'Absolutely sure’

Its’ funny that so often non-Christians or unbelievers, (whichever label we use to describe those who have yet to accept Christ as Saviour) are sometimes keener to bring a conversation around to faith than we are as Christians.

As a ministry I hold firm to 1 Peter 3:15 'Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason
for the hope that you have', and that reason is Jesus!

We must make full use of any window of opportunity when opened by ourselves or others to share the good news of the Gospel.

Often the conversation will be on Life after Death and whilst so many people live life without Jesus they don’t want to risk spending eternity somewhere other than Heaven.

The devil of course has done a good job in blinding people to the truth of Haven and hell and for many people, aware of their sin, its’ easier to pretend that such place does not exist!

So what of your life? Will it lead to Heaven or Hell, or are you not sure?

If you are not sure what you destiny is, would you like to know for sure that you are going to go to Heaven?

Let's start out by asking the following question. In my present condition, am I prepared for Heaven? Well let’s look at what the Bible says:

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,– Romans3:23

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

If I am a sinner, where am I going?

Well again the Bible says: For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire – Revelation 20:15

So what is it that God has done to provide the way to Heaven for me?

The Bible says: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16

What must I do to get to Heaven?

In the Book of Romans we read.: 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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:11-12

So, its’ simple! You need to receive Christ, you should make a confession in prayer to God:

Something like "God I am a sinner, and I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised for my justification. I do now receive and confess Him as My personal Saviour."

How do I know I am on my way to Heaven?

The Bible Says: 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

Therefore, since we have been justified through
faith, wehave peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1

Dr Billy Graham was once asked, ‘are you absolutely sure that you are going to Heaven.’

He replied, ‘I’m absolutely sure’! He went on to say that,’ I may not know the future, but I know who holds my future’, and that of course is Jesus .

Do you have that same assurance? If not, its’ just a prayer away!

Here’s that prayer again.

"God I am a sinner, and I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised for my justification. I do now receive and confess Him as My personal Saviour."

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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

How the cruel words of children can sometimes have a devastating affect on young lives.

Sometimes we are faced with such cruel words that even the schoolyard rhyme of ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ doesn’t help!

Neither are children too familiar with Matthew 5:43-45

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.'"

For all who experienced or still experience bullying and intimidation - Praying for bully wasn't in the forefront of our minds as we spend our time wondering how I could avoid the the physical or verbal terroriser.

I am often amazed at how some people glory in putting other’s down and how but now as an adult when I am on the end of such attacks God reassures me that whatever others may say, to him I am a valuable person:

We read in Psalm 139:13" For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Whether other people notice or not, I am no longer going to let their opinions dictate my life, for I am believing what God says about me. Who knows better, our creator or our harasser?

And to those who have or may still continue to harass, bully and dictate to you, well today take a step of faith, and travel on a road of forgiveness and freedom.

Speak of forgiving someone from your past, and letting go of the pain the person caused you.

Father ,

It is so easy to believe what others think about me. Help me to decipher what is truth and what is nonsense, and what goes against what You say about me. I pray and release past wounds from my past and from recent days. I pray You will restore my adversary to a life worthy of You, and pray the person will also find peace. I want to forgive this person, and ask that this will no longer have a negative effect on my life.

I stake my claim on Psalm 139:14, which says I am wonderfully made.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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I came across this short story recently and originally though
it a little cheezy!

However, the more I pondered on it the more I could relate to its' message.

We all have flaws and none of us is perfect! However God looks not at our flaws and failures and takes us and uses us as we are.

That's why he used Moses and David, Peter with his temper, Thomas and his doubts and how he took a Saul and made Paul - Oh and don't forget you and me!

The Cracked Pot

Moral of the story

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them

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I never ceased to be amazed by God's love for me.

I love to read Romans 8:39 over and over again - 'neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

I came across this lovely piece recently - Its' for all of us!

To A Beautiful Person

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He listens.

He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart.

Isn't that lovely - Thank you Father.

God in the Stairwell

We're approaching the anniversary of July 7th, a year since terrorists attacked London with bombs on packed commuter trains and buses.

My family and I were flying from Las Vegas to Orlando that day and didn't get to hear about the attacks until we awoken in our hotel
by a call from home at around 5am - midday back home in Wales.

After the initial shock of watching the news on CBS I started to wonder and worry about my many friends in London who would regularly use London Transport.

As I waited for our flight to be called I started to text friends to
check that they were all ok and gave thanks to God everytime
a text came back confirming that they were fine!

As we were in the US there was also much talk that day of 9/11, in fact we had visited Ground Zero just the week before as we had travelled to Vegas from New York.

Whilst the scale of the two attacks greatly differed, the pictures from London opened many old wounds for Americans and it was a very tense Las Veags, Denver and Orlando airports that we passed though that day.

On July 7th many people will remember where they were when
they heard the news of the London attacks, just as many still remember where they were on September 11th - maybe this
will help some.

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called
his wife to say "Good-Bye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it,
I was with his wife when he called. I held her up as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me
for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said.

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the
injured. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the frightened souls there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name though not all know Me, Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found, for I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. (Anon)