There the Israelites sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Yes, sing about it!”  (Numbers 21:17 NLT)

Ancient Hebrews were healed by a trusting look at a stinging serpent on a pole—we journey toward real life as we gaze in faith at God’s Son on a cross. If we get depressed and impatient because of life’s difficult score, our Savior teaches us how to sing. Jesus is our Salvation from sin, our Strength for the struggle, and our Song in sadness.

Whatever our situation, we are never in a God-forsaken place! We can sing even in the desert if we delight in the Master of Melody. The Lord satisfies our soul with a perpetual spring of joy even if we should feel like hanging up our harp.

The world cannot match heaven’s sweet air. The siren song of transient pleasures cannot compare to the symphony of infinite joy. The Holy Spirit in our innermost being inspires a rousing victory march. In God’s perfect timing, we will join in an international praise song to the King of the universe—until then, we can stay in step with the Spirit cadence with an optimistic spring in our step. We are dust, but God is Infinite Power—we will not fall out of the ranks if we depend on the Almighty to reinforces us to battle sin and win. Marching in Christ’s triumphal procession, we are honored to sing a glorious strain in harmony with the church triumphant.

The Lord composes a brand new chorus for us every morning. By grace, we can sing out a fresh carol in His honor each day we live—offering an original and creative melody to our listening audience. There is no reason we should ever communicate boredom with a repetitive singsong chant.

Our Father’s promises compose a visionary anthem that sustains us in chaos and loneliness. The keynote of heaven’s hopeful music inspires nocturnal melodies. In the shadowlands of time, we listen for the melody of eternity—banking on God’s promise of heaven on earth materializing at sunrise.

Fear cannot mute grace notes written in our heart by faith. In anxiety-producing circumstances, God’s unfailing care sings a ballad of courage to our soul. In discord, God’s calming peace is our Background Music. In overwhelming responsibilities, the Lord hums a heavenly tune in our ear so we can keep calm and carry on. How can we keep from singing? 

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotional based on day 87 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“You will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea.”  (Numbers16:28 NIV)

Our idea is prestige, but God has a better idea—purpose.  By providential brush strokes, God is painting a masterpiece on the canvas of our circumstances to unveil His grace to the world. With heaven’s help, we can put spiritual adolescence behind us, refuse to be treated as Egypt’s adopted child, and grow up.

Our idea is sinning for pleasure’s sake, but God has a better idea—suffering for His Name’s sake. It is foolish to revel in earth’s transient thrills; it is the highest wisdom to travel the harder, higher path. Christ agonized for us; so we should agonize for Him.

Our idea is accumulating more stuff, but God has a better idea—investing  in lasting treasures. Linking happiness to things is insane. Dividing allegiance between God and money is impossible.

Our idea is fear, but God has a better idea—faith. There is no need to tremble before the pharaoh of hell. We can exit Egypt and travel heavenward, persevering by focusing the eyes of our heart on the Invisible King. When storms rock our boat, we should not panic that we might drown—Jesus still  hushes the sea to sleep and calms frazzled nerves. The Spirit Wind will guide us to a tranquil harbor.

Our idea is selfishness, but God has a better idea—service. To be a star for Jesus, we must be a servant. To truly live, we must give.

Our idea is comfort, but God has a better idea—a caring heart. Emulating Christ’s example, we will live a life of love.

Our idea is carnality, but God has a better idea—Christlikeness. Hammer blows sculpt us into His image. Pain precedes perfection.

Our idea is materialism, but God has a better idea—mission. Regarding disgrace for the Messiah’s sake of greater value than Nile stock, we strike out for the desert with our heart set on the Promised Land.

With all our mind, we should learn God’s ideas. With all our soul, we should internalize God’s ideas. With all our heart, we should value God’s ideas. With all our strength, we should activate God’s ideas.

If we let God think His thoughts through us, our ideas will begin to look a little bit like His.

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

This devotional is based on Day 86 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized

“You must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach the tassels at each corner with a blue cord. The tassels will remind you of the commands of the Lord, and that you are to obey his commands instead of following your own desires and going your own ways as you are prone to do.”  (Numbers 15:38-39 NLT)

God encircles us with many object lessons designed to charm us to His side. If we are wise, we will pay close attention to the memos He posts:

The cross of Jesus—preaching heaven’s free pardon of our sins, singing of mercy in the maze, inspiring endurance when we are tempted to abandon our mission.

The Book from Heaven—jogging our mind to review our Master’s blueprint for life, raising sights above mundane trivia to eternal realities, keeping us from sin.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit in our heart—an Infallible, Built-in Guidance System to keep us on target morally.

Beautiful, magnificently designed earth, sun, moon, and stars—a billboard publicizing our Father’s sovereignty, awesome power, and loving care.

Our spouse and children—signs of God’s love, solving the problem of loneliness.

Challenges and responsibilities of our work—reminding us of Providence in guiding us into avenues of service honoring the Name above all names.

The church—a loving family, encouraging us to activate good deeds and avoid unholy living in light of Christ’s imminent return.

A table loaded with delicious food—illustrating God’s ability to always provide more than enough to meet our every need.

History—a rearview mirror reflecting tragic consequences of rebellion against God, chronicling Hebrew recalcitrance and prompting us to learn from their mistakes.

Heaven help us to see with our heart—so we can marvel at encompassing traces of grace from the God who loves us, go beyond pondering His memos to conscientiously follow His cues, avoid distraction by the ten thousand lures of the evil one, and stay faithful to the God we love.

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia  

This devotion based on Day 85 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized

Panorama Overlook

Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

“Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” (Numbers 14:24 NIV)

In a dark world, the hearts of Christians are illuminated by pure radiant light. The demonic spirit of the age advocates and applauds sexual immorality, violence, quarreling, selfish ambition, bigotry, envy, and drunkenness. In stark contrast, when believers permit the Holy Spirit to control our lives, God makes all the difference in the world in the way we interact with people.

The Holy Spirit gives a different spirit of love—we live sacrificially, not selfishly.

The Holy Spirit grants a different spirit of joy—we sing, and do not mope in sadness.

The Holy Spirit blesses with a different spirit of peace—we are serene, and do not sigh. 

The Holy Spirit furnishes a different spirit of patience—we are steady, not stormy.  

The Holy Spirit supplies a different spirit of kindness—we are sincere, not sarcastic.

The Holy Spirit confers a different spirit of goodness—we share, and do not snub.

The Holy Spirit bestows a different spirit of faithfulness—we are single-minded, not spiritually schizophrenic.

The Holy Spirit provides a different spirit of gentleness—we are sensitive, not severe.

The Holy Spirit reinforces with a different spirit of self-control—we are sane,  not simpleminded. 

Beyond the reach of change and decay, there is a beautiful Promised Land waiting for all who hear the beat of a Different Drummer—and stay in step.    

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

This devotion based on Day 84 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

“Thou art the Sun of other days, They shine by giving back thy rays.”   (John Keble: The Christian Year)

“’Dear woman, why are you crying?’ Jesus asked her. ‘Who are you looking for?’ ‘Mary!’ Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is Hebrew for ‘Teacher’). Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, ‘I have seen the Lord!’   (John 20:15, 16, 18 NLT)

The sight of the stone rolled away from the tomb entrance, the folded linen cloth, the absence of the corpse—none of these moved Mary to thoughts of resurrection. The riddle of Jesus’ disappearance remained unsolved.

“They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.” Her logic is faultless. Dead bodies do not just disappear—someone has to move them. We live by laws of motion and mechanics. Science, reasoning, and perception are based upon the familiar and predictable; only what has happened before can happen now—or so we think.

Then Mary hears the One who had been certified as dead call her by name. Like the voice that shatters glass, the voice of Jesus shattered her world—calling her forward to new possibility and a new future.

“Rabboni!” (my very own Teacher) she cries out to Jesus. Then she communicated this too-good-to-keep-to-herself good news to the world. She did not shout, “I have seen the empty tomb and that proves Jesus is alive” The empty tomb never proved anything. The greatest argument for the Resurrection is personal encounter with the living Lord.

If something very real had not occurred on that strange, confused morning, there would have been no church, Christianity, or New Testament. Some still attempt to reduce Jesus’ resurrection to the coming of spring bringing life to the dead earth, or the rebirth of hope in the despairing soul. Some suggest these are the miracles that the Resurrection is all about, but they are not. In some way these things are miracles, but they are not this miracle—the central miracle on which the entire Christian faith pivots.

Konrad Adenaur, post WWII chancellor of West Germany, remarked, “If Jesus Christ is not alive, then I see no hope for the world.”  Because He is alive, we are filled with hope that our living Lord will one day solve intractable problems politicians, scientists, philosophers, economists, and warriors have for generations been unable to deal with.

Have you seen the Lord with heart sight? Have you heard him call your name? Have you fell at his feet and called him Rabboni?  Is Jesus your very own Teacher—leading you to see timeless truth. Is Jesus your Defense Counsel—defending you from guilt? Is Jesus your greatest Friend—letting you enjoy the pleasure of his company? Have you received his blessing, “Peace be with you”?

“There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine - Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.” (“In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty)

Easter changed the world--How has it changed you? 

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

“Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land. We can certainly conquer it!’” (Numbers 13:30 NLT)

“They can conquer who believe they can.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Poise is rare. Very few people remain calm in chaos. The poisonous majority report caused panic. Reconnaissance revealed a rich, fertile soil. A team transported a cluster of grapes from the milk-and-honey land, but cowards kept shaking because of phantom giants. Intimidated by walled cities, would-be warriors became grasshoppers.

Bad press discourages people. Chasing possibilities, they wonder—“How will it all turn out? Will we survive?” When a formidable situation makes your heart pound, take a deep breath—God’s Spirit will soothe your jangled nerves. When you are worried, the Lord is your Comforter. When you are paralyzed by fears, He is your Encourager. When you vacillate with uncertainty, He is your Counselor. He repairs frayed outlooks and heals hypertension. Even if stormy waters lie ahead on your voyage, you can sail through troubled seas on an even keel because He is at the helm.

“What is the use?” skeptics question. “Why try to do what is right? It does not pay to be good.” But defeatist thinking is a downward spiral of moral rottenness and spiritual ruin. You cannot speak for everyone, but make the personal choice of courage—take “the road less traveled.”

Christlikeness is the Christian’s promised land. We still have a long way to go to fulfill heaven’s dream for our life—to be like God’s Son. We are not totally mature, but we are in the process of growing up. We are not pure gold, but we are in His crucible.

Positivism is a by-product of faith in God. Doing “the impossible” is His everyday work. A “can-do” attitude tackles tasks the incredulous would never dare. With Christ’s help, we are strong enough for everything He assigns. His cross is a plus sign. His company is the secret to surviving any situation.

Without God, we cannot win; with God, we cannot lose. Faith brandishes the Holy Spirit sword and slays giants of defeatism. Faith uses God’s infinite power as a battering ram to demolish walls of pessimism. We do not fight alone—God is with us on the front line! We trust the Living Lord, the Victor over sin and death—so we can relax, assured we will ultimately share Christ’s victory. “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark” (Rabindranath Tagore).

By faith, we rejoice in our eternal partnership with the risen Lord. In joy, we re-voice our Spirit-inspired optimism!

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 83 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." (C. S. Lewis) 

There are no easy steps to humility, but here are ten hard ones—

1)       Respect God.  Observe the canopy of constellations He whispered into being and ask yourself, “Who am I that God should care about me?”

2)       Submit to God’s sovereignty. Life built without God is a sand-castle that washes away in the overpowering tide of circumstances. One infinitely greater than you existed eons before your birth. Remember God is God and you are not.

3)       Practice downward mobility. You have a choice to make in life—humiliation or humility. Haughtiness invariably bursts your balloon. Meekness under the authority of Earth’s CEO trains you to reign with Him.

4)       Relax in God’s Presence. Do not feel totally, eternally, irrevocably responsible for everything—that’s God’s job, a position far beyond your pay grade.

5)       Conduct a realistic assessment of your gifts. Whatever skills and talents you have are blessings from heaven. So you should not get struck on yourself.

6)       Exercise self-discipline. To prevent doing something you would regret for years, you need to control your impulses and thoughts. You must crucify your ego if Christ’s holy nature is to shape your life.  

7)       Take advice. Listen to the quiet voice of timeless wisdom. Pride breeds arguments; people open to counsel calm storms of stress.

8)       Do not project your character flaws on others. When you arrogantly judge, you are reflexively critical. When inspecting people use a mirror, not a microscope.

9)       Watch your motives. Treat others with as much kindness and respect as you do yourself—then your service to God will be acceptable.

10)   Imitate Christ’s example. Relinquish personal rights, and you will have Christ’s attitude. He is gentle with you, so you should be gentle with others. 

Taking these steps may prove difficult; but if you climb this heavenly-designed staircase, you will get nearer God’s heart and experience quiet joy too wonderful for words.

“He that is down, needs fear no fall; He that is low, no pride; He that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.” (John Bunyan)   

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 82 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“No person is in true health who cannot stand in the free air of heaven, with feet on God’s free turf, and thank the Creator for the simple luxury of physical existence.” (T. W. Higginson, 1823-1911, American clergyman and writer)

“A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most nearly perfect prayer.” (Gotthold Lessing, 1729-1781, German dramatist)

When the Lord overheard His chosen people griping, His wrath blazed up (Numbers 11:1). Dissatisfied, they wailed. Unappreciative of all He was doing for them—liberating them from slavery, transforming them into a new nation, guiding them to the Promised Land—they were greedy for more. To put it mildly, God did not like all that grumbling. And God still does not like whining.

We can take one of two basic attitudes toward life—we can be grumbly hateful or humbly grateful. Do we appreciate God’s rich provision? Do we trust Him to reinforce us to bear our burdens? Do we rely on His infinite power to solve our “impossible” difficulties? If we’re satisfied with what God gives us, we’ll be truly rich. Our thankful heart will fill our mouth with praise songs.

When life becomes a bitter pill, we should resist the urge to give in to the common human response of complain, complain, complain. If we bring our heartache to the Lord, His wounds will speak to ours and provide solace. The cure for chronic griping is to be thankful for every heartbeat, every breath, and every day God gives us.  

When sour notes make our days a dirge, God’s love can tune our heart to sing His grace.

When we wonder if God cares, if we lean on Him and be reenergized to soar like an eagle high above the complaining world below.

No matter what happens, we can always keep thankfulness alive in our heart. Being humbly grateful paves the path to contentment—the greatest blessing we can enjoy this side of heaven. 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness to each generation.” (Psalm 100:4-5 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 81 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us.”

(Ephesians 5:2 NLT)

Unrung bells have not shown their purpose. Unsung songs have not blessed human ears. Love hoarded within a human heart has not proved its authenticity. Love is not really love until we give it away.

Not just once in a while or when the mood strikes us, but every day we should give ourselves away. Our entire life—hopes, possessions, attitudes, personality, and dreams—can become an offering honoring our Creator. The best way to begin every day is to surrender to God the most important gift we can ever give—our heart.

When we remember Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” we’ll be prompted to mirror His generous nature. Love will motivate us to give our best effort, deepest thoughts, kindest deeds, and greatest wealth. In Christ’s name we’ll love unselfishly, as He did.

Being a giving person exhibits our dedication to the Master of our heart. God loved the world so much He gave His Son. God is Love—the Giver of life, breath, and every perfect present. It is God’s nature to love—to the degree we are like God, it will be ours too.

What has God given us? He paid our ransom price from sin’s penalty with Christ’s precious blood. He gave us His Holy Spirit as our Coach. He is the Bread satisfying our soul’s deepest hunger. He paves boulevards of heaven with gold. He answers prayers sincerely directed to His throne. His Son suffered excruciating pain so we could be friends with our Father. The Lover of our soul continually gives us everything we need.

When we give more, we live more.  If we are not giving, we are not living.

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 80 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

"By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." (Hebrews 11:3 NLT)

University of Cambridge theoretical physicists recently simulated how a  ring-shaped black hole could cause Einstein’s theory of relativity to break down. Ring-shaped black holes were “discovered” in 2002.  Now their dynamics have been successfully simulated using supercomputers. Should this type of black hole form, they say it would lead to a“naked singularity", causing equations behind general relativity to break down.

Einstein’s theory—the foundation of modern physics—tells us that matter warps its surrounding spacetime. Gravity is the name we give to the effect of that warp. Understanding of gravity forms the basis of the estimation of the age of the stars and GPS signals we rely on to help us navigate.

Relativity theory has been accepted as absolutely true for the last century. But now physicists admit one of its limitations is the existence of singularities--points in space and time where gravity is so intense that the laws of physics do not apply.

General relativity predicts that singularities exist at the center of black holes. Those black holes are surrounded by an event horizon--the "point of no return" where gravitational pull is so strong that escape is impossible (meaning they cannot be observed from the outside). A Cambridge researcher stated that as long as singularities stay hidden behind an event horizon, general relativity holds. Theoretical physicists believe this is always the case, because of what they name "cosmic censorship conjecture.”

But what if a singularity existed outside an event horizon? It would be visible from the outside and would represent an object that has collapsed to an infinite density, a state causing laws of physics to break down. Theoretical physicists hypothesize that such a thing, called a naked singularity, might exist in higher dimensions. We think of the universe as existing in 3 dimensions, plus a fourth dimension of time, together referred to as spacetime. But in some branches of theoretical physics, the universe could be made up of as many as 11 dimensions, which are inferred in high energy experiments.

If naked singularities exist, physicists admit that the theory of general relativity breaks down. If general relativity breaks down, it would throw everything upside down, because it would no longer have any predictive power and would no longer be considered a standalone theory to explain the universe.

It is evident that Christians are not the only ones who live by faith. Theoretical physicists research on the basis of theories, prediction, and conjecture. Supercomputers simulate theories. Einstein’s equations are based on theory. Einstein said, "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."

Here are a few questions for the researchers. If singularities and event horizons cannot be observed from the outside, how can we know for sure they actually exist? What force designed “cosmic censorship”? Does the predictability of the universe not lend credence to the existence of God? Why do some scientists ridicule Christians who believe in the unseen God, while they conduct research on the basis of what cannot be observed? Since no one can demystify the cosmos, is it not wise to worship its Creator? Does the fundamental principle of quantum physics ("First you believe, then you see") not indicate scientists also operate by faith?

In our humanity, we should be humble to the point of admitting our ignorance before the omnipotent and omniscient Creator. Einstein said, "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind. That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

“As he was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.”

(Acts 9:3 NLT)

After five years of devastating civil war in Syria, the same old sad pattern of despair drags on. Talks do not solve the tragedy. Words do not end the war. Diplomacy does not stop the dying.  

The Munich Security Conference has scheduled a “cessation of hostilities” brokered by the United States and Russia. This is supposed to happen by the end of the week, but combat is only intensifying.

The agreement requires opposition groups to stop fighting, but allows the assault on Aleppo to continue for another week. It permits Russia to keep bombing rebels opposing Syrian President Assad. Senator John McCain says this is “diplomacy in the service of military aggression.”

Many doubt that the cease fire will hold, considering the dominant role of Russian airstrikes. Syrian government and Kurdish forces, under cover of Russian air strikes, are encircling the eastern half of Aleppo, which is under rebel control. Since Assad’s authoritarian regime has ruthlessly murdered over two hundred thousand of his own people, it is difficult to imagine peace as long as he is in power. Millions of refugees are fleeing their homes, feeling they have no other choice if they are to save their lives.  

This morning, a children’s hospital and school in northern Syria were struck by missiles thought to be delivered by Russian planes, killing 14 people. A few hours ago, a Doctors without Borders hospital in northern Syria was hit by four rockets, killing nine doctors and workers and leaving five staff members unaccounted for.

Today’s news reports that ISIS is using chemical weapons against its enemies. Saudi Arabia is poised to enter the fray, using its military jets to fight Islamic State militants. Turkey and Qatar are considering deploying ground troops. Turkish artillery is attacking Syrian government forces. Mercy Corps, an humanitarian aid group, is frustrated trying to deliver food to residents in besieged cities. An American State Department official described all this as “a confused situation.” Indeed.

Syria (Aram, “the high land” in Hebrew), about the size of Scotland, is mentioned over 150 times in Scripture, mostly in the context of war. Abraham, on his way from Mesopotamia to the Promised Land, lived in Syria temporarily. Balaam, hired to curse Israel, called Syria home. David subdued Damascus. Israelite kings Joash and Jehoash managed victories over Syria’s rulers. Syria has been governed in turn by Assyria, Pharaoh Necho, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Seleucus, Rome, Persia, the Turks, Crusaders. Saladin, Tamerlane, the Ottoman Empire, Bonaparte, and Turkey. In 1868, Syria was attacked by the Druses, who killed 12,000 people and destroyed hundreds of villages.

The current fighting is supposed to cease by week’s end. Will the pandemonium give way to peace? Will suffering people “living in a land where death casts its shadow” see a great light? (Isaiah 9:2)

Luke mentions that when Jesus was born, Quirinius governed Syria. Matthew refers to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning God’s Servant who will bring justice to the nations, one whose name will be the hope of all the world (Matthew 12:17-21). On the road to Damascus, Saul was transformed into Paul—emissary for One able to bring peace to human hearts, a peace he himself experienced.   

Damascus, reputedly the oldest continuously existing city in the world, serves as capital to Syria, a country that has known very little tranquility. Followers of the Prince of Peace pray that diplomats attempting to negotiate cease-fires in that perpetual war zone will discern a light from heaven—illuminating their minds with wisdom to broker more than a temporary truce. Believers in the One whose name is above all other names hope God will speed the day when Christ rules heaven on earth from the capital of the new Jerusalem—the long-awaited time when the world’s government will rest on his shoulders and finally there is lasting peace in a world for so long heartbroken by war.  

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

In the name above all other names we are blessed beyond words with lavish provision—life, health, spouse, children, friends, and heaven. The Lord spangles our nights with constellations, not just single stars. He fills our life with blessing after blessing, not just an occasional token. He designs our days with hours for celebration, not merely a moment of joy once in a while. Enjoying God’s gifts, we experience true prosperity—so we live thankfully.

In the name above all other names we are blessed with round-the-clock protection. Our Savior watches over us 24/7 and holds us in omnipotent hands. Overshadowing us with wings of unfailing love, Christ guards us from dark forces intent on our destruction—so we live trustingly.  

In the name above all other names we are blessed with God’s pleasure. Our Heavenly Father blesses us by his friendly smile, always looking favorably on us; He blesses us by his encouraging smile, shining graciously on us; He blesses us by his smile of approval, rewarding us at mile markers of progress—so we live triumphantly.

In the name above all other names we are blessed with the Lord’s pardon. Through Jesus’ death in our place, we have mercy and eternal significance. We could not live without him; we are glad we do not have to. Honest to God, we are forgiven—so we live transparently.

In the name above all other names we are blessed with dependable promises. Pessimists size up the world situation as hopeless; but with eyes of the heart we detect faint rays of the dawning of heaven’s bright future. When paradise is restored, we will realize peace was not achieved because of military or political strategies, but because God kept his Word. We trust the God who cannot lie—so we live tenaciously.

In the name above all other names we are blessed with perfect peace—heaven’s enduring gift, not the world’s temporary high. This peace of mind defies explanation and definition, but we experience it as we focus our thoughts on the Prince of peace. Because of Jehovah’s benediction, we are at ease—so we live tranquilly.

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 79 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“If any of the people betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding a penalty of 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.” (Numbers 5:6-7 NLT)

Crime against humanity is sin against God. When we wrong others, we also wrong their Creator. When we break faith with people, we break faith with God. When we are uncaring toward people, we are unfaithful to Love.

The result is guilt. Our heart is heavy. The sky is dark. Our soul aches with regret for having hurt others and remorse for having trespassed against God.

God forgives us not because we deserve it, but because we desperately need it. When we confess our wrongdoing, our Heavenly Father cleanses our hearts. At his mercy, we experience joy. Heaven’s miracle of redemption enables us to survive moral catastrophes. Storm clouds vanish and the sun shines again.

Then the Holy Spirit prompts us to do more than apologize—to search for ways to set matters right and improve our relationships. We should allow our transformed internal life to show in our external fairness and honesty in dealing with others. 

Here’s how we can make it up to people we have wronged—make up for not listening by loving, for rudeness by reaching out, for inattention by interest, for impatience by investment, for criticism by caring, for hurting by helping, for being distant by kindness, for grudging by gentleness, for exasperating by encouraging, for stealing by sharing, for selfishness by serving.

The Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our wronging God—so we can relax. We pay the penalty for wronging others—then we can be at ease.

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 78 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“Each man was assigned his task and told what to carry, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.” (Numbers 4:49 NLT)

As disciples of Christ, we have a crucial assignment—to carry our cross. Authentic Christianity requires ego crucifixion. To follow Jesus, we must sacrifice selfish desires.

As messengers of God, we have a noble task—to carry Christ’s name to society. God is our Employer and Supervisor; therefore we should work conscientiously. Scripture is a toolbox filled with all we need—instructing us in truth, shocking us into seeing repressed sin, straightening us our morally, and teaching us the right highway to travel.    

As followers of the Lord, we have a unique responsibility—to carry a changed heart into relationships. Our highest challenge is to die to sin and live like Christ. When our restless spirit is intent on holiness, we will not be passively shaped by a materialistic, carnal age. Depending on grace, we can endure tough times. Yielding to the Holy Spirit within, we live a celebrative life of pure joy—transformed and transforming.

As servants of the Master, we have a lifelong ministry—to carry compassion to people. Christian ministry pivots on the heart of Christ within us—faith works, love labors, and hope endures. We are called to live a caring life, sharing God’s love as we interact with our world.

As soldiers of the Commander of heaven’s armies, we have a special duty assignment—to carry out his orders decisively. When our work on earth is finished, and we have completed all tasks given us, we will have simply done our duty. Jesus will repay our faithful service with his smile of approval.

For heaven’s sake, let’s carry on.

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 77 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT)

“When it snows, there is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing only.”

- Joseph Wood Krutch, The Twelve Seasons (1949)

Weather forecasts sometimes accurately predict the weather—Biblical prophecy is as certain to come true as sunrise. This time the computer models got it right; in fact, the blizzard of 2016 may prove to be another “snowmageddon” or “snowpocalypse”. We can be certain the omniscient God will get it right—and when his Son triumphs over wickedness at Armageddon, saints will dance for joy. The apocalypse (revelation) of Jesus Christ will solve problems that have eluded human effort for centuries. The living God has spoken in the Bible—he means every word and will keep every promise. When the Judge of the universe says “time’s up,” heaven’s wrath will judge evil and establish the King of king’s eternal reign of righteousness. The Day of the Lord will dawn and Christ the Morning Star will dispel the darkness. The Weather Channel comes close to an hour-by-hour

description of weather conditions, but it’s not always absolutely correct. We cannot know the exact day or hour of our Savior’s return, but we can be sure He will keep his promise to return. Just because it hasn’t happened yet does not mean it will not happen. Jesus is coming. 

We have been given ample warning to prepare for this blizzard—God is giving us time to repent and get ready for the storm of judgment. The media has done a good job of reminding us to be sure we have sufficient emergency supplies, batteries, flashlights, food and water to survive. Scripture repeatedly cautions us to get ready for the tempest of transitioning from time to eternity—either when we die and face God in judgment, or when Christ returns to settle the score with sin and gather his people to himself. Though the origin of the word blizzard is obscure, it may be somehow connected with blaze. The word came into general use in the United States in the hard winter of 1880-81. Surely if we realize someday we will stand before the Ancient One whose clothing, head and hair are as white as snow, we will make a conscious effort to purify ourselves. While we live and breathe, God is giving us time to get ready.

It is comforting to enjoy our home as a shelter from the driving snow and intense cold—God is our heart-warming Home in this cold, cruel world. “In every high and stormy gale,” God has been our Home; and whatever winds may blow in the future, we can rest assured He will keep us safe in his arms. We are encouraged by trusting his promises, insulated from devastation by his Presence, and shielded from harm by his omnipotence. John paints a vivid word picture for us, describing how Jesus visited Jerusalem when it was winter—walking through Solomon’s Colonnade, people surrounding him and listening to his teaching. What he told them then reassures us today—“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.” No winter lasts forever—after life’s storms are over, all will be well.

When we’re snowed in and cannot go to work, shop, or go for a drive, that’s a good opportunity to rest—Today is a good time to relax in our Father’s care and enjoy the rest He alone can give. Record snowfall and snowdrifts will prevent us from doing all we might want to do, but that’s no reason to suffer from cabin fever. Disruption of our plans can be a good thing if we use this unexpected opportunity for quiet time with our Creator. A power outage would keep us from watching TV or DVDs, but we can still read God’s Word and be blessed by reminders that heaven’s power never goes out. Waiting quietly before God refreshes our hearts in a way no earthly entertainment can.

The snow-blanketed landscape is beautiful and glorious—Heaven on earth will thrill our souls forever with a glory we’ve never known before. The silent and relentless snowfall prompts my heart to thank God for his mercy in making the landscape of my heart as white as snow in his sight. It also inspires me to look forward to that magnificent day—when sin’s grimy filth will be irrevocably covered by the pure beauty of grace;  when unsettled nations will finally be united by the Prince of peace;  when we will live in a tearless, deathless, painless, sinless, endless place we can call home.

You will probably not be able to worship with other believers tomorrow, but you can worship the Lord by yourself or with your family by reading the following verses of Scripture to reinforce your faith—Genesis 5:22;  Job 38:22;  Psalm 46:10;  51:7;  62:5;  90:1;  94:19;  148:8;  Isaiah 1:18;  55:10-13;  Daniel 7:9-10;  Matthew 24:36;  John 10:22-30;  14:3;  Acts 1:11;  Romans 14:10-12;  Hebrews 9:27;  2 Peter 1:19-21;  3:8-14;  1 John 3:2-3;  Revelation 1:14;  21:3-4.  Then humbly thank the Lord for his love.

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

If we sincerely desire to know the Lord, pressing on to know him (Hosea 6:3), we will learn that God is love (1 John 4:16). When the Holy Spirit controls our heart, love will be is evident in our attitudes and actions.

Galatians 5:19-21 lists demons Jesus orders to flee—including hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger, dissension, and division—all manifestations of hatred. Verses 22 and 23 lists the heavenly habits of the heart—the first one being sacrificial love; and including peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness-

characterizing people who live in the Highlands of Grace.   

The great love chapter in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13) describes love as the antidote to the deadly poisons of pride, irritation, rudeness, jealousy, arrogance, selfishness, resentment, doubt, despair, disenchantment, discouragement, disillusionment, and childishness.

Hate breeds hate. Violence fuels violence. Revenge perpetuates revenge. Anger intensifies anger. Dr. King was right—only light can drive out darkness; only love can drive out hate.

“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

If we sincerely desire to know the Lord, pressing on to know him (Hosea 6:3), we will learn that God is love (1 John 4:16). When the Holy Spirit controls our heart, love will be is evident in our attitudes and actions.

Galatians 5:19-21 lists demons Jesus orders to flee—including hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger, dissension, and division—all manifestations of hatred. Verses 22 and 23 lists the heavenly habits of the heart—the first one being sacrificial love; and including peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness-

characterizing people who live in the Highlands of Grace.   

The great love chapter in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13) describes love as the antidote to the deadly poisons of pride, irritation, rudeness, jealousy, arrogance, selfishness, resentment, doubt, despair, disenchantment, discouragement, disillusionment, and childishness.

Hate breeds hate. Violence fuels violence. Revenge perpetuates revenge. Anger intensifies anger. Dr. King was right—only light can drive out darkness; only love can drive out hate.

“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.” (Numbers 1:2 NIV)

Before making a move, it is wise to inventory our resources—taking stock of contacts, health, possessions, time, and goals. A census makes sense. 

The number of people around us is vitally important. Community counts. It would not be good for us to be alone, so God gives us a complementary companion and places us in a loving family. We limp along independently; we do well interdependently.

We have no idea of the total number of the blood-washed international multitude. God’s “two or three” are a minority in this anti-God world; but his universal church has an incalculable membership.

None of us is a Christian alone—believing friends encourage us to persevere in the journey of faith. Relating to them, we are blessed—communing around Christ’s table, comparing notes, flocking together, warning each other to resist sin, inspiring one another to look forward to heaven’s golden future.

Our Heavenly Father names stars and counts them to make sure none are out of orbit. He also shepherds saints. Jesus has millions of sheep, yet he knows everything about each one. He x-rays our heart—resting, rising, racing. He understands our anxieties and dreams. He is aware of our geographical and spiritual coordinates, struggles, and wordless prayers.

God is counting on us—so we can move out to battle the dark side, confident of conquest (Psalm 27; Isaiah 9:6, 7).

We can count on other believers—so we can move through life as citizens of heaven, confident of community (Psalm 100; Isaiah 65:17-19).

We can count on God—so we can move ahead in faith, confident he will calm us in chaos (Psalm 46; Isaiah 26:3).

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 76 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year, and out the other.” (Anonymous)

Now that ten days of 2016 have come and gone, how’re you doing with your resolutions?

We all have good intentions. However, we learn by experience the futility of human resolve. Resolutions are promises we make to ourselves, sometimes lightheartedly described as “made to be broken.”

January is the new year’s genesis—viewed by many as an opportunity to start over with new habits. Sadly, the new year is frequently just a new start on old habits.

New Year’s resolutions are a kind of confession—an admission we haven’t been the kind of people we want to be; an acknowledgement we are not as slender, cheerful, thankful and productive as we would like to be. In making resolutions, we confess our humanness and commit to doing better.

Typical resolutions are not spiritually motivated or empowered. They are merely signs that we want to do our best to turn our lives around.

When the days and weeks speed by, ordinary life resumes—and old habits reassert themselves. When January 2017 rolls around, many will make the same resolutions anew with lots of hope, but with no greater chance for success.

If we’re ever going to change, we must rely on more than our weak human resolve—we must have the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Here’s why—

1)      Sin is a powerful magnet that continually draws us toward it. Charles Wesley’s hymn, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” contains a phrase indicating he knows there’s something within us that keeps us from sticking to our conviction. His prayer captures the problem perfectly—“Take away our bent to sinning.”

2)      Human resolve is weak and frequently in need of resuscitation. Repentance is more than an annual need; it is a daily need. Every day we need to crucify sin,  bury our ego, and be resurrected to new life.

3)      Our resolve to turn around will not do it alone. For one thing, we keep putting off change until tomorrow. Gloria Pitzer wrote, “Procrastination is my sin, It brings me pain and sorrow. I know that I should stop it, In fact I will—tomorrow.”

4)      Human resolve to do good is often captive to evil. In our heart there’s a war raging between the dark side and the light side, a struggle between our human nature and God’s holy standard (Romans 7:15-24).

5)      We need grace, not law. We will not find new life on the lightning-scarred slopes of Mt. Sinai, but only on the blood-soaked slopes of Skull Hill. The gift of the Holy Spirit is not for sale, and cannot be bought. It is showered on us as a free, undeserved present. It is as hard to get as it is to get wet in the rain.

In my next blog, I’ll discuss some spiritual resolutions worth making, and where we can find the means to keep them. 

“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

“The Force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power too.”

- Luke Skywalker

Friday, in theaters everywhere, “The Force Awakens”, Episode VII of Star Wars, will begin with familiar words written in blue against the blackness of space—A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away . . .           

The Force has a light side and a dark side, and can be used for good or evil. We need to be reminded, now and then, that the greatest evil comes from within, not from what attacks us from outside. Any one of us, even the best of us, can give in to fear, anger and hatred. William Law, seventeenth century English writer, advised, “Love and pity and wish well to every soul in the world; hate nothing but the evil that stirs in your own heart.”  

We may think of ourselves as the Good Guy, like Anakin Skywalker did in his early years. Thinking too highly of ourselves easily degenerates into self-righteousness. When we, like Anakin, think of ourselves as the wisest, the strongest, and the purest, we become obsessed with ourselves to the point of losing concern for others; we might even turn into an evil Darth Vader.

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi defines the Force as “an energy field created by all living things, surrounding and penetrating us, binding the galaxy together.”

God’s Force is not created by living things—the Creator himself is the Force energizing all life. “He has made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3).

God’s Force surrounds us—his unfailing love sustains us on our journey through life. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).

God’s Force binds the galaxies together—his unlimited power is displayed in his orchestration of interstellar space. “Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing” (Isaiah 40:26 NLT). “Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:16-17 NLT).

When God’s Force awakens in any of us, we’re challenged to channel it into concrete actions of justice and compassion. However, we cannot trust ourselves to stay in the light of God at all times. Each of us is a sinful, fallible human being, as susceptible to sin as was Anakin Skywalker on the path to becoming  Dark Vader.

We cannot consistently bear good fruit with human effort alone—we require a Power greater than ourselves. Luke Skywalker realizes this when he suffers a monumental shock to his system—he discovers that Darth Vader is his father. Realizing he is cut from the same cloth as his father, he struggles with how good and evil can exist in the very same family. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956), wrote: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

Each of us desperately needs a powerful Leader to keep us on the right track, and to save us when we stray—none other than the Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ penetrates believing hearts with the purifying, inspiring power of the Holy Spirit. If we’re going to actually follow Jesus and behave as his disciples in this dark world, we need to be illuminated by this Holy Spirit.

God’s Force is uplifting, hopeful, inspiring and challenging. It is not trapped in a galaxy far, far away—it is transforming hearts, making people more caring and compassionate, selfless and sacrificial. This Force is seen not only in events that happened a long time ago—it is at work today in hearts, homes, churches, schools, and communities.

God’s Force will win the last war in the battle between good and evil. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5 NLT).

God’s Force awakens most visibly in Jesus. It is strong in him, in his Father, and in all of us who follow him in faith and obedience.. “This light within you produces only what is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:14 NLT). If we’re going to stay out of the shadows and walk in the light, we must rely on God’s Force.

“I want to walk as a child of the Light, I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world, The Star of my life is Jesus! In Him there is no darkness at all! The night and the day are both alike! The Lamb is the Light of the City of God—Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus!” (Kathleen Thomerson)

God’s Force alone can truly awaken our hearts. “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Ephesians 5:9 NLT)

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/