A TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO HEAVEN

Planning to go to heaven? Here's a traveller's guide....

1. ACCOMMODATION

Arrangements for first-class accommodation have been made in advance.
"In My Father's house are many rooms ...... I am going there to
prepare a place for you." (John 14:2).

2. PASSPORTS

Persons seeking entry will not be permitted past the gates without
having proper papers/credentials and having their names registered
with the ruling Authority.
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is
shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb's book of life". (Revelation 21:27)..

3. DEPARTURE TIMES

The exact date of departure has not been announced. Travellers are
advised to be prepared to leave at short notice.
"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by
His own authority. " (Acts 1:7).

4. TICKETS

Your ticket is a written pledge that guarantees your journey. It
should be claimed and its promises kept firmly in hand.
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who
sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed
over from death to life." (John 5:24).

5. CUSTOMS

Only one declaration is required while going through customs.
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved." (Romans 10:9).

6. IMMIGRATION

All passengers are classified as immigrants, since they are taking
up permanent residence in a new country. The quota is unlimited.
"...... they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one
........ He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:16).

7. LUGGAGE

No luggage whatsoever is necessary.
"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out
of it." (1 Timothy 6:7).

8. AIR PASSAGE

Travellers' going directly by air are advised to watch daily for
indications of imminent departure.
"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so
we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

9. VACCINATION AND INOCULATION

Injections are not needed, as diseases are unknown at the
destination.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain...." (Revelation 21:4).

10. CURRENCY

Supplies of currency may be forwarded ahead to await the passenger's
arrival. Deposit your heart, mind, soul and life.
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and
rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
(Matthew 6:20).

11. CLOTHING

A complete and appropriate new wardrobe is provided for each
traveller.
"...For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me
in a robe of righteousness...." (Isaiah 61:10).

12. TIME CHANGES

Resetting of watches will not be necessary to adjust to the
day/night schedule.
"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the
glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp........ for
there will be no night there." (Revelations 21:23,25).

13. RESERVATIONS

Booking is now open. Apply at once.
"....... now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of
salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

14. CORONATION CEREMONY

The highlight of the journey is the welcoming reception and
coronation which await the arrival.
"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not
only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." (2
Timothy 4:8).

Why read the Bible ?

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grand Pa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his BIBLE. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, ' Grand pa! I try to read the BIBLE just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the BIBLE do?'


The Grand father quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.


At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Grand pa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the BIBLE. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Jesus in our lives.'

Divine Valentine

A Valentine may play a love song for you, but God sings you the sweetest love song in the universe.
The Lord your God... will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

A Valentine may give you flowers, but God sent you the most beautiful rose of all. Jesus.
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine may bring you chocolate, but God provides you with something even sweeter, His Word.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

A Valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity.
Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love...with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3

Happy Valentine's Day

Shirley and Marcy

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.

She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following
behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little
friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.
Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady
following us to school all week? Do you know her?'

Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '

'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.

The Christmas Gift

Norman Vincent Peale, noted minister and author from the previous century, tells the story of a young girl from Sweden spending Christmas in big, bustling New York City.

She was living with an American family and helping them around the house, and she didn't have much money. So she knew she couldn't get them a very nice Christmas present - besides, they already had so much, with new gifts arriving every day.

With just a little money in her pocket, she went out and bought an outfit for a small baby, and then she set out on a journey to find the poorest part of town and the poorest baby she could find.

At first, she received only strange looks from passersby when she asked them for help. But then a kind stranger, a Salvation Army bell-ringer, guided her to a poor part of town and helped her deliver her gift. On Christmas morning, instead of giving them a wrapped present, she told the family she served what she had done in their name. Everyone was speechless, and everyone was blessed - the girl for giving, the wealthy family for seeing others with new eyes, and the poor family for receiving an unexpected gift

All of us have opportunities both large and small to show kindness, especially at Christmas time. We can help strangers by delivering gifts to needy kids or serving homeless families at a soup kitchen. Or we can simply look for everyday ways to be kind, like allowing someone to go ahead of us in a lengthy line at the department store, or giving that bell-ringer a little change and a few encouraging words.

Maybe it's because we're in gift-giving mode anyway that giving to others becomes so important at Christmas. Or because we're more aware of our families and friends and communities. Or maybe it's because two thousand years ago, the earth received the most perfect, most loving gift of all, helping us to understand true kindness.

Whatever the reason, don't let Christmas pass you by without showing kindness to someone. Because it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.

An excerpt from "The Simple Blessings of Christmas" by Mark Gilroy

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911
When -
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is b igger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small comp ared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

Ask & it Shall be given

Man: God?

God: Yes?

Man : Can I ask you something?

God : Of course !

Man : What's a million years to you?

God : A second

Man : And a million dollars?

God : A Penny

Man : God, can I have a Penny?

God Yes, just wait a second.