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Joanne Lowe

Pensacola, FLORIDA, USA

 

My name is Joanne Lowe. I live in Pensacola, FL. I moved here from Corpus Christi, TX about twelve years ago. However, I was born in Peoria, IL. My family left Illinois when I was a teenager and moved to Texas.

 

I am retired now but I have worked as a nurse’s aide, a waitress and a secretary. I was the secretary to the executive director of a non-profit organization in Texas. I also owned a typing service in Texas for a short time and I owned part of a janitorial service in Texas many years ago.

 

I attended Pekin High School in Pekin, IL. However, due to circumstances beyond my control, I did not graduate. I did take the GED test several years later at Kilgore Community College in Kilgore, TX and received a general equivalency diploma.

 

I attended Bee County College in Beeville, TX, and Delmar College. I also completed a six month secretarial course at a business school in Corpus Christi, TX. I did not have the privilege of graduating from college due to medical and financial reasons.

 

When I was a student at Bee County College, I was on the executive board of the Baptist Student Union. My responsibilities included taking my group of students to nursing homes and to the jail every week to share the good news of our risen Saviour.

 

On August 14, 1980, I asked Jesus to forgive me for my sins and come into my heart to be my personal Saviour. These past twenty eight years have been the happiest and most joyous years of my life.

 

God called me to be a missionary and I surrendered to the mission field. He has entrusted me with the ministries of encouraging pastors and writing daily devotions.

 

I love Jesus with all of my heart. He is my dearest and best friend. He fills my heart with joy, peace, excitement and happiness. Even in the midst of heartaches and sorrow, I have the assurance that the Saviour of the world loves me. What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!

 

Ref: (http://www.heavenwardbound.com/?page_id=1251)

 

GOD'S FORMAT


My computer stopped working right and no matter what I did to fix it nothing worked. My brother-in-law who is a computer expert advised me to format my computer and it would be just like sending it to the factory to be fixed.


Many times we try to format our hearts by being nice to others and by doing good deeds. That is just like trying to fix a computer that is broke, it will not work. Our feeble efforts to love someone in our own strength has never worked and will never work. It is only as others see and feel the Love of Jesus in us that they will know that Jesus does love them.


Have you been trying to be nicer to your family and friends? Do you get frustrated because it seems no matter what you do to be kind to others it is not appreciated? We need to go to Jesus and ask Him to take His Broom of Mercy and Grace and sweep out all the bitterness and resentment in our hearts toward other people.


We are not capable of loving others as Jesus wants us to love others in our own strength. It takes Jesus planting His Love in our hearts to format our hearts to minister to people. I urge you to ask Jesus to format your heart with His Compassion and Mercy so that you can effectively love others.


Joanne Lowe

February 24, 2005

 

GOD’S TAPE

 

It is very difficult for me to find new shoes as I have very wide feet and my feet swell a lot.  I have been using Duck Tape that you use on packages to keep the shoe together, but a lot of the time it comes off.

 

God’s Tape never comes off.  His Unconditional Love, Mercy, Grace, Protection, Understanding, Compassion, and Tenderness are there for Eternity.  Once we ask Jesus into our hearts and make Him the Master of our lives, His Tape stays there and nothing or nobody can tear it from us.

 

Sometimes our lives are so fragmented with despair, anger, hurt, turmoil, and bitterness that it is impossible for another person to help us.  Jesus is the only One that can take a person who is brokenhearted and turn that person’s sorrow into Joy.

 

Jesus uses people to spread His Love, however we have to be willing to give our lives in His service.  He can’t use someone who is more interested in watching television than picking up the telephone and calling someone who is hurting. 

 

Are you willing to do what is necessary to serve Jesus?  Jesus has done so much for us.  He gave His very life for us.  I challenge you to let others see and hear Jesus in your actions, words, and the places you go.

 

Joanne Lowe

February 16, 2005

 

JESUS IS THE ANSWER


Many times in our life we face trials and heartaches that to us seem almost impossible to bear. Jesus promised us that He would never leave or forsake us. No matter what heartache we have and no matter what our situation, the King of Kings is with us to Comfort, Encourage, and Help us.


A very dear Pastor friend of mine has said many times in his sermons, "If satan is not attacking you all the time, then you need to do a checkup with God". When we are not serving God like we should, when we are not bragging on Jesus, then satan doesn't have to bother with us because we are not a threat to him.


Some people have tried drugs, alcohol, adultery, and all other things, which bring disgrace on the Name of Jesus trying to escape from the heartaches, which we face. There is no other way to be at peace in your heart except through the Blood of Jesus and the Love He gives you.


I urge you to let Jesus be your Answer in life. He has given all to you, His very life. He can do no more for you. It is up to you to open your heart to Him and then watch while all your problems and heartaches become bearable through the Compassion of Jesus.


Joanne Lowe

February 9, 2005

 

GOD’S SPICES

 

I made some vegetable soup and gave some to my sister and she said it wasn’t spicy enough so she added spices. She gave me some chili that she had made and it is delicious, however it was too spicy for me so I added a can of tomatoes.

When God adds His Spices to our hearts, it is perfect! God’s Spices are His Love, Compassion, Protection, Faithfulness, and Salvation. The Bible says "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

We are the ones to show the Love of Jesus to others in our actions, our speech, our attitudes, and in the way we treat our families. We need to season people’s hearts by proving to them that Jesus Loves them because if we just tell them that He Loves them and never do anything to prove it, they will not believe us.

Are you seasoning other people’s lives and hearts with God’s Spices or do you even care about others enough to get out of your comfort zone and minister to others? One day, you might be the one who needs a telephone call or a hug.

I guarantee you that if you are not a giving person, and I am not just talking about money, that when you are in need you are going to feel very lonely in your heart. It is so true that you get back what you give out.

Jesus has done so much for us. He deserves to be happy. He has known so much heartache and rejection. When you are rejecting others, you are rejecting the Heart of Jesus.

 

Joanne Lowe

February 3, 2005

 

IT HURTS

 

Several years ago on Christmas Day, I sat in a hospital room with my sister while our Mother was dying. Mom would call out my sister's name over and over, but she never called my name once and she knew I was there. I was hurt deeply and I cried myself to sleep for almost a month after she died.

 

I was very bitter toward Mom and then one day God spoke to me and said, "She is not to blame. No one showed her My Love so she didn't know how to show it to others, even to her children."

 

I am convinced that the reason that people act so terrible toward one another and the reason that people kill, steal, and deliberately say hurtful things to one another is because they do not believe that anyone loves them.

 

Jesus has not been here for over two thousand years. He has left us to spread His Love and Compassion. Are you spreading the Love of Jesus to others? Do you feel the Love of Jesus for you?

 

I finally understood that it really was not my parent's fault that they didn't hug me and tell me that they loved me. It is because they had not been shown love and so they didn't know how to express love. It is like telling someone how to go someplace that you have never been.

 

I urge you to open your heart wider so that Jesus can pour His Love into it and in turn you can express the Love of Jesus to others. You never know, a hug that you give someone might literally stop him or her from committing suicide.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 30, 2005

 

EMPTY HEARTS

 

Many times I have asked God this question.  Who am I that You should love me?  Every time He says I am His child and I am precious to Him. When I finally realized who Jesus is and what a Great Friend He is, my life changed. 

 

Our hearts are barren and empty of love for others until Jesus puts His Love in our hearts.  All of us are born with a selfish nature, which carries over when we grow up.  It is only by allowing Jesus to work through our hearts and lives that we can love others and be effective as He wants us to be for Him. 

 

How about your heart today, is it filled with the Love of Jesus?  Are others seeing the Joy of Jesus on your face?  When you talk, do others hear the Compassion and Love of Jesus in what you say?

 

So many people are hurting inside and they desperately need this Joy and Love of Jesus.  I urge you to let Jesus fill your heart with His Love and Joy so that you can be a vessel fit for the Master’s use.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 28, 2005

 

GOD’S LOVE SALE

 

A lot of us have had garage sales or we have gone to them. Many things in garage sales are broken and look terrible.  We go through our closets and the rest of our home cleaning out things that we don’t want or use.

 

One day God had a Garage Sale.  However, it wasn’t a Garage Sale, it was a Love Sale.  It also was not because He didn’t want or use what He sold, it was to show His Love to us

 

God’s Love is free.  There is nothing that we can do to deserve His Love.  You might wonder about this title, “GOD’S LOVE SALE”.  His Love is free to us but it cost Him everything.  It is impossible for us to comprehend with our human minds how much God Loves us. 

 

One day, God cleaned out His Heart and gave His Beloved Son for us.  My heart has broken many times over the agony that God must have experienced.  Not only was He giving His Son to die a cruel death, He was sending Him on a Mission and He was going to miss His Son.

 

I wonder what would happen and how many hearts and lives would be changed if one day we had a love sale that was free to others but cost us. Let’s open our hearts and give of our time and talents.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 28, 2005

 

KNEES AND HEART


The Bible says that we are to bow our knees before God when we pray. However, if we are just bowing our knees and not our hearts, it is in vain.


When we come to God in prayer we need to come with our hearts lifted up in joy and praise. Yes, we might be going through devastating heartache and circumstances but if we really have the Joy of the Lord in our hearts, satan can not get the victory over us.


The Bible says that the Joy of the Lord is our strength. There is nothing that you and I can do to generate that Joy. It is Jesus living in us Who is the Joy that flows from our hearts.


I was heavy hearted last night about something that I had heard and for a while I was really down. Then I started singing to Jesus and telling Him how much I love Him. I started laughing out loud because satan can not win the war because he is already defeated through the Precious Blood of Jesus. We may let satan win a battle but he will never win the war.


I urge you to let the Joy of Jesus in you overflow onto all you come in contact with and watch how Jesus will heal broken hearts and lives.


Joanne Lowe

January 26, 2005

 

NOT ENOUGH

 

There is a teaching tape by Joyce Landorf called "Balcony People" that I used to listen to every day and sometime two or three times a day. I was going through a period of severe depression at that time in my life and God used that tape to bring me out of my depression.

 

One of the things that Joyce says on the tape is that people used to come up to her and hug her and say, "Hi, how are you doing? Jesus loves you. Got to rush, bye". Joyce says that one day she told someone, "Well, that’s not enough. I need someone to put their arms around me and prove that Jesus Loves me".

 

We can tell people that Jesus Loves them but if we never do anything to prove it by our actions and not just words they are not going to believe us. We need to demonstrate the Love of Jesus and not just tell them that He Loves them.

 

When is the last time that you went up to someone and hugged that person? When is the last time you shut the television off and picked up the telephone and called someone that you knew was lonely and needed to hear a friendly voice?

 

Let me encourage you to not only tell people Jesus Loves them, prove to them Jesus Loves them by the way you act toward them. Yes, it might be inconvenient and not in our daily schedule for us to do these things but I am sure it was not convenient for Jesus to hang on that cross for us. He did it to prove that He Love us.

 

 Joanne Lowe

January 22, 2005

 

HIGHER THAN A KITE

 

You may feel that nobody really understands how you feel and that very well may be true, however I tell you on the Authority of the Word of God that Jesus does understand! When it comes right down to it, Jesus is the only one who can really see into the depths of our heart and know exactly what is going on inside. He Loves you and He cares about your every breath.

 

I am speaking from experience! I have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse in my life and I can tell you that the emotional abuse is the worse. The scars from the physical abuse eventually fade away so that you don't really think about it that much, but the emotional scars never go away!

 

We are to forgive people. God said that if we don't forgive others, He will not forgive us but He understands that it will still hurt. I had to give all the bitterness, hurt, confusion, suicidal thoughts which I had every day for sixteen years, and the loneliness to Jesus.

 

It did not happen over night but when I really opened my heart to Jesus and made a heart commitment, not just a head and verbal commitment, all of my past started to fade away. It took years to do that and He is still in the process of working on me by reassuring me, sometimes every minute of the day, how much He Loves me and cares when it seems nobody else does.

 

God used a beloved Pastor who has been a dear friend of mine for many years to show me how to open the door to my heart emotionally. Pastor Byron said this statement in a sermon once and when he said it I honestly thought the man was crazy. He said, "If you want to fly higher than a kite, start bragging on Jesus". I started doing that. I began to tell everyone I came in contact with how great Jesus is and how much He Loves you and desires to heal your pain.

 

I remember once several years ago at a bus stop while waiting for the bus, there was a man sitting there waiting with me. I was still extremely afraid of people but I finally started talking to him. I said, "Sir, do you know how much Jesus Loves you"?

 

He just looked at me and didn't say anything. It scared me so I didn't say anything else. Five minutes later, he began to weep and said, "Do you really think it is possible for Him to love me since I have done so many terrible things in my life"? I told him that if Jesus could love me as many crazy and mixed up and sinful things that I had done, He can love anybody.

 

The bus was late and we talked for twenty minutes and I had the privilege and honor of leading him to accept Jesus into his heart. I have never seen or heard from that man again but I know that Jesus has him in the Palm of His Hand, and that is all that we can do for anyone. Give that person to Jesus and then get out of His way and stop telling Him how to fix the situation.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 22, 2005

 

UNDER THE BED


Many years ago I signed myself into a hospital because I was feeling suicidal. While in the hospital, I crawled under the bed because I was afraid of people and had no desire to live. The nurses would keep pulling me out and as soon as they left my room, I would crawl back under the bed.


This went on for two weeks until one night on the midnight shift a nurse I had never met literally got down on her hands and knees and crawled under the bed with me and laid beside me. She took hold of my hand and told me that she wouldn't let anybody hurt me and it was safe to come out. I didn't believe her but I did come out after she laid there for about an hour with me.


There are many people who are under the bed in their emotions. They are afraid to show their emotions for fear of being ridiculed and put down. We need to open our hearts to others who are hurting emotionally and all of us hurt in one way or the other.


I encourage you to find someone you can trust, someone who won't judge you or make fun of you and open your heart to that person. I know from experience that the only way to get rid of all the hurt in our hearts is to start talking to others.


God said that we are to bear one another's burdens. It is impossible to bear someone's burdens if we don't know what they are. The best way to help someone is by sharing what you have been through so that person will know that you really do care and understand.


Come out from under the bed in your emotions into the Arms of Jesus. He Loves you so much and is yearning to fellowship with you. You have tried everything else and it didn't work. Try Jesus and you will be victorious through the Love of Jesus.


Joanne Lowe

January 22, 2005

 

THE LIVING WORD

 

I have heard many people say and some say it almost in a bragging manner, “I have read the Bible through more than once”.  That is wonderful!  We should read our Bible but my question is, “Are you spending time with the Living Word?”

 

Jesus is not only the Written Word; He is also the Living Word.  I have not read the entire Bible through word for word.  I have tried many times but I would always get stopped when I got in the Old Testament where there is much law and history. 

 

I do know the Heart of the Living Word!  I know what makes Jesus happy and what makes Him sad.  I don’t always please Him because I am human.  However, He knows my heart and He knows how much I love Him.

 

Please keep reading your Bible but also spend time with the Living Word.  Allow Jesus to rise with Joy in your heart.  The Bible says that the Joy of the Lord is our strength.  Let others see the Living Word shining brightly in what you say, where you go, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you do.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 17, 2005

 

IN THE VALLEY OR ON THE MOUNTAIN

 

Are you in the valley of despair or on the mountain of Joy?  If you are in the valley of despair, you do not have to stay there! 

 

It is a lie straight from the pits of hell that we have to remain in valleys.  The Bible says, “The Joy of the Lord is your strength”.  The Bible also says in Galations 5:22  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith”.

 

These are the ingredients for us to use in our daily lives but too often we forget to put them into practice.  God has given us all we need to live a daily, victorious life through Jesus.  However, He is not going to do it for us.  We can ask Him for strength and courage to do what we need to do, but we are the ones to employ these principles He has given to us.

 

I challenge you to let Jesus help you get out of the valley of despair and back up on the mountain of Joy.  Never forget that God may want to use you today and you need to be ready.

 

Joanne Lowe

January 11, 2005

 

STILL NO ROOM

 

There was no room for Jesus when He was born and sad to say, it is still true today in a lot of people’s hearts.  Today is Jesus’ Birthday and how many of us sang Happy Birthday to Him.  We sing to our family and friends because we love them.  How much more should we sing to Jesus, the Best Friend we will ever have.

 

Did you make room for Jesus today?  When you woke up this morning, was your first thought about Jesus?  Did you thank Him for this Joyous Day?  As you gathered with family and friends today, did you stop and let Jesus into the activities?

 

I challenge all of us to make more room for Jesus in our daily lives.  If making Jesus happy is not your reason for living, then I suggest you do a heart checkup and have a long, serious talk with Him.  Open your heart to Jesus and let Him fill it with His Love, Joy, Peace, and Happiness.

 

Joanne Lowe

December 25, 2004

 

NEVER FORGET JESUS

 

Many years ago I felt the call to missions and I told my pastor.  He said there was an opening in the Missions Service Corps. He told me I would have to raise my own support so I went from church to church in our association speaking on missions and I raised my support.

 

They sent me to Phoenix, Arizona to the Indian Reservation.  However, I only stayed two days and called my pastor and said this was not where I should be so he told me to come home.

 

We had Bible Stories for the children and different activities.  At the end of the first day I went to the mission leader’s room and asked him what time we had devotions.  He replied, “We are too tired at the end of the day and too busy at the start of the day for devotions”. 

 

I didn’t say anything to him but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the reason we were here was to spread the Love of Jesus. If we didn’t take time for Jesus, to talk to Him and thank Him and ask Him for help and guidance, then our labors would be in vain.

 

Everything that we do in life should be for Jesus.  It is all about Jesus.  He is the Giver and Sustainer of life.  We must never forget Jesus or leave Him out of our daily lives.  If we don’t receive instruction and support from Him, we will never be effective like He wants us to be for Him.

 

I encourage you to always remember and include Jesus in your daily activities.  You will find that you will have a much better day. 

 

Joanne Lowe

December 23, 2004

 

WHAT NOW

 

A pastor once said in a sermon, “There was a man who wrote the entire Bible word for word by memory without making one mistake.  However, that same man went home and beat his wife”.

 

We are to read our Bible.  God said that we should but He also said not to hurt people.  What good is it and what does it mean to us if we don’t employ the knowledge and instruction we receive from God?

 

Did you know that the Bible is God’s Love Letter to us?  He tells us over and over again how much He loves us and how precious we are to Him. 

 

It is no wonder at all that people do not want to go to church when they see the ones who profess to be Christians not acting like it.  God said that He wants us to be either cold or hot and not lukewarm. 

 

When you read a map it is useless unless you follow the directions, it is the same with the Word of God.  The Bible was written to direct, inspire, encourage, and comfort us. 

 

The Bible gives us all the ingredients necessary for life but it is like making a cake, if you leave one of the ingredients out it will not taste right.

 

Many years ago back in Texas I was going door to door on visitation from church and I will never forget what this one lady said to me.  I asked her, “If you knew that God was telling you to sell your home and give all the proceeds to the poor, would you do it”?  She did not hesitate.  She said, “Absolutely not!  I have worked hard for this home for many years and everything in it is mine that I bought with my own money”.

 

I didn’t say anything to that lady but later at home my heart broke when I realized that God gave the very Best  He could give us, His Own Beloved Son, Jesus. 

 

I have thought many times about how Jesus willingly left His Father and all the Beauty and Peace of Heaven and came to earth knowing that He would be treated worse than any individual would ever be treated.  What Amazing Love!

 

Let’s stop just reading the Bible, let’s start living the Bible so that others will want the Peace and Joy that only Jesus can give a person.

 

Joanne Lowe

December 21, 2004

 

A LOOK OF LOVE

 

For those of us who have pets, we know that they are loyal to us and give us these looks that make our heart tender.  They are a joy to us and give us companionship.

 

There is One who gives us looks of Love, Peace, Joy, Happiness, and Faithfulness.  Jesus gives us these looks through other people.  He has not been here for over two thousand years.  He has left us to spread His looks of Love.

 

When others look at you, what do they see?  Do they see a grouchy person with a bad attitude who dares others to smile at them?  Jesus wants us to smile with Joy and Love at others. 

 

I have a parakeet that is a gift from God, who fills me with joy every day and brings me happiness.  Sometimes however, I get irritable if I am not feeling good and take it out on her.

 

 God never gets irritable with us.  He never takes anything out on us.  He remains Faithful and Loyal no matter how we treat Him. Let’s start giving others a look of Love that will warm and encourage them.

 

Joanne Lowe

December 21, 2004

 

JESUS UNDERSTANDS

 

 

If you are experiencing problems with your children and are discouraged to the point of giving up,  the most important thing I can tell you right now is that Jesus Loves you and He understands completely what you are going through and what you are feeling and it does not matter to Him.  He knows your heart and He knows that you love Him. If we truly love Jesus with all of our heart then nothing else matters.

 

I encourage you and urge you to reach down in your heart and let Jesus light your candle again, the candle that draws people to you and closer to Jesus. There are so many people that need what you and I have to give them, the Love of Jesus. Not everyone can give the Love of Jesus because they do not have His Love in their heart.

 

Remember Jesus could come back today even before you go to bed and there could be someone who is desperately lonely and maybe even contemplating suicide right now, and you may be the one that He wants to use.

 

 

Joanne Lowe

December 19, 2004

 

DECORATIONS OF THE HEART

 

As we look at the decorations on the Christmas Tree, we are filled with a sense of beauty and peace.  Without the decorations on the tree it would look bare and not as pretty.

 

What about our hearts?  Are they decorated with the Love of Jesus?  When others look at us, do they see the Love of Jesus shining from our hearts?

 

My Mother told me that she always knew when I was happy, that my eyes would sparkle.  Are our hearts sparkling with Love, Joy, Peace, and Happiness? 

 

There are many countless people who are lonely and discouraged and they need encouragement.  We can not encourage anyone if we do not have the Love of Jesus shining brightly in our hearts.

 

There is a song I used to sing in Sunday School that said, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”.  Let me encourage you to let others see your light shining brightly so that they may not only be encouraged but also be filled with warmth and comfort.

 

Joanne Lowe

December 18, 2004

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

 

Why is it that we will sing Happy Birthday to everyone but Jesus?  We need to realize that it hurts Him and breaks His Heart when we ignore His Birthday or treat it just as a time to get together with family and friends and give gifts.

 

This wonderful Baby was born to give Light, Hope, Salvation, Peace, and Joy to the world.  We need to understand, however, that He is not a Baby now.  He grew up and became obedient to His Father and willingly laid down His Life for you and I so that we might know the fullness of His Love.

 

The best way we can honor Him on His Birthday is by thanking Him for all He has done for us and by being kind and patient to one another.  The Bible says, “In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me”. Let’s give Jesus a special Birthday Gift and spread His Love to family and friends and those who are lonely.

 

Joanne Lowe

December 10, 2004

 

TABLE OF LOVE

 

We are instructed in the Bible "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart". Are we following these instructions? Have we invited people to feast at the table in our heart by extending forgiveness and understanding?

All of us are guilty of telling someone; I forgive you, yet in our heart we continue to harbor resentment, unforgiveness, and bitterness. I have found out by personal, heartbreaking experience that you do not hurt anyone else by that attitude. You only hurt yourself and Jesus.

We need to realize that we hurt people also. We want their forgiveness and understanding, yet we are not willing to offer them the same forgiveness. What is wrong with our thinking? Clearly, it is not controlled by the Love of Jesus! How many times have we gone to God and asked Him to forgive us? How dare you and I ask Him to forgive us when we are not willing to forgive others?

 

We all need to realize that it is a privilege and honor to even say the Name of Jesus, much less ask Him for something.  Is the table of your heart spread with kindness, honesty, understanding and forgiveness? If not, you have pounded another nail into the Hand and Heart of Jesus.

Joanne Lowe

October 13, 1999

 

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