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Hull's Memorial Baptist Church
 Pastor's Blog 
Monday, June 25 2018

A Test with Hard Questions

 

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s reputation, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.

2 Chronicles 9:1 NLT

 

Conduct a self-test to see if you have been accepted into kindergarten. Then you can dream of applying for graduate school. Personal faith is the basic test. Until you know Jesus Christ as Savior, you are not ready for higher education. As long as you trust in yourself—feeling you are somehow good enough to please Me—you will fail this test. As long as you depend on your imaginary self-righteousness, you will never pass the test of reliance on Christ.

 

With the most basic question settled, you can take the entry-level exam for the University of the Spirit. It is not necessary to endlessly repeat the basic introduction to Christian living. It is mandatory that you grow in Christlikeness and understand the connection of Truth to every life issue. There are many required courses in heaven’s curriculum for the heart—unselfish love, invulnerable joy, indefinable peace, enduring patience, understanding kindness, sacrificial generosity, unflinching faithfulness, angelic gentleness, and supernatural self-control.

 

Life is a test with some hard questions you will have to answer—

 

Are you holy? Are you faithful to Me? How is your thought life? Do your eating and spending habits honor Me?

 

Are you honest? Are you fair? Do you treat other people justly? Do you always choose to do the right thing?

 

Are you humble? Are you for real? Do you know who I am? Do you know who you are? What price tag have you placed on yourself? Do you consider yourself too good to hang out with ordinary folks?

 

Are you happy? Can you lighten up and enjoy life? Uptight?

 

Are you hard working? Planning your work? Working your plan? Zeal for My cause flagging? Warming up for a burnout?

 

Are you heavenly-minded? Current events sadden you? Able to see beyond earth’s turmoil to My promised bright tomorrow?

 

Are you hospitable? Are you friendly? Do you share what I have given you with others who have less?

 

Study for your final exam—score high and graduate with honors.

 

 

© 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

 

 

Posted by: P AT 12:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, June 18 2018

Rembrandt -  Jesus Calming the Storm

  

Lord of your Rocking Boat

 

They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”

Mark 4:41 THE MESSAGE

 

 

I am the Everlasting Father – the God with a loving heart.

     When you feel like frantically pushing the panic button, seek My help.

     Some think it eccentric that you believe I care for you, but you know I do. 

     Let Me carry your burdens for you, so you can travel light.

     Before I sculpted mountains into being, I was your Home – I still am.

     I am the same today I was yesterday, and will be forever – rest assured.

     When life gets crazy, I am your Anchor —

          stabilizing your heart as you ride rapids of changing circumstances,

          building your confidence that you will not drown in responsibilities,

          quelling your anxious hand-wringing in the midst of pandemonium. 

 

 

I am the Prince of Peace – the God of eternal hope.

     I still subdue fierce winds to a gentle breeze – I still calm high seas.

     In fact, people who focus their minds on Me experience perfect peace.

     I raised My Son from the dead, and I give you all you need to do My will. 

     When life gets noisy, I am your Shepherd –

          letting you rest in green meadows, changing accelerando to adagio;

          guiding you by peaceful brooks, changing fortissimo to pianissimo;

          providing a quiet place in hectivity, changing agitato to sostenuto. 

 

 

I am the Wonderful Counselor – the God of emotional healing.

     Faith in Me overcomes fear of anything that would terrorize you.

     The Immortal God is your Helper, so why tremble before mere mortals?

     My grace is with you in every situation, so why go catatonic?

     Enrolled in Adversity University?  Be sure you learn My lessons well.

     Experiencing thunderstorms?  Look for a rainbow after the rain. 

     When life gets stormy, I am your Storm Shelter –

          granting you peace of mind too wonderful for words,

          supernaturally protecting you from all that would harm your soul,

          guarding your life from demonic forces that would tear you apart.

 

 

I am the Mighty God – the God of miraculous help.

     Do not underestimate My ability to handle any crisis that comes your way.

     Life is often problematic for you, but nothing is too hard for Me to handle. 

     My Spirit hovered over the swirling waters of an amorphous earth,

          channeling waters into one place so humans could find a foothold. 

     I have My way in the whirlwind, so do not worry about hurricanes.

     I hush the sea to sleep so you can.

     When life gets chaotic, I am Lord of your rocking boat –

          keeping you safe no matter how threatening the waves,

          directing your course to an ultimate serene harbor,

          keeping your small boat on an even keel on My great sea.

     Who am I?  Trust Me, and find out.

(c) Pastor Johnny Almond 

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

Posted by: Pastor Almond AT 12:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, June 11 2018

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.
Psalm 127:1 NLT

 

I am the Builder of your home.

My power is the foundation of your holiness.

If you do not base your home on My grace, it is a mud hut.

Construction without My Holy Spirit builds a house of cards.

My protection is the fortress of your hope.

 

I am the Beauty of your home.

Alarm systems are useless without My wall of power around you.

Encompassed by My loving care, there is no need to worry at all.

My provision is the food of your health.

 

I supply daily bread for your home.

I give you time to rest; I also set your table lavishly with all you need.

Make Christ the Head of your house—the Unseen Guest at every meal.

 

I give you children—the birthright of your home.

My plan is the family of your help.

Your children reflect heaven’s smile—a reward from the Creator.

 

I grant you good times with your children—the blessing of your home.

My peace is the fun of your happiness.

Be happy for—and with—the children and grandchildren I give you.

“Home is where the heart is, the soul’s bright guiding star.

Home is where real love is, where your own dear ones are” (Anonymous).

 

Positively influence your society through the beliefs of your home.

My Providence is the future of your honor.

Like arrows going where you cannot, your children change the world.

They are your legacy of faith to tomorrow’s culture.

Live so your children and your Heavenly Father can be proud of you!

 

© 2013 Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

 

Posted by: Pastor Almond AT 12:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Wednesday, June 06 2018

Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

 

Believe in Christ and you will develop a new perspective. 

Live by faith in eternal unseen realities, not by trust in temporary things. 

I sprinkle star dust on your heart – think vertically, not just horizontally.

You have inside information – you know I am in control, so you can relax.

Trust Me and enjoy new hope, instead of old despair.

 

Receive My gift of tranquility and you will experience a new peace.   

Those who reject Me cannot find the missing peace they desire.

Those who fix their thoughts on Me know perfect peace only I can give.

Do not push the panic button – pray; do not wring your hands – fold them. 

Lean on My everlasting arms and find new calm, not old pandemonium.

 

Follow My orders and you will discover a new purpose.

Work hard to persuade others to trust Me and you will be My shining star.

Give up your old selfish way – live My new sacrificial way.

I have commissioned you ambassador for the King of kings – serve Me well.

Live with a new motive to honor Me, not an old self-advancing treadmill.

 

Depend on My grace and you will be reinforced with a new power. 

You are only human, so you need divine help with life’s problems.

Seek My face and you can soar above mediocrity, temptation, and lethargy.

I am your secret of courage to whistle in the dark until the tunnel’s end.    

Relying on Me you have heaven’s new enthusiasm, not earth’s old ennui. 

 

Trust in My unfailing love and you will become a new person.  

Invite Me into your heart and I will change you from the inside out. 

Not the same old attitudes, but new ones will revolutionize your life.

My Spirit makes new hearts, My Breath new vitality, My Word new people.  

Give up your old way of death, and enjoy My new way of life. 

 

Yield to My control, and you will be transformed by a new process. 

Gradually, gracefully ... I work to change you for the better. 

My dream and your destiny is that you will ultimately become like Christ.

The supernatural process will continue until you see Me face to face. 

The new metamorphosis is undoubtedly better than sin’s old slippery slope.

 

It is always springtime in hearts surrendered to the One who makes all new.

Freshness flows from My nature – newness originates in My mind. 

Everything about those who sincerely believe in Me is brand new.

NEWNESS in all things is the hallmark of people who give Me their heart.   

 

© Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

 

Posted by: Pastor Almond AT 12:34 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, June 04 2018

Those who become Christians become new persons.
They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

 

Believe in Christ and you will develop a new perspective. 

Live by faith in eternal unseen realities, not by trust in temporary things. 

I sprinkle star dust on your heart – think vertically, not just horizontally.

You have inside information – you know I am in control, so you can relax.

Trust Me and enjoy new hope, instead of old despair.

 

Receive My gift of tranquility and you will experience a new peace.   

Those who reject Me cannot find the missing peace they desire.

Those who fix their thoughts on Me know perfect peace only I can give.

Do not push the panic button – pray; do not wring your hands – fold them. 

Lean on My everlasting arms and find new calm, not old pandemonium.

 

Follow My orders and you will discover a new purpose.

Work hard to persuade others to trust Me and you will be My shining star.

Give up your old selfish way – live My new sacrificial way.

I have commissioned you ambassador for the King of kings – serve Me well.

Live with a new motive to honor Me, not an old self-advancing treadmill.

 

Depend on My grace and you will be reinforced with a new power. 

You are only human, so you need divine help with life’s problems.

Seek My face and you can soar above mediocrity, temptation, and lethargy.

I am your secret of courage to whistle in the dark until the tunnel’s end.    

Relying on Me you have heaven’s new enthusiasm, not earth’s old ennui. 

 

Trust in My unfailing love and you will become a new person.  

Invite Me into your heart and I will change you from the inside out. 

Not the same old attitudes, but new ones will revolutionize your life.

My Spirit makes new hearts, My Breath new vitality, My Word new people.  

Give up your old way of death, and enjoy My new way of life. 

 

Yield to My control, and you will be transformed by a new process. 

Gradually, gracefully ... I work to change you for the better. 

My dream and your destiny is that you will ultimately become like Christ.

The supernatural process will continue until you see Me face to face. 

The new metamorphosis is undoubtedly better than sin’s old slippery slope.

 

It is always springtime in hearts surrendered to the One who makes all new.

Freshness flows from My nature – newness originates in My mind. 

Everything about those who sincerely believe in Me is brand new.

NEWNESS in all things is the hallmark of people who give Me their heart.   

 

 

© Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

 

Posted by: Pastor Almond AT 12:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
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    Hull's Memorial Baptist Church
    420 Enon Road | Fredericksburg, VA 22406 | PH: 540.371.4124