This precious treasure – light and power that now shine within us – is held in fragile clay jars, that is, in our weak bodies.

Everyone can see our glorious power is from God and not our own. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

2 Corinthians 4:7, 16 NLT

Forever light on Christ’s face is My best portrait—Incarnate Truth.

Light beyond light is your Center of Gravity.

Here is the Greatest Reality you can ever ponder:

I Will Always Be Who I Have Always Been—I have always loved you, and I always will.

Get to know My Son better—enjoy the pleasure of His company.

Frail life of clay is a container of boundless power—interior treasure.

Your human body is mortal, finite, limited by space and time.

Yet I choose to make your heart My home.

I am Light in your darkness—the dark side cannot conquer My love.

I am Power in your weakness—the evil one cannot vanquish My grace.

Avoid staggering in dirty places—walk as a child of the Light.

Finish line is the challenge to believing perseverance—intense trial.

Endurance is underrated—those who finish the race win My smile.

When perplexed, pray—gaze again at My cross and hang on.

When tempted by easier roads, refuse to compromise—soldier on.

Do not let fatigue or criticism force you to resign—re-sign and work on!

I remember you are weak—remember I am strong, and you will make it.

Forward look is the celebration of beautiful paradise—infinite triumph.

Discouraged? You are headed for a sinless, deathless, painless place.

Disappointed by false advertising? Heaven is not too good to be true.

Disillusioned by fleeting pleasures? Heaven is not too good to last.

One day, in eternity, you will join saints and angels in celestial hallelujahs.

Until then—today, in time, praise Me with clay hallelujahs.

© 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

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

The world is the object of My love.

Looking down from heaven, I dearly prized the people of all nations.

Understanding the hopelessness of the human situation,

     I compassionately and mercifully provided a perfect solution.

Observing sinners scurrying around like cockroaches in dark alleys,

     I sent Holy Light to show them a nobler way to live.

My Son is the offering of My love.

I am Love—I proved it once and for all by sending Jesus to earth

     to make it possible for you to be My friend forever.

I did not dispatch My Son to condemn and pass sentence on you—

     but to forgive you of your transgressions.

The bloody sacrifice on Skull Hill was the highest price He could pay.

He suffered excruciatingly when He took your sins on His shoulders.

Belief is the opportunity of my love.

Relying on Jesus places you in My eternal care.

Believing means more than nodding your head in mental assent—

     it means trusting His words and relying on Him for power to change.

Jesus’ death on the cross is the only remedy for your sin.

Your eternal destiny hinges on what you do with My Son.

Eternal life is the optimism of My love.

Not guilty is the verdict I reach when you kneel in repentance and faith.

Safe and sound is your ensured state when you surrender to Me.

Eternal life is not just living forever—without Me, that would be hell.

Eternal life is a new earthly life in time—

     and a heavenly life without death, sickness, or evil in eternity.

How can you be sure I will honor this insurance policy? You have My Word.

 © 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Holy Hurricane

Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind –

no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building.

Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks and they

started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

Acts 2:2-4 THE MESSAGE

Let My Divine Wind blow through your life and cleanse you of iniquity.

     I sweep away moral trash if you turn your heart in My direction.

     I move you toward My will if you turn your heart away from all evil.

     I flood you with light if you firmly refuse to walk in perverse darkness. 

     I purify you if you let My holy hurricane roar through your inner being.

     I burn away undesirable elements if you let Me baptize you with fire.

     I reassure you of My love if you nestle near My heart and detest sin.

     I give you joy too wonderful for words if you trust My omniscient mind.

Let My Vitalizing Breath ignite your passion and set your soul aflame.

     I resurrect you to new life if you desert your egocentric deadness.

     I soak you with My Spirit Rain if you grow tired of emotional drought.

     I help the young envision a brighter future if you believe My promises.

     I help the old dream of a painless, tearless, deathless day if you trust Me.

     I let you find life’s noblest purpose if you serve Me wholeheartedly.

     I enrich your life infinitely more than you could ever ask, wish, or imagine.   

     I embolden you to live courageously if you hold My omnipotent hand.

Let My Holy Spirit change you from the inside out and revolutionize your life.

     I cheer your heart if you become intoxicated with heaven’s sweet wine.

     I lead you to know the truth if you turn a deaf ear to Satan’s propaganda.

     I help you speak My native tongue if you are weary of the Devil’s dialect.

     I teach you to speak beautiful languages if you really want to learn them –

         sacrificial love, not selfish talk;  invulnerable joy, not ungrateful whining;

         calm peace, not restless chatter;  lasting patience, not ignorant criticism;

         kindness, not insensitive small talk;  lavish generosity, not stingy self-talk;

         dutiful loyalty, not dropout talk;  angelic gentleness, not rude sarcasm;

         supernatural self-control, not indulgent devil speak.

     I inspire spontaneous creativity if you do not extinguish My eternal flame.

     I energize you to do what pleases Me if you rely on My unlimited grace.

     I empower you to accomplish all I ask if you trust My almighty power.

     I steady your life as your Center of Gravity if you practice My Presence.

     I grant you the pleasure of my company if you seek My omnipresent Spirit.

© 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said,

“What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you!”

2 Chronicles 1:7 NLT

I am the Omnipresent God. I do not give you an Aladdin’s lamp you can rub to make a genie appear who will grant three selfish wishes. I do something better—I give you My Word lamp to guide on right paths. Far superior to a fairy-tale spirit who does your bidding, I am your Travel Companion on life’s highway who answers your prayers in line with My perfect will.

Wish for serenity in a chaotic world—I will grant it. Yearn for peace in pandemonium—I will bless you with it. Desperately need Me—I will be with you every hour, day and night, around the clock.

I am the Omnipotent God. I am infinite; you are finite. I am immortal; you are mortal. I am almighty; you are frail.

Wish for strength to meet life’s challenges—I will grant it. Plead for power to deal with problems—I will give what you need. Seek wisdom to know how to live—I will bless your mind. Pray for backbone to follow through when I show you the right way—I will fortify your will. Set your heart on soaring above mediocrity, running faster than sin, and walking farther than faintheartedness—I will make it happen.

I am the Omniscient God. Reverence for Me is the first thing you need to learn. Respecting Me is the fundamental principle of faith. Fear of Jehovah is a kindergarten lesson—you will never know anything until you know Me. I am Alpha—the beginning of grace. I am Omega—the end of truth. I am Heaven’s Holy Alphabet of reality from A to Z. Wisdom’s treasures are hidden in Christ—the better acquainted you are with Him, the wiser you will be.

Wish for sagacity to make wise choices morally, physically, relationally, and spiritually—I will grant it. Yearn for perspective on puzzling situations—I will provide behind-the-scenes insight into providence. My power working within you can do infinitely more than you can wish.

Dare to ask for more than skeptics think possible, to hope for more than worldlings think credible, to dream for more than cynics think logical, and to wish for more than atheists and agnostics think attainable. Remember who I am—no fanciful genie, the Faithful God!

Wish on the Bright Morning Star who inspires your long nights, illuminates your confusing mazes, and energizes your weak knees—and everything your heart desires will come to you.

© 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity