A dear pastor friend sent me kind words, and unbeknownst to him, a timely message for me, today that included this verse:
"For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude." Psalms 32:7 NLT
* i am reminded of this prayer song…
https://youtu.be/vWSuDMGdzz0?si=WUOQ9-PTU7IdOn4N
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
Pastor Kerry Willis
”While we all should want to make a contribution in the world and while our individual participation really does matter, let us find our highest value and truest purpose fulfilled only in the Cross of Jesus Christ.” -kww
“May i never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and i to the world.” Galatians 6:14 NIV
“We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong.”
- Stephen Curtis Chapman
Amen.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"If we are more focused on the work, making disciples, than we are on true worship, knowing Jesus, we won’t make genuine disciples." -kww
In my life, Lord, be glorified, be magnified, and be satisfied. Amen.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“The great controlling factor in mission work is not the needs of the people but the command of Jesus. In mission work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of people to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus.” Oswald Chambers
“Jesus said to them again, ‘…As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21
Settle the call above all!
Pastor Kerry Willis
In my Journal on October 1, 2014, i wrote down my Dad’s testimony during his cancer season right after finding out at UNC Medical Center that a bone marrow transplant was not a final cure option:
Dad: “i will depend on my Savior.”
Dr. Gabriel: “He is the ultimate physician!”
Dad: “i am not afraid. i am not offended. i am having a good day. His banner over me is love. He keeps me singing. i have nothing to pout about and everything to shout about. i have eternal life.” #perspective
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Always being sorry but never turning from sin and darkness is not really repentance, it’s self-centered nonsense. When we ultimately turn around, Jesus immediately turns the lights on and says “Welcome Home.’” -kww
Lord have mercy.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Dearest Jesus, to be exclusively Yours is my only aim... And for You to have Your way in me is truly everything.“ -kww
“My heart hurts for those who seek — most of all — to be workers for God rather than — above all else — to see their great worth to God.” -kww
i am a grateful debtor,
Pastor Kerry Willis
“But you dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus told you, that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable. Now they are here, and they are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They live by natural instinct because they do not have God’s Spirit living in them.” Jude 1:17-19 [NLT — 1996 Edition]
Jesus, may we be carriers of The Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Once most people get into enough trouble, the name of Jesus is likely to be called upon. Why wait that long? Minimize future regrets by calling on Him now. By now, i mean now.” -kww
He’s waiting.
Pastor Kerry Willis
During each NFL season, i am reminded of my neighborhood friends, yes way back when we were all just young boys living at the west’ard end of Harkers Island, near Red Hill (for the most part.) One Christmas (maybe 1971ish) we all got NFL uniforms, helmets, pads, and cleats from Sears and Roebuck. On Christmas morning we had the big game. If i remember correctly, Craig Paylor, Mike Sparks and myself were San Francisco 49ers. Jeff Paylor was a Green Bay Packer. Rodney Yeomans was a Chicago Bear. James Ed Sutton was an Oakland Raider. Andy Scott was a Kansas City Chief. John Fulford, Billy Rose, Jay Castro, and William Piner were all Los Angeles Rams. Terry Yeomans did his own thing and got a Shetland Pony. Yep, a real pony. After the Pro Bowl in my back yard we all went to see Terry ride his horse around in circles. Those were the good old days.
We really were one. The west’ard gang.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19 NIV
Love God’s Word!
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Lord Jesus, only You can open our eyes when we have been blinded by personal grief and our own limited points of view. We claim from You — for our own lives — what You did for the two disillusioned disciples at the end of the Road to Emmaus. Open the eyes of our hearts, too, Lord. Amen.” -kww
In Jesus’ Name.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Some people think intellectual assent is all that is necessary to be a Christian, but this is not true. Christian belief must become authenticated in one’s life. Truth comes first, and then personal experience. John Wesley preached the gospel a long time before his heart was transformed. In fact, one of Wesley’s most powerful sermons, ‘The Almost Christian,’ he wrote before he was ever born again. The truth must break into our lives in a deeply penetrating and intimately personal way. Jesus then goes from not only being ‘the Savior’ but to also being ‘my Savior.’ Is the truth we are proclaiming authenticated by our lives?” Dennis Kinlaw
So be it.
Pastor Kerry Willis
"But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will rise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lord is a light for me." Micah 7:7-8 AMP
Glory to my God in the Highest!
Pastor Kerry Willis
“But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:1-2 AMP
i believe Your Word, Lord God. Amen.
Pastor Kerry Willis
“My prayer is not for them (the original disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one — I in them and You in Me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and THAT I MYSELF MAY BE IN THEM.” Jesus Praying, as recorded in the Gospel of John 17:20-26 NIV
Amen. So be it, in Jesus’ Name!
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Jesus isn't interested in being included in our lives, He wants to be enthroned.“ -kww
King of my life, i crown Thee now!
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Testimony: In the year 2023, since about March, i have become more aware than ever how very dependent on and desperate for the Lord i really am. As a result, i testify that He has been more undeniably present with me and within me than i ever remember. Especially when i preach. His strength truly is perfect when our strength is gone. i am a grateful debtor, indeed." -kww
His.
Pastor Kerry Willis
