ARE YOU READY

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

Matthew 24:44
King James Version

Jesus can come back any minute to take us to Heaven and God can call us to Heaven and minute. Are you ready to meet Jesus if He should come back today? We can be saved, go to church, sing in the choir, teach Sunday school and do kind things. However, if we have allowed unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, hatred and sarcasm to remain in our heart we are not 

ready.

We need to have our heart right before God before we ask Him for anything. How dare you and I ask God to forgive us if we aren't willing to forgive those who hurt us. We read in the Bible. "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matthew 5:23,24).

Before I invited Jesus in my heart to be my personal Saviour on August 14, 1980, I was a hateful person. I didn't like anybody, especially myself. I couldn't look in the mirror because I didn't like what I saw. I was disrespectful to my parents and because of all the abuse I had suffered, I thought I had a right to hate people.

One day, God took me out to His woodshed and applied His correction to my heart. He reminded me that I was not perfect, that I had hurt people just as they had hurt me. I will never forget that day and I realized that I had no right to judge and condemn anybody. One of my pastors said many times in his sermons "If you will make sure your own heart is right before God, you won't have the time to judge anybody". The pastor was so right because it is a full time job to make sure that my heart is right before God, that I don't allow bitterness and unforgiveness to remain in my heart.

If Jesus comes back for us today, are you ready to meet Him or will you have to look away? Rev. Elisha A. Hoffman wrote the hymn that should make every person search his or her heart "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?"

Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for the times when I have hurt You. Please forgive me. Help me to keep my big mouth shut when I'm tempted t say something to hurt people because they have hurt me. Thank You for loving me when I was so unlovely. I love You, dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for all You have done for me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Joanne Lowe
April 30, 2020

WHY DOES HE

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Jeremiah 31:3
King James Version

Jesus loves us no matter how many times we hurt Him and fail Him. Why does He love us so much? It is because not only does Jesus give us amazing unconditional love, He is unconditional love. Don't ever let anyone tell you that Jesus doesn't love you because that is a lie straight from hell.

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 is not only does Jesus give love, He is Love. If anyone ever asks you who Jesus is, say "Jesus is Love".

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins. Thank You for the privilege You have given me these last twenty years to serve Jesus. I pray for every man, every woman, every boy and every girls who has not invited Jesus into their heart to be their personal Saviour. May today be the day they open the door to their heart and invite Him in to their heart. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Joanne Lowe
April 29, 2020

PRECIOUS

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

1 Peter 1:19
King James Version

Charles Gabriel wrote one of my favorite hymns "FOR HE IS SO PRECIOUS TO ME". The words in this beautiful inspiring hymn describe how much I love Jesus. "So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my King; His praise all the day long with rapture I sing. To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling, For He is so precious to me. For He is so precious, so precious to me; For He is so precious, so precious to me. 'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to 

know, For He is so precious to me."

O how I love Jesus. He is the Joy of my heart, the reason I'm living and my best Friend. What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world and one happy day we will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face. Jesus loves you so much He died on the cross for your sins. Jesus will be the best Friend you will ever have and He will never leave you, not even for one minute. He will pick you up in His loving arms and carry you through alll the dark valleys in your life and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness. What a Saviour! What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe
April 28, 2020

HOW OFTEN

"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name."

Psalms 63:3, 4
King James Version

How often do we praise Him? If we only praise Him when everything is going our way and neglect to praise Him when satan puts stumbling blocks in our way, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart. Jesus knows how it feels to be all alone and in pain so He understands when we are going through dark valleys. He not only understands, He loves us and wants to help us. We can't make it in this world that is filled with violence and hatred without Jesus. Reach out to Jesus because He is reaching out to you.

Joanne Lowe
May 27, 2020

THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14
King James Version

Most of the news we read in the newspaper or hear on the radio and television is filled with violence and things that hurt our Heavenly Father. I've heard people say that it is His fault that we are in the middle of this virus that is killing people. I submit to you on the aurthority of the Word of God that it is our fault, not His fault. If we will stop hating, killing and hurting one another, and start loving one another as Jesus has commanded us to love one another, then our Heavenly Father will answer our prayers.

I heard a man say "Having to be cooped up with my family for this long is driving me crazy. I need to get away from them". Several years ago, I read about a little boy who said "My mommy played with me and talked to me all day Christmas but the next day she turned on the television and watched it all day and she hasn't played with me or talked to me except to tell me what to do.

I read about a little girl playing at a friend's house and the friend's mother came in to hug her daughter and tell her daughter good night and to tell her "I love you". Then she told the visiting little girl "I love you" and hugged her. When the mother left the room, the visiting girl didn't say anything and looked very sad and she told her friend that nobody had ever hugged her or said "I love you" to her.

I know how that little girl felt because I was forty years old before anyone hugged me or said "I love you" to me. I had gone through a devastating crippling depression for over forty years when I honestly believed I didn't have a right to live because I was told that many times. However, forty years ago as I was lying under a bed in the mental hospital where I had crawled because I was afraid of every one and everything, Jesus put His arms of compassion around me and lifted me up from under that bed. He said "I love you, Joanne, and I won't let anyone hurt you again".

Is it any wonder that I love Jesus so much? I can tell you from personal experience that Jesus loves you, will protect you and will never leave you. If you haven't given your heart and life to Jesus, I urge you, I plead with you to let Jesus love you as He wants to love you. He died for you. Please give your heart and life to Jesus right now. Don't miss another day to make Jesus happy.

Joanne Lowe
April 26, 2020

IS IT RIGHT

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

Matthew 15:8
King James Version

Every time I read this verse, it reminds me of the illustration that one of my pastors used in his sermons. The pastor said "There was a man who everyone thought was such a Godly womderful man but he went home and beat his wife". We can tell people we love God but He can see into our heart and He knows if we love Him or if we are just giving Him lip service.

Rev. Bennie S. Triplett wrote the hymn "How about your heart". "People often see you as you are outside Jesus really knows you for He sees inside How about your heart, is it right with God? That's the thing that counts today." What does Jesus see when He looks in your heart? Does He see things that make Him happy or does He see things that hurt Him and break His heart.

We need to be sure our heart is right with God because Jesus cam come back for us even while you are reading this devotion. May God have mercy on us if we are doing things and saying words that hurt Him and break His heart. I don't know about you but it is a full time job for me to make sure my own heart is in right standing with God. Instead of judging and criticizing others let's be sure our own heart is right with God.

Joanne Lowe
April 25, 2020

AND JESUS CRIES

"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

When Jesus saw them weeping, it broke His heart and He wept because He loved them. I believe as Jesus hung on the cross when He was crucified for your sins and for my sins that as the blood flowed down His body that tears also ran down His face. He was in agony and pain that you and I will never know but I believe He was also weeping because He loves us so much.

Jesus tells us in the Bible that He wants us to have a happy life. "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" (John10:10). Yes, Jesus wants us to be happy and the only way we will be happy is by making Him happy. It breaks His heart when we say mean hateful words and do cruel and unkind things to one another.

It is time we stop hurting Jesus and breaking His heart and start loving one another unconditionally as He loves us. I am not perfect. You are not perfect. Jesus is the only perfect Person Who ever lived or ever will live. Jesus hasn't been here for over two thousand years to hug us. He has left us to hug for Him. When is the last time you hugged Jesus by hugging your loved ones? May God have mercy on us if we are hurting His beloved Son because we don't love one another. if you don't feel comfortable hugging, hug your loved ones with kind and encouraging words.

Joanne Lowe
April 24, 2020

THE GREATEST FAMILY REUNION

"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."

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
King James Version

Jim Hill sings one of my favorite hymns "WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE". I love the words in this hymn. "There will be no sorrows there And no more burdens to bear No more sickness and, no more 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".

Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote the beautiful and heart touching hymn "IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL". "Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear, We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair; But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away, All tears forever over in God's eternal day. 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."

Not only will we have the privilege, joy and happiness of being with our precious Saviour, we are going to have the greatest family reunion there has ever been or ever will be. Are you shouting with joy and happiness yet? O how I love Jesus.  

Are you going to be at that family reunion? Has there ever been a time 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 right now before it is too late. Jesus loves you so much He allowed them to crucify Him on the cross. He paid that debt for your sins and for my sins that we could never have paid. You are loved by the Saviour of the world. He will be the greatest Friend you will ever have and He will never leave you, not even for one minute. What a Saviour! What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe
April 23, 2020

I DIDN'T DO IT

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

1 Peter 1:18, 19
King James Version

Have you ever heard someone say "I didn't do it?" Have you ever said it? We might have done it but Jesus didn't do it. He never sinned and yet He allowed them to crucify Him because of your sins and my sins. If you ever think that nobody loves you, remember the cross and the torture and beatings that Jesus endured on the cross for you. I have said this many times and I will keep saying it until God calls me home to Heaven "Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will". We have a tender loving and compassionate Saviour. O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe
April 22, 2020

HE STAYED ON THE CROSS

"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

Ray Overholt wrote the heart touching hymn "Ten Thousand Angels". Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to get Him down from the cross but He didn't call them. He stayed on the cross for us and we need to stay on the battlefield for Jesus and not allow satan to discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus. What a precious Saviour we are privileged to know and have and one happy day we will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face. How I long for that happy day!

Joanne Lowe
April 21, 2020

NEARER

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Hebrews 10:22
King James Version

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that 

You gave Your beloved Son to die for our sins on the cross. You are a loving compassionate Father. Please help us to draw closer to You and lead others to Jesus by our loving words and actions. Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus. I love You, Heavenly Father. I love You, Jesus. I love You, Holy Spirit. Please comfort and encourage all those who are lonely and going through dark valleys. Thank You for caring and loving us even when we hurt You. In Jesus' Name, i pray. Amen.

Joanne Lowe
April 20, 2020

DO WE

"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Deuteronomy 6:5
King James Version

Do we really love Him this much? If we did, three wouldn't be so much violence in our world. How it must break His heart when He sees some of the things we do and hears some of the cruel words we say to one another. It is time that we start loving one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love each other. May God have mercy on us and forgive us for hurting Him.

Joanne Lowe
April 19, 2020

IT REALLY WAS

"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

Acts 15:11
King James Version

John Newton wrote one of my favorite hymns "Amazing Grace". The words in this beautiful hymn are so true. "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see." Before I invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour, I was a hateful person. I had been told that I was fat, ugly and stupid so many times that I was afraid of everyone. I didn't like anybody and didn't trust anyone.

I had been raped and beaten so I didn't want to be around anybody. There was a time in my life when I was suiicidal and I didn't want to commit suidicie so I checked myself into hospitals trying to get help. The doctors couldn't help me but one happy day Jesus put His arms of compassion around me and said "I love you, Joanne. I won't let anyone hurt you again and I will never leave you".

There are no words to describe the happiness I had when Jesus told me that He loves me. It was the first time in my life that anyone told me I was loved. Is it any wonder I have said so many times and will keep saying it until God calls me home "Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will".

The next time you feel all alone and that nobody cares about you or loves us, remember the cross and the pain and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross for us. If nobody has ever told you that Jesus loves you, please know that Jesus does love you. There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you. I love Jesus with all my heart and one happy day I will have the priivilege of seeing Him face to face.

Please lift your heart and you voice and join me in praising Him. What a Saviour! What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth! All hail, King Jesus! Worthy is the Lamb of God! He is the "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS".

Joanne Lowe
April 18, 2020

OUR SAVIOUR CARES

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

Mark 6:34
King James Version

We have a loving compassionate Saviour Who really cares about us. It breaks His heart when we are hurting because He knows how it feels to be discouraged and broken hearted and have people say and do things that hurt you.

The next time you have a crises or are going through a dark valley, tell Jesus. He will be faithful to pick you up in His arms and carry you until the pain goes away and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness. We can trust Jesus to care how we are feeling and heal our broken heart.

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins so we can be saved. Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus. How I love You, dear Father. Thank You for all You have done for me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Joanne Lowe
April 17, 2020

HE IS PRAYING FOR US

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Hebrews 7:25
King James Version

As I listened to the Speers singing "AND HE’S EVER INTERCEDING", I got tears in my eyes to think that Jesus loves me so much that He prays for me and intercedes for me and He also loves you so much He prays for you. If you will listen with your heart, you can hear Jesus interceding to our Heavenly Father for you.

What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world and to know that He loves us so much is a healing balm to our weary battle scarred heart and one joyous happy day we will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face when He comes back for us. Are you shouting with happiness yet? You are loved by the Saviour of the world.

Joanne Lowe
April 16, 2020

IT REALLY WILL BE

"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

One of my favorite hymns is "IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL" and it really will be worth all the heartaches we have here and the dark valleys we have to go through when Jesus comes back for us and we see Him face to face. When you are going through a dark valley, know that Jesus understands how you feel and He cares about you. I've lost track of the number of times Jesus has picked me up in His arms of compassion and carried me through dark valleys. We can depend on Jesus because He will never leave us. Can Jesus depend on us?

Joanne Lowe
April 15, 2020

HE STAYED ON THE CROSS

"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

Ray Overholt wrote the heart touching hymn "Ten Thousand Angels". Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to get Him down from the cross but He didn't call them. He stayed on the cross for us and we need to stay on the battlefield for Jesus and not allow satan to discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus. What a precious Saviour we are privileged to know and have and one happy day we will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face. How I long for that happy day!

Joanne Lowe
April 21, 2020

THE PROMISE

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9
King James Version

The Bible tells us that God has good things for us that we can't even imagine but there is a condition. We have to love Him. We can tell others we love Him but God can see into our heart and He knows if we love Him or are just putting on a show for others. How do we prove to God we love Him. We prove it by being kind and loving to His Son.

Our Heavenly Father loves His Son very much and it hurts Him when He sees the way we teat Jesus. Our precious Saviour gave His life for our sins when He died on the cross for us. How can you and I do less that stay on the battlefield for Jesus? Don't let satan discourage you so much that you stop serving Jesus. Stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us.

Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn "It Will Be Worth It All". I love these words. "Sometimes the day seems long, Our trials hard to bear. We´re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair. But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away! All tears forever over in God’s eternal day! 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."

How I long for the day when we see Jesus. Are you going to see Jesus? Has there ever been a time in your life when you admitted you are a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour? If not, don't wait any longer. Jesus loves you so much He died for you. Open the door of your heart and let Jesus come it right now.

Joanne Lowe
April 14, 2020

IT HAS TO STOP

"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
King James Version

The newspapers, the television and the radio are full of murders, rapes, drug abuse, child and elderly abuse and all other things that hurt Jesus and break His heart. It has to stop! Jesus did not suffer all of that agony and physical and emotional torture on the cross for your sins and for my sins so we can be saved just to have us kill one another.

I am not perfect. You are not perfect. All of us do things and say things that hurt Jesus and it has to stop! Jesus wants us to have a happy and joyful life, not a life that is filled with hatred and anger. How dare you and I go to a Holy God and ask Him for anything if we are not willing to forgive those who have hurt us?

Before I asked God to forgive me for my sins and invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour, I was a terrible person. I was rude to people, hateful to them and judged them and criticized them. I thought that everyone should be kind to me yet I wasn't kind to them. How I must have hurt Jesus and broke His heart so many times.

I was hateful and disobedient to my parents. My Mother said to me many times "It doesn't matter what I say, you're going to do what you want to do". If we will listen with our heart, we might hear our Heavenly Father saying to us "Ir doesn't matter what I say, you are going to do what you want to do".

It is time that we stop hurting our Heavenly Father and our precious Saviour and start loving one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love one another. Loving one another unconditionally is not an option, it is a commandment from Jesus.  We read in the Bible " A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34).

If Jesus comes back for us today, how sad it would be if we couldn't look Him in the eye because we have unforgiveness, hatred, anger, jealousy, bitterness and all the other things that hurt Him and break His heart. It is time we stop hurting Jesus and make Him happy. If Jesus could forgive us while still hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His precious body, how dare you and I not forgive those who have hurt us? May God have mercy on us.

Joanne Lowe
April 13, 2020

HE IS NOT HERE

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Matthew 28:6
King James Version

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, let us thank our Heavenly Father for loving us so much He gave His beloved Son to die for our sins. Jesus will never have to be beaten beyond recognition again. No, He won't have to die physically but every day we hurt Him when we refuse to forgive the ones who hurt us. How dare you and I refuse to forgive those who hurt us when He forgives us. May God have mercy on us because when we are mean to others and refuse to forgive them we are hurting His beloved Son. Let's start loving one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love each other.

Joanne Lowe
April 12, 2020

HE MAKES A WAY

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isaiah 41:10
King James Version

Pastor Don Moen wrote the beautiful hymn "God Will Make A Way". I love these words in this hymn. "God will make a way Where there seems to be no way He works in ways we cannot see He will make a way for me." We have been told to stay home because of this health crisis we are going through and that means that we can't do the things we want to do and go the places we want to go.

Sometimes we get discouraged because things are so different but God will help us get through this crisis. Our Heavenly Father's lap is big enough to hold all of us at once so allow Him to comfort you when you get discouraged. He cares when you are hurting and He will dry your tears with tender compassionate kisses.

Heavenly Father, thank You for caring when we are discouraged and hurting. Please help us to be an encouragement to each other. Thank You for loving us and for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Joanne Lowe
April 11, 2020

EVERYTHING

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

Galatians 4:4-6
King James Version

Rev. Virgil Brock wrote the beautiful hymn "He's Everything to Me". I love these words in this hymn. "My Savior’s love is sweeter still, Each day I try to do His will; My heart with peace and joy He fills, He’s everything to me."  Yes, Jesus is everything to me and I love Him with all my heart and one happy joyous day when He comes back for us, we are going to have the privilege of seeing Him face to face. What a day of rejoicing that is going to be. O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe
April 10, 2020

ALL SIN

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:7
King James Version

One of the ways that satan tries to discourage us from serving Jesus is when he lies to us and tells us that Jesus doesn't love us and we haven't been forgiven. However, the Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Don't listen to satan because he is a liar. Jesus loves you and has forgiven you and will always love you. Thank God for the precious cleansing blood of Jesus.

Joanne Lowe
April 9, 2020

HE STILL CARES

"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

God cared enough for us to give His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins and He still cares. However, when God says something, He means it. We read this in the Bible. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It is our fault that we have wars and hatred in our country because we are not doing what God has told us to do. He has told us to trun from our wicked ways and yet we still have a lot of unforgiveness, murders, rapes, child abuse, drugs, criticism, elderly abuse, unforgiveness and hatred in our country. It is not fair or right for us to blame God when it is our hatred, unforgiveness, criticism and other things that hurt Him and break His heart that are the reason why this world is in such a mess.

We need to do what one of my pastors used to say in his sermons "If we will make sure our own heart is right before God, we won't have the time to judge and criticize others". The pastor was right because it is a full time job to make sure my own heart is right before God and that I'm not hurting Him.

Remember, you're not perfect and I'm not perfect. There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus. May God help us to love one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love others.

Joanne Lowe
April 8, 2020

HE STILL CARES

"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

God cared enough for us to give His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins and He still cares. However, when God says something, He means it. We read this in the Bible. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It is our fault that we have wars and hatred in our country because we are not doing what God has told us to do. He has told us to turn from our wicked ways and yet we still have a lot of unforgiveness, murders, rapes, child abuse, drugs, criticism, elderly abuse, unforgiveness and hatred in our country. It is not fair or right for us to blame God when it is our hatred, unforgiveness, criticism and other things that hurt Him and break His heart that are the reason why this world is in such a mess.

We need to do what one of my pastors used to say in his sermons "If we will make sure our own heart is in right standing  with  God, we won't have the time to judge and criticize others". The pastor was right because it is a full time job to make sure my own heart is right before God and that I'm not hurting Him.

Remember, you're not perfect and I'm not perfect. There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus. May God help us to love one another unconditionally as Jesus has commanded us to love others.

Joanne Lowe
April 8, 2020

HE IS STILL ALIVE

"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

Mark 16:6
King James Version

We are going through a very difficult time due to this virus but rest assured Jesus is still alive and He still loves us and cares when we arre hurting. When the dark valley we are going through overwhelms us we need to cry out to Jesus and He will be faithful to pick us up in His loving compassionate arms and will carry us through all the dark valleys in our life and He will be faithful to set us once again on the mountain top of happiness. O how our Saviour loves you!

Rev. Frank E. Graeff wrote the beautiful heart touching hymn "Does Jesus Care?" I love the words in this inspiring hymn. "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song, As the burdens press, and the cares distress And the way grows weary and long? Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares." Thank God for the unconditional love of Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

April 7, 2020

IS HE

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Matthew 3: 16, 17
King James Version

One of my favorite hymns is "Satisfied with Jesus" by B.B. McKinney. "I am satisfied with Jesus, He has done so much for me: He has suffered to redeem me, He has died to set me free. I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus, But the question comes to me, As I think of Calvary, Is my Master satisfied with me?" Every one of us needs to ask ourselves this question. Is Jesus satisfied with me?

If our Saviour comes back for us today, will we be able to look Him in the eye or will we have to look away because of the way we are treating one another? Remember, loving one another unconditionally is not an option, it is a commandment from Jesus. One of my pastors said many times in his sermons "If you would make sure your own heart is right before God, you won't have the time to criticize and judge one another." How is your heart today? Is it right before God or are you hurting Him and breaking His heart?

Joanne Lowe
April 6, 2020

HIS BELOVED

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

Psalms 127:2
King James Version

For many years I couldn't sleep. I would toss and turn all night and the reason I couldn't sleep was because I was not His beloved. I was disobedient to my parents, I yelled at people. I criticized people and judged them. One day I read this verse in the Bible and realized that it was my fault that I couldn't sleep. I asked God to forgive me for judging and criticizing people who hurt me. Do I still get upset and angry when people are mean to me. Yes, I do but as soon as I realize that I'm hurting God again, I tell God I'm sorry and ask Him to forgive me. We need to remember that none of us are perfect so we don't have the right to criticize and judge others. I'm so glad we have a loving compassionate Heavenly Father Who will forgive us and still love us when we hurt Him.

Joanne Lowe
April 5, 2020

OUR FAITHFUL SAVIOUR

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Hebrews 13:5
King James Version

We have a faithful loving and compassionate Saviour Who never yells at us, withdraws His friendship from us, talks about us or leaves us. He is such a faithful Saviour. Can He say the same about us? Are we faithful to Him and do we keep serving Him even when we are criticized and ridiculed? Jesus stayed on the cross for us even in the midst of all the agony and pain that He suffered for our sins so we can be saved and go to Heaven and we must stay on the battlefield for Him.

Joanne Lowe
April 4, 2020

KEEP SERVING JESUS

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

Isaiah 6:8

King James Version

Charles H. Gabriel wrote the hymn "Send the Light". We need to do what we sing in this hymn. "We have heard the Macedonian call today, Send the light! Send the light! And a golden offering at the cross we lay, Send the light! Send the light!" Not only are we to tell others about Jesus and His unconditional love for them, we are also to prove to them how much He loves them by our kind words and loving actions. Are we doing it?

Joanne Lowe
April 3, 2020

HE REALLY DOES CARE

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

1 Peter 5:7
King James Version

Rev. Frank E. Graeff wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour "Does Jesus Care?". I love the words in this heart touching hymn. "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song, As the burdens press, and the cares distress And the way grows weary and long? Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares."

If you are reading this devotion, know that Jesus does care about you. He cares when you are sick and hurting, lonely, discouraged and you feel like giving up and going to bed and staying there. I know from personal experience that Jesus cares. There have been many times that I have felt His arms of compassion and love go around me as He tenderly held me in His loving arms and said "I love you, Joanne, and I will never leave you" and He hasn't left me since August 14, 1980 when I invited Him into my heart.

We read in the Bible "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). What a precious promise from the heart of our loving Saviour to know that He will never leave us, not even for one minute. O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe
April 2, 2020