Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ

to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family

by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
 

Before I created the universe, I had you in mind and chose you to be Mine.

By heaven’s design, you are My masterpiece, My work of art. 

My grand purpose is that you become faultless—like My perfect Son.

     Yield to My sovereign hands, and I will sculpt you into Christ’s image.

My great plan for you is adoption into My family—a dearly loved child.    

     Receive My gift of grace, and I will gladly welcome you to heaven’s table.

My graceful Presence fills your heart and leads you through life to glory.

     Follow Me and I’ll get you to a tearless, deathless, painless, sinless home.

Related to My Son, live fearlessly.
 

Before I whispered stars into existence, I knew earth would need a Savior,

     and decided Jesus would be humanity’s merciful Redeemer. 

Jesus’ deliverance is the world’s only hope of total victory over sin.

My way of forgiving sin and purchasing freedom is the blood of My Son.

     You can’t buy a ticket to heaven—it’s already paid for, available by faith.    

Signed in Jesus’ blood, sealed with the Father’s love, delivered by the Spirit—

     liberation from sin’s penalty and power is freely given to all who believe. 

My Son is the Way to the Truth of Life—get to know Him and really live!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, live joyfully.
 

Before I divided light from darkness, I selected Christ to be the King of kings. 

I knew the world would be a battleground between good and evil.

     I determined that Christ would ultimately crush the prince of darkness. 

My long-range plan is that earth will become heaven under Messiah’s rule.

     When He rules, angels will blow trumpets and saints will sing new songs.  

His return will solve problems politicians, economists, and warriors couldn’t.

Knowing who is going to win in the end, faithfully stay on the victory side.

Keep out of dark, dingy places—walk as a child of the Light.

Responsible for your conduct, live carefully.
 

Before I thought of making the heavens and earth, I thought of you.

I had you in my heart before time began, and provided for your destiny.

There’s a mansion in your future—it is not too good to be true.

Before time began, I dreamed of your future in a land beyond time

     and drew up your inheritance—glorious immortality shared with My Son. 

My dream will come true—the nightmare of sin will finally be over.

Right in My sight, live hopefully.
 

© Pastor Johnny R. Almond                    Gentle Whispers from Eternity

  

Hubble Telescope image - March 15, 2021
 

     US and European officials have announced December 24th, 7:20 A.M. EST for the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. A $10 billion successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, it is scheduled to lift-off from French Guiana. This observatory is designed to look deeper into the universe than its predecessor, detecting events occurring further back in time--more than 13.5 billion years ago. Scientists also want to use its capabilities to study atmospheres of distant planets in the hope that signs of life might be detected.

     Few have ever experienced total darkness. At the bottom of a cave, or in a basement when the power shuts off perhaps. But there's typically a faint glow coming from somewhere. Even the night sky never seems truly black, because there's usually a star or two twinkling in the distance. 

     So it’s hard to imagine a time when all that existed was darkness, when you could travel in any direction for millions of years and still see absolutely nothing. This is the story scientists tell us of the "dark ages" that gripped the universe before the first stars ignited. They intend to show us how the cosmos ultimately became filled with light. They'll do it using the biggest telescope ever placed beyond the Earth.

     The Webb telescope is on a mission to look deeper into the universe - and therefore further back in time - than even the legendary Hubble Space Telescope, which it succeeds. Equipped with a 21foot mirror and four super-sensitive instruments,
it will stare for days at a very narrow spot in the sky to detect light that’s been travelling through the immensity of space for more than 13.5 billion years.

     Scientists think there should be stars, or galaxies, or black holes maybe beginning at 100 million years after the Big Bang. There may not be many to find at that time, but the telescope can see them if they are there.
     
     Reasoning that since light travels at a finite speed in a vast and expanding cosmos, scientists say that if we keep probing deeper and deeper, we should eventually retrieve the light from the pioneer stars as they group together into the first galaxies.

     This massive telescope must get past 344 hurdles to do what it’s designed to do—deploying a solar panel and radio antenna minutes after launch, opening wings of the primary mirror, unfurling a tennis court-sized shield to keep it cool and protect its vision from the glare of the sun. 
 

     Webb is complicated.  According to BBC, key hardware includes 140 release mechanisms, 70 hinge assemblies, eight deployment motors, 400 pulleys and 90 cables totaling 1,312ft. 

     Why go to all this trouble?  Why spend 10 years conceiving and another twenty years building a $10 billion machine to detect some faint, red blobs in the sky? Perhaps it is in search of an answer to the most fundamental of questions—Where do we come from?
 

     Here’s the scientists’ explanations. When the universe was formed in the Big Bang, it contained only hydrogen, helium and a little lithium. Nothing else. All the heavier chemical elements in the Periodic Table were forged in stars. Carbon making up living things, nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere, and silicon in rocks were manufactured in nuclear reactions that make stars shine and in mighty explosions ending their existence. We're only here because first stars and their descendants seeded the universe with the material to make stuff.
   

     Here’s the Bible’s explanation—In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light. Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth. God made two great lights--the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars.  Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us."  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.  (Genesis 1:1-3a, 14-18, 26, 27;  Hebrews 11:3 NLT)    
 

     Several years ago, an anonymous author wrote--"Hundreds of top scientists worked together to build the ultimate computer, a master brain with the intellect to answer all the questions and solve all the mysteries of the world. Finally it was completed and ready for its first question. With trembling hands, one of the scientists fed in the question: 'How did the world start?' Lights flashed, wheels whirred, tumblers clicked. Finally the machine answered: 'See Genesis.'"

   

The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. 
And he knows everyone who trusts in him.
But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. 
He pursues his foes into the darkness of night.
NAHUM 1:7-8 NLT
 

When perplexing cares depress your mind, I will be your lilting song.
     Nagging doubts will not fragment you—I am your Blessed Assurance.

When you feel you cannot take another step, I will be your cheering coach.
     Life’s grueling marathon will not kill you—I am your Enduring Example.

When I flood earth with judgment, I will be your calm and quiet harbor.
     Surrounding troubles will not drown you—I am your Grand Support.

When all hell breaks loose, I will be your Unfailing Savior.
     Doomsday will not destroy you—I am your Heaven.

When the world has given up hope, I will be your melody of optimism.
     Despair will not overwhelm you—I am your Home.

When righteous indignation makes earth quake, I will be your Faithful Friend.
     Vindication against sin will not touch you—I am your Father.

When the last battle rages, I will be your ultimate victory.
     Clash of good and iniquity will not defeat you—I am your King.

When the night of evil overshadows the world, I will be your shining light.
     Attacks from demonic forces will not intimidate you—I am your Shield.

When the world is falling apart, I will be your solid rock.
     Fading tangibles will not devastate you—I am your Eternal Life.

When My Son returns to set the world right, I will be your bold courage.
     An interview with Me will not embarrass you—I am your Defense Counsel.

When heaven’s holy holocaust incinerates earth, I will be your storm shelter.
     Falling stars will not scare you—I am your Bright Morning Star.

When godless nations rage against the Messiah, I will be your hiding place.
     Punishment of the wicked will not hurt you—I am your Mighty Fortress.

                                           

                                                   (c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond 
                        Day 299, Gentle Whispers from Eternity