A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones’ chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David’s comment.
Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart.  ‘Listen’, she said…’What do you suppose that is?’
He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap – tap -tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, 
‘Is that Jesus knocking?’ 

I don’t know what you believe, but the Bible tells us:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in – Revelation 3:20

Maybe, just maybe, that is Jesus knocking, every beat of the day, inside our bodies, reminding us that He is only a heart’s distance away. Are you willing to open the door to your heart and let Jesus come in?

The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named ‘Love.’

‘Love’ swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because ‘Love never fails.’

The next batter was named ‘Faith,’ who also got a single because Faith works
with Love.

The next batter up was named ‘Godly Wisdom.’ Satan wound up and threw
the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His starplayer. Up to the plate stepped ‘Grace.’
Freddy said, ‘He sure doesn’t look like much!’

Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace.
Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.
To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen!
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.

He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and
sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball
continued over the fence . . . for a home run!

The Lord’s team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom
could get on base but couldn’t win the game. Freddy answered that
he didn’t know why.

The Lord explained, ‘If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home!

We know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. – Galatians 2:16

Some people say they don’t read the Bible, because it’s too confusing or hard to read. Well, the verse above is very clear when it comes to being justified and being made right with God. Whether someone claims they are going to Heaven or not, the answer lies in Jesus Christ. If you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you get a ticket to enter Heaven. If you live a “good” life, but don’t have Jesus, sorry – you “Do Not Enter” Heaven.

Other people say that Christians are too “strict.” People say we have too many rules and laws that we abide by. However, that’s simply not true. We follow the 10 Commandments, and we have Jesus as our Savior. All other “rules” are simply guided by these simple principles. The first and foremost of these, as Jesus taught was to “Love the Lord your God” which helps to reinforce the fact that we must allow Jesus to take control of our lives in everything we do. When we do this, it simply helps us to want to follow His other teachings.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 51-57

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Why do they ask? Everybody knows about the numerous wars happening over the past few years. Lately, the amount of serious earthquakes have increased. And just this past week a volcano erupted that “blacked” out the sun over Europe.

All of these events appear to shadow events in the Bible concerning the end of our days on earth. Personally, I have not made a decision about whether it is, or isn’t THE END of the world. But I do know that the end is one day closer than yesterday.

But WHY is any of this important? The answer is found here:

²⁴“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. ²⁵I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. ²⁷And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

 ²⁸“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹and come out—those who have done good will rise to live [in Heaven], and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned [to Hell]. – John 5:24-29

All of these things will occur at the end of times. God will judge EACH AND EVERY ONE of us! Therefore we MUST repent and live according to God’s commands or we will not go to Heaven.

The alternative is Hell.

I spoke with someone just the other day who is not saved from eternal damnation and their response was “well, at least I’ll be warm.” If that’s your attitude, then you really don’t understand what being in Hell will really be like.

Someone once described Hell as being “deep fried alive forever.” Now…I don’t know about you, but that sounds worse than just “being warm” forever. It’s your choice. You don’t have to make a choice today, but if you don’t choose to follow Jesus and THE END comes, then your choice was an automatic denial of Jesus and God, thus you won’t go to Heaven.

Take time now and pray to God – ask Him to help you CHANGE your life and follow God in all you do!

As I looked around I saw the ‘prosecutor.’ He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him. The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn’t take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, ‘Let us begin.’

The prosecutor rose and said, ‘My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.’ He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all.. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life – couldn’t that at least equal out part of the harm I’d done? Satan finished with a fury and said, ‘This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.’

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, ‘HI, DAD,’ and then He turned to address the court.

‘Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won’t deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.’ Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, ‘However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.’

My Lord continued with, ‘His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me. ‘Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.’

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, ‘There is nothing else that needs to be done. I’ve done it all..’ The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips… ‘This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed.’

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, ‘I won’t give up, I will win the next one.’ I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, ‘Have you ever lost a case?’ Christ lovingly smiled and said, ‘Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ~Paid In Full.’

- Author Unknown

Here we go: yesterday I had the opportunity to visit a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall church service. The speaker read and commented on Romans 10:10-13

¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But there is one additional verse I would like to add to this passage – the one PRECEDING it: Romans 10:9

⁹That 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.

Why do I list this additional verse? It’s because it’s just as important as the others, and it mentions one key fact: “Jesus is Lord.”

And it’s really this simple: “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.”

Don’t you want to go to Heaven, and not Hell?

Logic tells the atheist, if he’s wrong, he goes to hell, if he’s right, he just dies.
Logic tells the believer, if he’s wrong, he just dies, if he’s right, he goes to Heaven.

You choose! It’s your life and your eternity – where do you want to spend it?

Psalm 92

 ¹ It is good to praise the LORD
       and make music to your name, O Most High, ² to proclaim your love in the morning
       and your faithfulness at night,

 ³ to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
       and the melody of the harp.

 ⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
       I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

 ⁵ How great are your works, O LORD,
       how profound your thoughts!

. . .

 ⁸ But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.

. . .

 ¹⁵ proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
       he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Worship should be a “lifestyle.” Yesterday, on my way to work I heard the song by Casting Crowns “If we ever needed you, Lord it’s now.” As I considered and pondered the meaning of the song, I realized how badly we do need God, not just on our down days, but on our up days too. He is the reason we have Salvation. Without Jesus, we have nothing.

We need to remember this constantly. Praise and worship is something that should happen consistently and constantly. As I heard several times in a local Pentecostal church in my hometown this past Sunday “Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!”

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 ⁵The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; HE HAS RISEN, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” – Matthew 28:1-7

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Now, how is it that 2000 years ago Jesus could claim such a statement?

He knew what would happen; He predicted our attitudes toward these events; and He knew we would begin to have doubt.

But let’s look back at the verse again, this time with emphasis:

“I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

There’s two things I want to highlight in this passage. First, Jesus says “in me.” He is declaring that it is only through Him that you get peace. But secondly, and probably just as important as the first is that you “may” have peace. It doesn’t say that you will. Why is this important? It is by your choice. Many people claim to be Christians, but don’t look to God for peace. I am guilty of this on occasion as I try to do things on my own, and I fail. I sometimes try to do the correct thing without praying first and I fall on my face, failing every time.

Instead, we all need to remember that if we look to Jesus and depend on Him, then we may have peace. It’s OUR CHOICE! Do you want peace? Are you ready to trust Jesus to give it to you? He’s willing to give it to you, just ask Him today!

Remember, Jesus “overcame the world” and proved He is God’s Son. And this time of the year is when we are reminded of this more than ever. As Easter approaches, I ask that you share the truth of Jesus with someone you love and share His peace with the whole world!