Transparency: Walking with God in Flesh and Spirit

By Toni Hollis

Who said we have to be perfect? God uses imperfect people (the entire Bible is filled with examples of us) so that we can be found perfect only through Him. We are to run this race with fear and trembling so that we may be found victorious only through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Society wants us to think that we have to live wit

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Sep 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781640885387

Book preview

Endorsements

Transparency: Walking with God in Flesh and Spirit is powerfully relatable and candid. It addresses our individuality (flesh) and connectedness (spirit). Toni Hollis has developed a special gift of clarity. She generously shares herself and her wisdom with gentle compassion, sincerity, and love with each word, even when driving those hard hits of reality. The book is inspiring, inspirational, motivational, and uplifting. It is educational and teaches you that every second of your life that you find yourself happy or content, to appreciate the valuable past that got you there. Toni convinces the reader that the Word is true, and she has done her research and proves it, sharing her own walk. I personally believe that angels walk among us (even you may have been one a few times). Toni is an angel to me, and I am proud to be her friend and fan. Transparency is a lesson of love that I will read several more times to fully absorb every drop.

—Merry Keating

Ms. Toni Hollis is a woman of God presenting a compelling book, Transparency: Walking with God in Flesh and Spirit. Toni shares in her book a heart-warming story about her relationship, trust, commitment, patience, disappointments, and questioning God. She refers to her trials like traveling on a "lifeship. A relationship that I am sure is familiar to many. But through her reading of God’s Word, she learns the truth about love versus new love after going through a heart-breaking relationship. She realizes there is no such thing as new love. Her references the Bible, Ecclesiastes 1:9–10, which says, Each commitment repeats and never changes. Meaning, no matter whether you are in a single, married, divorced, or remarried relationship, or repeat the relationship, there is no such thing as new love. This powerful story based on biblical principles, being Christlike gives us something to think about when entering into relationships and hoping for true love without adding God first in your life. I strongly recommend this book to all those who are traveling on a lifeship" of disappointment hoping and searching for new love.

—Ella Dooley

Toni Hollis shares with you a wisdom that strikes the perfect recipe for strength through vulnerability. During unprecedented times, she has written a timely message that transcends age, gender, and nationality. For anyone who wants to experience real growth and transformation, it would be wise to start reading what is likely to be a modern-day classic right now!

—Asha Tyson, number 1 best-selling

author of How I Retired at 26!

The words of Toni Hollis jumped right off the page as I was reminded while reading that years before ever writing this compelling and self-reflecting book, she was the very person guiding me with her words of wisdom through her very own transparency. We are single, we fall in love, get married, lose interest, or get divorced only to repeat the cycle of staying single or remarrying—that was me. This book is not just an ordinary Christian book, but it’s a book of biblical wisdom, truth, and openness encompassing the breath of the Spirit and its redeeming power. Reminding both the believer and nonbeliever that it’s okay to be imperfect for God redeemed us for this very reason for we all fall down, but we can get back up again. Reading this book is a sure way to lift your spirits and guide your heart.

—Evangelist Tameka Lee-Reynolds Associates of Christian Leadership

Preface

I recall when my eldest daughter, Jartaya, was carrying my first grandchild, Christopher Edwards Jr. I thought many days and nights about the day of his birth as I carried this child with her. Without knowing it, I became submerged in the support of life, vicariously as it was, to ensure that that he arrived safely. It was then that I fell in love with him as I awaited his arrival. Now I can say that we share a unique bond where we, in spirit and as a family, support life and can anchor passions to build upon this life.

These writings on love are from a place of flesh (as I am human) and also of spirit because I am changed through God. It is the teeter-totter of love that keeps you up and down. That love that places a rubber band into your heart and pulls you so tight then catapults you to the universe (headed for space unknown). But this book isn’t just about relationships, but it’s what I am referring to as Lifeships. What are lifeships?

In the context of this book, whenever you see lifeships, I am referring to situations or circumstances that carry you or drift you from place to place or person to person. I’m talking about those encounters where you find yourself in deep and you awaken parts of you that you may have thought no longer existed. Lifeships are the total sum of your experiences that keep you balanced in this life.

It is in this that I hope you enjoy this book which combines my transparency; short stories; food for thought and methodologies that are designed to help you become empowered and see God as love, no matter what you go through.

Author’s note: Prior to the print of this book, I was blessed to see the arrival of my additional four grandchildren (Noah, AJ, Zoe, and Rashad) and a son-in-law, Rashad Lindsay. To all my added blessings, I thank you Lord.

Acknowledgments

Every waking day, we are reminded of the deposits and withdrawals others have made in and to our lifeships. With that, there are many people that I am thankful to who have shared their wisdom, gifts, and love. I see these people as investors. They are ones that created footprints in my life. To this call, I am forever indebted to my parents, Edward and Shirley (RIH), who supported me fully and showed me unfailing love. They were always the voice of wisdom even though I, like many, choose to learn life lessons through trial and error (taking rough road, I was blind, but now I see [John 9:25]). Although many people have given to my development, it was my parents who were my anchor and foundation to the life that I now live. It was their unfailing love that created the beautiful canvas to which I live and share my journey within these pages.

To my Sissy (Tonia) who has lived a life carrying all the ups and downs of single parenting with her two children Wynter and Terez. Without question, she exemplifies the persona of strength and devotion. A woman who has shown resilience through the storms of life; and still, she rises as independent, bold, and beautiful. To her, may the wisdom that you share daily over the many women you encounter be reciprocated in your life. You are truly a blessing. And believe this, God knows.

Tony, what can I say? The lessons came to life even more through you and what you taught me through these years. In that, I say thank you. I never thought that I could withstand the multiple journeys traveled in loving you, but I now see that it taught forgiveness and exposed me to the agape love that I now understand better. Know that all is released and forgiven. I still believe that the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

To my pastors, Larry and Sylvia Jordan, who imparted to me the confidence to pursue what I know is in my heart to share. Each of you have spoken to my life many times, reminding me that I have a gift and not sharing that gift would be a waste of all I have learned. To each of them, I want to say thank you. Thank you for letting me know that it’s okay to be me. To be transparent and know that all I have experienced was intended to help someone else and let them know that they are not alone. My tests are a testimony, my mess, a message. So in that, I share these pages.

And to all my friends, associates, and those who have no name all of whom are my lifeship partners, know that you have imparted to my life in ways unimaginable. I want to thank you and let you know that it has been your presence that allowed me to open up my heart and share what this lifeship has taught me, knowing and trusting that nothing that I have gone through will be wasted. I take all that I have experienced through the joys, the chaos, hurt, deception, and pain; and I settle it in my spirit no longer allowing the enemy to make havoc in my emotions. I want to declare that I am still standing, and I thank God for what has come, what has yet to come, and that which has passed.

In this season, I accept that every situation was intended to make me grow and help me glow in his anointing. Through it all, I see that I was on the potter’s wheel (Isaiah 64:8); it was the melting of self, my flesh, and my will so that God can manifest and show himself greater in my life to show me that I would find my purpose on the seas of this lifeship, and that purpose is to serve him through sharing love to his people on this earth.

I am pressing through every encounter to be the woman that God intended. It is in this that I have come to believe that all things, good or bad, are instructional passageways in life. It’s what you do with what you have learned that will determine if you must repeat the course or if you are promoted to the next level. And as unfortunate as it may be, we all have had multiple courses repeated by the choices we make, and we find ourselves in the same situation because we did not pass the first test.

Keep in mind that life is your instructor; and while on this lifeship, these tests will come in many forms. As you read these pages, view them as electives in the class of life. I hope that you find a message in every word and