You Don't Know What You've Got Until Its Gone

You ever been in a relationship and you did not appreciate the person you were with until they were no longer there?  There was a song that came out I can remember who sung it but it was a lady with some dreadlocks sitting in back of a car singing, "You Don't Know What You've Got Until Its Gone."  Most of the time we think of this concept in the context of relationships but this is not always the case.  For example, you ever had a car and the freedom to go wherever you wanted to go and then your car breaks down for a few days?  You could then testify that you don't know what you've got until its gone.  Another example, have you ever had a family member whom you were close to die?  No matter how well you knew the person the full impact that person had on your life could not be measured until that person was no longer in your life.  Why is that? Simple because you don't know what you've got until its gone.

Still there?  Still marinating on Sunday's message!  Often times it only when we walk away from God that we can to truly appreciate how AWESOME, EXCELLENT, LOVING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE, GRACIOUS, FORGIVING, WISE, UNDERSTANDING etc. GOD is.  Go ahead and tell the truth about it was only when you walked away from God that you truly came to understand this concept.  We learn that the first step was to admit we had left God.  The next step was to seek after God.  How many of you like the Psalmist can say as the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.

Scripture Reference  42:1

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

We are all familiar with the familiar line from the story of Snow White.  It goes mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all?  The Queen would often ask the mirror that question.  Now fairest is translated beautiful.  For seven years the Queen asked the mirror the same question, "mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all?" The mirror (who is personified in the narrative) would respond you are and the Queen was pleased.  Isn't that just like us as long as people tell us the response we want to hear all is well?  It strokes our ego and validates our self-centered desires. 

The story continues that when Snow White became seven years old she was the fairest of them all.  So when the Queen asked mirror mirror on the Wall who is the fairest of them all?  The mirror responded, "Snow White." The narrative continues that the Queen became jealous and sent a huntsman to kill Snow White.  Isn't that just like us as soon as people don't give us the response we want to hear we react harshly.  We often send words to murder their character.

How will you respond we you mirror of affirmation gives you a response you are not fond of?  The Bible says in Titus 3:2 that we are to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Scripture Reference: Titus 3:2

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Soul Survivor

Young Jeezy recorded a track featuring Akon entitled "Soul Survivor."  In the track Jeezy who claims to be the heart of the streets tells the story of his life as a hustler.  He shares about his struggles about the highs and lows of the dope game.  He comes to the conclusion that he is a Soul Survivor.

This past Sunday's message was entitled, "My Worship Is For Real," it covered Luke 1:46-56 it as affectionately known by many as Mary's Song. Mary says in the verse 46 that my souls magnifies the Lord!  She is effectively saying that in light of your care Lord I am a Soul Survivor!  Mary is also saying in light of your mercy towards Israel in other words your ultimate deliverance of Israel my soul magnifies the Lord.  Mary says that because of you Lord I can be a Soul Survivor!

What does your soul magnify?  Does it like Young Jeezy the things of this world or does it like Mary the light of the world?

Scripture Reference:  Luke 1:46-56

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The Pie Nobody Wants To Eat: Humble Pie

What's your favorite pie?  Is it the infamous sweet potato pie?  Is it the delicious apple pie?  Perhaps you like pecan pie?  No, I got it you like pumpkin pie?  This holiday season there will be millions of people partaking in one of the aforementioned pies and as good as they are they are not the pie the Lord desires for His people to eat.  That is not to say that the Lord is against you eating pies in moderation wink wink but it is to say that there is a desirable pie that you can eat as much as you want.  Humble pie! 

Humble pie gets a bad rep because it usually happens as a result of an individual's boasting or being haughty and then they get a slice of humble pie to bring them back to reality.  However, this doesn't have to  be the case the Bible says humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (NIV). 

So this holiday season remember the pie that smells good to the LORD.  Will you have a slice?

Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 5:6

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The Art of Pre-Responding

Have you ever wonder why things happen the way they happen in your life?  You ask yourself why don't I ever get the promotion?  Why am I never found? Why can't I find the one?  Why don't the things I pray about come to past?  Might I suggest to you that it is because you are a reactionary individual opposed to a proactive individual?

 A Reactionary individual praises God when the change comes vs. A Proactive individual who praises God while they are waiting for the change to come.

A Reactionary individual praises God when things are well vs. A Proactive individual who praises God when things are a mess trusting God can bless the mess.

Which one are you?  Are you a Reactionary individual or a Proactive individual? 

Here is the key to becoming a pro-active individual. Pastor Donald Johnson suggest that the pro-active individual is the individual who responds to God's revelation opposed to God's manifestation!  That is to say it is the proactive individual who hears the Word of God responds with anticipatory faith acting as is the revelation is the manifestation!

God is watching your pre-response.  What kind of individual will he see?

Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:13

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The New Face of Slavery: Consumerism

There is a new form of slavery!  This time it has no respecterr person(s).  It doesn't care if you are Black, White, Hispanic, Asian etc.  As we approach this season where more people fall victim to what society markets as the times when dreams come true. You can find your dream vacation for supposedly pennies on the dollar.  You can find your dream electronics or dream vehicle at significantly reduced rates all to keep you in the bondage of consumerism.   Consumerism is the anti-contentment it focus is always to get get get.  This new form of slavery breeds discontentment and leads to the financial bondage of debt. For example, you can have all of your bills paid a blessing in within of itself but consumerism will make you discontent because you couldn't buy such and such a gift they won't even open.  So what do you  do become discontent rationalized in your mind that since it is on sale I will go ahead and buy such and such a gift and fall victim to consumerism.  You end finding yourself in financial hardship and your discontentment only worsens as you are unable to feed your desire to get get get.

The question becomes are you a slave or are you free?  Does your value come from things or does your value come from God?  Let's keep in mind the reason why we all exist and that is to GIVE and not to GET. So what do you have to give?  The transformative love of Jesus Christ and then and only then will you be able to be free of this bondage.

Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:12

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Gratefulness

Tis the season of thanksgiving.  Not to go all cliché on you but for the believer every day is a day of thanksgiving because every day is a gift from God.  The natural response when one receives a gift is to say thank you.  Now that we have all of the formalities out of the way I come to challenge you to embrace an attitude of gratitude.  You may be wondering why should I do such a thing?  Paul reveals to us and the church of Thessalonica that it is God's will for us to give thanks in everything!  The leper in Luke 17 reveals to us that gratitude moves us from healing to wholeness (in my Dr. Steve Bland voice).   Studies suggest that people who are grateful live longer and have lower cholesterol.  Not only is an attitude of gratitude the key to spiritually vitality but it is beneficial to your physical vitality.

Winston Churchill said, "attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."  An attitude of gratitude can be the difference between life and death literally!  So what will you choose?  Will you choose gratefulness or will choose ungratefulness?  What you choose to embrace is what you will become:

Grateful people have joy vs. Ungrateful people are bitter.
Grateful people have peace vs. Ungrateful people are always worried about what isn't.
Grateful people exhibit love vs. Ungrateful people exhibit malice.

Can you see the difference?

Scripture Reference: 1 Thess. 5:18

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis