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Some people might try to dismiss the Bible as an ancient book that is outdated and old-fashioned.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

JOHN SHIRK – Hebrews 12 gives us insight into God’s purpose for discipline.

Verse 5 says, “You have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.

So, when the Lord disciplines His people, He is doing this in the context of a family relationship, from Father to a son or daughter.

What we learn here is that the process of experiencing discipline is painful. The intention of God’s discipline is for our good. The purpose for discipline is so that we might share in His holiness. The fruit of discipline is a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

God’s discipline is not to be taken lightly as “no big deal” or to weigh us down to feel condemned. His discipline is a sign of His love for us, and His desire for us is to heed His discipline and learn from it.

God’s discipline is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To know whether or not we can trust something or someone, we need to have confidence in whether or not they are true. The words ‘true’ and ‘trustworthy’ go together.

On one occasion, Jesus prayed for His followers, saying, “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.”

When does the Bible make a difference in our lives? When we accept it as truth. That is where we find Jesus crucified for our sins, then risen from the dead, and exalted as Lord.

In First Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote a letter to the church saying, “We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

This is how the Bible can have a life-changing impact on our lives that transforms us into the likeness of Christ-when we humbly accept the words of Scripture as the words of truth. Then, we will have a trustworthy resource for knowing God and knowing what He wants us to do.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE –  As we walked up to the home of little Mascelloo, the first thing I noticed was the drawings on the wall (I think drawn with chalk).  There was obviously a creative little someone in the home  and I was excited to meet them.

Mascello has an adorable little smile.  When we entered the home of the little guy in the purple Tele Tubbie tshirt and stitched up clothing,  you couldn’t help but love him.  He has the sweetest, shy little smile and was hiding behind a curtain separating their one room home into two.  He is almost 7 and his name means the cross.  He’s registered for the new project that WJTL listeners have the opportunity to sponsor.   Mascelloo lives with his older brother and his mother, Trungo.  Trungo works collecting dung, carrying it on her shoulders and she sells it to make a living.  There was a pile of dung outside her home drying.   She also works as a maid to earn money to pay her rent.  She is too frail to do any other sort of physical labor.  Trungo is divorced and not originally from this village or area… she had moved following an Uncle who left the area once they were settled.   Mascello’s older brother is 12 and he was out collecting dung while we were there for our visit.  When asked what her wish was for her sons, Trungo shared that she wishes for them to study and grow… to have opportunity that she did not have.    I think we were all moved by the amount of work this woman is undertaking as she tries to provide for her family.

Trungo was proud to pull out Mascalloo’s tattered writing tablet and nub of a pen that he had and show us his work.  I gladly gave him several pieces of paper and the pen I had with me at the moment and we drew a little together.  This little guy has talent and a desire to draw that I am sure could be cultivated as he has opportunities to go to school and learn.

I am excited by the opportunity we have to change the life of this family.  With the help of Compassion and the local church, we can help make their life easier, safer and healthier and offer the greatest gift of all … the gospel.    A member of our group prayed for Trungo to receive the Lord, though she was hesitant.  There is great opportunity for her to see the love and provision available to her family and really commit her life to God.    I know our being there in her home offered her hope that things would soon change.

There are so many families like this one … one parent barely hanging on and working so hard doing unpleasant labor that yields very little  reward.  She’s just trying to keep her family alive.  We have the opportunity to make such an impact with a small investment.   I pray Mascelloo is sponsored quickly during our 26 Hours of Compassion.  Please be praying for him and all the other boys and girls who dare to hope that they will be sponsored.

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 104 is a chapter that talks about God’s creation of the world and how He provides for His creation. The writer marveled at God’s handiwork, saying, “How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”

He recognized our dependence on God’s favor for the blessings that sustain us. In reflecting on the wisdom of God and His many works, the writer responded with this expression of praise in verse 33.

“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.”

There are many reasons for us to praise God. His creation, formed from His wisdom, is one of those reasons. Take a look around, and express gratitude to God for the world He has made. You can also look at the mirror and thank Him for creating you uniquely and loving you completely.

Expression of praise to God is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE –  This morning in church we sang the song: Healer.  As I sang the lyrics “I believe you’re my Healer, I believe you are all I need.  I believe you’re my portion.  I believe you’re more than enough for me.  Jesus you’re all I need” my heart returned to the home where we made our final home visit on Friday.

It was the home of a little boy named Masresh who is registered to be sponsored from the Tedecha Mekane Yesus Church.  This is the church project we will be sponsoring during our upcoming 26 Hours of Compassion.   When we entered his home,  his mother was breast feeding a 2 month old baby and he was sitting on a pile of blankets on the floor… his bed.  The father in the home passed away when she was 8 months pregnant.   This baby is named Mitiku which means substitute (for her husband) and Masresh means something like compensated… because this 6 year old came into her life after she had lost 2 other babies.   The mom was wearing black as she is still in mourning.    They are extremely poor… dressed in basically rags.   Mom washes clothes and does maid services in the village to try and support her family while Masresh (6 years old) stays home and takes care of the baby.   Their rent costs 150 birr per month.    When we asked what her hopes for Masresh were, she smiles and says for him to have a job… any job so he can be self sufficient.

After being in the home for a while, we discovered that mom was open to Jesus, and had been a part of a Pentecostal church years ago.  I had the opportunity to pray for her and with her and she prayed along with me to receive Jesus as her Savior and commit her life to him.   As we were leaving the home,  we noticed that there was something that was hanging in her doorway.   When Yoseph, our guide from Compasssion,  asked her about them, we found out that they were little bags of something (which turned out to be dirt) that someone had promised her would protect her.   Yoseph assured her that with Jesus in her life she doesn’t need superstition… that He is her protector and provider.    She willingly allowed him to remove them from her doorway and he later dumped them out on the ground.  We wonder how much she had to pay for this false protection.  Her neighbors had bottles of water hanging on their door, which were related to some other type of superstition.

The heart of Compassion is to “release children from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults”.   It is exciting to know that when Masresh is sponsored there will be people speaking into his life, visiting his home, teaching him about how Jesus is more than enough, and displaying that love through helping meet their desperate physical needs.    My prayer is that his mom will see it illustrated that God is with them, protecting and healing her and her family.   It would be amazing to have someone from our listening area be the one who helps make a way for this to happen.

I’m thankful that we have this opportunity to speak up for children that otherwise have not had the opportunity to ask for help, themselves.  Please consider what you can do and be in prayer as we look ahead to our 26 Hours of Compassion February 20-21.    I can’t wait to find out that Masresh has been sponsored and perhaps even take you there to meet him and his family yourself!

STACEY GAGNE –  On our last day in Ethiopia, we finally got to visit our brand new Compassion project.  WJTL listeners have the opportunity to impact many lives through Compassion International!  This was probably the most intense level of poverty I have seen.  In the many beautiful faces, there were also hygiene issues, some severe malnourishment, clothing that is basically rags, etc…   This church and community is located in Dukem, about 30 km outside of Addis and outside the borders of the nearest small town.   There is a big problem with drug abuse, prostitution, witchcraft and other dangers in this area because of it’s location off one of the trucking routes that leads to the city.    Just our presence at their church will put a spotlight on them that will draw in the community who is currently easily swayed toward other influences.  As they see the results of Compassion impacting families locally, neighbors will take notice and come to see what is causing the change.  What an opportunity!

We received such a warm reception … greeted with flowers (which you’ll see haphazardly stuck in my hair in some pictures) and mobbed with many hugs, kisses and little hands wanting to touch us and be held.   I’m sure most of these children have never seen people with white skin, so we were very interesting and even scary to some of the little ones.   We had the chance to address the children and parents as a whole and express our love to them and the promise that sponsors from the U.S. were soon going to be investing in the lives of their children.   We spent a lot of time playing with the children, blowing bubbles, singing songs and just loving them.  The church leadership shared their vision to impact the community with the love of Jesus, to break through the lies many of them have received and have more resources to equip them to meet the great great need.   They presented us with coffee, bread and popcorn and prayed many blessings over us and over our listeners back home for caring about their community.  My heart was overwhelmed to the point of tears by the presence of the Lord and the deep deep passion these church leaders have for children and for the gospel to be spread.

A future blog will fill you in on the home visits we took that day.  I am still processing a lot of what I saw and felt.  God is good.

When I think about how great WJTL’s impact will be felt in this community, I am truly overwhelmed and excited.  The food, education, spiritual impact, love and encouragement that is going to be made available is going to go much further than you probably could even imagine.  They are already anxiously awaiting our return.  I hope many of you are able to come back with me in August.  I am anxious for you to hear more stories and take action coming up on February 20-21 during our 26 Hours of Compassion.

JOHN SHIRK – There are several ways we might be tempted to sin-Either through the external forces of the world’s value system and the influence of Satan or through the internal force of the sinful nature.

The source of Jesus’ temptation was not internal, but rather external, because He had no sinful nature. But He was tempted externally by the devil.

It happened in Luke 4. The devil tempted Jesus three times, and each time, Jesus responded with the words, It is written. He resisted the devil by using the Word of God.

That resource is available to us today, and will help us in moments of temptation. The writer of Psalm 119 said to the LORD,  “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Hiding God’s Word in our heart is effective for overcoming temptation and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com