If you’d like to consider joining us for our 16th journey to the Holy Land via Germany in July of 2020, you’ll find all the info -- costs, options, logistics, registration forms, etc. -- at our website.
Note: First 36 to send in a $375 deposit are on the list. It’s a priceless experience.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
I heard someone say recently: "Thunderstorms scare me half to death!" Honestly, for me, I like the thunder (i admit I am a drummer, so maybe that helps) and even the storm that accompanies thunder brings a cool sense of comfort to my depths. On the other hand, I will confess that the lightning sometimes can be worrisome to me.
As I write this blog, there’s a severe thunderstorm underway outside the cottage here in Cape May and so far I am enjoying it. Perhaps so because all of the window shades are closed and no bolts of lightning have lit up the covered windows or hit somewhere close by... yet? A few near misses of lightning and I may get a little unsettled.
It’s all about perspective and experience I suppose. For example, I heard of someone in the last year that is scared half to death by dogs. You know why, the growling isn’t that bothersome, but he’s been bitten a few times by bad dogs. Now, all dogs are worrisome for him. This person even jumped out of a second floor window once because a dog came in the room. (I could be wrong, but maybe a fear of heights would’ve been more helpful in that situation than a fear of dogs?)
Anyway, our fears are many and quite unique. Some fear planes, some fear darkness, some fear spiders, some fear snakes, some fear public speaking, some fear water, some fear rollercoasters, some even fear jello and the list goes on and on.
In the King James Version of the Holy Bible we read "Fear not" or "Do not be afraid" 103 times. I’d say God knew fear would try to at least paralyze our lives, if not devastate us.
I recently heard a pastor confess that "flying" is a fearful thought to him, yet once God called him to go to an island in the Caribbean on a mission trip, and he went. All his fears were proven unfounded. In fact, flying to the Dominican Republic became a highlight of his life. That’s because obeying God is always more important that our feelings and especially our feelings of fear.
Which brings me to my point. Many Jesus-believers are afraid to talk to others about Jesus, yet Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "And you will be my witnesses." But He beautifully prefaced that command with these words: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you..."
By simple faith, profound hope and God’s amazing love, let’s overcome our fears moment-by-moment and let’s make some holy highlights -- dare I say -- even squeeze some holy living out of anything that would dare try to scare us half to death. In the Name of Jesus, I pray fear will not have the last word or even the next word in our lives. Amen. So be it!
P.S. That thunderstorm has passed and all is at peace inside and outside the cottage now. Good night. Sleep tight. And don’t allow fear to run or to ruin your life.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
Today, I will share some images I’ve liked lately. I pray they lift your spirits and point you to Your loving Creator God.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
The highlight of my day happened at a Memorial Day Concert underneath a picnic shelter at the Erma Holiness Campground as Nazarene song evangelist, Lindsay Huggins, sang a Carrie Underwood song titled "This is My Temporary Home!"
The tender lyrics touched me very deeply and the third verse especially brought tears to my eyes and caused me to remember my own Dad on this Memorial Day who served in the Coast Guard some 60 years ago right here in Cape May, New Jersey. It’s neat when recalling memories also serves to make a new memory.
Listen to the song:
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
This Sunday morning I am sitting in the old tabernacle at Erma Holiness Camp in Cape May, New Jersey, awaiting opportunity to preach my second of three messages this Memorial Day weekend.
As the prayer team held hands and prayed up near the altar before the service, Mrs. Anna, a 92-year-old saint of the church led us in prayer with words like these:
"Lord, we are on holy ground. Come and do something unusual among us and within us. We plead the Blood over all the souls who need You. We all need more of You. May we be better for being here today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."
I embraced Mrs. Anna after the prayer time and she said: "I am old and I want to do more for Jesus. He told me to write a card of encouragement to every pastor on the Philadelphia District, so I am going to give it my best to make it happen."
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
Lord, my deepest desire is to be Your sanctified sanctuary for Your Presence to abide in, reside in and preside in. Let Your home be found in my heart.
My life’s purpose is that You, my Lord, might manifest Yourself in and through me.
I have given up my right to myself to You.
Please, let Your Precious Holy Spirit wear me like a garment -- purposefully and powerfully -- into the world.
I am not my own, I belong to You, Jesus. I don’t have a life of my own anymore. I am crucified with You, Christ, and I no longer live, nevertheless You live in me.
Deo Volente is my heart’s cry. Yes, "whatever You want," my God, "as You desire" is the song of my soul.
In other words, Dear Lord, give me the desires of my heart only if my desires are one-in-the-same with Your desires.
Oneness, yes undeniable unity with You is my forever goal, and my day-by-day goal, even my moment-by-moment goal.
Find Your delight in my devotion to You, Almighty God.
In the Name of the One called Wonderful, I pray. Amen.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
Lord, i only desire enough money to simply live and to generously give. - kww
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY
Pastor Kerry Willis
Whenever I hear the word vision, another word almost always comes to my mind--burden.
Remember Moses, God gave him a vision to lead the people of God out of Egyptian bondage and into the Promised Land. Surely, such a vision caused Moses great burden. However, such a burden from God was and is also beautiful, even glorious.
And think of Jonah. The vision God gave him for the great and lost city of Nineveh was so burdensome that Jonah ran in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, after a violent boat ride and a few days in the belly of a large fish, Jonah finally realized with his own eyes the vision God had to save even Nineveh.
My name is not Moses or Jonah, however, much of my life has been spent carrying the glorious burden of God‘s vision in my own life. I would not have it any other way. Most recently and with fervent urgency, I am beginning to slowly but surely see a vision of God’s broken heart for the great and lost city of Philadelphia.
Pray with me and for me these words recorded in the book of Acts: "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision!"
As in all of my ministry, I continue to embrace wholeheartedly Proverbs 29:18. "Where there is no vision, the people perish!"
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
Tonight, we wrapped up a 5-service season of revival at New Holland, Pennsylvania Church of the Nazarene. God has been so very faithful with His Presence and the people have also been faithful with theirs. Love when that happens. Such a tender time of spiritual renewal. Praying the afterglow continues until Jesus comes.
On the final night, I preached on "The Beauty of Holiness". Psalm 29:2 was my launching pad: "Give to the Lord the glory due His Name. Worship the Lord in the beauty of His Holiness."
The question was: "What’s possible if we live holy lives?!" We were all encouraged as we considered the possibilities.
This song was among several that inspired my saturation time before I preached the final message.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
The Lord spoke so surprisingly strong to me and to my faith in Him on Sunday morning during worship through the lyrics of this song, "Tremble!" I hope it also helps you and your faith!
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
Sharing today some words and images that are part of my own Heaven-bound journey.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
R - Repentance
E - Evangelism
V - Vulerability
I - Intercession
V - Victory
A - Awakening
L - Love
Lord, touch your people once again.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
i pray in full surrender 🏳️ today, Precious Lord...
...let Your Mind take over my thoughts...
...let Your Marvelous envelope my mundane...
...let Your Heart be in authority over my passions...
...let Your Help come quickly to lift me...
...let Your Spirit purify me through and through...
...let Your Agenda swallow up my plans...
...let Your Assurance guarantee my future...
...let Your Desire rise above my wants...
...let Your Divinity embrace my humanity...
...let Your Righteouness lead my relationships...
...let Your Rule govern my leadership...
...let Your Goodness flow from my existence...
...let Your Gentleness characterize my actions...
...let Your Joy adjust my attitude...
...let Your Justification render me blameless...
...let Your Peace flood my nervousness...
...let Your Power infuse my weakness...
...let Your Hope inform my outlook...
...let Your Holiness overtake my humanness...
...let Your Radiance lightup my countenance...
...let Your Resurrection override my fears...
...let Your Word inspire my ideas...
...let Your Ways encourage my wondering...
...let Your Vision enlighten my focus...
...let Your Voice be my reward...
...let Your Promises prove to be my inheritance...
...let Your Presence be my very essence...
In Your Kind Name, I pray, King Jesus! Amen.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY
Pastor Kerry Willis
Oswald Chambers’ prayer-life was described by his close friend, John S. Skidmore, in these touching words:
"Oswald Chambers’ prayer-life was one of intercession for others. Seldom did he ask specifically for anything material for himself. His whole personal attitude towards God was that of harmonious relationship and absolute childlike dependence upon his Heavenly Father."
It occurs to me that a close friend’s description of one’s prayer-life has a whole lot to say about one’s life.
Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People!
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
I am quite sure I chose to be a photographer by profession at age nineteen in part because of the undeniable inspiration I received from creation. It all began with sunsets and shoreside scenes.
On this blog post I am sharing some images I captured recently. I hope your spirit is encouraged and I pray in some way Jesus is elevated. My life-mentor, James, taught me that creative photography can be one right way to worship Almighty God.
UNITY!
Pastor Kerry Willis
