ONE HAPPY DAY

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1Thessalonians 4:13-18

King James Version

When a loved one dies even though we know we’ll see them again when Jesus comes back for us, it hurts and we cry because we’re going to miss them.  One happy day we will see them again and be reunited with them and we’ll be together for all eternity.

If you know someone who has lost a loved one, don’t just pray for the person, comfort and encourage the person.  All of us need encouragement at times.  My Mother died several years ago but I still miss her at times.  It breaks my heart to know that there were times I hurt her when I didn’t do what she told me to do.

Mom said to me many times “It doesn’t matter what I say, you’re going to do what you want to do”.  I think if we will listen with our heart we will hear our Heavenly Father say to us “It doesn’t matter what I say, you’re going to do what you want to do”.

Heavenly Father, thank You that one day I will see Mom again.  I pray for all who are hurting because someone they loved has died.  Please comfort and encourage them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 31, 2019

ONE HAPPY DAY

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

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

King James Version

Bill Gaither wrote one of my favorite hymns “The King Is Coming”.  “The marketplace is empty, no more traffic in the street All the builder's tools are silent, no more time to harvest wheat Busy housewives cease their labor, in the courtroom no debate Work on earth has been suspended as the King comes through the gate.”

I love the words in the second verse “Happy faces line the hallway, those whose lives have been redeemed Broken homes He has mended, those from prison He has freed Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all a-glow Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow.”

How I long for the day when Jesus comes back for us.  Are you ready to meet Him?  Is there anything in your heart that hurts Him?  We don’t know when He is coming so we need to keep our heart in right standing with God.  When God looks in your heart, does He see things that hurt Him and break His heart?

Yes, one happy day Jesus is coming back for us and we will see Him face to face.  Are you shouting with happiness yet?  I don’t understand how people can shout for their favorite sports team but don’t shout for Jesus.  If ever someone deserves to be cheered, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

Do you know Jesus?  I didn’t ask if you are saved.  Do you know Him?  How much time do you spend with Him?  If we don’t have time to spend with Jesus because of our busy schedules, we need to rearrange our schedule.  A man said “I don’t have time to spend with Jesus because I need to read the newspaper”.

How that must have hurt Jesus and broke His heart.  Jesus has feelings and it hurts Him when we don’t spend time with Him.  I think sometimes we treat Him like He is a puppet.  We take Him down from the shelf when we need something and then put Him back on the shelf.  May God forgive us.

Does Jesus have first place in your heart?  We need to give Jesus the respect that He deserves.  I love my family.  I love my best friend and my Pastor and I have many other friends I love but Jesus comes first in my life.  Making Jesus happy is the goal of my life.  He has done so much for me and one day I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.

Joanne Lowe

May 30, 2019

THE HORSE

“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

King James Version

A girl who was taking riding lessons fell off the horse.  She wasn’t hurt but she didn’t want to get back on the horse.  Her friend that was riding with her said “Get back on the horse.  If you put the horse away now, you’ll hurt his feelings.”  We hurt Jesus’ feelings when we don’t trust Him to help us when satan attacks us.

One of my favorite hymns tells us what we should do when satan attacks us with lies and discouragement.  We should get back up; forget about how we are feeling, and concentrate on Jesus.  Our Saviour understands how we feel and how much it hurts when satan hurls his poisonous arrows at us.

Rev. Bruce Ballinger wrote “We Have Come Into His House”.  “So forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him So forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him So forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him Worship Him, Christ, the Lord.”

There is always someone who is hurting more than us but that doesn’t mean we don’t hurt.  This is why it is so important to be encouragers to one another and not just when it is convenient for us.  It wasn’t convenient for Jesus to leave His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth to die for our sins but He came so we can be saved.  Carl David Boggs wrote a hymn about Jesus coming to die for us “Until He Came”.

The words in this hymn tell us how much Jesus loves us.  “He was born in a manger  A king without a throne A resident of paradise but here He had no home The one who had everything gave it all for me When He became my Savior When He met Calvary.”  There is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you.

If you are discouraged and feel like giving up and stop serving Jesus, remember that Jesus left Heaven to die on the cross so you can 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).

We need to remember to not only pray for our pastors but also encourage them because they hurt just like we do.  They get weary and discouraged.  I thank God for my Pastor, Pastor J Harold Davis, who not only tells us how we should live, he sets a good example for us by his encouraging words and actions.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please comfort them, encourage them and reassure them that You love them and appreciate their service to You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 29, 2019

FORGIVENESS

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

Romans 2:1

King James Version

It is easy to point the finger of guilt at someone but it’s a lot harder to admit that we guilty of doing the same thing, isn’t it?  We are so quick to say it’s terrible when someone kills someone and it is terrible.  However when we say sarcastic and criticizing words to people, we might as well take a knife and plunge it into their heart because it hurts just as much.

We say one sin is worse than another sin, but to God, sin is sin.  We read in the Bible.  “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).

If we say that we have never told a lie, think about it.  If we have ever told someone we were okay when they asked how we were and we weren’t okay, we have told a lie.  People have asked me if I was okay and I said yes because I didn’t want them to know I was hurting.

Several years ago about a week from Christmas, all I had in the house to eat was bread, lunchmeat and potato chips and I didn’t have the money to buy any food.  A friend asked me how I was and if I needed anything.  I said I was fine and didn’t need anything because I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to know I needed food.  It doesn’t matter why I said that I was okay, I lied.

The Bible tells us that “all liars will have shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”.  May God forgive us for being so quick to point the finger of guilt at someone.  One of my pastors said in a sermon when he was talking about forgiveness “If we would make sure our own heart is right before God, we won’t have time to judge and condemn others”.

Instead of judging others, let start praying for people and telling them about the unconditional love of Jesus.  However, it is not enough to just tell them that Jesus loves them, we must prove He loves them by our kind and loving actions. 

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

It is very hard to convince people Jesus loves them if we criticize them all the time.  We need to start loving people and praying for them.  Then and only then, will they want Jesus for their Saviour.  Do people know Jesus loves them by our kind and loving actions?

Cecil F. Alexander wrote the hymn “Forgive Them, O My Father”.  “Forgive them, O my Father, They know not what they do. The Savior spoke in anguish, As sharp iron nails went through. No word of anger spoke He To them that shed His blood, But prayer and tenderest pity Large as the love of God.”

Squire Parsons wrote another beautiful hymn “He Came To Me”.  “He came to me when I was bound in chains of sin He came to me when I possessed no hope within He picked me up and He drew me gently to His side Where, today, in His sweet love I now abide.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much You gave Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  Jesus, I love You.  Precious Saviour, You are the reason I’m living and the Joy of my heart.  Thank You for loving me and for coming to me when I couldn’t come to You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 28, 2019

THE GREATEST COMMANDER OF ALL

“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.”

Deuteronomy 4:1

King James Version

As we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for their country, let us also remember the greatest Commander of all, Jesus.  He not only gave His life for our country, He also gave His life for every person in the world.

We read in the Bible.  “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).  Pastor E. Taylor Cassel wrote one of my favorite hymns “Loyalty to Christ”. 

Are we doing what the words in this hymn tell us to do?  “On to victory! On to victory! Cries our great commander, On! We’ll move at His command, We’ll soon possess the land, Through loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.”

It is so easy when satan attacks us with lies and other vicious attacks and we get discouraged and we feel like going to bed and staying there just to give up and 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.

What would have happened if Jesus hadn’t stayed on the cross for us?  We wouldn’t have a way to have our sins forgiven, and have Jesus for our Saviour and go to Heaven when we die.  Thank God for the precious blood of Jesus that takes away our sins.

Robert Lowry wrote one of my favorite hymns “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”.  “Nothing can for sin atone:  nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  Have you allowed Jesus to take away your sins with His blood?  If not, I urge you to do it today before it is too late.

We must be loyal to Jesus and spread His unconditional love to all we see.  There are many people who are hurting, lonely, sad, discouraged and who feel like giving up and some who feel so alone and feel that nobody loves them that they are even thinking about committing suicide.

If we want to honor Jesus, we need to be kind and loving to people and let them know that Jesus loves them unconditionally.  However, it is not enough to just tell them He loves them, we must prove that He loves them by our kind and loving actions.

When is the last time you hugged someone for Jesus?  You may not be comfortable hugging people but you can hug them with your kind words.  Remember, when we are kind and loving to people, we are being kind and loving to Jesus.  We read in the Bible. 

“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 you being kind and loving to Jesus or are you hurting Him and breaking His heart?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Who is the greatest Commander of all.  Please encourage and comfort everyone who has lost loved ones in the service of their country.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 27, 2019

A FAITHFUL ENCOURAGER

“They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.  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 41:6, 7

King James Version

All of us need to be a faithful encourager.  Jesus has set the example for us.  Evangelist Charles Weigle wrote a beautiful hymn about the love of Jesus “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus”.  The words in this hymn bring tears of happiness to my eyes.

“Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His word of love. But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till someday I see His blessed face above.”  Yes, Jesus comes to us every day and encourages us and tells us He loves us.

All of us need to be a faithful encourager to someone.  It’s not enough to just say something kind to people once a week at church and never encourage them again.  I prayed and asked God to put someone in my heart that I could encourage every day and He did.

Every day I email this person and send something that is encouraging and I also pray for this person every day.  May God have mercy on us if He lays someone on our heart to encourage and we don’t do it.  All of us need to be encouraged and that includes our pastors.

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian author and speaker 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”.  Pastors and deacons and their wives need encouragement just like we need to be encouraged.

When is the last time you invited your pastor to dinner?  He may not be able to come but knowing that you cared enough to invite him would encourage him.  I have the best Pastor in the world, Pastor J Harold Davis.  Pastor Davis is a faithful friend.  How I praise God that He allows me to have Pastor Davis not only as my Pastor but also as a trusted and loyal friend.

Are you an encourager to someone?  If not, pray and ask God to give you someone to encourage and then be a faithful encourager to that person every day not just when it is convenient for you.  It wasn’t convenient for Jesus to die on the cross for us but He did it because He loves us.

Joanne Lowe

May 26, 2019

HE DID IT FOR US

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

Isaiah 53:3-5 

King James Version

Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition yet while still hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His body, He asked God to forgive us.  What kind of love is this?  It is an unconditional love for you and for me that came from the heart of Jesus.

Your family and your friends love you but nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you tomorrow and for eternity.  There is nothing we could ever do that would make Him stop loving us.

Rev. Ray Overholt wrote the beautiful heart touching hymn “Ten Thousand Angels”.  "Father forgive them!" thus did He pray, E'en while His lifeblood flowed fast away; Praying for sinners while in such woe--No one but Jesus ever loved so.” 

Think about it.  He could have come down from the cross but He stayed on the cross for us.  All the nails in the world couldn’t have kept Him on the cross had He chosen to come down.  If you ever think nobody loves you, remember the cross and the anguish and pain that Jesus suffered for you. Marvin P. Dalton wrote my favorite hymn “O What a Savior”. 

Every time I hear this hymn, it brings tears to my eyes and I stand up and raise my hands as high as I can raise them to Jesus.  “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.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Jesus to die on the cross for us.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for adopting me and for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  Jesus, I love You and I long for the day I will see You face to face.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 25, 2019

A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER

“Hast thou not known?  hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40: 28 - 31

King James Version

I think all of us have days when it seems like everything that can go wrong, goes wrong.  We become discouraged and sometimes feel like giving up because of all the hateful and critical words that people say to us.  When we see the sun rising in the morning, it should be a beautiful reminder to us that the Son of God rises in our heart every morning to start our day off right and empower us for the day.

We are human and we don’t have the power to fight the world and satan and all the poisonous fiery darts he hurls at us.  Only our precious Saviour is able to defeat satan.  When Jesus died on the cross for us that dark and terrible day, He defeated satan and won the war over life and death.  However, as long as we are in this world we will have attacks from satan.

We may allow satan to win a battle but the war has already been won through the redeeming, cleansing and atoning blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.  Please don’t despair and give up.  Please don’t stop serving Jesus because of hateful things that are said and done to you.  I have good news for you, there is absolutely nothing that satan can attack you with that Jesus can’t overcome and conquer.

Jesus is more than able to bring you through every dark, frightening and lonely valley victoriously.  Our Saviour is a compassionate and understanding Saviour.  He understands our fears and He feels our pain when we are hurting.  He will pick you up and carry you through every heartache, every burden and every crisis and will once again set you on the mountain top of happiness, joy and peace. 

There is no one like Jesus!  All hail, King Jesus!  If you will only trust Jesus, He will take your hand and walk with you through every situation and crises of your day.  He will be faithful to bring you through every crisis and attack from satan and the world victoriously.  He will be with you to encourage you and comfort you.  Allow Jesus to empower you with His strength for the day.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all who are lonely, hurting and discouraged.  Please comfort them as You  have done for me so many times.  You are a loving and compassionate Father and I appreciate You and love You.  How wonderful it is to know that You will never yell at us, curse us, hit us or tell us we are no good.  How I love You!  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 24, 2019

NEVER LOOK AWAY

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2

King James Version

Helen H. Lemmel wrote one of my favorite hymns “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”  We need to turn our eyes upon Jesus and never look away.

I have received emails from people who have said how wonderful I am because I write devotions.  I thank God that He allows me to write them but don’t look to me because I’m human and I hurt Him and fail Him at times just like you do.  Don’t look to me, to your pastor, to your Sunday school teacher or anyone else, look to Jesus.  He will never fail you.

Pastor Arthur Luther wrote the inspiring hymn “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.”

Not only does Jesus never fail us, He also weeps with us and rejoices with us.  There have been many times when I have been so excited about serving Jesus but it seemed that nobody understood how happy I was except Jesus.  I am so glad I have a Saviour Who not only loves me but understands me and rejoices with me when I am happy and weeps with me when I am sad.

Not only is Jesus our Saviour, He is also our best Friend.  He never leaves us, not even for a minute.  When we feel like we can’t take another step or give another smile, He picks us up and carries us through the dark valleys and sets us once again on the mountain top of happiness.  O how I love Jesus!

Heavenly Father, I pray for those who are discouraged and hurting, please comfort them as You have been so faithful to comfort me.  I love You, Heavenly Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for adopting me and for allowing me to serve Your beloved Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 23, 2019

HIS LOVE

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalms 95:1, 2 

King James Version

Rev. Francis Bottome wrote the hymn “Let Us Sing of His Love”.  I love these words in this beautiful hymn.  “Even now while we taste of His love We are filled with delight at His name; But what will it be when above We shall join in the song of the Lamb.”

I have always wanted to sing in a choir so many years ago, I joined the choir at the church I was attending.  After the first rehearsal, I was asked to leave the choir because I was told I was singing off key and making everyone else sound bad also.

I was hurt and I cried but I asked God to help me and He comforted me.  One of the things that really upsets me is when God has given someone the ability to sing and that person does not sing.  God has been very good to me and comforted me.

One day I will sing in the Heavenly choir and I won’t be asked to leave the choir.  The tears are rolling down my cheeks as I type this to know that one happy day I will see my precious Saviour face to face.  I am going to hug Him and sing to Him for eternity.

Think about it!  We are going to have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  Are you shouting with happiness?  Carrie E. Breck wrote a beautiful hymn “Face to Face with Christ, my Savior”.  I love the words in this heart touching hymn.

“Face to face—oh, blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.”  When I think about seeing Jesus face to face, I feel like I am going to explode with happiness.  I am going to hug Him and tell Him how much I love Him and appreciate Him.

Are you going to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus?  Has there ever been a time in your life when you admitted you were a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour?  If not, I urge you, I plead with you to do it today before it is too late.  One day it will be too late.

Don’t miss out on spending eternity with the One Who loves you so much that He allowed them to spit on Him, curse Him, beat Him beyond recognition and pound nails into His precious hands for your sins and for my sins.  Your family and friends can’t do it for you as much as they love you.

Salvation is personal between you and Jesus.  For some people, Jesus has been knocking at the door of their heart for years and they have refused to open the door of their heart and let Him come in.  “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).

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will melt hearts that have refused to open the door to Jesus.  I pray for every man, for every woman, for every boy and every girl that has never invited Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus.  Please encourage and comfort every pastor who is preaching the good news of Jesus.  I love You, dear Father.  Thank You for all You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 22, 2019

DECORATE THEIR HEART

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21: 2 - 4

King James Version

Sometimes we spend a lot of time and money redecorating our children’s rooms.  Instead of using all of our energy, time, money and talents on decorating our children’s rooms, let’s invest them in our children’s lives and decorate their heart with the love of Jesus.  

We need to say tender loving words to our children every day so that the wallpaper of their heart will be decorated with joy and happiness.  We can take the money that we would spend on supplies for their room and spend it on things that will teach them about Jesus and His great love for them.

Our children will have pain, sorrow and heartaches as they face the obstacles, trials, crises and snares of this sinful world and the temptations of satan.  As much as we want to protect them from these things, we can’t give them the kind of help that they need.  Only Jesus can fight our children’s battles that they will have to endure in this world.  Let’s make sure that our children are ready to meet their Bridegroom when He comes back for us.  We should spend more time making sure that our children are adorned with the qualities that please Jesus than we do on decorating their rooms.

I know a lady who would not allow her son to read the Bible until he had finished all of his homework.  This mother will stand before a Holy God and give an account for that decision.  I don’t want to be her when Jesus returns for us and He looks at her and asks her why her son’s homework was more important to her than it was to tell her son about Him.

If we are spending more time helping our children with their homework from school than we are in helping them memorize verses from the Bible that will help them all of their lives, we have our priorities wrong and we are making Jesus very sad.

It is extremely important to take our children to Sunday School and church, not just send them.  Several years ago when I lived in Texas I had the privilege of being a bus captain on one of our church buses.  I would go visit everyone who rode the buses every Saturday and many of the parents would say to me “I’m so glad you are taking my children to church because now I can go back to bed and sleep while they are gone”.  How that statement must have hurt Jesus!

Sometimes we try to make our children become what we wanted to become.  A twelve year old girl went to visit her grandmother for two weeks and during that time the grandmother made her granddaughter take dancing lessons because she herself had always wanted to be a dancer.  The granddaughter hated the dancing lessons and finally told her grandmother that she hated dancing and that they never spent any time together or went any place together.

It will be impossible for us to decorate our children’s heart with the love of Jesus unless He has first decorated our own heart with His love.   You may have a personal relationship with Jesus; He may be your personal Saviour but have you allowed Him to decorate your heart with kindness, tenderness, understanding, compassion, mercy and forgiveness?

You will not be able to teach your children about Jesus unless they see and hear the kindness of Jesus in your actions and in your words.  What kind of example are you setting for your children?  Have you decorated your children’s heart with the unconditional and tender love of Jesus?

Joanne Lowe

May 21, 2019

EVERY DAY

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:10-14

King James Version

If we would have the kindness and love in our heart that we show at Christmas every day of the year, we would make Jesus very happy.  We can’t afford to buy gifts every day to give to our loved ones, but we can give unconditional love, patience and kindness and we can give our time.

Every day should be Christmas in our heart and in our life because every day Jesus comes to us and reassures us that He loves us.  Pastor Charles F. Weigle  wrote one of my favorite hymns “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus.”  I’m so glad these words are true. 

I love the words in this beautiful heart touching and inspiring hymn.  “Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His word of love. But I'll never know just why He came to save me,  Till someday I see His blessed face above.”

For those who get my devotions every day, you know that I went through a devastating crippling depression for over forty years.  I really believed nobody loved me because no one had ever said “I love you” to me until one happy day as I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital where I had crawled because I was afraid of everyone and everything, Jesus came to me.

He put His loving arms around me and lifted me up from under that bed and told me He wouldn’t let anyone hurt me again and then He said “I love you, Joanne”.  There are no words to express the happiness that I felt that day.  He has never left me.

If you are reading this devotion, know that Jesus loves you.  There is nothing that you could ever do that would make our loving Saviour stop loving you.  He loves you unconditionally.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you tomorrow and for all eternity.

Don’t wait until Christmas to give your loved ones something.  Give them unconditional love every day of the year just as Jesus gives us unconditional love every day of the year.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail, King Jesus!  Please join me in praising the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Joanne Lowe

May 20, 2019

KEEP SERVING JESUS

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

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

King James Version

There are times when people say things to us that hurt us when we serve Jesus and we get discouraged and feel like giving up.  However, we must not give up.  We must keep serving Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us because it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote one of my favorite hymns “It Will Be Worth It All”.  “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

We are going to have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  Are you shouting with happiness yet?  “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).

It is very important that we encourage our pastor and family and also our deacons and family.  They sacrifice a lot of personal time to minister to us.  Several years ago, I received an email from a pastor who wrote “I am so discouraged; I have about decided to stop being a pastor.  When we moved here, my family and I were excited and looking forward to serving here, but instead of being encouraged all we have received is criticism”. 

One day the members of that church will stand before God and give an account of the way they treated their pastor and his family.  Are we an encouragement to our pastor and family and to our deacons and family?  If not, we are hurting Jesus and breaking His heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You love me so much that You have given me the privilege of having Pastor Davis as my Pastor.  Please comfort and encourage him and protect him as he visits people.  Let him know how much You love him.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 19, 2019

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

King James Version

There have been times when I have felt like giving up and going to bed and staying there when satan attacked me with lies and discouragement.  Then I have felt our Heavenly Father pick me up in His loving arms, go to His rocking chair and rock me.    

Our Heavenly Father is so loving and faithful and He will comfort us when we are hurting.  When He rocked me, He said “I love you, Joanne and I won’t let anyone hurt you again”.  Our Scripture verses for this devotion tell us that we are to comfort those who are hurting.

One of the greatest ways to comfort someone is to pray with the person.  We also need to let them feel the unconditional love that Jesus has for them.  It is easy to tell people Jesus loves them but that is not enough.  We must prove He loves them by our words and actions.

You may not have a lot of money.  I sure don’t but I can share the devotions that God gives me to write with them.  All of us have something we can share with others.  You may say that you can’t sing.  I can’t sing but I can tell them how much Jesus loves them.

When we pray for people, it is very important that we don’t tell God how to answer the prayer.  A mother was praying for her daughter and instead of asking God to protect her daughter and help her, the mother told God how to answer the prayer.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and for adopting me.  It is so good to know I can trust You and that You will never hit me, yell at me, curse me or tell me I am no good.  I pray for all who are discouraged and hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 18, 2019

CLOSE FRIENDS

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

Matthew 26:36-38

King James Version

Everyone needs friends but we need to be very selective about who we choose as our best friend.  It only takes one person to bring us down.  Jesus could have taken all His disciples with Him but He only took three.  If Jesus needed friends, we need them.

I am very selective about my close friends.  To be my close friends, they have to love Jesus.  A person can be saved and not love Jesus just as a child can have parents but not love them.  The desire of every Christian should be to make Jesus happy.

How will we know if people love Jesus?  Peter Raymond Scholtes wrote a hymn that answers that question.  “And they'll know we are Christians by our love, By our Love,  Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.”  Do people know you are a Christian by your love?

Again, be very careful who you choose to be your close friends.  We are to love everyone unconditionally but if a person does not love Jesus, that person will never be a close friend of mine.  I am very happy to say that I have a lot of friends but my Pastor and my best friend, Judye, are my closest friends.  They have proved that they love Jesus not only by their words but also by their actions.  God must really love me to give me the privilege of having Pastor Davis as my Pastor.

However, my dearest friend is Jesus.  He not only loves me unconditionally, He died for my sins.  We will never have a greater friend than Jesus. Joseph M. Scriven wrote one of my favorite hymns “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. 

“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?  We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?  Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

If you are hurting today, tell Jesus.  He will carry you through all the dark valleys in your life.  O how I love Jesus!  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I get out of bed in the morning.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe

May 17, 2019

WE LOVE YOU

“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

King James Version

I emailed my best friend and told her I wasn’t feeling well.  Judye emailed me back and wrote “We love you”.  I immediately started feeling better.  That is what God said to us when He gave His Son to die for our sins.  That is what Jesus said to us when He allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.  We love you is the heart of the gospel.

Robert Harkness wrote the heart touching hymn “Why Should He Love Me So?”  Every time I read these words or hear them, my heart breaks for the pain and agony that Jesus suffered on the cross for me.  “Nails pierced His hands and His feet  Why should He love me so?  He suffered sore my salvation to win  Why should He love me so?”

I believe that every time they pounded a nail in His hands that He felt that unbearable pain in His heart.  What kind of love is this?  This is an unconditional and forgiving love that comes from the heart of our Heavenly Father and from our Saviour.  If you are reading this devotion, know that They will always love you.

Evangelist Gordon Jenson wrote a hymn that always brings tears to my eyes “Written in Red”.  “In letters of crimson God wrote His love On a hillside so long, long ago  For you and for me Jesus died  And love's greatest story was told”  This is what real love is, a giving sacrificial love.  A teenage girl said “My boyfriend said “If you love me, you’ll have sex with me”.  Sex is not love.  Love, real love, unconditional love comes from the heart.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person who reads this devotion.  Please speak to their heart and let them grasp in their heart how much they are loved.  Thank You for all You have done for me.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for loving me unconditionally and for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus.  Please comfort and encourage all who are discouraged.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 16, 2019

GOD IS FAITHFUL

“Pray without ceasing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

King James Version

Edna R. Worrell wrote the hymn “Don’t Stop Praying”.  The words in this beautiful hymn are so true.  “Don’t stop praying! the Lord is nigh; Don’t stop praying! He’ll hear your cry, God has promised, and He is true, Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you.”

Pastor Thomas O. Chisholm wrote one of my favorite hymns “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  “Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Yes, God is faithful and we can trust Him to take care of us.  The question every Christian needs to answer is “Am I faithful to God?”  When God tells us to do something or go somewhere, do we do it or go where He tells us to go?  Do we do it when God tells us or do we put it off until it is convenient for us?

Do we thank God when He answers our prayers or do we just take Him for granted?  God is not a puppet to be put on a shelf and taken down when we need Him.  God is a Holy God and we need to treat Him with respect.  How often have you thanked Him for loving you so much He gave His Son to die on the cross for your sins?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness.  Please forgive me for the times when I haven’t done things or gone somewhere as soon as You told me to do it.  Thank You for loving me even when I sometimes fail You.  I love You and appreciate You so much.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 15, 2019

HIS NAME

“Wherefore God also 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

King James Version

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the beautiful inspiring hymn “There’s Something About That Name”.  “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus There's just something about that name Master, Savior, Jesus Like the fragrance after the rain Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Let all heaven and earth proclaim Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away But there's something about that name.”

Several years ago, there was a man that I really liked and I loved to say his name.  However, it doesn’t compare with the happiness that I feel when I say the precious name of Jesus.  I don’t think we fully realize what a privilege it is to say the precious Name of Jesus.  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Marvin P. Dalton wrote a hymn that I believe is the greatest hymn that has ever been written “O WHAT A SAVIOR”.  The words in this hymn bring tears to my eyes because of everything Jesus suffered for my sins.  “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.”

I have heard sermons about the physical pain that Jesus suffered on the cross but I have never heard a sermon that was just about the emotional pain that He endured for you and for me.  Think about it.  Jesus, Who had never sinned willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.

I have said this many times and I will continue saying it until God calls me home.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  If you are reading this devotion, know that Jesus loves you unconditionally and there is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you.  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you?

All of us get discouraged at times.  Jesus understands how we feel.  I’m sure there were many times when He was here on His mission that He was discouraged.  All He ever did was love people and yet He was rejected, cursed, spat on, beaten beyond recognition, and endured a pain and agony that you and I will never know as He hung there on that cross with the blood flowing down His body and the pain of the nails in His hand and in His heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and adopting me.  There are many people who are discouraged, lonely, brokenhearted and feel like giving up.  Please encourage and comfort them as You have done for me so many times.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 14, 2019

OUR FAITHFUL SAVIOUR

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:17

King James Version

Fanny Crosby wrote one of my favorite hymns “All the Way My Savior Leads Me”.  I love these words because they are so true.  “All the way my Savior leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread; Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living bread.”

When I was a new Christian, I thought that since I was saved that I would never have any more heartaches or trials.  Was I wrong!  When we give our heart to Jesus and start serving Him and doing our best to make Him happy, that is when the heartaches start.

When we serve Jesus, satan will do all he can do to discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus.  My Pastor and I have had a lot of computer problems and they are just a vicious attack from satan to discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus.

However, my Pastor and I will never stop serving Jesus because we love Jesus and want to make Him happy.  Do we get discouraged and feel like giving up at times?  Of course, we do because we are human.  I believe there were times when Jesus felt like giving up.

If you are serving Jesus and feel like giving up when satan attacks you with his vicious lies, don’t give up!  It’s worth all the heartaches just to know that one day we will see Jesus.  Stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us.

Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote a beautiful hymn “IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL”.  If you get discouraged, start singing this hymn and you won’t want to stop serving Jesus.  It really is worth it all to know that we will see Jesus and that we make Him happy when we serve Him. 

I love these words.  “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”  Are you shouting with happiness yet?

I don’t understand how people can get excited and shout for their favorite sports team but don’t get excited and shout for Jesus.  If ever someone deserves to be cheered, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.  Please join me in praising Jesus, “THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please comfort and encourage them and let them know how much You appreciate their service.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 13, 2019

A LOVING SON

“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

King James Version

Today is Mother’s Day.  It is a day to honor our mothers for the sacrifices they have made for us through the years.  It is a happy day but it is also a sad day for people whose mothers have died.  My Mother died several years ago but I still miss her. 

I have been told I look just like my Mother and when I look at her picture I have to agree.  There were times when I was a child that I was disrespectful to her and it breaks my heart to know that I gave her so much trouble and hurt her so many times.

I remember Mom saying to me many times “It doesn’t matter what I say, you are going to do what you want to do”.  I think if we will listen with our heart, we can hear our Heavenly Father saying to us “It doesn’t matter what I say, you are going to do what you want to do”.

How sad it is that we hurt our Heavenly Father at times and break His heart because we sometimes do what we want to do and not what He wants us to do.  O that you and I would always say and do things that make Him happy.  Our Heavenly Father has known so much heartache.  It broke His heart when His Son died for our sins because He had to turn away from His Son.  Jesus had taken our sins on Him and God is a Holy God so He couldn’t look at Jesus as He hung there dying for our sins.

Not only is Jesus our loving Saviour, He was also a loving Son.  Even though Jesus was dying for our sins on the cross and had been beaten beyond recognition and was in pain and agony that you and I will never know, He made sure His mother was taken care of by the disciple that He loved.

If your mother is not living, find an older woman who needs to know she is loved.  We adopt children so we can adopt older people.  It doesn’t matter how old or how young we are, all of us need to know we are loved.  The person who says he or she doesn’t need anyone is not being truthful.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every mother in the world.  Please encourage them and let them know how much You love them.  Help us to be kind and loving to our mothers, not just on Mother’s Day but every day of the year.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

May 12, 2019