Saturday, November 30, 2019

JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

"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
King James Version

I used to have a terrible temper.  I would yell and even throw things.  Jesus does make the difference because  on Thanksgiving night I spilled grapefruit juice all over the counter in the kitchen.  If that had happened before Jesus gave me a new heart, I would have thrown something but when I spilled it, I just said "Thank You, Jesus, for loving me and for giving me a new heart".

Bill Gaither wrote one of my favorite hymns "Since Jesus Passed By".  The words in this hymn describe my life.  "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."

Yes, Jesus makes the difference in our heart and life if we will only let Him in to be our personal Saviour.  For some people, Jesus has been knocking at the door of their heart for many years and they have refused to open the door of their heart and let Him come in to be their personal Saviour.

We read in the Bible "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).  Jesus is a Gentleman.  He won't force His way into your heart.  Please don't keep Him standing at the door of your heart any longer.

If you want to give Jesus a special gift as we celebrate His birthday next month, be kind and loving to one another.  Forgive the ones who have hurt you just as He forgives us when we hurt Him.  I have said this many times and I will keep saying it until God calls me home "Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will".  Jesus loves you unconditionally.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you.  

Joanne Lowe
November 30, 2019

Friday, November 29, 2019

LOVE

"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Matthew 14: 27-31
King James Version

James Rowe wrote one of my favorite hymns "Love Lifted Me". I love the words in this hymn. They are so true. "Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me! Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me!"

When someone is feeling suicidal, hurting, in despair, brokenhearted and feels all alone and that nobody cares if they live or die, only the unconditional love of our compassionate Saviour can help them.

For those of you who have been on my mailing list, you know that I went through a crippling devastating depression. Nobody could help me, not even the doctors because I was convinced that I didn't have a right to live.
One happy day on August 14, 1980, Jesus said four words to me that changed my heart and life. Jesus said "I love you, Joanne". There are no words to describe the happiness I felt that day to know that the Saviour of the world loved me.

Jesus not only loves me, He also loves you. There is nothing you have ever done or ever will do that He won't forgive. He loves you unconditionally. You will never have a better Friend than Jesus. He is the "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS". All hail, King Jesus! Worthy is the Lamb of God!

Joanne Lowe
November 29, 2019

Thursday, November 28, 2019

BE THANKFUL


"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Matthew 11:28, 29
King James Version

C. Louise Bell wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn "Jesus Understands".  I love the words in this hymn.  "Every heavy burden, He will gladly share, Are you sad and weary? Jesus has a care; Well He knows the pathway o’er life’s burning sands, Courage, fainting pilgrim, Jesus understands."  

As we gather together with family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, let us not forget to thank God for giving His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins and thank Jesus for loving us so much He died for us.  I am so thankful to know that Jesus loves me unconditionally and that He never leaves us, not even for one minute.

Joanne Lowe
November 28, 2019

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

REJOICE

”But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.   For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

Psalms 5:11, 12
King James Version

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for us.  I pray all of us will rejoice and shout for joy because You love us.  Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for our sins so that we may be happy and rejoice.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 27, 2019

Tuesday, November 26, 2019


OUR GREAT SAVIOUR

“Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”

Psalms 145:2, 3
King James Version

Rev. Carl Boberg wrote one of my favorite hymns “How Great Thou Art”.  “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin; Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

We have a great loving Heavenly Father and a great loving Saviour.  What a privilege is ours to be loved unconditionally by our Heavenly Father and by Jesus.  Please join me in praising the One Who loves us so much He died for us on the cross.  If ever someone deserves to be praised, 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!

Joanne Lowe
November 26, 2019

Monday, November 25, 2019


DO WE DO IT

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

Matthew 11:28
King James Version

Pastor Charles P. Jones wrote the hymn “Come Unto Me”.  I’m so glad that the words in this hymn are true.  “Come unto Me, I will give you rest; Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blessed. I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might. Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.”

I don’t know about you but it is very hard for me to ask for help but Jesus wants us to go to Him when we need help.  We can trust Jesus to help us and to never leave us.  Our family and friends have to leave us and go home but Jesus never leaves us.  Thank God for our faithful loving Saviour.

Joanne Lowe
November 25, 2019

Sunday, November 24, 2019

FOR US

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.”

Matthew 27:27-31
King James Version

Pastor Robert S. Lowry wrote the hymn “Low In The Grave He Lay”.  “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Savior, Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord! Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”

Christmas is next month.  What a happy day it was when Jesus was born.  There was rejoicing and singing but this precious little Baby grew up and went to the cross and died for your sins and for my sins.  Jesus had never sinned, had never done anything wrong yet He allowed them to spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him and beat Him beyond recognition.  What a precious loving Saviour we are privileged to know and to have.

Yes, Jesus died for us.  What are we doing for Him?  If you want to make Jesus happy, be kind and loving to everyone.  Jesus doesn’t just love you and me, He loves everyone and He has commanded us to love each other unconditionally.  May God help us to love others unconditionally.

Joanne Lowe

November 24, 2019

Saturday, November 23, 2019


JESUS WARNED US

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

1 Peter 5:8
King James Version

When we are serving Jesus, it makes satan very angry and he will do all he can do 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.  Jesus understands when we get discouraged and feel like giving up because He also was tired and discouraged when He was here on the mission His Father had given Him.

Jesus has warned us to be on the alert for the attacks of satan because satan will use anything and anyone he can use to discourage us.  Have you ever had a day when everything was going great when all of a sudden without any warning at all, someone said or did something to hurt you and discourage you?  Where we make our mistake is not asking Jesus for help as soon as satan attacks us.

Pastor Charles P. Jones wrote one of my favorite hymns “Come Unto Me”.  “Hear the blessed Savior calling the oppressed, “Oh, ye heavy-laden, come to Me and rest; Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear, Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”  Jesus is waiting with His arms outstretched for us to come to Him so He can carry us through all the dark valleys of our life.

There is no one like Jesus.  No one loves us and understands us like Jesus does and nobody ever will.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  O how I love Jesus and one happy day I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.

Joanne Lowe
November 23, 2019

Friday, November 22, 2019


ALWAYS THERE

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

1 Peter 5:7
King James Version

Pastor William C. Poole wrote one of my favorite hymns “JUST WHEN I NEED HIM MOST”.  I am so glad the words in this beautiful hymn are true.  “Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong, Bearing my burdens all the day long; For all my sorrow giving a song, Just when I need Him most.”  Yes, we can depend on Jesus to help us, encourage us, comfort us and give us a song when our heart is breaking.

Yes, Jesus is always here for us but are we here for Him?  When He asks us to do something, are we willing to do it and if we are willing to do it do we do it immediately or just when it is convenient for us?  After all that our precious Saviour has done for us, the least we can do is do what He asks us to do.  May God help us to make Jesus happy.  Making Jesus happy should be the desire of every Christian.

Joanne Lowe
November 22, 2019

Thursday, November 21, 2019


CALVARY

“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
King James Version

Ethel Taylor wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “CALVARY COVERS IT ALL”  Every time I sing this hymn or hear someone sing it, I get tears in my eyes to think Jesus loves me so much He died for my sins on the cross.  “The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore Told His mercy and love ever more And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name, And Calvary covers it all.  Calvary covers it all, My past with its sin and stain; My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, And Calvary covers it all.”

It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past.  If you have asked God to forgive you for your sins and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, He has forgiven you and the blood that Jesus shed on the cross has covered all your sins.  Don’t let satan lie to you and tell you that Jesus doesn’t love you.  Jesus does love you and He proved it when He allowed them to crucify Him on the cross for your sins and for my sins.  Jesus loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus, I love You so much and I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  Heavenly Father, please comfort and encourage all those who are hurting and brokenhearted as You have done for me so many times.  I pray for every man, for every woman, for every boy and for every girl who has not invited Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus and invite Him into their heart to be their personal Saviour.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
November 21, 2019

Wednesday, November 20, 2019


NEVER AGAIN

“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: 61, 62
King James Version

Jim Hill wrote the beautiful hymn “What A Day That Will Be”.  I love the words in this inspiring hymn.  “There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye. All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore, What a day, glorious day that will be. There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear, No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there; And forever I will be with the One who died for me, What a day, glorious day that will be.”

Never again will children have to run and hide because they are afraid of being hit.  There will be no more rapes, no more drugs and murders and no more violence.  The words in this hymn are so true “What a day that will be”.  Not only will be there be peace, we will also be with our precious Saviour forever.  Knowing that we are going to be with Jesus for all eternity should make us shout with happiness.  How I long for the day when I will see Jesus face to face.

Joanne Lowe
November 20, 2019

Tuesday, November 19, 2019


ARE YOU READY

“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:”

1 Thessalonians 4:16
King James Version

This is a question that every Christian needs to answer.  Am I ready to meet Jesus if He comes back for us today?  If we have allowed unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, jealousy and anger to remain in our heart, we are not ready to meet Jesus.  May God help us to keep our heart in right standing with Him so we will be ready to meet Jesus when He comes back for us.

Joanne Lowe
November 19, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019

THE GREATEST NAME

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.   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 2:5-11
King James Version

William C. Martin wrote the beautiful hymn “The Name of Jesus”.  I love the words in this inspiring hymn.  “That name I fondly love to hear, It never fails my heart to cheer; Its music dries the falling tear, Exalt the name of Jesus!”  Jean Perry wrote the hymn “I Know of a Name”.  “The One of that name, my Savior became, My Savior of Calvary.  My sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare.  He suffered all this for me.”

Pastor Thomas Dennis wrote a hymn that brings tears to my eyes to think that Jesus loves us so much “The Broken Heart”.  “He died of a broken heart for you, He died of a broken heart; Oh, wondrous love! for you, for me, He died of a broken heart.”  What amazing unconditional love for you and for me flowed from the heart of our precious Saviour when He hung on the cross with the blood flowing down His body as He was crucified for your sins and for my sins.

Pastor Don Moen wrote one of my very favorite hymns “NO OTHER NAME”.  “No other name but the Name of Jesus No other name but the Name of the Lord No other name but the Name of Jesus Is worthy of glory And worthy of honor And worthy of power And all praise.”  Yes, Jesus is the greatest Name of all.  Not only does Jesus have the greatest Name, He also loves us unconditionally.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you”.

Are you shouting with happiness yet?  I will never understand why people will shout and cheer for their favorite sports team but don’t cheer and shout for the One Who loves them so much He died for them.  Thank God for Jesus, our precious Saviour and one day if you have accepted Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you will see Him face to face.  How I long for that day.  I am going to give Him a big hug and tell Him how much I love and appreciate Him.

Joanne Lowe
November 18, 2019

Sunday, November 17, 2019


HIS GREAT LOVE

“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

Edna R. Worrell wrote one of my favorite hymns “It’s Just Like His Great Love”.  I love the words in this beautiful hymn.  “It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away, It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day, It’s just like Jesus all along the way, It’s just like His great love.”  O how our precious Saviour loves us.

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote another beautiful hymn “I Could Never Out love The Lord”.  “I'm going to live the way He wants me to live I'm going to give until There's just no more to give I'm going to love, love 'til there's just no more love I could never, never out love The Lord.”

Robert Harkness wrote the hymn “WHY SHOULD HE LOVE ME SO?”  “Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin; Why should He love me so? He suffered sore my salvation to win; Why should He love me so? Why should He love me so? Why should He love me so? Why should my Savior to Calvary go? Why should He love me so?”

The answer to that question is not only does Jesus give love, unconditional love, He is Love.  If anyone asks you who Jesus is, tell them that Jesus is Love.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world.  You will never have a better Friend than Jesus.  He will never leave you, not even for one minute.  When you are hurting and going through a dark valley, Jesus will pick you up in His loving arms and carry you until the pain goes away.  O how I love Jesus and one happy day I am going to see Him face to face.

Joanne Lowe
November 17, 2019

Saturday, November 16, 2019


EVERYTHING

“Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”

Acts 8:21, 22
King James Version

Pastor Elisha A. Hoffman wrote a hymn that every Christian needs to answer “Is Thy Heart Right with God?”  “Have thy affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God?”  Is our heart right with God or are we hurting Him?

If we have allowed bitterness, resentment, jealousy, hatred and unforgiveness to remain in our heart, we are hurting God and breaking His heart.  If God could forgive us for crucifying His Son, who are we to harbor unforgiveness in our heart?  I don’t know about you but when I’m upset with someone and haven’t forgiven them for hurting me, I can’t look in the mirror because I feel so guilty for not forgiving the one who hurt me.  

William R. Newell wrote the hymn “At Calvary”.  “Now I've given to Jesus everything, now I gladly own Him as my King, now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary.”  Can we honestly say we’ve given to Jesus everything?  We can tell people we have but Jesus can see into our heart and He knows if we have given Him everything.

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I have hurt You.  I pray that You will help me to be the Christian You want me to be and that others will always see and hear the love of Jesus in me.  I pray for people who are brokenhearted, discouraged, suicidal and lonely.  Please encourage and comfort them as You have been so faithful to do for me so many times.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
November 16, 2019

 

Friday, November 15, 2019


IS THERE SOMETHING

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Titus 2:11, 12
King James Version

Rev. Charles A. Tindley wrote the hymn “Nothing Between”.  “Nothing between my soul and my Savior, Naught of this world’s delusive dream; I have renounced all sinful pleasure; Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.”  Is there something between our soul and our Saviour?  If we have allowed unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, hatred and criticism to remain in our heart, then these are things that hurt Jesus and break His heart and there is something between our soul and our Saviour.

May God help us to love one another unconditionally just as He loves us.  Jesus is ours if we have invited Him into our heart to be our personal Saviour but are we His?  Have we given Him first place in our heart, in our time, in our activities and in all that we do?  Someone said “My schedule is so full, I don’t have time for devotions”.  If our schedule is so busy we don’t have time for Jesus, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedule so Jesus comes first.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to please search my heart.  If there is anything in my heart that hurts You, please forgive me.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please encourage them and let them know how much You appreciate their service to You.  I pray for my Pastor, Pastor Davis.  Please encourage him, protect him and let him know how much You love him.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
November 15, 2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019


HIS SPECIAL TOUCH

“And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”

Mark 6:56
King James Version

The Bill Gaither Trio sings the beautiful hymn “He Touched Me”.  “He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.”  The words in this hymn are so true.  When Jesus touches us, we are made whole.  Doctors can operate but only Jesus can heal a broken heart.

For those of you who are on my mailing list, you know that I went through a crippling devastating depression for several years.  Doctors and social workers tried to help me but they couldn’t help me.  It took Jesus, the great Physician, to heal my broken heart.  I don’t know what dark valleys you are going through but Jesus knows and He cares you are hurting.  Allow Him to comfort and encourage you as He did for me.

Edna Worrell wrote one of my favorite hymns “IT'S JUST LIKE JESUS”  “It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away, It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day, It’s just like Jesus all along the way, It’s just like His great love.” John W. Peterson wrote one of my favorite hymns “No One Understands Like Jesus”.  “No one understands like Jesus; Ev'ry woe He sees and feels; Tenderly He whispers comfort, And the broken heart He heals.”  What a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know Jesus cares about us and will heal our broken heart.

Thank God for the special touch of Jesus.  If you are hurting, brokenhearted and going through dark valleys, tell Jesus.  He will be faithful to pick you up and carry you until the pain goes away and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and no one ever will.  His love is beyond compare.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever.

Joanne Lowe
November 14, 2019

Wednesday, November 13, 2019


OUR COMFORTER

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

2 Corinthians 1:3, 4
King James Version

If ever we needed comforting, it is now.  Our world and even some of our homes are filled with violence and hatred.  Children run and hide because they are afraid of getting hit again.  However, we have hope because Jesus is coming back for us to take us to Heaven.   

Gordon Jensen wrote one of my favorite hymns “REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH”.  I love the words in this beautiful hymn.  “Signs of the times are everywhere. There's a brand new feeling in the air. Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky, Lift up your heads, redemption draweth nigh!”  One day there will be no more sorrow or heartaches.

If you are hurting, know that Jesus understands how you feel and He cares that you are hurting.  When Jesus was here on earth on the mission His Father had given Him, Jesus also was discouraged, brokenhearted and grew weary.  May God help us to comfort one another with the comfort that our Heavenly Father comforts us.

Joanne Lowe
November 13, 2019

Tuesday, November 12, 2019


OUR HOPE

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Matthew 7:24, 25
King James Version

Pastor Edward Mote wrote one of my very favorite hymns “My Hope Is Built”.  I am so glad that the words in this hymn are true.  “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ name.”  Yes, we can trust Jesus because He never fails. 

What a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know we can trust Jesus.  The question we need to ask ourselves is “Can Jesus trust me?”  Can He trust us to put Him first in our heart, in our life, in our time and in everything we do?  After all that our precious Saviour has done for us, how can we do less than serve Him?

Joanne Lowe
November 12, 2019


Monday, November 11, 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 celebrate Veteran’s Day today, let us remember the greatest Commander of all, Jesus, our precious Saviour.  Pastor  Elijah T. Cassel wrote the inspiring hymn “Loyalty to Christ”.  “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.”

Jesus stayed on the cross for us when He could have come down.  All the nails in the world couldn’t have kept Jesus on the cross if He had chosen to come down.  He stayed on the cross because He loves us and we should keep serving Him no matter how many dark valleys, disappointments and heartaches we have because we love Him and want to be loyal to Him.

May God help us to stay on the battlefield for Jesus.  There are many people who feel all alone and are brokenhearted, discouraged and going through dark valleys.  Jesus understands how we feel when we are discouraged.  When He was here on the mission His Father had given Him, Jesus also was discouraged at times.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus, I love You with all my heart and I long for the joyous and happy day when I will have the privilege of seeing You face to face.  Thank You for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe
November 11, 2019



Sunday, November 10, 2019


A HAPPY AND A JOYOUS 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 2:11-14
King James Version

It was a happy and a joyous day when Jesus was born and every day can be a happy day if we will allow Jesus to fill our heart with love and compassion for others.  It is sad but there are some people who put love away just as they put the Christmas decorations away.  We should tell our loved ones every day we love them.  We don’t know what heartaches and dark valleys they are going through.  All we know is what they share with us but Jesus sees the pain and sorrow they are carrying and He longs to comfort them and help them.

May God help us to give love, unconditional love, to our family and loved ones every day of the year, not just at Christmas.  It will make Jesus happy and making Jesus happy should be the heart’s desire of every person.  After all that our precious Saviour has done for us, how can we do less than give Him our heart and our time.  Remember, Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for us.

As we open our gifts on Christmas day, let us not forget to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  Our children are watching us so we need to set a good example for them by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  This precious little Baby grew up and went to the cross and allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, spit on Him, curse Him, reject Him and pound nails into His hands.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and no one ever will.

Joanne Lowe
November 10, 2019

Saturday, November 9, 2019


A HEART OF LOVE

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

John 11:33-36
King James Version

Jesus has a heart of love, unconditional love.  Charles W. Fry wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “The Lily of the Valley”.  “He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne; In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r; I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r. Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore, Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.”

If we say we are a Christian, then we need to act like a Christian and talk like a Christian.  We should love one another unconditionally just as Jesus loves us.  May God help us to let others see and hear the unconditional love of Jesus in us.  Always remember, when we are kind and loving to others, we are being kind and loving to Jesus and when we are not kind and loving to others, we are hurting Jesus and breaking His heart.

Joanne Lowe
November 9, 2019

Friday, November 8, 2019


HAVE YOU DECIDED

“And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Matthew 8:19
King James Version

Sundar Singh wrote one of my favorite hymns “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”.  We sing this hymn but do we really mean what we sing?  “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back.”  When satan attacks us with lies and discouragement and tells us Jesus doesn’t love us, there are times we feel all alone and we are tempted to go to bed and stay there and to stop serving Jesus.  However, we must keep following Jesus and stay on the battlefield for Him just as He stayed on the cross for us.

What about you?  Have you decided to serve Jesus and keep serving Him no matter how many lies satan tells you and how many dark valleys you go through?  I am so thankful that Jesus stayed on the cross and died for my sins when He could have come down.  May God help us to stay on the battlefield for Jesus.  If you haven’t decided to follow Jesus, I pray that you will make that decision today.  There are many people who are hurting and need to know Jesus love them.

Joanne Lowe
November 8, 2019

Thursday, November 7, 2019


WHAT HAVE WE GIVEN

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45
King James Version

Frances R. Havergal wrote the beautiful heart touching hymn “I Gave My Life for Thee”.  “I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might ransomed be, And raised up from the dead; I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me? I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me?”  Every one of us needs to answer this question.  What have we given for Jesus? 

The most important thing we can give Him is our heart.  If there has never been a time when you humbled yourself, admitted you were a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, I urge you, I plead with you to invite Him into your heart today.  Please don’t put it off.  You may not have another day or even another hour.

We read in the Bible “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).  For some people, Jesus has been knocking at the door of their heart for years.  Please don’t keep Him standing at the door of your heart any longer.  Open the door of your heart and invite Him into your heart.  Jesus is a Gentleman.  He won’t come in unless you invite Him to come in to your heart.

Your family and friends can’t do it for you.  Salvation is personal between you and Jesus.  He loves you so much He allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, spit of Him, curse Him, mock Him and reject Him.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  Will you make room for Jesus in your heart?

Daniel W. Whittle wrote the hymn “Have You Any Room for Jesus?”  “Room for pleasure, room for business, But for Christ the Crucified, Not a place that He can enter, In the heart for which He died?”  Why is it we can make time to do the things we want to do but neglect to give Jesus first place in our heart, in our life, in our time and in everything we do?  How we must hurt Him and break His heart when we put things ahead of Him.

Joanne Lowe
November 7, 2019

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

STOP HURTING JESUS

"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
King James Version


It is time that we stop hurting Jesus.  Every time we say something that hurts someone or do something that hurts someone, we are hurting Jesus.  All of us are guilty of hurting Jesus at times and that includes me.  None of us are perfect.  There was only one perfect person who ever lived and His Name is Jesus.

There are times that people hurt us but there are also times when we hurt people.  Hopefully, we don't hurt people on purpose.  I have to be honest and admit when someone says something cruel to me or does something to hurt me, I get upset and I have to ask Jesus to help me keep my big mouth shut.  Jesus is the only One Who has a right to stay angry when someone hurts Him but He doesn't stay angry, He forgives us.

Jesus set the example of forgiveness for us while He was still hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His body.  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, 34).  If ever someone had a right to stay angry and never forgive, it is Jesus.

Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked and left alone to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus was alone when He died because His Father had to turn away from Him while He was hanging on the cross for our sins.  God is a Holy God and He can't look on sin so He had to turn away from His beloved Son.

May God have mercy on us because we allow unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment to remain in our heart.  All of these things hurt Jesus and break His heart.  It is time we stop hurting Jesus and love one another unconditionally as He has commanded us to love each other.


Joanne Lowe
November 6, 2019  

Tuesday, November 5, 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:”

1 Thessalonians 4:16
King James Version

Jim Hill wrote the beautiful hymn “WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE”.  I love the words in this hymn.  “There is coming a day When no heartache shall come No more clouds in the sky No more tears to dim the eye All is peace forever more  On that happy golden shore What a day, glorious 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 my 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.”

One happy day, Jesus is coming back for us and there will be no more violence, no more abuse of children, no more of anything that will hurt Jesus.  How I long for Jesus to come back and I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.  Carrie E. Breck wrote one of my favorite hymns “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.     I am so glad that the words in this hymn are true.  “What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.”

Are you ready to meet Jesus if He comes back for us today?  You may be saved but will you be able to look Jesus in the eye or will you have to look away?  People only know what we say and what they see but God sees in our heart and He knows if we have allowed bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, sarcasm and jealousy to remain in our heart.  All these things hurt our Heavenly Father and break His heart.  If your heart is not right with God, repent and ask Him to forgive you so you will be able to look Jesus in the eye when He comes back for us.

Joanne Lowe
November 5, 2019

Monday, November 4, 2019


WHY

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

John 15:10-12
King James Version

Jesus has commanded all of us to love one another unconditionally as He loves us and when we don’t, we hurt Him and break His heart.  We read in the Bible  “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 25:45)

I found this definition in Webster’s Dictionary for unconditional “with no limits in any way : without restriction by conditions or qualifications”.  Can you honestly say you always love others unconditionally?  I can’t and I have to ask God to forgive me and help me. 

If we would allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge when we hurt others, we also hurt Jesus, I believe we would start loving others unconditionally no matter how many times they hurt us just as Jesus loves us unconditionally no matter how many times we hurt Him.  May God have mercy on us and forgive us for hurting His beloved Son.

Joanne Lowe
November 4, 2019
 


Sunday, November 3, 2019


HAPPINESS AND JOY

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalms 16:11
King James Version

Joy comes by being in the presence of Jesus but we make our own happiness.  Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote one of my favorite hymns “Happiness is the Lord”.  The words in this hymn are so true.  “Happiness is to know the Saviour Living a life within His favour Having a change in my behaviour, Happiness in the Lord.”

For many years I was very unhappy because I didn’t forgive people when they hurt me.  I allowed resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness and hatred to remain in my heart, all the things that hurt Jesus and break His heart.  Again, being in the presence of Jesus gives us fulness of joy that we can’t get from the world but we make our own happiness.

What about you?  Are you hurting Jesus and breaking His heart because you refuse to forgive the ones who have hurt you?  Think where we would be if Jesus hadn’t forgiven us when we crucified Him and beat Him beyond recognition.  We would be on our way to hell for all eternity.  If Jesus could forgive us for what we did to Him, we need to forgive the ones who hurt us.

Remember, none of us are perfect.  There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus.  May God have mercy on us if we are hurting His beloved Son and breaking His heart because we refuse to forgive the ones who hurt us.  How dare you and I ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us if we aren’t willing to forgive those who hurt us.  One day every one of us will stand before a Holy God and give an account of the things in our heart.

Joanne Lowe
November 3, 2019