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Posts Tagged ‘compassion’

Person of Integrity-Prodigal Son

February 13th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is the Prodigal Son.

This person is mentioned in a story taught by Jesus in Luke 15.

The word “prodigal” describes someone who spends money recklessly. In this story, the Prodigal Son left home and squandered his father’s wealth on wild living. There is nothing noble about that. But that is not where his story ends. People with godly integrity are not perfect, but they are purified.

Jesus said, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” That is exactly what he did, and his father welcomed him with open arms. He was filled with love and compassion for his son as he returned home.

The faithfulness of the Prodigal Son to make things right with his father inspires us to be reconciled with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Focus On God-Tears of Jesus

September 7th, 2017 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines the tears of Jesus.

There were several times in the Bible when Jesus wept. One of those times was by the gravesite of his good friend Lazarus. John 11:35 records that “Jesus wept.”

Also, in Luke 19:41, as Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. He saw the devastation that was coming to that city because the people failed to recognize the time of God’s visitation.

Jesus was a man of sorrows. In these two examples, we see Jesus shedding tears in the death of a friend and the coming tragedy of those who would reject Him. He sympathizes with us in our grief, and He cares for the lost. His tears reveal the genuine expression of His love for people.

The tears of Jesus are reasons to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Focus On God-Patience

February 23rd, 2017 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His patience.

According to Second Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The patience and compassion of God toward the ungodly are good reasons to explain why Jesus has not yet returned. Some day, He will return, and when that happens, the heavens will disappear with a roar and the elements will be destroyed by fire. The earth and everything in it will be laid bare. But in the meantime, God waits for people to stop running away from God and turn toward Him. He gives people time to repent and to be saved from the destruction that is coming.

God’s patience is a window of opportunity to seize this day to receive the grace that God freely offers us.

God’s patience reflects His graciousness and compassion and is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Compassion Guatemala Trip

January 6th, 2017 No comments

Lisa  and I will be heading back to Guatemala with Compassion International  January 28-February 4, 2017

We will be visiting GU-501.  That is Compassion’s project many WJTL listeners helped sponsor in 2015.

If you have a sponsored child from GU-501 and you would like to send along a gift for your child, please put everything in a one gallon (or less) zip-lock bag. If you sponsor more than one child please make one for each child.  The child’s name and number, along with the sponsor’s name and number, need to be clearly marked on the outside of each bag. Or you can put on a piece of paper that is able to be seen clearly through the bag.  Please DO NOT send along any money inside the bags because we won’t have the chance to do currency exchange while on the trip.

Here’s a few ideas of small things you can include:

  • Photos
  • Postcards
  • Greeting cards
  • Coloring pages or small book
  • Paper crafts
  • Stickers
  • Bookmarks
  • Musical greeting cards
  • colored pencils, crayons or markers
  • hair ribbons & barrettes
  • school supplies
  • puzzles

 

Drop off, or mail your child’s gift (in a gallon, or quart bag) to  WJTL, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim, PA 17545 by January 20th.

Lisa and I are looking forward to seeing the children we sponsor AND we are looking forward to delivering your gifts to your child as well.

Here’s a photo of what a baggie of gifts could look like.

Q and A-Getting Ready for Each Day

October 17th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “How do I get ready each day to honor God with my life?”

We would not think of going to work without putting on clothing that meets the dress code at work. Nor would we think about going out the door without combing our hair, brushing our teeth, and in some cases, putting on makeup or shaving the face. These are some routines in the morning that make our appearance presentable in public.

The Bible talks about a dress code for Christians that can help us get spiritually ready for each new day to bring honor to God.

Colossians 3:12 says, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

By spending quality time with God in His Word and in prayer, we will be reminded that we are made holy by His grace and dearly loved. Then, we will be prepared to clothe ourselves with the qualities of Christ in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Compassion – Hope In The Hurricane

October 9th, 2016 No comments

Hurricane Matthew has made life even worse for thousands of people already living in extreme poverty in Haiti.  Houses have been washed away, and whole communities are left without food, water and shelter. Compassion has been at work in Haiti since 1968 and has and established network of almost 300 church partners which enables them quickly get the money you donate into the hands of those in Haiti providing relief and assistance.

Your gift will be put to work immediately to provide emergency shelter, food, water and medical care to those most in need. Just call 855-301-2323 or click the Hope In The Hurricane Banner below to bring Hope in the Hurricane with Compassion and WJTL.

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Q and A-Why Does God Allow Suffering?

May 4th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “Why does God allow suffering in the world?”

This is a big question that deserves some attention, because so many people ask it out loud or ponder it in their hearts.

Suffering started in the world after sin entered the human race. This was the result of a choice that Adam and Eve made, which led to the reality of physical death, conflict between people, pain during child birth, frustration from work, and shame, to name a few. God made Adam and Eve with the dignity to have the freedom to make choices. When they disregarded God’s Word and ate from the forbidden fruit, pain and suffering followed.

Ever since, our world has been broken. We live with the consequences of Adam and Eve’s decision.

The good news is that God had a plan to redeem us from the curse of sin. He sent Jesus, who suffered extreme pain at the cross, and then rose from the dead. He can sympathize with our pain, and He knows how to take us beyond it. He is preparing a place for His followers in heaven, where tears, pain, sin and death will not be found.

When it comes to suffering, there are no easy answers, but the presence of suffering calls for the compassion of Christ to be expressed through His followers in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Encounter With Jesus-His Compassion

October 7th, 2015 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His compassion.

The evidence of His compassion can be seen in the way He ministered to a crowd that followed Him.

In Luke 9, Jesus was taking His disciples to a place of retreat after a time of ministry. But, according to verse 11, the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

The Gospel of Mark describes the same event this way: “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”

Compassion is the quality that welcomes people with God’s love. Compassion allows for flexibility to change plans in order to meet people at their point of need. Compassion also moves us to be a voice of hope and healing for those who need the grace of God.

A daily connection with Christ fills us with compassion for people who need hope and direction.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Relationship Building Principle-Carrying Burdens Of Another

August 27th, 2015 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Galatians 6:1 and 2.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Expressing love to sinners can get messy. The ultimate example of this is Jesus Christ, who went to the cross for our sins. As we walk in the light of God’s love, we will recognize two important realities. The first reality is that there are people all around us who need Jesus. And the second reality is that even though we might have a relationship with Jesus, we are still capable of giving in to temptation. So, we are wise to guard our own heart, so that the Spirit living in us influences the person caught in sin, rather than sin in the other person having an influence on us.

In reaching out to people who have been caught in a sin, we have the opportunity to restore them to fellowship with God. The Bible says that we are to do this gently. This means, showing mercy and patience so that they can perceive God’s love expressed through us. It means sharing the good news that Jesus can change us from the inside out as we look to Him as Savior and Lord.

Carrying the burdens of another is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Encounter With Jesus-The Good Samaritan

August 11th, 2015 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Jesus told this Parable to an expert in the Law who recited the greatest commandments of the Bible to Jesus. One of those commands is to love your neighbor as yourself. The expert in the law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

That is when Jesus told the story of a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell into the hands of robbers and was beaten badly. Three men traveled on the same road and noticed the man. The two religious leaders who saw him passed by him on the other side of the road. But a Samaritan man, a foreigner, responded differently. He moved toward the injured man, bandaged his wounds and took care of him.

After telling the story, Jesus asked the expert in the law, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”

A daily connection with Christ will move us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

26 Hours of Compassion

March 25th, 2015 8 comments

Join us today and tomorrow (March 25 & 26) as we seek to sponsor a new project in Guatemala that Lisa and I visited earlier this month.  Please click on the Compassion Banner at WJTL.com or call 866-392-3690. Your $38 a month will revolutionize the life of a very special child. Thank You.

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Lisa and Fred and the Children of Chimaltenango, Guatemala Project GU501 that we are hoping to sponsor.

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The kids at the Compassion Project were filled with hugs and smiles.