Romans Ten Fifteen: Beautiful Feet: 2022

Saturday, December 31, 2022

7th Day of Christmas Prayer

i awoke at 3 a.m. on this 7th Day of Christmas with this prayer on my mind and lips…

"Lord…

i want to say Your name;

i want to seek Your face;

i want to know Your love;

i want to sense Your grace.

Amen." -kww

Live Anticipating!

Pastor Kerry Willis

I love when God validates His words to me through another believer. God has given me two words for the New Year -- LIVE ANTICIPATING! Here is the affirming email i received from a brother in Christ, today:

Kerry I just read your blog on anticipating in 2023 and a morning devotional on How Faith Works by Ray Steadman. He quoted the following:

"Perhaps the most characteristic thing is that faith always anticipates, i.e., it moves toward a clearly expected event in the future. It was Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, who said, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward." With that fact none can quarrel. But without faith, life must therefore be a blind march into mystery: We cannot know where we are going; we do not know what is coming, we do not see what lies ahead. The future is an imponderable enigma to those without faith; anything can happen. Therefore there is always a sense of anxiety in trying to look ahead.

But faith believes that God has revealed something about the future; not everything, but something. And what he has revealed is quite enough for us to know. He used Abraham as an example faith seizes upon a revealed event and begins to live in anticipation of it. Therefore, faith gives life a goal, purpose and destination. It is a look into the future.

He used Abraham as an example "by faith he sojourned in the land of promise." (Hebrews 11:9a RSV.)

This is reassuring encouragement in God's word. Thanks for all of your encouragement.

Your friend

Bubba

LIVE ANTICIPATING!!!!!!!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, December 26, 2022

Christmas Afterglow — Two Ideas of Old Bells and New Words

This is the email i sent to our district advisory board members on Christmas Day as the sun was setting. Thought by sharing the message here, it might help you as well:

Christmas Day 2022, 5:15 pm

Dearest DAB Brothers and Sisters:

As Christmas Day comes to a close for another year, I wanted to share with you two ideas that are beautifully on my mind:

Idea #1: The recent Holy Day movie produced by Sight and Sound titled “I Heard the Bells” — written initially as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — was a very inspiring part of our Advent season. Of course his written words also became a beloved Christmas Carol. I just wanted to share afresh and anew a portion of the lyrics as we give worship to God on this sacred day that He first gave to us His Son:

“I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th'unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

'There is no peace on earth, ' I said

'For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Idea #2: The Lord is so faithful at the end of each year to give me new words of focus for the new year up ahead. Last year the words for 2022 were “With Gladness!” The words given this week for 2023 are “LIVE ANTICIPATING! This verse deeply reinforces the two words:

“Make yourselves acceptable to worship the Lord, because He is going to do some amazing things for us.” Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭CEV‬‬ ‬‬

Even though Christmas Day is coming to an end, let the work of Christmas begin afresh and anew in and within our lives.

Let us together, LIVE ANTICIPATING!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sunday, December 25, 2022

"The Boy Brings Joy" Reprise from Christmas 2012

Blessed Christmas Day to us everyone. Amen.

"The Boy Brings Joy"

[Written December 2012]

Pastor Kerry Willis

"...good news of great joy .. for all the people..." Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Don't you agree that December has the most joy-filled music of any month in the year? This year alone I bought three new Christmas

Music CDs and my vehicle stereo is locked-in on an all-Christmas-music-playing radio station. My daughter loves to laugh at me because most years I start playing my Christmas music collection in the summertime.

A few years ago, I purchased an acoustic guitar. I'm far from an accomplished musician, but I am an avid music lover. Several Decembers ago, I chose my favorite key of G and wrote some lyrics of love to sing to my Lord during Christmastime and all the time. After I ran out of my own words, I inserted a couple of lines from a 1970's Three Dog Night tune. Try it out for yourself. I think you'll agree that the simple arrangement works profoundly:

"Oh what a night, when the King of Kings was born.

He's still the reason, we cheer on Christmas morn.

God gave His Son, His One and only One.

Let us sing for joy, because of Mary's baby Boy.

Yes, the Boy brings joy. I said, "The Boy brings joy."

Oh, the Boy brings joy. Mary's bouncing baby Boy!

Singing, joy to the world - all the boys and girls, now.

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me!"

Thanks God for giving to us your Bethlehem Boy and His beautiful joy! Amen!

Blessed Christmas Day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Saturday, December 24, 2022

“LIVE ANTICIPATING!” 2023 & Beyond

The Lord is so faithful at the end of each year to give me new words of focus for the new year up ahead.

Last year the words for 2022 were “With Gladness!” The words given this morning for 2023 are “LIVE ANTICIPATING!”

Thank you, Lord!

“Make yourselves acceptable to worship the Lord, because He is going to do some amazing things for us.” Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭CEV‬‬

LIVE ANTICIPATING!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Give Him the Name, JESUS!

Here’s the link:

https://anchor.fm/anopendoorpodcast/episodes/An-Open-Door-episode-10--Prayer-with-Pastor-Jonathan-Merki-e1sjqjq

Deo Volente — as God desires.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, December 19, 2022

"For There is Peace…" Audio Sermon by Kerry Willis, Advent Week #4, 2022

There is no greater opportunity than to be invited to speak Good News at Christmastime in the pulpit of someone who came to Jesus under your preaching and who became one of your ministry protégés. Thanks Pastor Jared Link and East Rockingham Campus of Harrisonburg Virginia Church of the Nazarene.

December 18, 2022, Advent Week #4 audio sermon link below. "For There is Peace… Peace not of this world, yet, for this world!"

https://www.cotnaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/221218ER.mp3

Shalom! Blessed Christmastime!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sin’s Slaves? Jesus Saves!

Why continue as sin’s slaves? Jesus saves! -kww

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV

“O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All i know to say is: "What Peace and Maranatha!" -kww

Amen.

https://youtu.be/87bx0j8EoYQ

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

My Year-End Prayer

My Prayer of worship: Dearest Abba Father, nothing is too hard for you!

My Prayer of appeal: Let my time-off at this year’s end be characterized by these 7 words: “Silent nights, Holy nights, all is calm!”

My Prayer of surrender: Nevertheless, Deo Volente! Amen!

Pastor kerry Willis

Gratitude

Lord, Your Name is Faithful and my name is grateful. Amen.

https://youtu.be/lkaIGVt1lb0

With gratitude.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Messiah Arrived

"Because of hopelessness and oppression, very few were looking for, very few were waiting on Messiah’s arrival when Jesus was born. Nevertheless, Jesus did arrive, Jesus was born and became Himself the Favor of God, the Hope to the hopeless, and the Releaser of the oppressed." Dr. Gustavo Crocker, remix

Holy Christmastime,

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, December 9, 2022

Obstacles to Revival

The biggest obstacles to personal revival are [1] cold feet, that is, fear and [2] contentment. So, sadly we settle short of spiritual relationship renewal because we prefer our comfortable wilderness of religion to God’s plan of revival in the Promised Land. Dr. Gustavo Crocker, remix

Deo Volente.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Thursday, December 8, 2022

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” Lyrics

Some of the most moving and meaningful words of Christmastime for me over the past few years come from this verse in the old Christmas Carol titled “O Little Town of Bethlehem”:

“O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel”

From my District Newsletter article, today…

In Luke’s Gospel, we find Advent assurances, yes, comforting words from the Heavenly angel and the Nazarene virgin, yes spoken words to increase our peace concerning God’s faithfulness.

First, hear the words of the Heavenly angel named Gabriel:

"For every promise from God shall surely come true!" Luke 1:37, Living Letters

Second, hear the words from the Nazarene virgin named Mary:

"He has not forgotten His promise to be merciful." Luke 1:54:b, Living Letters

Let us claim these Advent assurances as our own. Let us saturate again and again in these written words of comfort spoken by Gabriel and Mary.

These words from Luke 11:1 have been speaking profoundly to me over the past 24 hours or so: "Lord, teach us TO pray…" Yes, Dear Lord, when it comes to prayer please just teach me TO DO IT! -kww

"We only learn to pray by praying." Samuel Chadwick

“Keep your promise and don't let me stumble or let sin control my life. Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws. Smile on me, your servant, and teach me your laws. When anyone disobeys you, my eyes overflow with tears.” Psalms‬ 119‬:‭133‬-‭136‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Deo Volente — as God desires.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, November 14, 2022

"The Message of Heaven Matters Now and Later"

"Be leary of people on earth who minimize the inheritance of Heaven ultimately for those who will receive the Gospel immediately." -kww

"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven." Words of Jesus, Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV

"In my ministry the single message that brought multitudes of people to the King and into His Kingdom -- most of all -- was the message of Heaven." Luis Palau

"The message of Heaven matters now and later." -kww

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, November 11, 2022

Perfection

Holiness and/or Christian perfection is not about an absolute perfection but about a relative perfection and has to do with us becoming/fulfilling all the Creator intended/desires us to be.

Example: A watch that keeps perfect time is "perfect" in this sense; it fulfills what the watchmaker had in mind when it was designed -- it keeps perfect time.

"But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Words of Jesus, Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭48‬ ‭NLT

"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do we desire to perfectly fulfill/to be all our Creator God had/has in mind for us? To be holy? To love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love others as we love ourselves?

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Deo Volente. As God wills.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

In Jesus’ Name!

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

A Blessing of Rescue

Please receive this blessing of rescue 🛟 from God’s Word, as it has been blessing me now for days:

“May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, just as God the Father planned, in order to rescue 🛟 us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5 [NLT, 1996 edition]

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Let Us Draw Near to God

Let us beware lest society’s secular influence causes us to get Holy God all wrong. It has sadly happened for people of every generation. So, let us be sure to draw near to God, so that He will truly draw near to us. [James 4:8] -kww

https://youtu.be/7d_oYr-P16M

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, October 24, 2022

A Prayer of Blessing for My Staff and Others…

i prayed this prayer over my staff today and sensed others may want in on the blessing…

District Staff, just want to say today that each one of you are so individually precious to our Father God and to me. My prayers for you are unending. May you know that you are held in His holiness, you are positioned in His presence, you are surrounded in His splendor, and you are lavished in His Love. O how He loves you. Amen.

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sunday, October 23, 2022

My Prayers This Lord’s Day and Everyday

My Lord… as i live

…and as i preach…

Be my adoration.

Be my saturation.

Be my strength.

Be my speech.

Be my confidence.

Be my countenance.

Get glory from my story.

Amen. -kww

Lord Jesus, keep my heart, mind, and soul ever tender, that i might continue to spiritually learn, unlearn, and relearn all that You are leading me in. Amen. -kww

Deo Volente…

Pastor Kerry Willis

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Beware Taking Relationships for Granted

Beware taking relationships with those you love and those who love you for granted…

https://youtu.be/YtKdzdlZ-rk

Tenderly.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, October 21, 2022

“Thy Savior is Near Thee”

“Thy Savior is near thee, suffering, lonely, tempted friend! Thou art not the plaything of wild chance.

There is a purpose in thy life which Jesus is working out. Let thy spirit flee for rest to Christ and to His pierced hand which opens the book of thy life!

Rest thee there! Be patient and trustful! All will work out right. Someday thou wilt understand.

In the meantime, trust Him "though sun and moon fail, and the stars drop into the dark."

-Mrs. Cowman

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Godly Wisdom

i awoke at 3 a.m. with this thought so strong on my mind that i had to write it down immediately:

Do Not Despise the Gardener

“Do not despise the Gardener, but take delight in Him. While spiritual pruning often seems unpleasant in the present it leads to eternal enrichment, yes, fruit that will last.” -kww

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, October 10, 2022

Make Room

My brother, Bj, shared this lovely song with me…

Who Am I?

My Mom recently told me this song was key in her prayer time as tearfully, she thanked God for His faithfulness…

https://youtu.be/lhkDw6Kv5uw

This is a great song called "Who Am I" and was written by Rusty Goodman in 1965.

Who Am I

Verse: 1

When I think of how he came so far from glory, came and dwelled among the lonely such as I, to suffer shame and such disgrace on Mount Calvary took my place, then I ask myself this question who am I.

Chorus:

Who am I that a king would bleed and die for, who am I that he would pray not my will thine Lord, the answer I may never know why he ever loved me so, and to an old rugged cross he'd go for who am I.

“All the People Rejoiced!”

“… And all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things Jesus did.” Luke‬ ‭13:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let us also rejoice in Jesus… With gladness.

Pastor Kerry

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Dear Local Pastors

Dear Local Pastors:

As a local pastor i took Sunday criticisms mostly as spiritual warfare.

All joy.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Thursday, September 1, 2022

A Secret

Lady Melba: Can i tell you a secret?

Me: Why yes, Mom. What’s the secret?

Lady Melba: My eyes are elevated above earthly things. I’ve set my focus on things above.

Wisdom According to Jesus

“Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” —Jesus, Luke 7:35 [NLT, 1996 edition]

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Jesus’ Words from Luke 6, So Touching

This morning these words spoken by Jesus Himself, so touch my soul…

“God blesses those who weep now, for the time will come when you will laugh with joy.” Luke 6:21b [NLT, 1996 edition]

“Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you.” Luke 6:37b [NLT, 1996 edition].

Lord, Your mercy towards us is so great.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Jesus Knows All About…

Jesus knows all about our challenges and He is present to give us victory.

Jesus knows all about our confusions and He is present to give us peace.

Jesus knows all about our concerns and He present to give us answers.

Jesus wants to be our Victory, our Peace, and our Answer.

Amen and Amen and Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, August 19, 2022

“It’s Called Love”

This old gospel song came into my mind and out of my lips early this morning. i must’ve heard it first in the early 1970s. Touches me still today, deeply.

https://youtu.be/W85jRxerq-U

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Thursday, August 18, 2022

My Morning Prayer for My Leadership Partners and Also for Any and All Others

Note: This morning in my quiet time before the Lord, i sent this prayer-message to our district leadership team. Later, i sensed i should share it also with my blog readers. i hope it blesses you, personally.

Dearest Philadelphia Nazarene DAB and District Staff:

Blessed to be back "on the grid" so to speak after some days of summer getaway.

This morning as i prayed fervently within my deepest being, i sensed the Lord had the posture of this Old Testament verse of Scripture towards you, so i send it and say it and pray it over each of you even now:

Zephaniah 3:17: "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Amen and Amen and Amen.

Thanks also for your continued prayers over Kim and me.

And let us all be…

1. Urgent for Relational Holiness,

2. Fervent in Real Prayer, and

3. All-Out for Lost Souls. Amen.

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

"EVEN BEFORE HE WAS CONCEIVED!"

My heart is mightily moved in the moment, yes, mysteriously, yet marvelously, as i ponder these words written down in God’s Word:

Luke 2:21 [NLT] -- "Eight days later (after the Christchild was born) when the baby was circumcised, He was named Jesus, the Name given Him by the angel EVEN BEFORE HE WAS CONCEIVED!" [See also Matthew 1:21]

Let us ponder still the beauty of the conception and birth and the life of The Bethlehem Boy Whom Heaven named Jesus long before He was ever delivered by His mother, Mary, on planet earth.

Says a lot to me about when life begins.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Zechariah’s Benediction

In Luke 2, verses 78-79 [NLT], my heart finds hope-filled warmth in the words of Zechariah’s benediction spoken after the birth of his son, John the Baptist, who would be the forerunner of Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the World…

False Guilt

If you want to minister to your pastor, help to rid him/her of false guilt by affirming them in their service to the Lord and the church. The enemy relentlessly attacks those called of God to be anxious even defeated when it comes to effectively meeting the often unrealistic expectations and daily demands of church leadership. Sometimes the expectations are even self-inflicted. Ministers after all are human.

We also depend on the fervent prayers prayed for us by God’s people, in Jesus’ Name.

Most pastors really do desire to serve with gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

i Am So Very Dependent

My prayer so very often is: "Lord, i am so very dependent on You." Confession is good for the soul. At least i testify that confession is good for my soul.

Jesus said we are dependent on Him. John 15:5 -- "Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."

Jesus, it does my soul good to confess what You already know: "Apart from You i can do nothing" and apart from You i don’t want to attempt anything. i declare i am so very dependent on You. Amen.

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Praying Deep Within

Lately, i seem to be praying deep within for the most part of my prayer life. i have several friends who are really in battles right now and i fervently plead the Blood of Jesus over them especially in the moment.

“Wraparound Presence”

“The Lord alone is our radiant hope and we trust in him with all our hearts. His wraparound presence will strengthen us. As we trust, we rejoice with an uncontained joy flowing from Yahweh! Let your love and steadfast kindness overshadow us continually, for we trust and we wait upon you!” Psalms‬ ‭33:20-22‬ ‭TPT

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, August 1, 2022

We Have An Anchor

The lyric of this 1882 church hymn penned by Pricilla J. Owens, is really helping me, today…

"We Have An Anchor"

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,

For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;

And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,

Can defy that blast, through strength divine.

It will surely hold in the straits of fear,

When the breakers have told that the reef is near;

Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

It will firmly hold in the floods of death,

When the waters cold chill our latest breath;

On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the Veil.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night

The city of gold, our harbor bright,

We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,

With the storms all past forevermore.

With gladness,

Pastor Kerry Willis

Idolatry

“We will fail spiritually as parents if we turn our backs on The Truth because our children or grandchildren don’t prefer it.” -kww #idolatry

Lord have mercy.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Nothing

This morning my Mom, Lady Melba, read to me from Streams in the Desert, Volume 2. She reads ahead so though it’s still July, this is the August 9 writing.

He... hangeth the earth upon nothing. (Job 26:7.)

"In looking to God for deliverance of any kind, we are prone to try to discover what material He has on hand to work on in coming to our relief. It is so human to look and crave for something in sight that will help the Lord in supplying our needs. In time of desperation, if we can only find a little something for God to begin on, we seem so much better satisfied. To need a sum of money and not to be able to think of a friend, a man, or a monied institution from which it might be obtained, gives a dark background to the scene. The outlook is all liabilities, with no resources to help out.

"To God's child, what is the real situation? Is there nothing but liabilities? Are there no resources? Yea, thousands, millions, billions, trillions! Where are they? Above you, below you, around you. Earth and air are full of wealth untold. Keep your eye on Him. It is not necessary for us to see any help in sight, nor is it really necessary for God to have any relief on hand. He does not need anything to begin on. 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.' What did He make them out of? Nothing. Pretty satisfactory earth to be made of nothing. Remember, not a scrap of anything was used to make it. He... hangeth the earth upon nothing. It hangs all right.

A God who can make an earth, a sun, a moon and stars out of nothing, and keep them hanging on nothing, can supply all your needs, whether He has anything to begin to work with or not. Trust Him and He will see you through, though He has to make your supplies out of nothing."

Mom also shared this song with me:

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Jesus EVERYTHING! Hell NOTHING!

“The main reason i do not want to spend Eternity in Hell is because Jesus is my EVERYTHING and i cannot imagine being separated from His Loving Presence for forever. Therefore, Hell has NOTHING to offer me.” -kww

O how i love Jesus, because He first loved me.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Penetrating Words of Jesus: “I Never Knew You…”

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” Matthew‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lord have mercy.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, July 11, 2022

“O How I Love Jesus!”

This morning walking through an outdoor cathedral in Bangor, Pennsylvania, this song just came from somewhere deep in my soul and out of my mouth.

https://youtu.be/lcvNzxDWicc

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Jesus is…

My friend and brother, Dr. Stephen Manley, sent me his testimony in a text message reply this Lord’s Day morning:

“Jesus is…

The gas in my engine

The DNA in my structure

The source in my system

"Jesus follows us all the way to Hell, crying, ‘DON’T GO!’ Going to Hell is not really about God judging us, it’s really about our chosen consequences. With the wages of our sin, we purchase our own destruction. It’s what we wanted." Dr. Stephen Manley, remix

"Jesus’ death on The Cross is God’s offer to us allowing us to choose an immediate detour around our ultimate destruction." -kww

Lord have mercy.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sacred Hymn

Awoke with these sacred words on my heart…

“There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

James 4:4 [Who Are We Friends With?]

“You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy.” James‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭CEB

i want to be your faithful friend, God.

Pastor Kerry Willis ‬‬

Saturday, June 25, 2022

June 2022 Episode 4, "An Open Door" Podcast

Here’s the June 2022 Episode 4 of "An Open Door" Podcast. This recording is a sacred conversation i had with my Mom, Lady Melba, several years back in 2017 sitting at the kitchen table in our family home-place on Harkers Island, North Carolina.

https://anchor.fm/anopendoorpodcast/episodes/An-Open-Door-Podcast-episode-4-e1ke8kc

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Questions About What God Cares About

Knowing we will one day stand before Almighty God as our Eternal Judge, if we were all Supreme Court Justices, how would we vote on some of the delicate issues they must choose sides on? It’s a sobering question to me at least. Which leads my mind to consider another similar question: Who among us cares about what Almighty God cares about anymore?

Prayerfully…

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, June 24, 2022

Humble Repentance

"It’s not too late to do the right thing. Our humble repentance always moves the heart of Almighty God." -kww

i am humbly and deeply praying, even now, for all of us who claim to belong exclusively to Holy God. i am also specifically interceding for the Supreme Court Justices who seem to realize with renewed conviction and courage that our country’s collective conscience has been looking the other way for far too long. Lord, hear our confessions, forgive us our trespasses against You as we forgive those who have trespassed against us, and begin to bring Your healing to our lives and to our land. Let the desires of Your heart, Dearest Lord, find renewed devotion within us and do not take Your Holy Presence from us. In the Name of Jesus, i fervently pray. Amen. -kww

Deo Volente -- as God wills.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sin No More?

Q: Would Jesus tell us “to go and sin no more” if it was impossible not to sin anymore?

Q: Did Jesus live a sinless life?

Q: What’s possible for us — when it comes to not sinning anymore — if we let Jesus Himself be The Master of our lives — The Supreme Controller of our lives?

Q: When we are tempted to sin, could it be that Jesus Himself — living in us — is our Way out of sinning.

Simply Present

“Too often, as carriers of the presence of the Lord, we give too little credit to the inspiring idea of just showing up, yes, of being simply present.” -kww #presencemattersmost

“Christ in you, the Hope of Glory…” Colossians 1:27b (NIV)

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Friday, June 10, 2022

7 Verbs from God’s Voice

These 7 verbs from God’s Voice recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14 are embedded in my being…

1. HUMBLE

2. PRAY

3. SEEK

4. TURN

Truth for Today

The lyrics of this song are so true and have never been more true that during these days we live in. -kww

https://youtu.be/uGfiKwgsoOc

Let us pray.

Pastor Kerry Willis

The Beauty of Holiness

Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth." Psalms‬ ‭96:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://youtu.be/CWZi3ImzArM

So be it!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, May 30, 2022

To Be…

Today, as we reflect on the servant sacrifice made by so many on our behalf, i am reminded of what i called the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene family of faith, hope, and love to during our end-of-April district gathering…

To be…

1. Urgent for Holiness,

2. Fervent in Prayer, and…

3. All Out for Souls.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Leadership Vacuums Are Frightening

“In those days [when the judges governed] there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges‬ ‭21:25‬ ‭AMP

“Why You Are Here…”

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Words of Jesus, Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

With gldness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

My Prayer for The Lord’s Presence

"Lord Jesus, unless Your Presence fills me to capacity, i will not be capable of completing the things i am called to. Yet, Your Holy Presence is not limited at all by my human limitations. So, help me to trust You to show off in Your Holy-Spiritual Power wherever i show up to serve You." -kww

Deo Volente.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

My District Servant’s Report to the District Assembly 2022

For my 4th report to the Philadelphia Church of the Nazarene District Assembly as the District Servant, i sensed the Lord inviting me to pray it, rather than just say it. Here were three of the points i prayed over…

That we would be…

1. Urgent for Relational Holiness,

2. Fervent in Real Prayer, and,

The world has watched "those of us who claim to belong to the Lord" divide over politics and masks and vaccines and race and the sad list goes on and on. Lord forbid. Lord forgive.

Will we now divide once again over babies in the womb -- or will we proclaim together that future generations yet unborn must be told about the Lord?

Let us pray: Lord have mercy. Give us the eyes of Your Holy Spirit in all these essential things. We desperately need wisdom, even beyond Solomon’s.

M. We need the mind of Christ to take over all of our thoughts. Find us as Your Bride weeping, and grieving, and pleading, and turning from all wickedness that You might administer the beautiful balm of Your holy healing 🕊 upon us, even within us, and beyond us. In Your merciful and mighty Name, Jesus, we fervently pray. Amen. -kww

"Our children will also serve Him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything He has done." Psalms‬ ‭22:30-31

"Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. And the one woman said, "O my lord, (King Solomon) this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. And on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were [alone] together; no one else was with us in the house, just we two. Now this woman’s son died during the night, because she lay on him [and smothered him]. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from [his place] beside me while your maidservant was asleep, and laid him on her bosom, and laid her dead son on my bosom. When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the morning, behold, it was not my son, the one whom I had borne." Then the other woman said, "No! For my son is the one who is living, and your son is the dead one." But the first woman said, "No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one." [This is how] they were speaking before the king. Then the king said, "This woman says, ‘This is my son, the one who is alive, and your son is the dead one’; and the other woman says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the one who is alive.’ " Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. Then the king said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to the one [woman] and half to the other." Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply moved over her son, "O my Lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; cut him!" Then the king said, "Give the first woman [who is pleading for his life] the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother." When all [the people of] Israel heard about the judgment which the king had made, they [were in awe and reverently] feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was within him to administer justice."‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3:16-28‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more." Matthew‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭CEB‬‬

"…if my people who belong to me will humbly pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Final note: My heart hurts mostly for Holy God.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

"Sanctify Me"

This week our family is spending a few days off the grid. We had such a wonderful weekend with our district family gathering that we sensed we should take some time not only to exhale but also to reflect and saturate in the goodness of the Lord and to speaks a season simply giving thanks.

During these few days God has brought some beautiful things to my mind. One is this song written by Rev. Kim McLean, my friend from Nashville. While the sacred song is a few years old, it is truly up-to-date as a prayer from my own heart: "Sanctify me."

https://youtu.be/XDnlxp3geUk

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, May 2, 2022

“The World”

In John 17, Jesus points out as He prays to the Father, that those who belong to Him may be in the world but they are not of the world, anymore than He is.

Recently, i heard a spiritual mentor of mine, Lindell Browning, a lifelong missionary to the Middle East say: “When we are too much like the world, we have much less to offer them.”

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Sunday, May 1, 2022

April 30, 2022 Episode 2, “An Open Door” Podcast

Episode 2: “An Open Door” Podcast, April 30, 2022…

https://anchor.fm/anopendoorpodcast/episodes/An-Open-Door-Podcast-episode-2-e1ht20h

Kerry Willis, District Servant, Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene

"Have You Reached Yet, Yet!" -- Message by Pastor Kerry Willis

Preached today on one of my most treasured topics: "Have You Reached Yet, Yet?"

Here’s the service link:

https://youtu.be/rz3oxqOCVFI

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Vulnerable Gratitude from a District Servant

If there are maybe two or three people on my friend-list who are curious about what’s on my mind as a district servant on the day before our district "super bowl" -- our yearly district assembly, here it is:

i am sitting at the table in our RV with heavy but holy tears in my eyes wishing my Dad, Capt. Billy, was still alive so i could introduce him to our district family. The many sacrifices Dad made for me and the Jesus-like love Dad had for me, helped to make me who i am and to get me where i am right now. His spiritual and relational impact upon my life is beyond mere human explanation.

At the same time, i am totally overwhelmed with great gratitude that my Mom, Lady Melba, is still around and is surely fervently praying for me and for all of us (in our humble family home in coastal North Carolina) as this weekend is about to begin.

Thanks for listening and for praying. Anticipation for the Presence of our Lord among us and within us as we gather together in His Name as a family of faith, hope, and love is off the charts. #vulnerable #gratitude #debtor

With gladness,

Pastor Kerry Willis

Monday, April 25, 2022

Pleasing-To-God Shepherds

In Jeremiah 3:15a [CEB] God says: "I will appoint shepherds with whom I’m pleased."

i pray: "Lord, find me pleasing in Your sight!"

-kww

“Exhale.

Take heart.

Jesus really knows.

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I WAS DEAD, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation‬ ‭1:17-18

HE IS RISEN! HE RISEN, INDEED!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Saturday, April 16, 2022

“Silence Now…” [They Took Him Down]

One of my all-time favorite faith traditions year-after-year as a local pastor was the Good Friday service. And most often the most moving portion of those services came towards the Benediction when I would have someone read, or I personally would read, these words below written for a 1980’s Easter Musical titled "The Witness." The reading is based on the death of Jesus after His horrifying Crucifixion. Hear them now:

"They took Him down, His poor, dead body. They took Him down, His poor, pale body, drained of life, ashen and stained with its own life’s blood.

His healing hands, now pierced and still. Serving hands that broke five loaves to feed five-thousand. Holy hands, often folded in fervent prayer. Poor, gentle hands, now pierced and still.

His poor, torn feet, now bloodied and cold. Feet that walked weary miles to bring good news to broken hearts. Feet once washed in penitent’s tears. Poor, torn feet, now bloodied and cold.

His kingly head made for a crown, now crowned with thorns. His poor, kingly head, crowned with thorns.

His gentle chest, now pierced with spear thrust. Quiet, still, His poor, loving chest.

His piercing eyes, now dark and blind. Eyes of compassion, warming the soul. Fiery eyes, burning at sin. Tender eyes, beckoning sinners. His piecing eyes, not dark and blind.

His matchless voice, fountain of the Father’s thoughts. Stopped, stopped, to speak no more.

Silence, now...

Where once had flowed wisdom and comfort, Spirit and life, His matchless voice, stilled to speak no more.

They took Him down, His poor, dead body, and prepared Him for His burial."

Friday, April 15, 2022

On the Day Jesus Died The Dead Were Raised

This is one passage often forgotten. On the day Jesus died the dead were raised. It’s as if when Jesus exhaled His last breath on the bloody Cross, simultaneously some of the dead in the local cemetery inhaled and lived again.

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice, and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan]. And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life]; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people." Matthew‬ ‭27:50-53‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Good Friday ended. Resurrection already coming.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Good Friday Writing 2022

This is a powerful writing for Good Friday shared by Pastor Matt Leroy…

Good Friday

William Faulkner once wrote, “The salvation of the world is in man’s suffering.” Well, he was almost right. It is in one man’s suffering.

The cross of Jesus is the pivot point of salvation. And as it comes into view, he does not shrink back. He sets his face toward the cross and walks with resolve to his death and your life.

Our liberation comes to us through the triumphant suffering of Christ. As the pioneer drags his cross down the way of sorrows, he carves a path of victory. Each step he stumbles toward death is a strike at sin and shame. Each drop of blood parts a Red Sea.

I often grapple with the question, “If God is love, why would He allow suffering?” That is a fair question. Worthy of the wrestle. But on Good Friday there’s another that brings a deeper mystery. “If God is not love, why would He suffer for us?”

The words “Love your enemies” sound radical enough from a Teacher on a hillside. But seeing them embodied by God on a cross? That’s revolutionary.

A grateful debtor.

Pastor Kerry Willis