Staff
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Sacrifice.
Today, it is possible to celebrate salvation in Christ because of His sacrifice on the cross 2,000 years ago. There was a sacrificial system of animals in place before Jesus came into the world.
But according to Hebrews 7:27, “unlike the other high priests (in the Old Testament), he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”
The price was high, and the pain was extreme, but His love for us was deep and wide. The death and resurrection of Jesus are pivotal moments in human history, and they are foundational events to the faith of Jesus’ followers. According to Hebrews 7:25, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Find encouragement in the sacrifice of Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
This week’s playlist has a mini theme celebrating God Who Makes A Way–and a mega theme dedicated to trusting the God of My Story! Check out details below, including brand new songs from Bethel Music’s “Homecoming” project along with fresh releases from Martin Smith, Christ for the Nations Worship, Andy Cherry and more.
Song Title | Artist | Album | Year |
6AM | |||
Take Heart (MMXX) | Hillsong Worship | Take Heart (Again) | 2020 |
Trouble (feat. The Kingdom Choir) | Martin Smith | Trouble (feat. The Kingdom Choir) – Single | 2021 |
Over and Over | Chris McClarney | Breakthrough | 2018 |
Rejoice | Brad+Rebekah | Single | 2019 |
Joyful | Dante Bowe | Circles | 2021 |
Find a Reason (Joyful Joyful) [feat. Brett Stanfill] | North Point Worship | Find a Reason | 2020 |
Mighty (Live) | Andy Cherry | Mighty (Live) – Single | 2021 |
I See You (feat. Brandon Lake) | Chris Tomlin | Single | 2021 |
Sing His Praise Again (Oh My Soul) (feat. Jenn Johnson) | Bethel Music | Revivals In The Air (Live) | 2020 |
Christ Be Magnified (Live) | The Belonging Co & Cody Carnes | See The Light (Live) | 2021 |
Psalm 150 (Praise The Lord) | Matt Boswell & Matt Papa | Almost Home – The Hymns Of Matt Boswell And Matt Papa (Vol. 2) | 2021 |
The Worship Medley: Reckless Love / O Come To The Altar / Great Are You Lord | Tauren Wells & Essential Worship | Essential Worship Songs | 2020 |
7AM | |||
Step Into My Story | Selah | Step Into My Story | 2020 |
Beautiful Story | Jaime Jamgochian | All Things | 2020 |
Author / Perfector | Rivers & Robots | Discovery | 2018 |
Eyes On You | Shane & Shane | Bring Your Nothing | 2013 |
Better Word (Live) | Leeland | Better Word (Live) | 2019 |
So Good (feat. Chris McClarney) | Rita Springer | Light | 2020 |
Remember | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | Remember – Single | 2019 |
Immeasurably More | Rend Collective | The Art of Celebration | 2014 |
Youre Not Finished Yet (Live) | The Belonging Co & Maggie Reed | All the Earth (Live) | 2017 |
Just Getting Started (feat. Lauren Lee) | North Point Worship | Single | 2020 |
Rebuilding My Ruins | kalley | Faultlines Vol. I | 2019 |
My Testimony (Live) | Elevation Worship | Graves into Gardens (Live) | 2020 |
My Story | Hillsong Worship | No Other Name | 2014 |
8AM | |||
New Thing (Live) | Hillsong Young & Free | All of My Best Friends (Live) | 2020 |
Hope and A Future (feat. Nate Moore & Chandler Moore) [Live] | Housefires | Housefires + Friends (Live) – Single | 2020 |
Know You Will | Hillsong UNITED | Single | 2021 |
Come Through (Live) | Kim Walker-Smith | Wild Heart (Live) | 2020 |
Your Nature (Live) | Kari Jobe | The Blessing (Live) | 2020 |
Egypt (Live) | Cory Asbury | Single | 2020 |
Abraham | Josh Baldwin | The War Is Over | 2017 |
Promises | Maverick City Music | Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2 | |
My Story | Big Daddy Weave | Beautiful Offerings | 2015 |
Catch Me Singing | Sean Curran | Single | 2020 |
9AM | |||
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) | Matt Redman | 10,000 Reasons | 2012 |
Way Maker | Paul McClure | Single | 2019 |
God of New Seasons (feat. Laura Souguellis) | Christ For The Nations Worship | God of New Seasons | 2021 |
Ill Give Thanks (feat. Kirby Kaple) | Housefires | Ill Give Thanks | 2020 |
Jesus Over Everything (Live) | The Belonging Co & Andrew Holt | See The Light (Live) | 2021 |
Only You (Live) | Kim Walker-Smith | Wild Heart (Live) | 2020 |
No One (feat. Setnick Sene) | Cross Point Music | Single | 2021 |
No One But You (Live) | Hillsong Worship | Awake (Deluxe) | 2019 |
Homecoming (Live) | Bethel Music, Cory Asbury & Gable Price | Homecoming (Live) | 2021 |
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Blood.
In the Gospel, blood is the cleansing agent for our heart. Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
This is why Jesus went to the cross, so that he might pay the price as a ransom to set us free from the death penalty. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. That includes each one of us.
But here is the good news for us to embrace, and this is why the message of the cross is the power of God for those who are saved in His grace.
First John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” All of our sin is erased. All of our guilt is removed when we come into the light of His grace and truth.
Find encouragement in the blood of Jesus to make us clean before God in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KKnPh0womSNQ1dJHbBsyL?si=91015bb88a7645da
This week’s Praise & Worship Playlist features a mini-theme of the Nearness of God, and a mega-theme Holding onto His Promises! Listen for new songs in the lineup from Jonathan & Melissa Helser, Michael W. Smith, Koryn Hawthorne and local leaders Caleb & Bethany Kuenzli!
Song Title | Artist | Album | Year |
6AM | |||
Glory, Glory (God Is Able) | Crowder | Milk & Honey | 2021 |
Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise) | Shane & Shane | Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs | 2021 |
Run To The Father | Matt Maher | Alive & Breathing, Vol. 1 | 2020 |
Reason I Sing | Phil Wickham | Hymn Of Heaven | 2021 |
Let The Light In | Cody Carnes | Run To The Father | 2020 |
Fresh Wind (Studio) | Hillsong Worship | Fresh Wind/What A Beautiful Name (Live) – EP | 2021 |
Holy Spirit Come | Patrick Mayberry | Holy Spirit Come – EP | 2021 |
Wait On You (feat. Dante Bowe & Chandler Moore) | Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music | Old Church Basement | 2021 |
Thy Kingdom Come (feat. Francesca Battistelli) | Rita Springer | Single | 2020 |
Bless His Name (Ive Got That Joy) (feat. Brandon Lake & Andy Cherry) | Seacoast Music | Single | 2021 |
Never Lost | Elevation Worship | Single | 2019 |
7AM | |||
Better Word (Live) | Leeland | Better Word (Live) | 2019 |
Graves Into Gardens | Koryn Hawthorne & Essential Worship | Essential Worship Songs | 2020 |
Egypt (Live) | Cory Asbury | Single | 2020 |
Hallelujah For Every Broken Heart | Crowder | Milk & Honey | 2021 |
Forever (Live) | Michael W. Smith | Worship Forever (Live) | 2021 |
Hope Of The Ages (feat. Reuben Morgan & Cody Carnes) | Hillsong Worship | Single | 2021 |
Let There Be Light | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | Champion | 2016 |
Speak To The Mountains | Chris McClarney | Single | 2021 |
See A Victory | Dante Bowe & Essential Worship | Single | 2021 |
By The Spirit (feat. Franni Cain) [Live] | Pat Barrett & Jon Reddick | Nothing/Something (Live) | 2021 |
Holy Holy Here With Me (feat. Kirby Kaple) [Live] | Housefires | Housefires VII (Live) | 2021 |
Thin (feat. Kirby Kaple) | Housefires | Single | 2020 |
8AM | |||
Proximity | Caleb & Bethany Kuenzli | Single | 2021 |
Draw Me Close | Shane & Shane | Vintage | 2020 |
Draw Near (feat. Kristian Stanfill) | Passion | Passion: Even So Come | 2015 |
By My Side (Live) | David Leonard | The Wait: Silence the Noise (Live) | 2019 |
Hes Always Been Faithful (feat. John Marc Kohl) | The Worship Initiative | The Worship Initiative, Vol. 25 (Live) | 2021 |
Great Is Your Faithfulness | Martin Smith | Back to the Start (Deluxe Version) | 2013 |
This I Believe (The Creed) | Hillsong Worship | No Other Name | 2014 |
Believe For It | CeCe Winans | Believe For It | 2021 |
Man of Your Word (feat. Chandler Moore & KJ Scriven) | Maverick City Music | Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 | 2020 |
Promises | Maverick City Music | Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2 | |
He Will | Ellie Holcomb | Red Sea Road | 2017 |
9AM | |||
Faithful to the End (feat. Paul & Hannah McClure) | Bethel Music | Have It All | |
Believe in You | The McClures | The Way Home (Deluxe) | 2019 |
Your Promises | Elevation Worship | Wake Up the Wonder (Live) | 2014 |
Famous For (I Believe) [feat. Jenn Johnson] | Tauren Wells | Citizen of Heaven | 2020 |
Yes and Amen | Housefires | Housefires III | 2016 |
All The People Said Amen | Matt Maher | All The People Said Amen | 2014 |
Promises (feat. Trenton Bell & Davy Flowers) | The Worship Initiative & Shane & Shane | The Worship Initiative, Vol. 22 | 2020 |
I Still Believe (Faithful Always) | Thrive Worship | A Thousand More | 2019 |
Way Maker (feat. Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes) | Passion | Roar (Live From Passion 2020) | 2020 |
God of the Promise | Elevation Worship | Hallelujah Here Below | 2018 |
I Believe (Live) | Jonathan & Melissa Helser | Homecoming (Live) | 2021 |
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to grow in meekness.
In Matthew 5:5, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
The idea of meekness has to do with “strength through restraint”. It is a quality that combines humility with a gentle spirit. The perfect example of this was Jesus. Though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor. Even though He had 72,000 angels at his disposal for protection, Jesus chose the way of the cross. For a period of time, He emptied Himself of His Heavenly glory and stepped into a human body to take the nature of a servant.
When we see the evidence of injustice, meekness is the quality that will help us to confront it the right way. Look to the example of Jesus. We are challenged to use our influence to shine the light of the Gospel with the attitude of Christ, who demonstrated gentleness, humility and patience to a world in need of His grace.
Take the daily challenge to experience the blessing of growing in meekness on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4NeBUeMBXvHJQCuH4Dbxam?si=6250e5f3fa74405b
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Gold.
This precious metal is used to make coins and jewelry and is highly valued. Olympians strive to win the gold medal which represents first place in a particular event.
First Peter 1:7 talks about our genuine faith as having greater worth than gold.
A genuine faith often is refined through all kinds of trials, and will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed
Job was a man of God who suffered greatly. In the midst of his harsh trials, he acknowledged that when the Lord tested him he would come forth as gold.
God can use trials to refine our faith so that we become a shining reflection of His image.
Find encouragement in the value of faith to have greater worth than gold in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
John@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Fruit.
Most of us have a favorite fruit that is pleasing to our tastebuds, whether they are oranges, apples, or strawberries.
There are different kinds of character qualities that make our faith more fruitful, such as love, joy, and peace. These qualities are found in the fruit of the Spirit.
When we live by God’s Spirit, He builds godly character qualities on our foundation of faith. This is what enables us to be an effective witness to the world of God’s saving grace. Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Through the faithful witness of believers, the words of Colossians 1:6 are still true today. “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the world.”
Find encouragement in the fruitfulness of walking in step with God’s Spirit in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Future.
The future is the time yet to come. Corrie Ten Boom, who was placed in a concentration camp for helping the Jews escape from the Nazis, once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
We don’t know specifically what will happen tomorrow, but with God in our lives, we can anticipate the future with hope rather than dread. God has a perspective on the future. He inspired the prophecies in the Bible. He has revealed certain events that have yet to take place.
The LORD said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Find encouragement in the hopeful future that God has prepared for those who seek Him in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com