When Praise Demands a Sacrifice

This song written and sung by Larnelle Harris has been so very inspiring in my own life: 

“When Praise Demands a Sacrifice”

The call to go to mount Moriah

came to Abraham

But the offering placed

before the Lord was not a lamb

He bound His only son

and when the knife was raised

A sacrifice became the price of praise

When praise demands a sacrifice,

I'll worship even then

Surrendering the dearest things in life

And if devotion costs me all

He'll find me faithful to His call

When praise demands a sacrifice

The call to go to Calvary

came to God's own Son

An altar waited for the lamb

He would become

His hands reached up to heaven

as the cross was raised

And with His life

He paid the price of praise

When praise demands a sacrifice,

I'll worship even then

Surrendering the dearest things in life

And if devotion costs me all

He'll find me faithful to His call

When praise demands a sacrifice

God hears the words of praise we lift

Yet I have found

He's honored more by what I'm willing to lay down

When praise demands a sacrifice,

I'll worship even then

Surrendering the dearest things in life

And if devotion costs me all

He'll find me faithful to His call

When praise demands a sacrifice

When praise demands a sacrifice,

I'll worship even then

Surrendering the dearest things in life

And if devotion costs me all

He'll find me faithful to His call

When praise demands a sacrifice

https://youtu.be/4DX6RYEht3Q?si=VdEU0BR8_9ygRho6

“Fully Surremdered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Jesus Praying

“‘I do not pray only for these people, My disciples. I pray also for those people who will believe in Me because of My disciples' message. I pray that all of them will become united. You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. I pray that they also will be united in Us. Then the world's people will believe that You sent Me.” Jesus Praying —‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭EASY‬‬

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Purified By Faith

"God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith." Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!"

Pastor Kerry Willis  

Go in Tears. Return with Songs.

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” Psalms‬ ‭126‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Power of Gratitude -- Savor. Seize. See.

Told an old friend this today: 

"I truly believe that when we do not cease to be grateful for what God has done, it gives Him more favor to do the things He has not yet done."

I also reminded him of an old Kerryism from my local pastoring days: 

Let us…

"Savor yesterday’s memories.

Seize today’s moments.

See tomorrow’s miracles."

Let’s be…

"Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!" 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Unconditional Trust of God Brings Blessings

“Some people continue to trust God even when troubles happen. God will bless those people, if they show that they really trust Him. He will give them the gift which is life with Him. He has promised to give this gift to all people who love Him.” James 1:12 EASY

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Preaching That “Cuts to the Heart…”

"Only by the power of the Holy Spirit within us as preachers will our exhorting of God's Word effectively cut to the heart of human beings as they listen to the messages we share." -kww

"When the people heard this (Peter at Pentecost) they were cut to the heart..." Acts 2:37a NIV

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

An Amazing Simple Bible Verse

Sometimes it takes just a simple Bible verse to amaze me and to bless my soul. Today, it was this one:

“After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.” Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Think about it. Can you imagine Jesus coming to your home after a church service? Amazing for me to consider. 

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis  

“An Awareness of Greater Glory”

Joseph Parker, an English preacher of the nineteenth century, once said, "If we, as the church, do not get back to spiritual visions, glimpses of heaven, and an awareness of a greater glory and life, we will lose our faith. Our altar will become nothing but cold, empty stone, never blessed with a visit from heaven." And this is the world's need today— people who have seen their Lord. - Cowman

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Presence Matters Most

 “It was said by Chesterfield, the heartless dandy, upon his return from visiting Francois Fenelon, the Archbishop of Cambrai: "If I had stayed another day in his presence, I am afraid I would have had to become a Christian; his spirit was so pure, so attractive and beautiful." Cowman

Presence Matters Most!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"Humility"

"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, or irritated, or sore, or disappointed; it is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when I am blamed and despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret, and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness when all around and above is trouble." - Cowman, copied from an old bookmark.

“Fully Surrendered to God’s Agenda!” 

Pastor Kerry Willis