OVER AND OVER

“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

I received an email from someone who wrote “You say the same thing over and over in your devotions”.  Yes, it is true.  I do say over and over that Jesus loves you and I will continue to say it until God calls me home or Jesus comes back for us.  Our Scripture verse tells us He loves us with an everlasting love.

Jesus doesn’t love like we sometimes love one another.  His love for us is unconditional and He will always love us.  O how our precious Saviour loves us.  If you are discouraged, lonely and hurting, tell Jesus.  He really cares about you and He understands how you feel. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  Precious Jesus, how I love You!  One day I will see You face to face.  How I long for that day.  Heavenly Father, please comfort and encourage all those who are hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 31, 2017

SHEETS

“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 can’t fold fitted sheets.  I have tried and tried and the more I try, the more I get upset with myself because I can’t fold them and then I start crying.  Then I remember our Scripture verse that the LORD isn’t looking at the way I fold sheets, He is looking at what is in my heart.

Instead of us looking at others and judging them, let’s pray for them and encourage them.  A pastor said in a sermon “If you will make sure your own heart is right with God, you won’t have the time to judge others”.  I don’t know about you but it is a full time job to make sure the things in my heart please God.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for sometimes judging others.  May we become encouragers instead of criticizing and judging others.  Please forgive me for the times I have failed You and hurt You.  I pray You will encourage and comfort all who are hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

July 30, 2017

JESUS WILL HELP US

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Pastor Elisha Albright Hoffman wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “I Must Tell Jesus”.  I love these words.  “I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; He is a kind, compassionate friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end.”  What a Friend!  Jesus is the best Friend we will ever have.

If you are sad, lonely, discouraged and hurting, tell Jesus.  He really loves you and He cares when you are discouraged.  Allow Him to pick you up in His loving arms and carry you through the dark valley until the pain goes away.  O how Jesus loves you.  Share your heart with Him because He really cares about you.

Joanne Lowe

July 29, 2017

OUR BEST FRIEND

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

 John 15:14 KJV

Peter Philip Bilhorn wrote a beautiful hymn about our Best Friend, Jesus.  I love the words in this hymn.  “Oh, the best friend to have is Jesus, When the cares of life upon you roll; He will heal the wounded heart, He will strength and grace impart; Oh, the best friend to have is Jesus.” 

I have a lot of friends and some very close friends but my best Friend is Jesus.  He loves me unconditionally and He never leaves me, not even for one minute.  When I am going through a dark valley and some times feel like giving up and going to bed and staying there, He picks me up in His arms and carries me.

If you are discouraged and feel like giving up, tell Jesus.  He understands how you feel and He will pick you up in His loving arms and carry you until the pain goes away and He will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  Jesus really is our best Friend and He loves you unconditionally.

Joanne Lowe

July 28, 2017

HIS AMAZING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

“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”.  “Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing, When in His beauty I see the great King, This shall my song through eternity be, “Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”  Think about it!  Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” loves you.

We get excited and shout for our favorite sports team.  How much more we should shout with happiness because Jesus loves us.  What amazing unconditional love flowed from the heart of Jesus for you and for me when He died on the cross for our sins.  O how I love Jesus!  Jesus loves you unconditionally.

Joanne Lowe

July 27, 2017

JESUS REALLY DOES CARE

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

Matthew 11:28 KJV

A man said to someone “How’s it going?”  The person started telling him what was wrong.  The man replied and said “I really didn’t want to know”.  Jesus really does want to know what’s wrong.  He wants us to share our heart with Him.  If we will go to Jesus, He will give us rest.

Pastor Charles Price Jones wrote a heart touching and inspiring hymn “Come Unto Me”.  “Hear the blessèd Savior calling the oppressed, “O ye heavy laden, come to Me and rest. Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear, Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”  We have a loving Saviour Who really cares.

If you are discouraged, lonely, and going through dark valleys, tell Jesus.  He is waiting with His arms open wide for you to come to Him.  Tell Jesus what is in your heart.  He will help you and pick you up and carry you until the pain goes away.  What a precious loving Saviour we are privileged to know and have.

Joanne Lowe

July 26, 2017

HOW MANY MILES

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Matthew 16:27 KJV

Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Last Mile of the Way”.  “When I’ve gone the last mile of the way, I will rest at the close of the day, And I know there are joys that await me, When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.”  We are going to be with Jesus when we go the last mile of the way.

When Jesus went His last mile when He was here on His mission, He was beaten beyond recognition, cursed, spat on, rejected, mocked and crucified on the cross for your sins and for my sins.  There were no joys for Him when He died.  However, when He arose, He went to be with His Father.

I wonder how many miles our precious Saviour walked for us when He was here on His mission.  Jesus grew weary just like we do.  I’m sure He felt like giving up when He was rejected so many times but He just kept loving people.  O that you and I would be like Jesus and keep loving people.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all You do for us.  Please help us to keep loving people just as Your beloved Son did when He was here on His mission.  Precious Jesus, I love You with all my heart.  Thank You for walking so many miles for me and for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

July 25, 2017

THINK ABOUT IT

“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”

John 1:27 KJV

Think about it!  Jesus, the Saviour of the world, Whose shoe’s latchet we aren’t even worthy to unloose not only loves us. He loves us unconditionally and willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and there allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.  It brings tears to my eyes just typing this devotion.

What kind of love is this that He would willingly die for our sins?  This is a compassionate unconditional love that can only come from the heart of our precious Saviour.  O how I love Jesus.  I long for the day when I will see Him face to face and praise God, one day I will see Him face to face.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much You gave Your Son to die for our sins on the cross.  I love You, dear Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Jesus, I love You.  Thank You for never leaving me and for dying for me.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 24, 2017

HE ALWAYS FORGIVES US

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20 KJV

Just as the father forgave his son when he went home to his father, so our Heavenly Father forgives us when we go home to Him.  A dad said to his son “You have hurt me and shamed me for the last time.  I wash my hands of you.  You are no longer my son.  You are a disgrace to our family”. 

What a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that no matter how many times we hurt our Heavenly Father that He will never say to us “I wash My hands of you”.  He always forgives us when we confess our sins and tell Him we’re sorry.  Our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally.

Heavenly Father, we know that we hurt You at times and we’re sorry.  Thank You for never saying to us “I wash My hands of you”.  I ask that You search my heart and if there is anything that hurts You, please forgive me.  Please comfort all who are lonely, hurting and discouraged.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 23, 2017

WE DON’T KNOW

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 19:18 KJV

William Matthew Golden wrote a hymn that should challenge us to be kind and loving to one another “A Beautiful Life”.  “To be a child of God each day, My light must shine along the way; I’ll sing His praise while ages roll And strive to help some troubled soul, Some troubled soul.”  Are we helping others?

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, said on one of her teaching tapes “People we sit next to in church look fine and they look darling, but inside they are hurting”.  We don’t know what heartaches and dark valleys people are going through but Jesus knows and He will help them.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will comfort and encourage all who are discouraged, lonely and hurting as You have done for me.  Thank You for being a compassionate tender loving Father Who loves us unconditionally.  I love You, dear Father, and I appreciate You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 22, 2017

WHAT JOY AND HAPPINESS

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck wrote a beautiful heart touching hymn about our precious Saviour “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  “Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ Who died for me?”  We are going to see Him face to face.

Are you shouting with happiness yet?  Why is it that people get excited and will shout for their favorite sports team but they don’t get excited and shout for Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”?  What a privilege is going to be ours to see our precious Saviour face to face.  I long for that wonderful day.  

Joanne Lowe

July 21, 2017

BE CAREFUL

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV

Have you ever been happy and everything was going great when all of a sudden, without any warning, satan attacked you with lies?  I have been attacked by satan every day for the last three days and he has lied to me and tried to convince me Jesus doesn’t love me.

I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that satan is a liar.  Jesus does love me and He loves you.  Jesus has warned us to be alert for the vicious 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 are to encourage and pray for one another but only Jesus can heal a broken heart.  Thank God for our compassionate Saviour Who really loves us.  If you are hurting, tell Jesus.  He will dry your tears with tender kisses.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world!  O how I love Jesus.    

Joanne Lowe

July 20, 2017

THE SWEETEST NAME

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

Psalms 40:3 KJV

Rev. Luther Burgess Bridgers wrote one of my favorite hymns “He Keeps Me Singing”.  I love these words.  “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know, Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.”  Yes, Jesus is the sweetest Name I know.  What a precious compassionate and loving Saviour!

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much You gave Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  You are a loving Father and I love You.  Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins.  You really are the sweetest Name I know and I love You.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.  

Joanne Lowe

July 19, 2017

ARE WE WORKING

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

John 9:4 KJV

We don’t know when Jesus is coming back for us but He is coming back and we need to be working for Him.  How sad it would be if Jesus comes back and we hadn’t told anyone that day that Jesus loves him or her.  One day it will be too late to tell our loved ones Jesus loves them.  We must tell them now!

Joanne Lowe

July 18, 2017

AN AMAZING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

John 15:9 KJV

John W. Peterson wrote one of my favorite hymns “No One Understands like Jesus” and no one does understand how we feel like Jesus understands how we feel.  When He was here on His mission, He was cursed, rejected, beaten and crucified so He understands and He cares when we are hurting and cry. 

Our precious Saviour loves us with an amazing unconditional love.  Think about it!  Jesus tells us that He loves us like God loves Him.  What love Jesus has for you and me.  Jesus loves you and He loves you unconditionally.  What a precious Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  All hail, King Jesus!

Joanne Lowe

July 17, 2017

DO YOU HAVE ROOM AND TIME

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7 KJV

This is one of the most heartbreaking verses in the Bible.  There was no room for Jesus when He was born and what is even more heartbreaking is that even today there is no room for Jesus in many hearts and lives.  John W. Peterson wrote the heart touching hymn “No Room”.

The words in this hymn break my heart every time I read them, sing them or hear someone sing them.  “No room, only a manger of hay No room, He is a stranger today.”  There are people who haven’t made room for Jesus in their heart and life and there are also people who haven’t made time for Jesus.

If we are too busy to spend time with Jesus, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedule so that Jesus will come first in our life and in our heart.  It is very important that we serve Jesus but we must also spend time with Him.  Our precious Saviour has feelings and He wants us to fellowship with Him.

I’m reminded of someone who said to a man “You work hard to make money and support your children but they never get to see you or talk to you.”  It is very important that we spend time with our children so they will know that we love them.  Have we made room and time for Jesus in our heart and in our life?

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for not always giving Jesus first place in our heart and in our life.  We’re sorry.  Jesus, we’re sorry we hurt You because we don’t always give You first place in our heart and in our life.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 16, 2017

ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;”

Psalm 107:8-10 KJV

Evangelist Clara Tear Williams wrote one of my favorite hymns “Satisfied”.  The words in this hymn are why I have such joy in my heart.  “Hallelujah!  I have found Him Whom my soul so long has craved!  Jesus satisfies my longings, Through His blood I now am saved.”  Thank God for the redeeming blood of Jesus.

People drink alcohol, do drugs, have sex, and all other things which hurt Jesus and break His heart trying to find happiness.  None of these things bring happiness or satisfies the longing in our heart to be loved unconditionally.  Only Jesus can satisfy the longing in our heart to be loved unconditionally.

If you have been trying these things that hurt Jesus hoping they will satisfy you and give you happiness, stop it.  I have said this many times and will say it until the day I die.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and no one ever will.  Jesus loves you unconditionally and He is longing to give you happiness.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone who is hurting, lonely, brokenhearted and searching for happiness.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have me so many times.  Help them to realize there is only one true happiness and joy and His Name is Jesus.  Thank You for caring.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 15, 2017

OUR HAVEN OF REST

“Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

Psalm 107:28-31 KJV  

I found this definition for haven in Webster’s Dictionary “a place where you are protected from danger, trouble, etc.”  Henry Lake Gilmour wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Haven Of Rest”.  What a comfort it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that the words in this beautiful inspiring hymn are true.

“I’ve anchored my soul in the “Haven of Rest,” I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I’m safe evermore.”  Jesus is our Haven of Rest.  He not only protects us from the storms at sea, He also protects us from the storms of life.  O how I love You, Jesus!

If you are going through one of the storms of life, run as fast as you can into the Haven of Rest.  Jesus will comfort you and protect you.  Jesus is waiting for you with His arms open wide.  Don’t try to defeat the storms of life by yourself because that will give satan a chance to discourage you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, our Haven of Rest.  I pray that You would please encourage and comfort everyone who is going through the storms of life.  I love You, dear Father.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and thank You for the privilege of serving Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 14, 2017

OUR LOVING COMFORTER

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

2 Corinthians 1:3,4 KJV

Our Heavenly Father is our Comforter.  Nobody can comfort us like God can comfort us.  However, we are to comfort each other.  How do we comfort people?  We comfort them by telling them and reassuring them that Jesus loves them.  When we feel the love of Jesus for us, we can face anything.

We can believe in Jesus and know that He loves us but until we feel His love for us we are like a ship without an anchor.  One of the definitions for anchor in Webster’s Dictionary is “a person or thing that provides strength and support”.  Jesus gives us strength and support by His unconditional love for us.

When is the last time you hugged someone and said “Jesus loves you”?  All of us need to know that we are loved.  The person who says he or she doesn’t need anyone is not being truthful.  If you don’t feel comfortable hugging people, hug them with your words by telling them how much Jesus loves them.

Heavenly Father, we love You. Thank You for comforting us.  Father, please help us to comfort each other as You comfort us.  Jesus, thank You for loving us unconditionally.  I love You with all my heart.  Thank You for dying for me, for loving me and for never leaving me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 13, 2017

IS JESUS YOUR PILOT

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

Mark 4:39:40 KJV

Lelia Naylor Morris wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “The Pilot of Galilee”.  I love these words.  “He is my Pilot on life’s stormy sea, This wondrous Man of Galilee; I’m safe in His keeping, Tho’ storms are round me sweeping, This Pilot of Galilee.”  Is Jesus your Pilot?

Pastor Edward Hopper wrote the hymn “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me”.  “Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me.”

If you have been trying to do things by yourself, you will never succeed.  Life is too hard for us to make it by ourselves and satan attacks us with lies, discouragement, disappointments and other things to try and keep us from serving Jesus.  We need Jesus to pilot our life.  Thank God for our Pilot.

Joanne Lowe

July 12, 2017

ARE WE HIS FRIEND

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

 John 15:14 KJV

Jesus said that if we do what He commands us to do that we are His friend.  Are we His friend?  Are we doing what He has commanded us to do?  We can be saved and not be His friend.  How it must hurt our precious Saviour and break His heart if we aren’t His friend.

Jesus said “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).  Can we honestly say that we love one another unconditionally?  It is not an option to love one another unconditionally; it is a commandment from Jesus.  May God help us to love as Jesus has commanded us to love.

Joanne Lowe

July 11, 2017

WE NEED TO TELL THEM

“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

A man said “I don’t have to tell my wife I love her.  I married her so she should know I love her”.  If Jesus didn’t tell me every day that He loves me, it would break my heart.  He does tell me and He tells you every day that He loves us.  Our spouses, our children and our loved ones need to know Jesus loves them.

Someone said “I’ve heard my parents tell people that Jesus loves them but they have never told me Jesus loves me”.  It doesn’t matter if we teach Sunday school, preach, sing about Jesus or write about Jesus, it is very important and even urgent that we tell our loved ones that Jesus loves them.

If someone had told me that Jesus loves me when I was going through that devastating crippling depression that I went through for forty years, I would not have been depressed that long.  Preachers came to the hospital and held services but none of them said “Jesus loves you”.

It’s important that we tell our spouses, children and families that we love them but it is much more important that we tell them that Jesus loves them.  We don’t know what dark valleys they are going through.  We only know what we see and what they tell us but Jesus knows and He wants them to know He loves them.

Joanne Lowe

July 10, 2017

HE HASN’T MOVED

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Hebrews 13:8 KJV

A husband and wife were taking a trip and as they were going down the highway the wife said to her husband “We’re not as close as we used to be.  We used to sit next to each other when we were in the car.”  The husband replied, “I haven’t moved.”  It was the wife who had moved away from her husband. 

If we have days in our life when we don’t feel as close to Jesus as we used to feel, we need to search our heart and see why we feel this way because it is us that have moved. Jesus hasn’t moved and He never will.  Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow as He is today. 

Jesus loves us as much today as He did yesterday and He will love us as much tomorrow as He does today.  There is nothing we can do that would make Jesus stop loving us.  We can hurt Him and break His heart but He will still love us.  Jesus doesn’t turn His love for us off and on like we sometimes do to others.

Joanne Lowe

July 9, 2017

CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGY

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!”

John 11:33-35 KJV

The world tells us not to get involved with people.  There are some jobs where we aren’t allowed to get involved but Jesus got involved with people.  He not only got involved, He also wept.  O that you and I would be like Jesus and get involved with people and let them know that we really do care.

I know a doctor who used to invite his patients to his home until his wife asked him not to do it anymore.  If Jesus were here on the earth now, He would invite His patients into His home.  How do I know that?  I know that because I know the tender loving compassionate heart of Jesus.

I don’t know all the geographical places in the Bible but I do know the heart of Jesus.  I know that He loves you so much He willingly left His home, His Father and all that He had to come to earth and die for you.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  His love is unconditional and everlasting.

How it thrills my heart and brings tears of happiness to my eyes to know that one day I will see my beloved Saviour face to face.  I am going to give Him a big hug and spend eternity telling Him how much I love Him.  How I long for that day when I will see Him face to face.  I love You, precious Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

July 8, 2017

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

“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

Today is my birthday.  I am 74 years old.  I have received emails and telephone calls wishing me a happy birthday.  However, it would not be a happy birthday if I didn’t have another birthday.  On August 14, 1980, I invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour and I was born again into God’s family.

What a privilege it is to be adopted by God and be part of God’s family.  We have a loving Heavenly Father Who loves us so much He gave His Son to die for us.  Do you have another birthday?  Have you invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour?  If not, I urge you to do it today.

Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family and for being a compassionate loving and caring Father.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Please comfort and encourage all those who are discouraged and hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

July 7, 2017

THREE TIMES A DAY

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Psalms 55:17 KJV

Does God hear our voice three times a day?  Does He hear it any time during the day or night?  I think sometimes we treat God as if He is a puppet.  We put Him on a shelf and only take Him down when we need something or want something.  I think we hurt Him and break His heart many times because we ignore Him.

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  We need to prove to God we love Him by talking to Him.  Prayer is just talking from our heart to our Heavenly Father.  He already knows what is in our heart but He wants us to share our heart with Him.

If we are too busy to pray and talk to our Heavenly Father, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedules.  It is time that we treat our Heavenly Father with the respect that He deserves and talk to Him all the time not just when we want something or need something.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for ignoring You at times and hurting You.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 6, 2017

JESUS IS CALLING US

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

Isaiah 6:8 KJV

There are times when Jesus calls us to do something for Him and we either don’t respond or we don’t hear Him talking to us.  Jesus is asking us to tell people of His unconditional love.  We may not be called to be a missionary in a foreign country, but we can tell our loved ones, our friends, and our neighbors about the unconditional love of Jesus.

I think as Jesus said this, He said it with a heart filled with love and compassion for us.  I believe His heart was broken as He said this because He knows there are so many people who don’t believe that He loves them.  They may have accepted Him as their personal Saviour, but have never grasped in their hearts that He really does love them and cares about their happiness.

He calls us to turn off the television and pick up the telephone and tell someone who is lonely and hurting how much He loves them.  We will never be able to serve Him as He asks us to do unless we put Him first in every area of our lives.  Jesus is the Saviour of the world and He should come before our families, our loved ones and friends, and before every activity.  He deserves to have first place in our lives and to be given respect.

One day He called to us from an old rugged cross and said by His actions, I love you so much that I am willing to suffer this devastating heartache and agonizing pain.  Can you hear Him calling you to serve Him and tell others of His love?  Have you surrendered everything to Jesus, or are you holding back an area of your life that you aren’t willing to give up?

Joanne Lowe

July 5, 2017

HIS REDEEMING BLOOD

“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

It doesn’t matter if we live in a free country because if we haven’t invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour, we are not free.  It is only when the atoning cleansing redeeming blood of Jesus is applied to our heart for the forgiveness of our sins that we are free.  Thank God for the redeeming blood of Jesus.

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a beautiful hymn about our Saviour “I’m Free”.  I love these words.  “So long I had searched for life’s meaning, Enslaved by the world and my greed; Then the door of the prison was opened by love, For the ransom was paid, I was freed.”  We have been set free by the redeeming blood of Jesus.

As we celebrate the 4^th of July, let us also remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross when He shed His blood for our sins.  I am so glad I live in a free country but what thrills my heart is to know that Jesus has set me free from the shackles and bondage of satan.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much You gave Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  Jesus, thank You for setting me free from the bondage of satan through Your cleansing redeeming blood.  I love You so much and I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 4, 2017

GARMENTS OF LOVE

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10 KJV

I have a beautiful purple robe that I bought several years ago.  It keeps me warm when the weather turns cold.  I have another robe and it is the robe of righteousness.  I also have the garment of salvation which Jesus gave me with His blood when He died for my sins on the cross.  Thank God for heavenly garments.

The beautiful robe I bought keeps me warm when the weather gets cold but only Jesus can warm our heart that gets cold when people say sarcastic and criticizing words that hurt us.  Jesus understands how we feel when we are criticized.  When He was here on earth, He endured rejection and criticism.

Are you wearing these garments of love?  Have you allowed God to clothe you with the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness?  If not, don’t wait.  Invite Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour.  He loves you so much He died for you.  Give your heart and life to Jesus today before it is too late!

Joanne Lowe

July 3, 2017

THE BODY AND HEART OF JESUS

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23,24 KJV

My sister gave me a beautiful figurine of Jesus which I had on my entertainment center.  One day I was cold so I put my sweater on and as I was walking from my office into the living room I didn’t realize how close I was to the entertainment center and my sweater hit the figurine and knocked it off and it broke. 

Even now, I have tears in my eyes as I tell you about it.  As I looked at the pieces of the broken figurine, our Scripture verses became so real to me.  Just as the figurine of Jesus broke into pieces when I knocked it off, so the body and heart of Jesus was broken on the cross of Calvary for you and for me.

What a compassionate and matchless love Jesus has for you and for me.  Our family and our friends love us but nobody loves us like Jesus loves us and no one ever will.  Jesus loves us unconditionally.  There is nothing or nobody that will ever take His love from us.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving us.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).

Joanne Lowe

July 2, 2017

HOW IT MUST HURT GOD

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1 KJV

How it must hurt God and break His heart to see the things we do to the earth He created.  When God created the earth everything was beautiful.  People throw things out their car window on the highway as they are driving.  People throw their cigarettes on the ground and they also spit on the ground.

Not only are we hurting God by the things we do to the earth, we also hurting Him by the things we do and say.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27).  When we say cruel words and do mean things to one another, it hurts God.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for hurting You and for sometimes being hateful and saying cruel words to one another.  You are a compassionate tender loving Father.  Please help us to love one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 1, 2017