HE IS CALLING US

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?  Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?  And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

Genesis 3:8-13 KJV

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.  Isn’t this what we do a lot of times?  Instead of accepting the blame when we do something wrong, we blame others.  It is time that we admit that we sometimes fail God and ask Him to forgive us. 

If we will listen with our heart, we will hear God calling us to serve His Son.  We read in the Bible “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).  Have you answered the call and told Jesus you will go for Him?

He may not be calling us to go to a different country as a foreign missionary but He is calling us to tell everyone about the good news of our risen Saviour.  Our service to Jesus depends on our love for Him.  How much do you love Him and how much are you willing to do for Him?  O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe

February 4, 2015

FORGIVEN NOT PERFECT

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:34 KJV

My sister gave me a blouse.  It has a picture of the Bible and the words “I’M NOT PERFECT JUST FORGIVEN”.  Even though I’ve had the blouse for a long time and it has faded because of being washed so much, it is my favorite blouse because it says that I am forgiven.  Thank God for His forgiveness.

I have received a lot of emails telling me how wonderful it is that I write devotions and even though I appreciate the kind words and comments because I get discouraged just like you do, I am not perfect.  Please don’t look to me, keep your eyes on Jesus.  He is the only perfect One and He will never fail you.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  Don’t look to me or to your pastor or to your Sunday school teacher because we are human, look to Jesus.

Rev. Arthur Luther wrote a hymn I used to sing in Sunday school “Jesus Never Fails”.  I was always happy when we sang it.  I used to put people on pedestals but I don’t do that any more. We are still in the flesh and we will fail one another at times.  Also, it’s not fair to people to put them on a pedestal.

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving my sins.  Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

February 3, 2015

ARE THEY PLEASING TO HIM

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Colossians 3:17 KJV

When we say words and do things, are they pleasing to Him?  May God help us to be a good example of the believers in the things we do and the words we say.  If the things we want to do make God unhappy, we shouldn’t do them.  If the words we say are breaking God’s heart, we need to stop saying them.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would put a zipper on my mouth if I start to say something that would hurt You.  Please help me point others to Jesus by the way I live and the words I say.  May others always see the love of Jesus in my smiles, in my words and in the things I do.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

February 2, 2015

DO THEY KNOW

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

John 13:34,35 KJV

Several years ago, I had a wonderful Sunday school teacher but I could never remember her name.  I remembered how loving and kind she was but I couldn’t remember her name.  When I told her I couldn’t remember her name she said “It’s okay because you know I love Jesus and that I love you”.

It is so important and even urgent that people see the love of Jesus in our smiles and hear His love for them in the words we say to them.  There are so many people who are hurting, lonely, heartbroken, going through crises and some of them are even suicidal.  They need to know how much Jesus loves them.

What about our spouse and children?  Do we tell them we love them every day or just on birthdays and holidays?  A man who was talking to a friend said “I don’t have to tell my wife I love her.  My wife should know I love her.  I married her.”  I’m so glad our Bridegroom, Jesus tells us every day that He loves us.

What about Jesus?  Do we tell Him every day how much we love Him and appreciate Him or do we just tell Him on Christmas day?  I believe we hurt Him and break His heart many times because we neglect to talk to Him and tell Him that we love Him.  Jesus has feelings and we need to tell Him that we love Him.

Joanne Lowe

February 1, 2015

HE STRENGTHENS US

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

Isaiah 40:28-31 KJV

I am so glad that God strengthens us because I feel like going to bed and staying there.  I have had this flu or whatever it is that I have for over a week and my body is weak and tired.  However, every time I think about going to bed and staying there until I feel better, I remember what Jesus did for me on the cross.

Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition.  He had been spat on, cursed, mocked and ridiculed for us yet He still walked that long lonely road to Calvary to be crucified for our sins.  There is no greater love than the love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus have for us.  They love us unconditionally.

When we feel like giving up, we need to remember the cross.  Jesus didn’t give up.  He fulfilled the mission His Father had given Him.  May God help us to fulfill the mission that God entrusts to each of us.  We may not be called to be a foreign missionary but all of us are called to spread the love of Jesus.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Jesus.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so much You stayed on the cross when You could have come down.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 31, 2015

ONE JOYOUS DAY

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

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV

One day, one joyous and happy day, Jesus Himself is coming to take us home with Him to Heaven and we will be with Jesus for eternity!  Albert E. Brumley wrote one of the greatest hymns I have ever heard “I’ll Fly Away”.  We are going to fly away with Jesus to Heaven.  Are you shouting with joy yet?

You probably have heard people shouting for their favorite sports team and perhaps you have shouted yourself cheering them on to victory but their shouts didn’t equal the shout of Jesus when He comes back for us.  His shout is going to be a shout of happiness and victory!  He will take His bride home.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36).  “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).  “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).

You may have invited Jesus into your heart and are saved but is your heart right with God?  If not, ask God to forgive you so you will be ready to meet Jesus.  We read in the Bible.  “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Joanne Lowe

January 30, 2015

MERCY AND GRACE

“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 KJV

What a comfort it is to our weary and battle scarred heart to be able to come boldly unto the throne of grace, because of Jesus, our precious Saviour.  He has already paid the price for our sins.  What compassion, mercy and grace flowed from the heart of Jesus when He died on the cross for our sins.

Thank God for our Redeemer Who loves us so much that He died for us.  “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:6,7).

It doesn’t matter what is wrong with us.  We can be in pain physically, emotionally, financially or even have family problems yet He is with us to help us in our time of need.  What a privilege is ours to be a part of the family of God and to be adopted by God Himself.  Are you a part of the family of God?

Joanne Lowe

January 29, 2015