JOHN SHIRK – 2025 is the Year of God’s Word at WJTL. Throughout the upcoming year, we will be highlighting statements made by God in the Bible.

This is what the LORD says in Isaiah 43:18 and 19-“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Because of the grace of God, we do not have to live in regrets for past sins and failures. Through Jesus, God provides forgiveness for His people. He guides our pathway forward with a vision of hope. He showers us with blessings for the purpose that He states in verse 21-“that they may proclaim my praise.”

Isaiah 43:18 and 19-That’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2025 is the Year of God’s Word at WJTL. We will explore the meanings of specific words found in the Bible and discover how they apply to our lives today.

Today’s Word is New.

One definition of “New” is something that has recently come into existence. When our lives are made new in Christ, we have a fresh start and a clean heart. We have a new purpose and a new focus. That purpose is the glory of God. That focus is Jesus Christ.  We have a new life that welcomes the attitude of Jesus into our lives. This attitude includes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”

Discover how the word “New” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 1, verses 11 and 12.

Speaking of Jesus, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus did not wait to enter the world until we got our act together. He came when we were a mess. He came to a human race that was corrupted by sin, and had no hope of digging ourselves out of the spiritual debt that we owed to God. But Jesus came to make things right in our relationship to God. He bridged the gap by shedding His blood on the cross and rising from the dead.

By faith, we recognize what Jesus did for us, receive Him as Lord and Savior, and join the family of God as daughters and sons.

Acceptance into God’s family 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 Matthew 1:23.

At the birth of Jesus, this prophecy was fulfilled, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us.’)

The birth of Jesus was a moment when God came near to us in a human body. The arrival of Jesus showed us that God is faithful to His promises. He showed up in a visible way to demonstrate His love for us. He walked among the crowds and taught them. He was close enough to hear their cries and close enough to help them. His main focus of ministry was to seek and to save the lost, so that we might be redeemed.

The coming of Jesus means that God took the initiative to restore our relationship with Him. His love moved toward us so that we might experience the fullness of His grace. History took a hopeful turn the day that Jesus came to earth as a baby.

Immanuel 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 Luke 1, verses 46 to 49.

As Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she reflected on the blessing of her journey with praise for God.

She said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name.”

No one will deliver Jesus into the world in the way that Mary did, but we do have a place in God’s great plan. As we see His plan coming together and His power at work in us, those are occasions to praise the Lord and press forward with the assignments He gives us.

The purposes of God for our lives reveal the Goodness of God and are reasons 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 Isaiah 9:6.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This prophecy describes Jesus, who came as a gift to the world from the Father’s gracious hand.

We can understand the power of the Gospel in the light of gift-giving at Christmas time. A gift was purchased by the giver, and put into the hands of the recipient, who opens the package and receives the gift. This is how Jesus becomes God’s precious gift to us-when we receive Him as He is-Lord and Savior. He purchased our salvation with the price of His blood.

He guides us as our Wonderful Counselor. He reigns over us as our Mighty God. He loves us eternally as our Everlasting Father. He restores us to friendship as our Prince of Peace.

The gift of Jesus 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 Luke 2:10 and 11.

The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

The shepherds were moved by this angelic proclamation to go and see this baby who was lying in a manger. Then they were moved to tell others what they saw. After that, they were moved to praise and glorify God.

The angelic announcement to the shepherds invites us to behold Jesus as Savior, to publicly celebrate His arrival, and personally praise God for His precious gift.

The announcement of Christ’s birth 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 Second Corinthians 8:9.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Jesus was willing to leave his place of honor and royalty in heaven to take on a human body here on earth. The king of heaven became a humble servant. The Lion of Judah became the Lamb of God. Jesus willingly accepted a demotion to earth so that we might receive a promotion to heaven.

This passage is not talking about having lots of money or possessions while we live on the earth. Rather, it is talking about the abundant life that Jesus came to bring that overflows with joy and peace and hope and love. It is also talking about the riches of heaven that we can look forward to receiving by His wonderful gift of salvation.

The Grace and Poverty of Jesus reveal the Goodness of God and are reasons 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 Isaiah 9:2.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

That light was Jesus, whose light was filled with life to defeat the power of death.  Faith in Him leads us to eternal life. That is the brilliant hope that Jesus offers us by His resurrection power. Where Jesus reigns, love conquers hatred, hope conquers despair, and life conquers death.

All it takes to break the power of darkness in a room is to shine light into it. 2,000 years ago, the life of Jesus broke into a dark world to renew hope for a relationship with God and a brighter future.

John 1:4 says about Jesus, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Light 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 Matthew 1:21.

An angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The name of Jesus carries the meaning that the Lord saves. That is why Joseph had specific instructions from heaven on what to name Him. Mary received the same message from the angel Gabriel.

As we celebrate the Holiday season this year, it is worth remembering the salvation that is found only in Jesus. That gives meaning to the celebration of Christmas. There is power in the name of Jesus to save us from our sins.

The name of Jesus reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com