Category: Spiritual Health

One Shoebox, A Life Changed Forever

WNZR talks with Jennifer Paxtle, whose life was changed by an Operation Christmas Child shoebox she received as a 10-year-old growing up in a small village in Hidalgo, Mexico.

Click HERE or on the picture link below to listen to the full conversation!

Jennifer remembers the excitement of opening her first Christmas gift and discovering special items, including a baby doll, school supplies, a Dora playset and a T-shirt that said “Kentucky.” But the shoebox contained something even more meaningful—the Gospel message and an introduction to the story of Jesus Christ.

Jennifer’s journey eventually brought her and her family to Kentucky, where she gave her life to Christ and was baptized alongside her mother. With the encouragement of people she met through church, Jennifer went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now teaches high school Spanish in Richmond, Kentucky. Today, as a spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, she shares her story to encourage others to pack shoeboxes, reminding them that even the smallest gift can create lasting memories and, more importantly, provide an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. Jennifer’s own story is a powerful example of how one simple shoebox can make a lasting and eternal difference.

Click HERE for more info on Operation Christmas Child!

0

Journaling is an Excellent Tool to Show God’s Love!

Journaling is a simple yet powerful way to record what God is doing in your life and reflect on your spiritual growth.

That is one of the reasons we selected journals as Lifeline 2026 gift (which are starting to be delivered).

The good news is there are no rules—write daily, weekly, or only when inspiration strikes.

According to Croswalk.com, whether you prefer a handwritten notebook, a computer document, or notes on your phone, journaling creates space to capture prayers, lessons, and moments of God’s faithfulness.

It can remain a personal record or become something you share with others. With so much flexibility and so many benefits, journaling is a meaningful practice that can help deepen your relationship with God and preserve the story of your faith journey.

Here are some of the topics Marcy and Eric discussed Wednesday:

  • Journaling teaches you how to converse with God.
  • Journaling helps you maintain focus during your Bible reading.
  • Journaling teaches you to be a person of gratitude.
  • Journaling makes you more aware of answered prayer.

Click HERE to read the full article from Crosswalk!

0

Today is the National Day of Prayer!

Today is a special day for our community, and WNZR is honored to be part of it.

We’re teaming up with the Knox Network of Christian Ministries to make prayer a central focus throughout the day. From morning to evening, you’ll hear voices you know and trust—local pastors and ministry leaders—leading us in prayer at the top of each hour. It’s a simple but powerful way for all of us to pause, refocus, and come together in faith right where we are.

This year’s National Day of Prayer theme, “Glorify God Among the Nations – Seeking Him in All Generations,” reminds us that prayer connects us across every age, every background, and every corner of the world. The theme verse, 1 Chronicles 16:24, says: “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.” It’s an invitation to not only pray, but to remember and share what God is doing.

And we’d love for you to be part of this day in a personal way. If you have a prayer request on your heart—or even a praise report you’d like to celebrate—you’re invited to share it with us. You can email wnzr@mvnu.edu or call 740-392-9090.

However you choose to join in, we hope you’ll take a few moments today to pray with us.

National Day of Prayer Schedule

12:30am – Kandee Popham, Place 4 Grace

1:30am – Marvin Haught, Brandon Baptist Church

2:30am – Troy McNichols, New Life Church of the Nazarene

3:30am – Andy Smith, New Life Community Church, Fredericktown

4:30am – Thom Collier, e-Merge Real Estate Champions and Chaplain

5:30am – Jess Kirby, Starting Point Pregnancy and Family Resource Center

6:30am – Captain Christine Moretz, Mount Vernon Salvation Army

7:30am – Marcy Rinehart, WNZR/MVNU

8:30am  – Jessica Reynolds, TouchPointe Community Resources

9:30am – Scott Sharpes, Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene

10:30am – Amy McDougale, The Least of These Ministry

11:30am – Jenn Furay, Starting Point Pregnancy and Family Resource Center

12:30pm – Carolyn Fergus, Knox County Interchurch Social Services

1:30pm –– Cody Blust, Faith Lutheran Church

2:30pm – Dave Mills, Mount Vernon Nazarene University

3:30pm – Mike McKinley, TouchPointe Community Resources

4:30pm – Dr. Carson Castleman, President Mount Vernon Nazarene University

5:30pm – Mount Vernon Mayor Dr. Matt Starr

6:30pm – Tim Stickle, Revive Knox County

7:30pm – Joe Rinehart from WNZR 90.9 FM/Mount Vernon Nazarene University

8:30pm – Joe Proudfoot, Mount Vernon FirstNaz

9:30pm – Richard Hite, Church on the Rise

10:30pm – David Carter, Child Evangelism Fellowship, former High School Guidance Counselor

11:30pm – Christopher Liberati, Gay Street United Methodist Church

0

Rebekah Gregory shares her powerful story with WNZR!

Today on The Morning Thing, we were blessed with a conversation with Rebekah Gregory!

In 2013, Rebekah’s life was forever changed when she was a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing. Despite enduring severe injuries, including the amputation of her leg, Rebekah emerged as a symbol of hope and resilience. Rebekah is an advocate for trauma survivors and has dedicated her life to spreading a message of hope and empowerment.

She will be speaking at the 2026 Women’s Auxiliary Spring Conference. It will be Friday, April 17th and Saturday April 18th at MVNU! Join for an unforgettable weekend of encouragement, faith, and inspiration.

0

What God says about your worth!

Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about worth in honor of National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day! Our hosts decided to dive into scripture to see exactly what God says about you and your worth.

In today’s world, it is important to remember that you are completely worthy in God’s eyes.

Click HERE to learn more about National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day and what it means!

Click HERE to view the passages from Psalm 139!

0

Wired to Give: The Neuroscience and Spiritual Power of Generosity

We often think of generosity as something that benefits other people—and it absolutely does—but what’s fascinating is what it does to us. Neuroscience shows that when we give, our brains release powerful “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These neurotransmitters boost happiness, reduce stress, and deepen our sense of connection. Even more compelling, acts of generosity activate the brain’s reward center, the ventral striatum—the same area that lights up when we experience pleasure ourselves. In other words, we’re actually wired to give. It’s no accident that generosity feels good; it’s part of our design.

From a biblical perspective, this makes perfect sense. Scripture reminds us in Acts of the Apostles 20:35 that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and passages like 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasize giving from a cheerful heart. Generosity isn’t about obligation—it’s about partnership with God. When we give intentionally and joyfully, we align ourselves with His design, strengthening trust, community, and spiritual fulfillment. Generosity transforms not only the lives of those we bless, but also our own hearts and minds in the process.

On the Morning Thing Wednesday, Marcy gave some of the Top 15 ways you can bless others including:

  • Practice Random Acts of Kindness
  • Give the Gift of Prayer
  • Give Unexpected Gifts
  • Offer a Helping Hand

Click HERE to read the full article from Dr. Michelle Bengston!

0

Share Kindness Today!

We celebrated National Random Acts of Kindness Day on The Morning Thing!

Marcy and Xander shared some of the best and most simple ways to spread kindness to those that you encounter. This not only helps others but it also helps you, and it makes God happy!

Some of our favorite ways to spread kindness:

  • Smile at strangers
  • Leave an encouraging note on a random car windshield in a parking lot
  • Pay for the next person in line at the drive-thru
  • Compliment a stranger

You never know whos day you can make!

To learn more about National Random Acts of Kindness Day click HERE!

Click HERE for the full list of kind acts!

0

Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions!

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared some amazing and simple ideas for your New Year’s Resolutions! These are ways you can better yourself and others in 2026.

While they are hard to keep all year long, the pursuit of them is an accomplishment in itself.

Some of our favorites:

  • Be Present With Those You Love
  • Get Some Sleep
  • Try Something New

Click HERE to see and read the rest of the ideas!

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑