"The Dominating Concentration of Our Lives…"

"Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and NEVER put the concern of your care on other things. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his/her relationship to God THE DOMINATING CONCENTRATION of his/her life and to be carefully careless about EVERYTHING ELSE IN COMPARISON TO THAT!" -Oswald Chambers 

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" -Jesus, Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." -Jesus, ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So, i begin again to fasten my focus on my King and His Kingdom! Help me precious Holy Spirit to be in wholehearted harmony with the holy words of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A New Testament Verse Reminds Me of An Old Testament Verse

As i was saturating in a New Testament verse, i was suddenly reminded of an Old Testament verse: 

The New Testament verse:  “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.” Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Old Testament verse: “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The conclusion i came to: Apart from the Almighty Spirit of Truth, our most passionate vows, our most sincere promises, and even our very best intentions are — at best — surely insufficient. 

i am grateful for the trustworthiness of this verse, my life-verse: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, i begin again to depend entirely upon the Holy Spirit within me.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

What Prompted Judas to Betray Jesus

"Judas was prompted to betray Jesus right after Jesus was worshiped, yes, by the woman who poured her expensive alabaster perfume over the head of Jesus at Bethany." -kww

"Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While He was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over His head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said. "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. She has poured this perfume on Me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed." Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus." Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭6‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even in Agony, Jesus Prayed! Will We?

"Though betrayal, false accusations, torture, fatigue, slander, abandonment, and even crucifixion were imminent in His life, Jesus still wrestled in prayer outside of Jerusalem in Gethsemane. Yes, even in agony, Jesus prayed. Will we? What’s keeping us from praying?" -kww

"Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray." He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me. He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, i begin again to embrace prayer, regardless of what’s happening or about to happen in my life.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Jesus Sends, Sees, Saves — “The 4th Watch of the Night”

Jesus sends us, sees us, and saves us, just as he did with His disciples in this storm story immediately after He fed thousands with two fish and five loaves… 

“Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away. [Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21] After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. [Mark 6:48; John 6:19] When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” [Ex 3:14] Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬-‭33‬ ‭AMP‬‬

So i begin again to give thanks for my Life Savior. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“An Anchor of the Soul” — Confident Assurance

“This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], [Lev 16:2] where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

This is the key passage for a men’s retreat i am speaking at this weekend. i have been saturating in this Scripture selection quite a while now and it just keeps going deeper and deeper in a wonderful way. 

So, i begin again to remember the Hope that is mine in Jesus.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"Why Pray?" — One Right Answer

Shared this with a brother today and sensed it may help others, too. It’s one right answer to the question "Why pray?" 

"The very powers of darkness are paralyzed by prayer. By intercessory prayer, we can hold off Satan from other lives and give the Holy Spirit a chance with them." - Oswald Chambers

So i begin again to pray for lost souls.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Fret Not! Worry is Useless!

"No amount of fretting will change anything. Does worrying make matters any better? No. So, shouldn’t we learn to tenderly trust God and to take life as it comes to us? Yes. For, worry is useless. So, let us fret not." -kww

Psalm 37 will help us. 

So, i begin again to turn worry into worship. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

“And it was observed, that in the greatest hurry of business in the kitchen, Brother Lawrence still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season, with an even uninterrupted composure and tranquillity of spirit. “The time of business,” said he, “does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.”

* Excerpt From The Practice of the Presence of God

Now i begin again to observe His Presence.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

His Holiness > Our Hypocrisy

"Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." Jesus, Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

i would say the cure for our hypocrisy is His Holiness. In other words if we are to cure our hypocrisy in our public lives we will have to become holy in our private lives, yes, increased intimacy with Jesus Himself is the cure.” -kww

So i begin again. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Prayer Today -- "Jesus… You Are…"

Jesus… You are... 

…my purity -- my holiness...

…my clarity -- my vision... 

…my sanity -- my wisdom...

…Amen. 

 Now i begin again… in Your Name! 

Pastor Kerry Willis

Unwavering Trust, The Patience of Faith, and Eternal Life, etc. -- Oswald Chambers

Thoughts inspired by Oswald Chambers, today: 

Patience is more than endurance.

Trust yourself in God’s hands. 

Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 

Faith is… vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is Holy Love. 

You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, BUT YOU KNOW HIM. 

Fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to to venture all in abandoned confidence in Him.

This is eternal life, that they might know Thee. The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything without wavering. 

My prayer based on these thoughts: "Lord, i want to trust You without wavering again today and day-by-day and night-after-night. Amen.” -kww

Now i begin again to confidently trust God! 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"In Me" -- Post-Pentecost Christianity, Plan A

“In a post-Pentecost dispensation we must not settle for being mere "followers’ of Jesus. Our inheritance has increased in intimacy. Jesus now wants us to be ‘sanctuaries’ of His Spirit. At Pentecost the outside God moved to the inside -- from ‘first with His people’ to ‘finally within His people.’ Ever since this reality happened God’s Presence dwelling within those who belong exclusively to Him has been -- and still is -- Christianity Plan A. There is no Plan B." -kww

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor--Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever-- the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be IN you." -Jesus, John‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"On that day [when that time comes] you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am IN you." -Jesus, John‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be IN them."-Jesus, John‬ ‭17‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives IN me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work IN you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"Christ IN you the hope of glory." -Colossians 1:27b

"Holiness is Christ IN me." -Matt Mayer 

So, i begin again with Christ IN ME!

Pastor Kerry Willis

"Ask God to Give You The Holy Spirit!"

"If you feel yourself being riddled and say ‘I don’t know what to believe,’ go to God on the authority of Jesus Christ, and ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit, and experience what the New Testament means by regeneration. It means receiving a new heredity. Jesus Christ never asks anyone to define their position or to understand a creed, but --  "Who am I to you?" Has Jesus Christ made any difference at all to me and my actual life? Jesus Christ makes the whole of human destiny depend on one’s relationship to Himself." -Oswald Chambers 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now, i begin again by the Holy Spirit!

Pastor Kerry Willis