JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Cheerful Giving.

When appealing for financial support for Christians in need, the Apostle Paul said to the church in Corinth.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Paul was not telling them to send a certain amount of money. He was giving them the liberty to give lavishly. There is something that enriches our heart when we give with a cheerful attitude. It is not the obligation that we have to give, but the opportunity that we get to give. Giving out of a sense of delight in the Lord is a sustainable way to excel in the grace of giving.

Cheerful Giving is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 9:1 and 2.

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

The wonderful deeds of the LORD can have a strong impact on our lives in the following ways.

They lead us to faith. When we ponder His love for us at the cross, His power of life over death at the empty grave, and His life-changing grace, our trust and confidence in Him grows stronger.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to gratitude. We recognize that by His grace and mercy, we don’t get what we deserve by our sins. Instead, He has made a way for us to be forgiven and redeemed.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to praise. He puts a song of joy in our hearts to express our love for Him.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to places of faith, gratitude, and praise in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is cooperation with God’s plan.

One of God’s plans for our lives is to be in community-to get out and be with people. This is how we can get to know people and bless them with God’s love. That is where the disciples were when they cooperated in the miracle of feeding 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish.

Matthew 14:19 says that Jesus “directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.”

Elizabeth Elliot has said that God “summons us to cooperation. We are honored in being given the opportunity to participate in his good deeds.”

Cooperation in God’s plan is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Philippians 1:21.

The Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

As long as we are alive in our bodies, we have the opportunity to know Jesus personally, to live for Him, and find our purpose in Him. Paul reasoned that as he went on living in his body, that would mean fruitful labor for him. Yet, to be with Christ was better by far. So, he viewed death as a promotion into the presence of God.

So, as we live for Jesus today, we have the opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God. This happens as we work for the progress and joy of believers, and persuade unbelievers to become followers of Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to use our time on this earth to live for Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is choosing places of humility.

In Luke 14:8, Jesus taught a parable to show the value of seeking humility rather than honor for ourselves.

Jesus said that when someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited…..When you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3 instructs us with these words, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Choosing places of humility is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Acts 4:12.

Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

He did not make this statement in a church or at a Bible study among believers. He said this in front of very influential men who were not believers in Jesus. Just a few weeks earlier, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. But this time, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and with courage.

This kind of courage flows out of spending time with Jesus in His Word and in prayer. The teachers of the law observed the courage of two disciples that day-Peter and John. They noted that these unschooled, ordinary men had been with Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to turn to Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is sharing the workload with others.

If our workload gets too heavy for us, that is a good time to seek support from others to share the workload. This will include them with meaningful tasks and help us to prevent burnout.

In Exodus 18, the father-in-law of Moses saw that Moses was serving as judge for the Israelites from morning until evening. When he observed this, he said, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. This work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”

So, he advised Moses to select capable men from all the people-trustworthy men who feared God, and hated dishonest gain. They would decide the simple cases. Moses would decide the difficult cases. This was how Moses enlisted much-needed support.

Sharing the workload with others is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Micah 7:7.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Micah made this statement in the background of a morally corrupted culture around him. Sons were dishonoring their fathers. Daughters were rising up against their mothers. A man’s enemies were members of his household. Neighbors were not trustworthy.

Micah turned his hope toward heaven where God would be his source of comfort and strength. Micah’s faith spoke in how he waited on God. That is a good example for us. People will let us down. Things will break down. But there is salvation from above, and a certain hope in the Lord. He is our source of help in troubled times.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to put our hope in God’s unfailing love in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Habakkuk 3:17 and 18.

The prophet said, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

This statement of faith stops us in our tracks to consider what our relationship with God might look like if the crops failed or if food was scarce. After this prophet of God struggled with hard questions, he arrived at a place where his joy was in the Lord, not in his circumstances.

For people like Habakkuk, David, and Jacob in the Bible, their struggles led to worship. That is what can happen with us when we seek God through our difficult questions.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to rejoice in the Lord through the circumstances of our lives in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com