As I was walking along I saw your many altars. 
One had this inscription on it—“To an Unknown God.”

You have been worshiping him without knowing who he is,

        and now I wish to tell you about him.

                         Acts 17:23 NLT
 

I am not a founder of a religion—I am the Redeemer.

     On the altar of Calvary, believe Me and know complete salvation.
 

I am not a teacher of a philosophy—I am the Prince of Peace.

     On the altar of reverence, seek Me and know indefinable serenity.
 

I am not a charlatan—I am the Wonderful Counselor.

     On the altar of faith, follow Me and know unflinching assurance.
 

I am not an abstraction—I am the Almighty.

     On the altar of expectation, depend on Me and know graceful strength.
 

I am not a security blanket—I am the Savior.

     On the altar of repentance, receive Me and know unfailing love.
 

I am not a concept—I am the Creator.

     On the altar of humility, recognize Me and know ultimate meaning.
 

I am not a hallucination—I am your Helper.

     On the altar of trust, rely on Me and know unflappable equanimity.
 

I am not a superstition—I am the Sovereign.

     On the altar of wisdom, learn of Me and know infinite worth.
 

I am not a fabrication—I am your Friend.

     On the altar of truth, walk with Me and know heavenly compassion.
 

I am not a lunatic—I am Lord of all.

     On the altar of surrender, give Me your heart and know total freedom.
 

I am not a creed—I am the Christ.

     On the altar of sincerity, obey Me and know perfect reality.

 

  © Pastor Johnny R. Almond                 Day 330, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen   

   as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.     

        Watch [be cautious and active] for you do not know

              in what kind of a day your Lord is coming.

                  Matthew 24:27, 42  AMPLIFIED BIBLE
 

My return will be evident to skeptics—the end of the world for atheists.  

   Those who thought it would never happen will be convinced—too late.    

   My Presence will be as obvious as lightning lighting up the entire sky.      

   The Second Coming is more than a doctrine—it will really happen.  

   You can count on it—you have My Word.

   The King’s return will be unmistakable.

My return will be exciting to saints—the ecstasy of worship for believers.  

   The King of kings will unite unsettled nations and rule the universe.

   The surprise and shock will be more than many people can bear.

   The Second Coming will bring the future perfect tense I have promised.

   Everything will be transformed for the better when I put My foot down.

   The King’s return will be unimaginably beautiful.

My return will be enlightening to the sincere—

   the encouragement of wonder for the redeemed.

   The triumph of righteousness will obliterate the darkness of evil.

   Constellations will fade in the light of the Bright Morning Star.

   To the lost, My return will mean tragedy—outer darkness with no exit.  

   To the saved, My Second Coming will mean triumph—eternal light.

   The King’s return will bring unending celebration.

My return will be embarrassing to the slothful—

   the exposing of waste to the lazy.

   The unprepared will blush with shame—and cry tears of futile regret.

   The King’s return, to them, will be uncomfortable—to say the least.

Are you surrendered to Me as your King? Then be subject to change!

Are you convinced I am actually going to return? Then live like it!

Are you persuaded you have an interview with Me? Then get ready!

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond            Day 311, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past,

          but now it has been revealed to his own holy people. 

               For it has pleased God to tell his people that

       the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too.  

                  For this is the secret: Christ lives in you,

and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.

                                       Colossians 1:26-27 NLT

Christ’s promise in your mind is your hope of an eternal destiny of joy.

Christ’s love in your heart is your absolute guarantee of a heavenly home.

Christ’s Spirit in your soul is your personal security you are bound for glory. 

Christ’s presence in your life is your foretaste of glory divine. 

The entire universe with its innumerable galaxies cannot contain God—

     yet God has taken up residence in the hearts of all who welcome His Son.

Because Christ lives in you—

     you can count on inheriting the blessing of sharing in His glorious reign; 

     you have been rescued from the dark side, and live as a child of the Light;

     you have been made a privileged citizen of His eternal Kingdom;

     you have been freed from sin’s addiction and destructiveness;

     you have been forgiven of sin’s guilt, and can face eternity fearlessly.

Certainty of eternal life is not based on doubtful faith, but trusting reliance. 

Promised glory is not mere wishful thinking—God’s promises will materialize. 

Your ultimate destination is a land beyond time, change and decay.

     Heaven on earth will be a deathless, tearless, painless, sinless place.

Looking forward to the ecstasy of infinite glory—

     you are motivated by a changed purpose—Christ, not yourself;

     you anticipate a changed destiny—heaven, not hell;

     you demonstrate a changed lifestyle—holiness, not wickedness.

Identified with Christ, you are victorious over sin and death now;

     and you are destined for unimaginable glory someday—

     more beautiful than any painting can picture,

     more joyous than any symphony can convey,

     more magnificent than any literature can describe.  

Roman generals returning from victory were greeted by a great procession

     lining streets and cheering, vanquished troops marching in chains,

     strange animals brought from subjugated lands, musicians and singers    

    celebrating conquests, his children robed in white riding trace horses,

     a slave riding with him in his chariot holding a crown for him

     and whispering in his ear, “All glory is fleeting.” And so it is. 

The one exception is Christ’s glory awaiting you—it is not too good to last.

An eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison will reward your faith. 

 

(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond                               

                                           Gentle Whispers from Eternity

The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.  
   Isaiah 12:2 NLT

How can you go on when you feel like giving up?

     How can you face another day if you don’t want to get out of bed?    

          My power is the answer to your problem of weakness.

You can be stronger than you feel achievable—if you let Me carry you.

You can accomplish everything I ask of you if you rely on My grace.

You can survive harrowing situations if you trust Me.

You can be ready for anything the future holds if you lean hard on Me.
You can be victorious over evil habits if you depend on My Holy Spirit.
You can avoid self-pitying quicksand if you stand on the Rock of Ages.
You can hang in there when you are bone-tired and weary if you pray.

You can persevere until the finish line if you stay focused on the cross.
 

How can you celebrate when the world is falling apart?

     How can you rejoice even in the midst of discouraging circumstances?   

          My peace is the answer to your problem of woe.
 

You can be happier than you think possible—if you let Me comfort you.

You can be optimistic about a bright future if you believe My promises.
You can learn to dance for joy even on cloudy days if you follow My lead.
You can have cascading joy in a sad world if you drink of My Spirit.

You can get over singing the blues if you listen to My toe-tapping jazz.
You can know peace in pandemonium if you keep your mind on Me.
 

How can you find real significance in a society playing trivial pursuit?

     How can you make God’s dream for your life come true?

          My purpose is the answer to your problem of wandering.
 

You can be nobler than you deem attainable—if you let Me control you

You can find an exciting reason for living if you honor the King of kings.
You can be resurrected above narcissistic culture if you bury your self.

You can aim for goals death cannot kill if you think vertically.

 

© Johnny R. Almond             

                                    Day 265, Gentle Whispers from Eternity