i once heard a story of a young child who loved to see sandpipers running excitedly back and forth in the waves at the beach. The child, who was also battling cancer, would always exclaim: "Sandpipers bring us JOY!"
Oswald Chambers said: "JOY is never touched by external conditions, because we know that the grace of God is sufficient for every problem the devil can present."
All JOY to your world, today, from the shoreline. -kww
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Be filled with The Spirit..." Ephesians 5:18
Oswald Chambers said: "If we have no emotional life, then we have disobeyed God. ‘Be filled with The Spirit’; it is as impossible to be filled with The Spirit and be void of emotion as it is for someone to be filled with wine and not show it. How many are terrified out of their wits lest they should be emotional! Yet, Jesus Christ demands the whole nature and He demands that part of our nature the devil uses the most -- the emotional part."
"Holy Father God, please deepen our desire to be filled with ‘Your Holy Spirit,’ [and not to seek ‘the spirits’ offered by strong drink.] Please, help us to especially pay attention to Your Holy Spirit’s stirring of our minds and our emotions. Possess us Lord. All of us. In the Name of Jesus Who Promised the Holy Spirit as our inheritance. Amen.-kww
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
Kim and i are vacationing for a few days along serene new shores to us somewhere beyond, yes further south than our native North Carolina, nevertheless, this song link sent to me by the one who partnered alongside me 23 years as worship pastoe, Joseph, is simply perfect. Enjoy. You’re welcome.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
Tonight, my wife and i watched the full-moon rise over the Atlantic Ocean from a sacred and secret somewhere along the southeastern coastline of the USA. One-by-one, the mast lights of shrimp trawlers appeared on the horizon. i thought of my Life-Savior, Jesus Himself and my Dad, once a shrimp boat captain who’s now with the Lord. It was tender, my friends.
As i prepared for sleep, Dad’s life passage from Psalm 107:23-30 came strong on my mind. Here it is. i hope it blesses you.
"Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. They went up toward the heavens [on the crest of the wave], they went down again to the depths [of the watery trough]; Their courage melted away in their misery. They staggered and trembled like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end [all their wisdom was useless]. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper, So that the waves of the sea were still. Then they were glad because of the calm, And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor)." Psalms 107:23-30 AMP
Peace, be still dear souls. Jesus is here.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
This passage from the New Testament will be my closing today as I preach part one of a two-part message titled "Why the Cross?"
"But we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort]. Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin]," 1 Corinthians 1:23-30 AM
And this song has been on my heart as a testimony for many years now:
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Galatians 6:10 [NLT]
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
Dennis Kinlaw’s words remind me of a song:
His words: “When Jesus comes again and our eyes are opened to see Him, I think we will realize that He has been here all along.“
The song: https://youtu.be/BbZVRjjMTcc
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
We often say we are seeking direction for our lives from God yet get no clear answers. Did Jesus not say, "Come to Me?" -kww
Jesus is The Answer and the Way!
"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."" Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NLT
Finally, Jesus is our Home.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry
This song was in my head tonight when it was time for bed. Maybe it’s a reminder of my joy-description when i awake in the morning.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
There is no other friend like You, Jesus. You are proof that Father God has loved us with an everlasting love. i want to see You in everything and i want others to see You in me.
We were lost in sin, nevertheless, You are the Good Shepherd Who came to find us and to save us from our lostness and our sinful mess.
You are a friend indeed, to all in need. Make Your life as irresistible as possible to all dying people. Show us Your almighty power, shower us with Your continued kindness, and call us to Yourself in every way imaginable.
Thank You for being a friend of sinners, and for offering us The Greatest Exchange Ever Known to Humankind -- Your salvation for our damnation, Your holiness for our wickedness, Your righteousness for our filthy rags, yes, Your loving hope for our living hell. Amen and Amen.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
[Lord] the hierarchies of darkness are dismantled when the Spirit of [Your] Power comes upon me. -Prayers on Fire
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
During my high school years, i was a drummer in the high school band and the second-string drummer in a southern gospel singing group. This song spoke to me then and still does. i was always the drummer on this song because the first-string drummer sang lead on it.
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Never sympathize with a soul whose case makes you come to the conclusion that God is hard. God is tenderer than anyone we can conceive of, and if a person cannot get through to Him it is because there is a secret thing he or she does not intend to give up [like secret immorality.] The gospel of Jesus awakens a tremendous craving but also a tremendous resentment."
—Oswald Chambers
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"The first time we read the Beatitudes they appear to be simple and beautiful and unstartling statements and they go unobserved into the subconscious mind. We are so used to the sayings of Jesus that they slip over us unheeded. They sound sweet and Pius and wonderfully simple, but they are in reality like spiritual torpedoes that burst and explode in the subconscious mind, and when the Holy Spirit brings them back to our conscious minds we realize what startling statements they are."
The Beaitiudes, words of Jesus from Matthew 5...
"And He [Jesus] opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:2-12 ESV
Note: “A beatitude is a declaration from God that breeds anticipation within the blessed hearts of those Who belong exclusively to Him.” -kww
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Life must be lived with one hand lifted in praise to God and with the other hand immersed in the necessary activities of daily life. We must learn the delicate lesson of listening to His voice. Here is the place we learn how to live a Spirit-filled, sanctified life." -Dennis Kinlaw
"Live by the Spirit..." Galatians 5:16a
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
Oswald Chambers writes these words: "The only virtue you will have in the eyes of the world as my disciples," says Jesus, "is that you will be hated." That is why we need to be knit together with those of like faith; and that is the meaning of the Christian Church.
Let’s remember we were never intended to feel at home in this world as Jesus-believers. We belong to another place. -kww
"Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place."" John 18:36 NIV
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"None of us have time to pray, nevertheless, it is up to us to take time from other important happenings in our own lives so that we might begin to know how truly essential taking time for prayer really is.
And if we will pray, we will find unity with our Lord’s perspective concerning the needs of other people. God expects us to seek with all of our hearts until we find His interests in the lives of others and intercessory prayer alone makes these desires of His real to us.
To join our Lord in intercessory, fervent, prayer [yes, to pray from God’s vantage point for others] is one sure way we know Him more intimately because to do so is to enter His deepest sufferings." -kww
Now, saturate in these words from the Holy Scriptures:
"God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in His footsteps." 1 Peter 2:21 GW
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11 NKJV
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]— that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people). God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.” Colossians 1:24-27 AMP
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"God has to break a person before that person will surrender. God wants to break us so that instead of our own power, we have the Holy Spirit‘s power." -Dennis Kinlaw
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"The essence of Christianity is that we give the Son of God a chance to live and move and have his being in us, and the meaning of all spiritual growth is that He has an increasing opportunity to manifest Himself in our mortal flesh."
-- Oswald Chambers
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will." "No," Peter protested, "you will never ever wash my feet!" Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me." Simon Peter exclaimed, "Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!" Jesus replied, "A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you." For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, "Not all of you are clean." After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. "I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me." Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!" The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, "Who’s he talking about?" So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl." And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you’re going to do." None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night. As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus replied, "You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later." "But why can’t I come now, Lord?" he asked. "I’m ready to die for you." Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter--before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." John 13:1-38 NLT
Simply trust.
Pastor Kerry Willis
