Latest Posts
Blog renovations have been completed! Many, many thanks to my dear friend Andy D (Andrew) for helping me out with most of the graphics. Special mention to Webtreats for the social media icons! 

 I hope you enjoy the new layout, as well as, the new features. The first interview will be posted tomorrow and it is with Sabrina C. Anderson, author of "How To Live A Fabulous Life In Christ". 

*Hollie*




If you happen to be visiting and see things looking a little messy, don't fret - ShadesofSunshine is getting a make-over & should be ready to go in no time. Stay tuned for great new additions! 

*Hollie*
The duality of man (or woman), for every believer... to denote to be worthless (i.e. inherit sin nature), but also something in Christ (i.e. forgiveness of sin) at the same time is the seesaw concept is one that admittedly I have struggled with throughout my years. I don’t claim to be the specialist on the topic, but here are some things I have learned on my own journey.

We allow people to treat us by how we feel we deserve to be treated, rather than how we should be treated.

If one grows up feeling like they are at fault, they wish to take upon the blame of others. Where-as if one grows up feeling like they are entitled to the world, they (may) wish to take things rather than earn from merit. How should we (all) be treated? Love. In fact, if you would like to read up on here, OpenBible has 39 lovely verses just waiting to let you know what the “good book” says.  

Regardless of our sins (failings), we still have the right to limitless forgiveness, not through our own merit, but through that which comes from Jesus Christ.

Admittedly there have been times in which I have questioned my forgiveness. I allow negative and unholy thoughts to enter my noggin and tell me “I’ve gone to far” and that “God will surely turn His back on me now”. However, this is simply rubbish! Why do I say so? Look at all of the characters in the Bible! They each had their own issues in life, but God still forgave them AND used them in service.  It says in Jeremiah of how we have always been known to God – which in conjunction with Romans how “we all have sinned”, we can equal this out to be as told in 1 John, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

So how do these two truths tie together?

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

The next time you feel like God can't use you, like you are being trapped by the worthless nature we all can fall to once in a while, just remember...

Noah was a drunk + Abraham was too old + Isaac was a daydreamer + Jacob was a liar + Joseph was abused + Moses had a stuttering problem + Samson had long hair and was a womanizer + Rahab was a prostitute + Jeremiah and Timothy were too young + David was an adulterer and a murderer + Elijah was suicidal + Isaiah preached naked + Jonah ran from God + Naomi was a widow + Job went bankrupt + John the Baptist ate bugs + Peter denied Christ + The disciples fell asleep while praying + Martha worried about everything + The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once) + Zaccheus was too small + Paul was too religious + Timothy had an ulcer + Lazarus was dead
(List thanks to SeniorMag)
PROVERBS 19 
NKJV

 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.
The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.
Wealth makes many friends,But the poor is separated from his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.
He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.
A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

For the month of August I was supposed to be reading a [chapter] Proverb[s] a day, alas I have NOT achieved 100% thus far. However, when I took a gander at #19 today, I couldn't help but to be ... well speechless. 

What a wonderful and mighty God we serve! 
Yeppers, I was feeling a tad bit inspired today.

Admittedly, I do not know the specific inspiration for the bonus song *I Am A Stone* on True Defiance by Demon Hunter. However, what I do know is that it is a wonderful track, which sparks several relevancies within myself. With its seemingly simplistic vocabulary lined up aside one another, laced on-top of magnificent instrumentals – it paints a pure and potent picture, which announces “You [it] will not be given power over me!” It is (by comparison) not a typical D.H. song, but I think the almost classical-rock-opera mash up delivery makes the message even more powerful. Ryan C almost beckons you to “dare” question him, as he calmly speaks softly the truth of the matter, all the while staring through your eye sockets into the very depths of your being!

Often we may just mind-numbingly recite the words to a given song without thinking about a deeper meaning, and one thing I do appreciate about Demon Hunter's lyrics are that they are so much more than "just words". You can read a review of the entire album thanks to JesusFreakHideout here. 

To bring the post back to a devotional level (not just listener praises - ha) I would like to extend to you not one, but two blocks of verses, that you can read upon your own leisure, which to me, relates back to the message of this song (definitely adds to it). The noted verses are Philippians 4:10-13 and Romans 8:1-39. 

Dear Father,
We humbly come before you and THANK YOU for all that you have done. Though we might not always say it, thank you for simply loving us. Thank you for taking care of us, even when we think you aren't there. May our flame grow for You Lord, may we grow in our willingness to speak out You - to share and show Your message of hope and love to all we meet. May we cling to You, as YOU are the rock that lives within us, You are the true unshakeable One. May we each seek to do Your will, in the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray, ><>.

I do want to send first my heartfelt apologies for being a bit of a "slacker" as of late with writing for the blog (and book #2). Though details will not be shared, I can say that I have been graced with a lot of new material for both, so stay tuned, for writing has not been forgotten! As such, I know how you all enjoy reading the writing by my good friend Gina, so here I give you her latest posting and her first vlog testimony. May you be blessed by her words! 

 Freedom

There is a vast difference between the freedom the world offers you & the freedom Christ offers when we submit to Him. The world’s freedom sounds enticing, thrilling…even comfortable. It gives the permission to do as you please without the afterthought of heaven. It doesn’t pause to weigh the consequence of the moment. The freedom the world offers is temporary bliss. Jesus extends to us a different type of freedom. The freedom from sin…the freedom from guilt…the freedom from death. Nothing else compares. The two choices of freedom have two completely different sources. One is the Lover of your soul & one is the enemy of your soul. The enemy disguises himself as the good guy, promising his way will be more enjoyable and pleasurable. This is deception at it’s finest. Jesus is clear in His message to us, with no deception & no ulterior motives. He promises Paradise…spiritual riches…His presence…but we must surrender ourselves. He is clear that while we are here, we will join in His suffering. He’s doesn’t try to sugarcoat it. But satan will lie through his teeth to make you believe that there is no life after death, that there is no punishment for living as you please. His goal is to keep you blind and in your sin. Who will you surrender to?


 Awakened

 The Holy Spirit led me to share what was on my heart and what He has done in my life. Hope it blesses and encourages you!







Sucky, sucky, sucky – suck suck!

What deserves five sucks in a row? Death does my friend, death. While albeit I am channeling most assuredly my inner five year old to relay the feeling, it does still ring true to be at the ripe age 29.

I successfully navigated (or rather had God navigate me) through 29 years on the face of this earth honestly believing that my parents were invincible and immortal. After all, both of my parents have overtaken the medical realm by storm. One was part iron man with a spinal system only put in 5 people in the world, the other tramples upon cancer and tumors. Medical miracles are they both, each were undoubtedly were shown providence by the Creator in regards to health amidst their sufferings, alas now one remains and the other has taken a place in the realm of which we have all yet to go.

It happened on May 8th, a day that will forever bring upon a metallic taste in my mouth. The day in which I learned what I felt like to die over and over, as if in some cruel cartoon, in which a part of your heart gets ripped out bare-handed in a rhythmic pattern with nothing to numb the pain.

So yeah, I’ll say it... losing a parent (my diddy) SUCK(S/ED)!

I’ll spare the majority of details and inner mind rambles, partially because things are still being worked out – partially because there will be a devotional on grief in book # 2, so I don’t want to be on repeat, but I will say this..

KNOWING WHERE MY DIDDY IS NOW = COMFORT AMIDST THE PAIN

So to the people who wonder WHY we, as believers of Christ spread the message … go to the outcasts and far corners of the Earth is simple …

We believe, we know, that salvation is found through JESUS CHRIST ALONE and if you do not embrace the free gift of Grace, then your forever-after doesn’t look so bright .. and we, as believers, I think, should want EVERYONE to come to the saving knowing of Yeshua, we should want NO ONE to go to Hell .. we should wish separation from God onto no one .. how do we wish upon something that which we do not know (only Jesus has ever faced?) … Yet likewise, how do we stand silent when we know we are to be a LIGHT and to SHARE THE GOOD NEWS with everyone?

So I will put it to this, about 4 years ago I asked a man a question. I asked this man if he was saved, I asked with a shaky voice if he knew the Savior, if he believed that Jesus Christ was the risen Son of the true Creator and he said yes. I asked this question, to this man, because I had never asked it before. Roughly 4 years after that question got answered, I got the privilege of standing beside my Diddy’s bed, reading him scripture of what future places will look like, saying continuous prayer, joking with him about future book dedications, and letting him know – face to face – with full understanding, how proud I was that I could stand in front of him with such peace (in the midst of chaos) because I knew where he was going once it was decided he would breath his final breathe.

I thank God (Father, Son and Spirit) for that, as it’s good grief.
Thanks to Joseph Donofro for letting me post this wonderful piece. You can check him out on Tumblr or Facebook for more insights, inspirations and good stuffs.
Unconditional-
Dictionary definition- not subject to any conditions.
Thesaurus synonyms- wholehearted, unqualified, unreserved,unlimited, unrestricted, unmitigated,unquestioning; complete, total, entire, full,absolute, out-and-out, unequivocal.
Love- 
Dictionary definition- an intense feeling of deep affection.
Thesaurus Synonyms- deep affection, fondness, tenderness,warmth, intimacy, attachment,endearment; devotion, adoration, doting,idolization, worship; passion, ardor,desire, lust, yearning, infatuation. liking of/for, enjoyment of,appreciation of/for, taste for, delight for/in, relish of, passion for, zeal for,appetite for, zest for, enthusiasm for,keenness for, fondness for, soft spot for,weakness for, bent for, proclivity for,inclination for, disposition for, partiality for, predilection for, penchant for. compassion, care, caring, regard,solicitude, concern, friendliness,friendship, kindness, charity, goodwill,sympathy, kindliness, altruism,unselfishness, philanthropy, benevolence,fellow feeling, humanity. beloved, loved one, love of one’s life,dear, dearest, dear one, darling,sweetheart, sweet, angel, honey; lover,inamorato, inamorata, amour;paramour. relationship, love affair, romance,liaison, affair of the heart, amour. best wishes, regards, good wishes,greetings, kind/kindest regards. care very much for, feel deep affection for, hold very dear, adore, think the world of, be devoted to, dote on,idolize, worship; be in love with, be infatuated with, be smitten with, be besotted with; be mad/crazy/nuts/wild about, have a crush on, carry a torch for. like very much, delight in, enjoy greatly, have a passion for, take great pleasure in, derive great pleasure from,relish, savor; have a weakness for, be partial to, have a soft spot for, have a taste for, be taken with; get a kick out of, have a thing about, be mad/crazy/nuts/wild about.
The I believe the BIBLE defines them this way: God=Love and Selflessness=Unconditional.
I do not have much to say other than what is clearly stated in definitions and synonyms other than that I feel like I fall short of loving like I should. When I tell my wife I love her, I mean it, but does she believe me when I expect something back later on that day because I cleaned the dishes for her. That is not unconditional, that is, I gave to you and I expect to gather something in return.When we love, what if we loved in this way; to say, I long to do this for you and that is all. It is difficult. We are a selfish people that feel as though we deserve respect. I do not deserve anything from anyone, even if I gave them $1000, I have no right to say 5 years later, “remember when I gave you that money, well pay up!”. 
My mind travels at the speed of light and, no, I cannot keep up. I think all the time about how I have been called by one who is worthy of everything, yet I cannot give enough. Jesus loves me like I long to love others. He says, I gave you my life so that you can have life. Who does that? I still sin day in and out, but yet He calls me His righteousness. What is the reward that He longs for in me, that He would go out of His way to make sure that He could be with me forever? It is the relationship. And even thought I am not the best friend in the relationship, He calls me His best friend. 
I will end with one more story. There is a homeless man on the street, in your mind, you owe him nothing. You pass him by and in passing call him a bum. That night in your dream Jesus comes up to you and says, “I love you”. Once you wake you realize that man you passed and called a bum, was Jesus. Even though we spit in His face everyday by sinning and messing up, He still extends grace and never holds anything against us.
There you have it; unconditional love is the kingdom of heaven in action. So, if God=love and and unconditional=selflessness, then I would say that selflessness in loving The Father would result in a life that longs to love unconditionally. Because the relationship that is forged in that place of loving Him can only overflow in the life of the friend of The Father.
Don’t live expecting to be served. Serve and expect nothing then you will be rewarded.


This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11




So we have all seen this little symbol as it can now be found plastered on car bumpers, store windows and cd cases. It is what is referred to as an Ichthus or Ichthys, slang name being Jesus Fish. What was once a secret symbol for believers to communicate is now anything but!

Trust me, I point no finger, just a conversation of curiousness as pondered upon in the below, as one of my own car stickers is a cross with a heart around it. Some people don’t like car decals; I find it amusing to show a little bit about myself to all those who may see me drive by (so to each their own, I say).  

So as such, a part of me cannot help but wonder if we were forced to go back into hiding (believers that is), what would be our new symbol? I mean obviously if people were out to persecute the Christians of today’s world, they wouldn’t have to look very far to find them (which is a good thing, as long as the symbols we use do not supersede the love of Christ we are to live out). However, it is quite the thought though right? 

You can read more about the Ichthus on Christianity Today  or Plymouth Church.