JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Jeremiah 15:16.
The prophet Jeremiah said this to the LORD, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”
Jeremiah took great delight in feeding on the words that God spoke to him. Every day is an opportunity for us to fill up on God’s Word and to draw nourishment by the expressions of God’s love written there. The Bible is reliable for building our faith so that we thrive for God’s glory.
The writer of Psalm 1 described the person who delighted in the law of the LORD as blessed. He said “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers.”
The fulfillment of God’s Word reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 97:11.
“Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”
The light of God shines on the person who is fully devoted to the Gospel.
There is joy in walking in fellowship with God. There is joy in following Him with a faithful heart. There is joy in embracing His love for us. There is joy is sharing this good news with others. There is joy in pondering a glorious future with Him. There is joy in praising Him for who He is and the many ways He has blessed us.
Psalm 97, verse 12 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.”
The joy of knowing the LORD reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119:111.
“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”
Joshua was a man of God who inspired a nation to walk with God when he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” It was his joy to obey God by leading His people.
The light of God’s Word fills us with joy. When we open up the Bible, we see the need of humanity for a Savior, which God provided through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged by His plan for our lives, to bless us with His grace and guide us in His truth.
We also see how His statutes are given in love to protect us and provide for us. From a heart of gratitude for all that God has done for us, we want to obey Him and honor His name. It is our joy to serve Him. First John 5:3 says “this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to find joy in following God’s statutes in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Jeremiah 15:16.
The Prophet Jeremiah said to the LORD, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”
Our attitude toward someone will greatly affect how we receive their words. If we are skeptical, we will respond with resistance. If we respect them, we will be receptive to what they have to say.
Jeremiah loved the Lord, and received His words with great joy and delight. This is how God’s Word can affect our day today as we open the Bible to the words of life. They can guide us to a better understanding of who Jesus is so that we might be better prepared to follow Him with a faithful heart. They offer hope and encouragement for our faith. They remind us of a God who loved us so much that He sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sins.
This Light Reflection inspires us to take great joy and delight in God’s Word in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 15:11.
Jesus said to His disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Having God’s love in our hearts leads us to a place of complete joy. To understand the pathway to joy, we need to recall His previous statement in verses 9 and 10. He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept the Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
Joy is a light that shines brightly as a result of walking in an intimate relationship with God. Isaiah 60, verse 5 says, “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to live with the joy that comes from the Lord in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
It’s Week 1 in a Season of Joy Sunday mornings on WJTL. This week’s Praise & Worship playlist is filled with songs of joy from Dante Bowe, Phil Wickham, Kim Walker-Smith, We The Kingdom, Aaron Shust, Rend Collective, Shane & Shane and more!
| Song Title |
Artist |
Album |
Year |
| 6AM |
|
|
|
| Beauty For Ashes |
Anthony Skinner |
Forever And A Day |
2004 |
| Joyful |
Dante Bowe |
Circles |
2021 |
| Joy |
Phil Wickham |
Response |
2011 |
| Joyful (The One Who Saves) |
Brenton Brown |
Joyful |
2010 |
| Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble? |
Delirious |
Revival Generation |
1998 |
| Up in Arms |
Hillsong UNITED |
Zion (Deluxe Edition) |
2013 |
| Joy to the World / Joy of the Lord |
Maverick City Music |
A Very Maverick Christmas (feat. Mav City Gospel Choir) |
2021 |
| Rejoice |
Dustin Kensrue |
The Water & The Blood |
2013 |
| joy. |
for KING & COUNTRY |
Burn The Ships |
2018 |
| My Joy |
Philip Herndon |
Love In Every Motion |
2012 |
| Your Love Never Fails |
Chris McClarney |
Love Never Fails |
2008 |
| Make A Joyful Noise – I Will Not Be Silent |
David Crowder |
All I Can Say |
1998 |
| Rejoice |
Chris Tomlin |
See The Morning |
2006 |
| Shout for Joy |
Paul Baloche |
The Same Love |
2012 |
| 7AM |
|
|
|
| Tears Of Joy |
Phil Wickham |
The Ascension |
2013 |
| What Joy Is Found |
Jeremy Riddle |
Full Attention |
2007 |
| Take Courage (Kristene DiMarco) |
Bethel Music |
Starlight (Live) |
2017 |
| Joy of the Lord (Live) [Spontaneous] |
Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson |
You Make Me Brave (Live) |
2014 |
| I Have Found (Live) |
Kim Walker-Smith |
Revival Nights (Live) |
2021 |
| Find a Reason (Joyful Joyful) [feat. Brett Stanfill] |
North Point Worship |
Find a Reason |
2020 |
| Count It All Joy |
Sovereign Grace Music |
Worship God Live |
2005 |
| I Will Rejoice |
Rita Springer |
I Have To Believe |
2005 |
| O Rejoice |
Hillsong |
Celebrating Christmas |
2005 |
| Rejoice |
Brad+Rebekah |
Single |
2019 |
| Praise the Lord / Rejoice [feat. Eb Cole] |
Daniel Bashta |
My Resurrection |
2017 |
| 8AM |
|
|
|
| In Your Presence (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Let It Echo (Live) |
2016 |
| Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) |
Shane & Shane |
Psalms, Vol. 2 |
2015 |
| Joy! He Shall Reign |
Big Daddy Weave |
Single |
2020 |
| Rejoice |
Andrew Peterson |
The Burning Edge of Dawn |
2015 |
| Joy Is In Our Hearts |
Sara Groves |
Fireflies And Songs |
2009 |
| Rejoice |
Sovereign Grace Music |
Savior |
2006 |
| Psalm 96 (Let the Earth Rejoice) |
Robbie Seay Band |
Psalms LP |
2015 |
| Hymn of Joy (Live) |
Chris Tomlin |
Adore-Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live) |
2015 |
| Joy Of The Lord |
Rend Collective |
As Family We Go |
2016 |
| Rejoice |
Andrew Ripp |
Evergreen |
2021 |
| Joy Has Dawned |
Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt (of Sanctus Real) |
In Christ Alone – Modern Hymns Of Worship |
2008 |
| Rejoice |
Mission Worship |
Mission Worship EP |
2019 |
| Joy Is In This Place |
Tim Hughes |
When Silence Falls |
2004 |
| House Of The Lord |
Phil Wickham |
Single |
2021 |
| 9AM |
|
|
|
| Joy (Shining Light) |
Victory Fellowship Worship Band |
Elevator Music |
2010 |
| Joy Invincible (feat. Jenn Johnson) |
Switchfoot |
Joy Invincible recut Single |
2020 |
| Joy Comes In The Morning |
Baylor Wilson |
Joy Comes In The Morning |
2021 |
| Joy (To the World) (feat. Ryan Ellis) |
Life.Church Worship |
Gloria (Live) |
2021 |
| Rejoice |
Life Center Worship |
Single |
2019 |
| Joyous Light |
Chris Tomlin |
Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern |
2004 |
| Yes I Will |
Vertical Worship |
Bright Faith Bold Future |
2018 |
| Sing Wherever I Go (Live) |
We The Kingdom |
Live At the Wheelhouse – EP |
2019 |
| Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful) |
Phil Wickham |
Christmas |
2019 |
| Joy |
Rend Collective |
The Art of Celebration |
2014 |
| Joy To Be (feat. Chaunda Jefferson) |
Citizens |
The Joy of Being |
2020 |
| Rejoice |
Aaron Shust |
Unto Us |
2014 |
| Joyful Noise |
Matt Maher |
Single |
2021 |
| Rejoice |
Jordan St. Cyr |
Single |
2021 |
| Heart Sings Hallelujah (Live) |
Paul McClure & Hannah McClure |
Christmas Morning (Live) |
2020 |
| Bless His Name (Ive Got That Joy) (feat. Brandon Lake & Andy Cherry) |
Seacoast Music |
Single |
2021 |
| Praise to the Lord (Joyful, Joyful) |
Shane & Shane |
Hymns, Vol. 2 |
2019 |
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to rejoice in the Lord.
First Thessalonians 5:16 instructs us to “rejoice always.” Philippians 4:4 reiterates the point. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
How can joy be fulfilling part of our Christian journey? When we look into what the Bible says about “joy” and “rejoicing”, we will often see those words connected with worship. With the eyes of our faith focused on magnifying Jesus, the door is open for us to experience His joy. We see His greatness, we taste His goodness, and we experience His forgiveness.
Psalm 68, verses 3 and 4 connects joy with worship: “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him-his name is the LORD.”
Take the Daily Challenge to rejoice in the Lord on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
September 15th, 2021
john
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 “Delight.”
To take delight in something or someone is to find enjoyment and satisfaction in the source of our delight.
Psalm 37:4 instructs us to “take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
This passage is encouraging us to enjoy time with the LORD. Find satisfaction in His grace, because His grace is sufficient for our needs. Find joy in worshipping Him because He is worthy of our praise and delight.
As we delight in the LORD, He will rearrange our desires to His purposes. The words of the Bible will be meaningful in building our relationship with God. We will find joy in the journey of following Jesus and being in relationship with Him. We will take delight in God’s work among us, leading to changed lives for His glory.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Find encouragement in the opportunity to delight in the Lord in the Year of Endurance.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in the value of His Word.
The Bible is a unique book, inspired by God, and written by different authors in different time periods. His wisdom in those words offers greater value than the riches of the world.
David wrote in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Verse 10 adds, “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.”
If we take the message of the Bible to heart, it will be good news for our soul that leads us to follow Jesus. He will be our source of joy.
Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the wisdom of His Word on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
John@wjtl.com
