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Mystery Monday

Good News!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation, we shared motivation tied to what good news really means and how to overcome tiredness. Plus, we played our Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28. There will be seasons in your life when your body feels drained and your spirit feels distant from God. Days are long. Expectations are high. And even though you’re doing all the right things—reading your Bible, showing up, trying to pray—it still feels hard to stay motivated. If that’s you, you’re not alone. What you need is soul-deep strength—a renewal that only Christ can offer.

God Cares About Your Exhaustion

The world often applauds hustle and grind, but God values rest and trust. Isaiah 40:29 promises, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Your tiredness isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a signal to draw closer to the One who restores.

Whether you’re emotionally overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or just plain worn out, know this: Jesus sees you. He doesn’t ask you to push through alone—He invites you to come to Him.

Rest is Not Laziness—It’s Worship

Our culture glorifies constant productivity, but Scripture teaches a different rhythm. After creating the world, God rested—not because He was tired, but to set a holy example (Genesis 2:2-3).

You don’t have to earn the right to rest. As an athlete, it’s okay to pause. In fact, it’s necessary:

  • Rest renews your body for the next challenge.
  • Rest renews your mind, calming the pressure and noise.
  • Rest renews your spirit, giving you time to hear God more clearly.

Psalm 23:2-3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures… He refreshes my soul.” Let rest become part of your worship.

Joe’s Motivation:

Good News by Mandisa

What is the ‘good news?’ What is the gospel?  The good tidings of great joy the angels talked about to the shepherds. What are the good tidings? Here are three important parts from Pastor Rick Warren:

1 – The good news that God LOVES us

God is telling us through the arrival of Jesus that He loves us…and that His love is not based on what we do, but who he is.

Romans 8:38-39″And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 – The good news that God is WITH us

God isn’t absent or distant – he’s with us through the Holy Spirit.  We may not feel His presence, but He’s here whether we feel it or not.

Psalm 139: 7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence. If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never fail you.“

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never abandon you.”[a]

God doesn’t like loneliness. You don’t have to face anything by yourself.  You can, but you don’t have to!  You don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow, because Christ’s presence gives us hope.

3 – and also…The good news that God is FOR us

Guilt is what separates us from God.  But the Bible reminds us that God didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save it.

John 3:17 “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.“

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

WNZR’s Dove Awards Prediction Prize Giveaway!! Cast your predictions for the Dove Awards and get registered to win a special Dove Award Nominee Prize Package featuring special gifts from 2026 Dove Award nominees!! Tell us who you think will win “Song of the year” and “Artist of the year” at the 57th annual Dove Awards. Fill out the form below. You’ll see the nominees and a place to click with your votes. Or email your choices to wnzr@mvnu.edu.  Please write “Dove Awards” in the subject. Or mail your choices to WNZR at 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 – make sure to write “Dove Awards” on the envelope! Go to wnzr.fm For more information!!

October is Clergy Appreciation Month and WNZR helps you honor your pastor! WNZR is celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month throughout October. This month is a time to honor our local pastors and their commitment to families in our community. Each Friday, 5 local pastors will be honored on The Morning Thing. Our morning show hosts will share their names and churches along with comments from their church family. Each pastor that is mentioned will receive TWO $25.00 gift certificates to local restaurants to enjoy a dinner out with family. Each pastor will ALSO receive a WNZR goodie bag! Tell us why you love your pastor. Fill out the form below! Your Church should be within 25 miles of Mount Vernon. Go to our website wnzr.fm!

Name Something That Goes Around the World.  

1. Plane (45)  

2. Sun (30)  

3. Moon (16)  

4. Satellite (3)  

5. Ship (3) 

Congratulations to Charla of Utica for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow with Brock and Joe for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Motivated by Your Mindset!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation Gabriella continued her Motivated Mission plus we played our Family Feud style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: As you become motivated by mission and mindset you’ll turn into a freight-train of others-focused action. And when you do, don’t let off the gas. Stay consistent in the little things that lead you to stay motivated so you can continue making a long-term impact. What’s Competing for Your Attention?

We live in a world filled with distractions. Social media, work, and school compete for our limited time and attention. If we’re not careful, distractions can break down good habits, erode trust, and disrupt our closest relationships. A distracted life is an inconsistent life, and it’s hard to follow Jesus when we’re plagued by inconsistency.

Joe’s Motivation: Psalm 40:1-4 (NIV) I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

I remember when I was a kid growing up in church, one of the hymns we sang frequently was ‘He Brought Me Out,’ written by Henry Zelley in 1898. The chorus says, “He brought me out of the miry clay, / He set my feet on the Rock to stay; / He puts a song in my soul today, / A song of praise, hallelujah!”

Little did I know how many times in my life I would step into that slimy pit or miry clay; meaning, the deep trouble, despair or the burden of sin. And how much I would call on God to lift me out and put my feet on solid ground. The reality is that only with Jesus can we have safety, stability and salvation.

So today, if you feel stuck or as if you’re falling into the slimy pit, call on Jesus; call on God, and ask him to lift you out! Then sing that song of praise!

Name Something you squeeze out of a tube. 

  1. Toothpaste (96) 
  2. Ketchup (4)

Congratulations to Rosetta of Mount Vernon for guessing the answers correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Joe and Brock!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Small Things DO Matter !!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we gave motivation through what’s going on in our lives in hopes to help you. Plus we played our Family Feud style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Joe’s Motivation: Thank God for everyday heroes!

Maybe it’s not a celebrity, a soldier, or someone you see or her about on the news. Maybe it’s the person who gets up every morning and faithfully takes care of their family and shows up to work. The teacher who stays late. The neighbor who checks in. The friend who knows when you need encouragement.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.”

Last night, my hero was the AAA mechanic who came and helped me replace my tire with my spare when I hit a pothole in the pouring rain. I was on my way to pick Marcy up from the airport and it was after midnight when all of this went down.

His attitude was kind  even in a late night, stressful situation!  We worked together to make it happen – he gave me advice on how to store the bad tire in the car. He shook my hand when he left.  That’s an everyday hero with a servant’s heart!

You don’t have to do something spectacular to make a difference. Sometimes being a hero means simply showing up, serving someone, listening, encouraging, or choosing kindness when nobody is watching.

So today, look around. Thank God for the everyday heroes in your life—and ask Him to help you be one for someone else.

Because you never know how much one small act of kindness might mean to somebody.

You don’t have to be famous to make a difference. Just be faithful where God has placed you.

Gabriella’s Motivation: Motivated By Mindset

That second kind of motivation, the internal kind, is usually thought of as hard to come by. But if you think about it, it’s really not. After all, we’re all motivated by something. It’s why we do—or don’t do—anything. When you’re tired, laziness might motivate you to take a nap. When you’re hungry, food can move you to go digging through the kitchen.

So if it’s so easy to be motivated by something, whether you realize it or not, how do we stay motivated for the best reasons?

Motivation is about a mindset, and progress starts with purpose.

The first step is having a goal in mind. Ask God to reveal something He wants you to work on. Think of something you’d like to accomplish. Then, write it out. Keep it simple. Keep it in the front of your mind.

Without a clear idea of where you want to end up, there’s no way to chart a course to reach it. And it doesn’t have to be a huge goal, like “Lose 100 pounds,” or “Buy a new car by the end of the year.” It can be something small, like “Greet everyone with a smile,” or “Read my Bible every day.” Because here’s the key: Motivation is about a mindset, and progress starts with purpose.

No one ever did something amazing without first believing they could do it—or that they were created to do it. If you’re struggling to find daily motivation, you’re not alone. Remind yourself of your goal. Let God’s Word give you the strength and the encouragement you need to push forward toward your goal.

Name someone whose phone calls you screen (avoid). 

  1. Telemarketers- 38 
  1. Bill collectors- 22 
  1. No one- 6 
  1. Everyone- 5 
  1. In laws- 5 
  1. Parents- 5 

Congratulations to Naomi of Gambier for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday with Brock and Joe

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Reflecting thoughts at reflecting waters

Friday was the 25th anniversary of the September 11th tragedy. I still remember that day vividly, but what I remember most is when we visited the 9/11 Memorial in 2015. I stood at the reflecting pools and was overcome with emotion; with grief, with sadness, at the loss that happened at that very place.

I can’t tell you that I could embody Psalm 30:5, because I can’t tell you that joy came in the morning after that visit. In fact, I remember the drive home being heavy as I remembered those families and their loss. However, I did feel comforted. I felt Psalm 23, where I would not fear evil, because HE was with me.

Where might a school bus take students besides school?
1. Field trip
2. Sporting event
3. Home
4. Museum
5. Zoo
6. Picnic

Congratulations to Phyllis from Danville, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
-Joe

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Fall is Here!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we shared encouragement through scripture and played our Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: Motivated by Mission

If we view life through a lens that is only concerned with ourselves, we’ll get tired of our circumstances and disappointed by our hard work. But if we view life through a lens of worshipping God, then nothing in this life will give us more joy than serving Jesus Christ!

The best kind of motivation is always fueled by a desire to lead yourself and others closer to Christ. If everything becomes about Him, then everything is worth doing well. If we’re Christians, then our lives belong to Jesus.

Our whole world becomes about honoring God. When we do everything with Him in mind, He never fails to bless us with His peace, hope, and love.

So as you think about the work God has put in front of you, consider what it would mean to do everything for the Lord. And then ask yourself: “in what ways will I honor God and inspire others today?” 

Joe’s Motivation: Junk files

Does your phone or your computer ever remind you that you need to delete some junk files? None of us like getting nagged by our devices, but we also know that if we clean out those files, we’ve got more space for the things that really matter. Author Adam Holz reminds us, that yes, junk files on our phones or computers are easy to delete, but what about the junk files in our souls? Like our phones, our souls can be clogged with the stuff that keeps us from being able to flourish in our relationship with Jesus. The author of Hebrews understood this reality, encouraging us to pay close attention to anything that trips us up in our walk with God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

If we fix our eyes on Jesus, He alone can help us identify and delete those junk files hindering our life in him. Our prayer today is, “father, please give us the wisdom and courage to throw off the sin that so easily entangles.”

Name a word or phrase that starts with the word “BREAK”.

  1. Break A Leg (32)
  2. Breakfast (11)
  3. Breakup (10)
  4. Breakdance (9)
  5. Break It Up (8)
  6. Breakdown (5)

Congratulations to Satarah of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Brock!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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First Day For The Cougars!!

Today on Monday Motivation we wished our assistant station manager, Eric Brown, safety during his relocation. (We’ll miss you Eric) We gave motivation through devotions, plus we played Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Devotion: Motivation and guide during prayer-

Anywhere you feel close to God is safe space. Invite God to hear your prayer and praises whenever you do it. Always think of not only things you or someone else needs, but praises too because there’s so many things to be thankful for!

James 1:5 (NIV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”. Talk to God about what you need emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Add those things to your prayer. Spend some time thanking him for his faithfulness in your life! Always give yourself grace when times are hard!!

Joe’s Devotional:

Romans 12:2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Paul first talks about presenting our bodies to God, then being transformed through the renewing of our minds, which results in our ability to discern God’s will.

That makes this verse incredibly useful if you’re thinking about “whole-person” self-regulation: Scripture doesn’t divide physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual life into isolated compartments. God cares about the regulation and transformation of the whole person.

Emotional self-regulation — learning to respond rather than react

The Bible doesn’t tell us to suppress emotions. Instead, it teaches us to acknowledge emotions, bring them to God, and allow wisdom and the Spirit to govern our responses.

  • James 1:19–20 — “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” This is almost a biblical description of emotional regulation. 
  • Proverbs 14:29 — Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding. 
  • Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft answer turns away wrath.” 
  • Ephesians 4:26–27 — “Be angry and do not sin.” Anger itself isn’t necessarily sinful; what we do with it matters. 
  • Psalm 42:5 — The psalmist speaks honestly to his own troubled soul: “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” He doesn’t deny the emotion; he redirects himself toward hope in God. 
  • Philippians 4:6–7 — Anxiety is brought to God through prayer, thanksgiving, and petition, with God’s peace guarding the heart and mind. 

Emotional maturity isn’t the absence of strong emotions. It is the ability to feel deeply without allowing feelings to become our unquestioned master.

This week’s Mystery Monday was a stumper, but call during the show next Monday for a chance to take home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

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Self-Regulation and Taking Heart

Daniel: There’s been a verse on my mind lately. I read it about a week ago. I’m sure you’ve read it, as I’ve read it a million times, but not in its entirety or in context.

Jesus is talking to the disciples in John 16. They’d just had the passover feast. Judas just left to go gather his mob to arrest Jesus; Peter was just told he would deny Jesus, and Jesus sends nothing but encouragement to his disciples. 

In the past few chapters, Jesus spoke plainly; he tells about what’s about to happen. Jesus will be handed over to die; people will hate the disciples because they knew Jesus; but that’s not going to last. 

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:31-33

This verse has really hung with me because, despite everything that was about to happen, what has happened, and what will ever happen, He has overcome the world. We have no need to fear, nothing to worry about, nothing this earth can do to us that he hasn’t overcome already. This isn’t just the era, the place, the country- no, this is the entire world! 

No matter what happens today, tomorrow, what happened yesterday, whatever could happen, take heart, for He has overcome the world.

Joe: I spent most of Friday at a campus workshop talking about resilience and self-regulation skills. The goal was and is to help us emotionally navigate the challenges of the upcoming school year.

Now, Scripture does not use the more modern phrase “self-regulation,” but it has a lot to say about the biblical equivalent: learning to bring our bodies, emotions, thoughts, desires, and actions under the influence of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God. The three categories we discussed were physical, emotional, and cognitive self-control.

Self-control in Scripture is not simply trying harder to control yourself; it is learning to surrender yourself to God so that His Spirit shapes how you think, feel, and act.

Physical self-regulation is bringing the body under wise control

Scripture recognizes that our physical appetites and impulses can influence our spiritual lives.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:25–27 — Paul describes disciplining his body and bringing it under control. The image is an athlete who practices restraint in pursuit of a greater goal.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 — Our bodies belong to God and are temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, physical choices matter spiritually.
  • Galatians 5:22–23 — Self-control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit.
  • Proverbs 25:28 — “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Self-control provides protection and boundaries.
  • 1 Timothy 4:8 — Physical training has value, while godliness has value for all things.

The Word compels us NOT to be controlled by every physical appetite or impulse. Our bodies are gifts from God to be stewarded rather than masters to be obeyed.

Name something you wouldn’t want to have a view of from your house. 

  1. ??? (39) 
  2. ??? (17) 
  3. ??? (10) 
  4. ??? (5) 
  5. ???(4) 
  6. ??? (4) 

It’s a Stumper for this week. Next week, you’ll have a chance to win TWO $5 gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for Listening – Daniel

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Where does worry get me? How can I have a warm heart with open arms?

Mystery Monday Motivation here on the Afternoon Drive; let’s give you some motivation today.

Daniel: Yesterday, my pastor talked about anxiety and worry in Matthew 6:25-34. This is near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, and it’s interesting that the sections prior to this section are about giving, prayer, fasting, and where to put our treasures. Jesus is building up to this section, and he says…

‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?’ – Matthew 6:26

When I was thinking about worry, and what it shows about our faith. We say all the time about how we trust God and his plans, but we still worry about things we bring to him. The more I thought about it I kept asking, ‘What does this say about how I trust him?’ I was worried about work, I was worried about my future, I was worried about money, and I was worried about my family. I pray about this stuff all the time, and I believe that God will take care of everything, but the worry was a sign that I didn’t fully believe. The more I kept feeling that worry, the more I felt it was a sign of doubt. What benefit do I gain from worry? Jesus tells us that worry can’t change anything

‘Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’ – Matthew 6:27

What can we do about it? What is a counter to doubt and worry? Step 1. Take a deep breath; maybe what you’re worrying about isn’t really as big a deal as you think. Take a drink of water, relax. Step 2. Pray about it. Ask God to take away your anxiety, your worry, and your stress; let God take care of that for you, and relax. Instead of worrying, let God do the worrying, and do what he says to do when he answers you.

Joe: Warm hearts and open arms!

One of the highlights of my weekend was running into my former co-host, Tonya, her husband Ben and their three girls. Ben and Tonya met at MVNU, and after spending time in Georgia for Ben’s graduate work, they moved back to northeast Ohio and started a life here. A few years ago, they were called to the mission field, and they now live in Mexico. They uprooted their life to serve God and to meet strangers. They are doing amazing work in Mexico and their girls are all bilingual and thriving in school.
They came back this summer to visit family, and it was so amazing to see them and hear what’s going on in their life.
One of the greatest joys of life is when you meet a stranger and their loving welcome envelopes you. That is the experience that the Tonya and Ben have had in Mexico. They were in a city they had never been to before, meeting people of completely different histories and ethnicities, and had struggles communicating initially but..they were welcomed with warm hearts and open arms.

Paul reminds us in Romans, that if we believe in Jesus, we’re called to always live out this kind of radical welcome. We’re to accept one another just as Christ accepted us. To welcome one another with warm hearts and open arms, and gather others in. This should be our posture toward everyone, even those different from us. Cultural differences shouldn’t be obstacles, but instead opportunities to demonstrate the same radical love and welcome that Jesus extends to us.

Name a word that ends with –ology: 

  1. Biology (29) 
  2. Psychology (15) 
  3. Technology (14) 
  4. Apology (14) 
  5. Geology (9)
  6. Zoology (5) 

Congratulations to Bob from Howard, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
– Daniel and Joe

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The God of Hope!

Today’s Monday Motivation focused on hope – the hope we hear in the We Are Messengers song, ‘Faith, Hope. Love.’

One line from that song that impacts me is, “I can’t be polishing my own crown, when I remember yours was made of thorns.” That’s why our God is the God of hope – because of what happened at the cross. The evidence of Christ’s death and resurrection! His triumph over sin and death. Our hope also comes from the gift of the Holy Spirit, our advocate, allowing us to always have hope in our future and eternity.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:27 that Christ is the hope of glory!

Where do you see a lot of people waiting for a ride? 

  1. Bus Stop (61) 
  1. Amusement Park (10) 
  1. Airport (9) 
  1. Street Corner (8) 
  1. Trains/Subway (6) 
  1. Mall (2) 

Congratulations to Esther from Mount Vernon, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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