JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on First Peter 4:8.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Love is life-changing. The Gospel is rooted in the love of God for us, and when we receive God’s love and pass it along in our relationships, we have the opportunity to represent Jesus in this world.

Notice, the passage does not call us to love superficially. God calls us to love each other from the heart, not just with our words or going through the motions. This will lead us to generous giving with a grateful heart, rather than fulfilling our duty with a complaining spirit. Then, when love is tested, we will keep reaching out with love and seek God’s best for those people that God has placed in our lives.

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of loving people from the heart in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on a spiritual metaphor of snow.

It’s found in Isaiah 1:18, where the LORD says, 

“Come now, let us settle the matter. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Just as a blanket of snow covers the ground, so the blood of Jesus has the power to cover our sins. His grace is able to make our hearts pure again. 

Repentance is the pathway to forgiveness. That is the picture of turning around from going in the wrong direction to get back on track with God. To a nation whose hands were full of blood, God said, “Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.” 

In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Repent and believe the good news!”

Focusing on the grace of God to cleanse us from sin gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the value of God’s love.

In Ephesians 3:19, the Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp the value of Christ’s love to our lives.

This love surpasses knowledge. A good education can prepare us for a productive career, but the love of God prepares us for a thriving faith and an eternal inheritance in His Kingdom. Jesus has made it possible to know what God’s love is because He demonstrated it when He walked on the earth.

First John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Focusing on the value of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

One of the highlights in yesterday’s Praise & Worship Playlist was a themed grouping of songs, encouraging us to behold God with wonder. I’ve collected that lineup in a Spotify Playlist for you! It includes brand new releases from Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, Belonging Co., Meredith Andrews and more — plus, classics like “Indescribable”, “God of Wonders”, and “Hallelujah Jesus”. I encourage you to take some time to give attention and focus to God in a fresh and intentional way. These songs, led by wonderful leaders, can help!

Today’s playlist has themes of wonder and new mercies every day. Plus, twin spins from Hillsong United, Chris McClarney, David Leonard, and John Mark & Sarah McMillan–and new music from Matt Redman, Brian & Jenn Johnson and MoveSomebody.

Kristi Leigh 
Kristi@WJTL.com
Praise & Worship Podcast: Spotify/Apple Podcasts On Instagram & Facebook

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the depth of God’s love.

In Ephesians 3:18, The Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how deep is the love of Christ.

One of the ways we can tell that someone loves us sincerely is by their willingness to make sacrifices on our behalf. Jesus passes this sincerity test with flying colors.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That is exactly what Jesus would do less that 24 hours after making this statement.  Because of His sacrifice, we can call on God to save us from our sins, and He will be faithful to hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Focusing on the depth of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 3:4 and 5.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

We can thank God for His mercy. It was God’s mercy that stopped the stoning of a woman who had been caught in adultery. It was God’s mercy that turned a persecutor of the church named Saul into an apostle of the church named Paul. And God’s mercy changes our lives when we see the kindness of God expressed in Christ.

Jesus did not come to a world that had its act together. Rather, He came to a world in a sinful condition. He came because we needed His mercy. That is what He provided for us when He shed His blood at the cross.

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of new life in His kindness and mercy in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This morning’s playlist includes lots of new songs from Rend Collective, Chris McClarney, MoveSomebody and a bunch from Matt Redman’s new release “Let There Be Wonder”! Plus, clips from my recent conversation with Cory Asbury. (You can hear the whole thing on the Praise & Worship Podcast, Episode 5)! I do have his very latest, the acoustic rendition of “The Father’s House” in today’s lineup.

Plus, some little song sets with encouraging reminders in the lyrics, focusing on God moving even in the winter season of our lives — and his new mercies and great faithfulness.

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

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Podcast: Spotify/Apple Podcasts

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the power of God’s mercy to transform our lives.

In Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, we see God’s mercy as the starting place for transformation from the inside out.

“In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Of all the voices that seek our attention, the most important voice is God. He has spoken at the cross. He has spoken at the empty grave, and He has spoken in the Bible. His message speaks to us of mercy as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross. Keeping God’s mercy in view, we are moved to gratitude and worship. We are also better equipped to discern the will of God for our lives.

Focusing on God’s mercy gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Stream Cory’s episode on SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Cory Asbury has had a big week. He posted a blog with answers to all the big questions he’s getting lately about his time off in 2019, including a break from social media. He also shared a collection of family video clips about that Year of Surrender. As far as music, his new single, “The Father’s House” released studio and acoustic versions (last Friday and today, respectively.) One more contribution to the frenzy: an appearance on WJTL’s Praise & Worship Podcast! We talk about his experience from giving it all up to his fruitful return. Plus, the lizards in Texas, how God moves in seasons and when the rest of the new album will release.

I hope it encourages you! (And enjoy the sounds of his family throughout. I felt it was appropriate to keep them in.)

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

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