Search

Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

Open Search
Category

Our Daily Bread

He’s the Lighthouse!!

Daniel’s Devotion: A song that has been stuck in my mind is the song Holy Forever; it’s one of my favorite worship songs. Whenever I hear it, I can’t help but tear up a bit because of the lyrics; just listen to some of these…

And the angels cry holy

All creation cries holy

You are lifted high, holy

Holy forever

Hearing those lyrics, I envision a mountain of angels, entire galaxies shouting holy, Jesus raised high above, everyone, and everything crying holy. Chris Tomlin references Revelation 4, which references the eternal chorus,

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’

who was, and is, and is to come.”

And this chorus is throughout the bible; its sung when Jesus is born, its sung in Isaiah 6, and whenever I hear this song; it reminds me of what was, what is, and is to come. (cue song)

Gabriella’s Devotion: When the Bible that Matt Williams kept in the back of his car was stolen, he feared he’d never see it again, and the precious photos he kept tucked in its case would be lost. So He offered a short prayer: “Lord, it breaks my heart. I’ve got a lot of stuff in there that means a lot to me, and I’d like to get it back. But not my will but yours, like you always say.” Just days later, Williams was stunned to learn via social media that his Bible was found in a stolen car. It had been placed next to a Bible the original car owner kept on her passenger seat. Being reunited with his prized possession seemed impossible, but God answered Williams’ prayer.

In 2 Kings 6:1-7, we read about the prophet Elisha facing a seemingly impossible situation. He and a group of prophets were by the Jordan River getting wood to build a larger meeting place. As one of the prophets cut down a tree, “the iron axe-head fell into the water. ‘Oh no, my lord!’ he cried out. ‘It was borrowed!’” (v. 5). The distressed prophet showed the prophet Elisha where it fell. “Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float” (v. 6). The prophet was miraculously reunited with the valuable lost item.

No care or concern is too small to bring before God in prayer. We can pray and ask God for help in any circumstance, and He can answer our prayers in unexpected ways

Join WNZR at the 45th annual Food for the Hungry drive, Friday, December 11.
We will bring you live updates all day from 9am to 4pm. Join us as we share updates on the total and all activities. We will also be talking with the amazing volunteers of this project. 

Top Food Items Needed

  1. Canned Fruit/Vegetables
  2. Soup (pop-top cans or packages preferred)
  3. Canned Meals (ravioli, Spaghetti-Os, and the like).
  4. Baked Beans
  5. Canned Meat 

Celebrate the holidays with WNZR! Get ready for “The WNZR Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt”. WNZR has teamed up with Smithhisler Meats of Mount Vernon to give away 5 turkeys! 5 Winners will receive a 14-to-16-pound turkey from Smithhisler Meats on Columbus Road in Mount Vernon. Be listening throughout the day as Tom gobbles his way through the WNZR studios. When you hear that gobble gobble, Call (740) 397-WNZR, that’s 740-397-9697.

Caller #5 gets registered to win!

Congratulations to Tim of Saint Louisville for guessing our Name That Tune Correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top… 5 with Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Daniel and Gabriella

0

Breaking Bread!

On this week’s Praise Thursday, we gave devotionals and talked about upcoming events! Plus, in the second hour, we played Name That Tune. Here’s what we talked about:

Daniel’s Devotion: Our lives change all the time; we make decisions that alter who we are daily. Sometimes the world changes as well. With the election having just happened, there will be changes that will happen, for better or for worse, but let me tell you someone who never changes, who will always be the same, today, tomorrow, a month, a week, a year, a decade, a century, a millennium: God is Immutable, which means he never changes.

“For I the LORD do not change;” Malachi 3:6

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

but you are the same, and your years have no end.” – Psalm 102:25-27

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

So despite the fact that the world changes, your life will change, you will change; instead of relying on things that will change and will let you down, instead rely on the one who never changes and will never let you down. Rely on God.

Gabriella’s Devotion: But the truth is, those of us who knew and loved him lost so much with Andy’s passing—a beautiful life lived for Jesus—and he’s greatly missed. What do we have left that gives us hope? Ephesians 1 speaks of the spiritual blessings Andy and other believers have in Jesus: We’re “blameless in his sight” (v. 4), “predestined . . . for adoption to sonship” (v. 5), “[redeemed] through his blood” (v. 7), and “[forgiven] of sins [by] God’s grace” (v. 7). “The promised Holy Spirit” lives in us and guarantees “our inheritance” with Him in the life to come (vv. 13-14).

Those who love Jesus have His gift of eternal salvation. Click HERE to read more!

This week’s Name That Tune was Red Letters by Crowder! Congratulations to Mark of Mount Vernon for guessing our name that tune correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in for the NZ Top 10 with Traven!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella

0

What’s Lost WILL Be Found!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation, we shared motivation that resonates with us and we shared a fun event we’re hosting that you need to go to! Plus we also played our Family Fued style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: THEME OF THE DAY. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? So, what motivates me to live a Christ-centered life?  What motivates you?  Is it the certainty of our Day of Judgment?  That is a good motive.  I mean, God has told us about this day and even says He will reward us.  He affirms this motivation.  Another motivator might be slavish fear and this isn’t good. Too many Christians suffer from a wrong view of God and His judgment of them.  Our God is not a cruel taskmaster ready to pounce upon us for every sin we commit and every bad choice we make in the use of our time, talent and treasures. When it comes to following the Lord Jesus and being a Christian who wants to make a difference in this world, motivation matters a lot. In fact, motivation will be one of the things I believe we will see again at our Day of Judgment.

Joe’s Motivation: In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables of people who refused to stop looking for something or someone precious. In the parable of the lost sheep, He said to the Pharisees who were challenging Him, if a shepherd lost one sheep of his hundred, wouldn’t he “leave the ninety-nine . . . and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (v. 4). His point? The Pharisees—the “ninety-nine”—thought they were right with God, but they weren’t. And Christ told them, there’s “more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents”—who turns from sin to God’s forgiveness—than for those who don’t think they need to (v. 7).

Our Great Shepherd never stops looking for us, and He’ll never stop seeking others as well. When we repent and receive salvation in Christ, there’s great joy in heaven—in God’s heart—because what “was lost . . . is found” (v. 32). And what joy we experience in being found by the one who sought us! Click HERE to read the story.

You can see a screening of The Chosen’s Season 6, Episode 1!

WNZR is partnering with MVNU’s Office of Spiritual Life to host a screening of the first episode of The Chosen Season 6.

This season will take the world to the foot of the cross to see the love of the Father through the selflessness of the Son. Fear and confusion reign as the disciples struggle to make sense of Jesus’ arrest—and Judas’ betrayal. While they fight to stay together, Nicodemus stands alone against the High Priest in a heated showdown that throws the council into disorder.

Join us for a special early access event to watch The Chosen Season 6 Episode 1. See you on Thursday, 10/29 at 7pm in MVNU’s Chapel Auditorium, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon. See it first! This is a FREE event presented by Come and See.

Name a color of the rainbow.

1. Red (35)

2. Orange (25)

3. Yellow (20)

4. Green (12)

5. Blue (8)

Congratulations to Linda of Mount Vernon for guessing the first two 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 Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

You’re Problems WILL Be Repurposed!!

On this week’s Praise Thursday, we gave inspiring devotions and worshiped through songs. Plus, we played Name That Tune in the second hour! Check on our website wnzr.fm and participate in the giveaways we have going on! Here’s what we talked about:

Daniel’s Devotion: To those who don’t know, I got engaged on Sunday. My girlfriend of a year and friend for far longer than a year decided that I was (pause for effect) “eh, good enough” to marry. We got to work the next day on preparing what we need to do and plan for. We started looking at churches, planning potential honeymoon locations, deciding what color theme we’ll use, and, importantly, deciding who we would invite. Right now, we have been putting nearly every friend we would want to come on the list and inviting every single family member we can think of, it’s been kind of a joyous thing to do.

Planning my wedding kinda got me thinking about something Jesus said in Matthew 22. Since the beginning of time, he’s been planning his own wedding. I’ll abridge it a bit, but Jesus has been planning the reunification of his kingdom; the wedding is for his Church and himself to be restored. As someone who’s planning one myself, I got to reconsider what that really means. Think about it, my closest friends and family, making it the perfect occasion, and how much excitement is going on around it. That’s what Jesus feels.

Modernly, it’s the happiest day of one’s life, and you are all invited to Jesus’ wedding. The king of the universe wants you- yes, you to come to the happiest moment of his life. Can you imagine that? Imagine how excited you might have been for your own wedding, or when you plan yours; it’s exciting, and Jesus thought of you when planning it. We don’t know when the wedding will be, but make sure your calendar is cleared for the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Gabriella’s Devotion: The devotional looks at Moses when God called him from the burning bush. Moses felt inadequate and didn’t think he had much to offer, asking what he had in his hand—a simple shepherd’s staff. When Moses threw the staff down on the ground in obedience, God turned it into a snake and back again, using it as a sign of His power. The writer notes that God often takes our ordinary skills, career changes, or past experiences and repurposes them in fresh ways for His kingdom. The piece draws a parallel to how large ships—such as the retired SS United States—have been intentionally sunk to serve as artificial reefs on the ocean floor, transforming something from one stage of use into a life-sustaining habitat for marine life. Similarly, God can repurpose our lives and resources no matter where we are in our journey. Check the full story on Our Daily Bread Ministries.

October is Clergy Appreciation Month. 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 on wnzr.fm! Your Church should be within 25 miles of Mount Vernon.

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 on wnzr.fm. You’ll see the nominees and a place to click with your votes. A list of nominees for “Song of the year” and “Artist of the year” is available on the form. All correct predictions will be entered into the Dove Award Nominee Prize Package giveaway. Entries will only be accepted if both categories are correct. TONIGHT AT 11:59 IS THE DEADLINE!!!!

This week’s Name That Tune was… Father Let It Be by Sidewalk Prophets! Congratulations to Mason of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Brock and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Daniel 🙂

0

God’s Holding on to You!!

On this week’s Praise Thursday we shared devotionals and talked about events for you. Plus we played Name That Tune in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:

Daniel’s Devotion: I’ve kinda been feeling the strain of trying to do things on my own lately. It’s not always easy trying to balance 17 credit hours of classes, having a job, having a girlfriend, and all the other responsibilities that go along with all that; there’s just no way I can do it!

You might have heard it said by motivational speakers telling you, “You can do it!” Well, that’s wrong. You cannot do it. Say it with me, “You can’t do it.” That’s the best part, though; you don’t have to do it all alone. 

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

I don’t have to do it alone. Jesus offers strength to help me do it. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We don’t have to fear the result; we don’t need to worry about whether we can do it or not. Have no fear, for he is with you. Have no fear, for HE is our God.

You will be overwhelmed; that’s a guarantee. WHEN, not IF, that happens, take a moment to look to God and say, “Father, help me through this moment, the next moment, the moment that has just passed. Help me with your righteous power.” 

Gabriella’s Devotion: He can surely use the pain, if we cooperate, to grow some of the fruit of the spirit in us – love, joy, peace, patience, and self control. I think it begins when we accept trouble with a why not? instead of why me? attitude, and when we submit to His timing, not with a why now but a thy will be done. As we learn to grow through suffering we will begin to know God, ourselves, and others better through it all, and might even develop hidden gifts of mercy and grace that will only flower in the land of our suffering.

It’s easier said than done, of course, but for those of us who seek to serve the Lord, we will discover that at such painful times, like Joseph, we have a choice. We can become fruitful or barren, become overcomers or overcome. We can allow pain to drive us to God, letting the prison show us His face. While Joseph was in the pit, God showed him His mercy – in the prison of His kindness (Genesis 39:21) and in the palace of His grace.

Sometimes we can preach the most effective sermons of our lives from the prison or the pit, simply by responding rightly to people who are responsible for bringing us into the “land of suffering.”

When our turn comes, may He help all of us to be fruitful – for His sake.

Diamonds are turned into sparkling stones only after incredible pressure. How do you show your faith during times of distress? We are all tempted at dark points to cry out “Enough! I give up!” Yet in those crucial moments, it’s important to remember God has not cast us off. He is strengthening us and our faith! If we hold fast to Him, we can be assured our spirits will be transformed and renewed, just like diamonds.

On October 1st, WNZR will celebrate 40 Years of Radio Ministry!

Thursday, October 1 in MVNU’s Gathering Place at 5pm-8pm! Meet WNZR Staff including our current Communication & Media Students, enjoy a Buffet style dinner – hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, desserts including Round Hill Dairy Ice Cream!

Visit our special 40th Anniversary Rooms

  • WNZR Museum
  • WNZR Through the Years (showcasing 4 decades of ministry)
  • Story Studio
  • Birthday Booth
  • Prayer and Praise Post
  • Fabulous Freebies
  • Coloring Corner
  • WNZR Pop-Up Shop
  • Ice Cream Café
  • WNZR 40th Anniversary Photo Booth
  • Live Broadcast in Big Blue​

​We can’t wait to celebrate 40 years of God’s faithfulness with you!

This week’s Name That was a stumper, but tune in next week for a chance to win TWO $5 gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for The NZ Top 10 with Brock and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Daniel

0

Nothing Better Than Our King!

Joe’s devotional: That’s My King by CeCe Winans! Click below to hear the sermon-

Gabriella’s devotional: Mighty Name of Jesus by Hope Darst

It’s common for us to be fearful, but it’s important we let Jesus handle our problems. There’s very few things that can be controlled by human strength, so when we pray it’s important for us to remember our problems are held by Jesus. This song is a great reminder and prayer visual for us as we face hardships.

This week’s Name That Tune was a stumper, but come back next week for a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Daniel

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

Turn Your Lemons Into Lemonade!!

Today on Praise Thursday we gave devotions tied into scripture and played Name That Tune! We also had some students come in for Praise Thursday and give praises and prayer requests! Here’s what we talked about:

Brook Abella’s Devotion: “Turn lemons into lemonade” is a common saying, but we forget who can turn the lemons into lemonade. Life’s given me a few lemons recently and my friend got me lemonade and on the cup she wrote “Let God turn your lemons into lemonade” and it made me think. When you hold onto the lemons they become moldy which isn’t healthy at all. Give your lemons to God and let him add the sugar and stir it up.

Gabriella’s Devotion: A judge used a particularly unique technique to address the shoplifting problem in their town. The judge had the people arrested for shop lifting work a car wash in hopes that they would express accountability. “A person who wrongs another… must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution.” (Numbers 5:6-7). In these verses we see the importance God places on acknowledging wrong doing, confessing sin, and seeing restoration. To read more click HERE!

This weeks Name That Tune was a stumper, but come back next week for a chance to win TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow to the NZ Top 10 with Ethan!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Brook Abella and Gabriella

0

It’s a Marathon NOT a Sprint!!

On this weeks Praise Thursday we gave devotions through scripture and played Name That Tune! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Devotion: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Mark—a marathoner and a dedicated pastor who served two churches over the span of thirty-five years—recently retired. One gift presented to him was a pair of new running shoes. I ran with Mark once over twenty years ago, but throughout his life, he’s run the 26.2-mile race in numerous cities across the country. At his retirement celebration, people from the community and the churches he served also expressed their appreciation for Mark’s faithfulness. Because of God’s power and grace, Mark finished well.

Life’s more like a marathon than a sprint. At times we experience fatigue and we feel like giving up. Yet God’s grace and strength are unending for those who trust Him. As the imprisoned apostle Paul neared the finish line of life (2 Timothy 4:6), he encouraged his protégé Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). Life’s paths take us to different places. But regardless of where we are on life’s journey, it’s always good to remember that faith-filled endurance is essential and rewarding (v. 8); that God is the source of our strength (v. 17); and that, by His grace, he “will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom” (v. 18). Click HERE to read more!

Join Ben with special guest Band Reeves, on Ben’s “Black Sheep Tour”. 
This will be a special night for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re too far gone, the one God rescued anyway. It will be full of worship, raw honesty, and full of hope! This Sunday at Fairfield Christian Church, Lancaster, Ohio. The VIP Doors open at 5PM, Early Entry Doors at 6PM, General Admission at 6:15PM, show begins at 7PM. Congratulations to Eli of Plain City for being caller #3 and taking home a pair of tickets to see Ben Fuller!

This week’s Name That Tune was Happy Day by Jesus Culture! Congratulations to Joseph from Mount Vernon for guessing the song and artist name correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe 🙂

0

Ultimate Sculptor!!

Gabriella’s Devotion: Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the lord and not in our own understanding. We struggle with this quite a lot especially when it comes to politics and in our personal lives. We should not be filled with anger for cases or events that happen because majority of the time the full story is not there yet. Trust in the Lord, this world is not our homeland.

Brook Abella’s Devotion: I am an artist in many different ways, but I have ceramics class tonight so that’s the thing I’m focusing on today. I know in the bible it talks about God being a sculptor and us being pottery, but I didn’t realize how much that was true until I started making pottery. In order to make a good piece of art you have to mold it and that’s what God does with us. The water we use to make it easier to mold represents the obstacles we’ve gone through.

Joe’s Devotion: “Give Me Words to Speak” by Aaron Shust comes from a very personal spiritual struggle—specifically, a season where he felt empty, inadequate, and unable to say anything meaningful on his own. The core idea behind the song: Shust has shared (in interviews and through the song’s context and lyrics) that it reflects: 1. A sense of spiritual brokenness and confusion. The opening lines describe feeling “calloused and bruised” and dissatisfied with “selfish hopes and dreams,” pointing to a realization that his own efforts weren’t enough. 2. A dependence on God for guidance and speech. The central prayer of the song is essentially: “I have nothing worthwhile to say—God, speak through me.” This echoes biblical themes of God giving words to His people (like Moses or the disciples). 3. A desire for authenticity in ministry and communication. Rather than relying on cleverness or talent, the song is about wanting one’s words to reflect God’s voice instead of personal ambition. The song was inspired by a moment (or season) where Shust realized: “If anything meaningful is going to come out of my life—or my mouth—it has to come from God, not me.”

Our Name That Tune was a stumper this week, but come back next week for a chance to win TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑