JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Habakkuk 1, verses 2 and 3.

Habakkuk said to God, “How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?”

This may not sound like a freedom phrase, but it is in the sense that this Habakkuk felt the liberty to ask God some perplexing questions on his mind. The book of Habakkuk follows this conversation between God and the prophet. 

God can use our questions to take us a deeper level of faith and a deeper understanding of who God is. Through Habakkuk’s questions, he grew deeper in his resolve to find his joy in God. He said at the end of this book, that even if the fields produce no food, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Through Jesus, we are set free to be honest with God about tough questions.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com 

A little encouragement can go a long way. Today we received a one sentence note in the mail and it made my day. It was a very simple thank you that was jotted down on a piece of note paper and sent along with a donation. It brought joy to our staff.

Sometimes when we think about being being an encouragement or even a good neighbor; we get visions of a huge time investment or imagine having to bake cookies that live up to some Instagram worthy photo. The reality is that a word, a smile, or a sentence can be enough. I have some thoughtful coworkers that leave post-it notes on my desk just to let me know they were thinking of me.  😀 Those “little” things can make a persons day!

Sometimes we receive encouragement from others and sometimes we need to encourage ourselves! Tough days sometimes stack up more frequently than we like. Reminders of truths from God’s Word, scriptures, songs and even beautiful art or things from nature can inject life into dry bones on any given day.  Recently I jotted a few very simple sharpie written reminders onto some scrap paper and hung them where I could see them at my desk.

• be positive
• be joyful
• be encouraging
• be thankful

Don’t discount your “little” attempts at bringing light to the world around you.  Each one of us is a difference maker.   

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

Hello!
It’s been an intense week: the 9/11 Anniversary and World Suicide Prevention Day.  So many people were sharing their personal stories and tragic loss of loved ones–along with encouragement, practical tips and Biblical Truth. This week’s Praise & Worship Playlist is packed with songs that call out fear, anxiety, depression…and declare hope and trust in God. All the details are below!  I pray it makes a helpful connection with your heart.

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 26:52 to 54.

Jesus said to one of His companions, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

A legion was a unit of about 6,000 soldiers. So, Jesus was saying that at the very least, 72,000 angels would be able to join a heavenly army to protect Jesus from going to the cross if they were called to do so. But they never received that call, because Jesus was willing to die for us. The nails did not drive Jesus to the cross as much as His love. 

The words of Jesus inspire us to marvel at the wonders of His love for us in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Proverbs 18:10.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The gospel of Jesus stands tall as a refuge for our soul. Consider the security of God’s grace in these verses of the Bible.

From John 10, Jesus said, “I give them (my sheep-my followers) eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

From Second Timothy 1, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

And from Romans 8, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Through Jesus, we are set free to live in the security of God’s grace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 19:5.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

These are significant statements showing us how Jesus transforms a life from the inside out.

Notice that Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, while Zacchaeus was in a tree. Jesus is personal. He calls us by name. We matter to Him.

Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come down immediately. “Now” is an important time to respond when Jesus calls our name.  

Jesus also tells Zacchaeus that He must stay at his house today. It was important for Zacchaeus to receive Jesus.  And that is how he responded. He came down from the tree and welcomed Jesus gladly.

The words of Jesus inspire us to receive Jesus as Lord of our home and Lord of our lives in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Joel 2:13.

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

In Jewish history, the tearing of the clothes often was a sign of deep anguish or extreme grief. Jacob, for example, tore his clothes when he thought that his son Joseph had died. 

Here in the book of Joel, the LORD is calling His people to a contrite heart-one that is broken with sorrow because of sin.  In the Bible, sin is a big deal because the LORD is holy. God demands justice for it. At the cross, God showed that His grace is an even bigger deal when Jesus took the punishment for our sins. If we have lost our way by running away from God, there is a way to return through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Through Jesus, we are set free to return to God and experience His abounding love.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 33, verse 1.

“Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”

When we commit our lives to Jesus, we are moved by His love to honor Him in worship. God has given us a meaningful way to express our devotion and praise to God from the overflow of our joy. That way is music.   

Verse 2 of Psalm 33 encourages us to “praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

Through Jesus, we are set free to celebrate His glory and grace with songs of worship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com