HandCrafted Soul'utions: Investigating the Missing Whole in Your Soul

By Don Hand

In his book, "Who Told You That?", Don delivers a profound, yet practical opportunity to stimulate and exterminate the covert operation of status quo thought. Within its pages, you will find a calculated provocation that encourages both intentional honesty and uninhibited transparency, while providing inspiration, information and insigh

• Language: English
• Publisher: Author Academy Elite
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885832472

Don Hand

Don Hand, author, speaker, coach, trainer, Kingdom Ambassador, Ally, Revivalist, and Ordained Bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN), possesses a profound passion to establish and expand the Kingdom of God by bringing an undeniable increased awareness of God's love, joy, peace, and freedom in every dimension of the Christian life. Throughout Don's extensive ministry of over 30 years, he has served as Senior Pastor, Revivalist, International Team Speaker to pastors/ churches/ministries, church pastoral staff, and a life and leader- ship speaker/coach/trainer. Many "Generals of the Faith" and sovereign moves of God throughout the history of Christianity have influenced and impacted both Don's life and ministry. His ministry has been noted for its intimate worship, life giving prophetic declaration and impartation, revelatory preaching/teaching, and strategic life, and leadership training. Don's ministry gatherings are prophetically punctuated with multi-dimensional times of encouragement and refreshing, renewed hope, signs, wonders, healings, miracles, deliverance, restoration, and an undeniable ignited passion for the principles and presence of God.Don's "first love" for spiritual revelation, impartation, and transformation goes undisputed. In addition, as a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Leadership Team, when combining his diverse experience in both the ministry and the marketplace, he delivers timely and innovative leadership insights and influence to lead pastors, pastoral staffs, leadership teams, church congregations, entrepreneurs, local businesses, community organizations, and educational centers. With the accelerated changes taking place in both the Church and the Marketplace, there is no denying the pressing need for a collaborative process that seeks to recalibrate the mind, mission, and mode of operation within every organization. Don is married to his wife Robyn, and they have two children and four grandchildren.

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ENDORSEMENTS

HandCrafted Soul’utions is the perfect complement to Don’s first volume, Who Told You That?. As an answer naturally follows a question, so does this volume come to us as the traveling companion to his first offering to us the readers. Don gives to us the wakeup call that the missing solutions we seek can only truly be seized upon when we focus less on our rights and more upon our responsibilities. As you read and absorb the hand tools and power tools offered to you, you will inescapably come to three conclusions. First, Don Hand has personally been in deep conversation with the Master Mentor and under His tutelage. Second, the necessary work of heart will lead to a spiritual/mental internal investigation which will free you from the hindering encumbrance of a faith that has been quietly poisoned for perhaps, a great portion of your life. Third, your own personal, extended wilderness wandering (and all the aimlessness and frustration that go with it), reflect the missing whole in your own soul. Truth is, you will see how confronting yourself and making the necessary course corrections for your life will absolutely change your destiny! This book will both challenge and change you – for the best.

—O. Wayne Brewer, International Director of Adult/Men’s Discipleship

Church of God International Offices

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Don has done it again. With the ditches in life at every corner, it is refreshing to find a detailed handbook on how to get unstuck. This book is a ready investigative guide to find the missing whole in our souls as we go through the often-perilous path of life.

—David L Frerking DC, NMD, DABCI

HANDCRAFTED SOUL’UTIONS

Investigating The Missing Whole in Your Soul

Don Hand

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HandCrafted Soul’utions © 2023 by Don Hand. All rights reserved.

Published by Author Academy Elite

PO Box 43, Powell, OH 43065

www.AuthorAcademyElite.com

All rights reserved. This book contains material protected under international and federal copyright laws and treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without express written permission from the author.

Identifiers:

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023914619

ISBN: 979-8-88583-245-8 (paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-88583-246-5 (hardback)

ISBN: 979-8-88583-247-2 (ebook)

Available in paperback, hardback, e-book, and audiobook

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scriptures marked AMP are taken from the AMPLIFIED BIBLE (AMP): Scripture taken from the AMPLIFIED® BIBLE, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission.

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT): Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Scriptures marked TLB are taken from the THE LIVING BIBLE (TLB): Scripture taken from THE LIVING BIBLE copyright© 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Author Academy Elite, nor does Author Academy Elite vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

DEDICATION

Arriving to this place has certainly not been the equivalent of a light stroll through an oak canopied park on a cool afternoon. Rather, the result of the first half of one’s life meticulously composed by the One who is the answer to every question and the solution to every problem. Without question, every breath, thought, word, deed, and day that has been transacted up to this moment has been accompanied and accomplished by the constant love, grace, and mercy of God.

Though my life has been influenced and impacted by many people, places, and things, it would have all been moot without two special individuals, my parents. Thank you, Mom, and Dad, for the gift of life, a childhood of safety and security, and a steadfast love that has never been in question. Your example of love and faithfulness to God and one another has been the timely glue many times when I’ve not known what to do.

A myriad of song lyrics, catchy sayings, and heart felt expressions combined cannot adequately portray the love, honor, and gratitude, that I attribute to my high school sweetheart, my wife, the mother to our daughters, and NeNe to our grandchildren. Thank you for choosing to travel life with me. Your conspicuous investment of love, prayers, life support, partnership, leadership to our M&M’s, and encouragement to stay the course has been invaluable. When God made you, He must have been thinking about me being Stuck on You. I love you, Robyn!

From the flatland of Florida to the mountains of east Tennessee, time, photo albums, revisiting certain favorite places, and countless miles of memories alone will never be sufficient to articulate the love in my heart for our daughters, Maegan, and Morgan. Through all the loving and laughs, lessons learned, struggles endured, and unexpected battles overcome, your warmth, glowing smiles and rallying presence has served as an answer to the question I’ve asked myself on many occasions through the years, Who Told You That? The love of God, the love of your mother, and the love I have received from you, has sustained me to answer that question. Little did I know that a qualifying question tossed into some informal lessons with your children would become a handcrafted book for all to read. Thank you for loving me. I love you, Maegan. I love you, Morgan. I am so blessed by the gifts of you and yours.

DIAGRAMS / ILLUSTRATIONS

The following diagrams have been custom created, provided, and copyrighted by Don Hand.

Diagram #1 - Soul / Mind / Heart

Diagram #1 - Soul / Mind / Heart

Diagram #2 - Soul / Mind / Will

Diagram #3 - Spirit / Soul / Body

Diagram #4 - Spirit of God / Spirit of Man

Diagram #3 - Spirit / Soul / Body

Diagram #1 - Soul / Mind / Heart

Diagram #5 - Spirit of God / Brain of God

Diagram #2 - Soul / Mind / Will

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

PART 1:

HAND TOOLS AND POWER TOOLS

HAND TOOLS: Validating the Voices

Disillusionment…

Likes, Follows, and Fanfare Frenzies

Double-Mindedness…

Enjoying the Best of Both Worlds

Diplopia…Commonly Known as Double Vision

Division…A House Divided

POWER TOOLS: Qualifying Your Choices

Head VS Heart…

Out of Your Head and Into Your Heart

How We Belief It…

Can We Rise Above Our Revered Beliefs?

Home Makeover…

Construction Zone – Heart Hat Required

Home Schooling and Tooling…

Loving, Listening, and Learning Together

Hunger Pains…Things to Do Is No Substitute

Help Needed… Raking is Not Digging

Hard Pill to Swallow…Where Did I Go Wrong?

Hijacked and Don’t Know It…Fishing for Attention

PART 2: A WORK OF HEART

INTERNAL INVESTIGATION:

Confirmation of Contamination

Call 911…Crisis Moments Are Never Convenient

Connecting and Reflecting…

From Treasure Chest to Trash Bin

Collision Course…Will You, or Won’t You?

Core Clarity and Corruption…

Whatever Our Heart Possesses, Our Life Expresses

Cravings and Hungry Hearts…

What are You in the Mood for?

Check Your Heart at the Door… You Hold the Key

Cause For Pause…Avoiding Senseless Defeat

Clever Contamination…

Facing Your Friends, Foes, and Fears

PART 3: THE MISSING WHOLE IN THE SOUL

Consecration of Recalibration

Confronting Your Self… Who’s Deceiving Who?

Correcting and Protecting Your Self…

Auto-Pilot is not an Option

Compass Recalibrated…

News Ways, New Thoughts, and a New Heart

Classified Information…

Newsflash: Your Flesh Isn’t Your Friend!

Caretakers and Cultivators…

Attending to the Soil of the Soul

Contrary Tendencies…Diagnosed with A-Fib

Complicating It Complicates It…

Conscious Choices are the Culprits

CONCLUSION

Celebrating the WHOLE in Your Soul

Handcrafted Interview Reflection Questions

Endnotes

About the Author

Please Don’t Miss This Q&A Session

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To those special individuals who believed in me, encouraged me, and contributed financially to bring this writing project to print, Thank you. Your financial gift, encouragement, and prayers have been a true testament to God’s provision.

Thank you also to our Higher Ground Church leadership, family, friends, community, and ministry allies in Florida.

I would also like to extend my heart and hands to the following individuals, institutions, and organizations for their roles and relationships through the years.

—Lee University; Cleveland, TN; 1991-1994.

President Paul Conn, Campus Pastor Robert Sheppard, Bible and Christian Ministries

Faculty and staff, Behavioral and Social Sciences professors faculty and staff.

—North Cleveland Church of God; Cleveland, TN; Since 1991.

Senior Pastor Mitch and Sharon Maloney, Pastor Jack Smith, Dr. Hubert Seals, Dr. Wayne Brewer, Pastor Jim Milligan, Pastor Glen Procopio, Terry Pace, Pauline Justice, Evelyn Hicks, Debbie Burdashaw, Leigh Knight, and all NCCOG ministry, church family, and friends.

—Pentecostal Theological Seminary; Cleveland, TN; 1994–1996.

President Steven J. Land, and the entire teaching faculty and staff.

—Florida Church of God State Office; Tampa, FL.

—Church of God International Offices; Cleveland, TN.

—John Maxwell Leadership Certified Team; March 2017.

—Dr. David L. Frerking DC, MMD, DABCI, and office staff; Tavares, FL.

—Dr. David W. Thacker; Cleveland, TN.

Thank you to all my family and friends who have loved, encouraged, and supported me through the years.

To my father-in-law Stewart, my mother-in-law Freda, Earl, my sister Tawnia, Lou, and my son-in-law Aldo, I love you and so appreciate your resilient love, nudges of courage, and votes of confidence. To my grandchildren Zayden, Nina, Nella, and Nicolo, I love you, believe in you, and treasure the many life lessons God continues to teach me in and through you to keep me young, reachable, and teachable.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

INTRODUCTION

Whether we’ve spent time together before in my book Who Told You That? or this is our initial meeting, Thank you for taking interest and investing your time to participate in this internal investigation. I can assure you as we begin this journey together, both status quo mindsets and critical thinkers are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Regardless of one’s limited or extensive background in life, every reader has been subpoenaed to be wholly present for this calculated interview in spirit, soul, and body. While I know we tend to protect, promote, and preserve our present thought processes, the pages ahead are sure to put a demand on you and me being honest, objective, and willing to challenge the norms and how we view personal success.

Though some aspects of your life may have been influenced in negative ways or the result of undesirable circumstances, you hold the power to initiate and facilitate change. I am 100% convinced if something is going to change, then someone must change. You choose to change or remain the same. Yes, there are so many variables that can affect the outcome. The same is true as it relates to you and me acknowledging, accepting, and applying these HandCrafted Soul’utions. In this very moment, I want to encourage you to take a bold step today to examine yourself, excuse yourself, and enroll yourself in this work of heart. When you do, identifying the voices that have influenced your choices is sure to occur. With no argument on my part, I know fully well how easy it is to blend into the landscape of life faithfully executing daily decisions according to our preset default settings. However, do we consciously set aside time to consider how we have been handcrafted by God? Friend, according to Psalm 139:14, you and I are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are God’s handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). You are so important to God that He has you inscribed on the palms of His hands (Psalm 49:16). He knows what we’re thinking and He’s intimately aware of every anxious thought (Psalm 49:23). My goal in the pages ahead is to reveal some insights surrounding God’s handcrafted solutions created to provide you and I the resources necessary to know His thoughts and follow in His ways.

Think about this for just a moment as we prepare to enter. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone that really challenged you to think? Furthermore, are you a proponent of adding depth and value through your interactions with others? Let me clarify. I’m not referring to the simple tabletop conversations where you are presented with a quick reference question that can be answered merely with emojis or scripted responses. Can you name one person who called you over the last week that asked you a question that challenged your code of conduct, conversations, and/or convictions? It is nearly effortless to initiate or participate in conversations that pivot around the default daily grind of family, jobs, school prep routines, grocery shopping, nonverbal waves, and the social media frenzies.

More focused screen time is spent on digital devices than on having meaningful interaction with the people we’re in proximity with every day. Little time is set aside for introspection and close encounter connection with others. Many of the preset social gatherings and activities are nearly scripted with premeditated or predictable outcomes. Time is undeniably the escape goat to so much of the deficiency and delinquency to which we have become party. In the name of efficiency, we are watching accelerated moral and spiritual declines in a culture that seeks approval and accolades for gratifying the pleasures of self. Have you seen it? Have you been affected by it, or maybe infected by it? Some of these twisted motives are camouflaged, while others unashamedly pursue the prideful prize.

Focusing less on our rights and more on our responsibilities is a healthy place to begin. Demanding things and demonstrating our ability to cut corners and master being respectfully disrespectful is not exactly what I call admirable, especially among leaders. I feel rather confident you’ve experienced the mature agony of insensitive individuals who have failed to return your phone calls, reply to your emails, RSVP for a special occasion, show up during a crisis, and the list continues. Mutual respect for so many of the simple things has been disregarded in the name of prioritizing. Personal relationships, marriages, families, youth, education, employers/employees, the marketplace, communities, and churches are being affected and infected by carefree carelessness. We must do better. We can do better; however, for something to change, someone must initiate, facilitate, and participate in the change that is needed. That’s you and me and everyone within our reach. We must awaken ourselves to see, hear, and come to know we hold the key within to usher in the change we say we desire and that others are worthy of. As you turn the page, commit in your heart to cooperate and participate willingly during this internal investigation. There’s no need for a polygraph when you are honest with yourself and are determined to be truthful, transparent, and tenacious.

PART 1:

HAND TOOLS AND

POWER TOOLS

In his book Leadershift, John Maxwell says, Change is inevitable, growth is optional. Oh, how those simple six words are packed with truth.¹ At the heart of that statement is the prerequisite of an awareness that must not be avoided. The dangers associated with living life on a default setting are unprecedented. Think about it for a moment.

What steps have you taken to thrust yourself into new territory and the uncharted waters of expanding your knowledge, understanding, and experience with your current employer?

How about in your marriage? In your family?

What relational insights have you gained recently that could produce fresh conversation and exchange between you and your spouse, children, siblings, parents, coworkers, and even those within your community of faith?

How many of your relationships are filled with creativity, vitality and a raw anticipation that makes you look forward to being in their presence again?

Is there a measurable excitement about the opportunity you will have to encourage, exhort, and equip to reveal the presence of something valuable within them that they’ve not yet discovered?

How well do you manage impromptu conversations that may consist of unscripted questions or statements that may be intended to solicit an interactive response? I do