HAVE WE FORGIVEN

“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Mark 11:26 KJV

How dare you and I go to a Holy God and ask Him to forgive us for hurting Him if we haven’t forgiven those who have hurt us?  I think we sometimes forget that none of us are perfect.  All of us fail and hurt Him at times.  There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus.

I have received email from people who tell me how wonderful it is that I write devotions.  I really appreciate those encouraging emails because all of us need encouragement.  However, I am just a sinner saved by grace.  I still lose my temper and have to ask Jesus to help me keep my mouth shut.

My Mother used to say to me “Joanne, if you don’t have anything good to say, keep your big mouth shut”.  It used to hurt me and bring tears to my eyes when she said that but Mom was right.  We can tell people we’re sorry for hurting them but the cruel words we say can never be taken back.

We might as well take a knife and plunge it deep into someone’s heart because we are breaking his or her heart into little pieces by our cruel and hateful words.  May God help us to only say kind and encouraging words to people instead of saying things that hurt them and make them cry.

Heavenly Father, You are a tender compassionate and forgiving Father.  Please help us to love one another unconditionally and forgive others as You love and forgive us.  Thank You for being a loving and caring Father.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 31, 2016

GET BACK UP

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Colossians 1:14 KJV

When someone is learning to ride a horse and he or she falls off, the instructor tells the person to get back up on the horse.  It is the same with Christians.  When satan attacks us and we hurt Jesus without meaning to do so, we are to immediately ask God to forgive us and get back on the battlefield for Jesus.

Nothing would make satan any happier than if he could discourage us so much that we stop serving Jesus.  We must not let that happen!  We must stay on the battlefield for Jesus.  If Jesus had given up when He was abused, beaten, rejected and scorned, we would not have a home in Heaven.

Yes, Jesus understands how we feel when satan attacks us with lies, temptation and discouragement.  It is not a sin to be tempted.  It is only a sin when we give in to the temptation.  Jesus was tempted and He never sinned.  He did not give in to temptation (Matthew 4:1).  He will help us when we are tempted.

Joanne Lowe

July 30, 2016

PEACE JOY AND HAPPINESS FOREVER

“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 4:17 KJV

One happy day when Jesus comes back for us to take us to Heaven, we will have peace, joy and happiness forever.  There will be no more abuse and children won’t have to run and hide because they are afraid.  How I long for the day when I will see my precious Saviour face to face.

Someone said “What I do in my own house is my own business”.  That is not a true statement.  Everything we do or say is God’s business and He can see behind closed doors and He can hear behind closed doors.  How sad it is that people hurt our beloved Heavenly Father on purpose.

Heavenly Father, there are times when I have failed You and hurt You and I am so sorry.  Please forgive me.  Help me to bring You happiness instead of hurting You and making You sad.  Thank You for loving me unconditionally and for adopting me into Your family.  I love You, dear Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 29, 2016

JESUS IS THE ANSWER

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

Matthew 11:28 KJV

Jesus is the answer to all of our heartaches and problems.  No matter how many times satan attacks us, Jesus is with us to defend us and protect us from satan’s lies.  The answer to life’s problems can’t be found in drugs, in alcohol or in sex.  Only Jesus can help us.  He will protect us and give us rest.

Joanne Lowe

July 28, 2016

NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Luke 12:7 KJV

Have you ever felt all alone and that nobody cares about you?  God cares about you because you are of more value than many sparrows.  He cares when you’re sad and hurting.  Our Heavenly Father loves you very much and He will comfort you and encourage you if you will only share your heart with Him.

We read in the Bible.  “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” (2 Corinthians 1:3).  The next time you feel like nobody cares about you, remember God not only comforts you, He also loves you so much He gave His beloved Son to die for your sins.

Joanne Lowe

July 27, 2016

GOD KNOWS

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”

 1 Timothy 1:17 KJV

I heard an illustration on the radio yesterday that touched my heart.  “A man was going on a trip but he got lost.  He looked at the map but was still confused.  He called his sister and his sister gave the phone to her husband and he looked at his map and gave directions.”

Even after the man’s brother-in-law looked at the map and gave him directions, the man said “That doesn’t sound right.  Are you sure those directions are right?”  I wonder how many times when God tells us where to go that we ask Him “Are You sure those are the right directions”?

God knows everything.  He looks in His heart and gives us directions for our life.  We can trust Him because He knows the end of our life from the beginning of our life.  If we will allow Him to lead us and then follow His directions, we will have a happier and a more productive life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for caring about us and for leading us down the path You want us to go.  If we have been going the way we want to go, please forgive us.  You are a tender compassionate and loving Father.  I love You and appreciate all You have done for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

July 26, 2016

JESUS CARES

“And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

Mark 1:40,41 KJV

Just as Jesus cared about the leper, He cares about you.  Jesus cares when you are sick and He also cares when you are discouraged and lonely.  He not only heals us physically, He also heals us emotionally.  Jesus has felt every emotion we feel and He understands and He longs to heal you.

Not only does Jesus care about us, our Heavenly Father also cares about us.  He is our Comforter.  “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 1:4).

Jesus not only cares about you and wants to heal you; He also wants you to be happy and to have an abundant 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” (John 10:10).

We know how much Jesus loves us and wants us to be happy.  He proved His love for us when He died on the cross for our sins.  The question every Christian needs to answer is how much do I love Jesus and what am I willing to do for Him?  Are we willing to spread His unconditional love to everyone we see?

Joanne Lowe

July 25, 2016