JOHN SHIRK – 2024 is the Year of Gratitude at WJTL. In our 40^th year of ministry, we are thankful to God for His faithfulness and thankful for our family of listeners.

Each weekday, we will share a Scripture with you that focuses on God’s goodness, which gives us a reason to be grateful.

Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Psalm 7:17.

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.”

Righteousness refers to moral excellence. Humanly speaking, we fall short of the mark of moral excellence, because we have all sinned against God and disobeyed His laws. However, the Gospel gives us opportunity to be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Trusting Him for salvation opens the way for us to be forgiven by God and to be given the righteousness of Christ.

Romans 1:17 says, “the righteous will live by faith.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 36:9.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

To get to our desired destination, we need to follow the right directions. To find correct answers, we need to have reliable information. Every strong building starts with a firm foundation.

Jesus is the light source we need for a vibrant relationship with God. He is the pathway to an eternal destiny. He is the answer to solve the problem of our sinful nature. He is the foundation for a thriving faith. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to look to Jesus for the clarity we need everyday in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is a desire to know Jesus.

A relationship with Jesus is foundational for a life that pleases God and brings glory to His name.

This was the desire of the Apostle Paul-to know Christ.

He said in Philippians 3:8, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him.”

Knowing Jesus Christ was his greatest joy and source of fulfillment. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” When we come to faith in Jesus, He becomes our source of righteousness, which is enough to satisfy our soul.

A desire to know Jesus is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Matthew 2:1 and 2.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The light of Christmas leads us to a place of worshipping Jesus. As the Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for Jesus, they also brought with them their hearts of worship. Their example reveals that Jesus is worthy of our very best that we have to offer Him. After all, God gave His best for us.

Their journey reflects the truth of Jeremiah 29:13, where the LORD says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to seek Jesus earnestly for the honor of His name in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to sing joyfully.

Psalm 33:1 says, “Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”

The gift of music gives us opportunity to use it as an instrument of worship. This time of year, as our thoughts turn to the season of Christmas, we can add to the celebration by singing Christmas carols that reflect on the birth of Jesus and why He came.

There is a place in Luke chapter one, where we find lyrics to Mary’s song after she learned that she would give birth to Jesus. She said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”

Singing joyfully is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4t5aEQLRTLnrcm8KkIPZsn?si=77f8e329c44542f7

Today’s Light Reflections is from Acts 19:17.

One of the bright spots in the book of Acts took place in the city of Ephesus.

Jews and Greeks who lived there came under conviction to change their practices. The name of Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly…..In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit will inspire us to fix our eyes on Jesus and throw off everything that hinders our progress with Him. It may mean burning something that has had a stronghold over us, so that we can break with the past and walk forward with Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remove anything that hinders our view of Jesus so that we might honor His name in the Year to Shine.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is remembering our source of strength.

One of the keys to a life of thanksgiving is to remember God as our source of strength.

There is a temptation in our moments of success to take the credit for what goes right. In reality, the right thing to do is to give God the credit for His blessings that come from His gracious hand. That includes our abilities to get things done, maintain a job, and to provide for family.

In Deuteronomy 8:17, Moses told the Israelites, “You may say to yourself ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

Remembering our source of strength is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22dplzNEOUmsCKbL5OnZgz?si=35a202af0e2e4cfd

JOHN SHIRK – This week, our Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places is Acts 18:26 when a married couple reached out to an influential teacher named Apollos in Ephesus. He had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, was instructed in the way of the Lord, and spoke with great fervor. He taught about Jesus accurately, although he knew only the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak in the synagogue, they invited him to their home and explained the way of God more adequately.

When Apollos went to another place, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. He proved from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

This Light Reflection inspires us to keep growing in our faith and understanding of the Gospel in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com