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Posts Tagged ‘Love’

How We Love Workshop- Petra Church

March 5th, 2024 No comments

Milan & Kay Yerkovich are coming to Petra Church for an interactive workshop based on their book, “How We Love.” At this event, you will learn your love style – a blueprint that shapes what you expect from relationships and how you receive and express love.

If you’ve ever struggled with connecting with others, you can use these proven tools and techniques to enhance your most valued relationships and learn to love well. The practical knowledge you will gain can help you in any relationship – marriage, parenting, friendship, or workplace!

Registration is $35 per person and $70 per couple. Registration will remain open until April 12.

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Focus on God’s Goodness-Height of God’s Love

February 20th, 2024 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Psalm 36:5.

“Your love, LORD reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”

This verse highlights the height of God’s love for us. Jesus came from heaven to earth so that we might ascend from earth to heaven. After accomplishing His mission on earth, Jesus returned to heaven.

Oswald Chambers noted the ascension of Jesus this way: “At his ascension our Lord entered heaven, and he keeps the door open for humanity to enter.”

The door is still open for us today to accept the invitation of Gospel. Now is the time of God’s favor. Now is the day of salvation.

Heaven is the destiny for all who belong to Jesus. It is a place where there is no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

The height 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

Focus on God’s Goodness-Enduring Love and Faithfulness

February 7th, 2024 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 100, verses 4 and 5.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

God’s love and faithfulness have enduring value that is relevant for our generation. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross 2,000 years ago, and still has the power to cover our sins, so that we are declared “Not guilty”. For a love that stands the test of time, we can find it in the arms of God’s saving grace. Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That is still true today. God is faithful to His word. His love will not fail us.

God’s enduring love and faithfulness reveal the goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Focus on God’s Goodness-God’s Love

January 30th, 2024 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Romans 5:6.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

God’s redemption plan was put into place at the right time to meet our deepest need for a Savior. Jesus did not come to us in our loveliness. He did not wait to come to earth until we got our house in order. Instead, He saw our need for forgiveness, and then He did something about it by going to the cross.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That is how God demonstrated his own love for us. That is how He rescues us from our sinful condition.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Light Reflection-I John 2:9 and 10 Love With Actions

October 13th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First John 2, verses 9 and 10.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing to make them stumble.

Love is a light that represents Jesus to the world, but hatred is a dark place that hinders our view of God and keeps us from reaching out with His love.

The way of love starts with God, who showed His love to us by sending Jesus to the world. There is more to love than mere words. The proof is in our actions. First John 3:17 asks the question, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to love our brothers and sisters with words and actions in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Follow the Way of Love

June 22nd, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to follow the way of love.

That is the word of instruction to us in First Corinthians 14:1. The way of true love is the way of Jesus, and is necessary for representing Jesus in the church and in our communities.

According to First Corinthians 13:4 to 7, this is the way of love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Following the way of love is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Speaking the Truth in Love

May 3rd, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Speaking the Truth in Love.

Ephesians 4:15 explains what happens when God’s people follow through on this practice.

“We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Jesus came to us full of grace and truth. Grace gives second chances. Grace forgives sin, restores relationships, and builds faith. Grace extends life and peace to those who will embrace the Gospel.

Truth upholds God’s standards and reveals God’s will for our lives. Jesus equated the truth to His teachings, which has the power to set us free.

When the truth is spoken in love, God’s people are blessed with spiritual growth and greater unity in Christ.

Speaking the Truth in Love is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Express Faith Through Love

April 12th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to express faith through love.

In the Christian life, faith and love are essentials for us to be the salt and light that Jesus called us to be.

Galatians 5:6 tells us that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

As we draw closer to Jesus, we will come under His influence. He will inspire change in our hearts. More compassion, more conviction, more sympathy, more courage, more respect, more prayer, more meaningful fellowship with believers, more passion to reach the lost and hurting, more focus on honoring God.

The quality of our relationship with God will motivate us toward loving actions in the way that we express our faith.

Expressing faith through love is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Light Reflection-Ephesians 6:14 Breastplate of Righteousness

March 1st, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 6:14.

Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The breastplate of righteousness is part of the armor of light that is given to us to fight the good fight of faith.

The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart. That source of righteousness is Jesus Christ, and is given to us through faith in His name. In First Thessalonians 5:8, we are instructed to put on faith and love as a breastplate. These are the qualities that protect our heart from corruption and compromise, and give us the ambition to do what is right in the eyes of God. Faith, expressing itself in love, is how we can live out a fruitful life devoted to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to stand firm in the faith with the breastplate of righteousness in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Faith Building Verse-I John 4:18

November 1st, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is First John 4:18.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

God’s plan for our lives is to be motivated by His love, not to be motivated by fear.  Verse 19 tells us that we love because He first loved us. As we step into God’s grace, we realize that we do not have to fear judgment or condemnation.

God’s love is secure and assures us that nothing in all creation is able separate us from His unfailing love. So, we can go forward today with the confidence that through faith in Christ, we are accepted by God. That will make a strong impact on how we relate with the people that God has placed in our lives.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to be motivated by the perfect love of God in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verse-Psalm 23:6

October 13th, 2022 1 comment

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Psalm 23:6.

With the LORD as my Shepherd, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

As we follow Jesus as our Good Shepherd, His goodness and love follow us every single day, step-by-step, moment-by-moment.  That’s because we have the presence and peace of God surrounding us. His grace blesses us today and saves us for eternity. We were made to worship God, and His dwelling place will be filled with the redeemed who love Him and have been saved by His grace.

In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to experience the joy of following and worshipping Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com