The LORD God is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. ISAIAH 12:2 NLT
How can you go on when you feel like giving up?
How can you face another day when you do not want to get out of bed? My power is the answer to your problem of weakness.
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.
You can be stronger than you feel achievable—if you let Me carry you.
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 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.
You can be happier than you think possible—if you let Me comfort you.
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 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.
You can be nobler than you deem attainable—if you let Me control you.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 265, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
A child is born to us, a son is given to us.
And the government will rest on his shoulders.
These will be his royal titles:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
ISAIAH 9:6 NLT
The Wonderful One brings sparkle into your life.
The awful one steals enthusiasm, kills joy, and destroys influence.
The Good Shepherd inspires adventure and joy, and builds influence.
Christ is honey to your taste.
The Counselor sensitizes your conscience by a Built-in Guidance System.
He is My Holy Alphabet—Alpha and Omega, First and Last Word.
Christ is light to your eyes.
The Mighty God strengthens you to combat evil and survive difficulties.
Awesome beyond reckoning, Elohim transcends your human weakness.
Christ is courage to your heart.
The Everlasting Father stabilizes life—holding you together in life’s chaos.
Everything changes except My Son—same today, tomorrow, eternally.
Christ is your even keel on life’s high seas.
The Prince of Peace tranquilizes hearts with indestructible, perfect peace.
Prayerful daily application of implicit faith is your equilibrium equation.
Christ is music to your ears.
The Christmas carol “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley
sings of Miracle and Mystery—“born a Child, and yet a King.”
The Lamb turned Lion will humble enemies of goodness under His feet.
The Messiah will unite earth’s unsettled nations into a kingdom of love.
Surrender to the King of hearts, and He will bless you beyond words.
Let Jesus govern your life, and He will change you from the inside out.
My Son alone can be trusted to control every dimension of your life.
Christ is your Center of Gravity.
The LORD said to me in the strongest terms: “Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you.
Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe.”
ISAIAH 8:11-14a NLT
I am Jehovah—My faithful love for you is as certain as sunrise.
I am totally consistent in My care for you today, tomorrow, and always.
I am Almighty God—My power is unrivaled in the entire universe.
I am stronger than any evil force that might strike against you.
Hiding in the Rock of Ages, you can be confident of My protective care.
Fearing Me, you need have no fear of anything else.
Have NO FEAR of meeting your Savior face to face—look forward to it.
Stay close so when I return you will be courageous and unashamed.
Have NO FEAR of people—they are just mere mortals.
Do not get caught up in being a people-pleaser; instead, aim for My smile.
Have NO FEAR of death—My Son died to break Satan’s stranglehold.
When you close your eyes on earth, you will open them in paradise.
Have NO FEAR of hell—you are in the best of hands, the hands of Jesus.
He went to hell awhile so you would not have to; He is leading you to heaven.
Have NO FEAR of Satan—he is not as strong as the One living within you.
He is the god of the world you live in, but I am the God of all worlds.
Have NO FEAR of trouble—whatever happens, I am your Mighty Fortress.
I am not, as atheists say, a very absent help in times of trouble!
Have NO FEAR of things that go bump in the night—I am your Night Light.
I protect you around the clock; day and night are the same to Me.
Have NO FEAR of fear—I still hush high seas to sleep, so you can sleep.
Do not be terrified. Immanuel is with you, so everything will be all right
The LORD himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel – “God is with us.”
ISAIAH 7:14 NLT
You are not alone, though you sometimes feel lonely—I am with you.
When you are unsure which way to turn, I am your Wonderful Counselor.
When you are feeling weak-kneed, I am your Mighty God.
When your life is falling apart, I am your Everlasting Father.
When you are frazzled by pandemonium, I am your Prince of Peace.
When you feel like you have made a fool of yourself, I am your Wisdom.
When you are burdened by your sinfulness, I am your Righteousness.
When you are struggling with impurity, I am your Holiness.
When you are chafing under sin’s shackles, I am your Redeemer.
When you are trying to break bad habits, I am your Liberator.
When you are needing companionship, I am your Greatest Friend.
When you are puzzled by life’s complexity, I am your Guide.
When you are wondering if you will survive difficulty, I am your Faith.
When you feel like singing the blues, I am your Jazz.
When you are tired in My work, I am your Energy.
When you are feeling guilty, I am your Defense Counsel.
When your heart is aching, I am your Comforter.
When you are disappointed, I am your Consoler.
When you are in peril, I am your Helper.
When fiery arrows of temptation are aimed at you, I am your Shield.
When you are on high seas, I am your Captain at the helm.
When you are riding an emotional roller coaster, I am your Seatmate.
When perplexing cares crowd your mind, I am your Center of Gravity.
When worry about needs steals your sleep, I am your Shepherd.
When the night seems interminable, I am your Light.
When your situation is uncertain, I am your Anchor.
When you are on sinking sand, I am your Solid Rock.
When despair threatens your soul, I am your Melody of Hope.
When tears soak your pillow, I am your Dawn.
When current events depress you, I am your Bright Morning Star.
When you feel a little down, remember your Greatest Blessing—God.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 262, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
The LORD will settle international disputes.
All nations will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.
All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end.
Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
ISAIAH 2:4-5 NLT
Military solutions fail—
“The war to end all wars” (H. G. Wells) has not yet been fought.
Political solutions fail—
Platforms articulate high-sounding goals, yet rarely achieve them.
Economic solutions fail—
Rich and poor live on opposite track sides, and inequity continues.
The best humans can do to fix the world’s problems is not good enough.
The return of My Son is the ultimate solution to war.
Millions have died in the holocaust and carnage of combat;
but when Christ puts His foot down on the Mount of Olives,
the human situation will at last change for the better. Walk in My Light and do not sit out My dance in despair—live hopefully.
The love of My Son is the ultimate solution to guilt.
His cross work makes you more than okay—you are the apple of My eye.
Relying on the Prince of Peace, your heart is tranquilized and poised. Walk in My Light and do not trudge in self-condemnation—live freely.
The power of My Son is the ultimate solution to sin.
Addiction to evil brings misery, but Christ is the Key to freedom.
Stay focused on Him, and you will enjoy perfect peace. Walk in My Light and stay out of the darkness—live victoriously.
The reign of My Son is the ultimate solution to unrest.
Dependence on technology disappoints; so does relying on money.
Want peace of mind? Resign as General Manager of the universe. Walk in My Light and do not stumble in the dark—live peacefully.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 261, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
Set me as a seal upon thine heart . . . for love is strong as death.
SONG OF SOLOMON 8:6 KJV
Once upon a time—
Before I whispered stars into being, locked planets in proper orbits,
designed intergalactic traffic patterns, set sun and moon in place,
painted hopeful sunrises and victorious sunsets,
or suspended the big blue marble you call home in space—
I loved you with an everlasting love.
I am the God with a heart—I am Love.
I love you with a love that began eons before you did.
My love for the world and for you is the greatest love story ever told.
It is a true story—no truer words were ever spoken than My promises.
I am constructing far more than a honeymoon cottage.
Heaven on earth will materialize—your home will not disappoint you.
It is a sacrificial story—no one ever loved you like My Son Jesus.
He proved the depth of His love for you at a place called Skull Hill.
Crucified by hateful hands, Jesus loved the world to His final breath.
It is a tender story—you are engaged to be married to your soul’s Lover.
My Holy Spirit entering your heart was My first kiss.
Cascading through your inner being is a Fountain of eternal love.
It is a hopeful story—I seal your heart in love, so you are Mine eternally.
The King of hearts will host the Lamb’s celebrative wedding banquet.
Nothing in the world can keep heaven’s dream for you from coming true.
It is a sweet story—your Heavenly Bridegroom’s love encircles you.
My everlasting arms embrace you and nestle you near My heart.
My love is infinitely patient, incredibly kind, and perfectly jealous.
It is a never-ending story—My love for you will last forever.
I have always loved you, and I always will.
Accept My love—and live happily ever after.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 260, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love,
beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.
SONG OF SONGS 4:7 THE MESSAGE
My heartfelt desire for you is that you reflect My beauty in every way.
My heart yearns for you to be holy and pure in thoughts and deeds.
My dearest dream for you is that you become like My Son.
Christ gave Himself for you to cleanse and beautify you by His lifeblood.
He paid an awful price to free you of sin’s addictive, destructive power.
His challenging teaching is the highway to holy joy.
His life is the example you must follow to make My dream come true.
Ultimately you will stand in My Presence—at last like your Lord.
Until then, I expect you to struggle daily to become more like Me.
Otherwise, My dream of love will turn into a grotesque nightmare.
One day I will make earth heaven and restore it to its intended joy.
One day I will establish a Kingdom where sin is an impossibility.
Today I am hoping you will do a little dreaming of your own—
attempting what some call an impossible dream—living like Jesus.
I will never stop working in you until you become what I want you to be—
unblemished by sin, unwrinkled by sloth, absolutely perfect.
Let Me tell you more about My dream for you—
that your smile would be strong with joy—unruffled by skepticism,
that your face would be radiant with hope—unfurrowed by worry,
that your eyes would be sparkling with peace—undisturbed by fear,
that your chin would be high with dignity—unintimidated by anxiety,
that your heart would delight in My company—undistracted by rivals,
that your mind would revel in My words—unspoiled by verbiage,
that your behavior would reflect Christ’s lifestyle—unaltered by ego,
that My dream would become your own—undestroyed by ambition.
I will never give up on My dream for you—you must not give up either.
Struggle on toward Christ’s perfection—sweet dreams.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 259, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
ECCLESIASTES 10:4
If you can maintain composure in the storm,
sailing through troubled seas on an even keel—
you can vindicate your faith in the Lord of your rocking boat.
Keeping a clear mind in chaos guides your soul into a calm harbor.
Losing your head in anger gives the Devil a foothold.
Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired? Halt!
Patience and soft speech give Me room to work reconciling wonders.
A spiritual diet from the orchard of Spirit fruits enriches your life—
love, not hate; joy, not despair; peace, not pandemonium;
patience, not irritability; kindness, not cruelty; generosity, not selfishness;
fidelity, not fickleness; gentleness, not rudeness; self-control, not panic.
I am the God of Order, not disorder.
I am always composed—there are never any emergencies in heaven.
The more orderly you are, the more you are like Me.
The more you quietly trust Me, the more unruffled you will be.
Let the Wonderful Counselor guide you through life’s maze,
the Mighty God arm you for spiritual battles with evil,
the Everlasting Father stabilize you in change,
and the Prince of Peace calm you in chaos.
John Greenleaf Whittier expressed a real serenity prayer in his poem
“The Brewing of Soma” from which is excerpted the hymn
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”: Drop Thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress, let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of Thy peace.
Everything nailed down coming loose? In My Presence—relax.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 258, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great. PROVERBS 24:10 NLT
High-pressure situations give you a chance to experience My grace.
Trouble is good for you—if you get to know Me better in the process.
It is not a question of if, but when trouble will come your way.
When it does, you will unravel if you depend on your own ingenuity.
The Empowering One living within you is your Secret of survival.
You are ready for anything the world throws at you in His strength.
Attempt to steer your own course when you encounter high seas,
and your small boat will be demolished on the rocks.
Let Me have the helm, and you will celebrate tranquil harbors.
Grace-less, you cannot do anything; grace-full, you can do everything.
Rely on My omnipotence—I will see you through any emergency.
When you are exhausted, focus on Jesus and you can finish the race.
I have been managing the universe for eons, without fainting.
I have untiringly directed intergalactic traffic patterns, through all time.
When you are tired and worn out, My strength is still available.
When your energy is depleted, Mine is undiminished.
Though you are weary, you do not have to give up if you trust Me.
Adversity University graduates honor students.
Frightening thunderstorms paint beautiful rainbows.
Tough situations develop uncompromising character.
Crises prove your mettle.
Running the Faith Marathon trains you to persevere.
Stress keeps kites flying high in the air.
Headwinds lift wings to get aircraft off the runway.
A crucible transforms crude ore into pure gold.
Coal under pressure changes into diamonds.
Grace under pressure leads to glory.
(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 256, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
