TOO MANY TO COUNT

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.”

John 11:33-35 KJV

If we would try to count all the tears Jesus has shed for us, it would be impossible to count them because there would be too many to count.  We have a tender loving compassionate Saviour.  He rejoices with us when we are happy and He weeps with us when we are hurting and sad.

“Jesus wept” describes the heart of our precious Saviour.  Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you so much He willingly left His Father, His home and all rat He had knowing that He was going to die and be tortured more than anyone had ever been or ever will be?

Jesus allowed them to abuse and torture Him because He loves you so much.  I have said this many times and I will continue to say it until God calls me home “Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will”.  O how I love Jesus.  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I’m living.

Joanne Lowe

January 31, 2018

HIS BEAUTY

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV

Do people see the beauty of Jesus in us?  They either see the beauty of Jesus in us or they see the ugliness of satan in us.  May God help us to be a lighthouse for Jesus in our actions and in our words.

Joanne Lowe

January 30, 2018

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN US

“Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”

John 19:18 KJV

Jesus, Who had never done anything wrong, was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, ridiculed and died on  the cross for our sins.  It should have been us hanging on the  cross.  What an amazing compassionate and unconditional love Jesus has for you and for me  O how I love Jesus!  Thank God for the love Jesus has for you and for me.

Joanne Lowe

January 29, 2018

OUR FIRST STEP

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

Deuteronomy 23:27 KJV

When we take our first step as little children, our parents have their arms open to catch us if we start to fall.  Just as our parents are there to catch us so our Heavenly Father is with us to catch us if we start to fall when we step out in faith to serve Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many times You have kept me from falling when satan attacked me.  You are a tender compassionate Father and I love You and appreciate You.  Please comfort and encourage all who are discouraged.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 28, 2018

HE STILL LOVES US

“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

Even when we fail God and hurt Him, He still loves us.  Knowing that He always loves us should make us want to do things and say things that make Him happy.  Let’s make a special effort to make our Heavenly Father happy today.

Joanne Lowe
January 27, 2018

ARE WE READY

“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 KJV

One happy day Jesus is coming back for us.  Are we ready to meet Him?  How it would break the heart of our precious Saviour  if we aren’t ready to meet Him.  We need to make sure that our heart is in right standing with God.  When God looks in your heart, does it make Him happy or does it make Him sad?

Joanne Lowe

January 26, 2018

GOD STILL LOVES YOU

“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

No matter how many times we fail God and hurt Him, He is a compassionate loving Father and He still loves you.  O how God loves you!

Joanne Lowe

January 25, 2018

HE IS STILL ABLE

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”

Daniel 3:17 KJV

William Augustine Ogden wrote the beautiful hymn “He is Able to Deliver Thee” It was true when he wrote this hymn and it’s true today.  God is still able to deliver us from danger and from the snares of satan.  What a tender loving Heavenly Father we have.  He loves us so much He gave Jesus to die for our sins.

Heavenly Father, how I love You!  Thank You for loving me and for adopting me into Your family.  How I appreciate the fact that You will never hit me, curse me or tell me I am no good.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Your beloved Son.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 24, 2018

FOREVER

“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

It doesn’t matter how many times we fail Jesus and hurt Him, He will love us forever.  What a loving compassionate Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  O how I love Jesus.  He is the Joy of my heart and my happiness.

Joanne Lowe

January 23, 2018

A BATTLEFIELD

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

John 19:32-34 KJV

Jesus fought and died for us on a battlefield.  However, it wasn’t a battlefield like our soldiers fight on.  It was a battlefield of love.  Jesus loved the ones who beat Him and crucified Him.  It was the bloodiest battle that has ever been fought.  He was ridiculed and beaten beyond recognition and cursed. 

If that wasn’t enough humiliation, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear.  I believe with all my heart that when the soldier pierced the side of Jesus that He also felt that excruciating pain in His heart.  O how He loves you and me!  No one loves us like Jesus loves us.

Jesus left His Father and His home to come to earth to die for us.  He knew that He was going to die an agonizing death but He willingly came to earth on the mission His Father had given Him.  Would you send your son to war knowing in advance that he was going to be killed?  Of course you wouldn’t, but God did.

Heavenly Father, thank You that one day You opened Your heart of compassion and unconditional love to us and sent Your beloved Son to die for our sins.  We are not worthy of such love but through the redeeming blood of Your Son we can come to You.  We love You, dear Father.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 22, 2018

OUR COMPASSIONATE SAVIOUR

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

1 Timothy 1:9 KJV

Fanny Crosby wrote the beautiful hymn “Calling for You”.  “Oh, come to the Savior, His arms are extended,  Oh, come to the Savior so loving and true; Behold, He is calling in tender compassion, O brother, the Savior is calling for you.”  Open your heart to the Saviour today.  He is waiting for you.

Joanne Lowe

January 21, 2018

IT DOES MATTER

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”

Genesis 3:17 KJV

Someone said “It doesn’t matter what I do.  It’s nobody’s business but mine”.  It does matter what we do because our actions and words affect other people just as Adam’s actions affected others.  May God help us to say kind words and to do things that make God happy.

Joanne Lowe

January 20, 2018

HE IS STILL ALIVE

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Matthew 28:6 KJV

Philip Paul Bliss wrote a beautiful hymn about the resurrection of Jesus “Hallelujah, He is Risen!”.  I love these words.  “Hallelujah, He is risen! Jesus is gone up on high! Burst the bars of death asunder, Angels shout and men reply: He is risen, He is risen, Living now no more to die. He is risen, He is risen, Living now no more to die.”

Jesus rose from the dead and He is still alive.  Yet, many times we act like He isn’t alive and can’t help us.  Jesus wants us 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).

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for giving Your beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus, I love You so much.  Thank You for dying for my sins and for never leaving me.  Heavenly Father, I pray You will comfort and encourage all who are hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 19, 2018

PARENTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.   Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)”

Ephesians 6:1,2 KJV

I think we sometimes forget that parents have feelings too just like we do.  We expect our parents to always be here for us but how many times do we encourage our parents and show them we love them by our actions and by our obedience to them?

Even more important, how often do we show our Heavenly Father how much we love Him by the things we say and the things we do?  Have we told Him today how much we love Him and appreciate Him?  Let’s make a special effort to make our Heavenly Father happy by our obedience to Him. 

Joanne Lowe

January 18, 2018

ENCOURAGE THEM

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:15 KJV

I think we don’t realize that pastors need encouragement just like we do or we sometimes forget it.  We not only need to pray for our pastors, we also need to encourage them.  Pastors have feelings just like we do.  When is the last time you told your pastor how much you appreciate the sacrifices made for you?

Pastors, please stay on the battlefield for Jesus. Don’t give up!  Never forget that Jesus understands how you feel because He was ridiculed, cursed, spat on, beaten beyond recognition and left alone to die on a cross of horror and torture for your sins and for my sins

When you are discouraged, pastors, and feel all alone, tell Jesus. He will pick you up in His loving compassionate arms and carry you through the dark valleys and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  O how Jesus loves you, pastors, and appreciates your service to Him.

Joanne Lowe

January 17, 2018

SOMETIMES WE FORGET

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Luke 23:33 KJV

Dottie Rambo wrote the beautiful hymn “Remind Me, Dear Lord”.  “Roll back the curtain of memory now and then,  show me where you brought me from and where I could have been, oh remember I’m human and humans forget, so remind me remind me dear lord.”

I think sometimes we forget all that Jesus has done for us.  May God help us to always be thankful for the sacrifices Jesus has made for us.  We have a compassionate and tender loving Saviour Who loves us so much He died for us.  Thank God for Jesus and the blood that He shed for us on the cross.

Joanne Lowe

January 16, 2018

TODAY

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Matthew 24:44 KJV

If Jesus comes back for us today, are you ready to meet Him?  Is your heart in right standing with God?  Have you forgiven the ones who have hurt you and have you asked the ones you have hurt to forgive you?   How heartbreaking it will be if we aren’t ready to meet Jesus when He comes back for us.

Joanne Lowe

January 15, 2018

OUR COMPASSIONATE HEAVENLY FATHER

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:17 KJV

Heavenly Father, thank You for being compassionate and for loving us even when we disappoint You.  I pray for all who are discouraged.  Please encourage and comfort them.  Thank You for caring about us and for loving us  unconditionally.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 14, 2018

OUR LIGHT

“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

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Light of Jesus not only in the world but also in our heart.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 13, 2018

WORDS OF LOVE

“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

God not only tells us He loves us, He also proved He loves us when He gave His beloved Son to die for our sins on the cross.  What a healing balm it is to our weary battle scarred heart to know that God loves us.

Joanne Lowe

January 12, 2018

THE LIGHT OF OUR HEART

“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

I have cataracts and I can barely see to type this devotion so please forgive me if I made mistakes.  How wonderful it is to know that when we follow Jesus, we walk in His light and not in the darkness of the world.  O how I love Jesus!

Joanne Lowe

January 11, 2018

JESUS IS CALLING

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV

Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn “Calling for You”.  “Oh, come to the Savior, His arms are extended, Oh, come to the Savior so loving and true; Behold, He is calling in tender compassion, O brother, the Savior is calling for you.”  Jesus is calling us to come to Him.  He longs to comfort us.

When Jesus was here on His mission, He was ridiculed, cursed, beaten, spat on and left alone to die on a cross of horror and torture so He knows how we feel when we get discouraged and feel like giving up.  I’m sure He felt like giving up many times but He didn’t give up.

Heavenly Father, You are a compassionate Father.  When satan lies to us and tries to discourage us, please help us to keep serving Jesus.  Help us to stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the battlefield for us.  Please encourage and comfort all who are hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen. 

Joanne Lowe

January 10, 2018

OUR PRECIOUS 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

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt wrote the hymn “The Precious Friend”.  “Jesus is the precious Friend, Brightening life’s changeful story; To His Name be all the glory, He will guide me and defend; Joy, joy, happy songs ascend; He will comfort me in sadness, Fill my heart with peace and gladness, Jesus is my precious Friend.”

Yes, Jesus is our precious Friend.  What a privilege is ours to not only be loved by the Saviour of the world but also to have Him as our Friend.  I have many friends who I love but only Jesus fills my heart to overflowing with joy and happiness.  One day, I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  I pray for everyone who is discouraged, lonely and heartbroken.  Please encourage and comfort them as You have done for me so many times.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 9, 2018

JESUS CARES

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

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Pastor Frank Ellsworth Graeff wrote the beautiful hymn “Does Jesus Care”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”

There have been several times that I have felt Jesus sitting beside my bedside and holding my hand when I couldn’t sleep as He said to me “I love you, Joanne, and I will never leave you”.  What a privilege is ours to be loved by the Saviour of the world.  Yes, Jesus does care when you are discouraged.

Pastor Graeff who wrote this beautiful inspiring hymn was known as the “Sunshine Minister,” for his optimistic attitude. His sunny disposition and simple faith made him a special friend of children, but he was an encouragement to everyone who knew him.  Do we care when others are hurting and discouraged?

Are we like Pastor Graeff an encouragement to people?  More important, are we an encouragement to Jesus?  Remember, when we are kind and loving to others, we are being kind and loving to Jesus and when we hurt others by the words we say and the things we do, we are also hurting Jesus (Matthew 25:40).

Heavenly Father, please search my heart and if there is anything that hurts You, I’m sorry.  Please forgive me and help me to be an encouragement to Jesus and to others.  Don’t let me say anything that will hurt people.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 8, 2018

EVERYONE IS INVITED

“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.”

John 21:12 KJV

Many years ago, I took a gift to a friend but when I got there someone took the gift and said “I’ll give this to her but only certain people have been invited to the party”.  It broke my heart but there is good news.  Everyone is invited to dine with Jesus.  What a privilege to dine with Jesus.

Pastor Charles Brenton Widmeyer wrote the hymn “Come and Dine”.  I love these words.  “Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”; You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine, To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”

If you’re hungry, allow our precious Saviour to fill your heart with His compassion, tenderness, acceptance, understanding and unconditional love.  Never forget He loves you so much He died for you.  He paid the price for our sins that we could never have paid.  O what a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe

January 7, 2018

THE WARMTH OF HIS LOVE

“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

It has been very cold the last few days.  I don’t remember ever being this cold before but even though it’s almost unbearably cold, my heart is warm because I know Jesus loves me and will never leave me.  If you’re cold, allow Jesus to put His arms of compassion and love around you and your heart will be warm.

Joanne Lowe

January 6, 2018

WHY

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

A pastor used this illustration in his sermon “A man memorized the entire Bible, taught Sunday school and sang in the choir and everyone thought how wonderful he was but this same man went home and beat his wife”.  We are not to read the Bible to impress people with our knowledge.

We are to read the Bible so we can make God happy and also know what He wants us to do.  Have you ever gone to the mailbox expecting to get a letter that you didn’t get?  The Bible is God’s love letter to us and we can read it anytime.   Reading the Bible will help keep us from sinning.

Pastor Ernest Orlando Sellors wrote the hymn “Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart”.  “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, A light to my path alway, To guide and to save me from sin, And show me the heav’nly way.”  Not only will reading the Bible keep us from sinning, it will also make our Heavenly Father happy.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love letter to us.  I pray that we will read Your love letter with thankfulness in our heart for Your compassionate and unconditional love for us.  I love You, Heavenly Father and I appreciate all You have done for me.  Please encourage every pastor.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 5, 2018

JESUS IS WAITING

“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 KJV

Jesus called me to be a missionary on October 4, 1998.  At the end of the service during the invitation time, I surrendered to be a missionary.  Pastor David prayed a beautiful prayer for me and told me not to wait until I knew what God wanted me to do but to start telling people Jesus loves them.

Jesus doesn’t call everyone to go to a different country but He does call everyone to serve Him right where we live.  Have you answered the call to serve Him?  Jesus is waiting for everyone to surrender their heart and life to Him.  Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and serve the One Who loves you?

Mary Haughton Brown wrote “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go”.  We sing this hymn of surrender but do we really mean it?  Have you surrendered your heart and your life to Jesus?  If not, why haven’t you?  Jesus left His home, His Father and all He had to come to earth for us.  Will you say yes to Jesus today? 

Joanne Lowe

January 4, 2018

HIS NAME

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 KJV

Lela B. Long wrote one of my favorite hymns “Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know”.  The words in this beautiful hymn are so true.  “Jesus is the sweetest name I know, And He’s just the same as His lovely name, And that’s the reason why I love Him so; Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.”

What a privilege is ours to be loved by Jesus.  I have a family that I love dearly and I have many wonderful friends who I love but there are no words to describe how precious Jesus is to me and how much I love Him.  Squire Parsons wrote a heart touching hymn about Jesus “He Came To Me”.

“He came to me when I was bound in chains of my sin Oh, He came to me when I possessed no hope within He picked me up and drew me gently to His side Where today in His sweet love I now abide.” Jesus really cares about us and He proved His love for us when He died on the cross for us.  O how I love Jesus!

I wandered in the darkness of a crippling depression for many years and I really had no hope but one happy day Jesus put His arms around me and told me He loves me and He tells me every day He loves me.  If you will listen with your heart, you will hear Jesus say “I love you”.  What a precious Saviour!

Joanne Lowe

January 3, 2018

REAL HAPPINESS

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

John 13:17 KJV

Pastor Ira F. Stanphill wrote the beautiful and inspiring hymn “Happiness Is The Lord”.  I love these words.  “Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor, Having a change in my behavior--Happiness is the Lord.”  Are we living a life within His favor?  Have we had a change in our behavior?

One of my pastors used an illustration about happiness in one of his sermons. He said “If you want to fly higher than a kite, start serving Jesus”.  I have had the privilege of serving Jesus full time since January 24, 2005 and many times I have felt like I was flying higher than a kite.

Does this mean I am happy all the time?  No, because satan does his best to discourage me so much I will stop serving Jesus.  When we are serving Jesus, it makes satan very angry and he will do all he can do to discourage us but we must stay on the battlefield for Jesus just as He stayed on the cross for us.

Heavenly Father, please help us to stay on the battlefield for Jesus no matter how many times satan lies to us or hurls darts at us.  Jesus, thank You for not only dying on the cross for my sins, but also for staying on the cross when You could have come down.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

January 2, 2018

OBEDIENCE AND FRIENDSHIP

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

John 15:14 KJV

Instead of making resolutions to do things this year, let’s make this a year of obedience and friendship.  Let’s make a resolution to do what Jesus tells us to do.  Jesus said that we are His friends if we do whatsoever He commands us to do.  Are we doing what He commands us to do?  Are we His friends?

Joanne Lowe

January 1, 2018