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Praise Thursday: The two last “Devotionals For Leaders”!

Today Todd and I had a melancholily day, as we did the last two devotionals from “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman, but as we like to call it “Time with God for Leaders”.   

Here are the last two devotionals we did today: 

A father’s reward comes in many different ways

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” – Psalms 37 4-5

God wants more than anything else to give you the desires of your heart. You belong to him, and his love is forever. When you choose to trust him, he calls you to live in such a way as to honor him and to do good to others so that they might see goodness through you. Your close fellowship with God is the key to a deep commitment to live for Him in every area of your life, in turn, wants to bless you. When you delight yourself in the Lord, he places in your heart his desires for you so that you might glorify him in all that you do.

True Prosperity is the receipt of God’s reward

“This book of the Law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things.” – Joshua 1:8

 When we do God’s Will and God’s way and with God’s help, no one or nothing stands in the way of our success. The key is the presence of the Lord. God commanded Joshua to meditate on his word day and night, and he’s asking us to do the same today. He wants every leader to be successful and prosperous and his work and with his family. Yet, He wants you to remember that your true treasure will accumulate in heaven. God’s word is your Guide to Life. When you discover his wisdom and apply it to your life, everything changes. Your focus, priorities, emotions, and heart become god-centered. When this occurs, you and your family will be so very blessed, and in whatever you choose to do, you will receive God’s we’re just reward of Peace, guidance Cana salvation, and an eternity spent with him.

We shared with you about the WNZR Valentines Banquet that is just around the corner! Click HERE if you want to know more!

Thanks for checking out the blog!

Hannah and Todd

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Praise Thursday: A Teachable Leader Will Never Stop Growing & A Leaders Strength Is On Their Knees

Todd and I started off the show today by reminding you that WinterJam is coming up!

Click HERE for more info on WinterJam 2020!

Here are today’s

A Teachable Leader Will Never Stop Growing

“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the Folly of fools is deceit. Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”  – Proverbs 14: 7-9

How long did it take you to realize you do not know everything? When you come to the realization that there is still much for you to learn, you open the door to becoming a lifelong learner. In your Christian Life, God reveals himself when you surrender to his word and the leading of his Spirit. Romans 12:2 encourages you to ” not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  God does not simply want you to try harder or sin less, but also to depend on his spirit and allow yourself to be transformed into someone who loves to through willing obedience. That transformation begins when you choose to become a lifelong learner of God’s word.

 

A Leader’s Strength is on Their Knees

“Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. ” Jeremiah 33:3

Prayer is a very real part of your relationship with God. It is not just for the special, the religious Elite; it is for you. Throughout the Bible, God promises to speak to you when you humble yourself and listen for His voice. To listen actively, you must come before the Lord expectantly. You must eagerly anticipate him speaking to you. Get into the habit of beginning each day with God in prayer; let His Spirit open your heart and mind to his perfect will. He promises to ” show you Great and Mighty things, but you do not know.”

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

Mystery Monday: You can’t get any better than the REAL Elvis – or can you?

Today Joe and I gave you a chance to win and mixed things up a bit on Mystery Monday!

What is something that everyone has? A birthday! Are you on our birthday list so we can wish you a happy birthday and maybe win a prize? Click HERE to sign up!

Today Joe shared a Devotional about Hope, to go along with the song “I Have This Hope” by Tenth Avenue North. HERE is the link to that Devotional titled “Never Give Up Hope” by Xochitl Dixon.

We also talked about being Known by God Today, If you want to dive deeper into this, HERE is a starting point with a list of verses.

Here is Today's Family Feud Style Mystery Question! (1)

“Name something about the real Elvis that’s better than his impersonators?”

1. Singing/Voice
2. His Looks 
3. Originality
4. Dancing
5. Bank Account

Congratulations to Bob from Howard who guessed our top two answers and won that $5 gift card to Troyers of Apple Valley!

Thank you for joining us!

Hannah and Joe

 

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Unconditional Love is the Only Option & A Leader’s Stress Test

Today Todd and I got the spring semester off to a great start with Praise Thursdays!

Here are our devotionals from “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman for today:

Unconditional Love is the Only Option

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” – Ephesians 5:28

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4 

The Lord speaks directly to husbands and fathers about the love and conduct that is so important to both roles. When you choose to love your wife as you love yourself, the consideration you give her will deeply affect your relationship. You, In turn, will receive the respect every man wants from his wife. Similarly, When you showed the same unconditional love for your children that the father extends to you, your children will learn to honor you. The atmosphere of unconditional love is contagious, and the security it builds within the home for your wife and your children will reap great rewards.

A Father’s Stress Test

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties”. – Psalms 139:23

There will be times in a father’s life when the stress of work, health, family, and friends will test your resolve. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can handle everything by yourself. You are not called to walk through this life alone. The Bible reminds you, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ” (Philippians 4:13). Allow Christ to strengthen you. Rest in his word, “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Seek the Lord, and let the holy spirit guide you in every stressful situation.

If you want to see more of what WNZR is up too, check our website! 

– Hannah and Todd
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Praise Thursday – It’s time to talk about Christmas!

Our new Devotional series:

Hidden Christmas By Timothy Keller

A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

Isaiah 9:2, 5-7:

Verses 2  “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.”

Verses 5-7: “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

#1

One of the first indications of the Christmas season is LIGHT. The appearance of lights seemingly everywhere – on trees, with candles, above streets; there is radiance all around us.

Lights are not just for decoration, of course, they are symbolic.

In his book, Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller says one of the most important spiritual truths at Christmas is this: the world is a dark place, and we will never find our way or see reality unless Jesus IS our light.

Keller writes that the word ‘darkness’ in the Bible refers to evil and ignorance. The world has evil and untold suffering. The world also has no one who can cure the evil and suffering. We look towards the earth and our human resources to try to fix the world. We think we can end darkness with intellect and innovation. That’s the ignorance.

So the message of Christmas is NOT, “we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace.” The message, instead, is a humble one: “Things really are this bad and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Nevertheless, THERE IS HOPE.”

Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned. It has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us! Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!

#2

Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned. The light has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us! Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!

So how can this divine light “dawn” upon us? Verses 6 and 7 answers with what Timothy Keller calls a stunning directness.

The light has come “for unto us a child is born.” This child is the “wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

If we embrace this, we understand the significance of its meaning – the creator of the universe is “born to us!” Jesus is fully God and fully human. There’s nothing like this claim in any of the other major religions of the world.

Think about this: it’s almost too limiting to say that we celebrate this at Christmas…yes, we do celebrate, but don’t we also have moments at Christmas where we stare dumbstruck and lose ourselves a bit in wonder, love, and praise?

The implication of God being born into our world, of choosing to become one of us, is overwhelming! Jesus is the divine light of the world, because he brings a new life to replace our spiritual deadness, shows us the truth to heal our spiritual blindness…and is the beautiful light that can help break our addictions to anything from money to power.

Keller writes, “the promises of Christmas cannot be discerned until you first admit that you can’t save yourself or even know yourself without the light of his unmerited grace in your life – it’s a foundational truth!”

We gave away two tickets to the MVNU performance of G. F. Handel’s Messiah on December 8th! Congrats to our friend from Mount Vernon who was caller number three and won those tickets! Click HERE to find out more about MVNUs performance of G. F. Handel’s Messiah.

Thanks for listening to The Afternoon Drive!

-Hannah and Todd

 

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Praise Thursday: Strive for excellence in serving God’s purpose & What to do when you don’t know what to do.

Today Joe and I had the chance to not only share some incredible devotionals we also had a chance to talk to Todd who is on his way, along with 6 of our students and Marcy, to CMB University! We would deeply appreciate prayers for safe travels and a good time for those students and for those of us who are holding down the fort!

Strive for excellence in serving God’s purpose

2 Chronicles 31: 21 – “ In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” 

Excellence in our spiritual lives begins with a true devotion to God. That changes you from the inside out. When the heart changes and pleasing God becomes a priority, your behavior will also change. And despite what the world tells you, obedience to the Lord brings more pleasure than sin does. When you seek the Lord with all of your heart you will find him, and the natural result is joyful and earnest obedience to his will. That obedience will bring you God’s blessing and the peace that passes all understanding.

 

What to do when you don’t know what to do

Micah 6:8 – ” He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

Run to the word when you don’t know what to do. Seek his direction for anything and everything. As Christians, we are called to be different from the world in the way we live and the way we do business. There should be a clear difference in the way we raise our kids. our marriages should testify to the love of Christ and those outside the church should be powerfully attracted to the unity and love they see in you and your family. As a Believer, we have the responsibility to live in a way that others see Christ in us. As the body of Christ, we are his hands and feet, we are his Masterpiece. We also may be the only Jesus some people will ever know.

Thanks for checking out our blog!

-Hannah and Joe

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Cultivating Character over Charisma and Choosing Words Carefully  

Here are today’s devotionals:

Cultivating Character over Charisma 

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

What would happen in your spiritual life if you spent as much time on your soul as you do grooming, exercising, or however else you maintain yourself? Let us be clear, those things are important, to an extent, but they will fade with time. Your spirit, however, will live forever. Your character is a road map to where you have been and where you are going. Let it point you to the throne of God for it will also serve as a guide to those who follow you.

Choose Carefully the Words you Speak 

Proverbs 18:21  (NIV)

“The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Have you ever considered how your words affect those who follow you? Your words have the power to destroy their confidence or build them up to be stronger than they are. Those whom you lead look to you for guidance, Love, and emotional support to cope with living in today’s world. Choose your words carefully. The impression you make will greatly impact your followers. People need to know they are loved by some here on earth as well as their heavenly father. Give the gift of encouragement every day.

Click HERE for a list of 100 verses about the power of words.

Do you want some Texas Road House for dinner tomorrow? Maybe you want to play some carnival games and have a chance to win some door prizes and have a chance to give to a great cause??? Well, then Flannel Fest is the event you want to be at tomorrow evening! If you want more information or want to register, click HERE. 

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

 

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Praise Thursdays: A father’s lifestyle is contagious & Look out! Someone is watching.

A father’s lifestyle is contagious

 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” – James 3: 17

When your lifestyle as a father (or leader), you lead in the love of God and his wisdom, the character you exhibit and the influence you have will impact those who are important to you in life. Wisdom leads to Harmony and peace, what human wisdom leads to arrogance and dissection.  Examine yourself, what kind of wisdom do you depend on? Remember, God wants your very best – so does everyone else you influence, know, and love.

Look out! Someone is watching.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

The idea of someone watching seldom occurs to us as we go through life. So often, we say that we want and do exactly what we selfishly choose to do. We need to realize that nothing ever escaped the notice of God and nothing ever surprises him. Proverbs 16:3 says, ” Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” When we commit our ways to the Lord, everything changes and pleasing God becomes our priority in life. Because God cares, he wants to bless us with his love and mercy. May your life reflect the love that God so generously gives to those who follow him.

 

If you want to know who won the Dove awards? Click HERE to find.

Do you want your pastors to know how much you appreciate them? Click HERE to let them know through the WNZR Clergy Appreciation Month giveaway!

Thanks for reading the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

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The Great Physician and Patience and Wisdom go Hand and Hand.

The Great Physician and You

Matthew 21:21-22 – Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Someone once said that if you fight all your battles on your knees you will win every time. Draw near to God, and you will find healing for your spirit and body. Listen, meditate and wait upon His direction and guidance. God wants the best for you, and the best is walking with him in all circumstances, trusting him in every situation and relationship. This allows your faith to grow and helps you become the person God wants you to be.

James 4: 7-8 says. “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” He wants you to make the first step, the great physician is waiting for you with open arms. Run to him with everything you need for today.

 

Patience and Wisdom go Hand and Hand

Proverbs 16:32 – “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Our actions and words determine who we are to the people in our lives. Proverbs 3:13-14 says: “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and who gains understanding. For the proceeds are better than pure gold.” There is great benefit for learning to be wise and patient with those who God has placed under your care. Those you lead need your wisdom, and they also need to experience your patient love whenever they fall on hard times. That is a leader’s main function, the bread, and the butter of their job – To guide or Lead others in an uplifting way.

 

Do you want to let your pastor know that you appreciate him or her? Click HERE to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

Wants some CDs from TobyMac, Crowder, Hillsong United and more? Click HERE to cast your guess as to who is going to win the 50th Dove Awards!

Thank you for checking out our blog!
-Hannah and Todd
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