THE PEACE OF GOD

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

Psalms 29:11 KJV

Rev. Warren D. Cornell wrote one of my favorite hymns “Wonderful Peace”.  “Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray In fathomless billows of love!”  There is nothing like the peace of God.  Only God can give us real peace.

We are living in a world that is filled with hatred and violence. We need peace in our homes, in our schools and in our country.  However, we will never have real peace in our country until we stop all this fighting and violence.  We point the finger of guilt at politicians and at the president. 

However the Bible makes it very clear that it is Christians who need to repent.  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

If we say we are a child of God then we need to act like we are His child.  Our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally even when we do things to hurt Him and we should 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).  Can we honestly say we love one another unconditionally as He loves us?  If not, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.

Joanne Lowe

October 31, 2018

ONLY JESUS

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

John 8:36 KJV

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the beautiful hymn “I’m Free”.  I love these words.  “So long I had searched for life’s meaning, Enslaved by the world and my greed; Then the door of the prison was opened by love, For the ransom was paid, I was freed.”  The words in this hymn describe my life.

“I’m free from the fear of tomorrow; I’m free from the guilt of the past; For I’ve traded my shackles for a glorious song; I’m free, praise the Lord, free at last!”  I went through a devastating crippling depression for over forty years and really believed nobody loved me and I didn’t have  a right to live.

Then one happy day, Jesus came to me as I was lying under a bed in a mental hospital.  He put His arms of compassion around me and lifted me up from under that bed.  He told me that He loves me and would never leave me.  He has kept His Word.  He has never left me, not even for a minute.

I love Jesus with all my heart.  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I’m living.  Please join me in praising the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  All hail, King Jesus!  One day I will see Him face to face.  How I long for that day.  I am going to hug Him and tell Him I love Him.

Joanne Lowe

October 30, 2018

KEEP MARCHING

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:16 KJV

Evangelist Daniel W. Whittle wrote the hymn “The Banner of the Cross”.  “Marching on, marching on, For Christ count everything but loss! And to crown Him king, we’ll toil and sing, ’Neath the banner of the cross!”  We must keep marching for Jesus no matter how many obstacles satan puts in our path.

“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).

Don’t give up.  Keep marching for Jesus.  Stay in the battle for right just as He stayed on the cross for us.  What a privilege it is to march for Jesus and stay on the battlefield for Him.  We have a tender compassionate Saviour Who loves us unconditionally.  He is the Joy of my heart.

Joanne Lowe
October 29, 2018

GOD’S GRACE

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:20, 21 KJV

Julia H. Johnston wrote one of my favorite hymns “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”.  I love these words.  “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.”

When I read or heard about something terrible that someone had done, I used to think that the person was terrible and deserved to be punished.  One day God spoke to my heart and reminded me that I deserved to go to hell because of my sins but because His Son died on the cross for my sins, I was forgiven.

Yes, people must be punished when they do something wrong but we also need to pray for that person so the person will know that God still loves and forgives when we sin.  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If you will make sure your own heart is right before God, you won’t have time to judge others."

May God have mercy on us and forgive us for judging others.  It is time we start praying instead of judging.  We need to love one another unconditionally just as Jesus loves us.  Remember, Jesus died for everybody in the world.  He loves all of us equally and it hurts Him when we don’t love one another.

Joanne Lowe

October 28, 2018

ARE WE FOLLOWING

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

Psalms 32:8 KJV

If we will follow Jesus, our Guide, we will always go where He wants us to go.  Pastor Alfred Henry Ackley wrote a beautiful hymn “Take Up Thy Cross”  “Take up thy cross and follow Me.  I hear the blessèd Savior call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice, When Jesus gave His all?”

Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth, die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins.  If Jesus loves us so much that He did all this for us, we should be willing to follow Him and serve Him with our heart and all of our time.  Are we willing to follow Him even if it is inconvenient for us?

Joanne Lowe

October 27, 2018

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS

“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 KJV

Pastor Daniel Forbes Lockerby wrote the beautiful hymn “Happiness Complete”.  “Oh, this is happiness complete: To fall at Jesus’ feet, And at the blood-stained mercy seat The loving Christ to meet.”  People search for happiness in the world’s pleasures but it is only when we are with Jesus we are happy.

You will never find happiness in drugs, in alcohol or in sex.  It is only when we are in the presence of Jesus that we find true happiness.  If we spend more time watching television than we do with Jesus, we are hurting Him and breaking His heart.  Let’s stop hurting Jesus and make Him happy.

Joanne Lowe

October 25, 2018

STOP IT

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.    For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”

Matthew 7:1-5 KJV

If we will listen with our heart, we might hear God saying to us “Stop it” because there are times when we judge others.  We read in the Bible.  “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

It’s a lot easier to point the finger of guilt at others than it is to point it at ourselves, isn’t it?  Jesus doesn’t condemn us so we shouldn’t condemn each other.  “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). 

May God help us to love one another unconditionally and pray for one another instead of judging and pointing the finger of guilt at someone.  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If we will keep our heart in right standing with God, we won’t have the time to judge others.  Let’s start loving instead of judging.

Joanne Lowe

October 23, 2018

OUR FAITHFUL SAVIOUR

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Matthew 28:20 KJV

Charles Johnson wrote a beautiful hymn about our faithful Saviour “I Can't Even Walk”.  The words in this hymn are so true and I know they are true from personal experience.  I had pain for thirty six hours that I had never had before and it is only because Jesus  held my hand that I made it through the pain. 

“I Can't Even Walk Lord I can't even walk without you holding my hand I thought that number one would surely be me I thought I would be what I wanted to be I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand but I can't even walk without you holding my hand.”  Jesus is faithful and we can depend on Him.

Joanne Lowe

October 19, 2018

THE 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, He is also the Light of love in a world filled with hatred and violence.  No matter how many valleys and heartaches we have in our life, Jesus is with us to comfort us.  O how Jesus loves you.  If you are hurting, tell Jesus.  He will pick you up and carry you through the valley.

We know Jesus loves us but do we love Him?  Are we serving Him full time or just when it is convenient for us?  May God help us to serve Jesus with all of our heart, all of our time and all of our talents.  Have you hugged someone for Jesus today?  Many people are hurting and need to know Jesus loves them.

Joanne Lowe

October 18, 2018

OUR LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

“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

Philip P. Bliss wrote the beautiful hymn “The Light of the World Is Jesus”.  I love these words.  “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin, The Light of the world is Jesus!  Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in; The Light of the world is Jesus!”  Even when it is dark outside, His Light shines in our heart.

If you are going through dark valleys and crises and you are discouraged, allow Jesus to shine His light brighter in your heart.  Never forget that Jesus loves you so much that He died for you.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  He is not only our Light, He is also our Friend.

Joanne Lowe

October 17, 2018

HIS ARMS ARE OPEN

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

If you are discouraged, lonely, hurting, brokenhearted and feel like giving up run into the open arms of Jesus.  He will pick you up and carry you through all the dark valleys in your life.  He longs to give you rest.  O how Jesus loves you.  You are very precious to Him.  What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Joanne Lowe

October 13, 2018

THE STRIPES OF LOVE

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

1 Peter 2:21-24 KJV

The stripes on Jesus’ back when He was crucified for our sins are stripes of love for you and for me.  Every time they beat Him while He was hanging on the cross was His way of telling us that He loves us unconditionally.  What a Saviour!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  Jesus loves you very much.

Joanne Lowe

October 11, 2018

BECAUSE OF JESUS

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV

I heard someone say “It is because of me that this person is saved”.    I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that is a lie straight from the pits of hell.  It is because of Jesus that we are saved, because of the pain and the agony that He suffered for our sins on the cross.

How it must hurt Jesus and break His heart when we try to take credit for someone being saved.  It also hurts our Heavenly Father because not only was the heart of Jesus broken when He was crucified; the heart of God was also broken.  May God have mercy on us for trying to take credit for someone’s salvation.

Joanne Lowe

October 9, 2018

LOVE THEM

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:13,14 KJV

There are many children who not only think their parents don’t love them, they are afraid of their parents.  A little boy once told me he was afraid to go home because he was afraid his parents would beat him.  Jesus loves children and He is very protective of them.  It is very important we love our children.

It’s not only important we love them; we must also show them by our actions that we love them.  We may not have the money to buy a lot of things for our children but we can give them love, unconditional love just as Jesus gives to us.  May God help us to show our children we love them by our words and actions.

Joanne Lowe

October 5, 2018

HE STILL CARES

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

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Have you ever felt like nobody cares when you are discouraged and hurting?  I know from personal experience that Jesus cares about us.  When we feel like giving up, we need to remember that He still cares when we are hurting.  It doesn’t matter if we believe it or not, He still cares.

Joanne Lowe

October 3, 2018

IT CAN BE

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:11 KJV

Someone said “I wish every day was Christmas.”  We don’t celebrate the birth of Jesus every day but we can give the gift of love every day.  It can be the celebration of Christmas every day in our heart if we will love one another unconditionally.  When we love one another, we are also loving Jesus every day.

Joanne Lowe

October 2, 2018

HE DOESN’T FORGET US

“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

There are children who are forgotten and left in hot cars and sometimes they die.  Jesus never forgets us when we are going through crises and dark valleys.  He not only never forgets us, He never leaves us or forsakes us.  We may feel all alone but we’re not because we have a dependable Saviour.

Joanne Lowe

October 1, 2018