HIS FAITHFULNESS

“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22, 23

King James Version

Pastor Thomas Obadiah Chisholm wrote one of my favorite hymns “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.  I love these words in this beautiful hymn. “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.”

We know that God is faithful to us.  He proves His faithfulness to us every day but how faithful are we to Him?  When we pray and ask Him to forgive us for something, He is faithful to forgive us.  We read in the Bible.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

When God speaks to our heart and tells us to do something, do we do it then or do we wait to do it at a time that is convenient for us?  I believe we hurt our Heavenly Father because we don’t always tell people of the unconditional love of Jesus.  There are people who need to know that Jesus loves them and that He loves them unconditionally.

Are you serving Jesus?  If not, why aren’t you?  Jesus left His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth on His mission and die on the cross for our sins.  To serve Jesus, we have to shut off the television, and get out of our comfort zone.  How sad it would be if Jesus comes back for us and we haven’t told anyone that day that Jesus loves them.  It is time that we are faithful to Him just as He is faithful to us.

Heavenly Father, please plant a desire deep in our heart to get out of our comfort zone and tell people of the unconditional love of Jesus for them.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please encourage them and let them know how much You love them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 30, 2019

ONLY LOVE

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31

King James Version

James Rowe wrote one of my favorite hymns “Love Lifted Me”.  I love these words.  “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.”

All we have to do is ask Jesus to help us and He will help us.  So many times we try to do things by ourselves and then wonder why we fail.  We fail because we need Jesus.  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).

Only the love of Jesus can help us when we are going through a dark valley.  We can trust Jesus to help us because what He says, He will do.  He has promised that He will never leave 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).

If you are discouraged and feel like giving up, allow Jesus to help you.  He will be faithful to pick you up in His loving arms and carry you until the pain goes away and He will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness.  Jesus loves you so much He died for you.

Yes, only the unconditional love of Jesus can help us when we are hurting.  If you are reading this devotion, know that Jesus loves you unconditionally.  There is nothing you can do that would make Him stop loving you.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever.

Joanne Lowe

June 29, 2019

ARE YOU A PART

“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

King James Version

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Family Of God”.  I love the words in this beautiful hymn.  “I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God- I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, the family of God.”

Several years ago, I heard a pastor say “I preached for many years but I wasn’t saved until the day I asked God to forgive me for my sins and asked Jesus into my heart”.  It doesn’t matter if we preach, if we sing, if we play the piano or organ or if we teach Sunday school, if the blood of Jesus hasn’t been applied to our heart for the forgiveness of our sins, we are not saved and we are not on our way to Heaven.

Are you a part of the family of God?  It doesn’t matter if you live in a big home, drive an expensive car, have a lot of money, or belong to a country club, if you haven’t asked God to forgive you for your sins and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you will not go to Heaven.  Your family and friends can’t do it for you.  Salvation is personal between you and Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every man, for every woman, for every boy and girl who has not confessed their sins and invited Jesus into their heart.  Please soften their heart so they will say “yes” to Jesus before it is too late.  There are many people who are lonely and feel like nobody cares about them.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  Thank You, dear Father, for giving me the privilege of serving Your beloved Son.  I love You so much.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 28, 2019

NO MORE

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

King James Version

Hattie Bronson wrote a beautiful hymn “The Beautiful Shore”.  I love these words.  “There will be no more parting From those that we love, No more sighing, or shedding of tears, For no discords shall ruffle That peaceful repose, Which flows thro’ eternity’s years.”  There will be no more tears or parting from our loved ones.

Jim Hill wrote the beautiful inspiring hymn “What A Day That Will Be”.  The words in this hymn bring tears of happiness to my eyes.  “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”

I don’t think any of us, including me, realize what a privilege it is going to be to see Jesus.  It is a privilege just to say His precious Name.  Carrie E. Breck wrote the heart touching and inspiring hymn “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  “Face to face—oh, blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.”

Think about it.  We will never have to say goodbye and we will be reunited with our loved ones.  There will be no more tears, no more pain, no sorrow or crying and God Himself is going to wipe the tears from our eyes and I believe He is going to wipe the tears from our eyes with tender compassionate kisses.

If you’re going through a dark valley, know that Jesus will be faithful to pick you up and carry you until the pain goes away and will set you once again on the mountain top of happiness if you will ask Him to help you.  Jesus is a faithful, tender compassionate Saviour and He will never leave you, not even for a minute.

There are so many people who are hurting and desperately need to be encouraged.  It is very important and urgent that we are encouragers to one another.  We don’t know what is in a person’s heart, only Jesus can see into our heart.  We only know what they tell us.  We need to be encouragers to our family, our pastor, our friends and all we see.

There may come a time when you need to be encouraged.  The person who says he or she does not need anyone is not being truthful.  All of us need to be encouraged.  If we don’t encourage one another, it is doubtful that we will be encouraged.  It is so true “you get back what you give out”.  Are you encouraging your family, your pastor and your loved ones?

Joanne Lowe

June 27, 2019

WHY

“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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

King James Version

Cordelia J. Bridgewater wrote a hymn about Heaven “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be”.  “We read of a place that’s called Heaven, It’s made for the pure and the free; These truths in God’s word He has given, How beautiful Heaven must be.”  Why is Heaven going to be so wonderful and beautiful?  The reason is because Jesus is going to be there and we will be with Him for all eternity.

What a day of happiness and joy it will be when we have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  Carrie E. Breck wrote the beautiful hymn “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  I love these words.  “What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.”

I have a wonderful sister who I dearly love.  I dearly love my Pastor and my best friend, Judye, but the love I have for them is nothing compared to the love I have for my precious Saviour.  I am going to have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  I feel like I am going to explode with happiness.  Jim Hill wrote the beautiful inspiring hymn “What A Day That Will Be”.

“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”  Think about it.  We are going to see Jesus face to face.

Do you know Jesus?  I didn’t ask if you are saved, I asked if you know Him.  To know someone, you have to spend time with the person.  How much time do you give Jesus?  Our precious Saviour should have first place in our heart, in our time and in everything we do.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus.  I love You, dear Father, and I appreciate all You have done for me.  I love You, Jesus.  Thank You for dying for my sins.  How I long for the day when I will see You face to face.  Holy Spirit, I love You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 26, 2019

TESTIMONY

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”

Psalms 107:1, 2

King James Version

Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn “Tell It with Joy”.  The words in this hymn touch my heart.  “Tell it with joy, tell it with joy; Wonderful, wonderful story! I was lost till mercy Gently came down from Heav’n: Tell it with joy, tell it with joy; Now I am happy in Jesus;”

The Bible instructs us to “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so”.  Are we saying so?  When it is testimony time at church, do we stand up and give our testimony?  How we must hurt Jesus and break His heart after all that He has done for us when we don’t tell how wonderful He is and what He has done for us.

The Bill Gaither Trio sings “Get All Excited”.  “You talk about people, you talk about things that really aren't important at all, you talk about weather, you talk about problems we have here at home and abroad But friend I'm excited about a solution for the world I'm going to shout and sing, Jesus Christ is still the king of kings.”

Why is it when we are with our friends and family we will talk about everything and everyone but never praise Jesus and tell what He has done for us?  It is time that we start praising Jesus and telling everyone we see what a loving wonderful Saviour we have.  Our children are watching us and listening to us to see if we really love Jesus.

A teenage boy said to his parents when they came home from church.  “You go to church, you sing in the choir, you teach Sunday school but when you come home, you criticize the pastor and the sermon.  If that is what being a Christian is, I don’t want any part of it.”  What kind of an example are we setting for our children?

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for not telling everyone we see how wonderful Jesus is and all that He has done for us.  How it must hurt You and break Your heart to see the way we treat Your Son.  I pray that You will plant within our heart the desire to praise Jesus for all He has done for us.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 25, 2019

HE NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:3-6

King James Version

Rev. Frederick A. Graves wrote a beautiful hymn about the love of our Saviour “He Was Nailed to the Cross for Me”.  The words in this hymn bring tears to my eyes.  “He was nailed to the cross for me, He was nailed to the cross for me; On the cross crucified for me He died; He was nailed to the cross for me.”

Think about it.  Jesus had never did anything wrong yet He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and there allowed them to crucify Him on the cross for your sins and for my sins.  There is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you and for me.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.

Marvin P. Dalton wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “O What a Savior”.  “O what a Savior, O hallelujah! His heart was broken on Calvary, His hands were nail scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life-blood for even me.”  I don’t think any of us, including me, know how much our precious Saviour loves us.  Think about it.  He had never done anything wrong yet He willingly walked that long lonely road to Calvary and allowed them to crucify Him on a cross of torture.

Marvin P Dalton wrote what I believe to be the greatest hymn ever written “Oh What a Savior”.  “O what a Savior

O Hallelujah His heart was broken On Calvary His hands were nail scared His side was riven He gave His life’s blood for even me.”  We talk a lot about the physical pain Jesus endured but we seldom talk about His heart that was broken on Calvary.

I believe every time they pounded a nail into the hands of our Saviour that He felt that pain in His heart.  We read in the Bible.  “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Yes, He never did anything wrong yet He still died for us so that we may be saved and go to Heaven when we die.  How I love Jesus!  He is the Joy of my heart, the reason I’m living and the reason I get out of bed in the morning.  Without Jesus, life is not worth living.  Without Jesus, we aren’t living, we just exist.

Please join me in praising the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  All hail, King Jesus!  Lift up your voice and praise the One Who loves you so much He died for you.

Joanne Lowe

June 24, 2019

PLEASE LET HIM IN

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20

King James Version

Pastor Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote the hymn “Hear Him Knocking”.  These words bring tears to my eyes.  “A hand all bruised and bleeding Is knocking at the door, Is knocking at the door of your heart; It is the hand of Jesus, Who long has knocked before, Though oft you have told Him to depart.”

For some of you, Jesus has been knocking at the door of your heart for years and you have refused to let Him come into your heart.  Please let Him come in to your heart.  Don’t keep Him standing at the door of your heart any longer.  He died for your sins on the cross so you can be saved.  Please don’t keep rejecting Him.

Not only does He knock to come into our heart, He also calls us to serve Him.  “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).  Jesus is calling every one of us to serve Him.  Have you answered His call to you?  He may not call us to go to another country but He calls every one of us to serve Him right where we are.

Mary Brown wrote the beautiful hymn “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go”.  “It may not be on the mountain’s height, Or over the stormy sea; It may not be at the battle’s front My Lord will have need of me; But if by a still, small voice He calls To paths I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine, I’ll go where You want me to go.”

Have you told Jesus that you will go where He wants you to go?  We don’t have to go to another country to serve Jesus.  We can serve Him right where we live.  There are people who desperately need to be encouraged and know that someone cares.  When is the last time you hugged someone for Jesus?  You may not be comfortable hugging someone but you can hug them with your words.

We read in the Bible.  “They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved” (Isaiah 41:6,7).

Have you encouraged someone today?  Remember, when we are kind and loving to people, we are being kind and loving to Jesus and when we are not kind and loving to people, we are not kind and loving to Jesus.  We read in the Bible.  “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Have you made Jesus happy today?  He loves you so much He died for you.  Answer the call of Jesus today and be an encourager knowing when you are loving people and encouraging them you are also loving Jesus and encouraging Him.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  Please join me in praising the One Who loves you so much He died for you.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all who are lonely, discouraged, suicidal and hurting.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  Help us to encourage one another because it makes Jesus happy when we encourage each other.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 23, 2019

ADOPTED

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”

Psalms 27:10

King James Version

Our verse for this devotion has been a comfort to me many times.  For many years I believed my Mom and Dad didn’t love me and didn’t want me.  I know now that wasn’t true but when I was going through all those doubts and confusion, this verse touched my heart and kept me going.

Fanny Crosby wrote a beautiful inspiring hymn “Adopted”.  I love these words.  “O what a blessing, how can I express it? Out of the fullness of rapture I sing, Now by the Father received and adopted, I am a child and an heir of a king.”  What a privilege to be part of the family of God.

Harriet E. Buell wrote “A Child of the King”.  “I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, an alien by birth, But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,  An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.”  Is your name written down in the book of life?  Have you confessed your sins and invited Jesus in your heart to be your personal Saviour? 

We read in the Bible.  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).  If you have never invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, I urge you, I plead with you to invite Him into your heart today before it is too late.  One day it will be too late to invite Him into your heart.  Don’t miss out on spending eternity with the One Who loves you so much He died for you.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).  Inviting Jesus into your heart is the most important decision you will ever make.  It is more important than who you marry, where you live, what job you have or anything else.  Open the door of your heart to Jesus today.  He loves you so much He died for you.

Joanne Lowe

June 22, 2019

HE UNDERSTANDS

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Acts 10:38

King James Version

Have you ever felt like nobody understands you?  Jesus knows how you feel because people didn’t understand Him.  John W. Peterson wrote one of my favorite hymns “NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS”.  The words in this hymn are so true.  “No one understands like Jesus; Ev'ry woe He sees and feels; Tenderly He whispers comfort, And the broken heart He heals. No one understands like Jesus When the days are dark and grim; No one is so near, so dear as Jesus-- Cast your ev'ry care on Him!”

If you feel all alone and feel like nobody understands how you feel, know that Jesus does understand how you feel and He cares that you are hurting.  Pastor Edmund S. Lorenz wrote the hymn “Tell it to Jesus”.  “Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that’s well known. You’ve no other such a friend or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone.”  We have a loving compassionate Saviour Who really cares about us.

Joseph M. Scriven wrote one of my favorite hymns “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.  I love these words in this beautiful hymn.  “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.”  Yes, it is a privilege to be able to go to our Heavenly Father and tell Him what is in our heart knowing that He hears us, understands and cares.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all who are discouraged, lonely, and brokenhearted and who feel like going to bed and staying there.  Please comfort and encourage them as You have done for me so many times.  I love You, Heavenly Father.  I love You, Jesus.  I love You, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 21, 2019

OUR HOME IS READY

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

John 14:1-3

King James Version

John J. Matthews wrote the hymn “Beautiful Home”.  I love these words.  “There’s a beautiful home Far beyond the starry sky, Christ has gone to prepare over there.  I shall dwell in that home In the sweet by and by; How I long, how I long to be there!”

For those of us who have confessed our sins and invited Jesus into our heart to be our personal Saviour, we are going to Heaven when we die and Jesus has already prepared a mansion for us.  Many people try to buy their way into Heaven.  They try to work their way into Heaven but there is only one way and it is by the cleansing redeeming blood of Jesus.

We read in the Bible.  “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). Robert Lowry wrote the beautiful hymn “Nothing but the Blood”.  I love the words in this heart touching and inspiring hymn.

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  It is only by the shed blood of Jesus that we are saved and can go to Heaven.  What a happy day that will be when we go to Heaven.

Several years ago when I came home from my mailbox, I put the key in my door to unlock it so I could come in my house.  However, no matter how many times I tried to unlock my door it would not open.  I finally realized that I was using the wrong key.  People try to buy their way to Heaven and they try to work their way to Heaven but the blood of Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

If there has never been a time in your life when you admitted you are a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, I urge you, I plead with you to say yes to Jesus right now.  You may not have another hour to live.  Your family and friends can’t do it for you as much as they want to because your salvation is personal between Jesus and you.

Don’t miss out on spending eternity in Heaven with Jesus Who loves you so much He died for you.  Jesus loves you unconditionally.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Him stop loving you.

Heavenly Father, I pray for every man, for every woman, for every boy and for every girl who has never invited Jesus into their heart.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please encourage them, comfort them and let them know how much You appreciate their service to You.  I love You, dear Heavenly Father.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for the many times You have comforted and encouraged me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 20, 2019

THE LOVING ARMS OF JESUS

“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 13:27

King James Version

Frances J. Crosby wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”.  I love these words in this inspiring hymn.  “Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe from corroding care, Safe from the world’s temptations; Sin cannot harm me there. Free from the blight of sorrow, Free from my doubts and fears; Only a few more trials, Only a few more tears!”

It is very important that we allow Jesus to help us no matter what we are doing.  So many times we try to do things in our own strength and then wonder why we can’t do them.  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).

Jesus is able to carry us through all the dark valleys in our life and He will be faithful to set us once again on the  mountain top of happiness.  When He was here on His mission, He grew tired and got discouraged so He understands how we feel when we get tired and discouraged.  Allow Jesus to carry you through all the dark valleys in your life.

Joanne Lowe

June 19, 2019

BECAUSE OF US

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

King James Version

Dottie Rambo wrote a beautiful hymn that always brings tears to my eyes “f That Isn't Love”.  “He left the Splendor of Heaven Knowing His destiny Was the lonely hill of Golgotha there to lay down His life for me.  even in death He remembered the thief hanging by His side He spoke with love and compassion then He took him to Paradise.”

What kind of love is this that would cause Jesus to willingly leave His Father, His home and all that He had to come to earth and allow them to crucify Him on a cross of horror and agony?  It is an unconditional giving love that can only come from the heart of our precious Saviour.  Think about it.  He knew He was going to be beaten beyond recognition, spat on, cursed, mocked and left alone to die yet He still came.

Yes, it was because of us that Jesus was crucified on the cross and endured pain and agony that you and I will never know.  The next time you think nobody cares about you and loves you; remember the cross and the pain and agony that Jesus suffered because He loves you so much.  Nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.

Would you willingly send your son off to war knowing in advance that He was going to be killed?  Of course you wouldn’t but God did.  He knew His beloved Son was going to be humiliated, cursed, spat on, beaten beyond recognition, and left alone to die on a cross of horror and agony yet He gave His Son to die for our sins so that we may be saved and live in Heaven for all eternity.

Heavenly Father, You are so wonderful and so precious to my heart.  I love You so much.  Thank You for being a loving compassionate Father.  There are many people who are hurting, who feel all alone and who feel that nobody cares about them.  Please comfort them as You have done for me so many times.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 18, 2019

OUR TRIUMPHANT 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

King James Version

Pastor Alfred H. Ackley wrote one of my very favorite hymns “I serve a risen Savior”.  I love these words in this heart touching hymn.  “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

Sometimes we act like Jesus is still dead but He is alive.  He will never have to be beaten beyond recognition again, spat on and crucified on a cross of horror and agony.  However, even though He won’t have to die again, He is still being rejected, cursed and ignored.  How it must hurt the heart of our Heavenly Father to see His Son treated like He is being treated.

Do you know this beautiful Saviour?  I didn’t ask if you are saved.  I asked if you know Him, to know someone, you have to spend time with the person.  Do you know how much Jesus loves you?  Yes, if you’re reading this devotion, I’m talking to you.  An old Methodist preacher was asked why he kept preaching the same sermon.  The preacher replied “I’m going to preach it until you get it”.

I’m going to do the same thing.  I’m going to keep telling you that Jesus loves you until you get it.  If people would allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge how much Jesus loves them, there would be less heartaches, murders and crimes.

Heavenly Father, please touch the heart of every person who reads this devotion.  Reassure them that they are loved unconditionally.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please comfort them and let them know how much You appreciate their service to You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 17, 2019

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

“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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

John 3:16, 17

King James Version

Thomas O. Chisholm wrote a beautiful hymn about our loving Heavenly Father “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”.  “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.”  It doesn’t matter how many times we hurt our Heavenly Father, He still loves us.

As we remember our dads on Father’s Day, let us not forget our Heavenly Father.  One of the greatest ways to make Him happy is to be kind and loving to His Son.  God loves Jesus so much.  We read in the Bible. 

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16, 17).

I believe when Jesus left His home, His Father and all that He had to come to earth to die on the cross for our sins that God and Jesus hugged for a long time.  When my brother left home to join the service, my Mother stood outside on the road watching him leave for a long time even when my brother was out of sight.  I believe God stood watching His Son leave to come on His mission for a long time.  When Jesus arose and was reunited with His Father, I believe They hugged for a long time with tears of happiness.

Happy Father’s Day, Heavenly Father.  I love You so much and I appreciate all You have done for me.  You are a loving and compassionate Father.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for the many times You have comforted me.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 16, 2019

LIES

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

John 8:44

King James Version

We are warned in the Bible to be vigilant and watch for the attacks of satan.  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).”  Not only does satan lie to us, he also tries his best to make us believe that nobody cares about us.

One of the worse lies he tells us is when he tells us that Jesus doesn’t love us, has never loved us and will never love us.  Another way he attacks us is when he tells us that our friends don’t love us any more.  It happened to me yesterday, he lied to me and told me one of my friends didn’t love me anymore and I cried.  We know in our heart that our friends still love us but while he is attacking us with lies, it is easy to believe they don’t love us any more.

One thing is for certain, our friends may stop loving us but Jesus, our best Friend, will always love us.  We read in the Bible “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).  So, the next time satan lies to you and tells you that your friends and Jesus don’t love you anymore, know that they do still love you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the assurance that You love us and will always love us.  Please comfort all who are hurting and brokenhearted.  Thank You for the privilege You have given me to serve Jesus.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for being a compassionate and loving Father.  I love You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 15, 2019

OUR SHELTER

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”

Psalms 61:2, 3

King James Version

Vernon J. Charlesworth wrote the beautiful hymn “A Shelter in the Time of Storm”.  “Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A Shelter in the time of storm.”  In this world of violence, drugs, murders, rapes, child abuse and wife beating, we desperately need Jesus, our Rock and Shelter to protect us.

Several years ago, a little boy came to my home and asked if he could come inside.  He told me he was hungry and afraid to go home because He was afraid he would get hit again.  I submit to you on the authority of the Word of God that the abuse of children has got to stop!!  It hurts Jesus and makes Him angry when children are abused.

There are some children that run and hide every time they hear their parents come home because they are afraid of being hit, cursed, kicked and sometime even tortured.  One day, these parents will stand before God and give an account of how they treated their children.  God loves our children more than we do and every parent will have to give an account of how they raised their children.

We read in the Bible.  “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).

Several years ago, the church I was attending had a mission’s conference.  Foreign missionaries and home missionaries told about their work and showed slides of their work.  When I saw the hungry children in the slides of the foreign missionaries, I cried but when I saw the hungry children in the slides of the missionaries here at home, I not only cried, I got angry.

I receive emails telling me how wonderful I am because I write devotions.  I appreciate those emails because all of us need to be encouraged but don’t look to me or to your pastor or to your Sunday school teacher.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and on Him alone.  Jesus will never hurt you or fail you.  When we hurt Jesus as we all do at times, He still loves us.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Heavenly Father, I bring every boy and girl to You.  Please protect them.  Don’t let their parents hit them and abuse them.  I pray for the parents who are abusing their children.  Melt their hardened heart.  I pray You will pick every child in the world up in Your loving arms, go to Your rocking chair and rock them as You tenderly dry their tears with Your tender compassionate kisses.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 14, 2019

THE HAPPIEST AND MOST JOYOUS DAY

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  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 2:5-11

King James Version

The happiest and most joyous day is going to be when God tells Jesus it is time for Him to come get His Bride and He comes back for us.  “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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”    (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

When a man and woman get married, the bride walks down the aisle to the man she is marrying.  When Jesus comes back for us, I’m not going to walk down an aisle to meet Him; I am going to fall at His feet with tears of happiness and joy rolling down my face.  Then I’m going to give Him the biggest hug He has ever got and I’m never going to stop hugging Him.  I will spend eternity telling Him how much I love Him and how dear and precious He is to me.  Just writing about it makes me so excited, I feel like I’m going to explode.

If you don’t know this precious Saviour, if there has never been a time in your life when you admitted you are a sinner, asked God to forgive you and invited Jesus in your heart to be your personal Saviour, I urge you, I plead with you to say yes to Jesus now.  He loves you so much He died for your sins so that you may live in Heaven with Him for eternity.

Precious Heavenly Father, I pray for every man, for every woman, for every boy and for every girl that has never invited Jesus into their heart.  May today be the day they say yes to Jesus.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please encourage them, comfort them and let them know how much You appreciate their service to You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 13, 2019

THINK ABOUT IT

“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

King James Version

Think about it!  One happy and joyous day, we are going to have the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face.  Carrie E. Breck wrote one of my favorite hymns “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior”.  “Face to face—oh, blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.”

Jim Hill wrote a hymn that always brings tears of happiness and joy to me when I hear it “What A Day That Will Be”.  “What a day that will be, When my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand, And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”

Are you shouting with happiness yet?  I will never understand how people can get excited and shout and cheer for their favorite sports team, but never get excited and shout and cheer for Jesus.  Bill Gaither wrote one of my favorite hymns “Get All Excited”.  I love the words in this inspiring and heart touching hymn.

“You talk about people; you talk about things That really aren’t important at all. You talk about weather; you talk about problems We have here at home and abroad. But friend I’m excited about a solution for the world I’m gonna shout and sing! “Jesus Christ is still the King of kings!”  Are you excited yet?  If not, then you don’t know the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  To really know someone, you have to spend time with that person. 

If we have time to read the newspaper or watch television then we have time to spend with Jesus.  How do you think He feels when we put everything and everyone ahead of Him?  It breaks His heart.  There are some people who will get up in the early hours of the morning to go fishing but they can’t get up early to go to church.  A man said “Sunday is the only day I have to sleep late” yet this same man gets up early on Sunday to go fishing.

May God have mercy on us if we are hurting our precious Saviour and breaking His heart if we are putting everything and everyone ahead of Him.  Think about it.  Jesus left His home, His Father and all that He had to come to earth to die on the cross for your sins and for my sins.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.

Dottie Rambo wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “If That Isn't Love”  “He left the splendor of heaven Knowing His destiny Was the lonely hill of Golgotha There to lay down His life for me.”  Why do I get so excited about Jesus?  It is because He is the only One Who never leaves me, not even for a minute and when I do something or say something that hurts Him, I never have to wonder if He will still love me.

May God help us to get excited and tell everyone we see what a wonderful and loving Saviour we are privileged to know and have.  It is a privilege even to say His beautiful Name.  Jean Perry wrote a beautiful hymn about our precious Saviour “That Beautiful Name”.  “The One of that name, my Savior became, My Savior of Calvary. My sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare. He suffered all this for me.”

If you are reading this devotion, know that Jesus loves you and He loves you unconditionally.  If you are going through a dark valley, tell Jesus.  He cares when you are hurting and He will be faithful to pick you up and carry you until the pain goes away.  O how I love Jesus!  He is the Joy of my heart, the reason I’m living and the reason I get out of bed.

Joanne Lowe

June 12, 2019

ENCOURAGEMENT

“They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.  So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.”

Isaiah 41:6, 7

King James Version

I write about encouragement a lot because it is so important.  If people had encouraged Jesus when He was here on His mission, He wouldn’t have felt all alone.  People who say they don’t need anyone are not being truthful.  If Jesus needed to be encouraged, how much more you and I need to be encouraged.  Jesus knows the importance of being encouraged. 

We read in the Bible.  “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 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: 36-40).

How the heart of Jesus must have hurt when He found them asleep.  When you really love someone you care about them.  May God help you and I to love one another unconditionally as Jesus loves us and to care and love each other.

Heavenly Father, You have been so faithful to comfort and encourage me when my heart was breaking and I felt all alone.  Thank You for being a tender loving compassionate Father.  I love You so much.  I pray for all who are lonely, discouraged and who feel like going to bed and staying there.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

June 11, 2019

YES HE DOES

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

1 Peter 5:7

King James Version

Pastor Frank E. Graeff wrote one of my favorite hymns “Does Jesus Care?”  Have you ever felt that nobody cares about you?  I  have many times but this hymn tells us yes He does care about us.  “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.”

Jesus understands when we feel this way.  When He was here on earth on His mission, I’m sure He felt many times that nobody cared about Him.  If you’re hurting today, tell Jesus.  He will be faithful to pick you  up and carry you though all the dark valleys and He will never leave you, not even for one minute.

Joanne Lowe

June 10, 2019

HHHH

WE CAN DEPEND ON JESUS

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

King James Version

Pastor William C. Poole wrote a beautiful hymn about Jesus “Just When I Need Him Most”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  “Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong, Bearing my burdens all the day long; For all my sorrow giving a song, Just when I need Him most.”

When we are hurting, He picks us up in His arms and carries us through the dark valleys.  It is so good to know that Jesus cares when we are hurting.  It doesn’t matter if we are hurting physically, emotionally or spiritually He is with us and never leaves us, not even for a minute.  He reassures us that He loves us.

Joanne Lowe

June 9, 2019

OUR BEST FRIEND

“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

King James Version

Pastor Edmund S. Lorenz wrote one of my favorite hymns “Tell It To Jesus”.  “Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?  Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.” 

Do you ever feel like nobody loves you or cares that you’re hurting?  Jesus is our best Friend and He really cares about us and He has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Joanne Lowe
June 8, 2019

OUR PRECIOUS SAVIOUR

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

John 19:28-30

King James Version

I have said this many times and I will say it until God calls me home.  No one loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.  My favorite hymn which I believe should be the Christian National hymn is “O What a Savior” which was written by Marvin P. Dalton. 

Every time I sing or hear this beautiful heart touching and inspiring hymn I have tears running down my cheeks to think our precious Saviour loves us so much.  “O what a Savior, O hallelujah! His heart was broken on Calvary, His hands were nail scarred, His side was riven,

He gave His life-blood for even me.”

Have  you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus loves you so much He allowed them to spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him and beat Him beyond recognition for you?  When I think about Jesus suffering all of that and dying for my sins, my heart breaks to know that He suffered all that agony and pain for me.

Rusty Goodman wrote another beautiful heart touching and inspiring hymn “Who Am I”.  “Who am I that The King would bleed and die for Who am I that He would pray not my will, Thine Lord The answer I may never know Why He ever loved me so That to an old rugged cross He'd go For who am I That to an old rugged cross He'd go, for who am I?”

If you ever think nobody loves you, remember the cross and the love Jesus showed for you when He allowed them to crucify Him for you.  Jesus had never done anything wrong yet He allowed them to spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him and beat Him beyond recognition for you and for me.   O how I love Jesus!  He is the Joy of my heart and the reason I get out of bed.

What a joy and what a privilege has been mine to serve Jesus in full time service since January 24, 2005. God called me to be a missionary on October 4, 1998 and I walked down the aisle during the invitation time and shared with my pastor that God had called me to be a missionary.

My pastor took my hand and prayed the most beautiful prayer for me and he told me that God would supply everything I needed and God has supplied everything I need.  My pastor told me not to wait until God told me what He wanted me to do.  My pastor said “Start telling everyone you see that Jesus loves them”.

I don’t have money I can give you but I can tell you that Jesus loves you so much He died for you.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make Jesus stop loving you.  He loved you yesterday.  He loves you today and He will love you forever.  Please join me in praising the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  Allow it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that you are loved by the Saviour of the world.  If you are reading this devotion, it is you that I’m writing to in this devotion.  Your family and friends love you but nobody loves you like Jesus loves you and nobody ever will.

Joanne Lowe

June 7, 2019