TEARS OF 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.”

Psalm 16:11 KJV

Pastor Oswald Jeffrey Smith wrote one of my favorite hymns “Joy in Serving Jesus”.  The words in this heart touching and inspiring hymn describe how I feel.  There really is joy in serving Jesus. I love my family and I have a lot of friends that are dear to my heart, but only Jesus gives me joy and happiness.

For over forty years while I was going through the darkness of a crippling devastating depression I had a lot of tears but they weren’t tears of joy.  God called me to be a missionary on October 4, 1998 but He didn’t tell me what He wanted me to do until January 24, 2005.  We need to wait for His leading.

These last ten years since God has given me the responsibility and privilege of writing devotions have been the happiest years of my life.  When I think about God trusting me and loving me so much that He called me to be a missionary and allows me to serve Jesus, my heart overflows with happiness and with joy.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy You have given me by allowing me to serve Jesus.  You have taken away the tears of heartache and sorrow I had for over forty years and given me tears of joy, happiness and excitement.  What a privilege it is to serve the One Who died for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 21, 2015

PLEASE HELP US

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”

Matthew 24:6-10 KJV

We are living in a world that is filled with hate, violence, turmoil, jealousy and greed.  Not only is the world filled with these things, our houses are also filled with these things.  If you notice, I didn’t say our homes are filled with these things.  It is only called a home when it is filled with love for one another.

If ever we needed God to comfort and encourage us, it is now.  Many people are discouraged and brokenhearted and feel like giving up and going to bed and staying there.  Our loving Saviour understands how we feel.  I’m sure when He was here on the mission His Father sent Him on, He too was discouraged.

May we be encouragers to one another.  People who say they don’t need encouragement are not being truthful.  Even Jesus needed encouragement.  If Jesus needed encouragement, how much more we need to be encouraged.  We also need to be an encouragement to God by the way we live for Jesus.

Heavenly Father, please help us.  When the tears start to flow down our face and we feel like giving up and don’t think we can give another smile or take another step, reassure us that You still care about us and love us.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 20, 2015

WHERE WERE YOU TODAY

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

Has someone ever told you that he or she would come visit you but didn’t come to visit you?  Have you ever told people that you would go visit them but you never went to see them?  If we will listen with our heart, will we hear Jesus say to us “Where were you today?  I waited for you all day.  I miss you”.

May God have mercy on us and forgive us if we hurt His beloved Son because we didn’t spend time with Jesus today.  Why is it we have time to watch television but don’t have time to spend with Jesus?  Some people can get up early in the morning to go fishing or on vacation but they can’t get up early for Jesus.

I believe there are times when we hurt Jesus and break His heart because we don’t spend time with Him.  When we don’t spend time with Jesus, not only does it hurt Him it also hurts God.  If you’re a parent then you know how it feels to have someone ignore your children.  It breaks your heart, doesn’t it?

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for sometimes putting Jesus on a shelf and only taking Him down when we need or want something.  Thank You, Father, for loving us even when we hurt You and break Your heart.  I pray that we will make time to talk to Jesus every day.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 19, 2015

OUR FRIEND

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”

Philippians 4:19,20 KJV

Rev. William Charles Poole wrote the beautiful hymn “Just When I Need Him Most”.  I love the words in this hymn.  “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.”  All of us need Jesus every minute of every day.

Jesus is our Friend.  When we are sad and discouraged and in tears and want to go to bed and stay there, Jesus reassures us that He still loves us and that He will help us.  Just as we cheer for our favorite sports team to encourage them, Jesus also cheers for us to encourage us on to victory.

Our Heavenly Father loves us.  He supplies everything we need and He even gives us things that we don’t need just because He loves us.  What a precious and loving Heavenly Father we are privileged to know.  We are not worthy to go into His presence but because of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, we can.

Yes, Jesus is our Friend.  What about us?  Are we His friend?  Does He know that we are His friend by our encouraging words to each other and by our kind and loving actions?  Jesus said “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).  Are we doing what Jesus commands us to do?

Heavenly Father, thank You for supplying all our need and for giving us things we don’t need.  You are a tender loving and forgiving Father and I love You with all my heart.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 18, 2015

HOW CAN WE THANK YOU

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103:1-5 KJV

It is impossible to thank our Heavenly Father for all He has done for us, for all He does for us and for all He is going to do for us.  He forgives us, heals us and redeems us.  The greatest thing He has done for us was when He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  O how our Heavenly Father loves us.

Have you ever heard someone say or have you ever said “I’ll forgive you for that but I won’t forgive you for this”?  Our Scripture passage for this devotion tells us that God forgives us for everything.  I am so glad that God loves us unconditionally and that He forgives us even when we hurt Him.

There are not enough words to thank Him for all He has done for us but we can show our appreciation by serving His beloved Son.  Are you serving Jesus with all your heart and with all your time?  If not, why aren’t you?  Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die for our sins.

What a tender precious and loving Saviour we are privileged to know.  Let’s prove to Jesus how much we love Him by serving Him with all our time and with all of our heart.  We will have to shut off the television set and get out of our comfort zone.  Are we willing to serve Him?  Jesus deserves our love and service.

Joanne Lowe

July 17, 2015

DOES HE CARE

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.”

1Peter 5:7-11 KJV

Rev. Frank Ellsworth Graeff went through a time of depression and he wrote this beautiful heart touching hymn from his own experience “DOES JESUS CARE”.  These words are so true.  “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;”  I know the words are true from personal experience.

Many years ago as I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital with no desire to live, Jesus came to me.  He put His loving arms around me and said “I love you, Joanne.  It’s safe to come out from under this bed.  I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”  What joy and happiness filled my heart when He told me He loves me.

If you ever doubt that God and Jesus love you, remember the cross and the pain and agony that Jesus suffered for you when He was crucified on the cross for your sins.  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that God loves you so much He gave His beloved Son to die for you?

I have been trying to tell God and Jesus all day how much I love Them but there are no adequate words.  However, They know because They know my heart.  I love Them with all my heart.  What a Saviour, what a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe

July 16, 2015

GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV

Many years ago I called a friend and asked her to pray for me.  Within twenty minutes, God answered the prayer.  I called my friend and told her that God had already answered and met the need.  My friend told me that she had said a quick prayer and was going to pray longer when she got home.

I used to think that I had to pray for a long time and use big words when I prayed.  I found out that God is not impressed with the length of our prayers or big words.  What impresses God is the condition of our heart.  We can pray for hours but if our heart is not right with God, He is not going to be impressed.

Before we pray for anyone, we should search our heart and be sure our heart is in right standing with God.  If we will keep our heart in right standing with God, we will be much happier and God will be pleased with us.  Let’s not wait until we have an emergency to get our heart right with God.

I used to work in a nursing home and once in a while inspectors would come to inspect the home.  Everyone would rush around cleaning and worry if the nursing home would pass inspection.  I never understood why they worried so much.  If the home was kept clean every day, there wouldn’t have been so much chaos.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have hurt You.  I’m sorry I hurt You.  I pray that I will lead others to Jesus by my actions and by my words.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 15, 2015