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Posts Tagged ‘compassion’

Light Reflection-I John 2:9 and 10 Love With Actions

October 13th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First John 2, verses 9 and 10.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing to make them stumble.

Love is a light that represents Jesus to the world, but hatred is a dark place that hinders our view of God and keeps us from reaching out with His love.

The way of love starts with God, who showed His love to us by sending Jesus to the world. There is more to love than mere words. The proof is in our actions. First John 3:17 asks the question, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to love our brothers and sisters with words and actions in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Light Reflection-Luke 15:20 Brilliance of God’s Compassion

August 4th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Luke 15:20.

This is one of the highlights in the Parable of the Lost Son taught by Jesus.

A father had two sons. The younger one took his share of the estate and squandered his wealth on wild living. But after he spent everything and was in need, he came to his senses and decided to return to his father.

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

This is a vivid picture of God’s compassion for the person who recognizes their need for forgiveness. Compassion sees the needs of another person and is moved to relieve their distress. Compassion moved the father to embrace his son who had returned home to Him.

The Father’s arms are open wide to receive returning Prodigals today.

This Light Reflection inspires us to marvel at the brilliance of God’s compassion in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Compassion

March 23rd, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is compassion.

Recently, our family of listeners participated in a Compassion event to help kids in Kenya and in other parts of the world. Kenya has experienced some disasters in recent years that have led to malnourishment among many children.

But you responded to the need. 124 listeners became sponsors with Compassion International. Now, many children will face a brighter future because of the support of their new sponsors.

Isaiah 58:10 says, “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.”

Compassion is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Bring Hope to Children in Kenya with Compassion, March 14th & 15th

March 12th, 2023 No comments

Bring Hope to Children in Kenya

 

Have you ever felt all alone? Most of us have someone we can reach out to in times of trouble.

But for a child in poverty there is no one to help. They are truly all alone. Their parents spend long hours just trying to eke out a living. School is too costly. No aid, no help… no hope.

As a Compassion sponsor, you can be that source of hope to a child in poverty. Your sponsorship speaks very loudly to that child, “Someone cares. You are NOT alone.”

For just a little more than a dollar a day, you can bring light to their darkness, joy to their sadness, and hope to the poverty that would steal their dreams.

Tune in to WJTL on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 14th & 15th. We’ll be teaming up with Compassion International and inviting you to help Kenya by sponsoring a child with Compassion.

Bring Hope To A Child In Kenya

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Action

October 13th, 2022 No comments

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

It is one thing to speak words of good intentions, but quite another to back up those words with action.

James 2:15 and 16 says, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

The Gospel calls us to compassionate action where there is opportunity to help someone. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Action is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Compassion

March 16th, 2022 No comments

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

In Matthew 14:13, Jesus withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Jesus was seeking a quiet place to retreat for a period of time. It is quite likely that He was seeking some private moments in prayer. Jesus often went to lonely places to pray.

In this case, however, a large crowd found him, and came to him with their sickness and brokenness. These are the conditions that touch the heart of God because He is compassionate. This is how we can make the world a better place for others-when compassion moves us to action. There is healing and vibrant ministry that takes place when we reach out to others with the love of God.

Compassion is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Word of Encouragement-Mercy

February 24th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Mercy.

There are two common meanings of mercy found in the Bible. One way to define mercy is the withholding of punishment for the sins we have committed.  Another meaning of mercy refers to compassion.

Both meanings describe God’s heart for those who follow Jesus. He withholds punishment and is deeply compassionate.

God’s mercy is life-changing, taking hatred and bitterness from our heart and replacing those attitudes with love and forgiveness.

Consider the difference that God’s mercy made in the life of Paul the Apostle. He said in Titus 3:3, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

Find encouragement in the mercy of God to rearrange our lives in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Categories: John Shirk, Staff Pages Tags: ,

Person of Integrity-Mordecai

June 27th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Mordecai.

He was a cousin to Queen Esther during a time when the Jews were living under the reign of the Persian Empire. There were a number of noble qualities about Mordecai.

He had taken Esther as his own daughter before she became queen. Esther did not have a father or mother. As her cousin, Mordecai became a father-like figure to her. He was a man of compassion.

He also broke up an assassination attempt against the king. He was a man of courage.

It also appears that Mordecai was loyal to God. When the king ordered the royal officials to kneel down and honor a man named Haman, Mordecai refused to comply. He was a man of conviction.

The faithfulness of Mordecai to live with compassion, courage, and conviction inspires us to do what is right in the eyes of God and live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye On Integrity-Sympathy

May 31st, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Peter 3:8.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

These are all qualities that build unity in the church and strengthen a community.

Sympathy is one of those qualities that expresses sorrow in the presence of someone else’s tears and pain. Romans 12:15 instructs us to “mourn with those who mourn.” With a sympathetic heart, we have the ability to enter into someone else’s world of grief and offer the gift of friendship and comfort in the midst of it all. We tell the grieving person that they are not alone in their sadness.

Jesus has not left us alone. He is the ultimate example of someone who understands. He has endured the pain of the cross. One of the ways He enables us to become sympathetic is by taking us through times of distress. Then, when others go through similar experiences, we are sensitive to their needs.

Walking with a sympathetic heart is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye On Integrity-The Prodigal Son Story

March 19th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Luke 15:20.

As the Prodigal Son returned home after a season of wild living and squandering his father’s wealth, what would happen when his father saw him?

Would he be angry? Would he refuse to talk to him? Or would he welcome him with open arms?

Verse 20 reveals the answer. “He got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” This is great compassion, to welcome His son with joy and have a celebration on his behalf. This is the Father’s heart for those who earnestly seek His forgiveness.

The Father’s love for us inspires us to have a tender heart for others. Ephesians 4:32 says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Walking with great compassion is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Person of Integrity-Prodigal Son

February 13th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is the Prodigal Son.

This person is mentioned in a story taught by Jesus in Luke 15.

The word “prodigal” describes someone who spends money recklessly. In this story, the Prodigal Son left home and squandered his father’s wealth on wild living. There is nothing noble about that. But that is not where his story ends. People with godly integrity are not perfect, but they are purified.

Jesus said, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” That is exactly what he did, and his father welcomed him with open arms. He was filled with love and compassion for his son as he returned home.

The faithfulness of the Prodigal Son to make things right with his father inspires us to be reconciled with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com