3.  Matthew 5:10, 12 -- “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great….”

4.  Matthew 8:11 – I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven….

5.  Matthew 7:11 -- If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

6.  Matthew 25:19-22 -- … “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

7.  “His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or storytelling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Evil things did not come into that valley.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

8.  “…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

9.  “In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.” –Friedrich Neitzsche  “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers  “If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I don’t wanna go….” Hank Williams

10.  It keeps me focused  Colossians 3:1-2 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

11.  1 Peter 1:13 – Therefore prepare your minds for actions, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

12.  2 Corinthians 5:1-4, 6 –  In this house we groan  We want to be clothed and swallowed up by life  “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord….”

13.  We are not of night nor of darkness  Let us be sober  God has destined us for obtaining salvation  “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

14.  Revelation 21:4 – “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and their will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have past…”

15.  2 Timothy 4:8 – “…in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

16.  As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

17.  “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”