Search

Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

Open Search
Category

Story Behind the Song

Another amazing day on the Afternoon Drive, dissecting  Mandisa’s ‘Overcomer’ and also took a look at Hillsong United’s ‘Oceans’.

Staring at a stop sign
Watching people drive by
T mac on the radio
Got so much on your mind
Nothing’s really going right
Looking for a ray of hope

  • Where are you looking to find your ray of hope?
  • “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
  • “You see, a real sign of spiritual maturity is looking to God for purpose and perspective instead of comfort and convenience.” – Lysa Terkurst

Whatever it is you may be going through
I know he’s not gonna let it get the best of you

  • 1st Corinthians 10:13
    “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FIX OUR EYES ON HIM.
  • Jeremiah 29:11
    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You’re an overcomer
Stay in the fight ’til the final round
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it’s hopeless
That’s when he reminds you
That you’re an overcomer
You’re an overcomer

Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 20:1-4
“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.”

  • When it seems like all is lost, when you are down and out, when the walls are closing in, it’s not over. God is with us through the fight.

Psalm 20:7-8
“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.”

John 16:33

“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.”

  • In this world you WILL have tribulation.
  • God’s not saying it’s going to be easy. The opposite, in fact. But what He is saying is that He’s going to be there through it all.

The same man, the great I am
The one who overcame death
Is living inside of you

  • Like, honestly can we say any more?
  • This should get you SUPER PUMPED.
  • Remember, the next time you’re staring at a mountain you think you can’t climb, when you’re toe-to-toe in the ring with a seemingly unconquerable sin, when you feel like David against Goliath, the Man that overcame death for YOU, also LIVES in you.

So just hold tight, fix your eyes
On the one who holds your life
There’s nothing he can’t do
He’s telling you

  • When we’re fixing our eyes on Christ, there’s NOTHING we can’t do.
  • We need to remember that He gives us the strength and power to fight these battles. Not only that, He’s also fighting those battles right along side us.

Moving over to Oceans from Hillsong United now…

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown
Where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

The unknown is scary and we have, as humans have this really big fear of failing we say – what if God calls me to *Fill in the blank* and I fail? Maybe I should just not do it. You are called to go deeper – don’t play it safe, it’s better to fail with God by your side doing what he told you to do rather than to succeed in something else that God didn’t call you to – don’t be a Jonah.

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

We are his. He has adopted us as children of God and if we choose to fix our eyes on him – resting in his embrace, we can keep our eyes above the water! We can claim the God of EVERYTHING has OURs as our FATHER. Why should we fear anything when we are royal children of the king of kings, the Lord of Lord – the Great Redeemer.

Thanks for listening!
– Lilly and Hannah

 

 

0

Cherry Month Who Knew!

When it comes to fruits that remind me of summer, cherries almost always take the cake. They are sweet and never fail to take me back to a warm summers day, by the pool.

Today on the Drive, we got in the WNZR Time Machine and went to summer of 2018 courtesy of the fruit that we know and love as the cherry.

Here are some fun facts about this delicious superfruit…

  • There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially.
  • There are normally about 44 cherries to a pound.
  • In an average crop year, a sweet cherry tree will produce 800 cherries.
  • Despite the short fruiting season, Americans consume an average of 1.5 pounds of cherries each year.
  • Washington grows an estimated 62 percent of the nation’s sweet cherries.
  • Between Washington, Oregon and California, these three states produce 94 percent of America’s sweet cherries.
  • Michigan grows well over half of the country’s tart cherries, which are mostly used for cooking. (Still just as delicious).
  • Brian Krause set the record for cherry pit spitting at an annual contest in Eau Claire, Michigan in 2004, spitting the pit 93 feet. That same day, Krause spat a pit more than 100 feet in the freestyle competition, which allows for a running start.

Well, now that you know some fun facts about the fruit, you’re probably asking, what are cherries good for? Look no further for an answer.

  • Tart cherries have very high antioxidant activity. The activity is actually better than vitamin E and comparable to commercially available antioxidant products.
  • Sweet cherries contain fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanin, each of which may help play a role in cancer prevention.
  • Tart cherries are anti-inflammatory and may help lower your risk of gout attacks and reduce pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis
  • Consuming tart cherry may help increase your melatonin levels and improve your sleep
  • Sweet cherries have a low glycemic index of 22 — lower than apricots (57), grapes (46), peaches (42), blueberries (40) or plums (39). This makes them a better snack than many other fruits, especially for diabetics.
  • Cherries are very high in potassium, which helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure and reduces the risk of hypertension.

It wouldn’t be the Afternoon Drive without sharing some recipies, now would it?
Let’s give you a whole 4 course meal with cherries, shall we?

Perhaps we start the meal with a salad? Maybe three?
Orzo Salad with Mustard Greens and Cherries. Yes please.
Goat cheese goes great with cherries. Let’s put that on a salad.
Goat Cheese, Cherries and Pistachio Salad.
One final salad…
Spinach Salad with a Fresh Cherry Vinaigrette

For an appetizer? Let’s start with some meatballs.
Tart Cherry Glazed Spicy Meatballs. 
Another appetizer? Don’t mind if I do. How about one for Game Day?
Instant Pot Tart Cherry Chicken Wings. (I’m drooling).
One more? Sure. Can’t say no to bread, right?
Here’s a Baguette stuffed with Brie and Cherries. 

Okay. Main Course. Here we go.
Cocoa Cherry Pork? SIGN ME UP.
More main courses? Okay. You asked for it.
We have to have a meal from the mayor of Flavor Town.
Guy Fieri’s Cherry Bomb Chops. (I’m drooling again).
I’ll eat anything with the word ‘sassy’ in it.
Pork Burgers with Sassy Barbecue Sauce.

OH we can’t forget the drinks.
How about a Cherry Limeade from the Pioneer Woman herself?
Another? Okay. How about a healthy alternative?
You can’t go wrong with a Frozen Fruit Smoothie showcasing cherries.

Dessert. Can’t have a meal without dessert. Right?
A Black Forrest Trifle from my girl Katie Lee.
Ever wanted to use big cooking words like ‘compote’? Here’s your chance…
Nectarine-Cherry Compote. Oh Yes.

And delicious fruits aside, we come together as a country with heavy hearts for various reasons today. We turn on the TV and can’t watch for five minutes without hearing bad news after bad news. Whatever reason your heart is heavy today, we have hope.
The devil is on the prowl. He is active in our world maybe stronger than ever right now. We as Christians are called to put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the schemes of the devil. We are called to stand on the front-lines and fight as a community against this darkness. We can stand on the front-lines UNAFRAID because we know that God is standing right there by us, and He has given us the strength, the courage and the power to fight this.

We looked at the song ‘Whom Shall I Fear’ from Chris Tomlin today.
It was a song that’s been in the back of my mind since this weekend, and just some of the lyrics seem so applicable to us right now.

Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light

Darkness is filling the night. It is. But it cannot hide the light.
God is the light. We are the light. We cannot be hidden.
We need to be a nation that is ON FIRE for Christ that NO DARKNESS can hide.
We can do that when we remember the next thing Chris Tomlin says…
God is crushing the enemy beneath our feet.

God goes before us. There are countless scriptures that tell us that.
God is standing behind us.

Our strength is found in the name of Jesus
For it is His name alone that can save.
He is delivering us.
He is the victory.

Here are the lyrics from the bridge that give me chills. Ah.

And nothing formed against me shall stand. 
He’s telling us that WE are protected.
God is holding the whole world in His hands.
Sometimes God is silent, and it’s hard. It’s so hard.
But we can hold on to His promises.
God is FAITHFUL.
Tomlin says that line 5 times in the bridge. It’s so important.And this song isn’t just something Chris Tomlin wrote.
It’s based off the most powerful chapter in scripture. Romans 8.
Romans 8:31 says “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” and that should be more than enough send the devil running far in the other direction.

It’s far and away time for our country to have a “War Room” moment.
A Priscilla Shirer moment.
“YOU’VE HAD YOUR WAY LONG ENOUGH. NO MORE.”
Jesus is the Lord of our house. There is no room for the devil anymore.
We need to stand up, and shout if we need to. Telling the devil to take his lies, and his schemes, and his accusations, and to get out IN. JESUS’. NAME.

Here’s the scene, if you haven’t seen it. So incredibly powerful.

It’s time we stand up and take back what is rightfully ours in Christ. 

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly

 

0

Praise Thursday: Turn My Eyes

Today we got to do one of my favorite things ever in life, which is dissect a song!
We focused on the song ‘Turn My Eyes” from Bonray.

Lets take a little look at the first verse…

Every day I wake up and I meet the same old fight
Between a world of chaos and that quiet voice inside
And my phone keeps telling me there’s a million ways to find
Where my hope is, but it’s a lie

  • The world is going to lead us on a wild goose chase for hope. We can open every door, look down every alley, climb every mountain looking for hope in somewhere that’s not Jesus, and we’ll never be able to find it eternally.
  • 1st Peter 1:3
    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

The chorus goes like this…

I know who to run to
Every time the rain comes pouring down
I know who to turn to, yeah
I know where to find that solid ground

  • Where are you running when the rain comes pouring down? Who are you turning to when you’re in search of solid ground?
  • Psalm 46:1-3
    “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
  • Psalm 91:2
    “I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
  • That word refuge comes up a lot…
    Refuge – noun
    A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

The second verse is probably my favorite part. Here’s the first two lines…

There’s a voice that’s calling me, way out on a distant shore
It says if I just take a step, I’ll find what I’m asking for

  • This is what ‘Fix Our Eyes’ is about.
  • Philippians 4:19-20
    “And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.”
  • We’re going to talk about Peter walking on water here soon cause that’s important.

The second part of the second verse is…

And this world keeps telling me, that I’ll sink beneath the waves
You’re my courage and You’re my faith.

  • Matthew 14:27-31

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

  • Peter sank because he took His eyes off of Jesus.
  • That first phrase that Jesus utters. UGH yes.
  • When the wind starts to kick up, are you looking in Jesus’s eyes? Or are you looking around at the things of this world for shelter?

The bridge! Ugh the bridge. Here it is…

Oh, all the things of earth start fading away
In the light of His glory and grace
I’ll lift my head up high and look to the One
Who’s with me every step of the way
I turn my eyes

  • Psalm 121:1-2
    “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”
  • Nothing on the face of this earth will ever compare to the love, glory, and grace of Christ Jesus. Nothing. Things are temporary. People are people. When it comes to the valley of the shadow of death, Christ is walking with you. Right by your side. All the hills and valleys in life, right there. Right by your side.

This point, that God is always there, ties right into another devotion I read last year, and is still relevant today. It’s about how God and His goodness is not dependent on our goodness, who we are, or what we’re doing.

“Yes, it is true, God will remain faithful even when you’re not, because His faithfulness rests on who He is. Not on what you’re doing.”

Second Timothy 2:13  “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Think about this: The one who created and controls the world, the One who is the ultimate definition of what is loving, true, and good, and the one who alone has the power to fully defeat sin has chosen, because of His grace, to wrap His arms of faithful love and protection around you, and He will not let you go.

You can take your life off your shoulders because God has placed it on His. Security isn’t found in your faithfulness, but in His. He can be trusted even when you cannot. He will be faithful and good even when you are not. He’s going to do what is right and best even when you don’t, and He is faithful to forgive you when convicting grace reveals how unfaithful you’ve been.

God’s grace is calling you to invest in the one thing that will never come up short, and that one thing is the faithfulness of your Lord.

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly and Hannah

 

 

0

NZ Top 10 2/9

Here’s the countdown!

10. The Gospel – Ryan Stevenson
9. Point to You – We Are Messengers
8. Word of Life – Jeremy Camp
7. O Come to the Altar
6. Different – Micah Tyler
5. Old Church Choir – Zach Williams
4. Your Love Defends Me – Matt Maher
3. Broken Things – Matthew West
2. O’Lord – Lauren Daigle
WE HAVE A NEW #1! THAT’S RIGHT!
1. Control -Tenth Avenue North

Be sure to check out the new music from ‘Joy‘ from Tori Harper!

Our NZ Top 10 Back to Back Artist Spotlight this week fell on the husband and wife duo of Chris Radamaker and Jodi King! (Otherwise known as ‘Love and the Outcome’).

Check out their songs ‘The God I Know‘ and ‘If I don’t have You‘

We also were transported back to the year 2006 for the NZ Top 10 Rewinds!
Check out the songs ‘Our God Reins‘ from Brandon Heath, and ‘ForeverandEverEtc.’ from David Crowder Band! ]

Have a great weekend and thanks for listening!

-Lilly

0

NZ Top 10 2/2

Here’s the countdown!

10. Point to You – We Are Messengers
9.The Gospel – Ryan Stevenson
8. Word of Life – Jeremy Camp
7. Different – Micah Tyler
6. O Come to the Altar – Elevation Worship
5. Your Love Defends Me – Matt Maher
4. Broken Things – Matthew West
3. Old Church Choir – Zach Williams
2. Control – Tenth Avenue North
1. O’Lord – Lauren Daigle

Our NZ Top 10 Back to Back artist was Chris Tomlin!
Check out his songs ‘At the Cross‘ and ‘Home‘!

Our New Music Friday brought us BRAND NEW music from Hillsong!
Check it out. It’s called “So Will I (100 Billion x)”

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly

0

Battle Plan: The Gospel.

This week, we’re putting a wrap on the Battle Plan for Prayer!
We’re finishing up with the most important part of the plan… The Gospel.

God created us to please and honor Him. But because of our pride and selfishness, every one of us has fallen short of our purpose and dishonored God at different times in our lives. We have sinned against Him, failing to bring Him the honor and glory He deserves from each of us.

So, if any of us claims to be a good person, we need to be honest with ourselves: have we ever dishonored God by lying, cheating, lusting, stealing, rebelling against authority, or hating others? Not only do these cause consequences in this life, but they disqualify us from being right before God and living with Him in heaven for eternity.
God is holy, so He must reject all that is sinful. And because He is perfect, He cannot allow us to sin against Him and go unpunished, or else He would not be a just judge. The bible says our sins separate us from God and that the wages of sin is death. This death is not only physical, but also spiritual, resulting in separation from God for eternity.

What most people don’t realize is that our occasional good deeds do not take away from our sins, or somehow cleanse us in Gods eyes. If they could, then we could earn our way into heaven and negate the justice of God against sin. This is not only impossible, but it denies God the honor He deserves.

The good news is that God is not only just, but He is also loving and merciful. He has provided a better way for us to have forgiveness and come to know Him.
Out of His love and kindness for us, the Bible says He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and shed His blood to pay the price for our sins. This provided a pure sacrifice and a just payment to God for our sins and allowed Jesus to receive the judgement we are due. Jesus’ death satisfied the justice of God while also providing a perfect demonstration of the mercy and love of God. Three days after Jesus’ death, God raised Him to life as our living redeemer to prove that He is the Son of God.

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
These are two of the most encouraging bible verses to me as a Christian.

While we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
WOW.

Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been given the opportunity of being forgiven and then finding peace with God. It may not seem right that salvation is a free gift. But the scriptures teach that God wanted to reveal the richness of His grace and kindness toward us by offering us salvation for FREE.
He is now commanding all people to repent and turn away from their sinful ways and humbly trust Jesus for their salvation. By surrendering your life to His Lordship and control, you can have forgiveness and freely receive everlasting life.

Millions of people around the world have found peace with God through surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ. But each of us must choose for ourselves.
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s from Romans 10:9.

Is there anything stopping you from surrendering your life to Jesus right now?
Be honest with yourself.
If you understand your need to be forgiven and are ready to begin a relationship with God, we encourage you to pray now and trust your life to Jesus Christ. Be honest with yourself about your mistakes. Be honest with God about your mistakes. Be honest with Him about your need for forgiveness. Resolve to turn away from your sin and to place your trust in Him and in WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS. Then open your heart and invite Him into your life to fill you, change your heart, and take control.
If you are not sure how to communicate this to Him, use this prayer as a guide…

“Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against You and deserve the judgement of God. I believe that You died on the cross to pay for my sins. I choose now to turn away from my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. Jesus I’m making You the Lord and the Boss of my life. Change me and help me now to live the rest of my life for you. Thank you for giving me a home in Heaven with You when I die. Amen.”

If you just prayed sincerely, and gave your life to Jesus, we congratulate you and encourage you to tell others about your decision. If you really meant it, there are some important steps to take now in this spiritual journey.
1. Find a bible-teaching church. Tell them you want to obey Christ’s command to be baptized. This is a great mile marker that allows you to publicly identify with Jesus, share your faith with others, and launch your new spiritual walk.
2. Find a bible you can understand. Read for a few minutes each day. Start in the book of John and ask God to teach you how to love Him and walk with Him.
3. Take advantage of the opportunities that you’re given to share your faith with others.

God has truly made a way for all of us to experience assurance and settledness in Him. Of all the things we do not know or cannot predict about life, we can know for certain that He is with us now, and that our souls are safe with Him forever.
God bless you as you live out and discover the truth of His promises.

Thanks for listening.
– Lilly and Hannah

 

0

NZ Top 10 1/26

Here’s the countdown!
10. Point to You – We Are Messengers
9. Different – Micah Tyler
8. The Gospel – Ryan Stevenson
7. Word of Life – Jeremy Camp
6. O Come to the Altar – Elevation Worship
5. Your Love Defends Me – Matt Maher
4. Broken Things – Matthew West
3. Old Church Choir – Zach Williams
2. Control – Tenth Avenue North
1. O’Lord – Lauren Daigle

For our New Music Friday features check out these new songs!
Walking on Water from NEEDTOBREATHE
and Danny Gokey’s new song Masterpiece.

 

0

NZ Top 10 1/19

Here’s the countdown for this week!

10. HARD LOVE – NEEDTOBREATHE 9. DIFFERENT – MICAH TYLER
8. THE GOSPEL – RYAN STEVENSON
7. YOUR LOVE DEFENDS ME – MATT MAHER
6. O COME TO THE ALTAR – ELEVATION WORSHIP
5. WORD OF LIFE – JEREMY CAMP
4. CONTROL – TENTH AVENUE NORTH
3. BROKEN THINGS – MATTHEW WEST
2. O’LORD – LAUREN DAIGLE
1. OLD CHURCH CHOIR – ZACH WILLIAMS (2nd week at #1!)

Brand new music this week?
Yes! Check it out below!
‘Freedom Hymn‘ from new artist, Austin French!
and ‘God of All my Days‘ from Casting Crowns!

Thanks for listening!
Have a great weekend!
-Lilly

0

Rhythms of Prayer

Good afternoon! Still kicking with the ‘Battle Plan for Prayer’ Praise Thursdays!
Today, we talked about the rhythms of prayer.

The fervent call for revival in the final chapter of the book is not merely wishful thinking. God has poured out his spirit and moved among cities and nations in times passed, stirring up the church, bringing countless thousands to salvation. But you can see that kind of revival right here as well. In your city. And in your country. God works revival on the waves of united, fervent, persistent prayer.  The great, known revivals that have left the most indelible mark on the past generations grew in the fertile soil of prayer closet in prayer groups and playing churches – often few months and years of cultivation among the leaders who refuse to stop believing that God will hear and respond.
 That’s why number of ministries and churches today or championing are united rid of a prayer, inspired by what was known centuries ago as concert of prayer. He’s involve willing individuals and groups would commit to regular cycles of prayer, which would been spread to other places were people were following a similar schedule. God response to the surrendered, repentance, expect a part of his people, and he blesses and moves even more when we’re working together.
 Consider rallying your church to adopt the following rhythm of prayer in the days ahead.
Weekly prayer: individually.
At least once a week, whether alone or in a small group, set aside a particular time to pray specifically for revival and your family, and your church, and spiritual awakening in the nation. Pray for the affected preaching and active listening of the word throughout your city during that week.
Monthly prayer: churchwide
 Preferably as an entire church body, but at least as a whole group, Bible study class, or larger prayer meeting, come together at least once a month and a special meeting for the sole purpose of praying for revival and spiritual awakening.
Quarterly prayer: community
Consider gathering once a quarter with multiple churches in your area, united in prayer for an enormous day, evening, or afternoon, of prayer for the spiritual needs of your city. Even if you’re not able to gather together, in a separate location, all over your community is going to be praying together about the same thing, at the same time, will be a powerful experience and effort.
Yearly prayer: nationally
 The national Day of prayer which is the first Thursday of May, offers an annual opportunity for believers across the country to focus as one on revival and repentance, coast to coast. Don’t let this day slip up on you, or become lost in the days business. Carve out this time to pray for relief with Christians revival and awakening in our land.

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑