WE MUST KEEP MARCHING

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV

Pastor Sabine Baring-Gould wrote “Onward, Christian Soldiers”.  I love these words in this inspiring hymn.  “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle see His banners go!”

We must keep marching for Jesus no matter how many times satan lies to us and tries to defeat us.  It makes satan very angry when we serve Jesus and satan will do all he can do to discourage us.  However, we must always remember that Jesus won the victory when He died on the cross for our sins.

One of my pastors said in a sermon “If you never have any problems, you probably aren’t serving Jesus”.  I know from personal experience that when we are serving Jesus, we can expect to get discouraged even to the point where we feel like giving up but we must never give up.

Jesus didn’t give up when He was here on His mission and He had a lot more ridicule and obstacles than we will ever have.  Jesus understands when we grow weary and feel like giving up but He does not condemn us.  He just picks us up and carries us through every dark valley.  What a precious loving Saviour!

Heavenly Father, help us to keep going when satan attacks us.  May we always be loyal soldiers marching for Jesus.  Please encourage every pastor.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 19, 2017

OUR PILOT

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

Mark 4:38,39 KJV

Pastor Edward Hopper wrote a beautiful. inspiring and heart touching hymn “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me”.  “Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me.”

Life is full of danger and we need Jesus Who is our Pilot to keep us safe.  We can depend on Jesus to protect us and lead us.  May God help us to trust Jesus, lean on Him and allow Him to keep us safe from the dangers that are waiting for us.  Thank God for our Pilot Who loves us so much He died for us.

Joanne Lowe

November 18, 2017

I’M STILL HERE

“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 KJV

Have you ever been so discouraged that you felt like giving up and going to bed and staying there?  I have and then I heard our precious Saviour say “I’m still here”.  It doesn’t matter how many lies and vicious attacks satan hurls at us, we can depend on Jesus to understand and carry us through them.

Jesus understands how we feel because when He was here on earth, He was ridiculed, rejected, cursed and betrayed.  When our heart is breaking and the tears start to fall, not only will He wipe our tears away with tender kisses, He will also pick us up and carry us through the dark valley until the pain goes away.

This is why it is so important, even urgent, that we encourage one another.  The person who says he or she doesn’t need anybody is not being truthful.  Even our loving Saviour needed encouragement.  “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).

If Jesus needed encouragement, how much more we need to be encouraged and to be an encouragement to one another.  Also, we need to encourage our pastors.  I think we sometimes forget they get tired and discouraged just like we do.  If you have a pastor who loves Jesus like I do, thank God for your pastor.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone who is discouraged, please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

November 17, 2017

THE GREATEST INTERIOR DECORATOR

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

My home is filled with beautiful things because my sister gave them to me.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed with how good and loving my sister has been to me.  She not only decorated my home, she has also helped me through some very difficult times.  I love my sister very much and thank God for her.

However, Jesus is the greatest Interior Decorator.  He not only died on the cross for our sins, He also gives us a new heart when we accept Him as our personal Saviour.  When I got out of the hospital, I hated everyone and didn’t trust anybody.  I’m so glad Jesus has given me a heart of compassion for others.

Have you allowed Jesus to take away your stony heart and give you a heart filled with love and compassion for others?  If not, I urge you to give your heart and life to Jesus today.  He loves you so much He died on the cross for your sins and allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition so you can be saved.

Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family.  I pray for everyone who has never accepted Jesus as personal Saviour.  May today be the day they humble themselves and say yes to Jesus.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 16, 2017

NO MORE BILLS

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

Revelation 21:23 KJV

My light bill has gone up twenty dollars every month for the last four months.  I use more electricity than I used to use because I have to have more lights on because of my cataracts.  One day, there will be no more bills because Jesus will be the Light.  Jesus is also the Light of the world.

We read in the Bible.  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  If you want to have light in this world of sin and darkness, follow Jesus.  He will take the darkness away.

Heavenly Father, You are a compassionate tender loving Father and I love You so much.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Your Son.  I pray for all who are discouraged, lonely and hurting.  Please comfort them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 15, 2017

ARE WE DOING IT

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 KJV

Anna Belle Russell wrote the hymn “Be a Ray of Sunshine”.  “Be a ray of sunshine everywhere you go, Shining for the Savior with a steady glow; Bringing smiles to sad ones, wiping tears away, Make yourself a blessing every passing day.”  Are we doing it?  Are we shining for Jesus?

Heavenly Father, please help us to shine for Jesus and lead others to Him.  I pray for every person who is discouraged, lonely and hurting, please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  Thank You for the privilege of serving Your Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 14, 2017

OUR GREAT COMMANDER

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:3 KJV

Did we remember our great Commander on Veterans Day?  Elijah Taylor Cassel wrote the hymn “Loyalty to Christ”  “On to victory! On to victory! Cries our great commander, On! We’ll move at His command, We’ll soon possess the land, Through loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.”

When Jesus was here on His mission that His Father sent Him on, even though He was rejected, He never gave up.  He kept going even when He was ridiculed, cursed, beaten, spat on, mocked and finally hung on a cross of torture for you and for me.  O how He loves you and me!

Jesus could have given up.  He could have come down from the cross.  All the nails in the world couldn’t have kept Him on the cross but He stayed on the cross and died for our sins because He loves us.  Not only did He stay on the cross and die for our sins, He also forgave us while the blood ran down His body.

We read in the Bible.  “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).  We serve our great Commander Who loves us so much He was willing to die for our sins even though He had never done anything wrong.  Are you serving Him?

If not, why aren’t you serving Him?  When we serve Him, we have to shut off the television, get out of our comfort zones and tell everyone we see that Jesus loves them.  You may have been a Christian for many years.  You may be a pastor or a Sunday school teacher but do you know Jesus loves you?

Joanne Lowe

November 13, 2017