JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Heart.

In the Bible, this word often refers to someone’s inner being. The heart speaks of a person’s place of desire or ambition. It sometimes refers to someone’s motives for why they do what they do.

According to First Corinthians 4:5, at the Lord’s coming, He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. Many people are impressed by outward appearances, but the Lord looks beneath the surface to see the condition of our heart.

The Greatest Commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart.

Loyalty to God flows from an undivided heart.

Real love for other people flows from a sincere heart. First Peter 1:22 urges us to love one another deeply, from the heart.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word this is what the Lord says in Luke 6:41 and 42.

Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?’ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Jesus was talking about the danger of using a double standard with this statement. It would be hypocritical for us to look past our own flaws to see the smaller flaws of another person.  Dealing with the speck in someone else’s eye diverts attention away from the plank in our own eye. Jesus wants us to examine the sin in our own lives and remove it first. Then, we will be in a better place to help our friends to overcome their issues that hinder spiritual progress.

Luke 6:41 and 42-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is “Celebrate”.

Celebrations are special occasions that often bring friends and food together in a joyful atmosphere.

We celebrate Holidays, Birthdays, Graduations, and Weddings. In the church, baptism is a celebration of new life in Christ.

In Luke 15, Jesus told the story of a Prodigal Son who left home and squandered his wealth in wild living. Later he came to his senses while working on a pig farm. That is where he decided to return home.

His father welcomed him with open arms and called for a feast. He said in Luke 15:24, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” So, they began to celebrate. This is how we can respond whenever someone turns to Jesus with a heart of faith.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Luke 6:40.

Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

Jesus took time to mentor His disciples. He taught them about the kingdom of God and the way of righteousness. In the training process, Jesus was preparing His disciples to become apostles in the early church. They would become influential voices to lead thousands of people to faith in Jesus. But before being effective leaders, they would learn to follow Jesus. And as they followed Jesus, they would become transformed into His likeness. The teachings of Jesus will build our character and prepare us for our mission as we take His words to heart.

Luke 6:40-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Remain.

The meaning of Remain is to abide or to dwell. As it describes our relationship with Jesus, it is the picture of making our home in His presence and staying there. To remain in Jesus is to have a steadfast faith.

It is a word that reflects a journey of walking in fellowship with God. His grace is our source of strength and is necessary for our faith to flourish.

Jesus used this word when discussing our need for Him. He told the disciples in John 15:4: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Isaiah 42:8.

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”

Anything that becomes more important to us than God becomes an idol. But only God is worthy of the throne of our heart. He fiercely defends the glory of His name as holy and worthy of our praise.

His love reached out to us 2,000 years ago through Jesus, who died on a cross. This was an expression of God’s great love for us and an invitation to love and exalt Him with all our being.

Isaiah 42:8-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Humility.

C.S. Lewis once said that “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”

As Jesus becomes the lover of our soul, He becomes the focus of our thoughts. His grace and mercy refresh us daily. His glory captures our heart and motivates us into places of service for Him. His love moves us to a place of humility, opening the eyes of our heart to the needs of others. This is how humility affects the quality of our relationships.

First Peter 5:5 instructs us with these words: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Luke 16:10.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

A good test to measure someone’s reliability is how they handle the small tasks assigned to them.

If we want to do great things for God, we can start with simple acts of service. Focus on being trustworthy with the smaller tasks that are requested of us. Then, we will be equipped to handle the larger tasks that require more time, effort, and responsibility. A fruitful witness for Jesus begins with a faithful heart to His Gospel.

Luke 16:10-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Abounding.

This is a word that highlights the provision of God’s grace to enable our faith to flourish. His blessings fill us to the point of overflowing, so that others are blessed by the expressions of our faith.

In Psalm 86:5, David offered this prayer, “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Second Corinthians 9:8 says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

This happens in our lives as we freely serve, generously give, and share God’s love with those we meet.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Matthew 9:37 and 38.

Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus stressed the importance of prayer as it relates with missions. Ask God to send out willing servants who will take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. There is a need for missionaries in other countries. There is also a mission right here in our neighborhoods, because every soul matters to God.

Jesus saw the crowds in His day and was moved to compassion for them, because He saw they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:37 and 38-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com