Sunday, January 31, 2016

ARE WE HOLDING A GRUDGE

“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

There are people who refuse to forgive the ones who have hurt them.  They have been holding a grudge for many years.  One of the definitions I found for grudge in Webster’s Dictionary is “to dislike or feel angry toward (someone) for something”.  If ever someone has a right to hold a grudge, it is Jesus.

Think where we would be today if Jesus didn’t love us enough to forgive us.  Jesus, even while hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His body forgave us for hurting Him.  “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment and cast lots“(Luke 23:34).

What about you?  Have you forgiven those who have hurt you?  Have you forgiven yourself?  One day when I was asking God to search my heart and tell me if I was hurting Him.  He told me I hadn’t forgiven everyone.  I thought about it and I couldn’t think of anyone.  God said to me “you haven’t forgiven yourself”.

It was a lot easier to forgive the ones who had hurt me than it was to forgive myself for being hateful to others and hurting them.  I wasn’t a very nice person until Jesus gave me a new heart.  O how I love Jesus!  He not only gave me a new heart, He gave me a heart filled with compassion for others.

If you haven’t forgiven yourself, do it today.  Don’t let satan keep you in bondage.  Jesus died for you so that you don’t have to live in bondage to satan.  Thank You, Jesus for dying for us. 

Joanne Lowe
January 31, 2016

Saturday, January 30, 2016

OUR FAITHFUL AND PROTECTIVE SAVIOUR

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV

One of my favorite hymns is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”  Jesus is not only our faithful Saviour, He is also protective.  We can find safety under His wings of love.  Jesus, You are so wonderful and I love You with all my heart.  When I think of You dying on the cross for my sins, I am filled with love for You.

Some happy day, You are coming back.  How I long for that day when I will see You face to face.  I’m going to give You a big hug and I will hug You for all eternity.  You are so precious, so compassionate, tender and loving.  I have lost track of the many times You have carried me through dark valleys.  Thank You.

Heavenly Father, help us to love one another unconditionally just as Jesus has commanded us to love.  I pray when people look at me that they will see the love of Jesus in my smiles and hear Jesus in the kind words I say and may I show His love in the things I do.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe
January 30, 2016

Friday, January 29, 2016

TRUST JESUS

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV

We read in the Bible that Jesus calls us to serve Him.  “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).  I answered the call of Jesus for me to serve Him full time on October 4, 1998.  Have you answered the call of Jesus?

I walked down the aisle to the altar during the invitation and told the pastor that God had called me to be a missionary.  The pastor took my hand and prayed the most beautiful prayer for me.  He told me not to wait until God told me what He wanted me to do.  He said, “Start telling people that Jesus loves them”.

God didn’t tell me what He wanted me to do until January 24, 2005 when He gave me the ministry of writing devotions.  I have had the privilege of serving Jesus full time for eleven years.  They have been the happiest years of my life.  Jesus has been faithful to me these eleven years and has never left me.

I have not had the privilege to go to Bible School but I have been attending the University of God every day for eleven years and the Holy Spirit is my Teacher.  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start bragging on Jesus.”  I have been flying high for eleven years.

Heavenly Father, thank You for trusting me and for allowing me to serve Your Son.  I pray for every person who has never said yes to Jesus.  May today be the day they invite Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour.  I love You, precious Jesus.  Thank You for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 29, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

WHAT ARE WE GIVING HIM

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
John 19:30 KJV

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a beautiful hymn “I Gave My Life for Thee”.  It asks us a question that each one of us needs to ask himself or herself.  The question is what are we giving our precious Saviour?  Have we given Him our life, all of our time, all of our talents and all that we have?

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge how much Jesus loves you?  Yes, I’m talking about you!  He loves you so much that He allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, spit on Him, mock Him and curse Him.  Nobody loves you like He loves you and nobody ever will.

I knew for many years that Jesus loves us but when I used to sing that song in Sunday school about Jesus loving us, it was very hard for me to accept the fact that Jesus, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS would love me but He does love me and He loves you.  What an amazing unconditional love!

I’ve always wanted to sing in the choir at church but when I joined the choir, I was asked to leave because I sang off key.  It broke my heart and I cried.  However, one wonderful day I will sing in the Heavenly Choir and I will sing on key.  How I long for that day!  I will be able to sing and praise Jesus for eternity.

Heavenly Father, You gave Your beloved Son to die for us.  Precious Saviour, You gave Your life for us on the cross.  Thank You for dying for us and for Your amazing and unconditional love.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 28, 2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

OUR COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING SAVIOUR

“And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”
Mark 1:40-42 KJV

Jesus is the great Physician.  If you don’t feel good and it doesn’t matter if you don’t feel good emotionally, physically or spiritually, go to Jesus.  He is able to heal us no matter what is wrong with us.  Also, if you feel all alone, you aren’t alone because Jesus never leaves us, not even for a minute.

Not only is Jesus the great Physician and our best Friend, He is also our compassionate and loving Saviour.  He really cares when we are hurting.  When we cry, He weeps with us and when we laugh, He rejoices with us.  I have many wonderful friends but Jesus is the best Friend I have ever had or ever will have.

We should follow the example that Jesus has set for us and be compassionate and loving, especially to those who are hurting.  We also need to be kind and loving to our family.  Unless they tell us what is in their heart, we only know what we see and what they tell us but Jesus knows.  He sees what is in their heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  Please help us to be kind, compassionate and loving to everyone.  Jesus, thank You for caring about us and for never leaving us.  You are our compassionate and loving Saviour and I love You with all my heart.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 27, 2016



Tuesday, January 26, 2016

GOD IS SO FAITHFUL

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

About an hour after I sent my devotion yesterday and wrote about it being cold because the heater wasn’t working right, they came and fixed it.  My flesh was cold but my heart was warm because Jesus lives in me.  God is so faithful to hear and answer our prayers.  How faithful are we to answer Him?

Rev. Thomas Ken wrote the beautiful hymn “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.”  Please join me in praising God.  He loves us so much that He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  What a tender loving and compassionate Heavenly Father we are privileged to know and to have!

O that we would be as faithful to God as He is to us.  Can God depend on us to do it when He asks us to do something for Him?  Do we do it immediately or when it is convenient for us?  I don’t think it was convenient for Jesus to walk that long lonely road to Calvary and die on the cross for our sins but He did it.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us.  Please forgive us when we hurt You because we’re not faithful to You.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  We give You praise for being a compassionate and loving Father.  We love You, dear Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 26, 2016


    

Monday, January 25, 2016

STAY ON THE ALERT

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
1 Peter 5:8 KJV

The last three days I have had to wear my coat, ear muffs and gloves in the house in addition to the layers of clothes I am wearing because the heater is not working.  I told the manager two weeks ago that the heater was not working right.  Someone is supposed to come fix it today.

Jesus Himself has told us to stay on the alert for the sneaky attacks of satan.  However, there are times when we forget to stay on the alert and then the attack is more devastating than ever.  It hurts to type when my fingers are so cold.  However, I am determined that satan will not defeat me.

What a comfort it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that Jesus never leaves us and that He will not only help us, He will carry us through all the dark valleys in our life and set us once again on the mountain top of happiness.  We have a tender compassionate, loving and faithful Saviour.  I love You, Jesus.

If you are hurting today, tell Jesus and allow Him to help you.  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus.  He died for us, the least we can do for Him is stay on the battlefield for Him.  Let’s be an encouragement to one another.  Every one of us needs encouragement when satan attacks us.

Joanne Lowe
January 25, 2016

Sunday, January 24, 2016

GIVE JESUS PRAISE

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.”
Revelation 1:5,6 KJV

We need to give Jesus praise.  He has done so much for us and continues to do so much for us every day.  If we are honest, I don’t think any of us would be willing to leave our home, if it is a home filled with love, and live with people we knew were going to abuse us and beat us.

Yet that is exactly what Jesus did for us.  He left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth to die on the cross for you and for me.  What kind of love is this?  This is a love that can only come for the heart of God and Jesus.  The love They have for us is an unconditional and an unending love.

Fanny Crosby wrote the beautiful hymn “PRAISE HIM, PRAISE HIM”.  Are we praising Him?  If so, do we just praise Him when everything is okay or do we also praise Him when we are going through dark valleys?  If ever someone deserves to be loved, praised and adored, it is Jesus, our precious Saviour.

Jesus has told us that He will never leave us nor forsake us and He is faithful to pick us up and carry us through the dark valleys.  Jesus loves you, pastors.  Jesus loves you, missionaries.  Jesus loves you, evangelists.  You are precious to Him and He appreciates your service to Him.  GIVE JESUS PRAISE!!!

Joanne Lowe
January 24, 2016

Saturday, January 23, 2016

WHAT A SAVIOUR

“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 53:5 KJV

Marvin P. Dalton wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour and this hymn is my favorite hymn about Jesus “Oh What A Savior”.  Jesus was not wounded for His transgressions and He was not bruised for His iniquities, He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. 

Jesus never sinned, not even one time.  It was for us and because of our sins that He was tortured and abused, spat on, cursed, mocked, ridiculed and crucified on the cross of horror.  He endured all that shame because He loves us so much.  The heart of our precious Saviour was broken on Calvary.

They beat Jesus beyond recognition.  He could have come down from the cross but because He loves His Father and us so much and because He wanted to be obedient to the mission His Father had sent Him on, He stayed on the cross.  What kind of love is this?  It is an amazing and an unconditional love for us.

Not only was the heart of Jesus broken when He died on the cross for us; His Father’s heart was also broken.  O how God and Jesus love us.  Nobody loves us like They love us and nobody ever will.  Again I say, What a Saviour, what a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love Jesus.

Heavenly Father, You love us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  Thank You.  Jesus, thank You for dying for us  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 23, 2016

Friday, January 22, 2016

UNPACK THE 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

Someone said to a friend “I’ll be glad when Christmas is over so I can pack the decorations and put them away until next year and get back to normal”.  How that statement must have hurt Jesus and broke His heart.  For a lot of people, not only do they pack the decorations, they also pack the love and put it away.

What is normal to Jesus is loving people every day of the year not just at Christmas.  If you have packed the love for your loved ones with the decorations, unpack the love and give love to them every day of the year.  That is what Jesus does for us.  Not only does Jesus love us every day, He loves us unconditionally.

Spending time with our family and loved ones should happen every day not just at Christmas.  A little boy told his mother he wanted to tell her something and she replied “Not now, I’m busy”.  Yet this same mother talked, laughed and spent a lot of time with her son at Christmas.

Just as it hurt that precious little boy and broke his heart when his mother told him she was too busy to listen to him, it also hurts Jesus and breaks His heart when we tell Him we’re too busy to listen to Him.  We may not tell Him we’re too busy but sometimes our actions say it to Him.

May God help us to show our love to our family every day of the year.  Let’s listen to Jesus every day of the year and prove we’re listening to Him by our actions.  If ever someone deserves to be loved, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world!  O how I love Jesus.

Joanne Lowe
January 22, 2016

Thursday, January 21, 2016

IT WAS FOR US

“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

We sing a hymn about Jesus dying for us but I don’t think we realize just how much our precious Saviour really loves us.  Not only does He love us, He loves us unconditionally.  There is nothing you could do that would make Jesus stop loving you.  His love is not only unconditional, it is also an everlasting love.

If you ever think that nobody loves you or even cares about you, remember the cross and all the agony and suffering Jesus endured for you.  I can tell you on the authority of the Word of God that Jesus does love you.  I can also tell you from personal experience that Jesus loves you and He cares about you.

Jesus left everything He had for us and gave His life for us because He loves us so much.  What have we left for Him and what are we doing for Him?  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.  Do something today to make Him happy.  O how I love Jesus!

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who is hurting.  Please comfort and encourage them as only You can.  Pick them up, go to Your rocking chair and rock them as You dry their tears with tender loving kisses.  Dear Father, what a privilege is ours to be able to call You our Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 21, 2016

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WE ARE BLESSED

“BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
Psalm 32:1 KJV

One of the definitions for blessed in Webster’s Dictionary is “enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God”.  Thank God for the cleansing redeeming blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.  We sing a hymn about the blood of Jesus that washes us white as snow.  It is one of my favorite hymns.

Are you enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God?  If not, I urge you, I plead with you to give your heart and life to Jesus before it is too late.  Jesus loves you so much He allowed them to curse Him, spit on Him, mock Him, criticize Him and beat Him beyond recognition so you can be saved.

O how Jesus loves you!  He will be the best Friend you will ever have and He will never leave you, not even for one minute.  I love Jesus so much and I long for the day when I will see Him face to face.  Think about it!  We are going to see Jesus face to face.  What a privilege is ours to be able to see Him face to face.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who has never opened the door of their heart and let Jesus come in to be their Saviour.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus.  I know it hurts You, dear Father, when people reject You beloved Son.  Thank You for loving me and adopting me.    In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 20, 2016

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

THANK YOU FOR CARING

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Precious Heavenly Father, thank You for caring when we don’t feel good.  You are the great Comforter and we appreciate You and love You.  I have lost track of the many times You have comforted and encouraged me.  Thank You so much.  Thank You for adopting me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 19, 2016

Monday, January 18, 2016

FREE AND NO WAITING

“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

Many years ago my Mother lay on a stretcher in the hallway of a hospital because Dad hadn’t paid them yet.  I read in the news the other day that a hospital refused to admit a woman who needed emergency surgery because the family didn’t have the money to pay for her to be admitted and the woman died.

We have a Physician Who will admit us into His hospital.  There is no waiting and He will not accept our money.  Everything is free.  Jesus, our great Physician, treats every kind of sickness.  He doesn’t send us to a specialist because He specializes in everything.

Not only does He heal us physically, He also heals us spiritually and emotionally.  There are times when we are unable to go to Him because we are hurting and He comes to us.  Squire Parsons wrote the beautiful hymn “He Came To Me”.  I went through a devastating depression and couldn’t go to Him.

I couldn’t go to Him so He came to me and put His arms of love around me.  He lifted me up from under a bed in a mental hospital and healed my heart and He also healed my emotions.  He told me that He loves me unconditionally.  What a tender compassionate Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

I love Jesus with all my heart.  He is the reason I’m living and the Joy of my heart.  How I long to see Him face to face.  Praise God, one day I will see Him face to face.  Come to Jesus today.  He is waiting for You to come to Him and everything is free.   

Joanne Lowe
January 18, 2016

Sunday, January 17, 2016

HAVE WE SURRENDERED ALL

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33 KJV

When Jesus came to earth on the mission God had given Him, He left His Father, His home and all that He had because He loves His Father and wanted to be obedient to Him.  What about us?  Have we surrendered all that we have to serve Jesus?  Are we willing to serve Him?

If we want to serve Jesus, we will have to shut off the television and get out of our comfort zone.  Someone asked “Is it okay to watch television?”  If we wouldn’t be comfortable watching the show with Jesus sitting next to us, we should not watch it.  The Bible makes this very clear.

We read in the Bible.  “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21).  We shouldn’t go anywhere we don’t want Jesus to go with us or do anything that would hurt Him.  Jesus has been hurt enough.  He won’t ever have to die again but He is still being rejected.

If watching television comes before serving Jesus or anything else comes before serving Him, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedule.  Jesus should be first in our heart, in our life and in our time and in everything we do.  Does Jesus come first in your life, in your time and in your heart?

If Jesus isn’t first in our heart, in our life and in our time, we need to repent, tell God we’re sorry, ask Him to forgive us and stop hurting Jesus.  Jesus loves us very much.

Joanne Lowe
January 17, 2016

Saturday, January 16, 2016

THE STORMS OF LIFE

“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 KJV

As I looked at the weather forecast, I remembered our Scripture verse.  Jesus has already given us a forecast for the storms in our life, the storms that satan brings into our life.  Jesus has also told us what to do to prepare for these storms from satan Jesus said to “Be sober, be vigilant;”.

If we would spend as much time preparing for these storms of life from satan as we do on predicting the weather, satan would have a much harder time discouraging us.  How do we prepare for these storms from satan?  We prepare for them by staying under the shelter of God’s wings.

Pastor William Orcutt Cushing wrote a beautiful hymn “Under His Wings”.  I love the words in this inspiring hymn.  “Under His wings I am safely abiding, Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me, and I am His child.”

What a comfort it is to our weary and battle scarred heart to know that we can trust God to protect us from satan and from the storms that satan brings into our life.  If you have storms in your life, run into the waiting arms of God.  He loves you and He wants to comfort and protect you.

Joanne Lowe
January 16, 2016

Friday, January 15, 2016

HE UNDERSTANDS AND LOVES US

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV

We read in the Bible “THEN was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1).  There is no temptation we have that Jesus didn’t have.  The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, yet He never sinned.  We need to follow the example He set for us.

However, we are still in the flesh and there will be times when we will fail God but Jesus will plead our case to our Heavenly Father.  “MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous:” (1 John 2:1).

Yes, Jesus understands how difficult it is when we are tempted to do something wrong.  When we do sin, if we will confess our sin, tell God we’re sorry and ask Him to forgive us, Jesus will intercede for us.  The minute satan tempts us to do something wrong, we need to cry out to Jesus and ask Him to help us.

Jesus not only understands how we feel when we are tempted, He still loves us.  His love for us doesn’t depend on what we do or don’t do.  The love that our precious Saviour has for us is an unconditional love.  There isn’t anything we could ever do that would make Him stop loving us.  He is a compassionate Saviour.

Joanne Lowe
January 15, 2016

Thursday, January 14, 2016

HIS TENDER AND FORGIVING LOVE

“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?  hath no man condemned thee?  She said, no man, Lord.  And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:10,11 KJV

We have a tender forgiving Saviour Who loves us so much He shed His own blood for our sins.  When we do something wrong and repent and ask God to forgive us, Jesus says the same thing to us that He said to the woman “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”  Jesus loves us unconditionally.

Jesus not only doesn’t condemn us, He also doesn’t remember our sins or hold them against us.  “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).  Does this mean that He has a poor memory?  Of course not, He chooses to forget our sins.

O that you and I would follow the example that He has set for us by choosing to forgive and forget when people hurt us.  We must always remember that none of us are perfect.  Don’t look to your pastor or Sunday school teacher and for sure don’t look to me because we are not perfect, only Jesus is perfect.

Rev. Arthur Luther wrote one of my favorite hymns “Jesus Never Fails”.  The words in this hymn describe my precious Saviour because it is true that Jesus never fails.  He has never failed us one time and He will never fail us.  If we will allow Him to lead us and stay in His presence, we won’t have as many problems.   

Joanne Lowe
January 14, 2016

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

HIS YOKE OF LOVE

“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 in Webster’s Dictionary for yoke is “something that causes people to be treated cruelly and unfairly especially by taking away their freedom”.  That is exactly the yoke that satan has on us until we go to Jesus and allow Him to put His yoke of love on us.

There are times when we cause our own problems because we don’t always go to Him and allow Him to help us.  We need to remember that without Jesus we can’t do anything (John 15:5).  We have a tender loving Saviour Who loves us so much He died for our sins.  O how Jesus loves you!

Jesus wants us to live a happy and abundant life (John 10:10).  Have you allowed Jesus to put His yoke of love on you?  We don’t have to live under the tyranny of satan any longer.  When Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins, He broke the power that satan has over us.

We know how much Jesus loves us because He proved to us how much He loves us when He died on the cross for us.  Does He know we love Him?  What are we doing to prove to Him that we love Him?  Jesus has feelings too and He wants us to tell Him that we love Him just as we want Him to tell us He loves us.

I love Jesus with all of my heart.  I long for the day when Jesus comes back for us and I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.  What a happy and joyful day that is going to be! 

Joanne Lowe
January 13, 2016

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

IN OUR HEART

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 KJV

I have received emails from people who wrote and said that Jesus doesn’t live in our heart and it is unscriptural to say that He does live in our heart.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that statement is a lie from the pits of hell.  Our Scripture tells us that Christ dwells in our heart.

Leila Naylor Morris wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn “Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart”.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  “If you are tired of the load of your sin, Let Jesus come into your heart; If you desire a new life to begin, Let Jesus come into your heart”.  Have you opened the door of your heart to Jesus?

Jesus Himself said “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).  Jesus is not a liar.  If He said that He will come into us, He will come into us.  What a Saviour!  O how He loves you and me.

Jesus has been knocking at the door of many people’s hearts for years and they have rejected Him.  How it must hurt Him and break His heart when they refuse to let Him come into their heart.  He loves them so much that He suffered, bled and died for them.  It also hurts God when we reject His Son.

Joanne Lowe
January 12, 2016

Monday, January 11, 2016

ARE WE SHINING

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 KJV

Do we spend most of our time watching television and pursuing our own interests or are we using that time to tell the lost about the Christ of Calvary Who loves them so much He died for them?  Our Scripture verse instructs us to let our light shine so they will know we have a loving Heavenly Father.

We can’t let the light of Jesus shine through us if we don’t get out of our comfort zone and let others see Jesus shining through us.  “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).

Are we serving Jesus with all our heart, all our time and with all our talents?  To serve Jesus, we have to get out of our comfort zone and tell others that Jesus loves them so much He died on the cross for their sins so they can be saved.  Have we allowed Jesus to be first in our heart, in our life and in all we do?

Jesus got out of His comfort zone.  He left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth on the mission His Father gave Him.  He came into the world as a Baby but He grew up and endured a pain and an agony that you and I will never know and He died for our sins on the cross.  What love He has for us.

Precious Heavenly Father, there are no words to tell You how much we love You and appreciate You.  Thank You for giving Jesus to be our Saviour.  Jesus, thank You for loving us and for dying on the cross for our sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe
January 11, 2016

Sunday, January 10, 2016

THE REASON

“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

The reason Heaven is going to be so wonderful is because we will be with Jesus forever.  The reason Jesus is going to shout with happiness when He comes back to take us to Heaven is because He loves us so much He died for us.  What a joyous and happy day that will be when we see Jesus face to face!

Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck wrote one of my favorite hymns “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  Think about it!  We are going to see our precious Saviour face to face and we will be with Him for all eternity.  Are you shouting yet?  Jesus, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS is coming back for us.

I saw a wedding in a Christian family movie.  It showed the bride walking slowly down the aisle to meet her bridegroom who was waiting for her at the front of the church.  When Jesus comes back for us, I’m not going to walk slowly to meet Him; I’m going to run and fall at His feet and tell Him how much I love Him.

It is sad and heartbreaking when a loved one dies but because of Jesus we will see them again.  Even though we know we’ll see them again, it still hurts us and the tears fall.  God understands how we feel because His Son died.  The heart of our Heavenly Father hurt and He wept because He missed His Son.   

Joanne Lowe
January 10, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016

ONLY 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

Some of you know that I went through a crippling devastating depression for over forty years.  I had been beaten, raped, and told I was no good and would never amount to anything.  I was even told that I didn’t have a right to live.  After hearing that for so many years, I believed it.

I hated everybody and I didn’t trust anyone.  Then one day as I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital Jesus came to me.  He lifted me up from under that bed, put His arms of love around me and said the three most beautiful words I had ever heard.  Jesus said, “I love you, Joanne.”

No one had ever told me I was loved and I wept like a baby to think that not only was I loved, I am loved by the Saviour of the world Who loves me so much He died for my sins.  Only love, unconditional love, could have taken away the terror and heartaches from me and given me a reason to live.

If you ever doubt you are loved, remember the cross and the excruciating pain that Jesus endured for you when He was crucified.  He was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked and humiliated because He loves you so much.  Our friends and family love us but nobody loves us like Jesus.

The Bible tells us to let the redeemed of the Lord say so.  My sins have been forgiven and the precious cleansing blood of Jesus has been applied to my heart.  Thank You, dear Jesus for loving me and dying for me.  I love You so much, dear Jesus.  

Joanne Lowe
January 9, 2016

Friday, January 8, 2016

FROM THE VALLEY TO THE MOUNTAIN

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 KJV

Jesus takes us from the valley of despair to the mountain of happiness.  There is more than one kind of death.  There is the death of a divorce and the death of a friendship.  One of the definitions I found for death in Webster’s Dictionary is “the ruin or destruction of something”.

There were two ladies who had been friends for many years but one day one of the ladies did something and said something hateful to the other lady and their friendship died.  They didn’t trust each other any more and didn’t love one another any more.  I know that hurt Jesus and broke His heart.   

We have a faithful loving Saviour Who loves us so much He died for our sins.  Jesus will always love us because He loves us unconditionally.  His love doesn’t depend on what we do or don’t do.  What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

O that you and I will love one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love.  Loving one another unconditionally is not an option.  It is a commandment from Jesus.  Can we honestly say we love one another unconditionally?  May God help us to love as Jesus wants us to love one another.

Joanne Lowe
January 8, 2016

Thursday, January 7, 2016

JESUS UNDERSTANDS HOW WE FEEL

“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 KJV

If you have ever had computer problems or other problems while serving Jesus, then you understand how frustrating it is.  Jesus understands how we feel because things also went wrong in His ministry.  All He was doing was spreading love, yet He was ridiculed, doubted, and even cursed.

It’s okay to get discouraged and go through dark valleys but we can’t stay in the valleys because that would make satan happy.  We need to cry out to Jesus and ask Him to help us.  Jesus will be faithful to pick us up and carry us through all the dark valleys in our life.  What a precious Saviour we have!

The next time something goes wrong in our ministry instead of getting upset and want to give up, let’s allow Jesus to help us.  Jesus never fails.  We can trust Him and depend on Him to be with us and to encourage and help us.  Yes, Jesus understands how we feel and He really cares about us.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will comfort and encourage us when satan attacks us or our ministry.  You are a faithful and loving Father and You really care about us.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, dear Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 7, 2016




Wednesday, January 6, 2016

FORGIVENESS

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12 KJV

Do we really want God to forgive us as we forgive those who hurt us?  I prayed this prayer many times until I finally realized what I was asking Him to do.  If He had forgiven me the way I had forgiven others, I would have been in trouble because I did not forgive people from my heart.

Unless and until we forgive people from our heart the way God forgives us, we have not forgiven them.  If God had forgiven us with words only and not with actions, we would be on our way to hell for all eternity.  Thank God that He proved His love for us with actions when He gave Jesus to die for our sins.

I used to put people on pedestals and expected them to be perfect then when they failed as all of us do it broke my heart.  None of us are perfect.  All of us fail because we are still in the flesh.  There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus.  O how I love Jesus!

Pastor Chuck Smith wrote one of my favorite hymns “Jesus Never Fails” and it is true.  We can trust Jesus and depend on Him because He has never failed us one time and He never will.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  We love You so much and we appreciate You.  Thank You, dear Jesus, for loving us so much You died for us.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 6, 2016

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

HE IS ALWAYS WITH US

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Isaiah 43:2 KJV

It doesn’t matter how many dark valleys we go through because Jesus is with us through every one of them.  He never leaves us alone, not even for a minute.  When we are lonely and hurting, brokenhearted and in despair our precious Saviour carries us through the valleys and holds us close until the pain goes away.

The last two days I have been in a lot of pain.  My arthritis is really hurting and I’m also having trouble reading.  I have to use a magnifier to read my Bible and even then, the print looks blurry.  Of course, this makes satan happy and he is doing his best to discourage me and stop me from serving Jesus.

It will never happen!  I will serve Jesus until the day I die or God calls me home.  I promised God that I would write devotions as long as He helped me write them.  What a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that God loves us so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.

Heavenly Father, You are a compassionate loving Father.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  How I appreciate the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus.  Thank You for all You have done for me through the years and for all You do for me every day.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe
January 5, 2016


Monday, January 4, 2016

THEY MUST MATCH

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
James 3:10 KJV

I saw a man who I thought was very handsome and I wanted to meet him but then he said something to someone and I changed my mind.  The words that came out of the mouth of this man were some of the cruelest words I have ever heard someone say.  I know they hurt Jesus and broke His heart.

Our actions must match our words.  If we tell people that we love them and never do anything to prove it, they are not going to believe us.  You have probably heard this “actions speak louder than words”.  Jesus not only told us that He loves us, He also proved His love for us when He died on the cross for our sins.

Do we love Jesus?  If we have told Him that we love Him, what are we doing to prove to Him we love Him?  The best way we can prove to Jesus that we love Him is to be kind and loving to one another because He said in Matthew 25:40 that when we are kind and loving to one another, we are being kind and loving to Him.

However, Jesus also said that when we aren’t kind and loving to each other; we are not being kind and loving to Him.  I don’t know about you but I believe Jesus has suffered enough.  He will never have to die on the cross again but He is still being cursed.  How it must hurt Him and break His heart.

Heavenly Father, being the loving Father that You are, I know it must hurt You and even make You angry when You hear someone cursing and saying things that hurt Jesus.  I pray that You will forgive us for hurting Jesus when we don’t love others like we should.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 4, 2016

Sunday, January 3, 2016

THE TICKET OF LOVE

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Revelation 5:9 KJV

One of the definitions in Webster’s Dictionary for ticket is “a certificate or token showing that a fare or admission fee has been paid”.  Jesus paid our admission fee into Heaven with His own blood.  We can’t work to get into Heaven.  We can’t buy our way into Heaven.  We’ll never be good enough to go to Heaven.

It is only by the precious blood of Jesus that He shed for us on the cross that any of us will get into Heaven.  Yes, our admission fee into Heaven is free to us but it cost Jesus everything, His life and His blood.  If you ever feel like nobody loves you, remember the cross and the blood that Jesus shed for your sins.

What a tender loving Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  O how I love Jesus.  He is the reason I’m living and the reason I get out of bed in the morning.  Have you accepted the blood bought ticket that Jesus paid for you on the cross?  If not, I urge you to open the door of your heart and let Jesus come in.

Heavenly Father, what amazing love You gave us when You sent Your beloved Son into the world to pay the penalty for our sins.  Thank You, dear Father.  Jesus, You paid the price for my sins.  I can never repay You but I can serve You.  I love You so much.  Thank You for everything.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 3, 2016

Saturday, January 2, 2016

A RECIPE FOR PEACE

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.”  
Isaiah 26:3 KJV

God has given us a recipe for peace but there are times when we don’t follow the recipe He has given us and instead of having peace in our heart, we have turmoil, confusion and sadness.  When we are making something using a recipe in a cookbook if we don’t follow it exactly, it won’t taste like it should taste.

Helen Howarth Lemmel wrote one of my favorite hymns.  “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”.  I love these words.  “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.”  Thank God for our faithful Saviour!

If we will turn our eyes upon Jesus and keep them there, we won’t have as many heartaches and problems.  We are human and we will fail one another but Jesus will never fail us.  Don’t look to your pastor or Sunday school teacher and do not look to me because only Jesus will never fail us.

Heavenly Father, You are a loving compassionate Father and we love You and appreciate You.  Jesus, thank You for not only being our Saviour, but also for being a Friend Who will never leave us, not even for a minute.  I love You so much, Jesus, and I long to see You face to face.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.       

Joanne Lowe
January 2, 2016

Friday, January 1, 2016

A YEAR OF HAPPINESS

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”
Psalm 144:15 KJV

Today is the first day of a new year.  Instead of making New Year resolutions that we don’t always keep, let’s make this a year of happiness by serving Jesus.  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start bragging on Jesus”.  Are we bragging on Jesus?

Sometimes we cause our own problems by the things we do and the words that we say.  If you’re not flying higher than a kite, you are missing out on a lot of happiness.  Not only will we be happier, we will also make Jesus happy when we serve Him.  Jesus longs for us to spend time with Him.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we will make Jesus happy by serving Him with all our heart, with our time and with our talent.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me of serving Your Son.  I pray for every one who is hurting, that this will be a year of happiness for them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
January 1, 2016