HE DIED FOR YOU

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Matthew 27:50,51 KJV

Pastor Noah B. Herrell wrote a beautiful hymn about our Saviour “The Unveiled Christ”.  “O behold the Man of Sorrows, O behold Him in plain view; Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror, Since He rent the veil in two. Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror, Since He rent the veil in two.”  He died for you and He died for me.

Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him, pluck His beard and pound the nails into His hands so that you can be saved and live in Heaven with Him for all eternity.  What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge how much Jesus loves you?  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you.  Not only does He love us unconditionally, He also intercedes for us with His Father when we sin.  

We read in the Bible.  “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).  Jesus gave His life for us so that we might live forever.  What are we doing for Him to show Him how much we appreciate Him?

Joanne Lowe

May 31, 2018

OUR DEPENDABLE SAVIOUR

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Matthew 28:20 KJV

Evangelist Daniel W. Whittle wrote one of my favorite hymns that brings tears of happiness to my eyes “Moment by Moment”.  I love these words.  “Never a trial that He is not there, Never a burden that He doth not bear, Never a sorrow that He doth not share, Moment by moment, I’m under His care.”

Jesus is not only with us every hour and every minute, He is also with us every moment.  It doesn’t matter how many dark valleys we have to go through, He is with us to cheer us on to victory.  He never leaves us alone like some people do.  He promised us He will never leave us.

Ludie D. Pickett wrote the beautiful heart touching and inspiring hymn “Never Alone”  “When in affliction’s valley I tread the road of care, My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear; Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown; My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone!”

Our dependable Saviour is with us every minute. When we cry He weeps with us and when we are happy, He rejoices with us.  Jesus loves you with an everlasting love.  Join me in praising the One Who loves you so much He died for you.  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who is lonely, hurting and discouraged.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  I love You so much, Heavenly Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 30, 2018

ARE WE

“Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.”

Numbers 18:29 KJV

S. C. Kirk wrote one of my favorite hymns “Our Best”.  “Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!” For, be it great or small, that is His test. Do then the best you can, not for reward, Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.”  Are we giving Jesus our best or are we giving Him what’s left over at the end of the day?

Someone said “I don’t have the time to have devotions in the morning and when I come home from work, I am too tired to do anything but relax and watch television”.  If we can watch television, then we can spend time with Jesus.  How we must hurt Him and break His heart when we put things before Him.

If we are too busy to spend time with Jesus, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedules.  May God help us to put Jesus first in our heart, in our time, in our life and in everything we do.  If ever someone deserves to have first place, it is Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Joanne Lowe

May 29, 2018

EVERY PERSON

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:23 KJV

We don’t mind pointing the finger of guilt at someone but it’s a lot harder to point the finger at ourselves, isn’t it?  None of us are perfect.  Every person has sinned and that includes you and me.  This is why I have told you to keep your eyes on Jesus and not on me, on your pastor or your Sunday school teacher.

There was only one perfect Person Who ever lived and His Name is Jesus.  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If you will make sure your own heart is in right standing with God, you won’t have the time to judge and condemn others.”  My pastor was right because it’s a full time job making sure I’m right with God.

There have been a lot of murders lately at schools which breaks my heart and I know it hurts our Heavenly Father and breaks His heart.  We may never have killed a student with a gun but if we have ever said criticizing and hateful words to a student, we have killed them emotionally.  May God have mercy on us.

It is time that we become encouragers to one another and especially to our pastors.  Pastors sacrifice time from their own families to minister to us.  They sometimes have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital.  We need to remember that pastors are human.  They cry and hurt just like we do.

“So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved” (Isaiah 41:7).  Are you encouraging people or are you saying and doing things that hurt them?

Joanne Lowe

May 28, 2018

IT BREAKS MY HEART

“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

I saw a box that had Christmas ornaments in it and the writing on the label was “Xmas Ornaments”.  It makes me angry when I see the word “Xmas” and it also breaks my heart.  Without Jesus, there would be no Christmas so we should always say “Merry Christmas”, not “Xmas”.

If it hurts me and breaks my heart to read “Xmas”, I’m sure it also hurts Jesus and breaks His heart.  There was no room for Him when He was born and the sad thing is that some people still haven’t made room for Him in their heart and in their life.  It is time we stop hurting Jesus. 

This is a Christmas message but when we have Jesus in our heart and in our life, every day is Christmas.  The precious Baby Jesus didn’t stay a Baby, He grew up and walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.  What a compassionate Saviour we are privileged to have.

Heavenly Father, I know it also hurts You and breaks Your heart when You see “Merry Xmas”.  I pray You will forgive us for not giving Your Son the respect He deserves.  Thank You for loving us so much You gave Him to die on the cross for our sins.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 27, 2018

HOW LONG

“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 KJV

Harriet B. Stowe wrote “Knocking, Knocking, Who Is There?”  “Knocking, knocking—what, still there? Waiting, waiting, grand and fair! Yes, the piercèd hand still knocketh, And beneath the crownèd hair Beam the patient eyes, so tender, Of thy Savior waiting there.”  Is Jesus still knocking at the door of our heart?

We may be saved but are we serving 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).  How sad it is and how it must break His heart that we aren’t willing to serve Him any time of the day or night.

There are people who will get up very early in the morning to go fishing or drive many miles to go on vacation but these same people are not willing to drive across town or walk across the street to tell people how much Jesus loves them.  It is time we put Jesus first in our heart, in our time and in everything we do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a compassionate loving Father.  Please forgive me for the times I have hurt You.  I’m sorry.  I pray for everyone who is discouraged and going through dark valleys.  Please encourage them and comfort them as You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 26, 2018

DON’T DWELL ON IT

“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.  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.   To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:8-10 KJV

It breaks my heart when I remember the times when I was disrespectful to my Mother.  She used to say to me “It doesn’t matter what I say, you’re going to do what you want to do”.  I think there are times when God could say that to us.  It is very important that we do what God wants us to do.

One of the most vicious attacks from satan is when he lies to us and tries his best to discourage us from serving Jesus. When satan attacks you and reminds you of your past and he tells you that God will never forgive you and will never love you, don’t listen to him because the Bible tells us that satan is a liar. 

We read in the Bible.  “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8: 44).

If you have confessed your sins, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you are saved and your sins have been forgiven.  We have a compassionate loving Heavenly Father and He never reminds us of our past.  When He forgives us, we are forgiven.

Joanne Lowe

May 25, 2018

PRIDE

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 KJV

One of the hardest things for me to do is to ask for help.  There are times when I let satan defeat me because of my pride so I don’t ask for help.  Our Scripture verse tells us that pride goes before destruction.  All of us need to ask for help at times.  Even Jesus asked for help and if He asked for help, we can too.

“Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink” (John 4:6,7).  Jesus was thirsty and He asked the woman for a drink of water.

I have arthritis and sometimes it hurts so much it is very hard for me to go to the store.  I am writing this devotion on Monday, May 21^st.  I have been in a lot of pain and have been unable to go to the store even though I needed groceries.  Finally, I swallowed my pride tonight and asked my neighbor to go for me.

May God help us to lean on Jesus when we are hurting, whether we are hurting spiritually, emotionally or physically.  He wants us to lean on Him so He can help us.  I have a cane that I use to walk and if I didn’t use it, I couldn’t walk because I would fall.  It is time we learn to lean on Jesus.

John Stallings wrote the beautiful hymn “LEARNING TO LEAN”.  I love these words.  “sad, broken-hearted, so often I've knelt, And I've found God's peace so serene; And all that He asks is a child-like trust, And a heart that is learning to lean.”  Are you leaning on Jesus or are you still trying to do things by yourself?

Joanne Lowe

May 24, 2018

WE CAN TRUST HIM

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Hebrews 13:5,6 KJV

Have you ever been so discouraged you felt like going to bed and staying there?  Jesus understands how you feel.  When He was here on His mission, He also became discouraged.  I’m sure there were times when He felt like giving up but because He loves His Father and us, He didn’t give up.

Arthur A. Luther wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “Jesus Never Fails”.  “Earthly friends may prove untrue,  doubts and fears assail; One still loves and cares for you,  one who will not fail. Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;  Heav'n and earth may pass away,  but Jesus never fails.”

No matter how many dark valleys we have to go through, Jesus will pick us up in His loving arms and carry us until the pain goes away.  He will be faithful to set us once again on the mountain top of happiness.  O how Jesus loves you.  He loves you so much He died for you and He wants you to be happy.

We read in the Bible.  “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).  Don’t let satan keep you discouraged.  Ask Jesus to help you.  He loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him.

Joanne Lowe

May 23, 2018

NO DIVORCE

“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

Someone said “Let’s get married.  If it doesn’t work out, we’ll get a divorce”.  We can’t divorce Jesus, our Bridegroom, because He loves us with an everlasting love.  We read about our Bridegroom in the Bible.  How wonderful it is to know He will never divorce us and we can’t divorce Him.

Not only can we never divorce Him, we will never want to divorce Him.  Our Bridegroom not only loves us and will always love us; He will never hit us, curse us, yell at us or leave us alone.  He will protect us, love us, lead us and be with us every minute of the day.  O how I love Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who has never invited Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour.  May today be the day they admit they are a sinner, confess their sins, ask God to forgive them and invite Jesus into their heart.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 22, 2018

GOD’S ROCKING CHAIR

“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

If your parents ever rocked you when you were a child, you know how comforting it was.  There are times when our Heavenly Father will pick us up, hold us close to His loving heart and rock us.  He always comforts and encourages us but sometimes we need Him to hold us close and rock us.

How comforting it is to know that God’s lap is big enough to hold all of us at the same time.  He doesn’t play favorites like we sometimes do with our children.  Our precious Heavenly Father loves all of us with the same unconditional love.  There is nothing we could ever do that would make Him stop loving us.

Not only does God love all of us with the same unconditional love, He also takes us out to His woodshed when we need it.  When I worked in nursing homes, I heard some of the residents talking about when they were children and their parents took them out to the woodshed when they needed to be spanked.

Sometimes, parents will tell their children if they do something they are not supposed to do, they will be punished but then they don’t punish their children.  When God tells us not to do something He means it and so we know what to expect if we hurt Him and disobey Him.  Let’s stop hurting our Heavenly Father.

Joanne Lowe

May 21, 2018

OUR ROCK OF LOVE

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

Psalms 18:2 KJV

Pastor Edward Mote wrote one of my favorite hymns “My Hope Is Built.”  I love these words “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”  It is so important that we keep our eyes on Jesus because He will never fail us or leave us.

When I invited Jesus into my heart on August 14, 1980, He promised me that He would never leave me and He has kept His Word.  It is always safe to trust Jesus because what He says, He will do.  What a loving compassionate Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  O how I love Jesus.

Do you realize it is a privilege to be loved by the Saviour of the world?  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for your sins?  Jesus did not have to die on the cross.  He never sinned, not one time.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the unconditional love You gave us when You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for us.  Father, I pray for all who are lonely, discouraged, brokenhearted and who feel like giving up, please encourage and comfort them as You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 20, 2018

OUR WONDERFUL SAVIOUR

“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

Rev. Virgil P. Brock wrote a beautiful hymn “He’s a Wonderful Savior to Me”.  I love these words “He is always near to comfort and to cheer, He’s a wonderful Savior to me; He forgives my sins, He dries my every tear, He’s a wonderful Savior to me.”  Yes, Jesus is a wonderful Saviour.

Charles H. Gabriel wrote a heart touching inspiring hymn.  It is one of my favorite hymns “Precious To Me”.  These words are so true.  “So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my King; His praise all the day long with rapture I sing. To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling, For He is so precious to me.”

Yes, Jesus, our wonderful Saviour, is very precious to me.  He is the reason I’m living, the reason I get out of bed in the morning, and the song of my heart.  I love Him so much.  Do I hurt Him at times?  Yes, I do, just like you hurt Him at times.  We are only sinners saved by grace and by His redeeming blood.

May God help us to do things and say words that make Jesus happy.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  Please join me in praising the One Who loves us so much He died for us.  O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe

May 19, 2018

JUST THANK HIM

“O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Psalms 136:26 KJV

If you are a parent and your children have ever thanked you for something without asking for something, you know how happy that made you.  It is the same with our Heavenly Father.  How we must hurt Him and break His heart when we ask Him for things and never just thank Him for all He has done for us.

Have you ever prayed and said “Heavenly Father, I love You.  Thank You for all You have done for me” without asking for something?  It is time we stop asking for things all the time and start praising and thanking God for being a compassionate tender loving and protective Heavenly Father.

I think sometime we treat our Heavenly Father and our precious Saviour like they are puppets.  We put them on the shelf and only take Them down when we want something.  Have you told God and Jesus how much You love them today without asking for something?  They want to know that we love Them.

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times when I have neglected to praise and thank You for all You have done for me and for all You do for me every day.  I do love You, Heavenly Father and I appreciate You.  I love You, precious Saviour.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 18, 2018

GOD UNDERSTANDS AND HE CARES

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Luke 23:33 KJV

A man said “God doesn’t care.  If He did then He wouldn’t have let my grandchild die”.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that God does care.  He not only cares when one of our loved ones dies, He also understands how we feel.  Not only did His Son die a cruel death on the cross, He was also tortured.

It breaks the heart of our Heavenly Father to see all the violence in the world.  Yes, God understands and cares when your heart is breaking.  Not only was the heart of our Saviour broken on Calvary, God’s heart was also broken because He had to turn away from His Son because Jesus had taken our sins on Him.

Marvin P Dalton wrote a hymn which I believe should be sung at every church service “Oh What A Savior”.  The words in this hymn are so true.  “O what a Savior, O hallelujah! His heart was broken on Calvary, His hands were nail scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life-blood for even me.”

The next time you lose a loved one, remember that God understands how you feel and He cares.  We have a tender compassionate loving Heavenly Father Who loves us so much He gave His beloved Son to die for us.  What a healing balm it is to our battle scarred heart to know God loves us and cares.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me, for protecting me and for taking care of me.  I pray for all who are hurting.  Please comfort and encourage them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 17, 2018

HAVE WE CROWNED HIM

“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.”

Revelation 14:14 KJV

Leila N. Morris wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “Crown Him”.  “Crown Him! Crown Him! Crown the Savior King of kings; In your hearts enthrone Him, Lord and Master own Him; Crown Him! Crown Him! While heaven exultant rings; Crown the blessèd Savior King of kings.”

One of the definitions that I found for enthrone in Webster’s Dictionary is “to seat in a place associated with a position of authority or influence”.  Have we given our Saviour first place in our heart, in our time and in our life?  After all that Jesus has done for us, He deserves to have first place.

Not only should He have first place, we should also include Him in our conversations.  Many times we brag about our children and grandchildren.  Do we brag about Jesus and the things He has done for us?  We should include Jesus in our conversations because He deserves all the praise we can give Him.

What about giving our testimony?  When your pastor asks for testimonies, do you stand up and praise Jesus for Who He is and for all He has done for you?  We need to tell others about all He has done for us and all He does for us every day.  Many people need to hear your testimony.

May God help us to crown Jesus the King of our life and our heart.  It is a privilege to be loved by the Saviour of the world.  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

Joanne Lowe

May 16, 2018

TENDER COMPASSIONATE KISSES

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
Isaiah 25:8 KJV

Lotta B. White wrote “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away”.  I love these words.  “God shall wipe all tears away, By and by, by and by; All earth’s sorrows will repay, By and by, by and by. No more partings, no more tears, No more sighing, no more fears, Spend with Christ the endless years, By and by, by and by.”

Think about it!  One day there will no more crying or sorrow when we get to Heaven and God Himself will wipe the tears from our eyes with tender compassionate kisses.  Not only will we have no more partings or sorrow, we will be with Jesus for all eternity.  Are you shouting with happiness yet?

I will never understand how people can get so excited that they shout when their favorite sports team wins but fail to get excited and shout with happiness knowing that one day we are going to be with Jesus.  If ever someone deserves to be praised, it is Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Heavenly Father, what a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that one day there will be no more sorrow or parting and You are going to dry the tears from our eyes with tender kisses.  Thank You, dear Father.  I love You so much and I appreciate You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 15, 2018

COMPASSION AND PRAYER

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

Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

When I asked Jesus into my heart on August 14, 1980, He gave me a new heart filled with compassion for others.  Until that day, I hated everybody but when Jesus gives us a new heart we are changed.  He took the hatred and bitterness from my heart and gave me a new heart filled with love.

One day I felt such compassion for every person in the world that I prayed and said “Heavenly Father, I pray for every person in the world.  Please let them feel the happiness that I feel”.  I have never met anyone on my mailing list except my cousin but I prayed for all of you that day.

Charles Austin Miles wrote the hymn “A New Name in Glory”.  I am so glad the words in this hymn are true and my name is written down.  “There’s a new name written down in glory, And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine! And the white robed angels sing the story, “A sinner has come home.”   O how I love Jesus!

We read in the Bible.  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).  Are you ready to meet Jesus if He should come back while you are reading this devotion?  How sad it would be and how it would break His heart if we aren’t ready to meet Him.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who reads this devotion.  If they have never invited Jesus into their heart, I pray that even as they read this that they will let Jesus come into their heart.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 14, 2018

HIS MOTHER

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

John 19:25-27 KJV

Mother’s Day is a special day.  It is a day when we honor our mothers.  For some of us, Mother’s Day is sad because some of us don’t have mothers who are living.  My Mother died on Christmas Day many years ago but I still miss my Mom.  It breaks my heart that I was disrespectful to her at times.

Jesus loved His mother very much and He wanted to be sure that His mother was taken care of but He was also careful in choosing someone to take care of His mother.  He saw the disciple standing by that He loved and He gave the care of His mother to His disciple.  I’m sure He trusted the disciple.

As we honor our mother’s on Mother’s Day, let us also honor our mothers every day of the year.  Our mothers have a lot of pain when we are born and they also have a lot of pain if we aren’t living like we should live.  Mothers, the greatest thing you can do for your children is give them to Jesus.

May God help us to be a comfort and encouragement to our mothers not just on Mother’s Day but every day of the year.  We need to treat them with respect, love them and obey them.  The most important thing we need to do for our mothers is pray for them.  Thank God for our mothers.   

Joanne Lowe

May 13, 2018

WHAT A PRIVILEGE AND JOY

“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

What a privilege and joy has been mine to serve Jesus full time since January 24, 2005.  Many years ago one of my pastors said in a sermon “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start bragging on Jesus”.  When he said that, I had no idea what he meant.  Sometimes I get so excited; I do feel like I am flying.

I know that Heaven will be much better than now but I honestly don’t know how I can be any happier than I am now.  Am I happy all the time?  Of course not because satan attacks me every day with lies, discouragement and with sadness.  However, Jesus always wins the victory when satan attacks me.

If you are serving Jesus, it makes satan very angry and he will do his best to discourage you.  Don’t let that happen.  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us when He could have come down.  All the nails in the world couldn’t have held Him if He chose to come down.

We read in the Bible “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).

Are you serving Jesus?  If not, why aren’t you serving Him?  When we serve Jesus, it means we have to shut off the television, get out of our comfort zone and tell everyone about our risen Saviour and His unconditional love for them.  Will you serve the One Who loves you so much He died for you?

Joanne Lowe

May 12, 2018

THE CROSS OF LOVE

“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.  And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

John 19:17-19 KJV

There were three crosses but only one was a Cross of Love and it was the cross they nailed Jesus to as He hung there with the blood flowing down His body as the tears flowed down His heart.  John W. Peterson wrote an inspiring and heart touching cantata about our precious Saviour “No Greater Love”.

Yes, there was no greater love and there will never be no greater love than the unconditional love Jesus has for you and for me.  Think about it.  Jesus allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him and He didn’t try to defend Himself yet He had never done anything wrong.

Why did Jesus stay on the cross when He could have come down because all the nails in the world couldn’t have kept Him on the cross had He chosen to come down?  He stayed on the cross because He loves you and He loves me unconditionally and He will always love us no matter what we do.

Please join me in praising our precious Saviour.  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!”  What fills my heart with happiness is to know one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

Joanne Lowe

May 11, 2018

OUR SAVIOUR UNDERSTANDS AND CARES

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

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Pastor Frank E. Graeff wrote one of my favorite hymns “Does Jesus Care”.  I love these words.  “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”  I believe Pastor Graeff wrote this hymn from the depths of his heart.

Our Saviour not only cares when we are sad and discouraged, He also understands how we feel.  When He was here on His mission, He had feelings just like we do.  He grew weary, discouraged and I’m sure at times, felt like giving up just like we do.  Jesus knows how it feels to be ridiculed and rejected.

Yes, Jesus cares when we are sad and discouraged and He wants to help us.  The next time you are hurting, sad and discouraged, tell Jesus.  He will pick you up in His loving arms and will carry you through the dark valley until the pain goes away.  You are very precious to Him and He loves you.

Joanne Lowe

May 10, 2018

ARE WE PRODUCING FRUIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22,23 KJV

We read in the Bible “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).  We are not to be kind and do good things so we can get praise and people can say we are wonderful.  We are to do them to glorify God.

If we aren’t bringing honor and praise to God, we are producing fruit that brings attention to satan.  If you’ll notice in our Scripture verse for this devotion, the first fruit of the Spirit is love.  If we don’t love one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love, we don’t love as we should.

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times when we don’t love one another as Jesus has commanded us to love.  Please comfort and encourage all who are hurting, lonely, discouraged and those who feel like giving up.  We loves You, Father, and appreciate You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 9, 2018

GOD’S NEWS

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

John 5:13 KJV

The newspapers are full of violence and hatred.  The Bible which is God’s news to us is filled with compassion and unconditional love for us.  If we would start our day reading the Bible instead of reading the newspaper, we would have a happier day as we would be reminded once again how much God loves us.

Not only would we have a happier day if we read the Bible when we get up, we would also make our Heavenly Father happy.  If you are a parent, you know how happy it makes you when your children talk to you.  I think many times we forget that God has feelings.  Let’s make God happy and talk to Him.

If God didn’t have feelings and didn’t love us unconditionally, our precious Heavenly Father would never have given His beloved Son to die on the cross for us.  When is the last time you told God that you love Him?  Have you ever told Him that you love Him and thanked Him without asking for something?

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for sometimes forgetting to tell You how much we love You and appreciate all You have done for us.  You are a compassionate loving Father and I love You.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for letting me serve Your Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 8, 2018

STRENGTH AND PROTECTION

“There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

Deuteronomy 33:26,27 KJV

Lina Sandell wrote one of my favorite hymns “Day by Day”.  I’m so glad these words are true.  “Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find, to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”  We can trust God to help us and protect us.

When I gave my heart to Jesus, I thought everything would be wonderful and I would never have any problems again.  I found out that was not true.  When we become Christians and serve Jesus, it makes satan very angry and he does his best to discourage us so we will stop serving Jesus.

God is our refuge and our help.  He will protect us from the snares and darts of discouragement that satan hurls at us.  It is always safe to trust God because He really loves us and cares about us.  If you are discouraged, tell God and He will encourage you and protect you from all harm.

Joanne Lowe

May 7, 2018

HE CARES

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

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Pastor Frank Ellsworth Graeff wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “Does Jesus Care”.  I’m so glad these words are true.  “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”

I have had many nights when I couldn’t sleep and I felt Jesus sitting beside my bed, holding my hand and tenderly saying to me “I love you, Joanne”.  There is no one like Jesus.  No one cares and loves us like Jesus does.  I have a lot of good friends but Jesus is my best Friend.

Many years ago, as I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital hating everyone, afraid of everyone and everything, Jesus came to me.  He said “I love you, Joanne.  It’s safe to come out from under this bed.  I will never leave you”.  He has kept His promise.  He has never left me, not even for a minute.

Ludie D. Pickett wrote one of my favorite hymns “Never Alone”.  “I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.  I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul. I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.  He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!”

Jesus not only loves us so much He died on the cross for us, He really cares about us.  It breaks His heart when we are sad and when we cry, He weeps with us and He rejoices with us when we are happy.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

Joanne Lowe

May 6, 2018 

WHAT GLORY AND JOY

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Luke 24:32 KJV

Avis B. Christiansen wrote a beautiful hymn “IT IS GLORY JUST TO WALK WITH HIM”  I love these words.  “It is glory just to walk with Him Whose blood has ransomed me; It is rapture for my soul each day. It is joy divine to feel Him near Where’er my path may be. Bless the Lord, it’s glory all the way!”

Since I gave my heart to Jesus on August 14, 1980, I have been so happy.  Does this mean that I am happy all the time?  Of course not because satan does everything he can do to discourage me so much that I stop serving Jesus.  One of things he does to discourage me is tell me Jesus doesn’t love me. 

We read in the Bible “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).

When we serve Jesus, we need to stay on the alert because satan will lie to us and do his very best to discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus.  We must not let that happen!  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us when He could have come down.

Heavenly Father, You are a tender loving and compassionate Father and I love You and appreciate You.  Thank You for all You have done.  Please comfort and encourage all those who are hurting, lonely and discouraged.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 5, 2018

ARMS OF LOVE AND PROTECTION

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV

Every time I get discouraged during the day, I go to bed and as soon as my head is on the pillow I feel God’s arms of love and protection go around me.  We have a loving compassionate Heavenly Father Who really loves us.  He cares when we are lonely and discouraged.  It breaks His heart to see us cry.

The next time you are lonely, hurting and discouraged allow our Heavenly Father to comfort you.  He loves you so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for your sins so you may be saved and spend eternity in Heaven.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by our Heavenly Father. 

“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).

When we see people who are lonely, hurting and discouraged, we need to comfort them just as God comforts us.  The best way to comfort and encourage them is to not only tell them that God loves them, but also to prove He loves them by our kind and loving actions.

Heavenly Father, thank You for caring about us, for loving us and for comforting us.  I love You, Heavenly Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 4, 2018

PRAYER

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Luke 22:31,32 KJV

Do you know that Jesus prays for you?  When Jesus prays for you, He prays for you by your name.  If your name is Judye, Jesus prays for you by your name and says “Father, please encourage Judye and let her feel how much You love her.  Comfort her and protect her”.

Jesus was human just like we are.  He didn’t want to be beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked rejected and nailed to the cross but because He loves us so much and He wanted to fulfill the mission His Father gave Him, Jesus went to the cross and allowed them to crucify Him.

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you so much He died for you?  If you ever think that nobody cares about you and loves you, remember the agony and excruciating pain that Jesus endured for you on the cross.

May God help us to pray for one another and especially for our pastor.  I think we sometimes forget that pastors have feelings and that they cry and get discouraged just like we do.  Let’s make a special effort to pray for our pastor and also remember to thank and encourage our pastor.

Joanne Lowe

May 3, 2018

THE LAST TIME

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 13:34,35 KJV

There are many people who are lonely and discouraged.  There are also people who are so sad and so discouraged that they are thinking about committing suicide.  I know this is true because many years ago, I was one of those people.  I really believed that no one loved me and that I didn’t have a right to live. 

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, said on one of her teaching tapes “The people we sit next to in church look fine and they look darling but inside they are hurting.”  We don’t know what is going on in someone’s heart because we can’t see their heart but Jesus sees and He knows.

When is the last time you hugged someone?  I believe Jesus hugged people.  If you’re not comfortable hugging people, hug them with loving words and reassure them that Jesus loves them.  May God help us to be disciples who love one another and lead others to Jesus by our loving actions and words.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a loving compassionate Father Who not only hugs us with words but also hugs us by Your actions.  The biggest hug You gave us was when You gave Jesus to die for our sins on the cross and pay the price we could never have paid.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 2, 2018

HAPPINESS

“Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”

Proverbs 12:25 KJV

Calia Altstaetter wrote a hymn that should make us search our heart “Make Somebody Happy Today”.  I wonder if we can honestly say we are making people happy or if we allow schedules and other things to stop us from serving Jesus.  When Jesus was here, He was always helping others. 

“If your own sorrows you want to forget, Make somebody happy today; If in your heart you would know no regret, Make somebody happy today. Others near by you may be in despair, Struggling ’neath crosses so heavy to bear; They may take heart, if you show that you care—...”

The words in this hymn are so true.  If we show others we care about them and tell them and then prove to them how much Jesus loves them, we will make Jesus happy.  “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Are we making Jesus happy by our kindness and love to one another or are we hurting Him?  May God help us to show others how much Jesus loves them not only by our kind and loving words but also by our kind and loving actions.  Jesus deserves to be happy after all that He has done for us.

Joanne Lowe

May 1, 2018