JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the purpose of accountable relationships.

In seeking accountable relationships, we are enlisting the support of another to help us stay true to our commitments. In the context of faith, this relates to our commitment to following Christ.

Chip Ingram says there are a number of reasons why we need accountable relationships. We have the tendency to underestimate the power of our sinful passions. We have the tendency to overestimate our ability to handle temptation. And we have the tendency to believe that our struggles and temptations are unique.

One of God’s resources for helping us in temptation is the body of Christ. Discernment is important when establishing accountable relationships. It should be with a trusted friend who loves the Lord, and who is genuinely interested in seeing us grow in God’s grace.

Hebrews 3:12 supports accountable relationships with these words: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

An Accountable relationship is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

WJTL will be broadcasting live from Community Day at Rapho Township Community Park this Saturday from 4-8. Join us as we enjoy an afternoon of barrel train rides, mechanical bull rides, face painting, and free food – all sponsored by Erisman Mennonite Church.

The band “This Way Up” will be performing and you can come by the WJTL table to pick up ‘JTL gear. We also will have our brand new Plinko game which gives you the change to win cool prizes – like WJTL Cinch Packs!

Rapho Township Community Park is located off Manheim/Mount Joy Round. We look forward to seeing you.

STACEY GAGNE – Susquehanna Style has released their list of the Best of Lancaster 2014 according to their readers;  and we are thrilled to announce that WJTL was included in their blue ribbon list.   WJTL was voted Favorite Radio Station!

Check out the August edition of Susquehanna Style for the list of all Winners and Staff Picks for Best of Lancaster 2014.   (our ad is on page 63 in the print version) or visit Susquehannastyle.com

Thanks to all who voted and for your impact on WJTL.

Christ. Community. Music

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on God’s guidance.

In Exodus 13:21, we learn how God guided and provided for the Israelites after they were released from slavery in Egypt.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night was an indication that God was present with the Israelites. God was making a way for them to move forward in His plan. Without the pillar of cloud in the day, the people would have baked in the desert sun. Without the fire by night, the people would have stumbled in the darkness. God has not left His people without tools to go forward in His plan. God’s Word is described as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. God’s Presence serves as our shade to refresh us in the midst of circumstances that drain the soul. Psalm 121, verse 5 says, “The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand.” With a teachable spirit, we can enjoy the journey of moving forward in God’s plan, under His presence, in light of His Word.

God’s guidance is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

INTERN KRISTIN – The WJTL Bumper Sticker Contest is taking place once again this summer! If the WJTL interns spot a WJTL bumper sticker on your vehicle, you could win some great prizes including gift certificates for ice cream in the local listening area, as well as CDs and DVDs from our prize stash. So how do you get your hands on a sticker for the chance to win? Just email us at interns@wjtl.com and tell us that you want a bumper sticker or a static sticker, and include your address so that we can send one right to you. Or, you can pick up a sticker for yourself at our table at any WJTL event. Once your WJTL bumper sticker is on your vehicle, you can wait for us to spot them OR you can send a picture of the sticker on your car right to us to put yourself in the running!

Entries Must Include:

• A picture of your WJTL bumper sticker or static sticker on your vehicle emailed to interns@wjtl.com
• Your name, address, phone number and your email address
• *One entry per person/vehicle

The contest is happening all summer long, so get a WJTL bumper sticker on your car and join in the fun and have the chance to win some great prizes!

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on worship from the heart

In Psalm 69:30, David, a man after God’s own heart, said, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.”

It was common for animal sacrifices to be used under Old Testament law to reveal our need for forgiveness and cleansing from sin. In reality, they were not the real cleansing agent, but they did foreshadow the complete cleansing from sin that we can experience through faith in Jesus Christ, who was the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins.

David was saying that sincere worship from a thankful heart would mean more to God than the offering of an ox or a bull on the altar.

Hebrews 10:22 invites us to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. God has given us music as an instrument to lift up the name of Jesus with words that overflow from our heart.

Worshipping God with a sincere heart is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the encouragement of a friend.

It happened in the book of Third John, when the Apostle John wrote to a follower of Jesus named Gaius

He said to his dear friend in verse 3, “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

We all benefit by this kind of encouragement. If we see someone who is demonstrating their love for God in the way they live, that is a good opportunity to express how we see God at work in them. John noted the good report he was hearing of the faithful witness of Gaius. This report was giving John matchless joy. His words of encouragement in Third John are examples for us to build others up in the faith, so that they will continue to walk in the truth of the Gospel

The encouragement of a friend is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the value of wisdom.

If the LORD approached you and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”, how would you respond?

He said this to King Solomon as he began his reign as Israel’s king.

Solomon asked for wisdom. He said, “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” Solomon recognized that he was inadequate to be an effective leader in his own strength, and he also recognized what he needed in order to be an effective leader.

The Bible says that the Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this, and promised to give him a wise and discerning heart.

The Lord invites us to ask Him for wisdom too. James 1:5 says that “if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

According to Proverbs 3, wisdom is worth more than gold or silver. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. Those who lay hold of wisdom will be blessed.

Having the treasure of God’s wisdom is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the peace of a faith-focused thought life.

In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul listed a number of healthy habits that lead to peace with God.

One healthy habit was to rejoice in the Lord always.

Another healthy habit was to present our prayer requests to God with thanksgiving.

Another thing we can do is learn from those in places of spiritual authority-to listen to their teachings, to watch how they live, and follow their example as they follow Christ.

Verse 8 talks about yet another healthy habit that brings peace to our soul. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

When we think about Jesus, we are thinking of these qualities, because He defines them. When our minds are focused on Christ, we remember that our lives are in the hands of Someone who loves us very much and has proved it at the cross and empty grave.

The peace of a faith-focused thought life is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on a life transformed by God’s grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 3:18, “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The power of the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life to reflect the character of Christ. These character qualities include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the qualities that were fully demonstrated by Christ and they have a growing influence on our lives as we follow Jesus step by step.  These are the qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit, and they become the ingredients that invite others to taste and see that the Lord is good.

A life transformed by God’s grace is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com