgive those who hurt us even while they were hurting us.  May God help us to be more like Jesus Who loves unconditionally.

Joanne Lowe
October 7, 2015


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

DO THEY SEE AND HEAR JESUS IN US

“Little children, yet a little while I am with you.  Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”
John 13:33-35 KJV

Jesus, the Saviour of the world has told us to love one another as He loves us.  Can we honestly say from our heart that we love one another unconditionally as He loves us?  Jesus didn’t say He wishes we would love one another.  He said that it is a commandment.  May God help us to love one another.

When people look at us or hear us talking, do they see and hear Jesus in us?  We can’t smile every minute of the day because all of us have valleys and heartaches in our life but if we have invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour, He is still with us even when we are going through dark valleys.

A man said in a testimony “I am saved today because of my mother.  I not only saw her on her knees, I heard her praying for me.  My mother isn’t perfect but even when she was going through crises, heartaches and dark valleys she still had a smile for everyone”.  Only Jesus can help us smile when we are sad.

Does our family see the difference Jesus has made in our heart and life since we invited Him into our heart?  O that you and I would live in such a way that even when we are heartbroken and feel like we can’t give another smile or take another step they would see Jesus in us.  What a loving Saviour we have! 

Joanne Lowe
October 6, 2015



Monday, October 5, 2015

NOT JUST A NEW HEART

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

Jesus not only gives us a new heart when we invite Him into our heart to be our personal Saviour, He also gives us a new attitude toward life, toward people and toward everything we do.  Before I was saved, my heart was filled with hatred for everyone.  What a difference Jesus has made in my heart and in my life.

When Jesus saves us and changes our attitudes we want to do things that will make Him happy.  Jesus has told us when we are kind and loving to people, we are kind and loving to Him and when we’re not kind and loving to people, we are not kind and loving to Him.  Are we making Him happy or breaking His heart?

Have you invited Jesus into your heart to be Your personal Saviour?  He will replace your sadness and despair with joy and happiness.  He loves you so much He died on the cross for your sins and shed His own blood for you so you can be saved and go to Heaven for all eternity.  Say yes to Jesus today!

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will touch our heart and put a desire in our heart to be kind and loving to one another.  Thank You for Jesus and for adopting me into Your family.  I love You so much, dear Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 5, 2015

Sunday, October 4, 2015

OUR BEAUTIFUL ROSE

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”
SONG OF SOLOMON 2:1 KJV

Roses are my favorite flower because they remind me of our beautiful Rose, Jesus.  Not only is Jesus beautiful, He is also tender loving compassionate and kind.  He loved us yesterday.  He loves us today and He will love us forever.  Jesus loves us even when we hurt Him because He loves us unconditionally.

There have been several times that I have smelled the fragrance of a rose in my home and I didn’t have any flowers in my home.  What I smelled was the fragrance of Jesus.  One of the definitions I found for fragrance in Webster’s Dictionary is “the quality or state of having a sweet odor”.

Jesus not only is beautiful, He also has a sweet odor.  If you will smell with your heart, you will smell the fragrance of Jesus.  Everything about Jesus is wonderful.  He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and He loves you.  He loves you so much He died for you.  What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Do we love Jesus?  If we do love Him, what are we doing to prove to Him how much we love Him?  The best way to let Him know how much we love Him is to serve Him.  If we want to serve Him, we will have to shut off the television and get out of our comfort zone and tell people how much He loves them.

Have we told Jesus today how much we love Him?  Jesus has feelings and He wants us to tell Him we love Him just as we want Him to tell us He loves us.  If Jesus didn’t tell me every day He loves me, it would break my heart.  I love my precious Saviour so much.  He is the reason I’m living and the Joy of my heart.    

Joanne Lowe
October 4, 2015

Saturday, October 3, 2015

A JOYFUL LIFE

“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 KJV

It is only when we are in the presence of Jesus that we have fulness of joy.  One of the definitions for joy in the Webster’s Dictionary is “a source or cause of delight”.  I found this definition for delight in Webster’s Dictionary “something that make you very happy”.  Jesus is our source of happiness.

For the last ten years, I have had the privilege of serving Jesus.  Sometimes I get so happy I have to get up and go into the other room for a few minutes because I feel like I am going to explode with happiness.  Pastor Byron was so right when he said “If you want to fly higher than a kite start bragging on Jesus”.

“Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11).  Jesus doesn’t play favorites.  He loves all of us unconditionally and He brags on us.

Is Jesus bragging on us today because of someone we have encouraged and helped or is Jesus sad because we haven’t helped and encouraged someone today?  Never forget all of us need encouragement.  If you don’t know what to say, tell them that Jesus loves them unconditionally and will never leave them. 

Joanne Lowe
October 3, 2015



Friday, October 2, 2015

THE MOST HEARTBREAKING DAY

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.  And sitting down they watched him there;”
Matthew 27:33-36 KJV

I think most of us have had heartbreaking days but no bad day we have had or ever will have can compare to the most heartbreaking day of all, the day our precious Saviour was crucified.  They spat on Jesus and beat Him beyond recognition.  They mocked Him and yet He allowed them to crucify Him.

If you ever think nobody loves you, remember the cross and the pain and anguish Jesus endured because He loves you so much.  He not only loves you, He loves you unconditionally.  There is nothing you could do that would make Him stop loving you.  Jesus, the Saviour of the world, loves you.

Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins.  Jesus, I love You so much.  Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.  How I long to see You face to face.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 2, 2015

Thursday, October 1, 2015

WE DO PRAISE YOU

“PRAISE ye the LORD.  Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
Psalm 150:1,2 KJV

Heavenly Father, we praise You for all You have done for us and for all You do for us every day.  We know You will never yell at us or hit us.  When You do have to correct us, You always reassure us that You love us.  Thank You for loving us unconditionally.  We love You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
October 1, 2015