"Worship" -- “An Open Door” Podcast

Pastor Dave Bennett shares on "Worship" in Episode #23 of “An Open Door” Podcast. Here’s the link: 

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/anopendoorpodcast/episodes/An-Open-Door-episode-23---God-Worship-with-Pastor-Dave-Bennett-e2f0tf9

"Ears Wide Open -- Listening…"

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Jesus, Our Sanctification

"Jesus, Christ is made unto us sanctification, that is, He is the holy nature which we receive." Oswald Chambers 

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

New Day, New Prayer

Dearest ABBA Father,

It’s a new day and you are worthy of a new prayer from me. 

i absolutely adore You. 

i most certainly need You.

i truly do love You. 

i honestly look only to You for Hope.

i depend totally upon Your strength.

i only desire to be where You are. 

i cannot make it onward on my own. Never have, never could, never will. 

i pray that when You look at me You only see the Blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus.

i must have Your mind in all things for always. 

i ask that You would make me as pure as You can make a never-dying soul. 

i look forward to being with You today and forevermore. 

In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Ears Wide Open… Listening…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Build on the Solid Rock

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ears Wide Open— Listening…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

An Awesome Awareness of God’s Presence

"An awesome awareness of God’s Presence always powerfully overwhelms any and all distractions related to being overly devil-conscious. So we pray: Lord, let our full-focus be on You alone and move the enemy to the far sidelines of our spiritual lives. Amen." -kww

Deo Volente -- as God wills.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Jesus’ Parable of the Fishing Net

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭47‬-‭51‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ears Wide Open… Listening… 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

God Remembers Us

Listen carefully and receive these comforting words of truth…

God remembers us, we are not forgotten…

His Word tells us:

1. Our names are engraved in His hands. Isaiah 49:16

2. He saves our tears in bottles. Psalm 56:8

3. He keeps our prayers in golden bowls in Heaven. Revelation 5:8

Read it all again until you believe it. 

Ears Wide Open… Listening…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Psalm and Prayer

"The Lord watches over me like a hawk, not to alarm me or to harm me, but He watches over me as a lover watches over His beloved.

The Lord's presence embraces me like a holy hug, not to hold me captive or to control me, but to love me and to be my life.

The Lord has me in His sights and holds me steady in the strong vice of His victory. Selah."

 -kww

Ears Wide Open.., Listening. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Pass Me Not

Frances J. Crosby penned these tender words…

Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy

Find a sweet relief;

Kneeling there in deep contrition, Help my unbelief. 

Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

More Like Jesus -- A Prayer Song

Last evening i was in bed at 8 p.m. because my clock was set for 4 a.m. My brother, BJ, sent me a late night text with a song link and i started my journey this Lord’s Day listening to it. It’s a great prayer song. Lean in and here’s the link: 

https://youtu.be/c-dtA54ZZhg?si=RHgTPnAZxhF-fz41

Deo Volente. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“I Am Not Worthy.” Jacob’s Prayer

“I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness You have shown to me, Your servant.” Jacob’s words to God, Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭10‬a [NLT‬‬]

Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The 23rd Psalm Remix 🛟

This was devotional sent to our district leaders, today: 

The Sailor's 23rd Psalm

I was raised on an island where the sea meets the land. The imagery that inspires me most deeply is ocean imagery. I recently found in my research this sailor's paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm. I hope it encourages you as it does me:

The Lord is my Pilot, I shall not drift.

He guides me across the dark waters.

He steers me through deep channels.

He keeps my log.

Yea, though I sail ‘mid the thunders

and tempests of life,

I shall dread no danger, for He is with me;

His love and His care, shelter me.

He prepares a quiet harbor before me.

He anoints the waves with oil.

My ship rides calmly.

Surely sunlight and starlight

shall guide me on the voyage I take,

And I will rest in Heaven's port forever.

Peace… Be Still.

And maybe it’s been a while since you saturated in the actual 23rd Psalm, so here it is as well:

PSALM 23 A Psalm of David

THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. [KJV]

His… Presence Matters Most!

Pastor Kerry Willis,

Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership was/is revealed to us in the life of Jesus Christ. From Him we see that servant leadership is all about serving God and others and not at all about satisfying one's self. It's not about fulfilling our human dreams but it's about being faithful to God's holy vision.

Where there is no *vision, the people perish. Proverbs

29:18 And vision is another word for *burden.| Lord, help us to be obedient to the Heavenly vision. With Gladness. Amen. -kww

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A Majestic Rendering of The Prayer Jesus Taught Us to Pray

A Majestic Rendering of The Prayer Jesus Taught Us to Pray…

https://youtu.be/JWuLraQ1Ygo?si=M9P81i3qaz8w_u4f

Amen. Amen. Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"If We Belong Exclusively to God…"

"If we belong exclusively to God, we must always believe that He is absolutely orchestrating all of the generalities and even all of the details of our existence. Without doubt, the enemy can complicate certain aspects of our lives, nevertheless, none of his temporary shenanigans will keep God from bringing to pass the ultimate plans He has for us. No one else except God can still bring His desires out of our disasters, but God sure can and will if we will only trust Him wholeheartedly, regardless of how things might look or feel presently. Longevity will prove to be the greatest convincer. Stay strong in the Presence of the Lord!" -kww, remix

Ears Wide Open. Listening…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"A Way" Versus "The Way"

This scary passage speaks of the tragedy of living our whole lives spiritually deceived. Lord forbid: 

"There is a way which ‘seemeth right’ unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭[KJV‬‬]

So, i humbly pray: "Jesus of Nazareth, be The Way for my eternal soul, for You alone are ‘The Way, The Truth, and The Life.’ [John 14:6] i want to truly journey on The Way that is surely right, not take a way that only ‘seemeth right’ to me or to others who are themselves living and dying deceived. To be in right relationship with You alone, Jesus, leads to Everlasting Life over deception that leads to death, the kind of death that sadly leads to being forever separated from You. That would be Hell for me. Tender, yes, yet true. Amen." -kww

Good News:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭[KJV‬‬]

Lord have mercy.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Oneness with Jesus — The Refiner’s Fire

i have had a prayer and a song on my mind most of the day now. 

The prayer: “Dearest Jesus, my/our only Hope is oneness with You. Amen.” -kww

The song: “The Refiner’s Fire”

The prayer and the song go together. 

Here’s the link to the song. Pray with me. 

https://youtu.be/pX0knHZorb0?si=ccnHc4EpLzNG5ray

Deo Volente — whatever God wants. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Hang Your Head UP!

"My Dad, who was saved on Epiphany Day 1969, had a saying that corresponds with the Magi, who lived their lives looking to the skies. My Dad said, "If you’re gonna hang your head, hang it up so you can see the face of God." There may be a new star shining on the horizons of our lives, so in this afterglow of Epiphany 2024, let’s make sure our gaze is not downward but upward. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

As the Holy Spirit Reigns…

“As the Holy Spirit reigns within, we can live dead to Sin.” -kww

So be it. In the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Epiphany Prayer

Jesus, make my life an Epiphany, yes, please manifest Your Presence to others through me. Amen. -kww

Deo Volente… As God wills.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

To Know and To Be Known

"Lord, i want to know You and to be known by You. Amen." 

"And this is the way to have eternal life--to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth." John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ears Wide Open! Listening…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"Get Out of Here, Satan!"

"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’ " Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus." Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Listen.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“God’s Heart Was/Is Broken” — Noah’s Day and Today

Heart-wrenching passage just before the story of Noah in Genesis… 

“The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry He had ever made them and put them on the earth. IT BROKE HIS HEART.” Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

i wonder if this heart-wrenching passage is really what Jesus was referring to when He said: “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.” Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬ #GodsHeartIsBroken

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Truth Must Be Our Living Reality

“Truth consists not in correct doctrine, but in correct doctrine plus the inward enlightenment of the Holy Spirit — Diety indwelling us! We have not experienced rightly the power of Christian belief until we have known it for ourselves as a living reality.” A.W. Tozer 

Ears Wide Open… Listening,

Pastor Kerry Willis