JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to offer our activities to God.

God made us with a purpose to glorify Him with whatever we do. As we follow Jesus, His plan becomes the priority of our lives. We come to a place of surrender by saying to the Lord, “Have your way in my life. I am your servant.”  Then, follow God’s plan with a faithful heart.

Mary said something like that and God established her as the mother of Jesus, and blessed throughout all generations.

David said something like that, and God established him to be the king over Israel. and a man after His own heart. God testified about David, “He will do everything I want him to do.” That can be true of us.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Offering our activities to God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

To glorify God is to give Him honor and praise.

There are several people who glorified God at the birth of Jesus.

One of those people was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who said in Luke 1:46, “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

After the Shepherds went to Bethlehem to see Jesus as a baby, they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Jesus is the perfect gift from above. Nothing else we receive during this Christmas season can measure up to the great value of His grace.

Find encouragement in the opportunities of the Holiday Season to glorify the Lord with a joyful heart in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to learn from the example of Mary to listen for the voice of Jesus.

In Luke 10:38, Jesus went to the home of Martha. She had a sister named Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She asked Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

By listening to the Lord, Mary had opportunity to learn from Jesus, to focus on what matters most, and build a stronger faith in Him.

Take the daily challenge to learn from the example of Mary and listen to the voice of Jesus on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the chorus of praises surrounding the birth of Christ.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus is God’s ultimate gift to the world.

The birth of Christ was a cause for celebration for Mary, the mother of Jesus, who said, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The birth of Christ was a cause for celebration for the shepherds. After their encounter with the baby Jesus, they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God for what they had heard and seen.

The birth of Christ was a cause of celebration for the wise men, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. They also bowed down and worshiped him.

The birth of Christ was a cause of celebration for the heavenly angels, who said on the night of His birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

We can join the chorus of praises in response to a loving God who remembered us and came to meet us at our point of need.

The birth of Christ is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the joy of listening to Jesus.

Mary and Martha were sisters who both loved Jesus. When He came to their house, they went into very different modes. Mary went into listening mode. Martha went into work mode.

Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said. Her heart was open to what Jesus had said to her. Meanwhile, Martha was caught up in household chores: cleaning, sweeping, getting dinner ready, that sort of thing. The Bible says she was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She starts to resent the fact that Mary is not helping her. She says to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Then comes Jesus’ gentle rebuke, which expresses His love for Martha and at the same time, His stamp of approval for Mary’s responsiveness to His words. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary serves as an example for us to take time to enjoy our relationship with Jesus. Spend quality time with Him. Cherish His every word, and follow what He says to us.

The joy of listening to Jesus is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com