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

Hebrews 12:7 encourages us to endure hardship as discipline. When this is occurring, God is treating us as His children.

Sometimes, in our difficult challenges, we might incorrectly feel that God is far away and does not love us as much as He once did. If we conclude that, we become discouraged by our circumstances and feel like giving up on the path we were taking.

However, Hebrews chapter 12 is there to remind us that God still cares in our trials. He is working to refine our faith in Him, not to discourage us. Verse 10 says about our human fathers, “They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Enduring hardship 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 63:6 and 7.

“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

In the stillness of the night, our soul can be encouraged by the thought of God’s love and faithfulness. Someone has said that if we are having trouble sleeping, don’t count sheep. Rather, talk to the Good Shepherd.

His name is Jesus, and He can use the quiet moments of our lives to draw us to prayer, fill us with peace, and stir us to praise.

Psalm 149 tells us that the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

This Light Reflection inspires us to rest in God’s love for us through the watches of the night in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 14:17 and 18.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

This passage encourages us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ through disagreements on disputable matters-those gray areas where the guidelines are not so clear. In this chapter, Paul the Apostle was talking about dietary matters. Some believers had restrictions Others took more liberties. Those differences were not supposed to disrupt unity.

The Kingdom priorities of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit can help believers remain unified through disagreements.

This is possible as we look to Christ daily, Seek His wisdom, embrace grace, live with humility, and show respect for others.

This Light Reflection inspires us to serve Jesus with righteousness, peace and joy 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 offer our mind to God.

Part of the greatest commandment in the Bible is to love God with all of our mind. This means fixing our thoughts on Jesus, who is worthy of our praise. Our focus is on what God desires for our lives, and the result of that focus point is life and peace.

There is eternal value in focusing on the good news of what Jesus has done for our salvation.

In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul offered this focus point for our minds-“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Jesus fits all these descriptions. Verse 9 tells us that the God of peace will be with us.

Offering our mind to God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to offer our feet to God to share His good news.

Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.”

He has entrusted us with a message to share with the world. Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Some believers have traveled great distances to share this message overseas. Others have walked across the street to share this good news with their neighbors.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” As we go in Jesus’ name, we get to proclaim Jesus as the good news of God’s peace plan.

Offering our feet to God for spreading the Gospel 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 Luke 1:79.

These were the words of the priest Zechariah about the Messiah who was coming into the world:

“To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Peace is a bright light that shines through the darkness of hatred, violence, and revenge.

On the night before Jesus died, He spoke these words to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

To embrace Jesus as Savior and Lord is to embrace the peace of God. His grace teaches us to love, be patient, forgive, and to live with godly contentment.

This Light Reflection inspires us to walk in peace with God in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Elements for Thriving Relationships are peace and holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

A life of holiness flows out of a heart that is wholly devoted to the Lord. His holiness will inspire us to be holy before God and to have pure relationships. That includes having pure motivations to love people sincerely in ways that benefit them.

God’s love for us inspires us to seek peaceful relationships. His purpose for sending Jesus to the world was to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus became the bridge that enabled us to have peace with God. That is the kind of peace that can spread through our witness for Christ. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Peace and Holiness are key elements for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Ephesians 2:17.

Speaking of Jesus, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who are near.”

Jesus is our source of peace. He has the power to give us peace with God, peace with others, and peace within.

In Luke 2:14, the announcement of Jesus’ birth stirs praise among the heavenly host to say, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace comes to those who have God’s favor, and God’s favor extends to those who humbly recognize our need for Jesus to save us from our sins.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to find peace with God by following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is the voice of Reconciliation.

This is the voice that encourages peace between parties that live in hostility to each other.

The ultimate peacemaking mission is to promote peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Peace with God is the way forward for us to experience peace with others and peace within. God’s love for us is a sure foundation that calms our fears and gives us hope. His love compels us to share the Gospel in a spirit of love.

In Second Corinthians 5:20, the Apostle Paul said, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Being a voice of Reconciliation is a Key Element for Thriving Relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Corinthians 5:7.

For we live by faith, not by sight.

We may not see the big picture of God’s orchestrated plan for our lives, but by faith, we have the assurance that He has a plan for us to follow Him and to glorify Him. Trusting Jesus will make a difference in our lives in a number of ways.

Trusting Jesus will give us confidence for moving forward. When the Apostle Paul noted that he lived by faith and not by sight, he also said, “we are always confident.” That’s because he knew that God was with him, and His presence was Paul’s source of strength.

Trusting Jesus will also give us peace. Through the turmoil and uncertainties of each day, it makes a difference to know that the love of Jesus is able to sustain us. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to live by faith, not by sight in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is a blessing.

In the Bible, blessings were often passed along from one generation to another. A blessing is a prayer or proclamation expressing desire for God’s goodness and favor to rest on a particular person.

In Numbers 6:22, the LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

And then the LORD said, “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

There is no greater blessing than to experience the grace and peace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the blessing we can pray and proclaim for our loved ones.

The proclamation of a blessing is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com