“And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” James 3:6 NLT
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
This song often comes to my mind, especially so in the most difficult of spiritual seasons. Pray with me…
https://youtu.be/BtFrhgBZO-w?si=Igy-RICX1tnc2eTK
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” Job 16:19-21 NIV
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.” Psalms 3:3 AMP
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.” Ezekiel 18:23 NLT
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion Who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
"Ears Wide Open… Listening…"
Pastor Kerry Willis
“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.”Hebrews 10:36 NLT
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
One of my Mom’s most beautiful lines that has also become a mainstay for my own soul:
“There’s nothing between me and The Savior.”
Shalom. Shalom. Perfect Peace.
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
What joy it was this past Lord's Day to preach from Psalm 130...
"From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin." Psalms 130:1-8 NLT
Indeed, i am counting on You Lord! Amen!
Pastor Kerry Willis
A Prayer of Thomas à Kempis
Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to praise what delights thee most,
to value what is precious in thy sight,
to hate what is offensive to thee.
Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my eyes,
nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;
but to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
and above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of thy will.
— Thomas à Kempis
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
Jesus, You alone know where i am, who i am, and what i need.
Jesus, You alone know i am poor in spirit, i am desperate for You, and i am depending on You.
Jesus, You alone know how to build my trust, how to help me pray, and how to enable me to wait on You.
Jesus, You alone know how strong You are, how weak i am, and how apart from You i am nothing.
Jesus, You know how to love me, how to lead me, and how to let me soar on the wings of eagles.
Jesus, You alone know that i know i am just a stranger here, a weary traveler, and truly longing to be Home with You for forever.
Shalom. Maranatha. Amen.
"Ears Wide Open… Listening…"
Pastor Kerry Willis
“The Apostle Paul preached one thing only, the Crucified Christ, Who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Oswald Chambers
“Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 NIV
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
"He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:5-7 NLT
"Ears Wide Open…Listening…"
Pastor Kerry Willis
In Your presence
That's where I am strong
In Your presence
O Lord my God
In Your presence
That's where I belong
Seeking Your face
Touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock
In Your presence O God
I want to go
Where the rivers
Cannot overflow me
Where my feet are
On the rock
I want to hide
Where the blazing
Fire cannot burn me
In Your presence O God
I want to hide
Where the flood of
Evil cannot reach me
Where I'm covered by the blood
I want to be where
The schemes of darkness
Cannot touch me
In Your presence O God
You are my firm foundation
I trust in You all day long
I am Your child
And Your servant
And You are my
Strength and my song
You're my song
Seeking Your face
Touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock
In Your presence O God
In Your presence
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
I'm kind of homesick for a country
To which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
For time won't matter anymore.
Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you)
And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand)
There my home (There my home) shall be eternal (Eternal)
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
I'm looking now, just across the river
To where my faith, shall end in sight (Shall end in sight)
There's just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.
Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you)
And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand)
There my home (There my home) shall be eternal
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
Beulah Land, oh it's Beulah Land
Oh Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land
“Ears Wide Ooen… Listening… 🎺”
Pastor Kerry Willis
“And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:12-14 NLT
“Ears Wide Open… Listening…”
Pastor Kerry Willis
