JOHN SHIRK – From Romans 5:1.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through faith in Jesus, hostility with God is replaced with peace. That is a process known as reconciliation. Two parties are required for this process to take place.

The problem began when we declared war on God by our sin-a war that we cannot win. God responded by sending His one and only Son to the world. He did not come to wage war against us or zap us, but to offer peace. Jesus absorbed God’s wrath against our sin.  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This guilt offering paid by Christ was a peace offering to the world. When we receive this offer with a believing heart, we experience His peace. We renounce sinful ways.

We stop fighting God and start learning to follow Him. Sin no longer separates us because the grace of the Lord Jesus has restored us.

The implication of having peace with God means that we enjoy His friendship and favor.

Peace with God is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK- From Hosea 6:6.

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

The LORD is not impressed with religious activities carried out with an unfaithful heart. We might think that it’s a thoughtful gesture for a spouse to remember to give cards and gifts to their spouse on special days like holidays and birthdays. But if we learned that the same spouse was having an ongoing adulterous relationship, we would perceive the emptiness in those expressions of love.  That is because those expressions are coming from an unfaithful heart.

Singing worship songs, attending worship services, and volunteering time in church service can all be meaningful activities if they find expression from a faithful heart. But those same activities are meaningless if they come from an unfaithful heart.

What God desires from us is a loyal heart, full of faith and full of love.

Mercy and Acknowledgment of God are vital signs of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Jonah 2, verses 1 and 2-

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said, “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave, I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Having drifted from his call to preach in Nineveh, Jonah found himself way over his head in deep trouble. Disobedience to God has a way of leading us into those types of places. In Jonah’s case, his disobedience led him to a stormy place, but did not lead to death. Instead, Jonah was given a second opportunity to go in the Lord’s direction.  God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he stayed for three days and three nights. Without the fish, Jonah would have drowned. With the fish, he not only had room to breathe, but also had transportation to dry land.

The implication of this event shows us that blown assignments and missed opportunities are not fatal where God’s mercy is found. In His love, He disciplines us so that we might wake up to His call on our lives.

Acknowledgment of God’s provision to save us and restore us is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From First Peter 1:18.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

The grace of God may be freely received, but it is certainly not cheap. The price for our spiritual freedom has been paid for in blood. Jesus shed His blood at the cross. Through faith in Jesus, we are set free from our sin that condemns us. No one can buy their way out of this kind of debt. That is why Jesus came-to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. His blood was the ransom payment to release us from being hostage to sin. That payment was enough.  No amount of money compares with the value of Jesus’ precious blood.

Lottery winners may have millions of dollars in their estate, but if they don’t know Jesus, the Christian in Africa who lives in a hut is much richer, because their fulfillment is found in lasting, heavenly treasure-the riches of God’s grace.

Freedom in Christ is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

STACEY GAGNE – Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Global Disciples Banquet: “For the Healing of the Nations”  held at Willow Valley/Doubletree Palm Court.  We’d been promoting the banquet on WJTL and when my friend asked if I’d like to attend with her I was excited to say,  “Sure!”  I was thrilled to find out that Ethiopia was the featured country of the night and that there would be testimonies from Ethiopia and even the traditional coffee that I enjoyed so much when I was there was to be served!

As we arrived we were greeted with music from the Tinsae Kristos Evangelical Church choir and Ethiopian women were ready with freshly roasted coffee and popcorn samples.    I was excited for more people from Lancaster County to get to have a taste of Ethiopian culture, too.

It was encouraging to hear about the work being done in Ethiopia as Global Disciples is helping to equip leaders, to multiply disciples of Jesus and see them plant churches.   I loved hearing testimonies of Gods healing and miraculous moves among the people.

On one of their pamphlets, they used a phrase that I have heard used often:  What’s in Your Hand?”    There are so many opportunities for us to use what gifts and resources God has given us for His glory.  Through our local churches,  local ministries, and those touching the world like Global Disciples, Compassion International,  Eastern Mennonite Missions and so many others … there is no shortage of opportunities for us to help.   We just need to make sure that we are making ourselves available for God to use us!

JOHN SHIRK – From Galatians 5:22 and 23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

These are the qualities that are found in a person who is keeping in step with God’s Spirit and is living by the Spirit.  Faith in Jesus Christ makes room for the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us, and form our character to honor Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sins, to point out those areas of our lives where we have missed the mark of what God wants us to do, and to guide us in the truth.  He will impress on us the words of Jesus, so that we might have ears to hear what He is saying to us. As we cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, He teaches us to become more like Jesus, who is perfect in each of these qualities in the fruit of the Spirit. Which area do we see room for growth? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are qualities that the Lord is eager to build into our character. Look for opportunities to demonstrate them.

The fruit of the Spirit is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Judges 5:3:

“Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

Deborah and Barak sang this song following a victory over one of Israel’s oppressive enemies. Throughout history, God’s people have lifted up their voices of praise in a variety of situations, not just in victory.

In grief, Job said, “the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

In a time of threatening tension, King Jehoshaphat prayed, “Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” And then, with humble honesty, he said, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

And Paul and Silas were in prison, having a midnight hymn sing. Their bodies were in chains, but their spirits were free.  In the various seasons of life, through the mountains and the valleys, we can remain hopeful with songs of praise.

Praise from a thankful heart is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Amos 5:14.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.”

The people were taught to hate evil, love good, and maintain justice in the courts. We take great comfort in the Scriptures that say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  How do we know that God is on our side? One way of learning the answer to that question is to assess where our focus point is.  Are we seeking the good that God intends for us to pursue? Or are we focused on selfish ambitions that seek to honor ourselves first.  God is stronger than our foes, so if He is for us, then we are in a holy alliance that cannot be overpowered.

But not everyone is on God’s side.

First Peter 5:5 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If pride is in the way of our relationship with God, we can confess it to God and ask Him to take our lives in a new direction that loves what He loves and hates what He hates.

Loving what is good in the eyes of God is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From First Peter 2:19.

“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.”

This letter was being written to persecuted Christians, and would have brought comfort and encouragement to those who were suffering for their faith. Interestingly, Peter did not call these faithful Christians to rise up and rebel against authority. Instead, he called them to honor the king and submit to authority.  He did not call them to water down their testimony, but urged them to set apart Christ as Lord and always be prepared to give the reason for their hope.

Peter drew their attention to Jesus, who suffered for them, and left an example for them of how to deal with persecution. “When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

If you ever get into a situation where someone makes fun of you for following Jesus or no longer wants to be your friend because of your faith, that is a form of persecution, and that becomes a moment when you more closely identify with Christ, who suffered for you

Perseverance through persecution is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE – A couple of weeks ago I sat in with one of the pre-school classes at my church.   It was so much fun hanging out with the kids, coloring with them and hearing their excitement as the teacher shared the story of Jonah.    Most of the children were already familiar with the story about Jonah and the big fish.   It was particularly fun for me and fresh in my mind because on March 9th I had  the opportunity to attend the premier of Jonah at Sight and Sound Theatres.  What a treat!

Sight and Sound always puts together epic productions of stories that we know from The Bible.  I have had the opportunity to see many, but there is something really special about this one.   As an audience we experienced  powerful songs,  fantastic sets and lighting,  live animals (even Zebras)  and a breath-taking underwater world full of surprises!  The actors and actresses really brought to life the Biblical lessons of obedience to God (that even a prophet struggled with),  God’s excellent mercy and His extravagant love for all.

I recommend Jonah for you and your family and hope to see it again myself (and bring some friends).