JESUS CARES

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16. 17

King James Version

John Peterson wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “No One Understands Like Jesus”.  I love these words.  “No one understands like Jesus; Ev'ry woe He sees and feels; Tenderly He whispers comfort, And the broken heart He heals.”  Doctors can do heart surgery but only Jesus can heal a broken heart.  If you are going through a dark valley, tell Jesus because He understands and He cares when you are hurting.

Squire Parsons wrote a beautiful hymn.  It is one of my favorite hymns “He Came To Me”.  “The gulf that separated me from Christ, my Lord, It was so vast the crossing I could never ford; From where I was to His domain, it seemed so far, I cried, "Dear Lord, I cannot come to where you are. He came to me, O, He came to me. When I could not come to where He was, He came to me. That's why He died on Calvary, When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.”

If you ever think nobody loves you and cares about you, remember Jesus died for your sins on the cross so you can be saved.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  When you feel like going to bed and staying there, cry out to Jesus because He understands how it feels to be discouraged.

Joanne Lowe

July 31, 2019

ARE WE DOING IT

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:38

King James Version

Lizzie DeArmond wrote the hymn “Show the World Just Where You Stand”.  “Do not be ashamed to own Him, Or obey your Lord’s command; In your every word and action Show the world just where you stand.”  Are we doing it?  Do people know we are Christians by our words and by our actions?

Peter Raymond Scholtes wrote the hymn “They'll Know We Are Christians”.  I love these words.  “We are one in the Spirit  We are one in the Lord  We are one in the Spirit  We are one in the Lord  And we pray that all unity May one day be restored And they'll know we are Christians By our love by our love Yes they'll know we are Christians By our love”

What about you?  Do people know you are a Christian by your words and by your actions?  What about your family?  Do they know you are a Christian by your words and by your actions?  Do they see the difference Jesus has made in your heart and in your life?  We can tell our family that we have invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour but if they don’t see and hear any difference, they are not going to believe us.

Lynda Randle sings one of the most beautiful hymns I have ever heard “Since Jesus Passed By”.  The words in this hymn describe me since Jesus came into my heart. “Like a blind man I wandered So lost and undone A beggar so helpless Without God or His Son Then my Savior in mercy Heard and answered my cry And oh what a diff'rence Since Jesus passed by”.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.  I love You so much, dear Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me.  I pray for all those who are lonely and discouraged and feel like giving up and going to bed and staying there, please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

                                     Joanne Lowe

                                     July 30, 2019

HOW

“And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  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.  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Luke 23:32-34

King James Bible

Someone was asked “How can you forgive them after what they did to you”?  A better question is “How can God forgive us after what we did to His Son?  It was your sins and my sins that Jesus was crucified for and suffered all that excrutiating pain and anguish.  Jesus had never done anything wrong, had never sinned, not once, yet He was crucified for our sins.

I did not deserve to be forgiven because before Jesus saved me and gave me a new heart, I was a hateful person.  I was rude to people, I yelled at them, I even cursed them but the worse thing that I did was when I got really angry I would say to the person “go to hell”.  I didn’t realize what I was saying.  I had heard other people say it when they were angry so I said it.

I’m so glad we have a loving compassionate and forgiving Heavenly Father.  It brings tears to my eyes when I remember how hateful I was to people before Jesus gave me a new heart.  I might as well had taken a knife and plunged in into their heart when I said all those hateful words to them.  If God can love me as rotten as I was, He can love anybody.

Heavenly Father, I know You have forgiven me for what I did but it breaks my heart to know that I was so hateful to people.  Thank You for loving me when I was so unlovely. Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.  I don’t deserve Your unconditional love but I’m so glad that You do love me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

                              Joanne Lowe

                              July 29, 2019

WHY

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

Genesis 1:1

King James Version

Have you ever wondered why God made us?  I have wondered why He did and I asked Him one time why He made us when He knew that His Son would have to die for our sins.  God spoke to my heart and said “I am God. I don’t need anyone or anything but I desire fellowship”. If God desires fellowship then it is very important that we love one another and are encouragers to one another.

What about Jesus?  Are we encouraging Him?  How do we encourage Him, by being kind and loving to one another.  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).  Have you encouraged Jesus today by being kind and loving to others or have you hurt Him and broke His heart?

We need to encourage our pastor and family.  Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, said on one of her teaching tapes that she was in an airport and a lady she was with said as she was pointing to herself “Pastors and their wives need encouragement”. Don’t forget to tell your pastor how much you appreciate him.

One of my pastors that I had several years ago used to ask his wife to come up and stand beside him.  He hugged her and told her how much he loved her and appreciated her.  The pastor told us that when he grew weary and discouraged that his wife was the one who encouraged him and he asked us to pray for his wife.

Heavenly Father, I pray for my beloved pastor, Pastor Davis.  Please let him know how much You love him and how much You appreciate his service to You.  Please comfort and encourage him and protect him.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me to have Pastor Davis as my Pastor.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

                                     Joanne Lowe

                                     July 28, 2019

EVERY MOMENT

“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

King James Version

Daniel W. Whittle wrote the hymn “Moment by Moment”. I’m so glad the words in this inspiring hymn are true. “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.”

In this world of violence and hatred, we need Jesus every moment.  If Jesus wasn’t with me every moment and I couldn’t serve Jesus, there would be no reason to live because without Jesus we aren’t living, we’re just existing. What a privilege it is to serve the One Who loves me so much He died for my sins.

                                         Joanne Lowe

                                           July 27, 2019

FORGIVENESS

“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 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 8:3-11

King James Version

It is so easy to point a finger at someone and say “Look what that person did”, isn’t it?  It’s a lot harder to point the finger of guilt at ourselves.  How dare you and I go to a Holy God and ask Him to forgive us if we aren’t willing to forgive the ones who hurt us.  We are the ones who say one sin is worse than the other sin, to God, sin is sin.  If we want people to forgive us, we had better forgive them.  It is so true, you get back what you give out.  If you give love, you will get love.  If you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven.

Several years ago, I was talking to a man whose granddaughter had died.  I told him that I was praying for him and that God loves him.  The man replied “What kind of God would let a baby die”?  What kind of people are we that we would cause Jesus to suffer and die for our sins?  We are sinners who need the cleansing blood of Jesus applied to our heart for the forgiveness of our sins.  

We have a compassionate tender loving Heavenly Father Who loves us so much He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  God knows how it feels to have your child die because not only did His Son die, His Son was crucified for us so we can have our sins forgiven.  If we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us, we are hurting God and breaking His heart.  

Jesus didn’t have to die for our sins.  He could have come down from the cross had He chosen to do so because all the nails in the world couldn’t have kept Him on the cross but He stayed on the cross because He loves us so much.  This is why I keep telling you and I will say this until God calls me home “Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will”.

Ray Overholt wrote one of the most beautiful hymns that I think has ever been written about our precious Saviour “Ten Thousand Angels”.  The words in this hymn make me want to get on my knees if I was physically able to do do and stay there for hours telling Jesus how much I love Him and how much I appreciate Him dying for my sins.

“They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed;They led Him thro’ the streets in shame. They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin; They said, "Crucify Him; He's to blame.  Upon His precious head they placed a crown of thorns; They laughed and said, "Behold the King!" They struck Him and they cursed Him and mocked His holy name All alone He suffered everything.  He could have called ten thousand angels To destroy the world and set Him free. He could have called ten thousand angels, But He died alone, for you and me.”

If you refuse to forgive those who have hurt you, may God have mercy on you because you might as well have been there pounding the nails into the hand of our loving Saviour.  How do you think it makes Jesus feel when you won’t forgive those who have hurt you when He died for your sins?  It breaks His heart.  Jesus loves you and He proved how much He loves you.  Do you love Him enough to forgive those who have hurt you?

Heavenly Father, how I love You.  Thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for my sins.  I pray that You will speak to the ones who refuse to forgive and remind them that You are willing to forgive them for their sins so they should be willing to forgive those who hurt them.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

                                 Joanne Lowe

                                July 26, 2019

THE BLOOD OF JESUS

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Hebrews 9:22

King James Version

Before I invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour, I was a very hateful person.  I was rude to people, I yelled at them and I was not very nice to my parents.  I used to blame my parents for everything bad that had happened to me until one day I heard Billy Graham say “Don’t you blame your parents for the way you are because there comes a time in everybody’s life when he or she makes the decision to do wrong”.

I am so thankful for the precious atoning blood of Jesus that cleansed me from my sins.  Pastor Robert Lowry wrote one of my favorite hymns “Nothing but the Blood”. The words in this beautiful hymn are so true.  “Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

People try to work their way into Heaven.  They try to buy their way by giving money and by doing good deeds but there is only one way to go to Heaven and that is by inviting Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour.

Jesus had never done anything wrong yet He allowed them to crucify Him for your sins and for my sins.  They spat on Him, mocked Him, cursed Him and pounded nails into His hands.  I believe that every time they pounded a nail into His hands, He felt that pain in His heart.

He could have come down from the cross had He chosen to come down.  All the nails in the world couldn’t have held Him to the cross but He stayed on the cross and suffered pain that you and I will never know.  What kind of love is this that Jesus has for you and for me?  It is an unconditional love that comes from His heart.  He loved us yesterday.  He loves us today and He will love us forever.

I have heard many sermons about the physical pain that Jesus endured for us but I have never heard a sermon about the emotional pain He suffered for us.  I had a lot of pain right before I had gall bladder surgery.  I was very, very sick but the pain I had with my gall bladder was nothing compared to the emotional pain that I suffered when I went through that crippling devastating depression.

I am so glad that Jesus won’t have to die again for our sins.  Harold Lane wrote the beautiful hymn “The Next Time He Comes”.  “The Next time He comes He won't have to die for me, The next time He comes there won't be a Calvary, The next time He comes we'll begin eternity, And when He comes again, He'll be coming for me.”

Is Jesus coming for you?  If you have never opened the door of your heart to Jesus, I urge you, I plead with you to let Him come it your heart today,  You may not have another day to live or even another hour.  Don’t miss out on spending eternity with Jesus.

                               Joanne Lowe

                               July 25, 2019

SING TO JESUS

“(A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” 

Psalms 100

King James Version

Agnes C. Ellingwood wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “Keep on Singing”.  “Have you grown discouraged, weary, Amid the cares of life? Do you often grow disheartened And falter in the strife? Jesus knows about the burden, He’ll bear you safely thro’; Then sing a song of gladness, He’ll care for you.”

Jesus knows how it feels to be weary.  He didn’t have a car so He had to walk everywhere He went.  There is no telling how many miles that our Saviour walked spreading His love and healing people and He grew weary and had to rest.  We read in the Bible.  “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” (John 4:6).

Jesus also knows how it feels to be discouraged.  When He was here on His mission that His Father gave Him, He didn’t have people encouraging Him like we do.  I believe there were times when Jesus cried because He was ridiculed and didn’t have a lot of people to encourage Him.

We have given men the message that if they cry, it is a sign of weakness.  It is not a sign of weakness.  Someone asked a man “Are you crying?  Men don’t cry, only sissies cry”.  May God forgive us for giving that message to men.  Jesus cried and if He cried, it is okay for men to cry because Jesus was not a sissy.

We read in the Bible.  “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,  And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:32-36)

It is time that we stop criticizing men for crying and allow them to express their feelings with tears.  It’s so wonder that some men seem to not care because they sometimes yell or don’t talk at all.  Think what would happen if we would hold our husband and sons and grandsons and allow them to cry just as they hold us and allow us to cry when we are hurting and discouraged.

My heart breaks because no one held Jesus and comforted Him when He was hurting and discouraged and lonely and as I am typing this devotion, I have tears in my eyes.  What are we doing to encourage Jesus?  Are you serving Him?  If not, why aren’t you serving Him?  Jesus left His home, His Father and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins.  There is no greater love than the love that Jesus has for us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  I pray for every man and every boy.  Please comfort and encourage them and let them know that You love them and that it is okay if they cry.  Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.  I love You with all my heart and I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 24, 2019

A DAY OF REJOICING

“And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?   But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14:60-62

King James Version

Jim Hill wrote one of my favorite hymns “What A Day That Will Be”.  “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”

Have you ever thought about what it is going to be like when we have the privilege to look upon the face of our precious Saviour?  It really is going to be a privilege to see His face.  He is going to take our hand and lead us.  How I long for the day when I see Jesus face to face. 

Are you going to see 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 to do it now before it is too late.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your Son to die on the cross for our sins.  I pray that You would melt hardened hearts so they will open the door of their heart and let Jesus come in to be their personal Saviour.  I love You, Heavenly Father, and I appreciate all that You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 23, 2019

HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN

“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.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

King James Version

When Jesus died on the cross for your sins and for my sins, He was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, mocked and had nails pounded into His precious hands as He hung on the cross with the blood flowing down His body.  There is good news.  Jesus will never have to die for us again. Harold Lane wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Next Time He Comes”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  

“From the lofty courts of heaven came a bud on earth to bloom, Knowing when He left His Father that His fate would be the tomb;  But the grave, it could not hold Him, angels rolled the stone away, Now the mighty Rose of Sharon is still blooming yet today.

Chorus

But the next time He comes, He won't have to die for me, The next time He comes, there won't be a Calvary; The next time He comes will begin eternity, And when He comes again, He'll be coming for me.”

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus died for you?  This is how much He loves you.  There is no greater love than the love our precious Saviour has for us.

I watched a wedding on a family movie and when the bride came down the aisle, everyone stood up.  When Jesus comes back for us, everyone will kneel in honor and respect to Him. We read in the Bible.   “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).

It brings tears of happiness to my eyes to know that one day Jesus is going to get the honor, the recognition and the respect that He so richly deserves.  If ever someone deserves to be praised and adored it is Jesus!  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  O how I love Jesus and one happy day I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.

                                 Joanne Lowe

                                  July 22, 2019

WITNESSING FOR JESUS

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

Luke 4:18

King James Version

When God called me to be a missionary on October 4, 1998, He gave me this verse as my mission calling.  God did not call me to preach.  He called me to heal the brokenhearted by telling everyone how much Jesus loves them.  When I think about God calling me to be a missionary, I’m reminded of this hymn that Margaret Clarkson wrote “SO SEND I YOU”.

The words in this beautiful hymn are a call to us to let others know about Jesus dying on the cross for their sins so they can be saved.  “So send I you to bind the bruised and broken Over wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake To bear the burdens of a world a-weary So send I you to suffer for My sake.”  

It is impossible to “bind the bruised and broken” unless they know that Jesus loves them and that He loves them unconditionally. Many years ago, I was the captain of one of our church buses at my church when I lived in Texas.  Every Saturday I would visit the children who rode the bus to Sunday school and I would also go door to door on visitation on Wednesday nights.

What breaks my heart and puts tears in my eyes is that I never told the children or the people I visited that Jesus loves them.  I just invited them to church.  We can witness, invite and give our money, our time and our talents to Jesus but if we don’t tell people that Jesus loves them, we are not telling them the most important thing and it also hurts Jesus.  

When is the last time you told someone that Jesus loves him or her?  Have you told your children and grandchildren how much Jesus loves them?  It is wonderful to give them gifts, but please don’t forget to tell them that Jesus loves them so much He died for their sins.  

Have you told Jesus today that you love Him?  He has feelings too and He wants us to tell Him that we love Him.  If Jesus didn’t tell me every day that He loves me, it would break my heart.  O how I love Jesus!  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I’m living and knowing that one day I am going to have the privilege of seeing Him face to face fills my heart to overflowing with happiness.

Carrie E. Breck wrote a beautiful hymn about seeing Him face to face.  “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  I love these words in this hymn.  “What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.”

A hymn that I sometimes sing to God when I’m praying and thanking Him for giving His beloved Son to die for our sins is “To God Be the Glory”.  “To God be the glory, great things He has done; So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in.”

If you haven’t opened the door of your heart and invited Jesus in to be your personal Saviour, I urge you to do it now.  Please don’t keep hurting Jesus by refusing to open the door of your heart to Him.  Jesus loves you so much that He died for you.  What a precious and loving Saviour we are privileged to know and have!

Joanne Lowe

July 21, 2019

HE GIVES US PEACE

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27

King James Version

Horatio Gates Spafford wrote a beautiful and inspiring hymn about peace “It Is Well with My Soul”.  “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll: Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

Rev. Warren D. Cornell wrote one of my favorite hymns “Wonderful Peace”.  I love the words in this beautiful hymn.  “Ah! soul, are you here without comfort and rest, Marching down the rough pathway of time? Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark - O accept this sweet peace so sublime!  Peace, peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above, Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.”

Someone said “I went through a very difficult time in my life.  I did what I was supposed to do but I didn’t feel any peace.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that it is impossible not to have peace no matter how many dark valleys we go through if we have invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour.

Jesus has promised us that He will never leave us and that He will always be with us and He keeps His promises.  What a loving Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  “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).

Can we honestly say that we always love one another unconditionally as Jesus loves us?  I can’t say that I always love unconditionally.  There are times when I have to ask God to forgive me for not loving unconditionally.  We read in the Bible.  “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

It is time we stop judging others and start loving them unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love each other.  Never forget that when we are mean and hateful to others, we are also being mean and hateful to Jesus and breaking His heart.  “Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me” (Matthew 25:44, 45).

If we want others to love us unconditionally, we need to love them unconditionally.  It is so true that we get back what we give out.  There are many people who are lonely, discouraged and hurting and they need to know that Jesus loves them.  Do they know Jesus loves them by our actions and by our words? 

Joanne Lowe

July 20, 2019

 

JESUS UNDERSTANDS AND CARES

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

Hebrews 4:14-16

King James Version

When we are tempted to do something we shouldn’t do or say something we shouldn’t say, Jesus understands.  It is not a sin to be tempted because Jesus was tempted.  It only becomes sin when we do what we are tempted to do.  John Peterson wrote the beautiful inspiring hymn “NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS”

I love these words in this hymn.  “No one understands like Jesus; Ev'ry woe He sees and feels; Tenderly He whispers comfort, And the broken heart He heals.”  Yes, Jesus understands when we are tempted to do something wrong and He understands when we are discouraged, feel all alone and have a broken heart.

However, our loving Saviour doesn’t want us to be discouraged or have a broken heart and feel all alone.  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).

The next time you are tempted to do something that would hurt Jesus or say something that would hurt Him, remember He understands and He still loves you.  I used to have a terrible temper before I was saved.  I hated everybody and I let them know it by my words and by my actions.  I am so glad that Jesus saved me and gave me a new heart.

“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: (Ezekiel  11:19).  Now, when I do lose my temper, it’s usually at me because I can’t do the things I want to do because of my arthritis but Jesus understands and He cares when I’m discouraged Just as He cares when you are hurting and discouraged.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  Please comfort and encourage all who are lonely discouraged and hurting.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus.  I pray for my Pastor, Pastor Davis.  Please encourage him and let him know how much You love him.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 19, 2019

ARE YOU TELLING

“And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.  And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

Mark 5:15-19

King James Version 

Jesus told the man who He had healed to go home to his friends and tell them what He had done for him.  I think if we will listen with our heart, we will hear Jesus saying to us “Tell your friends what I have done for you”.  Are we telling our friends what Jesus has done for us?  Do our friends know we are saved and love Jesus by our words and by our actions?

When is the last time you told your family and friends how much you love Jesus and what He has done for you?  Does your family and friends see and hear the difference Jesus has made in your heart and in your life? Are you leading others to Jesus by your actions and your words, or are your actions and words turning them away from Jesus?

For many years, I wouldn’t even look in a mirror to comb my hair because I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror.  Before Jesus told me He loved me and saved me and gave me a new heart, I was hateful, sarcastic and rude and I didn’t like anybody including myself.  When I realized Jesus loves me, my attitude changed toward people and toward myself.  O what a difference Jesus makes in our life.

Lynda Randle wrote a beautiful hymn that describes what happened to me “Since Jesus Passed By”.  “Like a blind man I wandered So lost and undone A beggar so helpless Without God or His Son Then my Savior in mercy Heard and answered my cry And oh what a diff'rence Since Jesus passed by.”

Since Jesus saved me and gave me a new heart, I am happy and sometimes I get so excited I feel like I’m flying higher than a kite.  Many years ago, I had a pastor who said in one of his sermons “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start serving Jesus”.  The pastor was so right because since God gave me the privilege of serving Jesus by writing devotions, I have been happier than I have even been in my life.

Pastor Ira Stanphill wrote one of my favorite hymns “Happiness Is the Lord”.  “Happiness is to know the Saviour, Living a life within His favour,

Having a change in my behaviour, Happiness is the Lord.  Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start; I’ve found the secret–it’s Jesus in my heart.”

Have you found the secret?  Have you invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour?  If not, I urge you, I plead with you to give your heart to Jesus today before it is too late.  Jesus loves you so much He allowed them to crucify Him on the cross for your sins. Don’t miss out on spending eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

July 16, 2019