JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to do everything for the glory of God.

John Piper has said that “God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes Him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that He really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.”

Whenever God’s love moves our faith into action, we have opportunity to draw attention to God’s greatness.  It could be singing a love song to Him, or serving in the children’s ministry at church, or visiting the elderly at a retirement community. It might mean saying an encouraging word to a co-worker having a rough day, or inviting a neighbor to our place for a meal.

First Corinthians 10:31 says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This is God’s purpose for our lives.

Take the Daily Challenge to do everything for the glory of God on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Stronghold.”

A stronghold is a defensive structure that serves as a fortress of protection.

Spiritually speaking, a stronghold is a safe place to be when we are under the protection of God’s grace.

We are protected from condemnation. He is our source of salvation.

We are protected from the destructive tactics of the enemy. God’s truth sets us free from deception.

We are protected from isolation. The Lord is near to us in our times of crisis. We are not left alone in our distress.

Psalm 37:39 says, “The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”

Find encouragement in knowing the LORD as our stronghold in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This week’s Praise & Worship Playlist has a Marvelous Light Theme tying all the songs together. It’s a lineup airing on Halloween, during that time of the year when there’s less sunlight in the day, and we’re still in a heavy season. I want to remind us that God is Light and darkness cannot overcome it. He is the Light of the world and we are called children of the light. There’s a lot of good songs to sing over your situation in this lineup, including “Let The Light In” by Cody Carnes, “Running To The Light” by Brandon Lake, “Shake The Dust Off” by Sean Curran, “Let There Be Light” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt, “Shine On Us” by Cory Asbury and more.

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

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Playlists: Spotify

Song Title	Artist	Album	Year
6AM
Let The Light In	Cody Carnes	Run To The Father	2020
Shake The Dust Off	Sean Curran	1,000 Names	2021
Brighter Than the Sun (feat. Lucy Grimble)	Rivers & Robots	Discovery	2018
Let It Be So	Kirby Kaple	Single	2021
The Light Will Come	Phil Wickham	Cannons	2007
Songs In the Night (Live)	Matt Redman	Unbroken Praise (Live)	2015
Strike the Dark	Caleb & Bethany Kuenzli	Strike The Dark EP	2020
Running To The Light	Brandon Lake	House Of Miracles	2020
Freedom (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live]	Jesus Culture	Living with a Fire (Live)	2018
Heaven Invade (Live)	Kari Jobe	The Blessing (Live)	2020
Light Of Your Grace	Citizens	Single	2021
Sunrise	Meredith Andrews	Deeper (Deluxe Edition)	2016
7AM
Let There Be Light (Live)	Hillsong Worship	Let There Be Light (Deluxe)	2016
Heres My Heart	I Am They	I Am They	2015
Light Breaking Through (feat. Lauren Lee)	North Point Worship	Single	2020
Shine On Us	Cory Asbury	Immersed	2007
Let Me Feel You Shine	David Crowder Band	Give Us Rest-A Requiem Mass In C (The Happiest Of All The Keys)	2011
Father of Lights	Jesus Culture	Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago	2011
Children Of Light	Kristian Stanfill	Passion: Let The Future Begin	2013
The Cross Has the Final Word (Live)	Cody Carnes	The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning	2017
Now I See (Live)	The McClures	The Way Home (Deluxe)	2019
Marvelous Light	Charlie Hall	Flying Into Daybreak	2006
Light of the World (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live]	Jesus Culture	Unstoppable Love (Live)	2015
Echoes (Till We See the Other Side) [Live]	Hillsong UNITED	People (Live)	2019
8AM
Step Into the Light (feat. Sean Curran)	Passion	Single	2019
Into The Light	SisterBrother	TBD	2013
Shining	Phil Wickham	Cannons	2007
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Amazing Grace)	Shane & Shane	Hymns, Vol. 2	2019
Let There Be Light	Bellarive	Before There Was	2014
In Your Light	Jeremy Riddle	For The Sake Of The World	2012
See the Light	Hillsong Worship	Awake	2019
Live in the Light	Rita Springer	Light	2020
Into the Light	Red Rocks Worship	Into the Light	2015
Free, Amen (Live)	We The Kingdom	Live At the Wheelhouse – EP	2019
Oh How I Need You	All Sons & Daughters	The Longing	2012
Lamp	Charlie Hall	The Rising	2010
Lord Youre Beautiful	Shane & Shane	The Worship Initiative, Vol. 3	2014
Joyous Light	Chris Tomlin	Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern	2004
9AM
Bright as the Sun	Hillsong Worship	Awake	2019
As Sure As The Sun	Ellie Holcomb	As Sure As The Sun	2015
God of Our Yesterdays	Chris McClarney	Glimpses of Worship	2009
When You Walk Into The Room	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	Kingdom Come	2013
Light	Rita Springer	Light	2020
Let There Be Light	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	Champion	2016
Take Heart (MMXX)	Hillsong Worship	Take Heart (Again)	2020
Joyful, Joyful	Laura Hackett	Joy (LIVE)	2010
Standing in Your Light	Sarah Kroger	Light	2020
Shine a Light	Elevation Worship	Here as in Heaven	2016
King of Heaven	Mack Brock	Covered – EP	2019
Spotlight (feat. Amanda Lindsey Cook)	Rita Springer	Light	2020
Praise The Lord (Brighter The Morning)	Sean Curran	1,000 Names	2021

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6b2xSMCxn17pOTybgsgm61?si=eeaec08fb7074ef8

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to devote ourselves to the fellowship of the church.

The early church was a thriving church in Acts chapter 2. The Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

One of the dynamics of the early church was that the people devoted themselves to the fellowship of the church.

Acts 2:46 says, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. This was a community that met together consistently, as they embraced the “one another” statements of the Bible.

They loved one another, They honored one another. They sought to live in harmony with one another. They accepted one another. They served one another. They encouraged one another. They were kind and compassionate to one another.

What might happen in our church congregation if we consistently live out the “One Another” commands in the Bible?

Take the daily challenge to be devoted to the fellowship of the church on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week, our words of Encouragement direct our attention to who we are as a new creation in Christ.

Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Disciple.”

In Matthew 12:49, Jesus pointed to His disciples, and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

A disciple of Jesus simply follows Him. We are students of His Word, learning to live a Christ-centered life. His teachings guide us to do the will of His Father in heaven. Wherever He leads, we follow Him as a beloved member of God’s family.

Find encouragement in following Jesus as one of His disciples in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week, our words of Encouragement direct our attention to who we are as a new creation in Christ.

Today’s Word of Encouragement is Child.

Galatians 4:6 and 7 says, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child, and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

When we put our trust in Jesus to forgive our sins and lead our lives, we become His child. God’s children receive the rights to inherit the kingdom of God. We become a member of God’s family. We regard God as our Heavenly Father in an endearing way. We trust Him as a loving Father who works all things together for our good. We cry out to Him in our moments of pain. We praise Him for His glory and grace. We acknowledge His authority over us, and seek to live a life that reflects His goodness.

Find encouragement in following Jesus as a child of God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week, our words of Encouragement direct our attention to who we are as a new creation in Christ.

Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Servant.”

In Matthew 25, Jesus told a story of a man who went away on a journey and entrusted his wealth to his servants. When the master returned from his journey, He settled accounts with his servants.

To some of them, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

This is the smile of God on His faithful servants. This can be our experience when we use what He has given us for His Kingdom.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Find encouragement in following Jesus as a servant of God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

As the leaves change colors on the trees, we will soon see the bright colors of fall burst forth in God’s creation.

A walk in the woods is one way to enjoy God’s creation. A view of the sunrise or sunset is another way to enjoy the beauty of what He has made.

David wrote in Psalm 8:3, “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

He reasoned that the creation all around us points to a loving God, who has made all this for our enjoyment and for His glory. David was moved to worship by what he observed and declared, “How majestic is your name in all the earth!” That can be our experience too.

Take the Daily Challenge to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com