Search

Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

Open Search
Category

Praise Thursday

Praise God for ‘God with Us!’

Today Abby and I shared praises about one of the greatest themes of Christmas, Immanuel, “God with Us.”

The word Immanuel means, as we learn in Matthew 1:23, “God with us.”  The coming of the Christ child fulfilled what Isaiah wrote in chapter 7, verse 14: “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

In his book Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller shares that for centuries, the Jewish religious leaders and scholars had known that prophecy, but did not think that it should be taken literally. They thought it was simply predicting the coming or arrival of some great leader through whose work, God would be present with his people.

However, Matthew writes that this promise is greater than anyone imagined!  It did not come true figuratively, but literally. Jesus Christ is “God with us” because the human life in Mary’s womb was a miracle performed by God himself.  Then Jesus, with his life, his claims and his resurrection, convinced his closest followers that he was not just a prophet telling them how to find God, but God himself coming to find us.

Keller writes that this claim, that Jesus is God, gives us the greatest possible hope.  Why?  Because it means this world is not all that there is…it means that there is life and love after death and it means that evil and suffering will one day end.

And it is not just hope for the world, but hope for you and me personally. A God who was only holy would have not come to us in Jesus.  He would have just demanded that we pull ourselves together and be moral and holy enough to be worthy of relationship with him. But our God is fully holy and fully human – so he doesn’t send someone else – he comes himself!  Jesus is one of us – and that should give us all hope!

Today’s winners:

Brad from Bellville – Hillsong United Limited Edition White Album (yes, it’s vinyl)
David from Mount Vernon – Who Knew? book bundle pack

We played “One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas” from the Muppets. Congratulations to Asher from Fredericktown, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

More Christmas Fun Facts, too!

  • ‘Jingle Bells’ was originally a Thanksgiving song. 
    • “Jingle Bells” was written by James Lord Piermont in 1857 for his church’s Thanksgiving concert. However, over the years, it became more closely associated with Christmas and is now one of the most popular holiday songs! 
  • ‘The Grinch’ is the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time. 
    • The 2018 computer-animated film brought in $512,858,819 worldwide. The runner-up? Home Alone, the Christmas classic from 1990. 
  • ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ was a box-office flop. 
    • Believe it or not, the enduring Christmas classic initially bombed at the box office. It wasn’t until 1974, when its copyright expired and television networks could air it for free, that it cemented its place as one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time. 

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Abby

0

Appetite For Distraction

Hi!

Today on the show I shared a devotional from Our Daily Bread. We also mentioned how tomorrow is Food For The Hungry Drive Day! We are so excited to be able to broadcast this event! You can find the event on https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mvnuadmin/. This link will take you right to the page where the broadcast will be streamed. Also, don’t forget to listen on 90.9 FM, WNZR as we will be having special interviews with different people involved with Food For The Hungry. We hope that you will listen in!

Here is my devotional from Our Daily Bread titled, “Appetite For Distraction.” You can find the link here.

Congratulations to Bonnie of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer which was Ryan Ellis’ song Heart of the Father. She wins TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan

0

The original undercover boss

Today we shared a devotional from author Katara Patton that encourages us to take on the humble attitude of Jesus – you might even say he is the original ‘Undercover Boss.’ Check out ‘Putting on Humility’ by clicking here!

We want to praise God for you! Your partnership in prayer and support just moved our Lifeline 2023 total up AGAIN! We are at a pledge total of $86,508. Thank you!

CASTING CROWNS TICKET WINNER: Joshua from Mansfield
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET WINNER: stumper! We’ll bring it back tomorrow.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

0

Who will you listen to?

Today I was encouraged by a note I saw posted on Instagram – a literal note posted by a coffee shop at their counter. It refers to the two voices you might be listening to…

God’s voice? Stills you. Satan’s voice? Rushes you.
God’s voice? Leads you. Satan’s voice? Pushes you.
God’s voice? Reassures you. Satan’s voice? Frightens you.
God’s voice? Enlightens you. Satan’s voice? Confuses you.
God’s voice? Encourages you. Satan’s voice? Discourages you.
God’s voice? Comforts you. Satan’s voice? Worries you.
God’s voice? Calms you. Satan’s voice? Obsesses you.
God’s voice? Convicts you. Satan’s voice? Condemns you.

God’s never early and He’s never late. He’s always right on time and his plans for you are good!

God’s a God of love and order – if the voice you are hearing doesn’t sound like those things, they they are not from Him!

Zoe shared ‘Come Home to God,’ from Our Daily Bread. You can read it here.

Congratulations to Ashley from Mount Vernon, who won today’s family 4-pack!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

0

Praise Thursday with Zoe and Josiah

Today Josiah shared this devotional from Our Daily Bread, If you would like to read more please click here

Have you ever done something in anger you later regretted? When my son was wrestling with drug addiction, I said some harsh things in reaction to his choices. My anger only discouraged him more. But eventually he encountered believers who spoke life and hope to him, and in time he was set free.

Even someone as exemplary in faith as Moses did something he later regretted. When the people of Israel were in the desert and water was scarce, they complained bitterly. So God gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions: “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Numbers 20:8). But Moses reacted in anger, giving himself and Aaron credit for the miracle instead of God: “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (v. 10). Then he disobeyed God directly and “raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff” (v. 11).

Even though water flowed, there were tragic consequences. Neither Moses nor Aaron was allowed to enter the land God promised His people. But He was still merciful, allowing Moses to see it from afar (27:12–13).

As with Moses, God still mercifully meets us in the desert of our disobedience to Him. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He kindly offers us forgiveness and hope. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, if we turn to Him, He’ll lead us into life.

Zoe shared a devotional from Our Daily Bread as well called Purple Shawl, if you would like to read more you can read it here

While serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver at a cancer center hundreds of miles away from my home, I asked people to pray for us. As the months passed, isolation and loneliness sapped my strength. How could I care for my mom if I gave in to my physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion?

One day, a friend sent me an unexpected care package. Jodi had crocheted a purple prayer shawl, a warm reminder that we had people praying for us daily. Whenever I wrapped the soft yarn around my shoulders, I felt God hugging me with the prayers of His people. Years later, He still uses that purple shawl to comfort me and strengthen my resolve.

The apostle Paul affirmed the importance and spirit-refreshing power of praying for others. Through his passionate request for prayerful support and encouragement during his travels, Paul demonstrated how those who pray for others become partners in ministry (Romans 15:30). Offering specific requests, the apostle not only showed his dependence on the support of fellow believers but his trust that God powerfully answers prayer (vv. 31–33).

We’ll all experience days when we feel alone. But Paul shows us how to ask for prayer as we pray for others. When we’re wrapped in the intercessory prayers of God’s people, we can experience God’s strength and comfort no matter where life takes us.

Who has God used to encourage you through intercessory prayer? Who can you pray for today?

Congrats to our winner of Name That Tune, Joanna of Pickerington!

0

Heroes, Tyrants, and two inspiring friends!

Today I shared one of my favorite devotionals from Mart Dehaan. It speaks to Heroes, Tyrants and Jesus:

Beethoven was angry. He’d intended to name his Third Symphony “The Bonaparte.” In an age of religious and political tyranny, he saw Napoleon as a hero of the people and champion of freedom. But when the French general declared himself emperor, the celebrated composer changed his mind. Denouncing his former hero as a rascal and tyrant, he rubbed so hard to erase Bonaparte’s name that he left a hole in the original score.

Early believers in Jesus must have been disappointed when their hopes of political reform were dashed. He’d stirred hopes of life without the tyranny of Caesar’s heavy-handed taxes and military presence. Yet, decades later, Rome still ruled the world. Jesus’ messengers were left with fears and weakness. His disciples were marked by immaturity and infighting (1 Corinthians 1:11–12; 3:1–3).

But there was a difference. Paul saw beyond what remained unchanged. His letters began, ended, and overflowed with the name of Christ. Christ resurrected. Christ with a promise to return in power. Christ in judgment of everything and everyone. First and foremost, however, Paul wanted believers in Jesus to be grounded in the meaning and implications of Him crucified (2:2; 13:1–13).

The love expressed in Jesus’ sacrifice made Him a different kind of leader. As Lord and Savior of the world, His cross changes everything. The name of Jesus will forever be known and praised above every name.

My other devotional, “I Am His Hands,” tells the story of these two men, which you can experience from this YouTube channel, Great Big Story.

Amazing and inspiring!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

0

Inspiration from the Evangelism Linebacker!

While at the Momentum conference, we got a chance to hear from Dr. Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina. Read more about him and his blog, ‘Just Marinating,’ here.

Derwin also played five years in the National Football League for the Colts and the Panthers. Some call him the ‘Evangelism Linebacker.’

Derwin challenged us to think about our greatest passions in life…and to consider…is knowing God and making Him known at the top of that list? Are we a source of encouragement rooted in Christ?

He challenged us to lives of self-giving humility.

He reminded us that the God we serve never runs out of mercy, so are we running to mercy?  Ephesians 2: 1-4 is one example in scripture where we know our God is rich in mercy. Giving compassion or forgiveness when it is within our power to punish or harm.

Derwin challenged us that the only time we should look down on somebody is when we are extending a hand down to LIFT THEM UP!

And what about grace? The free and unmerited favor of God. Derwin asked a direct question: are we more amazed by the grace of Jesus? Or more amazed by us? Wow. Sometimes we can get stuck in what WE’VE done and what WE’VE achieved. Derwin said something that has been stuck in my mind: we have nothing to boast about. It’s ALL HIS, we just said yes!

So think about this today…is your fragrance grace, mercy and kindness? Or something else? Do you see what God sees?

God saw a broken and bloodied world, stepped in as Jesus, and took the breaking and the blood! Praise God for people like Derwin challenging us to a better way.

—

Remember your deadline for getting your dad registered for ‘Take Dad to Dinner’ is tonight at 11:59pm 🙂

Click here to get to the nomination page. The random drawing of four winners is tomorrow on The Morning Thing.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

0

Thank God it’s Praise Thursday!

Today on the Afternoon Drive, Zoe read a devotional from Our Daily Bread.

In Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo? books, a series of children’s puzzle books first created in 1987, the elusive character wears a red and white striped shirt and socks with a matching hat, blue jeans, brown boots, and glasses. Handford has cleverly hidden Waldo in plain sight within the busy illustrations filled with crowds of characters at various locations around the world. Waldo isn’t always easy to see, but the creator promises readers will always be able to find him. Though looking for God isn’t really like looking for Waldo in a puzzle book, our Creator promises we can find Him, too.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people on how to live as foreigners in exile (Jeremiah 29:4–9). He promised to protect them until He restored them according to His perfect plan (vv. 10–11). God assured the Israelites that the fulfillment of His promise would deepen their commitment to call on Him in prayer (v. 12).

Today, even though God has revealed Himself in the story and Spirit of Jesus, it can be easy to get distracted by the busyness of this world. We may even be tempted to ask, “Where’s God?” However, the Creator and Sustainer of all things declares that those who belong to Him will always find Him if they seek Him with all their hearts (vv. 13–14).

By:  Xochitl Dixon

We also played Name That Tune! Congratulations to Pam from Fredericktown

Thanks for being here

-Zoe Bricker 🙂

0

Let there be Light!

Today is Praise Thursday! Here is the Devotional Zoe shared from Our Daily Bread

In my daughter’s earliest days, I often named for her the things she encountered. I’d identify objects or allow her to touch something unfamiliar and say the word for her, bringing understanding—and vocabulary—to the vast world she was exploring. Though my husband and I might naturally have expected (or hoped) her first word would be Mama or Daddy, she surprised us with an entirely different first word: her small mouth murmured dight one day—a sweet, mispronounced echo of the word light I’d just shared with her.

Light is one of God’s first words recorded for us in the Bible. As the Spirit of God hovered over a dark, formless, and empty Earth, God introduced light into His creation, saying, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). He said the light was good, which the rest of Scripture bears out: the psalmist explains that God’s words illuminate our understanding (Psalm 119:130), and Jesus refers to Himself as “the light of the world,” the giver of the light of life (John 8:12).

God’s first utterance in the work of creation was to give light. That wasn’t because He needed light to do His work; no, the light was for us. Light enables us to see Him and to identify His fingerprints on the creation around us, to discern what is good from what is not, and to follow Jesus one step at a time in this vast world.

By:  Kirsten Holmberg

We also played Name That Tune

We also played Name That Tune and we want to say congratulations to Macey from Mount Vernon for winning a gift card to the Ye Olde Mill.

Thanks for tuning in!

-Zoe Bricker

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑