JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119:45.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
America recently celebrated birthday number 247. We have enjoyed many freedoms in this nation through the years not experienced by other nations.
Those freedoms did not come easily, but came at a huge price for many.
The spiritual freedoms that we enjoy are even more precious, and came to us at the price of blood shed by Jesus at the cross.
God’s Word shows the way to true and lasting freedom, by following Jesus and obeying His commands. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is able to set our heart free, so that we are not bound by the control of sin, but liberated to serve others by His love.
This Light Reflection inspires us to enjoy the freedom of living out God’s Word in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 3:12.
Speaking of Jesus, “In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Faith and freedom go together. As we put our confidence in God’s love for us, we pray with the faith that He hears us and cares for our needs.
By faith, we do not fear condemnation for the wrong things we have done, but trust Jesus to defend us as our source of righteousness.
By faith, we do not fear what could go wrong in the future, but live with hope for the good things God has planned for those who love Him.
By faith, we are not paralyzed by the fear of opposition, but believe that God is stronger than our greatest adversaries.
This Light Reflection inspires us to approach God with freedom and confidence 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 embrace the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
One definition of freedom is “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.”
Jesus said that “everyone who sins is a slave to sin, so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus brings true and lasting freedom by His grace and truth. There is freedom from the guilt of the past, freedom from the control of sin in the present, and freedom from condemnation in the future. We are set free by Jesus to live, thrive, and love others as He loves us.
Embracing the teachings of 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 Psalm 107:14.
“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.”
The grace of God changes lives in many ways, including the ability to set prisoners free. When Jesus announced His ministry, He proclaimed freedom for the prisoners.
There are certain sins that may be tempting for us, deceiving us into thinking that we will enjoy freedom by doing what we want. But disobedience to God is not liberating. Jesus taught quite the opposite. He said in John 8:34 that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. He also said in verse 36 that if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
So, there is hope for freedom. Our chains of sin come loose when we come to Jesus with a heart that is focused on following Him.
This Light Reflection inspires us to find ultimate freedom in a relationship with Jesus in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
The Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge choir from Rehrersburg, Pa. will sing and give testimonies at Highpoint Community Church’s missions event. Come to our evening worship service at 18 Hahnstown Rd., Ephrata, to hear incredible testimonies of God’s deliverance from addictions.
JOHN SHIRK – 2023 has been designated the Year to Shine at WJTL. We will explore what it means to be the salt and light in this world that Jesus calls us to be. Listen for daily light reflections and for steps of faith that we can take to be a radiant witness for Jesus.
In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is being a doer of God’s Word.
James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”
Being a Doer of God’s Word is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is freedom.
Second Corinthians 3:17 says “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
The Spirit of God is about life and freedom. Where there are elements of coercion, intimidation, or manipulation in relationships, the Spirit of the Lord is not the influence behind them.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, people are free to express their love for God with the personalities that God has given them.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, people are free to worship God openly, using a variety of songs that glorify His holy name.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, people are free to share with each other what they are learning and how God is moving in their lives.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, people are free to serve others with their God-given abilities.
Freedom is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:29.
“By faith, the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”
The Egyptians were pursuing the Israelites to return them to slavery, but God set them free. The Red Sea was their breakthrough moment once and for all.
Exodus 14:29 records that the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians.
Sin is like a harsh slave master that seeks to control us with addictions, false beliefs, and selfish pride. God’s grace is the way forward to set us free. We can trust Jesus to lead the way.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk in the path that leads to freedom in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
This week, it’s a Freedom & Fireworks theme on the Praise & Worship Program. I’m excited to celebrate liberty in Christ with vibrant worship-filled hearts! This year’s lineup includes songs like “Liberty” by Shane & Shane, “Praise Like Fireworks” from Rend Collective, “I Am Free” by Jared Anderson and lots more.
| SONG TITLE |
Artist |
Album |
Year |
| 6AM |
|
|
|
| What Freedom Feels Like |
Cody Carnes |
The Darker The Night-The Brighter The Morning |
2017 |
| Nail Scarred Hands |
Dante Bowe |
Single |
2022 |
| SING IT FROM THE SHACKLES |
Rend Collective |
Single |
2020 |
| Deliverer (feat. Lauren Lee) |
North Point Worship |
Single |
2022 |
| Living with a Fire (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Living with a Fire (Live) |
2018 |
| More Than Amazing |
Lincoln Brewster |
Real Life |
2012 |
| Love Came Down |
Brian Johnson |
Love Came Down |
2010 |
| A New Hallelujah |
Michael W. Smith |
A New Hallelujah |
2008 |
| Liberated |
Zealand Worship |
Liberated |
2018 |
| Im Going Free (Jailbreak) |
Vertical Worship |
The Rock Wont Move |
2013 |
| Fires Gonna Fall |
Martin Smith |
Iron Lung |
2019 |
| Break Every Chain |
Jesus Culture & Kristene DiMarco |
Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago |
2011 |
| 7AM |
|
|
|
| Christ Has Set Me Free |
Rend Collective |
Homemade Worship By Handmade People |
2012 |
| Nothing Holding Me Back |
Bryan & Katie Torwalt |
Here On Earth |
2011 |
| Deliverance (Live) |
GATEWAY |
Greater Than (Live) |
2018 |
| Hallelujah For the Cross |
Chris McClarney |
Breakthrough |
2018 |
| Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is (feat. Christy Nockels) |
Chris Tomlin |
Passion: Awakening |
2010 |
| He Is Faithful (feat. Bryan Torwalt) |
Jesus Culture |
Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago |
2011 |
| Freedom Looks Good on You |
Maverick City Music |
Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition |
2021 |
| Where Are The Chains (feat. Lucas McCloud) |
Circuit Rider Music |
Jesus People (Live) |
2021 |
| Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) |
Chris Tomlin |
Music Inspired By The Motion Picture Amazing Grace |
2007 |
| Hearts Ablaze (feat. Bethany Kuenzli) |
Philip Herndon |
Send Revival EP |
2020 |
| Liberty (Live) |
Shane & Shane |
Psalms Live |
2016 |
| 8AM |
|
|
|
| Because of Your Love |
Paul Baloche |
A Greater Song |
2006 |
| No Chains On Me |
Chris Tomlin |
And If Our God Is For Us |
2010 |
| Deliverer |
Matt Maher |
Saints and Sinners |
2015 |
| We Are The Free |
Matt Redman |
10,000 Reasons |
2011 |
| Freedom Is Coming (Live) |
Hillsong Young & Free |
Out Here On A Friday Where It Began |
2021 |
| Freedom in the Spirit (feat. Adam Agin) |
Sarah Kroger |
Bloom |
2019 |
| Freedom |
Jesus Culture |
Living With A Fire |
2018 |
| Freedom Is Here |
Worship Center Live |
In This Place |
2011 |
| My Deliverer |
Mandisa |
Freedom |
2009 |
| Freedom Hymn |
Austin French |
Wide Open |
2018 |
| Resurrection Power |
Chris Tomlin |
Holy Roar |
2018 |
| Freedom Song |
Christy Nockels |
Let It Be Jesus |
2015 |
| Freedom Reigns (feat. Kim Walker Smith) |
Jesus Culture |
Come Away |
2010 |
| It Was For Freedom (feat. Jon Egan, Mia Fields) |
New Life Worship |
You Hold It All |
2011 |
| 9AM |
|
|
|
| Set a Fire (feat. Will Reagan) |
United Pursuit |
Endless Years |
2012 |
| Freedom is Here |
Esterlyn |
Call Out |
2011 |
| Set Free (feat. Matt Redman) |
Chris Tomlin |
Passion: Here For You |
2011 |
| Where The Spirit of the Lord Is |
Life Church |
Death of Death |
2019 |
| I Am Free |
Jared Anderson |
51 Must Have Modern Worship Hits |
2007 |
| I Am Found, I Am Free |
GATEWAY |
Monuments |
2017 |
| Wild and Free |
Jason Upton |
A Table Full of Strangers, Vol. 2 |
2018 |
| Free As a Bird |
Rend Collective |
Campfire II: Simplicity |
2016 |
| Free, Amen (Live) |
We The Kingdom |
Live At the Wheelhouse – EP |
2019 |
| I Am Set Free |
All Sons & Daughters |
Season One |
2012 |
| Praise Like Fireworks |
Rend Collective Experiment |
Campfire |
2013 |
| Awe (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Living with a Fire (Live) |
2018 |
| Awe + Wonder |
The Belonging Co |
Awe + Wonder (Live) |
2019 |
Happy Independence Day!
This week’s Praise & Worship playlist has a Freedom & Fireworks theme.
See all the details below and enjoy this highlights version of the playlist you can listen to right here!
Happy 4th,
Kristi
Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com
| Song Title |
Artist |
Album |
Year |
| 6AM |
|
|
|
| Christ Has Set Me Free |
Rend Collective |
Homemade Worship By Handmade People |
2012 |
| Wild and Free |
Jason Upton |
A Table Full of Strangers, Vol. 2 |
2018 |
| Freedom in the Spirit (feat. Adam Agin) |
Sarah Kroger |
Bloom |
2019 |
| Nothing Holding Me Back |
Bryan & Katie Torwalt |
Here On Earth |
2011 |
| It Was For Freedom (feat. Jon Egan, Mia Fields) |
New Life Worship |
You Hold It All |
2011 |
| Refiners Fire |
Brian Doerksen |
Songs 4 Worship Ultimate |
2011 |
| Refiner (feat. Chandler Moore & Steffany Gretzinger) |
Maverick City Music |
Maverick City, Vol. 2 |
2019 |
| God Ablaze |
Charlie Hall |
The Rising |
2010 |
| Burn for You (feat. David Brymer) |
Rivers & Robots |
Discovery |
2018 |
| Like a Fire (feat. Steffany Gretzinger) |
Sean Feucht |
The Things We Did at First |
2016 |
| Freedom |
William Matthews |
For The Sake Of The World |
2012 |
| Love Like Fire |
Hillsong Worship |
A Beautiful Exchange |
2010 |
| 7AM |
|
|
|
| Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is (feat. Christy Nockels) |
Chris Tomlin |
Passion: Awakening |
2010 |
| Fires Gonna Fall |
Martin Smith |
Iron Lung |
2019 |
| Burning In My Soul |
Brett Younker |
Passion: Let The Future Begin |
2013 |
| Flame of Fire, Rushing Wind |
Bryan & Katie Torwalt |
Champion |
2016 |
| Freedom Song |
Christy Nockels |
Let It Be Jesus |
2015 |
| Living with a Fire (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Living with a Fire (Live) |
2018 |
| Another In The Fire |
Hillsong United |
People (Live) |
2020 |
| I Am Set Free |
All Sons & Daughters |
Season One |
2012 |
| Freedom (Live) |
Urban Rescue |
City Sessions (Live In Los Angeles) |
2017 |
| SING IT FROM THE SHACKLES |
Rend Collective |
Single |
2020 |
| Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains) |
Crowder |
Neon Steeple |
2014 |
| Chains |
Bellarive |
Before There Was |
2014 |
| Im Going Free (Jailbreak) |
Vertical Worship |
The Rock Wont Move |
2013 |
| 8AM |
|
|
|
| Break Every Chain |
Jesus Culture & Kristene Di Marco |
Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago |
2011 |
| Liberated |
Zealand Worship |
Liberated |
2018 |
| Free As a Bird |
Rend Collective |
Campfire II: Simplicity |
2016 |
| Set Free (feat. Matt Redman) |
Chris Tomlin |
Passion: Here For You |
2011 |
| Im Free (Hymn) / Washed By The Water (Acoustic Live) |
Needtobreathe |
Acoustic Single |
2019 |
| Consuming Fire |
Tim Hughes |
When Silence Falls |
2004 |
| All Consuming Fire (Live) |
Chris McClarney |
Everything and Nothing Less (Live) |
2015 |
| Hearts Ablaze (feat. Bethany Kuenzli) |
Philip Herndon |
Send Revival EP |
2020 |
| Freedom Reigns (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) |
Jesus Culture |
Come Away |
2010 |
| Freedom (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Living with a Fire (Live) |
2018 |
| I Am Free |
Jared Anderson |
51 Must Have Modern Worship Hits |
2007 |
| I Am Found, I Am Free |
GATEWAY |
Monuments |
2017 |
| 9AM |
|
|
|
| We Are The Free |
Matt Redman |
10,000 Reasons |
2011 |
| No Longer Slaves (feat. Jonathan David & Melissa Helser) |
Bethel Music |
We Will Not Be Shaken (Live) [Deluxe Edition] |
2015 |
| Finally Free |
Rend Collective |
The Art of Celebration |
2014 |
| Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) [Live] |
Shane & Shane |
Hymns Live |
2019 |
| No Chains On Me |
Chris Tomlin |
And If Our God Is For Us |
2010 |
| Set Me Ablaze (feat. Katie Torwalt) [Live] |
Jesus Culture |
Let It Echo (Live) |
2016 |
| Burn Like A Star |
Rend Collective |
The Art of Celebration |
2014 |
| Calling On Fire |
Bellarive |
Before There Was |
2014 |
| Set a Fire (Live) |
Jesus Culture |
Live from New York (with Martin Smith) [Live] |
2012 |
| Fires |
Matt Redman |
10,000 Reasons |
2011 |
| Where The Spirit of the Lord Is |
Life Church |
Death of Death |
2019 |
| Free, Amen (Live) |
We The Kingdom |
Live At the Wheelhouse – EP |
2019 |
| Praise Like Fireworks |
Rend Collective Experiment |
Campfire |
2013 |
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Freedom.
Galatians 5:1 tells us that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
To be free in Christ is to be forgiven by His grace and to walk in His truth.
There are two main obstacles to freedom. One obstacle is trespassing God’s laws, where we disobey God and become slaves to sin. The other obstacle is legalism, where we depend on observing God’s laws to save us. The truth is that we cannot save ourselves by doing good deeds, but Jesus can save us from our sins. That is why He came to the world. Trusting Jesus to save us will set us free from the control of those obstacles.
Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Because of Jesus, we are set free to walk in an authentic relationship with God.
Find encouragement in the true and lasting freedom that Jesus provides for His followers in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
