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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Thought Life on Jesus
john : November 17, 2022 5:14 pm : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is a Thought Life focused on Jesus.
The foundation for a focused thought life that pleases God is Jesus. Philippians 4:8 says to the family of God, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
Jesus fits the description of all these words. When we focus our thoughts on Him, we learn to see others through His eyes of love, concern, and compassion.
This focus will also enable us to appreciate these virtuous qualities in others and to offer them encouragement when we see them displayed.
A Thought Life focused on Jesus is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtlcom
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Hebrews 7:24 and 25.
Speaking of Jesus, “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Intercession is prayer on behalf of another.
If we want to know what Jesus is doing in heaven right now, this Scripture points us to one of His functions. He is interceding for us.
Just before Jesus was crucified, He told Simon Peter that he would deny knowing Jesus three times. Yet, even knowing Peter’s weaknesses, Jesus would not give up on him. He said in Luke 22:32, “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
In Jesus, we have an advocate to the Father, to intercede on our behalf and to defend us through our weaknesses.
These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to trust Jesus to intercede for us in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Job 13:15.
Job said about the LORD, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.
Job persevered in faith through suffering. He understood some things about life and the Lord that can help us to endure the trials of life.
First, Job understood that life on earth was temporary, and that his life was in God’s hands. He said in Job 1:21 in a moment of worship, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.”
Second, Job understood that life on earth and his blessings were gifts from above. He said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Third, Job knew His Redeemer was his source of hope. He said in Job 19:25, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end, he will stand on the earth.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to endure the trials of life with our hope in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Welcoming Influence
john : November 16, 2022 5:54 pm : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to be a welcoming influence.
This is what Jesus did with the crowds that came to see Him. Luke 9:11 says that as the crowds followed Jesus, He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Jesus came to the world to engage us in conversation and to teach us about the kingdom of God.
His example shows us the value of rolling out the welcome mat to invite others into meaningful conversation. We will learn a lot in those conversations and have opportunity to be an influence for Christ as we share the reason for our hope with gentleness and respect.
Near the end of his life, Paul the Apostle lived in a rented house. Acts 28:30 says that for two whole years, he “welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance, he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Being a Welcoming Influence is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Voice of Faith
john : November 15, 2022 5:37 pm : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to be a voice of faith in times of fear.
By bringing the influence of Jesus into our relationships, we can be there for someone who is overcome by fear. We can give hope to those who are discouraged. We can be a friend to the lonely.
Isaiah 35:3 says, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas spoke words of encouragement to a trembling jailer who was desperately seeking life. He asked them, “What must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” That is what this man did, and he was filled with joy because he came to believe in God. Faith replaced fear. Life overcame death.
Being a voice of faith in times of fear is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are James 4:7 and 8a.
Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Temptation might show up in unexpected and surprising ways. That is why it is important for us to be ready and to stay on guard with the armor of God. Those spiritual weapons include faith, righteousness, and the word of God, which help us take our stand against the devil.
The more we know about ourselves and Jesus, the greater our awareness that we need Him. We need His forgiveness for past failures, and we need His grace for future victory. First Corinthians 10:12 says, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”
Humility keeps us from becoming overconfident, and motivates us to draw closer to God for the strength to say “No” to temptation.
These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to resist the devil and draw near to God in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Song Title | Artist | Album | Year |
6AM | 2021 | ||
Come Magnify | Christy Nockels | Single | 2022 |
Abide | Christy Nockels | Single | 2022 |
Hes Always Been Faithful (feat. John Marc Kohl) | The Worship Initiative | The Worship Initiative, Vol. 25 (Live) | 2021 |
Tapestry | John Marc Kohl | Still | 2022 |
Rain (feat. Noel Robinson) | Leeland | Better Word | 2019 |
Christ Be All Around Me (Live) [feat. All Sons & Daughters] | Leeland | Christ Be All Around Me – Live | 2014 |
Youre Welcome in This Place (feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore) | Maverick City Music | Maverick City Vol.1 | 2019 |
Jireh (feat. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine) | Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music | Old Church Basement | 2021 |
Closer (feat. Brandon Lake) | Maverick City Music | Maverick City Music, Vol. 3: Pt. 2 | 2020 |
Greater Still | Brandon Lake & Essential Worship | Song Sessions – EP | 2022 |
All I Have Is Christ (feat. Paul Baloche, Leslie Jordan) | Anchor Hymns | Single | 2022 |
7AM | 2021 | ||
I Am Thankful (feat. Leslie Jordan) | Paul Baloche | Behold Him | 2020 |
We Say Yes | SEU Worship | Walk with You | 2021 |
Monday Morning Faith | SEU Worship & Chelsea Plank | Heart Cry | 2022 |
Give Me Jesus (feat. Abbie Gamboa) | UPPERROOM | Moments: Light 006 | 2022 |
You Remain (feat. Elyssa Smith, Meredith Mauldin) | UPPERROOM | Single | 2022 |
Resurrender (feat. Brooke Ligertwood) | Hillsong Worship | These Same Skies | 2021 |
Awake My Soul | Hillsong Worship | Awake | 2019 |
Light the Way | Matt Maher | Alive & Breathing | 2020 |
Run To the Father | Matt Maher | Alive & Breathing Vol. I – Single | 2019 |
How You Love Me | Patrick Mayberry | Holy Spirit Come (Bonus Video Version) – EP | 2021 |
Holy Spirit Come | Patrick Mayberry | Holy Spirit Come – EP | 2021 |
Ill Follow | Cody Carnes | God Is Good! (Live) | 2022 |
8AM | 2021 | ||
This Is How I Thank The Lord (feat. Cody Carnes, Amanda Cook & Joe L Barnes) | Mosaic MSC | Thanks – EP | 2022 |
Comfort (Live) | Mosaic MSC | This Is How I Thank The Lord (Deluxe) | 2022 |
Oh But God | Davy Flowers | Oh But God – Radio Edit | 2022 |
Defender (feat. Davy Flowers) | The Worship Initiative | The Worship Initiative, Vol. 17 | 2019 |
Son of Suffering | Matt Redman | Single | 2022 |
All Praise (Sing Praise) | Matt Redman | Studio Single | 2020 |
Christ Be Magnified (Live) | Cory Asbury | Single | 2020 |
Endless Alleluia (Live) | Bethel Music & Cory Asbury | Victory (Live) | 2019 |
Always | Chris Tomlin | Always | 2022 |
YAHWEH (No One) (feat. Elevation Worhip) | Chris Tomlin | Always | 2022 |
Right Here, Right Now (Live) | Red Rocks Worship | Here (Live) | 2017 |
9AM | 2021 | ||
Now Here | Red Rocks Worship | Things of Heaven (Where We Come From) | 2021 |
Simple Kingdom (feat. Cody Carnes) | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | Ive Got Good News (Live) | 2022 |
Praise Before My Breakthrough | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | Praise Before My Breakthrough – EP | 2018 |
Thats The Thing About Praise (feat. Blessing Offor) | Benjamin William Hastings | Benjamin William Hastings | 2022 |
Not Even Once | Benjamin William Hastings | Benjamin William Hastings | 2022 |
Hallelujah Anyway | Rend Collective | Whosoever | 2022 |
I Choose To Worship | Rend Collective | Choose To Worship | 2020 |
My King Forever (Live) | Josh Baldwin | Homecoming (Live) | 2021 |
Keep Me Burning | Josh Baldwin | Where The Glory Is | 2022 |
Light a Fire / Great Are You Lord (Live) | David Leonard | Single | 2022 |
Way Maker | David Leonard | Open House Sessions – EP | 2020 |
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Psalm 37:4.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Delighting in the LORD will shape the desires of our heart. When He takes first priority in our lives, righteousness becomes the yearning of our heart.
Our God-given purpose starts with a relationship with Jesus. He will be the treasure that we seek. He will be the Savior that we celebrate. He will be the Lord that we worship in spirit and in truth.
He will be our source of satisfaction and supreme joy.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to delight in the LORD in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Godly Role Model
john : November 11, 2022 4:48 pm : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is being a godly role model.
Sometimes, people hear that phrase, and dismiss the idea that they could ever be one. A role model is not perfect. The only perfect role model is Jesus Himself.
A role model can be defined as someone who is seen by others as an example to be imitated. Paul the Apostle served as a role model when he said in First Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Godly role models serve as an inspiration to motivate others to be more like Jesus. God can work through our conduct, our attitudes, our words, and our faith, to be a godly influence in our world. This happens in our lives as we look to the example of Jesus and follow Him.
Being a Godly Role Model is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com