Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.
                            When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
                                So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
                                  you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
                                                         James 1:2-4 NLT

Persevere in trouble—and you will be able to rejoice whatever happens.
     I am the Song of your heart.
     When you feel like quitting, gaze again at the cross and keep on going.
     Do not try to pray your way out of trouble—pray your way through it.
     In your trial by fire, I am the Fourth Man.
     Hard times do not last forever—after a long dark night there is a dawn.
     Stoics take it on the chin and grit their teeth, somberly trudging ahead.
     Epicureans party and try to forget difficulties, joking until the hangover.
     Christians trust Me and experience joy beyond description.
     The human situation is dark chaos—but My Spirit is your Night Light.
     Wait on Me—last and you will laugh.

Purify your thoughts—and you will be refined from the inside out.
     I am the Sanctifier of your mind.
     I allow trials to test your faith and produce unalloyed devotion.
     In 1787, John Keith composed “How Firm a Foundation,”
          a hymn that beautifully describes My intention for your life:
          “The flame shall not hurt you; I only design your dross to consume,
               and your gold to refine.”
     To win over sin, daily internalize and treasure My Holy Word.
     Worship Me—learn My lessons and walk in My light.

Prepare for tomorrow—and you will be ready to meet Me face to face.
     I am the Strength of your soul.
     Whatever I ask of you, I enable you to accomplish.
     Faith under fire is a character-building experience.
     Flames leap high in the crucible—impurity burned away, I see My face.
     Let Me work in you—yield to Me as your Lord and truly live.

                                         
© By Pastor Johnny R. Almond          Day 356, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Even though Jesus was God’s Son,
    he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest,   
    he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
                  Hebrews 5:8-9 NLT

        Sallman  Head of Christ
 

Christ is perfectly sinless—unstained among human beings.
     He felt the full spectrum of temptation, yet never once gave in to evil.
     Pilate could not find a flaw in him—no honest person ever has.
     He is the Gracious Redeemer and the Sweetest Friend.

Christ is powerfully sovereign—uncontestable by earth’s rulers.
     He alone has the authority to order our unquestioning obedience.
     He alone deserves our undivided allegiance.
     He is the Gentle Ruler and the Strongest Force.


Christ is permanently stable—unchanging in life’s twists and turns.
     He will never let you down—He is your Solid Rock in trouble’s quicksand.
     He will never lead you astray—He is your Compass in the world’s confusion.
     Abraham’s Provider is your Confidence for tomorrow.
     Moses’ Banner is your Victory over spiritual enemies.
     Jacob’s Dream is your Vision of a bright future.
     Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors is your Greatest Blessing.
     Isaiah’s Commander is the Hand on your shoulder.
     Daniel’s Decisiveness is your Noblest Purpose.
     Job’s Optimism is your Ultimate Hope.
     David’s Joy is your Morning Song.
     Paul’s Hallelujah is your Secret of perseverance.
     Peter’s Faith is your Motivation to make a conscious effort.
     John’s Revelation is your Bright Morning Star.
     He is the Great Reality and the Surest Foundation.

                                                      © By Pastor Johnny R. Almond               

                                       Day 355, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

     When you hear about wars and rumors of wars, be not alarmed; for it must be so, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall revolt against nation.  Mark 13:7-8a 

     Sadly, the world seems to thrive on war. Estimates for the total number of people killed in wars throughout all of human history range from 150 million to 1 billion. One war leads to another, then another. Retaliation kills and destroys, but does nothing to stop the deadly vicious cycle of greed and hatred. Combat’s bloody holocaust goes on and on, generation after generation, disturbing the peace of the world.

     The pages of history are stained by the blood of millions slaughtered by killing machines, and civilians caught in the crossfire. Beautiful landscapes have been spoiled by rampaging armies trying to annihilate each other. Rolling hills and grassy slopes of Civil War battlefield sites today look nothing like they did when they were pockmarked by exploding artillery shells and covered in thousands of mangled bodies. World War I and World War II battles are romanticized in movies, but there was nothing pretty about any of them. Martin Luther said “cannons and fire-arms are cruel and damnable machines; I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the Devil. If Adam had seen in a vision the horrible instruments his children were to invent, he would have died of grief.” I wonder what Luther would say today about cruise missiles and nuclear weapons of mass destruction?

     Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “There never was a good war or a bad peace.”

Diplomacy only temporarily halts fighting. Sanctions do little to halt combat. Pacifism rarely softens militant hearts. Israel’s David’s Sling and Iron Dome stopped most of Iran’s drones and missiles. But what will happen next—a wider war in the Middle East, American involvement, World War III, Armageddon?   

     Will the next war be “the war to end all wars”? We’ve heard that before, so have reason to be skeptical. It looks like it will take the Lord of Hosts, the Captain of Heaven’s Armies, to finally put an end to the insane cycle of war. “He shall arbitrate between nations and decide disputes for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.”  (Isaiah 2:4 MLB). God speed the day!

By Pastor Johnny R. Almond         

From twelve until three o’clock darkness settled over the whole country;

and at three o’clock Jesus cried with a great voice,

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:33-34 MLB
 

     When Jesus was crucified, a midnight shroud of darkness hung around the shuddering shoulders of the world.  Jesus felt He was in a God-forsaken place.

The word “eclipse” is from the Greek ekleipsis, meaning to forsake or abandon.

     Seeing darkness in Egypt, historian Diogenes said, “One of two things is happening. Either the world is coming to an end, or God himself is dying.” Obviously, the world didn’t end, though some today see an eclipse as a sign of end times, based on Matthew 24:29-30 (“After the tribulation the sun will be darkened. Then will the sign of the Son of Man be shown in the sky. They will see the Son of Man coming on clouds of heaven with great power and glory.”)

     In the darkness obscuring that cross, the Son of God was dying for the sins of the world. “Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut his glories in when Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man, the creature’s, sin.” (Isaac Watts)

     Those who trust and follow the Savior “show others the goodness of God, who called us out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)  Jesus Christ is the Light of the world—our hope in the shadowlands of a despairing world, our confidence in the chaos of a disturbing world, our joy in the sadness of a dying world.  

     The Creator of the sun, the moon and hundreds of billions of galaxies whispered the universe into being. The Redeemer forgives everyone who accepts His grace. The Spirit within our hearts befriends us through all our years. One day we’ll live in a city where there is “no night—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them.” (Revelation 22:5 NLT) Until we see his face, may we never allow anything to eclipse our humble gratitude for His eternal love.

                                                                                                                                                                              © 2024 By Pastor Johnny R. Almond                   

         The Incomparable Christ

In these final days, God has spoken to us through his Son.
Through the Son he made the universe and everything in it.

The Son reflects God’s glory; everything about him represents God exactly.
                              Hebrews 1:2-3a NLT

        Sallman Head of Christ

 

Christ is Heaven’s Vicar—God’s One and Only Son, totally like the Father.
     No one else exactly reflects God’s kind nature and His holy purpose.
     Worshiping him with all our heart is the recipe for effervescent joy.
     He is the Way, Truth, and Life—the Sculptor of the universe.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Vitality—God’s Resurrection, triumphing over death.
     No one else can create life from nothing.
     Marveling at his awesome creativity is the secret of appreciating beauty.
     He is the Good Shepherd—the Sustainer of all creation.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Virtue—God’s Goodness, guiding us mercifully in the maze.
     No one else can be our Center of Gravity when everything falls apart.
     Depending on him when perplexities crowd our heart is the recipe for calm.
     He is the Lamb of God—the Savior of sinners.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Vindication—God’s pardon, dismissing hell’s case against us.

     No one else can forgive transgressions and make our soul white as snow.
     Trusting his love when guilt burdens is the only way we can learn to sing.
     He is the King of kings—the Sovereign of eternity.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Victory—God’s authority, presiding over the final judgment.
     No one else is worthy of reigning over every nation and every heart.
     Submitting to his plan is the road to discovering a purposeful life.
     He is the Light of the world—the Star of bright morning.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Vision—God’s promise, painting a bright future for believers.
     No one else can solve the world’s intractable problems.
     Hoping in the Prince of Peace is the ultimate antidote to despair.
     He is the Alpha and Omega—the Song in the night.
 

Christ is Heaven’s Vocabulary—God’s Holy Alphabet, all He has to say to earth.
     No one else perfectly understands the heart of God.
     Paying careful attention to his voice is the path to timeless, infinite wisdom.

     He is the Word of grace and truth—the Spokesperson for God.

© By Pastor Johnny R. Almond                   Day 354, Gentle Whispers from Eternity