ARE WE SHOUTING AND SINGING

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”

Psalms 24:8

King James Version

Evangelist Henry de Fluiter wrote a beautiful hymn “Hail Him the King of Glory”.  I love these words.  “Children of God look up with rejoicing; Shout and sing His praise; Blessèd are they who, waiting and watching, Look for the dawning rays.”  Are we shouting and singing His praise?

Joanne Lowe

March 7, 2017

FROM THE GULF OF DESPAIR

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

Isaiah 63:9 KJV

Pastor Isaac Watts wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus taking us from despair to happiness “Plunged in a Gulf of Dark Despair”.  I love these words in this inspiring hymn.  “With pitying eyes the Prince of grace Beheld our helpless grief; He saw, and, O amazing love! He ran to our relief.”  What an amazing love!

If there has never been a time in your life when you humbled yourself, admitted you are a sinner, repented of your sins, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, I urge you, I plead with you to give your heart to Jesus before it is too late.

One day it will be too late so please don’t wait.  Open the door of your heart to Jesus now.  “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us” (Matthew 25:10,11)

Heavenly Father, I pray for all those who have never given their heart to Jesus.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus.  For those who have given their heart to Jesus, but not their time, their talents and their life, I pray they will open the door of their heart wider to our Saviour.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

March 6, 2017

OUR CANE OF LIFE

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

Psalms 37:24 KJV

I walk with a cane.  Something could happen and I could fall even while using my cane.  However with Jesus Who is our cane of life, we will never fall.  When I walk, I look down at the ground in case there are rocks or something that would trip me.  In life, we need to look up to Jesus, our cane of life.

Joanne Lowe

March 5, 2017

A PRAYER OF LAUGHTER AND SONG

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”

Psalms 126:2 KJV

When I went to bed Thursday night my heart was so filled with love and gratitude because of all God has done for me, I couldn’t pray.  All I could do was laugh and sing aloud.  I just kept saying over and over “I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit”.  I felt God’s arms of love go around me.

It doesn’t matter how many dark valleys and crises we have in our life, our Heavenly Father will hold us close to His loving heart and protect us.  There have been several times when He has picked me up, held me close to His loving heart and dried my tears with tender kisses of love and compassion.

Our heart should be so filled with gratitude to God and love for Him that we laugh and sing when we pray.  Does that mean that we will always be happy and singing?  No, because we are still in the flesh and satan will always attack us with doubts and discouragement.  However, God is always with us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many times You have picked me up, comforted me and dried my tears with kisses of love.  I pray for all those who are lonely, hurting, discouraged and feel like giving up.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 4, 2017

KEEP LEANING

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV

Evangelist John Stallings wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn “Learning To Lean”.  It is one of my favorite hymns.  I love these words.  “I'm learning to lean, learning to lean, Learning to lean on Jesus; Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed; I'm learning to lean on Jesus.”  We need to keep leaning on Him.

A mother and dad were teaching their young boy how to walk.  They told the little child not to let go of their hands or he would fall.  The little boy got excited and he let go of their hands and he fell and started crying.  His parents picked him up, kissed him and said “It’s okay.  We’ll be here to pick you up when you fall.”

Just as the parents were there to pick their little boy up, Jesus picks us up when we stumble and fall.  Jesus has told us that we can’t do anything without Him.  “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John:15:5).

Are you leaning on Jesus?  If not, start leaning on Him.  Not only will you be able to do the things you want to do, you will also make Jesus happy.  Making Jesus happy should be the goal of every Christian.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world!  All hail, King Jesus!

Joanne Lowe

March 3, 2017

OUR HOPE

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

1 Thessalonians 1:3 KJV

Evangelist Daniel Webster Whittle wrote “The Hope of The Coming of The Lord”.  I love these words in this hymn.  “Blessèd hope, blessèd hope, Blessèd hope of the coming of the Lord; How the aching heart it cheers, How it glistens through our tears, Blessèd hope of the coming of the Lord.”

One happy joyous day Jesus is coming back for us and there will be no more sorrow, crying or pain.  We read in the Bible.  “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).

We shout for our favorite sports team but no shout will ever equal the shout that Jesus will give when He comes back for us.  As much as we long to see Jesus, He longs to see us more.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

If you are discouraged and feel like giving up, stay on the battlefield for Jesus.  He stayed on the battlefield for us and He also allowed them to crucify Him on a cross of horror and suffered anguish and pain that you and I will never know.  O how Jesus loves you and me.

Are you ready to meet Jesus?  You may be saved but is your heart right with God?  We don’t know when Jesus is coming back for us and we need to be ready.  On August 14, 1980, I invited Jesus into my heart and I’m ready to meet Him.

Joanne Lowe

March 2, 2017

HE IS WATCHING US

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”

Matthew 10:29 KJV

Civilla D. Martin wrote the beautiful hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”.  If His eye is on the sparrow, then we know He is watching us.  God not only watches us, He also protects us from danger and from those who would attack us.  We have a loving, tender and compassionate Heavenly Father.

Someone made the comment “What I do in my own house is nobody’s business but mine”.  That is not a true statement.  Everything we say or do and everywhere we go is God’s business.  We can’t hide from God because He sees everything we do and He sees everywhere we go.

Are we hurting Him and breaking His heart because of the things we say and do and the places where we go?  We should never do anything on purpose that would hurt Him.  However, we are still in the flesh and at times we will fail and hurt Him but when we do Jesus intercedes for us with our Heavenly Father.

We read in the Bible.  “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1).  I am so glad that we have a loving Saviour Who loves us so much that He intercedes for us when we do things we shouldn’t do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You watch us and protect us from danger.  Please forgive us for the times when we say things and do things and go places that hurt You.  Jesus, thank You for interceding for us and for never leaving us, not even for a minute.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

March 1, 2017