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Lift Up A Song Of Praise!

We all love music. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t. It’s a beautiful thing when music blends incredible with words of truth and worship. And that’s exactly the kind of music we love playing for you right here on WNZR! Today for Praise Thursday on The Afternoon Drive, we decided to take a listen to the stories and inspirations behind songs of praise and worship.

From biblical truths of God unending faithfulness to the strength of a courageous mother, artists like Elevation Worship and Unsung Hero shared the inspirational and touching stories that inspired their work!

Continue praying for the people and city of Los Angeles as they face intense wild fires. Incredible teams, like God’s Pit Crew, are over in California leading the effort to fight the fires, repair damage and bring people to safety. If you would like to support God’s Pit Crew and their efforts, they are a reputable and trustworthy operation that will use your donation to help save lives. You can donate by heading to GodsPitCrew.org or calling (434) 836-4472.

Another stumper today! Next week’s Name That Tune will be worth THREE Watts Restaurant gift cards!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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Back to School Anxiety, And How To Overcome It.

According to a study conducted in 2023, 87% of parents of children under the age of 18 say the back-to-school season causes them stress and anxiety. Maybe that’s what your child is dealing with today. If that’s the case, today for Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive we want to share encouragement for you and your child.

  1. It is okay to feel these feelings
  2. Remember that no matter where you go, GOD IS WITH YOU! Isaiah 41:10
  3. There are things out of your control, and that is okay, because God ultimately IS! Deuteronomy 31:8
  4. If you trust in the Lord, He will make your path straight! Proverbs 3:5-6

As you go about your days this new school year, keep God’s truth close to your heart!

-I was born January 8, 1935

-Born in Tupelo, MS

-I was known as the king of Rock and Roll, rising to prominence in the 50s.

-I released #1 singles such as “Hound Dog”, Jailhouse Rock” and “Stuck on You”

I am…Elvis Presley!

Congratulations to Kylie from Danville, she wins the $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Card!

Thanks for listening!-Judah

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New Year, New Music!

2024 wrapped up just one week ago, and 2025 brings forth a lot of anticipation for new music! It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday on The Afternoon Drive, and we shared new albums, new singles and more!

NEEDTOBREATHE closed out 2024 with the release of a live album! https://jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2024/12/27.NEEDTOBREATHESurpriseFanswithNewLiveAlbumRelease.asp

TobyMac has new music on the way, with his single ‘God Did It’ releasing this Friday!

“I wanna dance like David
I wanna faith like Paul
I wanna sing like Silas tearing down the prison walls
I wanna face that fire
It won’t burn me though
God’s got my back Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego”

Those are the lyrics to ‘That’s Who I Praise’ by Brandon Lake! Congratulations to Janelle Wells for naming the right song! She wins the $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Card today!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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Beauty? On a day like today?

On a snowy Monday coming out of the New Year, it might be really tough to think of beauty. Cold, snow, ice, slush, mixed with plows, cars, trucks and snow blowers might not be our idea of beautiful…so today’s Monday Motivation comes from artist Dan Bremnes and his song ‘Beautiful,’ which has nothing to do with external beauty, but the beauty that comes from a life renewed in Christ.

Dan cites the inspiration for the song from one of his favorite verses, 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” He shares: “I wrote this song a few years ago when I came back to God as a prodigal. I was a wounded and a broken person and God really took my life and changed it. He made something new out of it. I hope when people hear this song that their reminded of the work God has started in their life and the work that God continually does.”

Name something that you might associate with a bookstore other than books.

  1. Magazines (23)
  2. Greeting cards (21)
  3. DVDs, records or CD’s (20)
  4. Coffee (19)
  5. Chairs or reading areas (17)

Congratulations to Regina from Mount Vernon, who guessed the top two answers correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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The NZ Top 10 of 2024!

Praise the Lord it’s Friday and Happy 2025! Today’s our annual year-end show where we showcase this past year’s Top 10. Thanks to Traven and Marcy for providing this additional data!

10. Katy Nichole ft. Naomi Raine – My God Can

(Peaked at #3 for 6 weeks, spent 28 weeks on the chart.)

9. Housefires ft. JWLKRS – I Thank God

(Peaked at #1 for 8 weeks starting in December 2023 and lasting into February 2024. In total, the song spent 36 weeks on the chart.)

8. TobyMac – Nothin’ Sweeter (#1 for 5 weeks)

(Peaked at #1 for 5 weeks, with a total 25 weeks on the chart so far.)

7. Josh Baldwin & Jenn Johnson – Made For More

(Josh Baldwin’s FIRST #1, remaining there for 4 weeks. It spent 35 weeks on the chart.)

6. Seph Schlueter – Counting My Blessings

(Seph Schlueter’s debut hit. Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks, spent 38 weeks on the chart.)

5. Jeremy Camp – These Days

(Peaked at #2 for 5 weeks, spent 28 weeks on the chart.)

4. Matthew West – Don’t Stop Praying

(Peaked at #2 for 2 weeks, spent 32 weeks on the chart.)

3. TobyMac – Faithfully

(Released in 2023, peaking at #1 for 8 weeks in February 2024; spent 34 weeks on the chart.)

2. Tauren Wells & Davies. – Take It All Back (4 weeks straight at #1)

(Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks straight, spent 31 weeks on the chart.)

1. Elevation Worship – Praise (12 weeks straight at #1)

(Peaked at #1 for 12 weeks straight on the Christian AC Airplay chart, spending 32 weeks on that chart…appearances across Christian Billboard Charts totaled THIRTY WEEKS at #1.

New Music Friday adds this week:

Brandon Heath – Gospel Truth

Brandon Lake – Hard Fought Hallelujah

Elevation Worship – God is Not Against Me

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Finding Reasons To Give Thanks!

When we come to the end of a year and begin a new one, it becomes pretty easy to reflect on the good, and the bad, of the past year. But instead of brushing the old year off and eagerly embracing the new one, it’s important to remember how far we’ve come. Every heartbreak, every rough time, every difficult…you made it through. You still have breath in your lungs, you still have a new year, a fresh start to look forward to. God, through His amazing grace, brought you through those tough moments…and He will continue to do so.

A stumper today! Make sure to tune in next week for Name That Tune, because next week’s game will be worth TWO $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Cards!

Thanks for listening!-Judah

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The ‘label’ that matters most

I’m not a big ‘New Year’s Resolution’ guy. Yes, I care about self-reflection and getting better, but I feel like I do this throughout the year, not just at the end of one year and the beginning of the next. One of the sermons I heard recently that really caught my attention was our MVNU Chaplain, Rev. Dave Mills, sharing about the Christmas concept we hear about all season, “good tidings of great joy.” Dave challenged us to embrace that phrase by identifying and pushing back against what steals our joy.

One ‘joy stealer’ Dave mentioned was the labeling we allow to define us. The things people say about us that we allow to define us. Honestly, one label I’ve been wrestling with this year is ‘old.’ I turned 56 this year and it’s amazing the sub-labels that start flying your way when you hit that 55+ mark. It becomes even more difficult when you’re surrounded by 18-23 year-olds all the time! I realize that I need to draw closer to the Holy Spirit so I can find joy in my years and my experiences and also focus on the only label that really matters – child of the one true King!!

Dave reminded us that our calling is TOO GREAT to live in these joy-stealing areas! Here’s a song to lead you there – Megan Woods, “The Truth.”

Name a household chore that no one likes to do!
1- cleaning the bathroom (45 votes)
2- washing dishes (25)
3- vacuuming (20)
4- doing laundry (10)

Congratulations to Lori of Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 12/27/24

IT’S FRIDAY!!!! (Praise the Lord). We had a ton of fun on The Afternoon Drive counting down the top ten songs of the week!

10. Phil Wickham – The Jesus Way

9. Tasha Layton ft. Chris Brown – Worship Through It 

8. Seph Schlueter – Running Back To You

7. For KING + COUNTRY – Silent Night (Rewrapped)

6. Colton Dixon – Up + Up

5. Andrew Ripp – Loves Got A Way 

4. Phil Wickham – Angels (Glory To God) 

3. Crowder – Somebody Prayed

2. Megan Woods – The Truth

1. Brandon Lake – That’s Who I Praise

Plus, all of our special NZ Friday features!

BEHIND THE MIC:

Big Daddy Weave – Let It Begin

BREAKOUT HIT: 

Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23)

BACK TO BACK:

Jordan Feliz – Praise God For That [new single]

Jordan Feliz – Jesus Is Coming Back [biggest song; #1 for 4 weeks] 

REWIND: 2007

Casting Crowns – East To West [#1 for 13 weeks]

MercyMe – God With Us [#1 for 9 weeks]

NEW MUSIC: [Original Christmas song from 2024]

Jordan St. Cyr – Our Christ Is Here

FAN CHOICE:

Forrest Frank ft. JVKE – Never Get Used To This

New Music Friday Adds this week!

Our Christ Is Here!- Jordan St. Cyr

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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Finding Joy in Christmas!

One would think this is easy to do. It’s the season that brings tidings of comfort and joy for crying out loud! But sometimes, in the midst of the noise and outside of distractions of Christmas, we lose sight of the true joy of the season. We can become discouraged, stressed and even saddened over what it used to mean to us.

It’s Monday Motivation on The Afternoon Drive, and we’re sharing stories of how we were reminded of what Christmas is all about. In remembering the central meaning and hope that Christmas truly symbolizes, we can be reminded of why it truly is a cause for celebration.

Name something you hang on a Christmas tree?

Survey says:

Christmas Lights: 25%

Ornaments: 23%

Angel: 10%

Tinsel: 10%

Candy Cane: 7%

Congratulations to David for naming the top two answers on the survey. He wins the $5 Gift Card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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