A Hungry Man Is An Angry Man

As I was contemplating why people are so angry I came across this famous proverb and it became crystal clear to me. Hungry people are cranky!  Trust me I know I have firsthand experience and that's all I am at liberty to say if you know what I mean.  Honestly I discovered when I am hungry I tend to get agitated very easily.  I know you may be wondering what is this guy talking about?

Hunger is defined as the innate desire that every individual has to be in fellowship with God.  I have found when I don't spend time with God I am often not very pleasant to be around. When I am well-fed it is very difficult for me to become angry I am kinda like the individual James said everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Perhaps if we would take our cue from Jesus when he asked Peter if he loved him and Peter responded yes you know I love you.  Jesus response was FEED MY SHEEP.  The Word of God is a great way to fellowship with God because one of the ways God speaks is through His Word.

So the next time you find yourself getting angry feed your spiritual person with Word of God.  O taste and see that the Lord is good.

Scripture Reference: James 1:19

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

When It Rains It Pours

According Ad Age Advertising Century Morton Salt ranks number 9 on its list of top ten slogans of the century.  Their slogan you ask?  When It Rains It Pours and isn't that like life sometimes.  It seems like when it rains it pours.  I bet if you ask the folks on the east coast they would agree after experiencing a massive earthquake only to get news that a hurricane may be on the way. I bet if you asked David after he was confronted by Nathan and told that he would be publicly humiliated and that he would lose the child he made with Bathsheba he would say when it rain it pours. I bet if you asked Hagar after being obedient to her masters' she ends up in constant conflict and eventually told to leave the home she had become accustom to she would say when it rains it pours.

Here is the good news we serve a God that will be with us during the rain!  So when it rains grab an umbrella stand firm knowing that God will never leave you nor forsake you.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 13:5

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Failure is Success! Huh?

Malcolm Forbes made the statement, "Failure is success if we learn from it."  Often times when we fail to accomplish our goals we feel like a failure as opposed looking to what we can learn from our failures. Question becomes how do you view your failures?  If you keep on living you will have your share of failures but the key is to learn from them.  Here are a few examples of some people who learn from their failures:

1. Peter failed to keep his promised to never deny Jesus but he learned that God is forgiving.
2. Abraham failed the family test by sleeping with Hagar instead of waiting on the promise of God but he learn that God is faithful and always keeps his promises.

What have you learn from your failures?

Scripture Reference:  Romans 8:28

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Take A Shot

Wayne Gretzky said, "100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."  The question becomes are you afraid to take a shot?  What is God calling you do?  You know the people who are successful in God are those who take a shot. Abraham took a shot by leaving the land of Ur. Peter took a shot by leaving his occupation and family to follow Jesus. Joshua took a shot when he led the children of Israel into the Promise Land.

Here is a little secret a shot implies that there is a chance for failure but the good news is that when God is calling you to do something there is no failure!  Why?  Because there is no failure in God!  So Take A Shot!!

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 11:1-3

God bless,

Bondservant Hollis 

Are You Holding Us Back?

In sports no one wants to be the individual who is holding the team back.  Back from what you ask?  From the team accomplishing its goal whether it is to win the Superbowl or the NBA Finals.  No one wants to be the one who keeps the team from accomplishing its goal.  What if we approached Team Jesus with that same attitude?  What if everyone who was on the team did not want to be the individual to keep us from accomplishing our goal?  What is the goal? Well there are a several but here are a few:

1. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature (Mark 16:15).
2. To be One just as Christ and the Father are One (John 17:21-24).

I know what you are thinking?  My little sin is not holding back the entire body of Christ.  Well just ask Achan.  Whose Achan?  Achan's story is recorded in the book of Joshua chapter 7 and Achan is remembered as the guy who was holding Israel back.  Achan's actions affected the entire camp of Israel and God refuse to bless Israel because there was sin in the Israelite camp.  Achan was literally holding Israel back. 

The question becomes are you holding Team Jesus back by your actions?

Scripture Reference:  Mark 16:15, John 17:21-24, Joshua 7

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Put Up or Shut Up

We have all undoubtedly heard this saying and it is usually used in the context of an ultimatum. I say to you it’s time to PUT UP or SHUT UP.  God is calling for individuals to be living epistles to demonstrate that we operate according to heavenly promises and not earthly predictions.  God is calling for us to GIVE more when everything around us suggest we should give less.  I am not just talking about money as God is much bigger that one aspect of giving.  God is calling individuals to GIVE more love in a world that has become lovers of themselves.  God is calling individuals to GIVE more time in a world that has become obsessed with social media, reality TV, and PS3.

It's time to PUT UP or SHUT UP stop saying you love God more than anything but you give to any and everything but God i.e. your obsessions, wants, your habits, etc.  Here it is God is asking us to GIVE to the world what he gave to us HIS BEST!  Jesus is love, Jesus is peace, and ultimately Jesus is TRUTH! 

Here's the TRUTH it is time to PUT UP or SHUT UP.  My brothers and sisters it is time to walk it out.  As you know it is more blessed to GIVE than to receive.


Scripture Reference: Acts 20:35

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Never Make A Promise I Can't Keep

Dru Hill the legendary R&B/Pop group made this song famous  in 1997.  The claim that the song made was that the person would never make a promise that the person couldn't keep. This is a very admirable claim to make. Unfortunately we have all made promises that we have failed to keep in fact most relationships end because of broken promises.  Whether it is a sexual, church, or business relationship failure to keep one's word is a sure fire way to end a relationship.  Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeded out of his mouth.   Even though we live in a world where one's word does mean much anymore our WORDS are important to God.  In fact the Bible says that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 

So be careful of the promises you make because God is holding you responsible.  So never make a promise that you can't keep.

Scripture Reference:  Numbers 30:2, Matthew 12:36

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Why Sell Yourself Short Everybody Else Already Is?

Here is a little change up this morning.  My heart conviction this morning is related to self-esteem.  I don't know about you but I am tired of pessimistic Christians!  Sunday after Sunday, Tuesday after Tuesday, and Wednesday after Wednesday talking the Church lingo. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  If God before me who can be against me. Yet when you talk to them the first thing that comes out of their mouth is I wish I could do this or telling you why they can't do such and such!  Do you believe the lingo you speak or are they just words you are programed to say?  You have enough people hoping for your demise there is the adversary who would love to see you sell yourself short and of course your haters are just waiting for you to stumble. 

Don't give either of them the satisfaction don't sell yourself short and here's why:

Henry Ford said," There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can."  The Good Book says as a man thinks so is he!  God thinks your GREAT when will you?

Scripture Reference: Phil. 4:13

God bless,

Bondservant Hollis

RAID kills bugs dead.

In 1966 RAID came out with the slogan kills bugs dead. This is an interesting concept the claim they make is that by spraying RAID it will kill bugs dead.  This infers that there are some products that only deter the presence of bugs but the bugs often return.  I know many of you don't have bugs in your home, however, just pretend that you do for a moment. The question becomes what BUGS (sins/unproductive habits) do you need to kill dead?  You see often time our BUGS have a way of of coming back.  The Word of God is like Raid it kills BUGS dead!!  In fact, the Word of God is Raid extra strength not only does it kills Bugs dead but it kills removes the very evidence that there were ever any BUGS there in the first place.  So take some time today and pick up some RAID.


Scripture Reference: Psalms 103:12

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis