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Lament vs. Complaint

Today I shared a couple of passages about lament. For many of us, this is a real thing right now. Lamenting is found in, literally, its own book in the Old Testament, Lamentations. Jeremiah kept a record of his pain. He wrote of the atrocities done to Judah. He also grieved for the youngest victims of these events:

“My heart is poured out on the ground…because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city…their lives ebb away in their mother’s arms.”
(Lamentations 2:10-13, 18-19)

Now, as author Tim Gustafson writes, we might expect Jeremiah to reject God in the face of this suffering, but instead, he urges the survivors to, “pour out your heart in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children.”

It’s good to pour out our hearts to God. Lament is a crucial part of being human. God grieves with us.

But lament is different that complaint. Ken Wytsma and A.J. Swoboda, in their book, Redeeming How We Talk, remind us that lament cries out to God and includes repentance, while complaining tends to blame or criticize. Lament seeks God, while sometimes our complaining and self-pity condemns God. Lament names what is broken and seeks God’s intervention instead of just crying, “unfair.”

Name a term used in a game of bowling…
1. Strike
2. Spare
3. Pin
4. Turkey
Congratulations to Isaiah from Bellville, who guessed the top two answers and wins the WNZR Game On t-shirt.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 4/17/20

WNZR COVID-19 updates here

Here’s this week’s countdown:

10. Matt Maher f/Ellie Limebear – Alive and Breathing
9. Cochren and Co. – One Day
8. Elevation Worship – See a Victory
7. Micah Tyler – AMEN
6. Michael W. Smith f/ Vanessa Campagna – Waymaker
5. Matthew West – The God Who Stays
4. Big Daddy Weave – I Know
3. We The Kingdom – Holy Water
2. Cory Asbury – The Father’s House
1. MercyMe – Almost Home (2nd week at #1)

New Music Friday adds today:

Hope Darst – Peace Be Still

Lauren Daigle – Still Rolling Stones

AND CLICK HERE for Lauren’s social distancing version!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Staying on track, surrendering all.

Today we shared more encouragement from the Word and excellent devotionals from Our Daily Bread.

Todd’s devotional is from Patricia Raybon, called How To Stay on Track

Joe’s shared a devotional from Amy Boucher Pye called Surrendering All

We want to encourage you to reach out to five people this weekend and just check in on them. The attention you give to your friends and family can make a big difference!

Find WNZR’s COVID-19 updates by clicking here.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

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The creative minds at work!

Today two of WNZR’s core artists get the spotlight –

Read here from JesusFreakHideout.com how Matthew West and Newsboys did some songs from home!

Matthew West - Take Heart (Live) - YouTube
NEWSBOYS - We Believe (Live from Home) - YouTube

There’s gotta be so much more to life than this,
A higher calling that I missed,
I want my life to count, every breath…

The song? Looks like a stumper!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

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Walking with the Spirit

Find the latest WNZR COVID-19 updates here

Today we shared an encouraging devotional from Peter Chin about walking with the Holy Spirit, even when we face tough times.

Ten thousand hours. That’s how long author Malcolm Gladwell suggests it takes to become skillful at any craft. Even for the greatest artists and musicians of all time, their tremendous inborn talent wasn’t enough to achieve the level of expertise that they would eventually attain. They needed to immerse themselves in their craft every single day.

Chin writes that we need a similar mentality when it comes to learning to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians, Paul encourages the church to be set apart for God. But Paul explained that this couldn’t be achieved through merely obeying a set of rules. Instead we’re called to walk with the Holy Spirit. The Greek word that Paul uses for “walk” in Galatians 5:16 literally means to walk around and around something, or to journey (peripateo). So for Paul, walking with the Spirit meant journeying with the Spirit each day—it’s not just a one-time experience of His power.

May we pray to be filled with the Spirit daily—to yield to the Spirit’s work as He counsels, guides, comforts, and is simply there with us. And as we’re “led by the Spirit” in this way (v. 18), we become better and better at hearing His voice and following His leading. Holy Spirit, may I walk with You today, and every day!

Name an animal whose legs are featured on a restaurant menu.
The top four answers:
1. Frog
2. Chicken
3. Crab
4. Lamb

Congratulations to Esther from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the WNZR GAME ON t-shirt!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 4/10/20

Happy Easter weekend – this is our countdown for Good Friday 2020:

10. Elevation Worship – See A Victory
9. Cochren & Co. – One Day
8. Zach Williams – Rescue Story
7. Micah Tyler – AMEN
6. Michael W. Smith f/Vanessa Campagna – Waymaker
5. Matthew West – The God Who Stays
4. Big Daddy Weave – I Know
3. Cory Asbury – The Father’s House
2. We The Kingdom – Holy Water
1. MercyMe – Almost Home (1st week at #1)

New Music Friday features:

Bethel Music f/Jenn Johnson – Goodness of Our God
Jeremy Camp – Keep Me in the Moment

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Death is defeated!

This weekend we celebrate Easter in a different way, but still confident of the wonderful message of death being defeated!

Today I shared a devotional from Linda Washington about death being overturned and based in John 20. Click here to find the link from Our Daily Bread.

I hope you have a great Easter weekend!

Find WNZR’s latest COVID-19 updates here.

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The value of wisdom

Over the last month, I’ve heard the topics of wisdom brought up in two different areas: in church, as our pastor started a series about Proverbs, and in a book I’ve been using in one of my classes. Authors Ken Wytsma and AJ Swoboda dedicate an entire chapter of their book, Redeeming How We Talk, to being wise in how we use words.

The Bible gave us a fantastic resource for wisdom – the book of Proverbs. These statements of truth help us in our daily decision making. Wisdom helps us balance acting on just our feelings. We know that our feelings can sometimes lie, so we should welcome wisdom and instruction.

So how can we become wise? Here are some tips our pastor shared recently from Proverbs:

  • fear God – Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom and instruction.

  • follow the Lord – Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.

  • make wisdom a priority – this is included in all of Proverbs 2

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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In the Father’s House!

Dear WNZR family,

Let me just take a moment to encourage you today…

This morning I was listening as I drove back to campus from a quick trip to the doctor’s office. Yes, I’m fine. I just was getting my regular blood draw and I am so thankful for the precautions my doctor and his amazing staff are taking to keep us safe. The song “The Father’s House” from Cory Asbury came on during The Morning Thing. For me, that song has been a HUGE one the last few weeks. I miss being in the father’s house – being with my church family. I’ll miss it this Easter morning. But guess what? The father’s house is ANYWHERE we invite Him to be. In our isolation of this crazy time, His house is your house, your car or truck, your office, and for me, the studio!

I’ve struggled with not having much control during COVID season, but I’ve learned this is a great opportunity to give it up! In the Father’s House, I don’t have to be ashamed to admit that I wrestle with control. He hears me and His love, like the song says, breaks through! What I see as weakness, He uses as a canvas for His strength.

Here’s a link to the video if you haven’t experienced “The Father’s House.”

For Artist Newsday, we shared more stories about the inspiring creativity during this time of COVID-19. Click this link to see what many of your favorite WNZR artists are doing to connect with us!

Well, I thought that I had seen most everything
And if jaded was a people, I’d be the king

The answer? TobyMac f/Cochren and Co. with “Edge of My Seat” – congratulations to Peter from Howard who answered correctly and wins the GameOn t-shirt!

Latest COVID-19 info by clicking here

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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