NO MORE TIME

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the beautiful heart touching and inspiring hymn “The King Is Coming”.  If I had to choose of all the hymns I love, I would say this is my favorite hymn because one day the King is coming.   When Jesus comes back for us, we won’t have any more time to get our heart right with God.

We won’t have any more time to ask our family or the people we have hurt to forgive us or to tell the people we love how much we love them and appreciate them.  May God help us to realize the importance of being ready because Jesus can come back for us even while you are reading this devotion.

Have you told your parents and children how much you love them today?  It doesn’t matter how old our parents are or if our children are married, it is important that we let them know how much we love them and appreciate them.  Have we told our parents we appreciate all the sacrifices they have made for us?

Most important of all, is our heart right with God or have we allowed bitterness, unforgiveness, criticism and sarcasm to remain in our heart?  When He looks in our heart, is He pleased with the things in our heart or do they hurt Him and break His heart?  Each one of us needs to search our heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and for Jesus.  I pray for all who are hurting.  Please encourage and comfort them.  I love You, dear Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe

March 31, 2017

WHY DO WE DO IT

“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.”

1 Peter 5:8, 9 KJV

Jesus has warned us to be on the alert for the sneaky and vicious attacks of satan yet we are not always watching for his poisonous attacks.  I have written about it in some of my devotions yet I still don’t do it.  Why do we do it?  Why do we take off eyes off Jesus and put them on the things of the world?

We read in the Bible.  “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  We must keep our eyes on Jesus morning, noon and night.

Helen Howarth Lemmel wrote one of my favorite hymns about our precious Saviour “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”.  I love these words.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”  Again, we must keep our eyes on Him.

I receive emails from people who tell me how wonderful I am for writing devotions.  I appreciate those emails because all of us, including me, need to be encouraged.  However, don’t look to me or to your pastor or Sunday school teacher.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and Him alone because He will never fail you.

If you have been looking to alcohol, drugs or sex for happiness, you will never find it.  Look to Jesus for your happiness.

Joanne Lowe

March 30, 2017

PRAISE HIM FROM OUR HEART

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32 KJV

What is the truth?  The truth is that our precious Saviour loves us so much that He left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die for our sins.  What kind of love is this?  It is an amazing unconditional love that can only come from the heart of Jesus.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by Jesus.

Franklin Hunter wrote “Raise His Praise”.  “Sing His praise and like a clarion, Loud and long retain the sound. For ‘tis through His great salvation, That we are no longer bound. Sin no more can have dominion, In His death He set us free; Shout this message to the nations, “Jesus Christ brings liberty.”

We sing praises to Him but are we singing and praising Him from our heart?  Are we thinking about Him when we sing or are we thinking about the roast we left in the oven and wondering if we will get home in time to shut the oven off?  How it must hurt Jesus and break His heart if we aren’t singing from our heart.

Years ago, I saw a choir singing on television and nobody was smiling yet they were singing about our precious Saviour.  When we sing praises to Jesus, we should have smiles on our face and joy in our heart.  He died for our sins on the cross.  How can we not rejoice and smile after all He has done for us?

Joanne Lowe

March 29, 2017

YES OUR SAVIOUR CARES

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Do you ever feel like nobody cares about you?  I felt that way for many years until the day Jesus told me He loves me.  There are times when we get discouraged and feel like going to bed and staying there.  We don’t know how we can keep doing what we need to do.  We can’t go on but Jesus can help us go on.

We read in the Bible.  “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).  Jesus wants us to have a happy and an abundant life.  To have a happy and an abundant life, we need to let Jesus help us.

Many times we try to do things and then wonder why we fail.  We read in the Bible.  “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).  We can’t do anything without Jesus.  We need Him.

If you are discouraged and feel like giving up, tell Jesus.  Allow Him to help you.  He will pick you up and carry you through the dark valleys until the pain goes away and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  If you want to have real joy, stay in the presence of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone who is lonely and hurting, discouraged and heartbroken.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  Thank You, dear Father.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 28, 2017

ARE WE OBEYING HIM

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

1 Samuel 15:22 KJV

There are people who will give a lot of money to charities and other good causes but these same people aren’t serving Jesus.  God is not impressed with the money we give because it all belongs to Him anyway.  The thing that makes our Heavenly Father happy is for us to serve His Son.

We read in the Bible.  “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).  If we haven’t answered the call of Jesus to go for Him, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.  If you aren’t serving Him, are you willing to serve Him?

After all that Jesus has done for us, we should be willing and eager to serve Him.  Think about it.  Jesus, the Saviour of the world, left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins so we can be saved and go to Heaven.  Will you answer His call to serve Him?

Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked, rejected and tortured.  He endured more ridicule, agony and excruciating pain than anyone has ever endured or ever will.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  All hail King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  Praise Him with me. 

Joanne Lowe

March 27, 2017

HAVE WE CROWNED HIM

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”

Revelation 19:12 KJV

Matthew Bridges wrote one of my favorite hymns “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.  “Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side, Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.”

We sing this hymn but have we done it?  Have we crowned Him the Lord of our heart, of our life and all of our time?  Have we given Him first place in our heart?  If ever someone deserves to have first place in our heart, it is Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

If you have never crowned Jesus the Lord of your heart and life, I urge you to do it today.  O how I love Jesus.  He is the joy of my heart and praise God, one day I will see Him face to face.  Hug someone for Jesus today.  You may not be comfortable hugging people but you can hug them with loving words.

Joanne Lowe

March 26, 2017

JESUS GOT INVOLVED

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 KJV

A professor who was teaching medical students said “Don’t get involved with your patients”.  Jesus, the greatest Physician of all, gets involved with people.  “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,” (John 11:35).

Christians are to care about people and not only pray for them but also encourage and comfort them as God comforts us.  “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).

If we want to become encouragers and comforters to one another then we are going to have to shut off the television and get out of our comfort zone and serve the One Who loves us so much He died for us.  May God help us to live so that others will always see Jesus in our smiles and hear Him in what we say.

Joanne Lowe

March 25, 2017

OUR RISEN SAVIOUR

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Matthew 28:5, 6 KJV

Mary Artemesia Lathbury wrote a beautiful inspiring hymn about our precious Saviour “Easter Carol”.  I love these words.  “Ring, all ye bells of Easter, Your chimes of joy again, Ring out the night of sadness Ring in the morn of gladness, For death no more shall reign, For death no more shall reign.”

Easter is next month and we will celebrate our Saviour rising from the dead.  However, every day of the year should be filled with happiness and rejoicing because Jesus is still living.  We serve a risen Saviour Who loves us so much He died for us.  Are you shouting with joy yet?  What a precious Saviour!

Sometimes we act like Jesus didn’t rise from the dead.  We have frowns instead of smiles.  We can’t smile all the time but if we have invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour, we should rejoice every day and shout with joy.  One day Jesus is coming back for us with a shout of joy.  How I long for that day.

Heavenly Father, You love us so much You gave Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  Thank You for loving us unconditionally.  Please forgive us for the times when we hurt You.  Jesus, You are so precious and I love You.  Thank You for dying for me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 24, 2017

HIS LIGHT OF LOVE

“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 KJV

Not only is Jesus the light of the world and the light of life, He also puts His light of love in our heart.  When people attack us and say cruel and hateful words to us, Jesus shines His light of love brighter in our heart.  O how Jesus loves you and me.  It hurts Him when people hurt us and say hateful words to us.

Jesus wants us to have a happy and 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 have a loving Saviour Who really cares about us.  Thank God for the Light of love in our heart.   

Joanne Lowe

March 23, 2017

ARE WE LISTENING

“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

I Samuel 3:10 KJV

Emily May Grimes Crawford wrote a hymn about listening “The Quiet Hour”.  “Speak, Lord, in the stillness While I wait on Thee; Hushed my heart to listen, In expectancy.”  We will not be able to hear God speaking to us if we have the volume on the television turned up high of if we have the radio blaring.

Are we listening to God when He speaks to us or are we thinking about our schedules and the things we need to do?  If we are too busy to listen to God, we are too busy and we need to rearrange our schedules.  Our Heavenly Father listens to us when we ask Him for something or tell Him something.

How dare you and I ask our Heavenly Father to do things for us if we aren’t willing to listen to Him and then do what He asks us to do?  God does not pull our strings and make us do anything.  We have the choice to listen to Him and obey Him or do what we want to do.  Again, are we listening to God when He speaks?

Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times when we are too busy to listen or we are playing the television and the radio so loud we can’t hear You talking to us.  Plant in our heart the desire to spend more time with You and to rearrange our schedules so we will have more time with You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

March 22, 2017

HIS SMILE

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

Psalms 17:15 KJV

Frances Jane Crosby wrote the hymn “My Savior First of All”.  I love these words.  “When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide, When the bright and glorious morning I shall see; I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side, And His smile will be the first to welcome me.”

What a joyous and happy day it will be when we see our Saviour smiling at us.  Think about it.  We will be with Jesus for all eternity.  There will be no more death, no more crying, no more hatred and war and no more running to hide from people wanting to beat us and hurt us.

Someone said “When I was growing up, I was afraid of my dad and I had to run and hide from him when he was drunk because he would beat me”.  We have a tender loving compassionate Heavenly Father Who loves us unconditionally and we never have to be afraid of Him or run and hide from Him.

Heavenly Father, what a precious loving Father You are.  Thank You for loving us unconditionally.  It is a healing balm to our weary battle scarred heart to know we never have to be afraid of You.  I pray You will comfort and encourage everyone who is hurting and discouraged.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 21, 2017

WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV

Pastor Neil Barham wrote the hymn “Choose the Living Way”.  Every one of us has to make a choice.  We can either choose satan which is death or we can choose Jesus and live.  We are not puppets.  God does not pull our strings and make us choose Jesus.  What do you choose, satan and death or Jesus and life?

Are we serving Jesus?  If not, we are serving satan.  After all that Jesus has done for us, He deserves to have all our time, our talents, our devotion and love.  Does Jesus have first place in our heart, in our life and in everything we do?  If not, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.

May God help us to put Jesus first in everything we do.  If we watch television more than we spend time with Jesus, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.  Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and be tortured and crucified for our sins.  If you aren’t serving Him, start today. 

Joanne Lowe

March 20, 2017

CAN THEY SEE OUR SAVIOUR

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 8:29 KJV

Leila Naylor Morris wrote the hymn “Can the World See Jesus in You”.  This is a question every Christian needs to ask himself or herself.  Can they see our Saviour in us?  Do they hear His unconditional love for them in what we say and do they see Him in our actions?  We can fool others but we can’t fool Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

March 19, 2017

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN US

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

John 19:30 KJV

Evangelist Gorden Jensen wrote a heart touching hymn about our precious Saviour “I Should Have Been Crucified”.  How true it is that it should have been us that were crucified.  Jesus had never sinned, had never done anything wrong yet He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and died for our sins.

We should thank Jesus every day for His unconditional love for us and for all He has done for us and for all He does for us every day.  He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!  He is the great I AM.  Please join me in praising our precious Saviour.  If ever someone deserves praise, it is Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

March 18, 2017

HE CARES FOR US

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

 1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Rev. Virgil Prentiss Brock wrote the beautiful hymn “He Careth for Me”.  For those of you who are on my mailing list, you know I love hymns.  I love these words in this hymn.  “Tho’ storms and tempests may break o’er my soul, He careth for me; Safely I’m kept under Jesus’ control, He careth for me.”

Yes, He cares for us.  He cares and loves us so much that He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him on the cross for our sins.  Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked and rejected yet He loves us so much that He stayed on the cross for us.

Never forget that Jesus loves you.  Yes, I’m writing to you.  Our precious Saviour endured all that agony because He loves you so much.  What kind of love is this?  It is an amazing unconditional love that only comes from the heart of Jesus.  If you ever think nobody loves you, remember the cross.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  Jesus, You are so precious to me and I love You with all my heart.  How I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  I am going to give You a big hug.  Thank You for loving me and dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 17, 2017

STORMS OF HATRED AND FEAR

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Revelation 22:2 KJV

Rev. Josiah Kelly Alwood wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Unclouded Day”  I love these words.  “O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies, O they tell me of a home far away; O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise, O they tell me of an unclouded day.”

We have many storms in our life, storms of hatred and fear, but praise God, one day there will be no more storms because we will be in Heaven with Jesus for all eternity.  Children won’t have to run and hide because their parents beat them.  There will be no more rapes, no more murders and no more hatred.

Do you realize how much how much our Heavenly Father loves you?  He loves you so much He gave His Son to die on the cross for your sins so you may have the privilege of being saved and living in Heaven for eternity.  O how God loves you!  We have a tender loving compassionate Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, how I love You.  Thank You for all You have done for me and for all You do for me every day.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  Thank You for the privilege of serving Jesus.  I love You, Jesus.  Thank You for dying for my sins.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe

March 16, 2017

PRAISE HIM

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 KJV

E. F. Miller wrote the beautiful hymn “O Wonderful Savior”.  These words in this hymn touch my heart.  “Yes, He came to give life to the dying, To heal all the broken in heart; And He promised a home where’s no sighing, And loved ones shall ne’er again part.”  O how I love Jesus!  He is so precious to me.

For those of us who have lost loved ones, to know that we will be reunited with them fills our heart with gladness.  Jesus not only heals us physically, He also heals our broken heart.  When we think we can’t give another smile or take another step, He picks us up and carries us until the pain goes away.

What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!  How He loves you.  He loves you so much He allowed them to beat Him beyond recognition, curse Him and crucify Him on the cross for your sins.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and no one ever will.  He longs to comfort and encourage you.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all those who are hurting.  Please let them know how much You love them and comfort and encourage them.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and thank You for giving me the privilege of serving Jesus.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 15, 2017

OUR COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING FRIEND

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15 KJV

Evangelist Isham Emmanuel Reynolds wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus, our compassionate and loving Friend “Jesus Is The Friend You Need”.  I love these words.  “Jesus is the Friend you need, Such a Friend is He indeed; He Who noteth ev’ry tear, He will banish ev’ry fear, Jesus is the Friend you need.”

I have many wonderful friends but none of them can do what Jesus does for me.  My friends have to go home but Jesus stays with me.  I gave my heart to Jesus on August 14, 1980 and He has never left me, not even for one minute.  I have lost count of the many times He has encouraged and comforted me.

Yes, Jesus is our Friend and He has proved to us how much He loves us.  What about us?  Are we His friend?  Jesus has told us how to be His friend.  “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).  Are we doing what He has commanded us to do to?  Are we making Him happy?

Jesus has commanded us to love one another unconditionally.  Loving one another unconditionally is not an option, it is a commandment “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).  Do we love others unconditionally?

Joanne Lowe

March 14, 2017

HE IS THE WAY

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:6 KJV

The way to joy, peace and happiness is not through alcohol, drugs or sex; it is through Jesus because He is the way to real joy, peace and happiness.  There are many people who turn to sex, alcohol, drugs and all other things that hurt Jesus and break His heart trying to find happiness.

Real happiness in only found in Jesus.  Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote the beautiful hymn “Happiness Is The Lord”. “Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor, Having a change in my behavior--Happiness is the Lord,  Do people see a change in our behavior?

My heart’s desire is to make Jesus happy.  He has done so much for me and has been so faithful to me.  He has never left me, not even for one minute.  There have been many times when I couldn’t give another smile or take another step and Jesus picked me up and carried me through the dark valleys.

Just as Jesus carries me through dark valleys, He will carry you through dark valleys.  We have a compassionate Saviour Who really cares about us.  “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).

I love Jesus so much.  He is the reason I live, the Joy of my heart and the reason I get out of bed.  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!  Please join me in praising the One Who loves us so much He allowed them to crucify Him for our sins.

Joanne Lowe

March 13, 2017

GOD’S FAMILY

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:26 KJV

I read a news story about two sisters that had been separated when they were born.  They searched for years and finally found one another and were reunited.  Every person who has accepted Jesus as personal Saviour is a member of God’s family and one day we will see each other in Heaven.

Are you a member of God’s family?  If not, I urge you to open the door of your heart and invite Jesus in to be your personal Saviour.  “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).  Let’s be encouragers and pray for each other in God’s family.

Joanne Lowe

March 12, 2017

OUR LOVING FRIEND

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

 John 15:14 KJV

Pastor Haldor Lillenas wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “My Wonderful Friend”.  Not only is Jesus our Saviour, He is also our dearest Friend.  “When sorrows and pain are my portion, When tears of bereavement must fall, My Savior, my Friend, my Companion, Will comfort and keep through it all.”

I have many friends who I love but only Jesus stays with me every minute.  Jesus has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Not only is Jesus our best Friend, we can depend on Him and trust Him.  Can Jesus depend on us and trust us to spread His love to everyone?

Are we a loving friend to Jesus?  Does He know we love Him?  What are we doing to prove to Him we love Him?  Jesus gave His life for us.  What have we given to Him?  May God help us to prove to Jesus how much we love Him by our service to Him.  Are you serving Jesus?  If not, why aren’t you serving Him?

Joanne Lowe

March 11, 2017

DO THEY MISS US

“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

A pastor said “We should live lives that are so special that even when we leave a room we’re missed”.  Do they miss us when we leave a room?  O that you and I would glorify our Father by our kindness and love to one another.  Are we making our Father happy or are we hurting Him and breaking His heart?

What about our family?  Do they miss us when we leave a room?  Many parents have said “I can’t wait until the summer is over and the children go back to school”.  I wonder how many children can’t wait to go back to school because of the yelling, cursing and fighting in their house.

Many years ago, a little boy told me that he was afraid to go home because he was afraid of being yelled at, cursed and beaten.  How that must have broke the heart of our precious Saviour when that little boy said that about his parents.  That boy doesn’t live in a home, he lives is a house.

Home is where loves lives and a house is where people live.  What about our home?   Is it filled with love or is it just a house?  May God help us to live so others will see and hear the unconditional love of Jesus in us in the things we do and the things we say.  Do our children say they miss us when we leave a room?

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times when we hurt one another.  Help us to live so others will always see Jesus in our smiles, in our actions and hear His love for them in our words.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

March 10, 2017

HIS PRECIOUS FACE

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

One joyous day Jesus is coming back for us and we will see His precious face.  Think about it.  We will have the privilege of seeing the One Who loves us so much He died for us.  There is no joy to equal the joy that comes by being in the presence of Jesus.  Are you shouting for joy yet?

We read in the Bible.  “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalms 16:11).  Not only is there joy in the presence of Jesus, we also have happiness when we know Him.  You may be saved but do you know Jesus?

Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote one of my favorite hymns about Jesus “Happiness Is The Lord”.  “Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor, Having a change in my behavior-- Happiness is the Lord,”  To really know someone, we have to spend a lot of time with the person. 

How much time do we spend with Jesus?  If we spend more time watching television than we do with Jesus, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.  After all that our precious Saviour has done for us, He deserves to have first place in our heart, in our life and in our time.  Does He have first place?  

Joanne Lowe

March 9, 2017

HE WILL NEVER FAIL US

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV

There are times when we fail each other but it is always safe to trust Jesus because He will never fail us.  Arthur A. Luther wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “Jesus Never Fails”.  These words touch my heart.  “Tho' the sky be dark and drear, Fierce and strong the gale, Just remember He is near, And He will not fail.”

It doesn’t matter how many times we have to go through dark valleys because Jesus will always be with us (Hebrews 13:5).  While it hurts us and breaks our heart when others fail us, what is even worse is when we hurt and fail Jesus.  He will always love us but we should do all we can do to make Him happy.

Are we failing Jesus?  Do we love others unconditionally as He has commanded us to love them or are we hurting Jesus and breaking His heart?  Can we honestly say we love everyone unconditionally all the time as Jesus loves us?  It doesn’t matter how many times we fail and hurt Jesus, He still loves us.

O that we will follow the examples Jesus has set for us and love others as He has commanded us to love them.  We can’t do it in our own strength; we need Jesus to help us.  When people hurt us and break our heart, let’s remember there are times we hurt Jesus and break His heart but He loves us and always will.    

Joanne Lowe

March 8, 2017

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