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