John Shirk

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Focus on God’s Goodness-The Cost of God’s Love

john : March 7, 2024 10:07 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Revelation 5:9.

And they sang a new song, saying “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

This verse highlights the cost of God’s love for humanity and the vast impact of His love. The blood of Jesus was shed for us at the cross and is a sufficient payment to redeem us. Today, the Gospel is bearing fruit all around the world, and will be the good news that reaches people from every ethnic group before the end of this age.

We owed a debt we could not pay. Jesus paid the debt that He did not owe. Because of His sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus is worthy to open the seal that unlocks the future, and He is worthy of our praise.

Revelation 5:12 says about Jesus, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

The cost of God’s love reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-His Strength to Help Us

john : March 6, 2024 3:05 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Philippians 4:12 and 13.

The Apostle Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

For Paul, contentment was not based on his circumstances. He was focused on the grace of God as his source of help and. hope. Paul lived with godly contentment.

How can we live with this view? Fix our focus on Jesus. Look to Him as the author and perfecter of our faith. Remember His blessings with a grateful heart. Reflect on the ultimate sacrifice He made for our sins. Embrace His unfailing love, and stay connected to Him daily. A mind fixed on Jesus gives us a healthy perspective of hope and faith through challenging times.

“The strength of God as our source of help” reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Guidance

john : March 5, 2024 3:09 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Psalm 25, verses 4 and 5.

David prayed, “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

In this Psalm, David acknowledged, “Good and upright is the LORD.”

He knows how to steer us in the right direction. He guides us in the way of truth and grace. He leads us in life-giving ways that cause our faith, relationships, and our labor in the Lord to thrive. God is our fountain of wisdom and confides His plan to those who revere His name. So, as we open our ears and our heart to God’s voice, He will be faithful to lead the way.

The guidance of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Presence and Faithfulness

john : March 4, 2024 4:53 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Deuteronomy 31:6.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Israelites were marching toward the Promised Land, and it would require courage on their part to follow the Lord into unknown territory.

Whenever God calls us to do something in His plan, we can go forward with the confidence that He is leading the way. We do not know the outcome of our obedience to God. That is up to Him. But we do have the assurance that as we follow Jesus with a willing heart, He is with us and for us and will bless the fruit of our labor for Him.

The Presence and Faithfulness of God reveal the goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Friday Time Capsule-March 06 1995

john : March 1, 2024 1:05 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1q1jTLIxAQWzJ87Yzpi6Ag?si=2e871844d6a64b1d

 

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Ministry of Jesus

john : February 29, 2024 3:39 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Luke 4:18 and 19.

Jesus read from the scroll in the synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus was quoting from the prophet Isaiah to describe the power of His mission to change people’s lives.

His ministry was delivering good news, providing freedom and healing, and bringing salvation to people in need of God’s grace.

The Ministry of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Sufficient Grace

john : February 28, 2024 10:34 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Second Corinthians 12:8 and 9.

The Apostle Paul told the church about his thorn in the flesh experience.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest in me.”

We might be able to identify with Paul when we think of our own physical limitations or something that causes us to experience pain. Sometimes God does not remove our thorns because He wants us to remain humble before Him. Paul said that the reason for his thorn was to keep him from becoming conceited.

Another reason for thorns is to move us to depend on God’s grace rather than our own strength. His grace is the reliable foundation of our lives and is the shining influence of our witness for Jesus.

The sufficiency of God’s grace reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Victory in Jesus

john : February 27, 2024 11:04 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in John 16:33.

Jesus told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!”

These were some of the last words that Jesus shared with His disciples before His arrest. Jesus was preparing His followers for His death, resurrection, and eventual departure from this world. He was leaving final words of instruction and comfort for them.

The reason He told them these things is the reason that these things are recorded for us-so that in Christ we may have peace. Life in this world can be filled with peer pressure, stress, and conflict. But there is also a greater reality than our problems. We can be encouraged by the proclamation of Jesus to overcome the world. Because He wins, so will His followers.  First Corinthians 15:57 says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The victory of Jesus over sin and death reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Cleansing

john : February 26, 2024 4:44 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Isaiah 1, verses 16 to 18.

The LORD said to a nation in need of repentance: “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us settle the matter. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

The message of the Gospel urges us to turn from our sins and follow Jesus. God reasons with us on the basis of conviction. He points out where we are wrong, shows the right way, and urges us to change direction. The Gospel is also a message of forgiveness. Through Jesus, we are cleansed of sin and have a fresh start in God’s grace.

The cleansing effect of God’s grace reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Focus on God’s Goodness-God’s Good Work

john : February 24, 2024 1:23 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances. That is because God is at work in the circumstances of those who love Jesus. He is able to weave together the good, bad, and ugly experiences of our lives to bring about God’s good purpose in us. And what is that purpose? The next verse gives us the answer: For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.

God’s priority in our lives is to make us more like Jesus. God’s love gives us a healthy and heavenly perspective through life’s experiences. His power helps us to overcome evil with good-like He did for us at the cross and empty grave.

God’s work in His followers reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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