JOHN SHIRK – In Luke 5:31, Jesus responded to a question as to why He was eating with sinners. His response was this: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus is especially good at heart surgery. This is where the seat of ambition and desire is found. Jeremiah 17 describes the heart as “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” This is our condition without the transforming effect of God’s grace on our hearts. The words of Jesus pierce the skin and serve as a cleansing agent for our corrupted heart. His grace changes us to follow after His heart rather than trusting our own heart. His desire becomes our desire. His passion becomes our passion.

So, why did Jesus relate with sinners? He came to heal hearts that were broken, sick, and deceitful. Ezekiel 18:31 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

The influence of Jesus as our Great Physician is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE –   It’s been encouraging to hear the response from listeners who were challenged, reminded and inspired to impact the life of a child during our 26 Hours of Compassion last week.  I’ve also gotten to catch up with some adult students  that I befriended during my trip.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to chat with a couple of the college students in Compassion International’s Leadership Development Program who came up through the Child Sponsorship Program.   They were involved in some service projects this past week that included prison ministry, serving at Compassion projects in the local church,  serving by painting in the homes of some of the sponsored families,  helping to train parents and volunteers and just loving the children.  How inspiring to know that these young adults are already having such an impact!    This is the kind of God given hope and opportunity that our sponsorship provides!

We have heard from several listeners about ways that God has already reaffirmed things that He was speaking to their heart about missions, child sponsorship and our responsibility during the 26 Hours of Compassion.  I (literally) ran into someone in the mall who flagged me down to introduce their family to me and thank WJTL for this opportunity!

We discovered that there are still a handful of students at WJTL’s project that are still waiting to “get into the classroom”.   I’m highlighting their photo’s below.  Please consider the impact that you can make on a life or share the opportunity and this link with a friend.

STACEY GAGNE –   “God mobilizes the heart of the world even for just one child”.   When I visited the Ethiopian office for Compassion International, the Country Director said this and it really impacted me.  Of course He does.  God did it for me.  He did it for you and He is doing it all over the world… creatively drawing people to Himself.  I am confident that Compassion International is one of those ways.

Child sponsorship is so powerful because it focuses in on the individual but then impacts many.  As we “honor the image of God” in a young person and value their holistic care we are also speaking to the fact that they matter.  As a sponsor you get to be a part of a childs journey as they are fed spiritually, economically, socially and of course physically.   You also get to encourage them to follow Jesus as they pursue their dreams.    Your sponsorship also encourages that childs family, community and the local church that is hosting their project.

I invite you to pray about taking this journey with a child this week.  Call 1-866-392-3690 Wednesday or Thursday or click here to sponsor a child right now. 

STACEY GAGNE – The time has come!  WJTL’s 26 Hours of Compassion is this Wednesday and Thursday!  I am thrilled that we have another opportunity to come together with a church in Ethiopia and sponsor an entire project.  One that I had the opportunity to visit just last month! (if you missed them, call in reports are available at our wjtlcasts page)

Our focus for this event is the Tedecha Mekane Yesus Church Student Center located in Dukem, about 20 miles southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in Africa.  It’s home to about 22,000.   Through child sponsorship with Compassion we have the opportunity to help provide these children with Bible teaching, health screenings, field trips, sports, health education, educational supplies, school fees and HIV/AIDS awareness education.  The center staff will also provide opportunities for project involvement for the parents or guardians of your sponsored child.  HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, typhoid fever and typhus are a problem in this region. Most adults in Dukem work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $30 per month.

Together with the local church in Ethiopia and Compassion International;  we can help bring the light and hope of Jesus to many!  Tune in this Wednesday and Thursday to hear stories about specific children we met, testimonies and more.  Visit wjtl.com to check out videos as they are posted  and please be praying for this event and consider sponsoring one of these children.

JOHN SHIRK – In faithfulness, we fulfill our commitments. At work, we take responsibility for our assignments. At home, we fulfill our vows to our spouse, and responsibilities to our children to raise them up in the ways of the LORD.

As we look to the LORD and His strength, we see His faithfulness expressed in love. The cross is an example of His faithful love. That is where Jesus laid down His life so that we might be brought back to life and brought back to a relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 says about God, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just; a faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he”

Faithfulness is a dependable quality. We can fully rely on the love that God has for us because of His faithfulness. His influence on our lives motivates us to express our love for others with honesty and faithfulness. First Corinthians 13:6 says, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.”

Faithfulness is a quality of love and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Forgiveness can be one of the hardest things to do and one of the most powerful things we can do.

God sent His Son to die a cruel death on the cross, and as He was dying, Jesus prayed for those who were putting Him to death. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Someone nearby was noticing that Jesus was different, not like the others who were crucified. The centurion, who was a commander of 100 men in the Roman army, was near Jesus. When he heard Jesus cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely, this man was the Son of God.” He probably would have heard that prayer for forgiveness that Jesus uttered on his behalf.

Forgiveness does not excuse sin as okay. Forgiveness does not give someone license to hurt us with the same actions again. Forgiveness does give someone a second chance, and forgiveness does release us from the attempt to seek revenge. Because we are sinners, we have a great need to be forgiven, and we have a need to forgive others.

In Luke 17:3 and 4, Jesus taught, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent’, forgive him.”

Forgiveness is a quality of love and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – According to First Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient.” By looking to the Lord, we see the ultimate example of patience and what it produces in the person who is responsive to His love. Second Peter 3:9 tells us why Jesus has not yet returned to take His followers to be with Him. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” He is giving people time to respond favorably to His grace and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

He works with His people who are in process. Like the potter working with clay, His hand is at work in our lives producing a masterpiece that reflects His glory. It takes time for us to become mature in the faith and develop the character qualities that God desires for us.

We can express our gratitude to God for His patience by passing along the gift of patience with others in process, especially our loved ones. The closer we are to someone, the easier it is to see character flaws and weaknesses. That is when patience is necessary and effective.

Colossians 3:12 says, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Patience is a quality of love and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – I Peter 1:23 and 24 says, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’”

Generations have come and gone, but God’s Word is still with us and is still the best-seller. As surely as God exists, His word will endure with Him.

Some people might try to dismiss the Bible as an ancient book that is outdated and old-fashioned. However, through the prophet Jeremiah, we learn of the value of God’s word to our soul.

In Jeremiah 6:16, this is what the LORD says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The endurance of God’s Word means that the Bible is still relevant for our lives today, and it will be tomorrow, and into eternity. It will never wear out.

The endurance of God’s Word is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Through the expression and reception of God’s Word, faith is formed in our hearts. Not everyone who hears with their ears will believe with their hearts. However, if our hearts are thirsty for the truth, and craving for righteousness, the words of Jesus are sure to be a satisfying drink for spiritual nourishment.

Isaiah chapter 55 compared the acceptance of God’s Word to the rain cycle, which comes from heaven and does not return without watering the earth. The LORD says in verse 11, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Faith is born and thrives with the influence of God’s Word shaping our heart.

The life-changing impact of God’s Word is a lesson of faith to remember.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – We have seen some amazing accomplishments in our lifetime through technological breakthroughs. However, there are limits to what we can do and the capability of our inventions. We cannot save ourselves from death, and we cannot live perfect lives as Jesus did.

Isaiah 2:22 urges us to “stop trusting in man, who has but breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he.”

There are limits to the capability of weapons of war to protect us. Psalm 44:6 says to the LORD, “I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory, but you give us victory over our enemies.”

There are limits to the security that human leaders can provide for us. Psalm 118:8 and 9 says, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

There are limits to the durability of money. Psalm 49:16 tells us that the rich man takes nothing with him when he dies. Money will not benefit him then. But God’s grace is trustworthy beyond the grave.

Psalm 13:5 says, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”

The limitation of man is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com