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Posts Tagged ‘thanks’

Focus on God’s Goodness-His Provision and Strength

January 10th, 2024 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First Chronicles 29:12 and 13.

David was praising the LORD in the public assembly:

“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

God supplies us with material wealth, not for the purpose of hoarding it for ourselves, but to be generous with others and use it for the glory of His name.

He also supplies us with energy to accomplish certain tasks. He provides us with intelligence and strength to develop skills and do certain jobs that provide valuable services for others. And so, our jobs and resources can become a testimony of God’s blessing in our lives designed to bear fruit for His glory.

The strength of God to provide for us reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Give Thanks to the Lord

August 24th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to Give Thanks to the Lord.

We have a good reason to give thanks to the Lord. Psalm 136 tells us that He is good. His love endures forever.

This Psalm points to other reasons that we have to give thanks to God. He does great wonders. He is our Creator. He is our Provider. He guides us with His mighty hand and outstretched arm.

There is an interesting structure to this Psalm. There are 26 verses in Psalm 136, and in each verse, we see the phrase, “His love endures forever.” This is the reality that brings stability and security to our faith. This is a truth that we can celebrate every day in every season of life, because every day we wake up, God is there with His love reaching out to us.

Giving Thanks to the Lord is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Faith Building Verses-Luke 17:15 and 16

November 22nd, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Luke 17:15 and 16.

After Jesus healed ten men of leprosy, one of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan.

10 men were healed of leprosy, but only one of them returned to give thanks to Jesus. Thanksgiving is an expression of praise to God. It may be expressed as a simple “thank you” or it may be expressed in an offering to God or in a song. It may involve keeping a journal of remembering specific ways that God has blessed our lives.

In the Christian faith, thanksgiving is meant to be more than just a holiday. It is a way of life that notices God’s blessings, and acknowledges His gracious hand with expressions of praise.

These faith-building verses inspire us to thank Jesus for His goodness and graciousness in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Express Gratitude

October 10th, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to Express Gratitude.

Saying “Thank you” to someone expresses gratitude and shows our appreciation for someone’s influence in our lives.

It is interesting to note how Paul the Apostle expresses thanks.

He said in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel.”

He told Philemon in verse 4, “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.”

There is a pattern by which Paul expresses thanks to God for particular churches or individuals. And then he specifically identifies the reason for his gratefulness.

Expressing gratitude is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Faith Building Verse-Psalm 7:17

September 20th, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is 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.”

Of all the people who have a reason to be grateful, it would be those who believe in God and belong to His family.

That does not mean that every prayer we say has to be a word of thanks. The Psalms give us a glimpse into the wide range of prayers flowing from a man who sought after God’s own heart. But there are many spiritual blessings that we have in Christ-Adoption into His family, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Redemption, Salvation, and the hope of heaven forever in the presence of God.

These blessings are only possible because of the righteousness of Christ that is placed on us when we trust in Him to save us from sin.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to give thanks to God and sing His praises in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verses-Psalm 9:1 and 2

August 18th, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 9:1 and 2.

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

The wonderful deeds of the LORD can have a strong impact on our lives in the following ways.

They lead us to faith. When we ponder His love for us at the cross, His power of life over death at the empty grave, and His life-changing grace, our trust and confidence in Him grows stronger.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to gratitude. We recognize that by His grace and mercy, we don’t get what we deserve by our sins. Instead, He has made a way for us to be forgiven and redeemed.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to praise. He puts a song of joy in our hearts to express our love for Him.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to places of faith, gratitude, and praise in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Daily Challenge-Give Thanks In All Circumstances

November 18th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to give thanks to God in all circumstances.

These are the words of First Thessalonians 5:18-“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Not everything that happens to us is a good thing, but through the good, bad, and ugly circumstances of our lives, God is able to accomplish good things. If He used the cross in the redemptive plan of Jesus, then He can use our circumstances for redemptive purposes.

Earlier in life, a man named Joseph was badly treated by his brothers. He went to Egypt because of their bad treatment. But Joseph stayed close to God, and when his brothers needed his help many years later, Joseph treated them with forgiveness rather than revenge. Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” This story encourages us to see how God can overcome evil with good.

Take the Daily Challenge to give thanks to God in the present circumstances of our lives on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Daily Challenge-Use Music As Instrument of Worship

May 27th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to use music as an instrument of worship.

Music is a gift from God and is a meaningful way to express our love for Him.

Throughout history, God’s people have lifted up their voices together in praise to God. Music can be a picture of how God desires for His people to live in unity with each other. We don’t all play the same instruments, nor do we all sing the same parts, but as we harmonize with the body of Christ, we lift up a beautiful song that glorifies God.

Ephesians 5:19 encourages us to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Take the daily challenge to use music as an instrument of worship on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Moment Of Celebration-God’s Gifts

December 5th, 2014 No comments

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on good and perfect gifts.

James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Here we see that God is the giver of all good gifts. Some of those gifts might be tangible things. First Timothy 6 tells us that God is the One who provides us with everything for our enjoyment. But this blessing comes with a caution for us not to put our hope in wealth, but rather to put our hope in God. Love the Giver more than the gift.

Some of the good gifts provided by God might be resources that we need to survive. Acts 14:17 says, “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” This, too is a blessing from God and a reason to give thanks.

Some of His gifts are perfect. Jesus is the perfect remedy for our sin. God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son. The Holy Spirit is the perfect power source for living the Christian life. Jesus said in Luke 11, “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Every good and perfect gift from God is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

LIFE APPLICATION TRUTH-GIVING THANKS

November 19th, 2012 4 comments

JOHN SHIRK – From Psalm 136, verses 1 and 2.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods; His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of Lords; His love endures forever.”

26 times, this chapter uses the phrase, “His love endures forever.” The reason that we can live with hope is because of God’s enduring love. It will never end, and it will never fail. It is strong enough to save us, and long enough to reach us wherever we are.

Even in the depths of depravity, His love is able to pick us up out of the quicksand of our own making and place us on the solid foundation of faith. His love is magnetic enough to draw us to a relationship with God forever. His enduring love is a compelling reason for daily gratitude.

Thankfulness to God is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

LIFE APPLICATION TRUTH-FOR GOD’S GLORY

November 1st, 2012 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – From Colossians 3:17.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Christian faith is meant to be full-time, not compartmentalized. So, when we are in Christ, that is our identity, and wherever we go, that is an opportunity for His influence to shine through us.

This passage points out the importance of our words when representing Jesus. Will we speak the truth in love? Will our conversation encourage people to love the Lord with a fully devoted heart? Will we praise God with the words we say?

This passage also emphasizes the use of our deeds to honor God, which includes being available to serve God with our gifts and abilities, whether through teaching, music, hospitality, or generous giving. These are just a few ways that the love of God compels us to serve others so that they might be drawn to Jesus Christ.

Serving God with a grateful heart is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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