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 

“…With Just a Word.”

“No matter what we may say or do, God can do anything with just a word. He hung the stars in place.” -Lady Melba

Live Anticipating!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Don’t Give Up on Seeking a Real Relationship with Jesus

"There are many brands of Christianity. Religion is like that. Please don’t give up on seeking a real relationship with Jesus just because the brand of Christianity you’ve experienced has sadly left you disillusioned." -kww

"How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing, it is irresistible." -C.S. Lewis

Live Antcipating!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Church Beware

"Church: Beware and resist the rampant idolatry that is on parade throughout this sinful world we temporarily inhabit. Let us not buckle to the myriad of enticing temptations of earth or bow our knee to any other gods. We are all just one breath away from eternity. Take heart and trust totally. Our King really is coming again. Hold fast in faith. Live anticipating. Maranatha. Amen."  

-kww

Jesus, when You return find faith on the earth in me. Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

LIVE ANTICIPATING [Validation]

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 

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 

"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 

“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!

Was reminded this morning of my late childhood friend, Ken Davis, and his favorite Bible verse: “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

Blessed Christmastime. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“What Christmas is All About!” — Peanuts

“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” -Linus nailed it!

https://youtu.be/vVp5AGte_4Q

Blessed Christmastime!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Daughter’s Fave Christmas Song

Learned this Christmas season that this is my precious grown daughter’s favorite Christmas song. Tender discovery. Her Dad loves it, too.

https://youtu.be/XLqaSxpA_7A

Blessed Christmastime.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Episode #10 of “An Open Door Poscast” Pastor Jonathan Merki, Prayer

If prayer really matters to you, chances are this latest episode of “An Open Door Podcast” will be meaningful to your life. 

My guest on this 10th Episode is Pastor Jonathan Merki, Lead Pastor at Millville NJ Church of the Nazarene on the Philadelphia District. Brother Jonathan’s DNA is to pray. 

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

"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,

Be born in us today.” 💫

Blessed Christmastime. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Experiencing Unusual Spiritual Warfare?

Are you experiencing unusual Spiritual warfare? Remember, God will use it for His glory! Unexpected attacks by the enemy can surely lead to undeniable advances by the Lord!  Amen! 

The battle belongs to the Lord! Amen!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Prayer Trajetory — Pastor Wes Tink

“Personally, my prayer trajectory can be related to the circumstances of life. Comfort and security negatively impact my prayer life. Hardship and desperation strengthen it. While I wish it were not so, I see that it is in the times of pain, suffering and desperation that the prayer life flourishes. Praying through in times comfort and convenience seems hardly possible.” Pastor Wes Tink 

Deo Volente — as God wills. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

An Advent Prayer / Spiritual Warfare

Abba Father, Hallowed be Thy Name. Please use these holy days of Advent to extinguish the exhaustion of Your people everywhere. Be our continued Victor in all spiritual warfare. You alone are our omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Overseer. Make us to be glorious overcomers for Your glory. Remind us that the Battle really belongs to You. Help us to trust You, totally, and to be Your witnesses to Your world. In Your Wonderful Name, we will continue to pray without ceasing. Amen. -kww

Deo Volente -- as God desires.

Pastor Kerry Willis

About to Happen

i awoke this morning with a deep sense of glad anticipation, yes, i had a deep inner peace that this passage is surely underway, yes, about to happen: 

"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 

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 

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 

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 

“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”

And here’s my favorite recording of the song to enjoy: 

https://youtu.be/jyPMDD8fGeA

Blessed Christmas.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Choose Sides…

2 kinds of people… 

1. “They begged Jesus not to leave them.” Luke 4:42 NLT

2. “The crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” Mark 5:17 NLT

Dearest Jesus don’t ever leave me. Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Prayer Request

A friend asked how he could pray for me today. Part of my response was …

Pray i won't become overwhelmed in my mind, that i will trust God in the NOW and leave LATER in His trustworthy hands. 

Deo Volente — As God desires.

Pastor Kerry Willis