OUR CAPTAIN

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

2 Timothy 2:3,4 KJV

H. Ernest Nichol wrote “The Victorious Army”.  “We’ve enlisted in the cause victorious Of the everlasting Lord; We are marching in the ranks all glorious, Resplendent with the shield and sword. Christ is our captain, Christ our might, So we fight, seeking right; Christ is leading us to light In the all victorious army.”

We are either serving Jesus or we are serving satan.  There is no middle ground.  Every one of us has to choose if we serve Jesus or if we will serve satan.  After all that our precious Saviour has done for us, He deserves to be the One we choose to serve.  We read in the Bible.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Sundar Singh wrote one of my favorite hymns “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”.  Have you decided to follow Jesus?  If not, you are hurting Him and breaking His heart.  If you’re not serving Jesus, I urge you to shut off the television, get out of your comfort zone and serve the One Who died for your sins.

Joanne Lowe

December 31, 2018

GIVE ME JESUS

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 KJV

George Beverly Shea wrote the beautiful heart touching hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus”.  The words in this hymn describe the desire of my heart.  “I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.”

I have had the privilege of being saved since I invited Jesus into my heart to be my personal Saviour on August 14, 1980.  I can honestly say that even though I have gone through many dark valleys and crises and have been criticized and ridiculed for writing devotions, my heart’s desire is to keep serving Jesus.

Pastor William C. Martin wrote another one of my favorite hymns “The Name of Jesus Is So Sweet”.  The words in this hymn are inspiring and beautiful.  “I love the name of Him whose heart Knows all my griefs, and bears a part; Who bids all anxious fears depart - I love the name of Jesus.”

Do you know my precious Saviour?  I didn’t ask if you are saved.  I asked if you know Him.  We can be saved and not know Him just as we can have parents but not really know them.  To know someone, you have to spend time with the person.  How much time do you spend with Jesus?  He should be first in our heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  Please put a hunger in our heart to spend time with Jesus.  I pray You will encourage every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

December 30, 2018

OUR ENCOURAGER

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

Colossians 3:11 KJV

Will L. Thompson wrote one of my favorite hymns “Jesus Is All the World to Me”.  “Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go, No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my friend.”

I have many wonderful friends that I love very much and I thank God for them.  However, only Jesus can heal a broken heart.  I have lost track of the many times that Jesus has encouraged me when I felt like giving up, going to bed and staying there.  He put His loving arms around me and helped me go on.

It doesn’t matter how many dark valleys that we have to go through, Jesus is with us and He will help us and encourage us.  He will pick us up in His loving arms and carry us until the pain goes away and He will be faithful to set us once again on the mountain top of happiness.  O how Jesus loves you!

Jesus understands how it feels to be discouraged and weary.  He walked many miles for us when He was here on His mission.  I’m sure He felt all alone at times.  When He asked them to watch while He prayed, they fell asleep.  How that must have hurt Him and broke His heart.

We read in the Bible.  “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40).  Let’s encourage Jesus by being faithful to serve Him.

Joanne Lowe

December 29, 2018

IT WAS FOR US

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

1 Timothy 2:5,6 KJV

Pastor Isaac Watts wrote the beautiful hymn “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”.  The words in this hymn are true.  “Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!”  It was for our sins Jesus died.  Think about it.  He died for your sins and mine.

Alexander B. McLeod wrote “For Me He Died”.  “For me those wounds He bore, For me He knew this pain, The thorny crown He wore, That with Him I might reign.”  O how much our precious Saviour loves us.  If you are reading this, Jesus loves you and He loves you unconditionally.

Gordon Jensen wrote one of my favorite hymns “I Should Have Been Crucified”.  The words in this hymn are so true.  “Crown of thorns, the spear in His side, And all the pain should have been mine. Those rusty nails were meant for me, But Jesus took them, and let me go free!”  What love He showed us.

It should have been us who died on the cross but only Jesus could have paid the price because He had never sinned.  Do you understand yet how much Jesus loves you and how much pain and agony He endured for you?  He was beaten beyond recognition, cursed, spat on and crucified for you and for me.

Joanne Lowe

December 28, 2018

GRACE

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

James 4:6 KJV

Annie J. Flint wrote the beautiful hymn “He Giveth More Grace”.  I love these words because they are true.  “He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.”

One of the definitions I found in Webster’s Dictionary for grace is “Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.”  Our loving Heavenly Father is a compassionate Father and He gives us grace because He loves us unconditionally.

Julia H. Johnston wrote another one of my favorite hymns “Grace Greater than Our Sin”.  “Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!”  Yes, God’s love and grace for us is greater than all our sin.

Do we deserve God’s grace?  No, it is because He loves us that He opened His heart of compassion and sent His beloved Son to die for our sins.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a tender loving forgiving Father.  I love You so much.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus.  Thank You, dear Father, for all the times You have comforted and encouraged me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

December 27, 2018

IT REALLY IS

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

Leila N. Morris wrote “Sweeter As The Years Go By”  “He healed the broken hearted, and caused the blind to see; And still His great heart yearneth in love for even me. Sweeter as the years go by, sweeter as the years go by, Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus' love is sweeter, Sweeter as the years go by.”

What an amazing unconditional love Jesus has for you and for me.  It really is sweeter as the years go by.  I love Jesus so much and just when I think I couldn’t love Him more, He does something so wonderful it brings tears of happiness to my eyes.  What a precious Saviour we have!

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the beautiful hymn “I Could Never Out love the Lord”.  It is so true.  We could never love Jesus more than He loves us.  Not only does Jesus give us unconditional love; He is unconditional love.  If someone asks you who Jesus is, tell them He is Love.

Do you realize what a privilege it is to be loved by the Saviour of the world?  He loves us so much He left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins.  He had never sinned, yet He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him.

If you ever think nobody loves you, remember the cross.  No one ever loved you like Jesus loves you and no one ever will.  His love is unconditional and never ending.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever!

Joanne Lowe

December 26, 2018

FREEDOM

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

John 8:36 KJV

Pastor Haldor Lillenas wrote a beautiful hymn “Glorious Freedom”.  I love these words in this heart touching and inspiring hymn.  “Freedom from fear with all of its torments; Freedom from care with all of its pain; Freedom in Christ, my blessèd Redeemer— He who has rent my fetters in twain.”

Today is Christmas and as we celebrate the birthday of our precious Saviour, let us give Him our heart and all of our time as a gift just as He gave us all of His time and His life for us on the cross when He died for our sins.  The Baby Jesus grew up and gave His life for our sins.  O how Jesus loves you.

Don’t forget to read your Bible out loud about the birth of Jesus when you get up and before you open your gifts.  The best gift you can give Jesus is your heart, your life and all of your time.  Please join me in singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

As we sing this song to Jesus, let us remember that it is because of His sacrifice for us on the cross that we can be born again into God’s family.  “Happy Birthday to You.  Happy Birthday to You.  Happy Birthday, dear Jesus.  Happy Birthday to You.”

I used to sing this song when I was younger in Sunday school.  “Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday to you.  Born again means salvation.  How many have you?”  Have you been born again into God’s family through the cleansing redeeming blood of Jesus?

Joanne Lowe

December 25, 2018