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Friday Time Capsule-July 13 1992

john : July 14, 2023 1:02 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wF100sayaHm2KixzQVR7O?si=04afc7ba8c3d4bd7

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Light Reflection-Ezekiel 1:28 Facedown

john : July 14, 2023 10:52 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ezekiel 1:28.

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

As Ezekiel was receiving his calling into ministry, he had an encounter with the living God. He responded with reverence, awe, and humility. In the presence of God, we are often moved by the holiness of God and the mercy of God at the same time. We are likely to be convicted of our own sinfulness, but at the same time, encouraged by the grace of God to give us a place of belonging to His family and service in His church.

Greater understanding comes to the worshipper of God. We see Jesus more clearly, we see ourselves more clearly, and we see our purpose in Christ more clearly when we surrender to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to worship God in humility when He calls us to service in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Guard Against Overconfidence

john : July 14, 2023 10:50 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

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

First Corinthians 10:12 says, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”

One of the spiritual blind spots that can lead us into temptation is when we think we are stronger in our faith than we really are.  An example of that is Simon Peter, who insisted to Jesus that he would not deny knowing Jesus. He said he was ready to go to prison and die for Jesus.

But when his courage was tested, he denied Jesus three times the next morning.

The good news from this story is that Peter rebounded from his failures and went on to serve God with a strong faith. We can learn from our failures, accept God’s forgiveness, and recognize our need for His grace to be strong in times of temptation.

Guarding against overconfidence is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Light Reflections-John 4:23-24 True Worship

john : July 13, 2023 11:11 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 4:23 and 24.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

What does true worship look like? Here are some expressions.

True worship seeks the glory of God rather than glory for ourselves.

True worship celebrates God’s grace with profound gratitude.

True worship seeks to know God personally as He really is.

True worship commits our ways to God’s plan for our lives.

True worship approaches God with humility and reverence.

This Light Reflection inspires us to worship God in the Spirit and in truth in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Confidence in God

john : July 13, 2023 11:09 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to live with confidence in God.

There is a lot of emphasis in our world today on self-confidence, having the assurance that we have what it takes to get the job done and be successful. Someone who displays self-confidence may draw people to themselves, but confidence in God will draw people to Christ.

The Apostle Paul lived with confidence in God and lived as an ambassador for Christ.

In Second Corinthians 3:4, he said, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

What Paul understood was that his strength came from God. He only had a platform to make a difference in people’s lives because of the grace of God. This kept him humble and his source of confidence focused in the right place.

Confidence in God is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Light Reflection-Romans 8:28 and 29a For the Good

john : July 12, 2023 3:13 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 8:28 and 29a.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

God works through the circumstances of our lives for His glory and our good. The good that He seeks to accomplish in our lives is to conform us to the image of Jesus. So, as we go through various experiences-(challenges, opportunities, victories, and disappointments), God is able to weave all those circumstances together to build our character to reflect the likeness of Jesus.

The trials and the painful situations that we face are opportunities to grow more mature in the faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to grow with God through the circumstances of our lives in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Light Reflection-Psalm 63:6 and 7 Resting in God’s Love

john : July 11, 2023 5:04 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 63:6 and 7.

“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

In the stillness of the night, our soul can be encouraged by the thought of God’s love and faithfulness. Someone has said that if we are having trouble sleeping, don’t count sheep. Rather, talk to the Good Shepherd.

His name is Jesus, and He can use the quiet moments of our lives to draw us to prayer, fill us with peace, and stir us to praise.

Psalm 149 tells us that the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

This Light Reflection inspires us to rest in God’s love for us through the watches of the night in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Guard Your Heart

john : July 11, 2023 5:00 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

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

There is much wisdom in protecting our heart from influences that corrupt our character and compromise our faith in the LORD.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Then, it gets more specific. “Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

If we have failed to guard our heart, there is good news. Through Jesus, the corrupted heart can be made clean again as we step into the light of confession. Then, apply the shield of faith for our current and future spiritual battles.

Guarding our heart is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Compassion

john : July 10, 2023 4:42 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

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

One of the familiar stories that Jesus told is about the Good Samaritan, who saw someone in a desperate situation, and was moved by compassion to help him.

The man was attacked by robbers and was wounded. Other religious leaders saw the same thing as the Samaritan but did nothing about it. When the Samaritan came to the scene, he bandaged the wounds of the injured man, put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he would take care of his needs. He paid for the man’s expenses.

It is not uncommon for the expression of compassion to come at a personal cost to the giver, but it also comes to a great benefit to the person who receives the care. Compassion is the way of love that meets vital needs and reflects the heart of Jesus.

Compassion is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Light Reflection-Psalm 119:59 God’s Statutes

john : July 10, 2023 4:39 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119, verse 59.

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.”

When we consider our ways and compare them to God’s statutes, we have the opportunity to assess more thoroughly whether we are going forward in the will of God. The statutes of God are rules for living found in the Bible. They are given to us to guide us in His will.

If we think that God’s laws are designed to ruin our fun and make us miserable, we are not trusting in God’s plan to be good for us.

But God’s Word declares that His plan for our lives is good. In Isaiah 48:17, the LORD declares that He teaches what is best for you, and directs you in the way you should go.

This Light Reflection inspires us to consider our ways and turn our steps to God’s statutes in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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