As i Sleep and When i Awake

"Lord, as i sleep, caress my mind with Your holiness and grace, then when i awake, possess my attitude and actions for Your glory. Amen." -kww

Now, i begin again, to express my desperation for Your Presence. Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“Finished With Sin!”

“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now, i begin again to know i can and must be finished with sin! Amen!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“To Be”

Was just “talking with” Oswald Chambers. He “said” this to me:

“It is easier to fuss around at work than to worship; easier to pay attention to details, to say our prayers, or conduct a meeting than to concentrate on God… Once you are rooted and grounded in Christ the greatest thing you can do is to be.” Oswald Chambers 

Now i begin again… “to be.”

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A Double-Minded Man

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].” James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Now i begin again to trust You to make me to be singularly focused on You, my God.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Conviction to Be Saved and Sanctified -- Two Works of God’s Grace

My mom gave me such a beautiful testimony today of her life. She said: "Kerry, the Lord convicted me of my sins before he saved me, and later He convicted me again to be sanctified." She said: "Though my sins had been forgiven when I went to pray there was something between me and the Lord and I learned it was me still wanting what I wanted more than what God wanted and when I surrendered that attitude, He sanctified me." Such a simple but beautiful way to hear the witness of two works of God Grace -- salvation and sanctification.

Now, i begin again to share the message of Holiness. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“Fill in All the Blanks”

"I've been a Christian for almost 59 years and God continues to fill in all the blanks in my life." Lady Melba

Now i begin again, to say “i surrender all…” again. Deo Volente. Whatever God wants.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Why Go to Church

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY GOING TO CHURCH MADE YOU A HYPOCRITE, BECAUSE NOBODY GOES TO CHURCH BECAUSE THEY'RE PERFECT.

IF YOU'VE GOT IT ALL TOGETHER, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO. YOU CAN GO JOGGING WITH ALL THE OTHER PERFECT PEOPLE ON SUNDAY MORNING. 

EVERY TIME YOU GO TO CHURCH, YOU'RE CONFESSING AGAIN TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR FAMILY, TO THE PEOPLE YOU PASS ON THE WAY THERE, TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL GREET YOU THERE, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. AND THAT YOU NEED THEIR SUPPORT. YOU NEED THEIR DIRECTION. YOU NEED SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU NEED SOME HELP.

Now, i begin again to confess i am desperate for Jesus and His Church…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Greatest Test …

"Loving God when He is silent is the the greatest test of faith."

-kww

Morning Joy

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now, i begin again…

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“Yet… You Are Holy!”

“Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Now, i begin again to proclaim Your Holiness, regardless!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“…For My Depression Deepens… i Give You Myself.”

“I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now, i begin again to look to You, my Lord, i give myself to You. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A Quiet Season for Prayer

Today, i felt led to take a quiet, set-aside season for prayer. Intercession breeds intimacy with You, my God. It has been said that prayer changes things and prayer especially changes me.

So this morning, as i wait quietly on Your presence, help me as i pray, precious Holy Spirit, and hear the words that i speak, and especially consider the words that are silent.

For the gift of praying, gratitude floods my heart. Help me to know You in right relationship. The desire to seek You is truly a gift to my soul. 

Come, Holy Spirit, i need Thee, Come sweet Spirit, i pray. Amen.

Now, i begin again to call on Your Holy Name.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“God of Wonders”

Sitting on my back porch gazing upward at the beautiful blue skies filled with majestic white clouds this sacred song of my soul immediately came to mind…

https://youtu.be/lvxrkw2YHuc?is=CD8GwwgHqcGKnIA2

Now, i begin again to think on Your Awesomeness my WONDER-full Creator God!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Passage of Time

Today, i am thinking deeply about the mystery associated with the passage of time. Why today? It’s my birthday. i was born in 1961. Do the math. Now you understand why i am fascinated, even in awe that i am already the age i am. Yes, i am the oldest i have ever been and the youngest i will ever be. :) 

We know what God’s Word says about our lives on planet earth. Psalm 39:5 for example: “Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths, And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! [Eccl 1:2] Selah.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭39‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬

While earthy life is surely a mystery, when you ask Jesus to become your Life, it is at the same time marvelous. For Jesus Himself is for us Eternal Life. So whatever the end of our earthy lives may be, if we belong to Him, it’s less about death overwhelming us and more about a doorway opening ‬before us. And it is a glorious doorway, for sure. 

Is Jesus your Way, your Truth, and your Life? If not turn from sin and turn to Him. In faith let Him amazingly grace and forever embrace you with His Marvelous Mystery of Life Everlasting. He spoke about it in to Martha just outside of Bethany right before raising Lazarus from the dead. Hear it for yourself now: 

“Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;” ‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭AMP‬

i believe this!‬

So, i begin again to remember that even as my earthly life is vanishing like a vapor, the rest of my days promise to be the best of my days. Praise Jesus! 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

I AM the God Who Healeth Thee

This sacred song from Scripture came strong into my mind this morning as i saturated in the Lord’s Presence…

Perhaps it will help someone on my blog, today…

https://youtu.be/op-NZCJUfnM?si=R1LmvUZ_4MWrAFLs

Now, i begin again to wholeheartedly worship the God Who Cares and Heals.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Potter’s House — The Cracked Vase

i once visited the House of a Master Potter. Some of his primitive Japanese-style pieces have sold for up to $10,000 each, with displays in the Smithsonian Institute. While I was meeting him, he gave to me several of his beautiful pieces. I was humbled deeply. Just before leaving i noticed an old pile of rejected pottery laying in a pile near the woods. i asked him if i could have one or two of those cracked vases. He said “Sure.” One of those damaged pieces still sits in the corner of our flower bed. It has deep Spiritual implications for me. Note: i keep good soil in the cracked vase and it will produce something beautiful once the seeds take root and sprout.

“But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬ 

“Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭GW‬

So, i begin again to expect a great harvest within my own life, though often i am more like a cracked vase than a finished piece of art. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

“A Place to Rest”

“Come to Me all of you who are tired. You are like people who have worked for a long time. You are like people who have carried heavy things. Come to Me. If you do that, you will find a place to rest.” Jesus, Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭EASY‬‬

So, i begin again, Jesus, fervently seeking Your face as my only place to rest. Amen. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"The Lord Does Indeed Know!"

"You ignorant people better learn quickly. You fools--when will you get some sense? The One Who made the ear, can’t He hear? The One Who formed the eye, can’t He see? The One Who disciplines nations, can’t He punish? The One Who teaches humans, doesn’t He know? The LORD does indeed know human thoughts, knows that they are nothing but a puff of air." Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭CEB‬‬

"The Lord knows the people who belong to Him…" 2 Timothy 2:19b CEB

So, i begin again to acknowledge "YOU DO INDEED KNOW LORD!" 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Faith is…

 “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God Whose ways you cannot understand at the time. I don’t know why God allows what He does, but i will stick to my faith in His character no matter how contradictory things look.” -Oswald Chambers 

So, i begin again to recommit my faith in my God!

Pastor Kerry Willis  

Trusting My Trustworthy Lord -- Psalm 31

"[O Lord] i entrust my spirit into Your hand…" Psalm 31:5a NLT

"But i am trusting You, O Lord, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in Your hands…" Psalm 31:14, 15a NLT

So, i begin again this day to continue to trust wholeheartedly in You, my trustworthy Lord. Amen.

Pastor Kerry Willis