LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 12/29/24

Becoming what God knew you could be

A brand-new year is here and I’m excited to see what the Lord has for us! Keeping Christ at the center of our thoughts takes a great deal of discipline and determination, but so does everything else we really care about. It comes down to how serious we are about knowing God and how willing we are to give him total control of our lives. Whatever we become involved with, He simply wants us to listen and obey His instructions, which is why we are here. If we abide under the shadow of his wings, we will walk in the peace and joy of his Spirit but if we choose to live our own way, we will remain frustrated, miserable, and disappointed.

Matthew chapter 22 gives us the meaning and purpose of life, “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Actually, the Bible contains many passages where God declares how much he loves us and wants to save us but most of the time we’re so busy making our own decisions we rarely consider how the distractions are preventing us from serving him. In the book of Revelation, chapter two, He’s disappointed with why the Ephesians had left their “first love” and today is a perfect time for us to examine our hearts and consider our decisions. The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection reveal God’s passion to have a constant and personal relationship with us.

At this time of year, we are focused on our resolutions as it’s the perfect occasion to start developing spiritual lifestyle changes. You notice I used the word “developing” because drawing closer to God is a process of patience and faith much like losing weight, exercising or any other vision where we are working toward a goal. For example, eating a salad today is not going to automatically solve our weight problem but it’s a positive first step and the same is true with learning how to become a follower of Christ. There have been many adaptations from the original Al-anon credo that warns everyone to be realistic about trying to change everything all at once because personal transformation is a lifestyle decision that will require serious concentration and perseverance.

It’s great to have long-term goals and we should release our enthusiasm and hope into accomplishing our destiny, but it’s also important to focus on our mission one day at a time. It would be much better to go slow with permanent results than to rush and become overwhelmed with discouragement and sadness. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus” and this reveals a critical truth that no one else can do this for us. Personal change is always between us and God! A great place to begin would be to dedicate a few minutes each day simply talking with God. Daily Bible reading is another excellent place to give our attention because his words are spiritual nourishment to our spirit and will help fill our mind, and heart with strength and confidence. You cannot go back and change the past, but God can forgive you. Never underestimate the determination God has given to become what He knew you could be.

A new way of thinking will require courage and a fierce tenacity as our old nature hates to be disciplined and surrender control. Also, as many of you know, the Christian life is a serious challenge because of the intense resistance from the dark side. Long story short; it’s not easy but absolutely worth it! I’ve recorded an 80-minute CD where I narrate over 100 encouraging Bible passages that are filled with hope, joy, and faith. It also includes prayers, and original music. Email me at psalmz103@gmail.com and I would be glad to send you a free copy. This is an encouraging resource for those who would like to meditate and fill their mind and soul with God’s promises. We spend a lot of time waiting on the Lord for answers, but often it is He who is waiting on us to become what He died for us to be. There is no substitute for obedience, as today is a perfect time to ask Jesus what He wants you to do this coming year.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky where he is a Christian minister, outreach chaplain, worship leader, and author. To learn more about the Christian life visit: billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 12/23/24

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME!

The author of this story is unknown and it has been told by many people throughout the years. The gentleman to whom I’m going to introduce was not a Scrooge, but a kind, generous man who loved his family and was upright in his dealings with other people. He could not understand how or why Jesus came to earth to save us from our sin. It did not make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. “I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you and the kids to church this Christmas Eve.” He went on to say, he would feel like a hypocrite and this year he would much rather stay home. He would just wait up and read until they returned. And so, he stayed behind as the family went to the candlelight service.

Shortly after the family drove away, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched as the flurries became heavier. He then went back to his chair in front of the fire to finish reading his newspaper. A short while later he heard a thudding sound…then another, and then another. His first thought was that it sounded like someone throwing snowballs against his living room picture window. As he opened the front door to investigate, he found several birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter, did not realize the glass barrier was keeping them from entering the safety of his home. Well, he could not just let the poor creatures freeze, so he had an idea that the barn that housed his children’s pony would provide a perfect place from the storm if he could only figure out how to direct them into it.

Throwing on his coat and rubber boots, he headed out into the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on the light, but the birds did not move. Figuring that food would entice them to come in, he hurried back to the house, grabbed some bread, and started making a trail of crumbs to the lighted stable. But to his dismay, the birds paid no attention and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. Trying to catch them became comical as they were too fast and his attempt to herd them by waving his arms only made things worse as they scattered in every direction except where he wanted them to go. Suddenly, he realized they were simply overwhelmed with fear. I must seem like a dangerous and terrifying giant he thought, if only I could think of a way to let them know they can trust me.

If I could just convince them that I’m not going to hurt them and sincerely want to help them. But how? Whenever I move they go into a panic and seem to be confused and suspiciously determined to not let their guard down. Then it dawned on him, if only he could become a bird, he could mingle with them and speak their language. Then hopefully they could come to know me and learn there is no need to fear. I could show them the way where they can be safe and content. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, hear and understand. At that moment the church bells began to ring through the crisp stillness and as he stood there listening to the melody of “O come all ye faithful” he thought about how most people, (including himself) are generally afraid of God and have a difficult time with faith. Hmmm…so God sent His Son to rescue those who will trust Him.

The man felt convicted within his soul and realized for the first time how the Son of God is the hope of eternal salvation. Jesus had to somehow prove His love and dying on the cross became that way. After all these years he embraced God’s love and why he needed a Savior. At that moment, he humbly fell to his knees in the snow and asked God to forgive and save him. Helen Keller said, “Christmas Day is the festival of optimism” as the incarnation of Christ comes from the Latin version of John 1:14, which says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Dr. Holland is a Christian author, outreach minister, and community chaplain. Check out his books and read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 12/16/24

Things are not always the way they seem

For many years I’ve had the privilege to visit those in jails, prisons, hospitals, recovery centers, and nursing homes, as I truly enjoy spending time with all people. In nursing homes, I sing, teach Bible studies, and appreciate hearing about their former lives. The Lord has allowed me to make some precious friendships and I want to share with you about a lovely lady who after a devastating stroke was no longer independent and is now in a comfortable setting where she is well taken care of. I love talking with her and a while back in the middle of one of her stories we discovered that long ago she was actually my mother’s next-door neighbor and as children, they played together. What were the odds of that? Anyway, I love her positive and upbeat personality and how kind and thoughtful she is. She never married and lived a simple life of working and being a devoted member of her church where she sang in the choir for over fifty years.

Barbara is intelligent with a clever sense of humor, and it warms my heart to watch her laugh. Recently she experienced a life-changing event that has caused me to do some serious thinking about the mission of every Christian. Within our conversations about God, it had not crossed my mind to be concerned about her spiritual condition. I felt confident she was a Christian and was ready to live with Jesus forever. However, a couple of weeks ago, another minister visited this facility and brought a salvation message, and in closing, he simply asked if anyone would like to accept Christ as their personal Savior and be born again. Barbara said a strange feeling of concern and guilt washed over her and later that evening she began to experience sorrow and conviction. The next week, the minister returned and prayed with her, and through God’s mercy, she received Jesus as her Lord.

When I came to see her, she was glowing with joy and excitement and said with all the years of going to church she could not remember anyone ever mentioning how Jesus came to redeem and save us. She told about being sprinkled when she was a little girl as a traditional formality and had never seriously felt the Holy Spirit revealing her need to accept Christ into her heart. So at 78 years old, she has now responded to God’s invitation, and with childlike faith, her spiritual eyes are open. I’m so grateful to the Lord that she received Him before it was too late. After I left, I was concerned about my lack of discernment for not recognizing her need to be born again, and today I wonder how many individuals are living the same emotional pretense?

We read in the New Testament about the Pharisees and notice they were highly respected for keeping the law, going to church, and having religious knowledge, but yet in John chapter eight, Jesus “knew” they did not really know God at all. They were just going through the motions of religious legalism. There are several accounts where Christ confronted the religious leaders and explained that good works mean nothing unless a person becomes born again through God’s gift of salvation. We all want to hear about going to heaven but many refuse to associate eternal life with being in a literal covenant with God. Yes, salvation is free because of God’s grace but it’s our responsibility to realize that we can only enjoy a personal relationship with Him when we are ransomed by the blood of Jesus. Those of us who have been declared righteous are commissioned to boldly tell others about why Jesus went to the cross and to share the entire process of how God invites everyone to be spiritually transformed into a new creation.

I’m learning that encouraging and comforting others is truly a much-needed blessing but let us pray for spiritual sensitivity so that we might be be an alert messenger who is not presumptuous or embarrassed to witness to someone even if they have been a church member all their life. Things are not always the way they seem. It’s never too late to be forgiven, delivered, and transformed into a child of God as He is always drawing people by His love because He wants to rescue everyone from their sins and does not want to see anyone perish. Christ was born to die so that all who believe in Him can be saved. I pray that all is well with your soul today.

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 12/9/24

A cure for the soul that is ailing

When we are truly in love with someone, nothing can keep us from them or at least thinking about them. It sounds like the beginning of a beautiful romantic love story, doesn’t it? Actually, it is. It’s between a divine creator who sent His Son Jesus to save those who are lost. Christ gave His life so that all who place their faith in God can spend time with Him, listen to His voice, and fall deeply in love with Him. His words are life-changing as they convict the conscience and renew the mind. When our spiritual eyes and ears are opened we realize His endless mercy and compassion longs for us to trust Him. When we decide to embrace His invitation, we are then faced with deciding how much of our lives we will surrender and dedicate to Him.

Speaking of deciding, I think and write a lot about choices, and no wonder as they are the foundation of our existence. Every moment we are choosing what we will think about, what we will say and do. Good and evil opportunities are presented and then we have the power to select. A sobering thought about the Christian life is whatever we allow to interfere and prevent us from living in holy intimacy with God are sins of intention and omission. Of course, there is a world of excuses why we are not as holy as we should be, but there is never an acceptable reason to neglect loving and obeying Christ as our highest priority. If we are convinced that our treasures and pleasures are worth more than surrendering our will and doing what He says, we are deceived.

A divided heart is always a reason for a lack of joy and contentment. This is associated with what we give our attention to and as James mentions it’s not good to be double-minded. Striving to accumulate material possessions, dreaming of becoming more wealthy, and having a relentless passion for pleasure cannot satisfy what our spirit is longing for, which is to be saturated in God’s presence. In fact, concentrating on worldly gain leads to being conformed to thinking like the world and allows the carnal nature to have control. Those who are caught in this web of chaos of compromising are always disappointed and miserable in their soul. A Christian is called to seek first the kingdom of God, and then the Lord will lead and bless according to His perfect plans.

I guess we could say that our souls can become sick much like our bodies can. There are natural germs that can cause an infection, and there are sins that can cause the spirit to become dry and drift away from the refreshing waters of God’s perfect peace. I have walked through times when my soul was weak and ailing and I admit it was no one’s fault but my own. Again, the condition of our mental and spiritual health has everything to do with the decisions we make. If we avoid prayer, we have denied ourselves the most beautiful gift within the human experience. God is always available for us to approach Him, He desires that we live in the awareness of His presence, He has given us so many amazing promises, and yet we have more important things to do?

I often forget that I’m not a finished product, as God is trying to mold me like soft clay on His potter’s wheel. Submitting our will to Him is a painful process we do not want to consider because we are too busy seeking His blessings. His refining fire is a very real ingredient within the understanding of our responsibility and how our relationship with God works. Being transformed means our former motives and attitudes must die so that a new life with Christ can rise and thrive. Only then can we finally begin our humble descent toward total dedication and obedience so the character and nature of Christ can be manifested within us. If we want more of God, there must be less of us.

The good news is there is a miraculous lifeline of God’s mercy, an instantaneous cure for the weak, sick, and discouraged soul. The spiritual medicine is simply this: Ask God to forgive you of your sins and then make a fresh commitment to love and obey Him with all of your mind and strength. Read Jeremiah 29:12-13, as you control your constant state of faith, love, joy, and hope.

Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 12/02/24

Making the decision to live God’s way

Many are convinced that this life has been given to them to do whatever they want and technically it’s true that God has given every human a free-will to choose. Most will agree this is one of the greatest gifts mankind has been given, but the problem is that our carnal human nature does not want what God wants. You see, the Lord desires to use us exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine but the only way we can truly please Him is to do what He says. This sounds simple, but it’s no secret that humans are experts in the areas of compromising and negotiating.

When the subject of freedom is discussed, we think how amazing it is to have the liberty to live independently and make our own decisions, but this is based on human logic. When we make the holy vow to receive Christ as our Lord and to obey Him in everything, we no longer follow our own agenda. This spiritual reality is the most difficult challenge within the Christian life. Since we have also been given a clever mind, it is here where the real battle of good and evil is engaged. Allow me to clarify, only those who have a passion to know and love God and are sensitive to His voice choose to participate in spiritual warfare.

It’s elementary to say that being a Christian is a dedication to living for God, but this is not as easy as it seems. There is no greater personal event than receiving Jesus as He transforms us into a child of God and secures our future in heaven among many other amazing blessings. The rest of our life is devoted to learning God’s word and our responsibility to obey Him. We love to hear about all the benefits of being born again but become uncomfortable when we realize we are accountable for our lukewarmness and rebellion. For some, the only time they are serious about talking to God is when they need something. He has a purpose for all of us that is far beyond our dreams but until we invite Him to be our Lord and give Him control, we will not fully enjoy this astonishing covenant relationship He wants with us.

God does not force us to do what is holy, and sometimes it seems we are getting away with saying and doing wrong things, but we are not. The reason we hear so much about the importance of walking in the Holy Spirit is that we are constantly being tempted to make bad decisions. Yes, life is about choices. Some we’re proud of, and some we regret that will always haunt us. For those who are saved and abide in God’s presence, the Holy Spirit convicts the conscience as a reminder to repent, which keeps our hearts content and in perfect peace. However, when we allow our fleshly nature to control our thoughts we become miserable as the weight of intentional sin becomes a dark heaviness.

Has there ever been a time in your life when you seriously wondered what else God has in store for you? We may be thinking about our career, considering a change, and trying to second guess about different opportunities around the next corner. Others might be trying to find love as they seek a trusted mate they can enjoy this life. And then some are facing serious challenges with their health and are worried and stressed about how this is going to affect their future. Whatever our trials and circumstances, it was never intended for any of us to walk through these places alone. His answer may not be exactly what we have dreamed about, but it will be a response that fits with His plans.

When troubled about something, it’s common to search everywhere we can think of for help. From reading books to listening to advice, we want to know as much information as we can so we can make the most informed decision possible. There is nothing wrong with this, but God also wants us to trust that He is the one with all knowledge and understanding. We can be assured He has designed goals for us that are filled with hope and success (remember Jeremiah 29:11). He patiently waits for us to give Him control of our thoughts, and as we yield to this decision to submit to His desires, we will become His faithful servant.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 11/25/24

Taking a moment to appreciate our blessings

The year has flown by and now Thanksgiving is here. I hope you have a meaningful Thanksgiving with family and friends. The election is over, basketball is starting, and the sentimental feelings of fall have turned into the blah of winter. Many already have their Christmas trees up, and this week delicious turkeys will be the centerpiece of our tables. Actually, our celebration to give thanks was created in the United States in 1863, as President Abraham Lincoln wanted to promote unity and for all Americans to show their gratitude to God. Thanksgiving eventually became a national holiday in 1941, but what about counting our blessings every day?

Last week, we had another successful holiday food drive at the County Fire District where I’ve been chaplain since 2012. Through generous contributions, volunteers help organize and coordinate boxes of food and a turkey to hundreds of families in our community every Thanksgiving. It’s a large operation and a great ministry for families who could use a blessing. Amid the distribution activities, a man who’s been having a hard time lately started sharing with me. I guess you could say he’s given up on life and has become bitter. It breaks my heart to see people struggling with depression and who believe their problems are hopeless.

As a minister and counselor, I’ve learned that we cannot get into another person’s head and replace their contaminated thinking with optimism and hope. We can speak words of life and faith, we can show them Bible promises, we can pray for them, and even refer them to a psychologist, but everyone must realize some very crucial realities. When someone becomes serious about changing their situation, they must develop a passion to allow God to renew their mind. If they are not willing to see how God has already blessed them, while refusing to help themselves, they will continue in a dark and destructive cycle. Since the mind is everyone’s battlefield for control, understanding who we are in Christ and our responsibility to obey Him should be a constant priority.

Yes, we all go through a difficult seasons from to time, but instead of agreeing with the voices of gloom and doom, the best option is to listen, absorb, and comprehend God’s viewpoint within our thoughts. I’m not referring to a wishy-washy happiness or a cranberry holiday, I’m talking about a lifestyle of spiritual contentment and peace that passes all understanding. Even science proves that being thankful improves our physical and mental health, increases empathy, reduces aggression, improves sleep, helps with self-esteem and bolsters our fortitude. We can all use more of that. Could we venture to say those who express sincere gratitude have less stress and sadness than those who do not? I say yes.

According to a 2014 Pew Research study about how often participants felt an attitude of gratitude, there was a 22 percent difference between Christians and non-Christians. What does this reveal? It gives us a hint that a personal relationship with God plays a vital role in how sincerely thankful we are. Even beyond our awareness of His blessings, Christians invest time communicating with the one who created everything and everyone. How much more confidence and security could we possibly have? You see, the Bible is not just another book, as God’s word has divine authority to transform our miserable thinking into a positive and faith-filled powerhouse! When we choose to interpret life according to His will, we are excited to praise and worship Him for who He is.

I Thessalonians 5:18 is not a suggestion, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you.” It’s easy to fall into a pity party because we do not have what we want, without considering what we already have. Some are proud of their intelligence, creativity, and accomplishments, but instead of being grateful and giving God all the glory, they are always ready to take a bow and receive the honor and adoration for themselves. The man who was angry and sad that I mentioned earlier, never once mentioned being thankful for God’s grace, having a nice home, a good wife, being healthy, a successful business and talents, accomplished children and beautiful grandchildren, and so on. Unfortunately, he is clearly being distracted by the enemy who tries to convince all of us we are defeated. We are not likely to appreciate the wonders of God’s love if we do not acknowledge His constant mercy.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 11/18/24

Living in peace, grounded in Godliness

With the Republican victory over the Democrats, many are reflecting on the direction of the United States. For the Trump side, this outcome brings hope and a sense of relief that the country can start heading in a better direction. For the Democratic side, there is concern, uncertainty, and even despair that a progression toward a more liberal agenda has been hindered. Whatever your views, God wants us to have a response that is grounded and guided by timeless biblical principles, regardless of who is president.

The Commander in Chief is a powerful position, but we also realize that whoever holds this title can only do so much. The government is massive and has many moving parts, namely people who hold positions of authority. It seems there are so many connections and collaborations within the huge spider web we call government, that it’s difficult to imagine how all of these “chains” operate. Many times good and bad ideas are stopped by the majority of votes, so again, the president needs bipartisan cooperation.

In I Timothy chapter 2 and verses 1-4, the apostle Paul wrote and I will use the New Living Translation, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” I realize it’s difficult to graciously lose, but this passage contains three important messages that help us put the election process into perspective.

The first thing we notice is that Paul is instructing Christians to pray regardless of personal opinions and convictions. If we are supporting a certain candidate and administration and they do not win, we still have a responsibility to pray for those in authority. Can we rise above our differences and trust the Creator is in control? Most people believe they are correct in their speculations and principles, but the spiritual concept of prayer is to intercede for God’s will to be done rather than what we want to see. He is not dependent on us, we are dependent on Him. Sure we all have preferences, but God is the one with the perfect plan.

The next point we notice is that if we can take the higher road and sincerely pray for those we disagree with, it will provide us with an attitude of rest where we can live in spiritual peace instead of being agitated and depressed. What does this mean and how can we do it? Living in God’s peace means we are walking on an even keel, steady and consistent with patience and integrity, even when others are against us. As those around us notice our self-control, we become a more effective witness for Christ. Of course, this applies not just to our prayers but to our thoughts and actions as well. Having Jesus as our Lord means that we ask Him in faith to help us have more stability and strength under pressure, and He will.

Our last thought is to be reminded that often we are merely peeping through a crack in the fence when God is seeing everything all at once. We agree with Paul here, in that our highest priority is to see everyone saved and comprehending the truth. Living by God’s Word is our purpose and is truly beyond any social or political movement. People and ideas are here one day and gone another, but God’s truth is eternal. Whatever we support and are involved in let us remember we are contributing to God’s ultimate purpose and that is to draw more souls into His kingdom. I pray this is the focus and foundation of our prayers.

Yes, a lot is at stake in the natural realm, but this natural earthly environment is not our eternal home. God’s children are citizens of heaven and He is our eternal Lord and King! The Almighty has been carefully guiding the world since He created it, and His plans have never been in jeopardy! This election is not just about the price of a chuck roast, it’s about being submissive to God’s voice as He helps us prepare for the tribulation, the return of Christ, and the millennial reign. He has an eternal plan – not just a four-year plan.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 11/11/24

Respecting and appreciating our military

President Reagan in a radio address to the nation in 1983 is quoted, “Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.”

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, a ceasefire was declared as the signing of the Armistice Treaty ended World War I. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as Armistice Day for the soldiers who survived as they marched in hometown parades. However, the first celebration using the term “Veterans Day” occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized a national day to honor all veterans, including a parade and other festivities. 

In 1954, president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. A law passed in 1968 to change the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its original date. The Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act was passed in 2016.

Though I did not serve in the military, I’m proud of my son, who is a marine and then later served with the Department of Homeland Security. He is now a police officer at a Veterans Healthcare facility. Neither my father nor my grandfather served but on my mother’s side of the family, it’s quite a different story. My mom’ dad served in WWI, and her three brothers served in Korea which sadly one did not return. My uncle Kenny at only 20 years old was killed on the battlefield.

As a chaplain for a Veterans retirement facility, and it’s an honor to spend quality time with the many fine men and women of our nation’s armed forces. In this month of remembrance, I believe it’s important to not only respect and preserve their amazing accomplishments in battle but to also appreciate who they are as individuals. I remember visiting a man named Edward Hicks several years ago who willingly stepped forward when his country needed him the most. He was only 22 and had just married his lovely bride, Mary Lou, four months earlier. He received the call to join the front-line and bravely responded to what would be known around the world as “Operation Overlord.”

I recently read a story about a soldier, private first class Roman Davis who served with army intelligence in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. They were essentially in a black zone, which means if you venture outside of the wire most likely someone is going to die or be wounded. They were tracking key targets such as Osama Bin Laden for over a year. His words, “I remember during that difficult time being incredibly homesick and just lost, if you will, in the middle of a hostile environment.” One day, a US Black Hawk helicopter flies over their location and drops a few bright yellow mail bags. The sergeant called him peaches because he was from South Georgia and yelled, “Peaches, you have some mail.” It was a box from home.

He cut it open, and removed layers of aluminum foil, and discovered his Mamaw had sent him a huge sour cream pound cake. Roman continues, “I’ve seen her bake many of these cakes and give them away as gifts, they are my favorite. So, here I am 7000 miles from home, and my Grandmother’s pound cake is now sitting in front of me. My team is staring at it, so I pulled out my combat kabar and cut it into 12 massive chunks. As I tasted it…I cried. Sitting there on that dreary mountainside it could not have tasted more fresh or delicious as it would have in her kitchen. And, for that one moment… I felt so loved, even though I was lonely and cold, that cake warmed my heart. It was just like Mamaw was hugging me.”

We will never forget not only those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice but especially for the ones who did. John F. Kennedy in his 1963 Thanksgiving proclamation on November 5 declared, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is to not just utter noble words but to live by them.”

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, certified chaplain and a Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 11/4/24

What is in the well comes up in the bucket

It’s a spiritual revelation to comprehend that words have tremendous power but where there is privilege there is also accountability. Communication not only shapes our views while influencing our behavior, but words also expose who we really are as we can learn a great deal about a person’s views when we hear them speak. This is a wonderful prayer to begin each day, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” Psalm 141:3. Yes, we have much to pray about, and this petition is crucial if we are to live a holy life of integrity, respect, and love. Encouraging words are worth much, and cost little, and since what we say is what we think, it would be wise to monitor our thoughts and what we believe.

Words can accomplish God’s intentions and carry us to encouraging places, but, unfortunately, they can also lead us into some dark situations. As children, many of us quoted this little rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us” which was a courageous stand as we were being threatened or insulted, but we realized after we grew up that in most cases, the words were actually more emotionally painful than if we had been physically assaulted. There’s a good chance you remember when someone said something that caused you to feel rejection and pierced your soul. Maybe derogatory words from a parent, teacher, coach, family member, neighborhood kids, or a bully from school, and unfortunately these painful wounds will always be remembered. Thankfully, some individuals change over the years as they recall the hurtful things they have said and are convicted to apologize and make things right as they realize that foolish people say foolish things.

On the other side of the two-edged sword of words, it’s astounding to understand they also have the power to bring inspiration, encouragement, and healing. In Proverbs 16:24, the Holy Spirit relayed to King Solomon that highly sensitive people are discreet and careful to use good judgment with their speech while the uncaring do not plan or consider what they say. We know this is true because we have been comforted by God’s promises of hope and from those who deeply care about us. In the ancient world, honey was the sweetest substance available, and Solomon was intentional with his imagery as he penned these words, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” We have the opportunity to filter our speech through the Holy Spirit, but it’s our choice to apply spiritual principles or ignore them. The person who is wise and desires to walk in the awareness of God’s presence will learn to have control over their carnal nature. Our emotions are interested in pleasing our flesh, but our spirit is always passionate about obeying God’s will.

A command associated with obedience to God is to develop spiritual sensitivity and self-control which are included in the fruits of the Spirit. As a result of choosing words wisely, our communication can and should become an important relay of God’s message. Ellen G. White is quoted as saying, “A Christian reveals true humility by showing the gentleness of Christ, by being always ready to help others, by speaking kind words and performing unselfish acts, which elevate and ennoble the most sacred message that has come to our world.” Some believe that when we can control our words, we have more maturity and discernment to control our lives. “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” James 1:26.

The Lord wants His people to reveal His character, and developing spiritual sensitivity to follow His voice motivates us to embrace this beautiful way of connecting with others. Those who disregard speaking as a divine appointment and do not care what they say are quite familiar with the flavor of their foot. Ephesians 4:29 declares, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” May we consider what is in the well will come up in the bucket. In this light, we realize that hate-filled and destructive words are intentional sin. However, repentance is an opportunity to be forgiven and restored by God’s grace.

This is an excerpt from Dr. Holland’s book, “Receiving Our Healing – Going to War on our Knees” Learn more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 10/28/24

God’s light allows us to see His desires

For those who pay no attention to national and social policies, this election will pass by like every other day and they will hardly notice or care about what it means for all of us. However, if you are someone who tries to keep up with the latest events and decisions that involve our country and world, as an informed voter you have probably already made up your mind about your choice for president. We know the country is divided about many issues and one side will be greatly disappointed with the results, but I pray that everyone can stay calm and graciously accept the results with maturity and integrity.

Before I share what is on my heart, I want to remind us and this includes myself that if a person believes the Bible and is a follower of Christ, we have the assurance that God is ultimately in control of everything. Whether humans or Satan is involved, it is God who allows or prevents. Nothing is done behind His back and He is never surprised. He has all knowledge of the future and all power and authority to intervene in every situation. Even though it may seem He is not involved He is. If God wants to allow something to happen it is directly associated with His perfect plans. The same is true if He steps in and stops something from happening. The world of course does not understand His sovereignty, but His children are called to learn and trust in His perfect will.

I want to speak briefly about the subject of God’s light and realize that some may wonder what does this have to do with an election? My response is everything. Light and darkness is a big deal in this world as it represents truth and error, good and evil, sin and righteousness, victory and defeat, and we can go on. Since light overpowers the darkness and changes everything it comes in contact with, we have security and encouragement to know it’s impossible for darkness to overcome light. This is a tremendous revelation that exalts God as the divine Creator and King of heaven and earth. When Christ lives within us, His truth is a light unto our path.

I John chapter one declares that God is light and how it is opposite from darkness as we notice verses 5-7. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Since His followers are called to be the light of the world, we see in I Thessalonians 5:5, “For you are children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” And Ephesians 5:8, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light.”

We seldom appreciate that without light we could not see, naturally and spiritually. Just imagine if our Sun went black or we lost all electrical power we would be stumbling around with a flashlight. With God Himself being light, He knew that we desperately needed His light to not only see with our natural eyes but also to comprehend how critical it is to spiritually discern His voice with our spirits and renewed minds. (See Romans 12:1-2).

Those who do not know God do not have His light, but the ones who walk with Him are led by the light of His love and wisdom. They do not vote based on worldly and cultural trends but they obey God’s perfect will. As II Peter 1:4 describes, they are made partakers of God’s divine nature, “having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” The Almighty wants all people to understand Him as He provides an opportunity to know what is holy and pure. Social correctness is filled with opinions and desires, but every human speculation and thought is not God inspired. We are beginning to see how being filled with God’s light gives us the clarity to know what to believe and our responsibility to obey Him which includes how to vote.

Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 10/21/24

We pray, we vote, and leave the rest to God

To be honest, I do not like politics, but at the same time I believe it’s my duty and opportunity to vote not the way a party says, but according to what God says. My thoughts about elections, especially presidential terms, is that it’s not one person governing the country. A president is a front person with thousands of power players in the background putting our fires and avoiding questions. It makes me nauseated because of the corrupt deals, kickbacks, and cover-ups that are known as lobbyist. Even when we know, what can we do about it?

In my view, politics are becoming more global every day. With the advancement of AI and the World Economic Forum uniting the nations together, we are heading toward a world government that some call the system of the beast. I believe there is coming a day this snare trap will control every person, and strangely many cannot see we are already caught in it’s web. Yes, difficult times are coming, but as Christians, we must refrain from allowing politics to create animosity in our soul toward those who do have our best interest in mind. When it comes to spiritual interpretations along with social and political views, we can easily fall into the “us versus them” mentality. When the infection of hatred controls our attitudes we dehumanize people and see them as the enemy.

It’s true our daily decisions include taking sides and we are called to stand for God’s truth. However, as we attempt to justify our dogmatic opinions, we can slowly substitute our call to love others with despising them. With technology now allowing us to know everyone’s views at the click of a button, this overload of information can take away our peace and replace it with anger and hostility. We can agree those who lie are deceptive, but secretly hating them is not only hurting us, but hindering God’s divine appointments with His gospel of salvation to save them.

Let’s listen to these words of Jesus found in Matthew chapter five and verses 43-45. “You have heard it said, you must love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Have you noticed when we know what others believe that oppose our convictions, we avoid, judge and condemn them? We refuse to communicate, debate, or even care about them because we are convinced they are clearly an evil person. However, if we only love those who agree with us, is this the character of Christ? Of course we can disagree, but we must not hate them.

The passage in Matthew five continues, “For if you only love those that love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the traitors and cheaters do the same? And if you salute your brethren only, how does this make you better? do not even the publicans do the same thing?” I John 3:14-15 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a person is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” Whether the election turns out as we hope or not, we will remember that God is still sovereign. As it says in Daniel 2:21, “He removes kings and sets up kings.” He can stop anything or make things happen! We will hold fast to our faith and trust that God controls according to His perfect plans.

Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

Whether the election turns out as we hope or not, we have to remember that God is still sovereign. As it says in Daniel 2:21, “He removes kings and sets up kings.” What does this mean? It means that God has a final say about everything. Whatever happens He can either stop it or allow it and He has a reason for doing both. As we go through what will likely be a tumultuous election cycle, it is important that we remember to hold fast to our faith and trust that God controls according to His plans.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 10/14/24

Oh how we ignore our need to change

Transformation is a word used to explain what happens when someone is saved. It’s the theme of the Christian faith, but what about the daily progression of our relationship with God? Many today think the idea of changing into the image of Jesus no longer applies to them because they go to church and listen to Christian songs on the radio. This is good, but our entire relationship with God is not contained within a couple of hours per week. Do we just think about Jesus when we take communion? Are we convinced that however we act is alright with God just because we accepted Him? What does this mean to you? Did you accept that He is real, or that He is now controlling you and is the Lord of your life?

Much like the frog who comfortably sits in the pot that eventually comes to a boil, it’s disturbing how many within our religious culture are suffering from spiritual starvation. Today the Bible is being dissected by scholars, but the difficult commands are being ignored by the average Christian. Some Bible teachers are hesitant to speak the hard truths of self-discipline and moral purity, while church members stand and applause when feel-good devotions are given out like chocolate cake. One of the principles of church growth today is to keep the people happy. Pastors are like coaches, they must keep pleasing their fans or they will be replaced. However, from God’s perspective, His uncomfortable, and sacrificial demands are the most important.

The time has come for a revival that strengthens homes, families, and churches. I’m not just talking about an evangelist coming to church with a fiery sermon. This is good and people enjoy it, but often in a couple of weeks the excitement fades and most return back to their lukewarmness. True revival is a personal revelation that quickens the mind and heart with a deep sorrow and brokenness that we have offended God with our lethargic carnal attitudes. If there is not a deep grieving and repentance for the way we are living, and a sacred vow to God to never fall into this state of coldness again, then a rededication has not happened. The Kingdom of God is not going to be advanced by our churches becoming filled with people, but by people in our churches becoming filled with God.

The term revival must be understood as not something new, but it’s a way of thinking and acting that is being restored. There is no such thing as rekindling a fire that was never started. Revival is rarely mentioned in the seeker-friendly movement because it would reveal there must be a change in the way we think and live, not to mention scaring some of the new converts away. The concept of becoming aware of God’s presence is one of the most powerful realities within the Christian faith because it has everything to do with personal transformation. Surrendering our will to King Jesus is how we serve and obey Him. I’ve been teaching this revelation for years but rarely does anyone want to discuss it. Why not? Is it a case of not being able to comprehend it, or is it just too hard on our flesh? Probably both. As a weekly faith columnist I’m experienced with delivering positive and inspiring messages, but God’s sword of truth has a double edge. Let us not ignore the balance and supernatural power of the full gospel that is described in Hebrews 4:12.

The constant awareness of God is similar to the idea of starting a strict diet. Those becoming serious about losing weight realize very quickly this is not for the faint of heart and it will demand total concentration and painful sacrifice. The idea is to watch every bite that we eat, but how much more of a life-changing experience is making the decision to draw near to God? The same way we become aware of carbohydrates and count calories, followers of Jesus are to develop a spiritual sensitivity about what God is saying not to do along with what He wants us to do. If we do not care about what we eat and become overweight it will be evident to everyone. The same is true if we do not care about being a remnant soldier of God’s army and allow intentional sin to control us, this will also only be evident to God, but to everyone around us.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com 

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 10/7/24

The dynamic relationship between love and prayer

Last Sunday, I was asked to bring the morning sermon for a wonderful church in the country called Mt. Lebanon Methodist. I had a dream recently about preaching a message and when I awoke, I went I into my office and asked God to please not let it dissipate before I could write down as much of it as I could remember. Dreams are like the morning fog that fades when the sun comes out. I was noticeably rattled and was typing feverishly. How many know when God gives you a word it’s not a suggestion? I ended up separating the content into four parts and here is one of the sections.

Within the dream, even though I was the one speaking, it was a word of serious discipline to me. I talk a lot about love and prayer but I seldom consider that I cannot have one without the other. Sadly, more often than not, I do not have either one. I’m being bluntly honest about my lack of fervency when it comes to caring and intercession. I comprehended the compassion and burden to pray is measured by how filled I am with God’s love. I will not pray if I do not love. And without love, I will not pray.

Do you see how these two most important aspects of the Christian work together and both are driven by faith? Why did Jesus pray so much? Because He was filled with love! The sobering question here is how do we feel about our responsibility to love and pray? Do I want to develop a passionate burden to love more and to pray more, or am I satisfied to just keep going the way that I am? In the dream, I was told the way to have more love is to pray and ask for it. (I shouldn’t be surprised).

Having a deep conviction and concern for others does not just fall on my head. Yes, the nature and character of Christ lives in me, but this does not automatically transform my conscience and renew my mind. I’ve been given the demand and responsibility to close myself in with God each day and pray, and then the result of developing my relationship with Him and drawing closer to Him will be to think like Him. What is important to Him will now become my burdens which causes these priorities to become so strong they will drive me to my knees.

This sounds wonderful, but to be honest this does not happen as much as it should. I’m often so busy planning what I want to do, I’m not even considering what He wants me to do. I fill my day up with distractions and end up not asking for more sensitivity and love. And guess what? I do not have a burning desire to pray. You see, when we have an understanding of our accountability involving our Christian walk, we no longer have an excuse as to why we do not obey. The bottom line is that evidently, I do not care like I should. Where is my reverential fear of God?

How many times have I read the passage in First Corinthians chapter 13, and yet I keep thinking it’s talking about someone else. Let’s read it again. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.”

I’m not exactly sure what being nothing and having nothing means spiritually, but I know it’s not good. Here I see what is required of me and yet I am rebellious against it. Why? Because I would rather be absorbed and conformed to the world and all its distractions. Disobedience is a sin and instead of being an overcomer for Christ, I’m being overwhelmed with my own carnality. What I fail to care about is that I cannot blame my failure to live for Jesus on anyone even the devil. I have free will to choose whatever I want to do, and I will be the one who will answer for it.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 9/30/24

EMBRACING THE SACRED INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE

Many will disagree, but a happy and successful marriage is based on a personal relationship with Christ. And why is this? There are many reasons, but we can begin with the character traits and attitudes of a true follower of Jesus is what takes marriage to the highest level of joy and contentment. In today’s society, people use the term “Christian” loosely, and it’s getting to the point where I use this label more selective than ever. If you randomly ask people if they are a Christian, you will receive a wide range of responses and some that are without a personal connection to God at all. Being devoted to Jesus is following His instructions in everything.

It’s easy to identify with the masses when it comes to seeking the approval of others. The danger is that some who want to be a Christian have does this for so long, the guilty feelings of being a phony no longer bothers them. Back in the eighties I recorded an album called, “It’s not a game” and yet the human mind is clever and the flesh is so demanding, the “game” can become a normal way of life. The idea that becoming numb to the presence of God is as old as time, and it’s simply a distraction tactic used by the dark side to lure people away from spiritual reality. This growing trend of game playing between husbands and wives is eroding the very integrity of trust and honesty within this sacred union that is symbolized as the holy bride of Christ.

The world is exploding with problems and even though we have unlimited knowledge and perspectives at our fingertips, the question is how much understanding is being absorbed? Even more important, how motivated and determined are we to demonstrate spiritual truth into our daily lives? Disregarding the holy vows of marriage and protecting the nuclear family is under constant attack, and yet it seems the average mom and dad fail to realize what it means or has the urgency to deal with it. When parents believe spiritual warfare and the desperate need to pray is not something to take seriously, that family is already being held captive by the enemy.

Psychiatry, education, science and culture do not comprehend the true purpose of marriage or raising children. The world’s answers involve telling young single people to do whatever they want and when it comes to relationships, don’t worry about marriage, just have fun. This horrible vision of avoiding responsibility is being injected into our society through music, books, movies, all forms of media entertainment, politics, philosophies, pornography, and everything in-between. Disgraceful lyrics like, “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with” might be catchy, but they are destructive lifestyles being taught to indoctrinate the masses.

Consider how much has changed in the last 60 years, and yet the modern concept is that we are progressing toward a better world. Tearing down morality and Godly standards and replacing them with deceptive lies, fantasies, and evil intentions is not the right direction to say the least. It’s not a coincidence that Satan targets children because if he can deceive them early, he can develop and control them. This is why followers of Jesus must train their children in the ways of God! This is the hope for the future of strong Christian marriages.

You see, changing the external circumstances is not the solution to internal peace and satisfaction. Many adults are sadly like little children who are spoiled and selfish. That have desires and whine and cry when they do not get their way. Like we said earlier, immaturity and the lack of self-discipline comes from the persuasions and influences of the one whose mission is to deceive the entire world. Our carnality is vulnerable to being wicked and thinking impure thoughts, which is why we must resist and fight against it in faith and obedience.

If you are struggling with being dissatisfied in your marriage today, I want to encourage you to cry out to God and ask Him to help you. If you are not a Christian, call upon the name of the Lord and He will save you. Maybe the expectations for your marriage have become twisted and distorted. If we are only seeking entitlement, authority, and personal satisfactions without considering what our spouse is feeling and thinking, we are lacking the bonds of empathy, communication, and compassion which is the foundation of marital intimacy.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 9/23/24

Understanding there are things God cannot do

When we think about God being The Almighty, we see Him as having infinite power and authority in heaven and earth, and this is certainly true. Remember the passage in Matthew 19:26 where Jesus is explaining to His disciples about how difficult it is for a wealthy person to enter into heaven, Christ is quoted, “But Jesus beheld them (He was saying listen carefully), and said to them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Who else in the universe can make a statement like this and back it up? To know God personally, we study and pray that we might understand more about who He is.

Since childhood, we’ve learned there is nothing He cannot do, as Jeremiah 32:7 reminds us, “Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too difficult for Thee.” The greatest title and attribute that is reserved only for the God of the Bible is Omnipotent which means He has unlimited authority and control. Along with being Omniscient (knowing everything), Omnipresent (being everywhere at once), and Omnibenevolent (perfect love and justice). It’s clear there is no one that can be compared to His supremacy the same as darkness can never overcome the light, but you may be surprised to know there are several things that God absolutely cannot do.

Let’s begin with the fact that God cannot lie. He is perfect truth and has never said anything that was not true. His word is His oath which means if He says something He promises He will make it happen one way or the other. When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. Today, we embrace His promises and receive them by faith. To know that God never fails gives us hope and security beyond measure. “In hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” Titus 1:2.

Our next attribute is that God cannot change. He cannot contradict himself: His word and actions must align, meaning He cannot speak or act in ways that go against his own established principles. God is from the beginning and we cannot fathom what the Alpha and Omega means with our mortal minds, but in all that time He has remained “perfectly” the same. He is eternal truth and a trillion years from now he will still represent what He has always declared. Malachi 3:6 says, “I am the Lord, I change not” which is very good news if you are His child. Heaven is forever and we certainly would not want Him to change His plans later down the road. This divine consistency is another characteristic which is unique to God alone.

There are actually several more things that we add to the list, such as; God cannot allow the lost into heaven. John 3:3 says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We also realize that God will never break a promise, no one can stop His decisions, His truth can never pass away, His laws and commandments cannot be negotiated, and He cannot compromise with sin, and He cannot be tempted by evil. James 1:13 declares, “Let no person say when they are tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does He tempt anyone.”

God lives up to His standards and principles. He is the ultimate example of how we are also to walk in the integrity and essence of His wisdom. This is what dwelling in His Spirit and being aware of His constant presence is trying to relay to us. We often hear comments about how no one is perfect and we all sin when we discuss manifesting His nature and being holy as He is holy. Nonetheless, could these statements simply be defensive excuses for remaining the same and not giving more effort to be like Him? The way that He is should inspire us and increase our desire to demonstrate being a disciple of Jesus. The convicting truth is that we can be as determined to love and serve God as we want to be.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 9/16/24

Loving God with all that we are

In Luke 10:27 and Mark 12:30, we notice that both passages use a fourfold description to explain how we are to love God: Heart, soul, strength, and mind. In the Old Testament we find a similar command in Deuteronomy 6:5-6, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” It leaves out the word mind, but the Greek words for ‘heart’ and ‘mind’ translate the full spectrum of meaning in Hebrew for our inner sanctuary of devotion.

We realize as a follower of Christ, the constant battle to be an overcomer for Him begins with allowing ourselves to be distracted from His presence. When our attention is drawn away from our vows to walk with Him and listen to His voice, we lose focus of our responsibility to to keep Him as our highest priority. To obey our Lord we must know what He is saying. We cannot love Him or others the way He demands if our attention is centered on worldly desires.

When we love ourselves more than we love God we are out of balance and living a lukewarm existence. When we spend more time dwelling on things that please us than we spend with God, we have drifted far from the shore. Do we really care? A man wrote me the other day and asked how he can win the war against his addiction to porn. We serve whom we obey. The awareness of God’s presence includes thinking about Him while we are involved with everyday life. Whatever we are doing we can allow Him to be involved and this will help us resist sin and make the right decisions.

To love God with our heart includes loving Him with our emotions. Will we have emotions in heaven? We can base our speculations on the fact that God has emotions. Since we are made in God’s image, our feelings are like His except His expressions are always pure and righteous. We notice He has displayed responses such as anger, regret, sadness, grieving, sorrow, delight, happiness, gladness, kindness and compassion, and of course love. Emotions are how we perceive, discern, and decide. Trusting and worshiping God in our personal relationship with Him is how we know Him and love Him with all of our hearts – all the time.

Loving God with your soul includes knowing you were wondrously made by the Creator of all things. When you discipline yourself to be still and quiet, something deep inside of you just knows there is a God. When you look at all of the intricacies of the universe, our planet, and the human body, you realize only a divine designer can do that. Humans have a void within their souls that can only be filled by the one who made them. Once we accept this reality we must go beyond knowledge and allow this truth to fill our soul with His joy and peace. Spiritual intimacy with God has no limitations except for our fear of becoming one with Him.

Loving God with all of our strength is combining works with our faith. It’s not being afraid to step out of our comfort zone and caring so much that we are driven to help others. True faith is one of the most talked about subjects, but is rarely seen because it requires love, strength, and courage. How passionate are we about evangelism? I pray that I never become so cold and numb that I no longer care about the lost and those who are suffering. If we read the Bible and the words are not put into practice it’s just information. All of my strength? Really?

The lack of loving God with all of our heart, soul, and strength exposes even the most dedicated saint. Sermons and our worship songs say all the right things, but how much truth will we allow to change us? Loving God with our mind is our last word and it includes crucifying our flesh daily so that we are mentally focused more on His plans instead of our own. If we are faithful, we will be fruitful. Let us humble ourselves and bow down in reverential fear of His holiness. He wants our lives to be all of Him and none of us, but we want to have some of Him and more of us.

Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 9/9/24

GENEROSITY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE

I was reading an article the other day that was discussing how most people are confident that just being nice secures them a place in heaven. But is this true? Of course, we want to believe that it’s relatively easy to go through the pearly gates but is being a decent person all there is to it? Have you ever heard the expression, “They would give you the shirt off their back, ” referring to someone’s kindness and generosity? It’s a notable character trait, but is this the standard for qualifying for eternal life? Not necessarily. Contrary to popular belief, eternal salvation is not based on how good we are or how much we can give. It’s about being spiritually born-again and knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. According to the Bible, the invitation for eternal life has everything to do with accepting God’s love and allowing His love to flow through us in everything we say and do. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God” I John 4:7.

Without learning what it means to love others with the love of Christ, our lives are shallow and frustrating, no matter how many good works we do. I’ve spoken with people over the years who are convinced that God has a points system and if we make a passing grade, we are rewarded with heaven. The logic of those who have their own religious speculations about the Christian life but who are without a spiritual understanding assume those who receive bad grades because of their trespasses, will fail to accumulate the required points needed in their quest to obtain the keys to their “mansion just over the hilltop.” This might be considered natural common sense, but it’s not what the Bible says. Many nice individuals publicly give and volunteer to help others and are known to be generous. However, if they are not a child of God, their deeds look wonderful to the world, but they are not a substitute for being saved and surrendering their will to Him. Read Mathew 7:22.

To those who are born again, God is their Master and they obey His voice because they love Him. I John 2:15, says it this way, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Within this word love we realize the carnal mind follows and worships the world because it contains everything associated with pleasure. Romans 12:2 demands that Christians be not conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the “renewing” of our minds. Receiving a new spirit is the greatest gift in this life, but we also need a completely new way of thinking that is focused on the will of God.

If heaven and hell were based on a grading system, there would have been no reason for Jesus to come and die on the cross, shed His blood, or rise from the dead. God could have just kept track of all the good and bad things people do and after everyone had taken their last breath, all the points would be added up, and we would know our fate. The reality is when Jesus convicts and invites us to be redeemed, He forgives our sins and makes us a brand-new creation. It is then we embrace our responsibility to allow Christ to sit on the throne of our heart as our King. As we are filled with the endless stream of His love, it overflows onto others and is what “this little light of mine” is all about.

We cannot out-give or out-love God, and without His nature and character flowing through us, we are not as pleasing to Him as we think we are. As we read First Corinthians chapter 13, we realize the greatest legacy anyone can leave is to be known for being filled with God’s love. Verse 3 says, “And though I give everything I have to feed the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.” When Jesus was nailed to the cross He asked His Father to forgive those who were torturing and killing Him. This example of divine love that He has for everyone reminds us that Agape love is also how the world will know we are Christians.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 9/2/24

Your faithfulness and hard work is appreciated

As the calendar eases out of August into September, we thank God for our blessings and will soon see the return of colorful leaves on trees, football season, and bonfires. The unofficial end of summer also means Labor Day is here. Whether you are retired or still laboring in your career, we congratulate all of you on a job well done! This week many of us will travel, go out to eat, shop, have a cookout, or maybe sneak in one final visit to the beach or neighborhood pool. You deserve it and I hope you have a memorable celebration. So, what exactly is the holiday about and when was it started?

This federal holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of September and is much more than just the summer’s last hooray. This week we recognize the hard-earned achievements of America’s labor movement and acknowledge what workers have contributed with their own accomplishments and our nation’s prosperity. According to the Department of Labor, the concept of honoring the American worker started in the labor movement of the 19th century, as it was a dismal time for America’s workers who faced long hours, low wages, and unsafe conditions.

As labor unions and activists advocated and fought for better treatment for workers at the height of the Industrial Revolution, the idea arose to establish a day dedicated to recognizing members of the trade and labor forces. Even today, many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades, parties, and festivities. Since those early observances, the day is now also used for political speeches and community officials who emphasize the economic and civic significance of the holiday. According to the labor department, two workers can make a solid claim to the title of Labor Day’s official founder. Some documents reveal it was Peter J. McGuire, the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, who in 1882 first suggested having a special day for those who work hard all year.

However, further research supports that machinist Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. According to some historians, the special day was organized by the CLU, and according to the Labor Department, the first official Labor Day holiday was celebrated in 1882 in New York City. On that day, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square. I’m confident we can give both men their due amount of credit and appreciate their sincere concern.

Labor Day became recognized by labor activists and individual states long before it became a federal holiday. New York was also the first state to introduce a bill honoring those who labor, but Oregon was the first to pass such a law in 1887. By 1894, 32 states had adopted the holiday. Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed a law passed by Congress designating the first Monday in September as a holiday for workers. The federal recognition was hard-won, having come after a wave of unrest among workers and labor activists brought their rights into public view. In May of that year, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives according to historians. A month later, the government dispatched troops to Chicago to break up a boycott of the Pullman Railway Cars initiated by labor activist Eugene V. Debs, unleashing a wave of deadly riots.

I worked for a nationwide logistics company for many years while also serving the Lord as a minister. This large corporation had remained non-union since it was founded in the 1930s and they wanted it to stay that way. The Union had tried to represent us in the past, but the company fought hard against it. I remember some violence and a lot of animosity between those who stood with the company and others who wanted seniority to rule over favoritism. The Union finally received the votes it needed, and we were represented by a watchdog organization that helped protect us from being slighted by the preferential treatment of a few favorites. Whether you have worked for a Union or not, there are situations where they are needed, but not in places where good management treats their employees with respect and fairness. This week and throughout the year, we respect your perseverance and loyalty, and appreciate your talents and hard work.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at Billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 8/26/24

INVESTING OUR TALENT INTO GOD’S KINGDOM

As a freelance faith columnist and Christian author, I’m honored to have God provide thoughts and ideas to relay to others. I’m sure all Bible teachers and pastors feel the same way. What I do is nothing more special than how millions of other Christians serve God, and I humbly acknowledge that most are more talented and effective. I’m just a tiny piece of a large puzzle, one brick in the wall, and one voice among many that points to the one who created everything and knows everything. Writing is one of my callings, yet my personal testimony includes that I did not always pursue this path. God truly works in mysterious ways. Songwriting came to me through a spiritual experience when I was a young man. Then over time, I began to write articles, Bible studies, sermons, and eventually newspaper and magazine contributions. I’m intentionally making a long story short, nevertheless, writing is the first thing I think about when I awaken and in the evenings I have a pad and pen on the table next to my recliner to scribble down thoughts that often come to me.

I share my journey about how the Lord has graciously used me, to ask if you have found your spiritual talent and if you are accomplishing and multiplying it? I believe every Christian has been given a carefully designed calling for the purpose of bringing honor and glory to God. If you are not sure what it is, I encourage you to read what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7:7 about asking, seeking, and knocking until you know that you know. Some have not cooperated with God about their gifts because of numerous excuses, and if we are focused more on accomplishing our will than His the Bible declares we are being rebellious and He is not pleased with our disobedience. Let’s look at an interesting passage found in Matthew chapter 25 where Jesus is teaching the parable of the talents. In our study today I’m referring to talents as a gifted ability to invest and serve in a special way, and in this story, a talent is an ancient unit of currency, worth about 6,000 denarius. I believe it’s fine to say that both can be used to make our point about personal obedience and accountability.

Historians say that one denarius was the average wage for a day’s labor, and a talent was worth 20 years of labor which is incredibly valuable. The story ids about a wealthy man who was planning to travel to a distant land and told his servants to watch over his finances while was gone. According to each man’s ability, one servant was given 5 talents, to another he gave 2 talents, and to the last one he gave 1. The servant with the 5 talents invested them and doubled their value. The man with 2 talents also doubled the amount, but the one who was given 1 talent became afraid that he would lose it, so he dug a hole in the ground and hid it. After a while the master returned and the first servant showed where he had invested the 5 talents and now had 10, the one with 2 talents now had 4. The master praised them both and said this was excellent! And since they were faithful in this assignment, he said to rejoice as he was going to make them ruler over many things.

When the last servant stepped forward, he said he knew his lord was shrewd and serious about business affairs, so being afraid he buried the talent to keep it safe and then handed it to him. The master was angry and called him lazy and wicked for not at least investing the money where it could gain interest. The master took the talent and gave it to the one who had 10, and ordered this person to be cast into outer darkness where there is pain and suffering. Do we recognize what Jesus was saying? We know that ships are safe in the harbor, but this is not why ships were made. If you are discouraged and have been neglecting your calling, God wants to help you accomplish what He has called you to do. Pray and fast until He reveals divine appointments and provides the necessary anointing and favor. Read I Peter 2:5, and rejoice that God is shaping you into one of His living stones.

Dr. Holland is a licensed and ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. You can read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 8/19/24

Hearing is one thing, obeying is another

Having the opportunity to be engaged in a constant dialogue with Christ is more than just a hope. It can happen just the same as when we sit at our kitchen table and have an enjoyable conversation with a friend. And how is this possible? Because He’s real, the same as you and I are real. Remember that old song, “My God is real, for I can feel Him in my soul?” If you believe He has spoken to people before, why can’t He speak to you? God communicates to us in our conscience, by providence, teachers, and most importantly through His holy word. We read in the Bible that He also speaks through dreams, and visions, and has spoken audibly. Whatever way He chooses to make contact, it’s our responsibility according to Revelation 2:7 to have ears to hear what He has to say.

According to God’s holy word, The Alpha and Omega created us with the intent to have a tangible alliance and bond with Him in a Father and child relationship. Have you ever felt the peace and love of His presence? If you are seeking and desiring to know God personally, ask Him to help you understand. If you have fallen away, take some time and talk to Him today. Tell Him you’re sorry. It’s true, He’s a Spirit, but so are we and this is how we connect. We listen with our spiritual discernment and focus with our spiritual eyes. Even though often it’s difficult to hear Him, He actually has a lot to say. The problem is that only a few people are paying attention because they are not interested. It’s just like everything else, whatever we are consumed with will have our complete attention.

There is nothing ordinary in God’s presence. He can still get His point across and use whatever He knows will get our attention. He is all around us and in everything. His love and mercy are in the warmth of the Sun, His peace is within the doves’ song, His power is felt in the Ocean waves, and His infinite authority is seen in the universe. Each of us has priorities and I pray that our strongest passion is to abide in the shadow of the Almighty and learn to live in the secret place of the Most High.

For those who are determined to listen to His still small voice, we have a beautiful assurance that He’s always listening to us. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”How sad that many choose to live a lonely and empty existence as they are convinced that God has no intention to intervene with those He created. He loves everyone and wants to be involved with people more than anything. Not only does God want to be at the center of our lives, but He has also created us to fellowship in unity with other believers. Like many of you, I’m truly grateful that we’ve not been abandoned to survive in this harsh world on our own.

Spiritual transformation does not happen with a whim or formula, and declaring that we believe in God is a noble statement, but it will take more than charisma, intelligence, or happy thoughts to be an overcomer for Christ. If you have not been born again, you need to start there and sincerely call upon Jesus to save you. He came to earth because He loved us, and died on a cross because His blood was the ransom to redeem us. He rose from the dead which secured the eternal future for all those who will embrace Him as their Lord and Savior. If we are purchased, the short version is that we are now accountable for surrendering our will to Him.

Victorious Christian living is driven by love, perseverance, sacrifice, and humility, and let’s not forget we are required to be controlled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We hear about being religious but not so much about walking in obedience. It seems that many who identify themselves as Christians, either do not know what it means or don’t care. We are reminded the cross is an instrument of death and how taking up our cross and following Him refers to the death of our old carnal nature. Jesus being our Master means we follow His plans instead of our own.

Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Discover more about the Christian life at Billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 8/12/24

TO THE ONES WHO STAND OUT IN A GOOD WAY

Have you ever known someone that you admired because of who they were? There is something special and refreshing to witness the light and love of Christ shining brightly in one of His children. I know a sweet lady like this. I will not mention her name because she does not like the attention of anyone telling her how wonderful she is, even though it’s true. She just enjoys working and serving quietly in the background no matter where she is or what she’s involved with. For example, if someone mentions that something needs cleaning she immediately goes to work. If something needs to be done, she is always the first one to show up and the last one to leave. More than this, she is genuinely kind, tenderhearted, gracious, generous, and filled with God’s love.

I’ve known this person and her husband for several years as he was an artist and eventually, they became involved in our local theatre where I am also a cast member. Her husband passed away recently, and he was also very humble and talented. We all miss him dearly. If you’ve been around people like this, you know what I’m talking about as it seems they have a special glow around them. What is it? It has to be the Spirit of Christ illuminating from within them. I realize no one is perfect but God, but I believe there are still a few people in this world who have discovered how to be aware of God’s presence all the time. They are determined to have a clean and pure heart because they are in love with Jesus and desire to do His will. This is no doubt how God wants all of His children to be.

I will be honest, I’m drawn to people like this, I want to know more about how they live and what they do to be filled with God. I was thinking about this lady recently after one of our weekend performances at the theatre, and there she was glowing as brightly forever. I can’t help it, it convicts me and makes my eyes watery. Maybe it convicts and exposes how I am not walking as close to God as I should. I decided to give her a call and without being weird, I wanted to tell her that I sense God in her, and if she didn’t mind, I wanted to know her secrets of being a wonderful witness for Christ. Of course, she brushed off my compliments and was blushing as usual. She went on to say that she is nothing special and just an average person.

She said every morning when she awakens, she begins talking to the Lord. Her prayer goes something like this: “Jesus help me to be like you today. Help me to do and say what you want instead of what my flesh wants. May I have compassion and meekness, and may your presence shine in my heart so that others can see you. In your holy name, I pray, amen.” I realize that many of us start our day with something similar, but when she relayed this simple commitment, I could sense her childlike innocence and Godly wisdom. I believe that praying is the key to whatever we seek to accomplish for God, but also we must put works with our faith for it to succeed.

We find in Matthew 5:14, where Jesus compares His followers to light containers, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put a covering over it.”

C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “Don’t shine so others can see you, shine so that through you, others can see Him.” When we realize what God wants us to be, we are then faced with deciding just how much we will do. If we truly want others to see Christ in us, our responsibility is to manage and control our thoughts. Being transformed by the renewing of our mind requires self-discipline or else our words and deeds will be governed by carnal thinking. Our behavior is the impression we leave and in this light, we have the choice to be whatever type of person we desire to be. What people see is what they remember, and all that we have accomplished in the past means nothing if we are not manifesting the love of Jesus today.

Dr. Holland is a licensed and ordained minister, author, and chaplain. Watch his music video, “Refuge” at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 8/5/24

YOU ARE THE CARETAKER OF YOUR MIND

I read a book years ago by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale called, “The amazing results of positive thinking” and I recommend it as an inspiration and encouragement to your spiritual life. He explains that our mind is constantly bombarded with many persuasions and each of us are held accountable to manage them. We can resist and ignore the negative influences that distract us or we can pray and seek the Lord for a stronger discernment and sensitivity to deception. It was during this time of studying how the mind is considered the battlefield of spiritual warfare, that I had a powerful dream. I do not always place a lot of credibility in dreams, but on the other hand, the Bible reveals that some dreams are used by God as a way of communication. Anyway, here was my dream.

I found myself on a dusty construction site and as I looked around; I noticed workers with shovels and they were busy digging up small trees and bushes. Some were driving trucks and others were using chainsaws and in the distance, I noticed a bulldozer was pushing over some large trees. They were obviously clearing out some things and planting others but I was not sure for what reason. I approached one worker and asked who was in charge but he just kept walking. I sensed in the dream that Jesus was involved with this operation and so I started searching for Him. I was expecting any moment to see Him in a white tunic, sandals, and a hard hat, but I never did. Finally, I saw a man who was writing on a clipboard and he appeared to be a supervisor. I went over to him and said, “Excuse me, sir, can you tell me where I can find the project manager?” As he started walking away, he turned his head and calmly said, “You are.” This is the last thing I remember.

There is an old rhyme that says, “Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are seeds, you can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.” Simple yet profound, and concerning being responsible for our thoughts, it makes perfect sense to consider that we are the gardener, caretaker, and manager of our minds. We may not want to admit it, but our spiritual journey with Christ was never intended to be a carefree experience. We are purchased to fulfill a destiny of specific purpose according to what He’s called us to be. Since it’s been established that what we think is directly associated with what we say and do, we can agree that whatever we have allowed to take root within our conscience is having a major impact on who we are.

As the wind and the birds distribute seeds upon the earth, likewise the voices and influences of this life are deposited within our conscience. We may not stop them from landing, but we do not have to allow them to sprout. As Christians, we now have a Master and Lord who wants us to have His mind. There is an interesting scripture found in Romans chapter twelve that refers to this mental accountability, as Paul declares in verse one that God expects us to present our bodies and minds as a living and holy sacrifice. Verse two continues about how this can be accomplished. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Saying no to temptation is essential to having a clean conscience.

The concept here is that we must awaken and realize as Proverbs 23:7 declares, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” When we understand that managing and protecting our minds is our highest priority, we will become more serious about being separated from the world and our sanctification. But, if we choose to live in a default mode that allows anything to persuade and distract us, we are infected with apathy as the enticements of carnality control us. Overcoming Christians cannot intentionally embrace or support any type of sin without drifting into lukewarmness. We will never become what God has called us to be until the desire to walk holy with Christ becomes greater than the acceptance to compromise with darkness.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, author, and community outreach chaplain. Ask for a free download of his song, “Intentions of the Heart” at psalmz103@gmail.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 7/29/24

FOCUS ON THE INVISIBLE NOT THE IMPOSSIBLE

Stop for a moment and closely observe this trial you’ve been going through. When you are wounded and perplexed, it seems all you can think about is the pain, but within this raging battle ask yourself (and be honest) if you’re focusing more on the circumstance than on God who has all the answers. Ask and allow Him to heal your heart. This situation will not last forever and after a period of suffering the time will come to crawl back to your knees, stand up, dust yourself off, and try to glean wisdom from what has happened so that you will be stronger and wiser next time. Yes, there will be a next time because life is a constant classroom filled with learning opportunities. This is how God develops us to help others in their times of disappointment, and frustration.

Often the evidence that we have come to the end of ourselves is when tears begin to fall. Weeping is a built-in pain release mechanism where God can embrace and comfort us. It’s perfectly alright to cry, as tears help cleanse the soul and bring healing. He sees every tear even in the darkest night and considers them priceless treasures within our relationship with Him. Tears are more than alright, they are essential to maintaining a constant awareness of His presence. Crying is a result of deep emotions that God created within us and is frequently linked to surrendering our will and giving our burdens and sorrows over to Him. Our will is our most precious possession and is exactly what Jesus has always wanted from us. Those who give Him their will, are allowing Him to control them which is what Christ being our Lord is all about.

If you are an emotional and soft-hearted person God has blessed you. Consider this spiritual sensitivity as a gift from heaven. David said in Psalm 56:8 that God collects our tears and never forgets them. If you cry often you are in good company as we read throughout the Bible that David, Sampson, and Job wept. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because of his deep grief for sin. In Lamentations 2:10, he writes, “I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.” Nehemiah wept for Jerusalem, and mourned, fasted, and prayed before God. Hannah cried while praying to the Lord, and Joseph wept when he faced his brothers. Mordecai cried bitterly for his nation and Jacob cried when he was happy, sad, or saw beautiful things. Paul and Peter shed tears and even Jesus wept. The list goes on. Weeping can be a place of humility as we realize that God is our only hope. A secret place of trust and love that brings us joy and peace.

Arrogance doesn’t want us to be vulnerable or cry, as Proverbs 16:18 says that pride goes before a fall. When the proud weep over their sins, they learn what it means to know God. In finding the end of our own strength and intellect, we discover the beginning of freedom in His love. Your trial did not catch Him by surprise and in His compassion He waits for you to forgive. He uses our broken and contrite heart, to bring humility and maturity in a way that nothing else can. When walking through difficulty we often wait and see what God is going to do, but maybe in this trial, God is waiting to see what you are going to do. “In this, you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” I Peter 1:6-7.

I wear a t-shirt that says, “I do not believe what I see – I see what I believe.” This was a favorite quote from Josh Christmas and I’ve had several people ask what it means. It’s simply saying the world’s voice is not the final answer. God wants us to trust Him even when we cannot see, and to know that His truth is the last word. Trust it, believe it, speak it! Replace your discouragement with His confidence. So, let the prayers and tears keep coming. Whatever trials may come, we will stand strong with God in faith and resist entertaining fear, despair, and doubt.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, certified chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 7/22/2024

The church equips Christians for service

I’ve been in church all my life and I know people who believe that attending an assembly fulfills the majority of their Christian obligations. Somewhere down through the centuries the idea of the Ekklesia being a boot camp to train soldiers and a school to teach disciples how to engage in spiritual warfare and develop their ministries became watered down into an easy country club of comfort and pride. The word Ekklesia appears in the New Testament 114 times and is often translated as “church” in the Bible. It means to be called out by God into the light of His kingdom and called out from the darkness of a sinful world. Unfortunately, most members are content to give offerings to pay the one percent to do 99 percent of the work.

We’ve read lately how a few Christians in Oklahoma and Louisiana read the memo about putting on the whole armor of God and were not afraid to battle against those who threw God’s word out of public schools. In Louisiana, it is now in litigation that all public classrooms must post the 10 commandments, and in Oklahoma, the same is true, including a Bible must be in every class. We realize when prayer was removed from public education in 1962 the church was asleep. The Supreme Court’s decision prohibited state-sponsored prayer in schools, including Bible reading. Finally, the sleeping giant has awakened and as we can see, there is no reason why every state cannot take back what was lost and more.

Yes, of course, some parents and lawyers are fighting against these decisions, because they do not want children to be influenced by Jesus Christ the Almighty God, The Alpha and Omega who just so happens to be the creator of all things and knows all things. And yet these same enemies of divine truth work night and day to flood our education system with a library of woke propaganda that is twisting and confusing the minds of the little ones. This is not a Republican-Democrat, conservative, or liberal disagreement, it is clearly a war between good and evil. We recently celebrated our nations independence, and there are many true stories associated with God and the founding of this nation. Many watch fireworks and eat a hot dog because they love being free to do whatever they want, but hardly understand that our liberty was about loving and serving God.

An Englishman named Thomas Paine came to the colonies at the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin and published a book in 1776 called “Common Sense.” It challenged the authority of the British Royal Monarchy and encouraged the colonies that to find relief from oppressive legislation by the King of England they had three choices: Do nothing, rely on their colonial government, or have the people rise up and follow what God was saying even if it cost them everything. They wisely chose the latter and their trail of blood proves it. It appears God’s church is standing at a similar crossroad today as religious spirits of compromise and fear want to control the bride and body of Christ. Christians will spend hours watching the news and never lift a finger or bow their knees in prayer. Why not? They do not pray because they are not close to God, and they do not want to get involved for fear of persecution. The enemy whispers to soft and weak religious attitudes; “everything is alright, go back to sleep.”

This is not a seeker-friendly, patty cake devotion that fears offending those who disagree. It’s time to either stand and allow God to demonstrate His glory, or just keep playing church. We’ve had more than enough cookie-cutter programs from pastors and preachers who are intimidated to relay what God wants to say to His people. Where is the prophet and watchman on the wall? Yes, we are divided in our political and spiritual views, but how can a true follower of Jesus possibly ignore or embrace lukewarmness that God is clearly against? There are only two sides and the line has been drawn. I John 4:4 declares, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” but who understands that God is waiting on someone to walk in this authority with faith, holiness, and obedience? We hear about fairness and rights but very little about truth, discipline, and judgment.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 7/15/2024

God is an ever-present help in trouble

On September 25, 2000, two years after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 19-year-old Kevin Hines in a state of chaos and despair, attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He fell more than 220 feet to the freezing dark waters of the Pacific Ocean, slamming into it at 75 miles per hour. The fall took only 4 seconds, and no one was more surprised that he had survived than Kevin himself. You see, the bridge was completed in 1937 and since that time nearly 2,000 people are known to have jumped to their deaths. What makes Kevin unique? He is the only known survivor.

The impact shattered three of his vertebrae and came within two millimeters of severing his spine and yet he did not die. During his rapid descent, Hines recalled an instantaneous feeling of regret as he prayed, “God, I don’t want to die. Please help me.” While under the water and realizing he was not dreaming, he suddenly had an overwhelming will to live. However, the weight of his clothes kept dragging him down below the surface. For what felt like an eternity, it took all of his strength to resurface for just a few seconds at a time to take a gulp of air and then he would go down again. Suddenly he felt a strange force from below pushing him upward. What in the world was under him? Only later did he learn that eyewitnesses from the bridge had seen the mystery that was keeping him afloat: a large sea lion came to his rescue by supporting his body above the water until the Coast Guard could pick him up. This true account is nearly on the level of Biblical proportions, and one that we know is nothing less than a miracle.

Experiencing extreme mood swings, Kevin was hearing voices telling him he was not worthy to live, and slowly he was beginning to believe them. Many people suffer from mental diseases and chemical imbalances that are not their fault. Kevin battled suicidal thoughts hours before his attempt. “I remember waking up my father early in the morning and telling him I loved him. My dad woke up with a concerned look and asked me if I was okay, to which I paused and responded, yes. Shortly after, my father went back to sleep, I remember rocking myself back and forth at the side of his bed in the dark, desperately trying to come up with the words to explain how I truly felt.” That night, Hines hoped his father would convince him to change his mind.

The mind is also vulnerable to spiritual deception when external voices from the dark side attempt to deceive and mislead. King Solomon mentions in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” This verse suggests that guarding your mind and thoughts determines how you live your life. Every life has been created by God and has a carefully designed purpose. Jesus loves us and wants us to live! He would have gone to the cross if you were the only person on earth. Thoughts of hopelessness are lies, God will always be our hope! When depression becomes more than you can handle seek help immediately and call on God. He is our great deliverer. Psalm 91 says, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”

Kevin He has been a mental health advocate since his recovery and spends his time and energy to encourage those who struggle through the same battles that he knows only too well. As a motivational speaker, he emphasizes the importance of mental wellness and provides lifesaving resources for those who may be struggling with suicide. He encourages men and women to turn to God and ask Him to break their negative thinking patterns. Kevin continues, “If you’re ever stuck in a negative thought pattern you can’t get out of, find a mirror, any mirror, and look into it and say, I am not my thoughts. I am not how I feel right now. I can choose to live, to thrive, and embrace the gift called life.” His survival of the Golden Gate Bridge leap is now the catalyst for inspiring countless others to choose life and reminds us that living mentally well takes faith in God, endurance, hard work, and support.  

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. You can read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 7/8/24

Be encouraged! God will take of you

It’s reassuring to know that as a child of God, you are not alone in this world. Our gracious heavenly Father has promised that He is aware and interested in even the tiniest occurrences in your life and has promised to be with you always. Does this mean you will never have struggles and problems? Of course not, but knowing we are secure in the palm of His hand gives us hope and faith. Matthew chapter six reveals that He knows what we need before we even ask Him, and this spiritual insight brings comfort to realize that God loves us more than anything. Ministers and leaders, God is calling you to give Him these heavy weights of concern so that you can be refreshed with His excitement and joy. We cannot help others or give away what we do not have.

I was teaching a Bible study in a Veterans health care facility a while back and closed with a song called, “God will take care of you” written by Civilla Martin in 1904. I love this old hymn and it’s simple yet profound message of security and assurance. When we become entangled with the distractions of this life, God’s perfect will can become cloudy and distant. God will take care of us, but we need to let Him.

Have you noticed that discouragement is always lurking in the shadows? It’s a fierce weapon the enemy uses to shut us down, and if we allow negativity, doubt, and fear from our frustrations to saturate and control our minds, this will feed our stress and anxiety. Along with resisting the devil, those who serve God on the front lines must learn that slipping away with Jesus and having some quiet time with Him is the best way to live in the peace of His presence. Often our joy leaks out and our fire needs to be rekindled and getting alone with Him will restore and refresh. Have you heard His still small voice calling you to slip away with Him lately?

Within the New Testament, we read that Jesus would make time to slip away and pray to His Father. We notice in Luke chapter four, as Jesus begins His ministry He is filled and led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray. At the end of His life, we find Him in the garden of Gethsemane praying with such intense agony His sweat became as drops of blood. He is our perfect example and this dedicated and sanctified lifestyle of developing an awareness of God’s presence is how He wants us to live. The Bible reassures us that Christ has always been God who knows everything, and as a man, He knows all about physical and emotional suffering. “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind” Jeremiah 17:10.

If we choose to live a religious life without sacrifice or a desire to serve God in our ministry, life is easy and, likely, you will not relate to this message. However, the deeper we get involved with serving God and the more of our will we submit to His calling, the more we cherish the secret place of the Most High. Jesus was being drained with laying hands on the masses, healing the sick, crowds seeking Him, manifesting miracles, worrying about His friends, and knowing the cross was waiting for Him, just to mention a few. The demands of life and the responsibilities to manage situations while walking in His Spirit can be overwhelming. Jesus knows ministry is exhausting and our batteries can run down quickly, so He draws us to His power source to recharge.

There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I will ever suffer that the Savior did not experience. Isaiah 53:4 promises that He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, and Isaiah 43:2 declares, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” In times of weakness, you may cry out, “No one knows what I’m going through” but the love of God always knows and understands and is ready to intervene.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl, where he is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. To learn more about the Christian life visit: billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 7/1/24

Remembering the cost of our independence

This week we celebrate Independence Day which is also commonly known as the Fourth of July. It’s a federal holiday commemorating America’s independence from the British empire which over the past 250 years has maintained a public display of pride and patriotism. This past Sunday at church we sang a heartfelt melody of patriotic songs that declared, America. America, God shed His grace on thee, Glory, Glory Hallelujah His truth is marching on, and God bless the USA! There were American flags at every entrance with beautiful decorations. Many wore red, white, and blue to show their love and allegiance to this great nation. Why is it great? It is indeed a land filled with some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet, but it’s the hard-working, courageous, and God-fearing people who love and obey His truth that makes living here a privilege and honor.

July 4th is significant because it is the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, a governing body of delegates from the thirteen original American colonies. The document officially declared the United States of America’s independence from British rule. It came nearly a month after Virginia Delegate Richard Henry Lee proposed for the colonies to seek independence. The Declaration of Independence we know and love was largely written by Thomas Jefferson. Other members of Congress suggested edits and finally approved one of the most important documents in our history.

The American Revolution was a war for independence, a conflict of self-defense fought by families and neighbors on American farms against a fierce enemy coming from an ocean away. It impacted millions from Vermont’s Green Mountains to the swamps of South Carolina, from Indian Country to the Iberian Peninsula. In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution made a huge impact on the world. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic Coast were victorious from being controlled by a constitutional monarchy. We rightfully celebrate how they won our independence and established a republic that still endures.

Am I saying this country is perfect, or that it is not guilty of horrible sins? Of course not. There are many areas where the desire for carnal freedom was and is being accepted by a confused legal system that could care less about God’s moral standards.

There are two types of freedom, a spiritual liberty to worship and obey God, and the aggressive pursuit of fleshly rights that defiantly shake their fist in the face of God. In recent years liberal unbelievers have tried to destroy the founding documents which were based on Biblical principles and the Christian faith and replace them with a new progressive culture of moral relativism. God has blessed His remnant because they have stood boldly to speak His truth even while facing persecution. Like Sodom, the faithful few are holding back God’s judgment. Psalm 33:11-12 says, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Of course some rebel against being loyal to any government or nation and accuse those who do with being a nationalist. The pledge of allegiance is an example the dissidents and anarchists use to teach against obeying and trusting governments. I’m not going into a lengthy explanation of this term as there are so many is so many thoughts about it and many scholars are not exactly sure what it means. I believe for the Christian, honoring the flag includes understanding that God requires a nation to follow His voice. His children do not worship people or politics but are praying and trusting that He will guide the government by His divine truth.

In recent years, conservatives have been accused of being intolerant, discriminating, and prejudiced by declaring that America is the greatest country ever while looking down on everyone else. Some might feel this way, but I believe the overwhelming majority of patriots who love Christ love all people and respect their cultures, history, and traditions. There is nothing wrong with having a deep sense of appreciation for everything good in a nation as long as it does not include the arrogance of supremacy or hostility against those who feel the same way about their countries. The “God and Country” ideology is still very dear to most Americans, as the red stripes of our flag represent valor and the blood of those who paid for our independence.

Dr. Holland is an ordained Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 6/24/24

Free will and the enemy within

Receiving personal revelations of God’s Logos and Rhema word throughout our lives is critical to say the least. To be satisfied with a general knowledge of a few Bible stories is not what God had in mind for the victorious overcomer. Studying and rightly dividing the word is hard work and was intended to be practiced as a daily requirement for spiritual nourishment and development. To renew our mind and conscience is our responsibility that all of hell tries to stop. But brother, I work all day and need my evenings to relax and do what I want. We know what the flesh wants but also what God demands.

This is not an easy message, but that does not mean it’s bad or untrue. This is a conversation about spiritual warfare and how our carnal nature is only as dead as we want it to be. The picture of baptism within the miraculous gift of salvation is an outward illustration of an inward re-creation and allows us to see that the “old man” or old nature has died and that we are raised up (resurrected) into a brand new life in Christ. The old way of thinking and feeling no longer controls us, right? Not exactly. The old nature might be buried in the grave, but our free will can dig him up whenever we want.

When we are born again, we are given a new spiritual identity but we do not automatically turn into an obedient robot for God that spends every second in prayer and worship. Yes, the goal for every Christian is to learn how to live in the awareness of God’s presence, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Since our success as a dedicated soldier for the Lord is directly associated with our free will to do what God says, why are we not more advanced by now? It’s no one’s fault but our own. We decide how close we will walk with God. Satan tempts us but does not make us carnal. We sin out of our own urges to rebel against our Lord. We are servants to whom we obey and too often it’s ourselves.

One thing that God’s word is not and that’s comfortable. It’s easy to mistake physical relaxation for spiritual peace. We can be content in knowing that God’s presence is with us, but this is not the same as being happy living however we want. When a Christian is not experiencing spiritual resistance and does not discern the devil is launching an attack, they are probably asleep at the wheel. The realm of darkness knows who is on the front lines obeying God, and who has taken off their armor and are asleep on the couch. When a Christian falls away into complacency and is satisfied to go no further with Christ, they are in desperate need of the fires of revival and rededication to Jesus.

Many in the church select the passages that promise His benefits while skipping over the ones that demand obedience and sacrifice. Of course, everyone wants to live a life of pleasure while avoiding demonic warfare, but often the context involves God working with His faithful warriors in combat not supporting fearful spectators. There is a world of difference between relationship and religion. The young drink milk from the bottle and play in the baby pool, but after years of playing church, it’s time to grow up. We deceive ourselves if we use denial to avoid accountability. God is waiting for many who claim to follow Him to realize they are now responsible for swimming into the deeper waters of spiritual maturity and understanding what it means to surrender their will to Him.

Only God knows the genuine from the impostors. How long will He allow a Christian to intentionally remain a carnal infant? One thing we do know is that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are born again, which leads us to consider that not only can we be as close to God as we desire, but we decide how much of the character and nature of Christ is evident in our lives. What is our conclusion? There has always been an epidemic of lukewarm carnal Christians (I Corinthians 3) who seek heaven and a life of blessings, but have no plans to invest personal cost. Keeping their distance from God on purpose fearing what He requires.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 6/17/24

Thoughts on abundant living

One of the more popular verses about blessings in the New Testament is John 10:10. We notice Christ is speaking, “The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But, I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” This statement is a wonderful promise of confidence as it generally describes how the devil is evil and is trying to destroy us, and that God is always good and desires for us to be victorious representatives of His glorious kingdom. You would think that everyone on the planet would want to be on God’s “winning side” who by the way, has infinite spiritual power and authority, however, this does not seem to be the case. Many who claim to be Christians are not walking in what the Bible calls spiritual abundance. Why not? Since God is a Spirit, His word is Spirit, so spiritual abundance comes from being filled and abiding in His Spirit. When this is not happening we struggle and appear not much different than non-Christians?

So, how do we understand this word abundant? Christ uses the Greek word “perissos” pronounced per-is-sos. In this context, it means ‘superior in quantity or quality’ ‘exceedingly’ ‘very high’ ‘advantage’ and ‘beyond measure.’ This is the same word that Paul uses again in Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Our first clue to understanding this word is to realize Paul is speaking about the nature of God and that Christians can be filled with as much of God as they choose. You see, free will is at the center of our human existence and created with decision-making abilities where we make decisions each minute. It’s a privilege to be given this authority, but with great responsibility, there is also serious accountability.

Galatians chapter 5 reveals the intentional sinful works of the flesh and adds that no one will go to heaven who does such things. Then in verses 22-25, we read about the attitudes that should be evident in those who are truly walking in the abundant life of God. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

The Bible does not say that we are limited as to how close to God we can be. Jesus walked with His Father as one and since He is our example, we are expected to do the same. It’s difficult but possible according to how much we love Him.

What does this have to do with abundance? Everything. Unfortunately, many times followers are seeking more for the gifts without being focused on the giver. People hear the phrase “abundant living” and the church is filled with hallelujahs, but are they thinking about more money or drawing nearer to God? The Almighty is often viewed as a divine being obligated to answer our requests like a letter to Santa. Yes, God listens and responds to our needs according to His perfect will, but whether we receive our desires or not we still love Him just for who He is. Right? Surely when we ask for material things and do not receive them we do not become discouraged because we were denied God’s promise of abundance. Being born again comes from the abundance of God’s grace, and the level of our spiritual intimacy with Him is measured by our obedience to Him.

Being saved through the sacrifice of Jesus is vital, but it’s not the end – it’s just the beginning. We are not to accept the invitation to follow Him, and then sit on the couch waiting for Him to give us everything on our wish list. Let us realize that everything we dream about will not turn out like we imagined. Many times God is saving us from more misery and disappointment. We hear people talk about all the glorious things heaven will contain, like the golden streets and mansions without mentioning Christ. Reuniting with our families are comforting thoughts, but being with God is the ultimate eternal abundant life. Instead of focusing desire on abundant prosperity, may we realize that God is waiting for us to “abundantly” give more of our heart to Him.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 6/10/24

CHERISHED MEMORIES ABOUT MY FATHER

May God bless each and every father as we wish you a Happy Father’s Day. Fatherhood is a theme within scripture, and we know that God is the best Father who loves His Son Jesus Christ, and all of His children so much that He provided a way for them to spend an eternity with Him. My dad passed away in 2016. I miss my father, I admired him and always will.

There are lots of stories about Father’s Day and recently I was curious about how the special day began. According to one historian, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea of honoring and promoting fatherhood was initially met with resistance. Not that fathers were not loved and respected, but some folks thought it was too sentimental as with Mother’s Day, and were attempting to domesticate manliness with flowers and gift-giving. The story begins with a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, who was inspired by her widowed father. She and her five siblings were raised by him, a Civil War veteran and single parent. Wanting to establish a special day for all dads, she worked diligently and the first celebration was on June 19, 1910. However, it took several decades of efforts by individuals and organizations to establish Father’s Day as an official holiday.

In 1916, President Wilson honored the day by unfurling a flag in Spokane, and in 1924, President Coolidge urged states to recognize the day. It was not until 1972 that Father’s Day was officially recognized as a national holiday in the United States, signed into law by President Richard Nixon. I think about my dad and as I’m older now I understand more clearly how difficult it was for him and mom to raise a family. I’m a part of the old school generation where my dad worked and my mom was a housewife similar to the old television shows like “Leave it to Beaver, and Ozzie and Harriet.” Their parents were poor and uneducated, and the idea back in those days was if you had any type of job, you were doing good. I’m not sure they knew how to help us kids.

I did not really think about it at the time, but I remember as a kid how hard my dad worked to provide for his family. He owned his own construction company and as a custom home builder, he was very talented and creative. I have two younger sisters and we always had everything we needed. Sometimes dad would take me to work with him and give me some type of odd job to do and would pay me which was very exciting. He was trying to teach me the rewards of hard work and how to be responsible. As I grew up and started having children of my own, he was always trying to help me and as the only son, I know he loved me and was proud of me. We hear about amazing people and are praised for their accomplishments, but a true hero is someone who has personally invested their time and resources to help us become the person we are today.

My dad was a large man, a physical specimen of strength and endurance. His framing contractors would say they had never seen a person who could lift one side of a house center beam by themselves like he did. He could pour 20 yards of concrete by himself and come in late at night after finishing huge basement floors. But, beyond his obsessive-compulsive disorder and relentless drive to succeed, I remember his sensitivity and compassion. Underneath the rugged persona, I knew him as a softhearted affectionate father who throughout my life would always wrap his arms around me and hold me. I miss those hugs.

Sadly, my dad’s life was cut short by a hereditary kidney disease (PKD), and ended up spending his last 20 years on dialysis. He became very weak and was in pain yet would never complain. He was always smiling and a source of wisdom, hope, and encouragement. He asked me to officiate his celebration of life service and insisted that I keep it positive and make it clear that he had lived a wonderful and blessed life. He said no one wants to hear about what it was like to suffer all the time. This is the type of caring person he was.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl where he is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at: billyhollandministries.com

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 6/3/24

The turning point of World War II

On June 6th, 1944, America under the guidance of General Dwight Eisenhower and its allies engaged in one of the most significant military operations of the 20th century under the now legendary name of D-Day. Code named Operation Neptune was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Despite poor weather conditions and fierce resistance from German forces, the operations were successful. On the evening of June 6th, the Allies had gained a foothold on all five beaches as the German defenders numbering around 50,000 were uncertain how to respond. Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on that day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada, with no less than 17 other allied countries participating on the ground, the sea, and in the air, including French troops fighting under the command of General Charles de Gaulle.

We live near Camp Nelson National Cemetery and from the highway, you can see many of the over twelve thousand perfectly lined white marble tombstones. A reminder of the individuals who accepted the call of duty, and what is that call? To defend and protect our freedom whatever the cost! These brave soldiers were willing to fight for their country and I cannot help but wonder how many of us have convictions that strong. The First Amendment was not only signed into existence with ink but with the blood of over 1.1 million Americans who have died in US wars along with the countless more that have suffered from physical disabilities and psychological difficulties. The privileges and freedoms we enjoy have truly come at a great price. My family has suffered loss from war and has a deep appreciation for the service and sacrifice that men and women have given to protect our country. My grandfather served in WWI and my uncle died on the battlefield in Korea. He was only 20 years old in 1950.

As a volunteer chaplain for Thomson Hood, a veteran healthcare facility, I’ve had the opportunity and honor to sit and talk with many fine men and women who have served in our nation’s military. The Second World War veterans are now in their eighties and nineties, and as with all military personnel, it’s important to not only record and preserve their amazing stories but to sincerely listen and respect who they are as individuals. One of these residents is a man named Edward Hicks who willingly stepped forward when his country needed him the most. He was only 22 years old in 1944 and had just married his lovely bride Mary Lou four months earlier. He received the call to join the front line and bravely responded to what would be known worldwide as Operation Overlord. The American soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong and refused to allow a world where wrong prevailed.

Edward and his company were assigned to six miles of beach that was code-named “Omaha” which has been recorded as one of the bloodiest first-wave battles of Normandy. Only 600 men survived out of the 2600 that came ashore. He recalls when he jumped out of the amphibious vehicle, how the water was up to his neck and icy cold. With being loaded down with full gear that was now water-logged, he said it was very difficult to keep from drowning. As bullets were splashing the water and whizzing past his head, all he knew to do was to stay as low as possible. Using floating bodies as shields, he was numb with fear. As he slowly crawled upon the sand, he immediately began to dig a hole where he could partially avoid the onslaught of constant machine gunfire. Somehow throughout the day and thankfully with the Germans running out of ammunition, they managed to slowly make their way inland and went on to accomplish the mission. He received several medals for bravery including a silver star and 4 bronze stars but there is much more to being a hero than human fortitude and earning awards. It is recognizing the depth of spiritual love that includes loving others as much as we love ourselves. Jesus demonstrated the greatest love the world has ever known when He gave His life for us. John 15:13 reminds us that, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 5/27/24

Fallen but not forgotten

This week we honor those who died while fighting for our country. There was a time when society seemed to be more sensitive and compassionate about casualties of war, but today there are so many distractions that cause us to not have our priorities in the right order. This day is not about politics or worldviews, it’s about giving the highest respect to those who paid the greatest price. The liberties we are thankful for today did not come without the sacrifice of many brave men and women as freedom does not come without cost. We remember those who were not given the opportunity to be reunited with their families or to enjoy the abundant blessings that we often take for granted.

While both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are Federal holidays, there is a distinction between them. Here are a few things some people might not know about this time of reflection and remembrance. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May and commemorates the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. You’ll find that some veterans find it dismaying when they are thanked on this day and most realize the person has good intentions but are confused about who the day is meant to honor. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor every veteran who has served or currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, in wartime or peacetime and is observed officially on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.

Traditionally, on Memorial Day, volunteers often place small American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. Flags are raised and then solemnly lowered to half mast. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 pm. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day in 1861, as military personnel was honored from the American Civil War. It’s believed the tradition of honoring fallen soldiers was inspired by the way Southern states decorated both the Confederate and Union soldiers graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan issued an order to designate May 30 as an annual day of remembrance. America’s compassion to remember its fallen warriors became prominent as monuments were constructed and ceremonies centering on the decoration of soldiers’ graves were held in towns and cities throughout the nation.

After World War I, Decoration Day included all fallen soldiers, not just those from the Civil War, and the term “Memorial Day” started being used. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by an act of Congress. For all the grieving families that have lost loved ones to war, we pray that God will continue to bring comfort and peace. 1 Peter 5:7 promises, “Cast all your anxieties on Christ, for He cares for you.” “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him” – Gilbert Chesterton. It’s estimated that over 1.1 million American soldiers have been killed since the Revolutionary War in 1775. May we never forget that freedom isn’t free. It’s often said, we don’t know them all, but we owe them all.

My uncle Kenny and his cousin Thomas were drafted for the Korean War at the tender age of 18. Two young men fresh out of high school who had their entire lives ahead of them. My mother admired her older brother Kenny who as a teenager worked in a grocery store after school and would give their mother a part of his wages to help the struggling family. Mom was the youngest and remembers the day when military personnel arrived and knocked on the door with the devastating news that Kenny had perished on the front lines. His body was not recovered, but his dog tags were found on the battlefield. My grandmother ran through the house screaming and stayed in bed for a week. Cousin Thomas was never found and is listed as missing in action. As the generations keep moving forward, there will come a day when no one will remember them, however, it’s comforting to know that God will never forget them. Our flag doesn’t fly because the wind moves it, but because of the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 5/20/24

What is the abundant life Jesus offers?

It’s common in this modern age for religious seekers to comb the Bible for passages that promise endless blessings. People love to hear messages about God protecting His children from danger and suffering, and how He wants to give us everything we dream about. The problem is this is not exactly why the Christian life was established. Christians should read and study the Bible daily while keeping everything in context is critical to understanding more clearly to what God is saying. It’s true that He loves us, but even in His endless compassion, He did not promise this life would be a bed of luxury while servants wait on us and we never have any pain or a need to have unwavering faith.

For example, we can cherry-pick verses from the Bible such as Proverbs chapters 2 through 4, but the big picture of comprehension comes when we study each word within the entire section and spiritually connect it together. The same is true for Psalm chapter 103 and all the other promises throughout God’s word. Yes, every word in the Bible is God-breathed, and since they are divine words, we must interpret them through God’s Spirit. The Greek word logos (Λόγος) has multiple meanings, including, “word,” “thought,” “principle,” “utterance,” “message,” “discourse,” or “reason.” In Christianity, it’s a title for Jesus Christ and identified with the second person of the Trinity. The term is most commonly used to refer to Jesus as The Word, as in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the word (logos), and the word (logos) was with God, and the word (logos) was God.”

There is also another reference for the word of God called rhema. Both logos and rhema are instructions from God, as the former is His written word objectively recorded in the Old and New Testaments, while the latter is an explicit word that He speaks personally on particular occasions through His Spirit. Have you ever heard God speak to you? A passage of the logos can move into being rhema if it is revealed by the Holy Spirit to apply to a certain situation. This explains why we must not attempt to piece together a theological view in our own intellect, without first listening to the still small voice of God directing and confirming His perfect truth. Trying to explain the Bible without praying for spiritual wisdom and discernment only increases the confusion.

I once heard a story about a missionary who wanted to travel to another country and preach the gospel. He had been seeking and praying for a rhema word that would give him the green light to move forward with his plans. He finally heard the word “go” and off he went with his family. He spent all that he had and ended up in a difficult place that was filled with dead-ends and obstacles. After a year of frustration, discouragement, and defeat, they came back home and he fell on his face fasting and crying out to God asking what in the world happened? He then heard the Lord clearly speak, “I said go…and stay busy where you are and wait for my perfect timing.” He had only heard what he wanted and was so impatient he failed to listen to the complete message. God has a definite plan for us, but it will not be effective or successful unless we do it His way.

Being a living sacrifice is the opportunity to have abundant life, as spiritual fulfillment is received through what we have invested in our obedience to God. Becoming one with Christ is how we are filled with the “abundance” of His joy and contentment. Jesus is always directing within the spiritual realm and the abundant life He gives is not based on materialism but for the Father to receive glory. How can we love God when our love is focused on our flesh? Yes, He provides our needs, but let us not twist His words around to satisfy our desire for earthly pleasures. True abundant living is about surrendering our will to Him so that we can accomplish His will. Everything we have was given to us including our very existence, and yet it’s easy to ignore the principle of giving is the very nature of God. This means the genuine abundant life is not about obtaining worldly riches and power, but is directly connected with our highest calling to give all that we have and all that we are to Him.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 5/13/24

Do we love God and ourselves enough to change?

I recently read a story about an elderly preacher who was invited each week to speak at a school in Africa and he made a tremendous impact on the children. In every lesson, he would begin and conclude by leading them into confessing the phrases, self-control, self-discipline, and sound mind. One of the young students in these classes is now a man who remembers how they recited these words so much they became a part of their vocabulary. When the children would see him walking down the streets, they would shout, “self-control, self-disciple, and sound mind” and he would shout them back. He explains at the time he didn’t understand the weight and the sense of commitment these words carried, but over the years he developed a deeper wisdom about these principles that everyone can possess to enjoy life and fulfill the mandate that God has given them here on earth.

I embrace the power of positive confessions and believe it’s beneficial to speak God’s promises over our lives and those we love. It’s directly associated with faith in what He says and helps bring us to a place of maturity where we know He is listening. According to His perfect will, He can create the fruit of our lips and wants to demonstrate His truth. There is a carnal idea that we can name and claim whatever we want which is based more on our will than His. True spiritual confessions repeat and confirm what God has told us as we come into agreement with a revelation of His spiritual authority and victory that Christ wants us to walk in. As with every purpose, we realize that God wants to share His thoughts and agenda with us so that we can know what He is doing and how He wants to use us. These positive and powerful battle cries are critical to the faith and encouragement of every devoted warrior of Jesus as they fervently fight on the front lines for His glory.

Without self-control, we are as James describes like a wave on the sea tossed here and there as it’s declared that a double-minded person is unstable and cannot receive anything from the Lord. Let us train our minds and develop an awareness of God’s presence to stay focused on our mission. We cannot walk in the Spirit of God and continue to serve our carnal nature, as Matthew chapter 6 clearly explains that we cannot serve two masters at once. Either we will hate the one and love the other. Without self-discipline to learn divine wisdom and resist temptation, we will remain defeated by the many snare traps that are set for us every day. Without a sound mind, we become an easy target of the enemy to become infected with doubting and compromising that causes us to be unstable in our spiritual convictions.

When we look closely at our relationship with Christ and the gift of salvation, we do not see within God’s word where we automatically live as an overcomer for Him. On the contrary, while everything is provided, the gifts, armor, sound mind, wisdom, faith, love, discernment, holiness, joy, passion, and all the other tools and weapons of our warfare, do not just fall out of the air. They must become a relentless vision that we pursue and intentionally incorporate within our minds. When anyone is successful in anything, we learn that achievement does not happen with a half-hearted effort. They decided that nothing (including pain) would prevent them from being driven to succeed. Can we compare this level of intensity to being possessed to please God? Yes.

One definition of self-control is, “The ability to manage one’s impulses, emotions, and behaviors to accomplish long-term goals especially when facing resistance and discouragement.” Until we comprehend what it will take to become the best version of ourselves for God, we will find ourselves rendered powerless to the desires of our fleshly feelings and carnal nature. The question is do we love God and ourselves enough to change? Overcoming in this life is about resisting the internal and external influences that are battling us for control. Since Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, it’s given to empower us to like Christ as we strive to fulfill the Father’s plans. If we sincerely want to change how we live, we must change our habits, and the only person that has the power to replace bad habits with good ones is ourselves.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

 

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 5/6/24

Finding grace to help in times of need

Some individuals are healthier than others, but the uncomfortable facts reveal the human body is generally frail and vulnerable. I occasionally joke around with my Son-in-law about him being from another planet because he says he’s never been sick, however, like the rest of us, there will come a day when something will go wrong. As a minister, I’ve seen my share of sickness and pain and it hurts me to see someone suffer. My father was a very sick man, and our family watched him go through years of agony. With my parents being faithful members of their church, they received countless thoughts and prayers for him to overcome his health problems and it was appreciated. Why was he not healed? Well, I guess that question could also be asked about millions of others since the beginning of time and the answer is always that God’s plans are perfect.

Does God hear our prayers? Of course, but just because we do not see instant results, or for that matter, any results at all does not mean He is not working behind the scenes. I believe in miracles and have personally seen them, but we also need to remember this life is only temporary and its true spiritual meaning is to develop an awareness of love, respect, and trust in the God whose love wants the best for us. He knows the future and moves according to the big picture of His agenda, as our temporal ideas and desires cannot see everything He is saving us from.

We’ve heard the old saying about how life was never promised to be a rose garden and also reminded that every rose has its thorns. If our path was smooth and we always had plenty of finances and felt wonderful every day, we would not understand what it means to desperately seek Him. There would be no passion to pray or demonstrate faith which are essential spiritual building blocks in our personal relationship with Him. You see, our heavenly Father did not intend for us to worship creation and be selfishly independent to live however we want. He desires that we worship Him as the creator and live according to His divine will. Each person is given a few years on this earth as an opportunity to intimately know Him and diligently obey Him. This includes loving everyone and allowing Him to transform and prepare us to live with Him forever.

Since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and our fellowship with God was broken, mankind needed a Savior to restore our identity with Him and this is why Jesus Christ came to be that blood sacrifice. By His stripes, we are healed. Along with the curses on the atmosphere and the plants, our DNA is hindered by imperfections and susceptible to abnormalities and disease. These weaknesses remind us to keep focusing on the promises of God’s word and that listening and following His voice is our greatest privilege. If you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, may you lay your burdens and worries at the feet of Jesus. His truth can fill us with peace and hope and give us the strength to believe that Christ knows exactly what we are going through. Even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, having the right attitude can allow us to mount up with wings as eagles in the joys of victory as He is victorious!

Suffering cannot stop our love or keep us out of heaven. It cannot take away our contentment or erase our wonderful memories. It cannot bind our faith or destroy our confessions of confidence. It cannot steal our joy or conquer our spirit. It cannot keep us from Jesus or distinguish our hope. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 16 promise, “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Those who are in Christ can say with all confidence that one way or another we will be healed. Whether in this life or the next, God’s infinite compassion and mercy will one day make us whole! May you be surrounded by His glorious presence today as He imparts security and comfort into your soul. Someone remembers someone cares, your name is being whispered in someone’s prayers.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. To receive the free CD “Keeper of my Soul” with original music and scriptures related to healing, peace, faith, and encouragement visit: billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 4/29/24

The armor of God includes the belt of truth

Have you considered that most individuals are convinced that what they believe is true, and all who disagree with them are not as wise as they are? What is your personal view about this? May I ask, where did you discover your truth? Did God speak truth to you, or were you just persuaded by what someone else believes? If knowledge was passed on to you from those you respect, how do you know they received it from the Lord? To learn and discern spiritual wisdom, we must have spiritual ears to hear God. The Almighty is divine truth and has never erred; He is perfect as He instructs the truth seeker. Why are there so many ideas about God and the Bible? The dangerous snares of misinterpretation. While we know what God says is always perfect, the problem centers on the human’s misunderstanding of what God is saying.

In the natural realm we realize that if the teacher is wrong in their opinions, it is most likely the student will also be persuaded in the same direction. Historically and currently we can see this in the massive world of religion. So many teachers, with endless speculations concerning truth, brings us to a critical juncture in our subject. Is there one standard of absolute truth that God has established within the fabric of eternity, or is truth a personal acceptance that is relative to each individual? The first option is embraced by many Christians including myself, as it’s common to confess His truth but sadly we rarely demonstrate it. The second choice is called relativism which believes there is no such thing as absolute truth, and how it’s perfectly normal for everyone to believe whatever they are convinced is true to them. What are your thoughts about this?

Some people are like sponges as they love to soak up knowledge and wisdom. They read books and listen to teachers as they expand their perception of the natural and spiritual. Some might ask, “How can we trust what others teach? How can we know truth from error?” It’s our responsibility to study and gain wisdom while being close to God allows us to detect deception through the filter of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Some are convinced it’s healthy to be open-minded and to consider as many interpretations of truth as possible to have a broad spectrum of the meaning of life. However, being open to what everyone believes can increase the chance of confusion, and deception, and distort our discernment of absolute truth. Christians do not tolerate false ideas but are called to reject and expose them.

Whichever side we lean toward, everyone already has their own opinions about most everything. Whether our views are divine truth or not, Jesus knows the difference and wants us to understand why we believe our views and that our truth is not always His truth. Life is not just a guessing game of random ideas. Yes, Christians must be narrow-minded and guard their thoughts as they walk on the narrow path of holiness. The Bible says a little leaven negatively affects the entire loaf which is why false knowledge hinders our walk with God. There is no such thing as a safe dose of poison. Just because we trust a source does not protect us from being deceived. Knowing God is knowing His truth. As bank workers are trained to recognize counterfeits, so must we must know when Satan is disguising himself as an angel of light.

Let us examine the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate found in John chapter eighteen. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea who presided at the trial of Jesus and gave the order for His crucifixion. “You are a king, then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth? retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, I find no basis for a charge against him.” Within this context, Pilate asked the question about what is truth as a mocking gesture and obviously did not want to know the “true” truth. He refused to consider that divine absolute truth was standing right in front of him. Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through your truth: Thy word is truth.”

Dr. Holland is a minister, author, and chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 4/22/24

An optimist chooses to see life differently

The older we are, the more we can see how the world has changed. The Bible reveals the human race fell from God’s favor when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God in the Garden. Since that separation curse, all humans are now born with a depraved nature. Our spirits and minds can be transformed through God’s power, but this does not mean the optimist ignores reality or has blind faith. So how can we regain a positive attitude and discover restored spiritual security with our Creator? For those who are truth seekers, God’s word explains the problem of sin, and also reveals the solution is found in Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Whatever your political and theological views, we can agree there is much concern about what is happening around the world and where we are headed as a civilization. We have the Middle-East conflicts that often include Israel, an upcoming presidential election in the fall, and the Christian community predicting the coming of Christ will be soon, just to name a few. A troubling aspect of many people’s disagreements is how they base their opinions on what someone else has told them instead of researching for themselves. Since God knows everything, the best solutions for every problem is to listen to Him, but rarely is this mentioned or sought after.

Amid our worries about the cultural moral decline, advancing artificial intelligence, and our family’s future, everything is not all gloom and doom. God is moving and miracles are being seen all around us. Like you, I read the editorial sections and watch the news, and mostly what I gather is someone repeating over and over how bad everything is. However, we do not need to be bombarded with negativity about how the world is falling apart at the seams. We need to hear that God created all things, and is in total control of everything! We have the choice to jump on the bandwagon of fear, or we can decide to be an agent of change and make a positive difference.

Isn’t it refreshing to know that all is not lost and we can shine for God as bright as we desire? Perspective is a keyword to consider because it allows us to discern and think carefully about what has been said. When someone relays a story, we should remember they are relaying a view of what they believe. For example, when we hear that no one can be trusted in our government and how society is evolving into a majority of mindless zombies, we should realize this is a “glass half empty” view. In reality, many kindhearted and loving individuals are demonstrating what Christ died for them to be. This is not the hour to give up and hang our harps on the willow trees. It’s a day to examine our hearts and choose to obey and fulfill our calling because we love God.

Each day we maneuver our way through the daily grind while trying to maintain our sanity at the same time. Nonetheless, let us be reminded that if we are going to be an information sponge, we should be careful how we interpret what we absorb. Yes, the masses have serious problems, but we should not burn down the forest just to get rid of poison ivy. Everyone is not evil or a dangerous liberal, and neither is every member of the modern generation brainwashed with humanism. No matter what the majority deems politically correct, as Christians we are to be helping build God’s Kingdom with love. This includes praying for those who have yet to meet God. There is a huge difference between spectators who do a lot of complaining and participators who spend their time and energy trying to accomplish God’s will.

May we examine our convictions carefully and be willing to accept and follow God’s truth that sets us free from sin and gives us peace and joy. Be encouraged, the darkness of discouragement will never overcome the eternal light of God’s compassion and mercy. Instead of pointing out all the people who do not care, we could start identifying and appreciating those who do. What will you decide? May we scrutinize our convictions and intentions and be willing to listen and embrace the Alpha and Omega who is, who was, and who is to come.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl, where he is a Christian author, ordained minister, worship leader, and community chaplain. To read more visit: billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

PUBLISHED 4/15/24

An Optimist chooses to see life differently

The older we are, the more we can see how the world has changed. The Bible reveals the human race fell from God’s favor when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God in the Garden. Since that separation and being cursed, all humans are now born with a corrupt and depraved nature. Our spirits and minds can be transformed through God’s power, but this does not mean the optimist ignores reality or has blind faith. So how can we have positive attitude and find restored spiritual security? For those who are truth seekers, God’s word not only explains the problem of sin, but also reveals the solution is found in Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Whatever your political and theological views, we can agree there is much concern about what is happening around the world and where we are headed as a civilization. We have the Middle-East conflicts that often include Israel, an upcoming presidential election in the fall, and the Christian community predicting the coming of Christ will be soon, just to name a few. A troubling aspect of many people’s disagreements is how they base their opinions on what someone else has told them instead of researching for themselves. Since God knows everything, the best source for all problems would be to listen to Him, but rarely is this mentioned or sought after.

Amid our worries about the cultural moral decline, advancing artificial intelligence, and our family’s future, everything is not all gloom and doom. God is moving and miracles are being seen all around us. Like you, I read the editorial sections and watch the news, and mostly what I gather is someone repeating over and over how bad everything is. However, we do not need to be bombarded with negativity about how the world is falling apart at the seams. We need to hear that God created all things, and is in total control of everything! We have the choice to jump on the bandwagon of fear, or we can decide to be an agent of change and help make a positive difference.

Isn’t it refreshing to hear that all is not lost and we can be as bright a light for God as we choose? Perspective is a keyword to consider because it allows us to discern and think carefully about what has been said. When someone relays a story, we should remember they are relaying a view of what they believe. For example, when we hear that no one can be trusted in our government and how society is evolving into a mass of mindless zombies, we should realize this is a “glass half empty” view. In reality, many kindhearted and loving individuals are demonstrating what Christ died for them to be. This is not the hour to give up and hang our harps on the willow trees. It’s a day to examine our hearts and obey and fulfill our calling because we love God.

Each day we maneuver our way through the daily grind while trying to maintain our sanity at the same time. Nonetheless, let us be reminded that if we are going to be an information sponge, we should be careful how we interpret what we absorb. Yes, the masses have serious problems, but we should not burn down the forest just to get rid of poison ivy. Everyone is not evil or a dangerous liberal, and neither is every member of the modern generation brainwashed with humanism. No matter what the majority deems politically correct, as Christians we are to be helping build God’s Kingdom with love. This includes praying for those who have yet to meet God. There is a huge difference between spectators who do a lot of complaining and participators who spend their time and energy trying to accomplish God’s will.

May we examine our convictions carefully and be willing to accept and follow God’s truth that sets us free from sin and gives us peace and joy. Be encouraged, the darkness of discouragement will never overcome the eternal light of God’s compassion and mercy. Instead of pointing out all the people who do not care, we could start identifying and appreciating those who do. May we scrutinize our convictions and intentions and be willing to listen, embrace, and follow the Alpha and Omega who is, who was, and who is to come.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl, where he is a Christian author, ordained minister, worship leader, and community chaplain. To read more visit: billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 4/8/24

Control your thoughts or they will control you

We all know the feeling of having something on our minds that we have a difficult time letting go of. Similar to an image or a catchy song that gets stuck in our head, commonly called an earworm, negative thoughts can be very difficult to remove and the more we replay them the more familiar they become. Rumination is a psychological term for rehashing thoughts over and over. While it can simply mean being stuck in a mental cycle, that may not always be necessarily bad, the psychological term leans toward pessimistic thinking and feelings of what could have been. Some might worry incessantly about a conversation that embarrassed them, or having regret about a decision, and then live in misery over all the things they should have said or done.

The past is not the only area where rumination can try to distract us and cause depression. We can also worry excessively about what could happen in the future. To say the least, such thinking is not only very unpleasant and a joy thief, but it can generally become self-destructive if we do not learn how to control it. One psychologist described it as a turntable where the stylus runs in the groove of the record. Psychological rumination causes these memory grooves to get deeper and deeper, so it becomes more difficult to escape from the rut. What’s more, if we submit to the temptation of ruminating, we may become more upset than we were originally because the issue now becomes magnified or even exaggerated in our minds. We’ve all heard the common saying, “It’s all in your head” which helps identify that much of our worries are from our inability to control our thoughts.

We know that anxiety, fear, and sadness can haunt the mind and influence how we live and who we are. In the realm of good and evil, the Bible talks about an evil spiritual enemy whose mission is to deceive and persuade us to listen to his voice. He realizes the mind is the battlefield where he can attack those who are mentally and emotionally vulnerable to external influences. It’s no secret that if he is given access to our secret place of thoughts, he will prepare his ambush and release an assault of spiritual oppression upon us to distract and manipulate us into a destructive pattern of condemnation and pity. This is why we must build a fortress to guard our hearts and minds from his lies.

Of course, we all have memories we wish we could have a second chance to make better, along with perceptions and fears that desire to paralyze us with dread. But if we spend too much time dwelling on spilled milk that we cannot change, our most significant regret will be that we could have used this energy to empower and enhance our future. Can you see what the enemy is trying to do? So, how can we develop a strategy to battle against these negative deceptions that are trying to steal, kill, and destroy? We can research and learn the reality of spiritual warfare and this will reveal what we are facing and help us develop an awareness of not only the tactics of the dark side but the glories of God’s presence. If we can grow stronger in spiritual discernment and comprehend where these dark thoughts are coming from, we can rebuke Satan in the Name of Jesus and pray and ask God for His help.

Revelation chapter 12 gives us insight into this dangerous entity called the accuser of the brethren, as the buttons of our vulnerable emotional areas will continually be his target until we learn how to resist him. Ignoring our accountability to control our thoughts and feelings will allow them to dictate our every idea and decision. We must decide if we are tired of being controlled. Emotions were never meant to lead us, we are created to be led by the voice of God, and it encourages us to know that we can overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony. It’s also very critical to forgive ourselves. We can ask others to forgive us for our failures, but God does not condemn us and wants to heal and restore our souls. Today we have a wonderful opportunity to take all we have learned and become more determined to enjoy the abundant life Jesus Christ has provided as we accomplish God’s will.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 4/1/24

Spiritual sign or natural occurrence?

A few readers have asked me lately about my thoughts on the coming eclipse. I’m sure that almost everyone has heard by now about the total solar eclipse on April 8. It will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. The questions that many speculate about include events like when planets come into a straight line or when there is unusual activity in the heavens, and whether or not this is God trying to relay a message to us. Are these signs and warnings?

I begin by saying that I am not an expert in astronomy, astrophysics, astrometry, or cosmology. I respect science, but do not agree that everything began on its own. I have also not spent years studying astrology, (which means cycle or circle of little animals) and realize that many people follow this ancient philosophy that believes all heavenly bodies including constellations have influence over or are directly involved with human events. I am a theologian and base my worldview about God and life on the Bible. Whatever the perspective, Let us be aware of the amazing order and accuracy of our earth, moon, and sun that stands as a declaration of God’s infinite power and authority. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” Psalm 19:1.

My emphasis today is spiritual discernment. We all have opinions about everything especially when it comes to religion and politics and an eclipse is no different. My speculations do not matter or your opinions; what matters is what God is saying. It’s always been that way. I wish I could proclaim to you His specific message for this eclipse, but honestly, I sense that He is simply reminding us that He is the Almighty and in total control. As the architect of all things including the universe, (Isaiah 40:26) let us worship Him in the wonder of who He is. He is offering His grace, mercy, and love to everyone today and we pray that many will receive Christ as their Lord before it is too late. There is a world of imagination out there and you can read from now until next Monday about what everyone thinks, but pray and ask God to give you a personal revelation about this.

Eclipses have inspired fear and awe among civilizations throughout history, from the Aztecs to the ancient Hindus. They’re also associated with some major religious events, including the darkness that accompanied Jesus when He was crucified. In the gospel of Mark 15:33 we read, “And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” Will there be signs in the heavens before Christ returns? Absolutely! Acts 2:20 says, “The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.” Also, read Luke chapter 21. Is the April 8 eclipse when Jesus is returning? I say no as the Bible explains certain things must come to pass before the second coming. Is it a harbinger of judgment for the world because of their rebellion? Possibly. I believe God is always warning us to stop our evil ways and it’s only because of His grace we have second chances. I do believe that God speaks through signs and wonders and there is a way to listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides us into all truth, but to hear the still small voice of God one must draw near to Him.

With this being said, it’s also common for human nature to be superstitious about cosmic events like a blood moon, but this does not mean there is a paranormal or supernatural event happening. An eclipse will naturally happen when objects are moving around one another. They are quite common, with a total solar eclipse occurring somewhere on Earth approximately once every 18 months. Partial solar eclipses occur several times per year, while total lunar eclipses occur virtually every year in most parts of the world. Since Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 24, there have been thousands of total and partial, solar and lunar eclipses. None of them seem to have had any significance to end-times Bible prophecy. We need God’s wisdom and discernment about all things and to not allow our emotions to guide us.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 3/25/24

CHRIST IS RISEN AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYONE

Throughout history, no one has made a greater impact than Jesus Christ. So, who is this person called Jesus? He was not just a man; He was God. It’s widely known Jesus was born of a virgin 2000 years ago, but He existed long before that. As the Son of God and second person of the Trinity, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega which means He is from the beginning and has no end. His being infinite is beyond our comprehension and exalts God as the highest authority. Jesus the Christ means He is the anointed one, the promised Messiah. All other gods and idols have been created, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has always been and will always be.

Jesus said in John 8:58, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was – I am” which explains that His physical birth in Bethlehem and His agonizing death on Calvary was a calculated plan to come down from heaven and rescue believers that needed to be saved from their sins. In this holy week, we think of Jesus dying on the cross and how after three days He arose triumphant over death and paid the ransom for those who are hopelessly lost. The crucifixion and resurrection prove how much God loves us and wants to save us! Jesus resurrecting from the dead is truly the greatest event in the history of mankind.

Of all philosophies, ideas, and imaginations within every civilization, there is only one truth when it comes to the Almighty God of the Bible being the creator of all things and the judge of every person’s heart. This is why He is called the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is Omnipotent which means He is not limited in power or authority. He is Omniscient which reveals He is the only one who has complete knowledge, wisdom, perception, awareness, and understanding. He sees everything and knows the hearts of every person that has ever been born. God is also Omnipresent, meaning He sees and hears everything with the divine ability to be everywhere at the same time including knowing the future.

When we realize that no other religion has anything spiritually or historically comparable to the Bible, we wonder how anyone could not want to know God and be born again. It’s because every person at one time was spiritually blind and unable to see the spiritual truth. We must hear God’s word which allows the Holy Spirit to convict our conscience, then God graciously opens our eyes, and we are compelled and drawn to repent and worship the Savior. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. Romans 1:16 also declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Further understanding is found in II Corinthians 4:4 where it speaks of the lost not being able to comprehend the love, mercy, and grace of God. “Satan, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Many will ask, “Why did Jesus need to suffer? Could He not just snap His fingers and save everyone?” When Adam and Eve lost their standing with God in the Garden, humans continued to enjoy their free will and it’s this ability to choose that allows us to give our heart and strength completely to Him or walk away. We are constantly deciding between good and evil. We are not forced to sin and neither will God make us love Him.

For those of you who do not know Jesus as your Lord, I pray you will ask Him to save you today. We realize the gospel of Christ appears to be relatively simple as Romans 10:13 proclaims that “Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” but the concept of His grace does not erase human accountability, neither is it based on human works. What Jesus did is not an automatic ticket to heaven for everyone, it’s an opportunity to know our Creator and be in blood covenant with the Lamb that was slain. May we not abuse God’s mercy as an excuse for our disobedience because the true definition of covenant requires both parties to honor their vows.

Visit billyhollandministries.com to read more about the victorious Christian life.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 3/18/24

A person is only as true as their word

We live in an age that tends to shrug its shoulders when confronted with spreading information that is not true. Instead of asking, like Pilate, “What is truth?” the postmodern man says, “Truth is relevant to each individual” or perhaps “There might be truth somewhere, but we cannot know it.” Those of us who follow Christ realize that not being ashamed of speaking lies is another dangerous deception that much of our progressive culture has accepted as normal. God is an absolute true reality. He is perfect in all of His ways, He cannot lie.

Our human nature is infected with depravity and unless our carnality is controlled we can think bad things and speak lies without blinking an eye. Let us beware of becoming numb to sin. In the book of James the first chapter, it speaks of how someone might seem to be a Godly person, but if they do not bridle their tongue, their religion is in vain. The idea here is that the mouth reveals what is in the mind and the heart. If the words are corrupt, this is proof that the conscience has not been renewed through the transforming power of Christ. Integrity is embracing the truth about ourselves, honesty always speaks the truth to everyone else.

Our pastor recently taught on the commandment of Thou shalt not bear false witness. Of course, anytime something is said that is not true, it is a lie whether intentional or not. There is the old downright and dirty lie that is meant to cause intentional harm, but it doesn’t have to be a bald-faced lie to be a falsehood. There is no such thing as a harmless lie? A sobering component of being honest is that many people even Christians tend to not be transparent with others, themselves, or God. Have you ever called in sick to stay home from work and were not sick? Have you ever exaggerated about anything including your taxes? When you tell a story do you add extra details that you just made up? We have broken all the commandments because each one deals with issues of the soul.

Is there such a thing as a white lie? Have you ever tried to cover your tracks with lies to prevent being exposed? Do you distort your abilities and accomplishments to appear more successful than you are? Have you ever spread rumors and speculations about other people to tear down their integrity? I believe that most of us at some time or another have told things that are not true for some reason, but one thing is sure, no amount of lies can change the truth. God knows. Then we have the case of not speaking the truth when we have the opportunity. This is called a sin of omission. Shouldn’t a Christian desire to be honest and the first one to declare truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help us God?

The thought for today is not only about us telling the truth, it’s also about us believing the truth. If we desire to speak the truth, we must know what it is. Do we love the truth? Is understanding truth important to us? Sadly we’ve grown accustomed to being lied to, and many have become comfortable with the false notion that it’s a normal response to be dishonest. We witness the biased attitude of some media outlets as they report a news event. It’s not the truth that’s important to many people, it’s how information can be twisted to support a certain agenda.

How often do we ask God to reveal His truth to us? What about seeking God to let us see ourselves the way He sees us? Can we “handle” the truth? Have you considered that some people love their deception so much that it’s now a part of who they are? It’s interesting how we are ready to drink any lie that flatters us but reluctantly sip at truth that makes us feel ashamed. Even though Jesus in John 8:32 said that within the word of God, we can know the truth and it will set us free, it’s evident that many people are more comfortable and secure living within the fantasies of their illusions. All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered and accepted, but who will remove their mask and deal with the dishonesty and deception within themselves.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 3/11/24

Do we really want to know God’s plan?

Those of us who have been in the Christian faith for a while joyfully embrace Romans chapter eight as it is filled with encouraging promises. God has been so good to us and we know it’s because of His endless love that we can enjoy an abundant life filled with blessings. Of course, we have our share of frustrations and disappointments, but for the most part, the Lord provides for our basic needs and to be honest, He has also given us a lot of luxuries. When things are going well, let’s not become more focused on the gifts than the giver.

We realize the world judges success with how much money and talent a person has and all the things they accumulate throughout their lifetime, but for the followers of Christ, our greatest accomplishment will be how close we are to God and our obedience to Him. By the way, we can be as close to Him as we want, and this brings up a critical question as to how important this is to us.

Life has its seasons and sometimes things can get rough, especially the unexpected crisis. It’s not being negative to say there will be trials that will try to knock us off our feet, but is there a way we can at least somewhat be prepared to handle adversity when it comes? I believe the answer is yes. It’s not easy, but when we develop a friendship with God and understand who He is, trusting Him can be our first response. When problems arise, the only thing in our power is our attitude toward it; we can either ask God which choices to make that will help us do His will and be victorious, or we can resent it and in bitterness surrender to defeat. It’s not what happens, it’s how we react.

My friend Jonah Mitchell in his book, “The Rocks Go With The Farm” explains that problems and difficulties are inevitable and our ideas about how we want to see our problems solved are not always the way God is planning. It’s not about how many rocks we hit with our plow, it’s how determined we are to not allow obstacles to define who we are and what God wants to to do within us. Most of the time we just want a quick fix, but our Father desires that we become spiritually mature and wise in our quest to be more like Him. I recommend this book for those who are serious about learning self-discipline, renewing the mind, and personal transformation.

In the hard times, we are tempted to deny the situation, which we all know is like putting a band-aid on a broken arm. Some search for peace on their own as they give up on faith and live in misery. My friend, the Bible is true and it’s all about God’s love. Luke chapter one and verse 37 declares, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” I realize some will say, “You do not comprehend the severity of my problem” and that might be true, but God understanding everything and being concerned about everyone is absolute truth!

Have you asked Jesus to be your Master and Lord? Do you believe that He died so that you could live? He loves you and has a perfect plan for your life! Instead of seeing God as a cosmic Genie, bow before Him in reverential fear and worship Him as the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. We are not molding God into our image, it’s the other way around.

Depression and feeling sorry for ourselves are real emotions and unfortunately, a lot of people are smiling on the outside but are crying on the inside. The good news is that we can be set free from the snare traps of deception and instead of being sad or angry because God is not “fixing it” let’s ask Him to let us see ourselves the way He sees us. Have you considered the answer might be that we are the one that needs to be changed? Honestly examining the big picture of our situation and analyzing every detail will allow us to trace the cause of our discouragement and hopefully, we can discover a deeper understanding of our situation. When we comprehend how our personal trigger mechanisms and response buttons operate, this is a huge step toward discerning how our thoughts dictate our confidence and contentment.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 3/4/24

Pulling down strongholds within our minds

The Human experience includes the standard requirement to choose right and wrong and has always been accountable when it comes to good and evil. Each of us has the free will to choose how we live and no matter how much we brag about being independent, there is no such thing as walking through this life refusing to be accountable to God. Every self-governing and self-reliant person who has ever lived does not have the authority to be excused from God’s judgment. It would seem that humans would understand there are only two choices in this life which is cooperating with God or fighting against Him. A good question is how many sincerely see this truth, and how many see it but refuse to deal with it?

It’s not a secret that people want freedom to speak, live, and worship this is why our ancestors began this great nation. Many have taken an even more extreme path by living off the grid so they can be free to do whatever they desire. However, the ultimate freedom is spiritual and includes turning away from sin and yielding our will to God so we can enjoy the liberty of walking in His presence wherever we are. When we sing, “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free” it’s a declaration that our carnality and the persuasions of evil are no longer holding us in the bondage of misery and depression. When God’s truth sets us free, we are free indeed if we desire to be.

The majority of the world would rather not dwell on the fact that someday they will give an account of their life. A convenient way to temporarily escape conviction is to block these thoughts from our minds and replace them with things that make us happy. We realize that unbelievers do this, but why would a follower of God not want to think about this? The basic reason is they refuse to give Him their heart. Our default nature has a sneaky self-preservation mode that gives us the capability to convince ourselves we are right when we are wrong. It’s deadly but true that the un-renewed conscience can cleverly persuade the brain that we have fooled everyone. This is an intentional deception that justifies what is personally acceptable. A stronghold that needs to be broken.

This ability to come up with excuses and override every voice of reason (including the Holy Spirit) can be blamed for much of why we are our own worst enemy. It’s true, humans are smart and are often secretly proud that maybe they can hoodwink God. A fascinating aspect of this serious problem is that many individuals do not take sin seriously. We seem to be religious experts in comprehending what is right and wrong and are always first in line to judge others but have a tendency to be very lenient with who we are.

Come to find out, we are not as smart as we thought. God is not only perfectly aware of how humans are wired but keeps track of every thought as the Bible says in Jeremiah 17:10, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” He realizes how difficult it is for us to change, but He must retain the highest standard of purity to preserve the integrity of His absolute truth. It’s true, His mercy endures forever but His grace does not give us a license to play games with secret sin. This transformation process to become holy as He is holy does not happen because it’s a good idea, we are drawn into Him when we love Him with all of our mind, soul, and strength.

Becoming an overcomer with Christ in this life will happen when our obedience to God becomes more important than allowing our rebellion to control us. The Bible is heavy on the theme of repenting which sadly is why it has more dust on its cover than the latest issue of National Geographic. It’s also why watery religion is much more popular than taking up our cross and truly following Christ. We all resist laying upon the altar and sacrificing our will to become a new creation, however, it’s the way He demands. Living in denial and ignoring our accountability to God allows our old nature the perfect opportunity to ruin us in this life and possibly the next.

Dr. Holland is a licensed and ordained minister, Christian author, and chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/26/24

Being tempted to let down our guard

Years ago I worked in a department of five people and one day our director was replaced with someone new. The new leader of our team brought a small radio into our office and started playing secular rock music. At first, it seemed innocent but after a few days, it was apparent this was a subtle spiritual weapon that was being used against me. As a young man, I listened to these songs, but when I made a vow to God to maintain a devoted relationship with Him, I knew this included keeping a clean heart and mind. I’m not saying all the songs are sinful or wrong, but as they were seeping into my conscience, I was opening the door for negative seeds to be planted into my soul that were influencing me in the wrong direction.

As an industrial shipping machinery operator, I was in and out of the office throughout the day working on the computer and began to notice this music was tempting me to let down my guard. I would find myself humming these familiar melodies even when I was at home and unfortunately, they were secretly producing a darkness and a heaviness in my spirit. Whether we want to admit it or not, the seductions and distractions of the world can come between us and God and in this particular case, I was being tempted by the enemy to throw my discernment aside and surrender to this negative influence that wanted my attention. How easy it is to fall back into a state of carnality and spiritual lukewarmness. For those who have been following Christ for a while, we know when we are walking in the holiness of God and when we are distant from Him.

I’m not saying I have a super strong sense of discernment, but as the Lord opened my eyes about what was happening, I prayed about what I should do. In a few days, the manager was mysteriously transferred to another department and everything was quiet again. Some may say, you’re being a silly fanatic, but with all seriousness, we must be careful to guard our sensitivity. The same thing is true for Christians who sit around and watch television or play on their phone for hours each day. I read recently where the average person spends 3 hours a day on their phone. It does not have to be carnal content, but anything that distracts us from focusing on Jesus Christ and being on fire for God is most likely a coaxing from the dark side.

So, how disciplined do we need to be? Well, how much victory do we want? It’s no secret our spiritual adversary wants us to become comfortable walking on the outskirts of God’s presence. Why? Because we are not effective Christians if we are not listening and following the Holy Spirit. It’s called being lukewarm. Satan is downright sneaky when it comes to messing with our emotions with deceptions and lies as we can look back in our lives and see how effective he is. It’s difficult to live a sanctified life especially in our modern world but this does not mean it is impossible. Much of the time our problems are self-inflicted. We believe we can play in the dirt without getting dirty. How can anyone be entertained with perversion and violence and not feel anxious and miserable? We would have more faith and peace if we would turn away from these snare traps and invest our time in prayer, reading the Bible, and good books that stimulate and encourage the mind.

Sometimes even the little things can negatively affect us and slip in through the back door especially when we leave it unlocked. You see, we have been warned to be diligent and alert just as a soldier would be on guard duty. Brothers and sisters, I do not need to remind us this is serious. These are not war games – these land mines are real! George Lucas is quoted as saying, “Your focus determines your reality.” Ephesians chapter four gives us a clear picture of how we can help ourselves with living a sanctified lifestyle and then chapter six goes on to emphasize the importance of wearing the whole armor of God to protect and maintain a renewed mind and a clean heart.

Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl, where he is an ordained minister, Christian author, and community chaplain. To read more about the Christian life visit: billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/19/24

It’s time to do some spring cleaning

Do you believe there is such a thing as good and evil, God and Satan? When something good happens do you thank God because you believe He blessed you? What about when something bad happens? In Jeremiah 29:11 the God of the Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Looking at this carefully, we notice that our life was mapped out before we were born, and our creator had every intention to give us an abundant life, filled with wisdom, confidence, peace, and hope. Do you believe this?

On the other side, according to Revelation 12:10, there is an evil devil, who is our enemy and one of his objectives is to falsely accuse God’s children. He constantly whispers, “You’re not good enough, God is angry with you, you can’t do anything right, nobody cares about you, and you will never amount to anything.” Have you ever had negative persuasions like these? Today if you sense a dark influence of discouragement, please realize these are lies and deceptions coming from the dark side. We just read the passage where God says He loves you and wants a wonderful life for you. God is absolute truth and cannot lie, while the devil is the father of all lies, so who will you believe? Read John 10:10.

The enemy wants us to be so focused on the criticism, rejection, and derogatory comments, to trick us into believing we are defeated. It’s a bluff, he is tempting you to take the bait and accept that you are not worthy to live an abundant life. Another lie. The Bible says you are more than a conqueror and a joint heir to all of God’s promises! Emotional pain is such a powerful distraction, that we can hardly focus on anything else. However, when we turn that energy into faith, we can walk in the revelation that “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.” Ask Jesus to open your eyes so that you might see His truth more clearly. When we are being attacked, we must fight back with prayer and praise and allow God’s holy word to saturate our hearts.

Every scripture you embrace floods your life with an understanding of who God is and who you are in Him. First Peter 2:9 says that you have been chosen by Almighty God. Is there any higher respect? People may overlook you, ignore you, and criticize you, but the spiritually blind do not have the discernment to see who God says you are. The Creator of all things has called you to be His vessel of honor. He accepts you as His child and not only desires to walk with you now but for all eternity. He looked at you and said, “I choose you; he’s my son. I chose her; she’s my daughter. That’s who I want to be with forever.”

Maybe you’ve been told that something is wrong with you, or that you will never be good enough, but the Bible promises in II Corinthians 5:21, “For the Father made Jesus to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ.” After accepting the love and mercy of His covenant salvation, when the Father sees you He sees Jesus and this gives Him great joy! God declares your life is worth living! He has made you righteous through His grace, which is the authority that forgives us and allows us to have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

It’s time to do some spring cleaning within our minds. Sweep out all those pessimistic thoughts, and clean out the garbage of discouraging emotions, so that God can renew our minds and accomplish His perfect plans within us. You are only held in the bondage of despair and discouragement as long as you accept Satan’s taunting. Let us declare Psalm 139:14, “I will praise you O God; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works, and this my soul knows well.” Choose life, choose truth. You are talented, creative, intelligent, anointed, and filled with the Holy Spirit. You are all these things, you just have to believe it. Lies, deceptions, and negative thoughts can only drive us when we give them our keys.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, author, and chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/12/24

When emotions attempt to control us

How often do you hear it’s not what happens to us, but how we respond? We know we will face trials in this life, so it only makes sense to prepare how we are going to react when they arrive. Since the way we perceive develops our thoughts and views, but what if our thoughts are wrong? The most important factor to prevent our emotions from controlling us is to realize we decide what we think about, and when we bow down to our feelings, they become our master. The Bible demands for our mind to be renewed which requires intense training and a passionate desire for personal transformation.

Comprehending how we are mentally wired is critical to maintaining a healthy psychological state of mind. The many disorders of mental health can usually be traced to an imbalance of some sort which causes the individual to be unable to perceive truth accurately or to resist being dominated by their feelings. Just because we are considered bright and intelligent does not mean we have an understanding of our personality. Have you ever thought that certain people did not like you, or were trying to make it difficult for you? There is a chance you might be right, but what if you are wrong? What if you are just being paranoid? You are not the center of everyone’s universe. Being hurt and offended originates from an emotion of rejection.

We all want to be loved and to be held in high esteem, right? But how do we act when we think someone is trying to avoid us? Our feelings are downright dangerous and can keep us on a path of anxiety. For the unrenewed mind, it rarely takes much to bruise and batter our ego. We might think we are fairly thick-skinned and can take a punch, but the temptation to wallow in depression and throw a pity party is just one negative thought away. If we choose to follow God’s way of interpreting truth, instead of dwelling on the what-ifs, we can step over the land mines of doubt and fear and walk in His confidence.

One of the most significant deceptions many experience is dwelling on one’s self. Always believing that someone or something is trying to derail their success is using the victim mentality as an excuse. To clarify, a certain amount of self-love is needed for a healthy state of mind, but when someone is constantly fixated on themselves without regard to anyone else, there is a problem. When self is the topic of every thought and conversation, this creates an isolation that leads to a delusional view of everything. Every emotion is connected to this way of discerning life and if not corrected, it will ruin their life.

For those who crave to be acknowledged and respected at all times and do not receive it, the common response is to become angry and insulted. Many drive themselves to exhaustion seeking approval because they desire admiration and in extreme cases can suffer from what is called delusions of grandeur. Maybe they never received affection as a child, or always felt shame and inferior when around others who were more accomplished. Jealousy and envy are powerful emotions and very deceptive. As they attempt to prove they are important and worthy of prominence, this commonly leads to even more heartache and disappointment. Whether real or imaginary, feelings of being ignored and rejected can lead to depression and often traced to issues of insecurity.

The way to overcome the slavery of negative emotions is to change the way we think. We must pray and ask God to help us understand that tactics and strategies are being used against us to defeat us. Victory will not happen in the snap of the fingers the same as we do not cut down a tree with one swipe of the ax. It might take hundreds of swings to chip away our tendencies to be controlled by our feelings, but with God’s help the tree will fall and we can keep pressing forward in His name. Do not assume this will be the only tree, because there is a forest of temptations waiting their turn. We hear about having the victory but until we allow our mind to be renewed from the carnal to the spiritual, we are spinning our wheels. The enemy will never stop influencing our emotions until we realize we can control our thoughts.

Dr. Holland is a Christian minister, author, and chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/5/24

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Since you were conceived God has wanted your attention. He has never neglected or ignored you. If you were to write down all the blessings and victories He has given over the years, they would prove He has been guiding and helping you all along. How could any of us even consider we were created by chance? The truth is that God specifically called you and has many wonderful things planned for your future. You are His masterpiece.

I’ve noticed in my life, that even though I know these things are a reality, it does not prevent the enemy from picking a fight with me. We know there will be battles when our faith will falter, we feel lonely, empty, exhausted, or just plain sad. Emotions are feelings that contain powerful persuasions, however, they cannot force us to be depressed. There will be moments where discouragement wraps its tentacles around you and attempts to pull you further into the darkness, but this is where you have a choice to submit and wave the white flag for another pity party, or to stand strong in your faith and embrace God’s truth that can set you free.

God’s love is the best news in the history of mankind! In trials of fear and anxiety, we can find redemption and power in His name to help give us a true perspective of reality. If we choose to trust in God’s written word and obey His still small voice, He will either guide us away from the valley of the shadow, or He will walk with us through it. There is no one greater to hold hands with than the Almighty. Will we follow the voices that mock and entice us to give up, or will we humbly give God our heavy burdens and boldly expect Him to demonstrate His amazing grace in our lives? “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save, nor His ear so deaf that He cannot hear” Isaiah 59:1.

Our God is bigger than any misery or embarrassment we may experience, any rejection we may face, or hardship that tries to break us. The Lord is bigger than any doubt, fear, or failure, and when you feel like your world is spinning out of control when you’re unsure whether you have the strength to continue, remember Isaiah 49:16 as it promises that God never takes His eyes or ears from you. “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; the condition of your situation is continually before me.” You might believe that you’re going through this alone, but this is just another example of evil voices that try to confuse and deceive. God knows your thoughts and the warfare you are dealing with and is ready to make you more than a conqueror!

The greatest message that anyone could proclaim is that God loves you so much that He gave His Son to be tortured on the cross for you. Jesus died and shed His blood for those who will accept Him as their Lord and Savior. There is no greater love. Some days you may feel undeserving, blemished, and bruised, but God does not want His precious child to be controlled by negativity. He knows exactly what you’ve done and what others have done to you, but more importantly, for those who call on His name, He sees you forgiven. He wants the best for you, just like you want the best for your children. He sees you as a holy vessel that can be used for His glory and is trying to get you to see it. God has more faith in you than you have in Him, and there is nothing you can do to remove His hope in you to be victorious.

Romans chapter five talks about how God’s followers are justified and redeemed by faith through His grace and the blood of Jesus which is the foundation of our eternal salvation. No sin, failure, or mistake is more powerful than His desire to forgive and forget. Once sins are sincerely repented they are erased, and the only one that will ever remind you is the accuser of the brethren. When you have a moment, listen to the encouraging hymn, “Grace that is greater than all our sin.” May we place our complete trust in God’s grace to wash away our shame and guilt and be filled with His righteousness and peace today.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, author, and chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at Billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/29/24

Negativity is not cheering for us to succeed

I want to begin today by saying how much I appreciate you for being a faithful reader of this newspaper and this column. Newspapers are still considered valuable to the older generations as they remember their grandparents and parents who embraced the daily news as part of their regular routines. As technology is constantly advancing, we see younger readers choosing to receive their information through various forms of modern media rather than holding the printed page. I’m personally grateful for all the great publications that agree to carry columns like “Living On Purpose” as they believe sharing positive and thought-provoking content is a blessing to their audience.

Since the beginning of the year, I admit the messages have been rather sobering. Focusing on self-examination and searching deep into our soul about what we believe is usually not a top priority. We talked about the carnal desires of our flesh, compromising, justifying our rebellion, and how we have the free will ability to ignore intentional sin without the concern to repent. By the way, repentance is more than saying we’re sorry. We used the example of Achan and asked if intentional sin is hindering the churches and the demonstration of God’s glory today. We agreed that sin offends His holiness and obstructs the advancement of His kingdom.

Is something making you sad or anxious today? Have you spent time with God about it? Facing hardships and trials is a part of life, but holding on to the one that does not falter and is never caught by surprise is our greatest hope for being content and enjoying the abundant life we will ever have. There is no such thing as God being confused and pacing the floor unsure of what to do? The mountain plateaus feel good and we love these seasons of victory, but when we enter into a dark valley, though it’s not pleasant, it can give us peace and security to understand that Christ is always teaching and ready to carry us through suffering in His perfect time.

We decide which view of life we will embrace. If our mind is set on being negative, there is little anyone can say or do to cheer us up. However, for those who choose the higher road of embracing optimism, no dead-end or dire situation can prevent faith and hope from declaring that anything is impossible with God.

To think or say there is no answer to a certain circumstance is revealing to ourselves and the world we no longer believe that God is who He says He is. Ephesians 3:20 promises, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” If the devil or anything in this life is more powerful than God, then either He is not the Almighty or our view of Him is in error. Which do you believe? God’s word reassures us in Jeremiah 32:17, “O sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth with your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!”

We know the dark side is not trying to help us be a light for God or a spiritual overcomer, which should inspire our faith to become stronger in our quest to please Christ. We become good and faithful soldiers through extensive training and developing a passion to be a living sacrifice for His glory. We cannot succeed for the Lord if we are ready to give up every time we are challenged. Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs but also struck out 1,333 times. Cy Young is famous for winning 511 games, but did you know he lost 316 times? The point is that defeat does not mean failure and no one that is known for great accomplishments has ever avoided disappointments.

It’s easy to stay enthused when times are good, but our perseverance goes on trial when we face discouragement from difficulty. Our thoughts can come from God or the devil and both have a plan. If God is saying to stand and press through the pain, then He has a vision that will eventually bring victory and joy. However, if we choose to agree with the enemy, he will forever keep us offended and tangled up in a depressing victim mentality. God can help us succeed when we have an unrelenting determination to become like Him.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/22/24

Do we love sin more than God?

A few weeks ago, we talked about a man named Achan and how his secret sin was not a secret to God. The book of Joshua in chapters 6 and 7 reveals this was not a situation where a person steals something and they alone are punished for it. Since he and his family were a part of the community of Israel, they were associated as a group and when one member did something bad; it affected not only the family but the nation. Everything this man loved, his life, children, all of his livestock, his dwelling, and personal possessions, were stoned and burned. Does this sound like the punishment was too harsh? Was this fair to those who were not even aware of what he had done? Some might say this specific story should not be taken out of context and applied to today’s church, but let us consider if Bible stories can be taken from scripture as a relevant analogy for us today.

Jesus taught parables, but can His lessons pertain to our modern society and culture? Do the hidden sin of Achan be associated with why some families suffer and certain churches are cold and lifeless? I realize when it’s discovered that people have secret lives of sin they are not killed under the law of Moses, but what about God punishing individuals who are wolves in sheep’s clothing? Is the dry and discouraged atmospheres of many assemblies a representation of rebellious and powerless Christians who say they love God while privately serving their carnality? Does the spiritual condition of the human heart have anything to do with being aware of God’s presence? Absolutely. Does this bleed into the environment of the local assembly? I believe so.

So what about those who attend church and hold tightly to their unrepentant sins such as pornography? Does their undisclosed defiant attitude have a negative effect on the sermon and worship? Does it affect family members that live with them? Does it infect the atmosphere where they work? Is this why some people say they feel bad vibes or pessimistic energy around certain people? Can this be blamed as the reason why many churches are void of any demonstration of God’s glory? If Christians are serving intentional sin, they have no expectation or excitement that God will make Himself known in their midst. In fact, they would hope that He would not appear for fear of them being exposed and convicted. This is where religious deception makes deals and promotes false securities to individuals who would rather play games than abide with God in holiness and sanctification.

Worshiping in Spirit and Truth means a pure heart is required and all transgressions and temptations must be cast down. The carnal mind must be taken out to the graveyard and buried as we must be dead to sin to the place where sin makes us nauseous. When our mind is renewed and transformed, Christ is invited to convict and rule on the throne of our conscience as Lord. If the body of Christ would allow a personal revival of the Holy Spirit to transform their thinking, it would turn the church and the world upside down. The sheer release of faith and joy would activate sermons, testimonies, and songs of God’s endless love and mercy. It is the lack of purity that holds back revival fires and victorious manifestations and declarations of His glory, and yet very few seem to be concerned. Let us awaken from the slumber of carnality.

The condition of the heart, reveals the state of an assembly. We’ve heard how the responsibility is with the pastor, but a leader can only do so much with a group of parishioners who will not accept what God wants them to be. The Holy Spirit can bring conviction when God’s word is spoken, but repentance and obedience are a constant choice of the listener. Everyone is given the chance to surrender their will to God or run as fast as they can in the opposite direction. Which do you choose? Luke 11:2 says to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” but God is saying that our will is also being done. We choose who we serve and it’s probable our private sins could be bringing curses on ourselves and our family. Which do we love more; God or sin? Jesus died for the lost and will rescue those who realize they are.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/15/24

Loving God is far beyond religious knowledge

Our regular readers know this column is about the Christian life, but you certainly do not need to be a Christian or even a religious person to at least consider the content as thought-provoking. Everyone has their own philosophies and interpretations about spiritual topics, and this is understandable since we all have free will to believe whatever we want. Only God knows everything and He is perfect in all His ways. I will add that no theologian or Bible scholar is correct in every doctrine or exegesis of scripture as we are all in a daily process of learning. Is knowing what God wants from you your highest quest? Jesus promised, “Seek and you will find.”

Of course, it’s important to accept the truth in our worldviews, but then we open up a huge can of religious arguments about who is correct and which Biblical ideas are better than the rest. We have been a part of several different churches in our ministry, and it’s interesting to discover what people embrace as truth. I’ve thought about this over the years and wondered why all Christians do not believe the same thing since we ask God for understanding and wisdom. You would think that every truth seeker would come up with the same answers, but this is not the case. We determine how close we are to Him, and what’s more important than that?

I heard a long-time pastor say one time that he could not understand how any Christian could not comprehend a certain interpretation of a Biblical doctrine as he thought it was as clear as day. On the other hand, I’ve heard other knowledgeable and respected ministers say the same thing except their view of the subject was completely the opposite. Even some of the commands from God that we always thought were black and white are being argued today as a failure to perceive what they truly mean. It’s surprising how teachers can justify what is correct even if they cannot prove it. The answer? Keep your eyes focused on Christ.

I consider that what Christians believe or refuse to believe about Biblical doctrines is very important but misunderstandings or errors in our thinking will not prevent us from the gift of eternal life. If we are sincerely trying to study and pray to hear God’s voice of absolute truth, what else can we do? We know it’s difficult to not be influenced by what others believe especially if we were taught certain things as a child. Many trust their family, friends, and pastors who are powerful persuasions, but the sobering reality is they can be wrong. Every person is accountable for their own thoughts and actions. If we are truly born again with the blood of Jesus, our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and someday we will know everything we need to know.

Many of you have collected a vast amount of knowledge about God and it’s wonderful to rightly divide the truth. However, this verse found in Second Timothy 2:15 also talks about a workman who should not be ashamed. This thought of being afraid to stand for what we believe appears again in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” I believe the Lord is saying it would be better to live a small amount of truth than to have a storehouse of truth without demonstrating any of it. Whether we are aware or not we choose faith or fear every moment.

The reason why Christians are not passionate about openly revealing their love for Jesus Christ is because they are not “all in” with Him. When people talk about what they love, they will not hesitate to speak about their favorite sports team, their job, hobbies, or whatever they are interested in, but as a child of God, are we not to be overflowing with excitement about Him? Since Jesus gave His life because He wanted to save us, how much more can He give to prove He loves us more than anything? Is knowing why you believe your views and being bolder for Jesus a part of your New Year’s resolution? On a scale of 1 to 100, how much of your heart and your will are you giving to Him today?

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/8/24

Calculating the cost of being close to God

We talked about taking a stand for Christ last week, but being a Christian is also a walk which in the light of scripture refers to conduct. Ephesians the second chapter mentions how we once walked with the world fulfilling the lust of our flesh, and Romans the sixth chapter talks about how once we are transformed by His saving power we now walk in a new spiritually transformed identity. While these passages help explain our salvation experience, what about how we are to walk after we are saved?

Colossians 1:10 describes our new lifestyle as a “walk worthy of the Lord” and then we notice another road sign in Ephesians chapter five saying, “Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Since God demands for us to seek wisdom and pray for self-discipline, we should comprehend that what we say and do speaks volumes about who we are. When we leave this world, how we live reveals what we believe is important. Our testimony and conduct are what everyone sees, which is why it’s so important to surrender our will to be like Christ.

Many are involved with religious works, and will raise their hand when asked if they believe in God, but does doing a good deed always prove our love for Him? Can we not manage our own desires in the name of religion? So, what is the key to walking with God in this life? What is the difference between wanting Jesus as our Savior and having Christ as our Lord? Luke 6:46 sums it up, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Since we know the Rhema Word of God penetrates our spirit, our mind, emotions, and even our bodies, this revelation has the power to change us.

If we are not obeying God’s commands and following His voice, He is not our Lord. We have given our worship and love to someone or something else. In Romans 6:16 we find another sobering statement, “Do you not comprehend that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient servants, you are loyal to the one you obey, whether you are devoted to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” There is a good reason why we should conduct a daily examination of our conscience to make sure we have not drifted away from our commitment and love for God.

Each moment we are tempted and distracted to focus our attention on something other than Jesus Christ. We hardly notice this subtle persuasion from the dark side, but stop for a moment and observe. This is certainly not a game, but conduct a serious experiment and you will realize that all of us are in the middle of fierce spiritual warfare. The idea from Satan is if he can keep our thoughts occupied with anything except God, he can control us. The question is, do we care? Do we not see the danger of being led around by Satan whose mission according to John 10:10 is to kill, steal, and destroy? The good news is we have a choice about how we live as the second part of that verse says, “but Jesus has come that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

I have two passages to share with you before we close. The first is Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” The second is found in James 4:7-8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” If we meditate on seeking and drawing near to God, we notice it demands an intentional act on our behalf to pursue with a passionate determination. Could the principle of reaping and sowing pertain here? I believe so.

If God’s response to us is based on the level of our desire to know Him, then how many steps do you intend to take to meet Him? If something prevents you from embracing and giving yourself completely to Him, what is it? There is a reality within the Christian faith and a worthy consideration; we can be as close to God as we want.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published – 1/1/24

What does standing for God mean to you?

It’s the New Year and everyone is celebrating a fresh start and making resolutions. However, simply wishing that our lives would change for the better, is nothing more than a fantasy or whim that will not just magically happen. It is said that over eighty percent of resolutions fail within the first month. Why? We must develop a strong vision of what we desire to be and vow that nothing will keep us from accomplishing our goals. Asking God to help us is the key as He also wants the best for us.

I heard a story today from my pastor that I will pass along. A man was battling his weight and one of his weaknesses was the donut shop which was on his way to work. He would stop in every morning as he could not resist the lure to indulge. He decided to start taking an alternate route to work to avoid the temptation, but one day he decided to go the old way. He saw the donut shop and prayed, “Lord, if you say it’s alright for me to stop, then provide a parking place right next to the door.” After circling the building eight times, sure enough, a parking place was open. We laugh at our human reasoning, but our free will along with our old nature is very persuasive. We do what we want to do.

Christianity has many components. It’s Loving God and loving every person, it’s having a personal relationship with God, not being afraid to speak His truth; becoming a trained soldier, it’s a walk of purity and sanctification, it’s running a race, being a sacrifice, witnessing to everyone we meet, having a spiritual way of thinking, and for those who embrace Christ as Lord, it’s filled with persecution and Satanic attacks. We can sum the nature and character of God’s people down to a simple attribute and that is we are called to stand. Many will accept the gift of God’s grace for salvation and eternal security but are often not aware of the fine print details that are difficult. We like the good parts, especially when they are free, but standing for God will cost us everything.

The idea of standing firm for the faith has everything to do with believing what God has said. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about standing for Him. Philippians 4:1 says, “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown… stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” In I Corinthians 15:1 the Apostle Paul writes of “the gospel… wherein ye stand” Romans 5:2 speaks of “this grace wherein we stand,” and Galatians 5:1 he challenges us to “Stand fast… in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”

Do you believe we are at the end of the age, and Jesus Christ is going to return soon. How do we know? 6000 years have passed since Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden, and now we are living at the beginning of year 7000. This symbolizes the seventh day which is the day of rest and represents the 1000-year millennial kingdom. Does this reveal how near His coming is? What will He find us doing, and in this light, what does standing for God mean for you?

How important is it to teach the younger ones about God? Children may outgrow their shoes, but they will never outgrow the positive and encouraging messages we leave with them. Are we too busy, are we afraid or do we not know what to say? It’s not about how smart we are or how much we can achieve, but our motive should be to allow God to empower us and work through us to accomplish His plans. In closing, an important lesson to learn about New Year’s resolutions is the calendar has nothing to do with our success. Just because it’s January, this will not make personal changes any easier (or more difficult, for that matter).

If you are considering rearranging your life, realize that God can help, but the passion and faith to transform comes from within you. Ellen Goodman once said, “We spend January walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched and painted. Maybe this year, to balance the list, let us examine the depths of our souls…not just focusing on flaws, but seeking potential.”

Dr. Holland is an ordained Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com