Monday, February 29, 2016

ARE YOU SURE

“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

I watched Dr. Billy Graham preaching on one of his crusades Saturday night and he said something that brought back my salvation experience.  Dr. Graham said “Are you saved?  I would not leave this place unless I knew for sure I was saved”.  It reminded me of when I was saved.

I told God that I was a sinner and on my way to hell.  I told Him I was sorry and asked Him to forgive me.  I did this many times because I didn’t feel anything in my heart.  On August 14, 1980, I repented of my sins and invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour.  That day I knew I was saved.

It doesn’t matter if you are a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a musician or who ever you are, if you haven’t confessed your sins and invited the Christ of Calvary into your heart, you are lost in your sins and on your way to hell for all eternity.  Please be sure you are saved.  Don’t wait another minute to be sure.

Joanne Lowe
February 29, 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

JOY AND HAPPINESS

“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

One of my pastors said in a sermon about joy and happiness “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start bragging on Jesus”.  My pastor was so right.  Since I have been telling people how much Jesus loves them, I have been happier than I have ever been and I do feel like I’m flying higher than a kite.

I have heartaches, sorrows and dark valleys in my life just as you do but no matter how many dark valleys we have to go through our precious Saviour will be faithful to pick us up and carry us until the pain goes away.  He not only carries us, He sets us once again on the mountain top of happiness.

Are you flying higher than a kite?  Are you bragging on Jesus?  We brag on our children.  It is much more important to brag on Jesus.  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  All hail King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  I love You so much, dear Jesus.  I long to see You face to face.

I think we sometimes create our own problems because we get out of the center of God’s will for our life.  It is very important that we ask God before we do anything if what we want to do is in the center of His will for our life.  It may be a good thing to do but God may have something else He wants us to do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the happiness and the fulness of joy that we have in the presence of Your Son.  Thank You, dear Jesus, for dying for our sins on the cross and for giving us real happiness and the fulness of joy that we have when we stay in Your presence.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe
February 28, 2016

Saturday, February 27, 2016

WHAT ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8 KJV

It seems lately that all I hear on the news is information about homosexuals.  I have never heard anyone say that God loves those who like the same sex.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that God loves everyone because He gave His Son to die for everyone.

I was talking to someone and said that I didn’t understand why all I heard on the news was people talking about how sinful and terrible homosexuals are and that they are terrible people.  The person I was talking to replied and said “That’s what people want to hear”.  What about what God wants to hear?

Homosexuality is a sin and it stinks in the nostrils of God but so does telling lies stink in the nostrils of God.  I have heard many sermons about homosexuality being a sin which it is but I’ve never heard one sermon about lying being a sin.  We are the ones who say one sin is worse than another.  To God, sin is sin.

We don’t want others to judge us and condemn us yet many times we are guilty of judging others and condemning them.  As one of my pastors said in a sermon, “If you will make sure your own heart is right before God, you won’t have the time to judge and condemn others”.  My pastor was so right.

Just because I write devotions does not mean I am perfect.  I’m just a sinner saved by grace.  It is a full time job making sure that I keep my own heart in right standing with God. 

Joanne Lowe
February 27, 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

HIS PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL NAME

“Wherefore also God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 KJV

Jean Perry wrote one of my favorite hymns “I Know of a Name”.  What a loving and compassionate Saviour we are privileged to know.  I love these words in this hymn.  “The One of that name, my Savior became, My Savior of Calvary.  My sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare.  He suffered all this for me.”

Jesus didn’t suffer and die because of something He did because He never sinned, not one time.  He suffered, bled and died because of our sins.  What an amazing unconditional and forgiving love Jesus has for you and for me and He hung on the cross ridiculed, cursed and beaten beyond all recognition for us.

I have said this many times and I will keep saying it until Jesus comes back for us or God calls me home.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  He loves you unconditionally and He will love you forever!  O how He loves you.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

God really appreciates pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, musicians and all those who are serving His beloved Son.  If you are a parent you know how happy it makes you when someone is kind to your children, it also makes our Heavenly Father happy when we are kind to His Son.

Joanne Lowe
February 26, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE OTHERS

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:12,13 KJV

How much do we love others and how much are we willing to do for others?  Jesus loves us so much He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him on the cross.  He endured agony and pain that you and I will never know.  He was willing to die for us but He didn’t have to die.

Are we willing to lay down our life for our friends or do we insist on having our own way all the time?  When we go out to eat, do we allow our friends to choose where we go to eat or do we always say where we want to go?  It may seem like a little thing to do but it can show our friends we care about them.

How much do we love Jesus?  How much are we willing to do for Him?  The greatest thing we can do for Him is serve Him and tell others how much He loves them.  If we want to serve Jesus, we will have to shut off the television, get out of our comfort zone and go tell others how much He loves them.

I believe if we have time to watch television, we have time to serve Jesus.  A husband and wife actually got so angry about who would control the remote control for the television, they almost got a divorce.  How that must have hurt Jesus and broke His heart that they cared more about the remote than Him.

Heavenly Father, please put a desire deep in our heart to serve Your beloved Son.  I love You, dear Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me and all You do for me every day.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe
February 25, 2016

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

HE LOOKS AT OUR HEART

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV  

I am so glad that God looks at what is in our heart because I don’t have any teeth.  I have worn dentures for many years and about a year ago when I was brushing my dentures, the bottom denture broke.  I set up an appointment with a dentist to get new dentures but I was unable to get them.

They told me I would have to be at the dentist’s office for eight hours the day they made the dentures.  I have arthritis so there is no way I can sit in a chair for eight hours so I cancelled the appointment.  I am so glad that when God looks at me, He doesn’t look at my mouth; He looks at what is in my heart.

Someone asked me if I was embarrassed to have people see me without teeth.  I have to be honest and say I was a little embarrassed at first and then I realized God still loves me whether I am wearing dentures or not.  God is not looking at my mouth, He is looking at my heart.  Thank God for His love.

If you feel uncomfortable because you think you are overweight, God doesn’t care.  In fact, I believe God would like us to be overweight in our heart with unconditional love for others.  What does God see when He looks in our heart?  Does He see things that make Him happy or does He see things that make Him sad?

Heavenly Father, help us to keep our heart clean before You.  Thank You for loving us even when we don’t look like we want to look.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
February 24, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

WE KNOW BETTER

“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

Jesus has warned us to be on the alert for the sneaky and vicious attacks of satan yet there are times when we either forget to be vigilant or we just don’t do it and then we wonder why satan wins some the attacks he hurls at us.  It is because we don’t stay on the alert for his attacks.

I have written three devotions concerning this Scripture verse, yet there are still times when I take my eyes off Jesus and put them on my situation and then I wonder why I get so upset.  It is because I allow satan to attack me.  As soon as satan attacks us, we need to run into the open waiting arms of Jesus.

I have a pinball game I play on my computer.  I have arthritis and it helps my fingers and hands when I keep pressing the keys chasing the ball.  I know I need to keep my eyes on the ball because if I look away even for a second, I lose the ball.  It is the same with Jesus.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus at all times.

We know better than take our eyes off Jesus.  Not only do we get in trouble when we take our eyes off of Him, we also hurt Him and break His heart.  Jesus wants us to live a happy and victorious life.  (John 10:10).  We can trust Jesus to take care of us.  Not only does He take care of us, He never leaves us.

O that you and I will be as faithful to Jesus as He is to us.  Jesus won the right to have first place in our heart, in our life and in everything we do when He shed His own blood for our sins on the cross.  Does Jesus know we love Him?  Have you told Him today that you love Him?

Joanne Lowe
February 23, 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

HE EVEN LOVES ME

“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

Philip Paul Bliss wrote one of my favorite hymns “Jesus Loves Even Me”.  I know that He loves you, but when I think of Jesus, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS loving me, I am filled with awe, joy, happiness and gratitude.  Not only does He love me unconditionally, He never leaves me, not even for a minute.

Jesus loves everyone even though we hurt Him at times and fail Him and wonder of wonders, He even loves me.  When I think about my precious Saviour being beaten, ridiculed, tormented and crucified for my sins on the cross, I am so unworthy of His love and my heart is filled with gratitude and love for Him.

Just when I think I can’t love Him any more, He does something wonderful.  Jesus, the Saviour of the world loves me so much that He not only visited me in the mental hospital, He put His arms of compassion and unconditional love around me and said four beautiful words to me “I love you, Joanne”.

What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love You and one joyous day I will have the privilege of seeing You face to face.  How I long to see You.  You are wonderful, precious Jesus.  You are the reason I’m living and the Joy of my heart.  Thank You so much for loving me, dear Jesus.

Joanne Lowe
February 22, 2016


Sunday, February 21, 2016

HUNGRY FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE

“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

I have been hungry several times with only soup or crackers to eat.  I’m like the pastor who emailed me and wrote “There’s more month than there is money”.  However, being hungry for love and acceptance hurts more than not having enough food to eat.  For over forty years, I really believed I didn’t have a right to live.

When those little children came to my home and told me they were hungry and asked me for something to eat, it broke my heart and I cried.  What hurt me even more was knowing that they were afraid to go back to their house because of all the fighting and yelling and being beat and ridiculed.

We need to be sure people have enough to eat.  Even more important, we need to tell them how much Jesus loves them and then prove to them that Jesus loves them by our kind actions and loving words.  Jesus loves YOU!!  We have a loving, compassionate and tender Saviour Who really cares about us.

Have you got it yet?  Jesus loves you.  Yes, I’m talking about you.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a pastor, a teacher, a musician, a writer or anything else.  God is not impressed with our importance in this life.  What touches the heart of God is the condition of our heart.  Is our heart in right standing with Him? 
 
Joanne Lowe
February 21, 2016

Saturday, February 20, 2016

FROM AN INCH TO A MILE

“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

I heard my Mother say “Give people an inch and they’ll take a mile”.  This also applies to the devil.  Jesus Himself has warned us to be sober and vigilant and not let the devil keep us in bondage to him.  We read in the Bible “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. (John 8:36).

On August 14, 1980, I repented of my sins, told God I was sorry, asked Him to forgive my sins and invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour.  On that wonderful happy day Jesus made me free from the bondage of satan although satan tries his best to defeat me and stop me from serving Jesus.

Philip Paul Bliss wrote one of my favorite hymns “Free from the Law”.  When Jesus shed His precious blood for us on the cross and died for us, He set us free from the law and from the bondage of satan.  Thank God for the precious atoning blood of Jesus that sets us free from the bondage of satan.

You and I are human and even though we don’t want to hurt Jesus, sometimes we do hurt Him and have to ask God to forgive us.  When Jesus died for our sins, He paid the debt we owed and could never pay.  Think about it!  Jesus loves us so much He asked His Father to forgive us.  What an amazing love!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  Loving Saviour, You are so wonderful, so compassionate, tender and forgiving.  I love You with all my heart and I long for the day when I will have the privilege ot seeing You face to face.  What a happy and joyous day that is going to be.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
February 20, 2016

Friday, February 19, 2016

HEART KNOWLEDGE

“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

We may have head knowledge of our precious Saviour dying for our sins but do we have heart knowledge of how much Jesus loves us?  Our Scripture for this devotion does not tell us that Jesus suffered and died because of what He did.  Jesus never sinned.  It was because of what we did that He bled and died.

We sing the beautiful hymn “It Was For Me He Died”.  Indeed, it was for us He died.  Think about it!  Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords suffered, bled and died and endured an agony and pain that you and I will never know and the most amazing thing to me is that He willingly died for our sins on the cross.

Have you got it yet?  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you so much He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, curse Him, spit on Him, mock Him and crucify Him?  He suffered, bled and died for you.

What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love Him and praise God one joyous day I will have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  How I long for that day when I will see the One Who died for me.  I am going to give Him a big hug and for all eternity tell Him how much I love and appreciate Him.

Joanne Lowe
February 19, 2016


Sunday, February 7, 2016

GOD KNOWS

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23,24 KJV

We can hide our thoughts from people but we can’t hide them from God.  He knows what we are thinking and He knows what is in our heart.  Have you ever told people you forgive them but in your heart you did not forgive them?  Not only does God know you didn’t forgive them, you also told them a lie.

Unless and until we forgive people from our heart, we have not forgiven them.  If Jesus hadn’t forgiven us for crucifying Him on the cruel cross for our sins, we would be in serious trouble.  However, because Jesus loves us unconditionally, He asked God to forgive us while still on the cross (Luke 23:34).

Do we really want God to search our heart?  We need to make sure that our heart is in right standing with God at all times.  Jesus may come back for us to take us to Heaven with Him even while you are reading this devotion.  Are you ready to go with Him?  Is your heart right with God?

Heavenly Father, we’re sorry we fail You and hurt You at times.  Please forgive us and help us to be children who will make You happy instead of children who hurt You and break Your heart.  I pray for every person who is hurting today.  Please comfort and encourage them as only You can.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
February 7, 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

OUR LOVING AND PROTECTIVE SAVIOUR

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

Have you ever asked God to forgive you for losing your temper and then lost your temper again?  I have done that and it breaks my heart when I fail Him and hurt Him.  We need to ask Jesus to help us.  When we fail God and hurt Him then Jesus intercedes for us with our Heavenly Father.  Jesus loves us unconditionally.

When Jesus was here on earth, He was ridiculed, cursed and beaten beyond recognition for our sins.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  Jesus loved us yesterday.  He loves us today and He will love us forever.  There is nothing we could ever do that would make Him stop loving us.

Knowing that Jesus loves us unconditionally and that He will love us forever should make us want to do everything we can to make Him happy.  How do we make Him happy?  We make Him happy by being kind and loving to one another.  Are we making Jesus happy or are we hurting Him by our words and actions?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 that what we do to others, we also do to Him so when we are kind and loving to others we are being kind and loving to Him.  However, when we are not kind and loving to others, we are not kind and loving to Him.  May God help us to love others as Jesus has commanded us to love.

Joanne Lowe
February 6, 2016



Friday, February 5, 2016

THANK YOU FOR CARING

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 KJV

God has supplied me with a new computer.  I am still trying to learn how to set it up and I have shed tears because when I can’t understand something, it makes me feel stupid and yet I know that I’m not stupid.  It is just another vicious attack from satan to keep me from serving Jesus.

It doesn’t matter what kind of work we are doing, Jesus cares when we get frustrated and He will help us if we will ask Him.  We have a compassionate Saviour Who really understands how we feel because I’m sure Jesus got frustrated many times when He was here on earth.  Thank You, Jesus, for caring.  I love You.

Joanne Lowe
February 5, 2016

Thursday, February 4, 2016

JESUS, SAVIOUR, FRIEND

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Jesus, the Name above all names, not only is He our Saviour He is also our Friend.  I have many wonderful friends but the greatest Friend I have is Jesus.  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.

He loved me when nobody else did.  Jesus came to me when I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital afraid of everyone and everything.  He put His loving arms of compassion around me and lifted me up and told me He loves me.  Is it any wonder why I love Him so much?  Jesus, the Name above all names!

A little boy once said to a friend “My mother is better than peanut butter.”  That was a great compliment coming from this little boy about his mother.  I echo what this little boy said but I say it about Jesus because Jesus is better than peanut butter.  What a privilege it is just to be able to say His precious Name.

I wish I could tell you how much I love Jesus.  He is the reason I’m living, the joy of my heart, and He is every breath I take.  Praise God, one day I am going to have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  How I long for that day.  I pray that every person will feel in their heart how much He loves them.

We know that Jesus loves us because He proved His love for us when He allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.  Does Jesus know we love Him?  What are we doing for Him?

Joanne Lowe
February 4, 2016

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:6 KJV

I have had children come to my door and tell me they were hungry and ask me for food.  I didn’t have any money to give them or enough food to make them a meal so I gave them some bread and lunch meat.  I’m like the pastor who emailed me and wrote “There’s more month than there is money”.

No, we may not have money to give them but we can give them what we have.  There are many children who are not only hungry physically, they are also hungry emotionally.  Some children run and hide when they hear their parents yelling at them and also yelling at their spouses.  How heartbreaking this is!

Years ago, we had a mission’s conference at my church. Home missionaries and foreign missionaries showed slides of their work.  What brought tears to my eyes was the fact that not only did the children in the foreign countries look hungry and undernourished so did the children here in America.

How sad and heartbreaking it is that our precious children are going hungry for food, love and affection.  One day we will stand before a Holy God and give an account of the way we treated children.  Will we be able to look Him in the eye or will we have to hang our head in shame?  God help us to love our children.

We may not have money to give to people who are hungry for food but we can give them the love of Jesus.  He loves them so much He died on the cross for their sins.  Are we willing to give what we have to those who need to know that they are loved?

Joanne Lowe
February 3, 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

OBEDIENCE

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”
Genesis 3:17 KJV

If you ever doubt that obedience is important, remember what happened to Adam and Eve because they disobeyed God.  Someone said, “The things I do are nobody’s business but my own”.  That is not a true statement.  Our words and our actions do affect other people and sometimes we even hurt God.

God does not say that one sin is worse than another sin.  We are the ones who say one sin is worse than another sin.  Jesus died for everybody.  He died for murderers but He also died for liars.  However I think if God were to say one sin is worse than all other sins, He would say disobedience is the worse sin.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for hurting You when we sometimes disobey You.  We’re sorry that we fail You and hurt You at times.  May we be faithful to obey You all the time.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
February 2, 2016



Monday, February 1, 2016

THE HEART OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

“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

God loves us so much that He gave Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  What kind of love would make God give His beloved Son to die on the cross for us and what kind of love would make Jesus willingly walk that long lonely road to Calvary and allow them to crucify Him for our sins?

It is an amazing and an unconditional love that only comes from the heart of our Heavenly Father and Jesus.  O how They love us!  Nobody loves us like They love us and nobody ever will.  I write about love a lot but love, unconditional love is the answer to all our heartaches.  Do you know They love you?

It is not enough to know that They love us.  We must allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge.  Yes, God and Jesus love us but do we love Them?  If we do love Them, what are we doing to prove to Them that we love Them?  To serve Jesus, we will have to get out of our comfort zone.

We will have to shut off the television and go tell everyone we see that Jesus loves them so much that He left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth.  God didn’t make Jesus come to earth to die.  Jesus chose to come here on the mission His Father had given Him and that is what we must do.

We must make the decision to serve Jesus.  If you want to make our Heavenly Father happy, serve His beloved Son.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.  O how I love Jesus!  He is the reason I’m happy today.   

Joanne Lowe
February 1, 2016