A Gentle Whisper -- Listening for the Voice of God Johnny Almond 7 months ago

Formula for Excellence

Add diligence to divine promises, employ effort exercising faith
to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy),
   and in exercising virtue develop knowledge (intelligence),
    and in exercising your knowledge develop self-control,
      exercising self-control develop endurance (patience),
        exercising steadfastness develop godliness (piety),
          exercising godliness develop brotherly affection,
            exercising affection develop Christian love.
                  2 Peter 1:5-7 AMPLIFIED BIBLE

Initiated by faith, your journey was established by a gifted beginning.
Right in My sight by trusting My Son, you have taken a good first step.

Inspired by virtue, Christ is your Example—your paragon is God’s Best.
Struggling for Christlikeness, respond to My moral imperative.

Informed by knowledge, your education is based on a guiding Book.
Treasuring My Word in your heart, learn to live by timeless wisdom.

Intensified by self-control, you are enriched by governed betterment.
Practicing alert discipline, experience the ecstasy of My holy liberty.

Instructed by steadfastness, you endure trouble with graceful bravery.
Enrolled in Adversity University, learn well and graduate with honor.

Illuminated by godliness, you see the Eternal One’s glorious beauty.
Gazing at heaven’s Radiant Light, worship with reverent wonder.

Included by Christian affection, you embrace all in faith’s glad bond.
Not preoccupied by narcissism, be sincerely interested in other people.

Impacted by Love, you express Christ’s heart by gently blessing others.
Not content with merely going in circles, do good while you go around.

Johnny

Johnny R. Almond earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and a Diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge. After pastoring churches for a decade, he served the Air Force as a military chaplain in worldwide assignments. After retiring from the military in 2000, he began serving as pastor in Virginia. He currently serves as pastor of Hull's Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He and his wife, Beverly, have four sons, three grandsons, and three granddaughters.