Excerpt from The Secret of Holy Matrimony a new release from Covenant of Lies Series Author Holly Spence

Per order your copy today

https://thesecretofholymatrimony.eventbrite.com/

Although Janet was completely ignoring my calls at the time, I prayed and made every attempt to get Janet to reconsider saving her marriage. My last effort ended with me confronting Janet in her office at the bistro. While she was poised and pleasant on her way back to the office, I hadn’t closed the door before Janet released her vehement slurs of insults and her opinions of my so called “perfect life.” My recalling of the Word further fueled Janet’s wrath. She walked to her office door and said, “Karen, when you realize what secrets plague your holy matrimony, then come talk to me about forgiveness and until then GET OUT!”

I realized there was no reasoning with Janet. Since that time, she is cordial when I come to the restaurant, but there is no conversation. There is obviously less tension between her and Marlinda, but Janet still keeps her distance. I miss my friend and I miss our times together. 

As surprised as I was with Janet’s reaction, I think Darius’ reaction surprised me even more. I chalked it all up to him not wanting to deal with his feelings, but Janet’s statement often haunts me. “Karen, when you realize what secrets plague your holy matrimony, then come talk to me about forgiveness…What was she talking about?”

Excerpt from The Secret of Holy Matrimony by Holly Spence

Excerpt from The Secret of Holy Matrimony a new release from Covenant of Lies Series Author Holly Spence

Per order your copy today

https://thesecretofholymatrimony.eventbrite.com/

After spending the evening with Mrs. Cortell in the hospital, food is the last thing on my mind. I just want to go home and climb in the middle of my bed. After getting Mrs. Cortell settled at home I listen to the numerous voicemails that have been left on my cell phone. The last four were from Darius; the first message is him singing a song recorded by one of my favorite artists, Brian McKnight, “One, your like a dream come true, two I just want to be with you, three, girl it’s plain to see that you’re the only one for me and four, repeat steps one through three, five, make you fall in love with me. If ever I believe my work is done I will start back at one….” I continue listening as he sings all the verses. When the message cuts off he calls back and continues the serenade. I listen and giggle like a teenage school girl. Darius’ voice is just as rich and melodious as Mr. McKnight’s the only difference is Darius is mine. I fall in the middle of our bed and close my eyes. With every perfectly pitched note sung, it is as if Darius is there singing in my ear as he often does. Definitely its having the same affect. The hairs on the small of my back are raised and I can feel the tingle in my side I often experience when he touches me. 

By the time he reaches the end of the song and hits the high falsetto note, I am more than beside myself in thought of having my husband’s hands running all over my body. I pick up the house phone; unfortunately he doesn’t answer, but I leave him a message that left a lot to his imagination and will make him too, long to be home again. 

I have to come to myself quickly, knowing he will not be back for another night; I get up from the bed and begin to busy myself. “That’s enough of that Karen Chambers, getting yourself all hot and bothered.”

Pre-order The Secret of Holy Matrimony

Monarch Publications, LLC is EXCITED to announce the next Fiction Book by Author Holly Spence to be released this fall. Is available for PREORDER

https://thesecretofholymatrimony.eventbrite.com/


The Secret of Holy Matrimony is another explosive drama by Covenant of Lies Series Author, Holly Spence. Holly Spence takes you into the lives of Faith Cathedral Pastors Darius and Karen Chambers. The Chambers are the model for covenant and are recognized through out the city as the authority on marriage. They are loyal friends, entrepreneurs and Pastors. The couple that appears to have it all, is missing the birth of a child Pastor Karen Chambers so longs for. But, the absence of a child is not the only issue that threatens to plague their holy matrimony.

The Secret of Holy Matrimony

Monarch Publications, LLC is please to announce a new release coming this fall by Covenant of Lies Author Holly Spence

The Secret of Holy Matrimony is another explosive drama by Covenant of Lies Series Author, Holly Spence. Holly Spence takes you into the lives of Faith Cathedral Pastors Darius and Karen Chambers. The Chambers are the model for covenant and are recognized through out the city as the authority on marriage. They are loyal friends, entrepreneurs and Pastors. The couple that appears to have it all, is missing the birth of a child Pastor Karen Chambers so longs for. But, the absence of a child is not the only issue that threatens to plague their holy matrimony.

Accountable Men Part IV by Holly Spence

The personal impact this book has had on my life has strengthen the foundation that has been inlaid in me. A building can’t be built higher than the depth of the foundation. God has already given me all that I need within me to accomplish my assignment in the earth. This book has served as reinforcement of my foundation. This book for me confirmed the spirit of a servant leadership that is constructed into my DNA. It gives me another opportunity to inspect my foundation to ensure that is structurally sound for the building plans God has graphed for me. Even while building, it’s necessary to inspect that which is being built, it requires the evaluation of a knowledgeable, skilled inspector that is equipped and knowledgably of building codes, fees and zoning laws. This inspector should be one that I trust and is lead through the spirit of God. The inspector should be one that I can read my plans, inspect the building and make suggestions for changes, improvements and head off trouble in the building process. During the process I should personally take advantage of allowing the inspector to mentor me and I in turn will have the ability to inspect someone else’s building project. However, that inspection is not self generated or promoted but given through assignment of my inspector, Apostle Bennie Fluellen. 

This book also allowed for me to ask some questions regarding growth rather it’s growth for me or a person I mentor. The examination of fruit determines if additional training is needed. This caused me to identify what should that training look like or to recognize that maybe it will require additional smaller tasks before promoting to greater task. I also like the point Apostle Chuck makes in the book about having those around you so you can ask the question “What don’t you like in me?” I think that this is a powerful opportunity to identify what I possibly don’t see in myself and work with the Holy Spirit to make the necessary changes. I have already had the opportunity to ask this question to other people and I know while I have grown in the area of patience more is needed. Teach me oh Lord!

I love the example of the alligator, Apostle Chuck used in the book. Those that are self-centered spend their time, energy and resources feeding their own alligator instead of the one someone else has. Alligators are never satisfied so you have to constantly feed them. Apostles Chuck’s desire is for the people of God to move past this self feeding alligator syndrome to support the ministry of someone beyond ourselves. Luke 6:38 reads, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  We can’t beat God’s ROI when it comes to ministry. His rate of interest on our return on investment is good measure, pressed down and running over.

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Accountable Men Part III by Holly Spence

Consistency feeds loyalty the last trait identified as faithfulness. Loyalty is often built over time; however that loyalty is tested and exposes the true heart of the leaders and or followers when a mistake is made. These days it doesn’t require a full out scandal. Any disagreement can test loyalty. I love the reference of the men in 2 Samuel who risked their life to fulfill just a mere desire of David. David is running and hiding for his life. He has been in battle after battle and he simply ask the question if he would ever drink again from the well of Bethlehem.  Those three men loyal to him and his vision broke through the enemy’s camp, putting their own lives at risk. The men had no thought for their agenda, no thought for their dreams or their lives but, to be the answer to David’s question.

I think the most interesting portion of the book speaks to having friends with those that you minister with. I have heard on a couple of occasions, other leaders make mention the needs as a leadership team to fellowship together. We don’t know each other as we should. I personally feel as if we are WORKING together we WILL get to know one another. While working you can’t help but spend time together. This would lend its self for further desire to fellowship outside the work. I believe that when everyone is not working it makes the workload unbalanced and requires more work and there is no time for fellowship. However, if we all join together the work doesn’t take as long and we can have more opportunities to fellowship. Apostle Chuck comes from a greater perspective of having a friend. One you can confide in. The bible tells us to confess our sins one to another. This can’t be done if there is no fellowship among the leadership or trust to expose our open wounds. I do believe this would be accomplished working alongside one another over time of course.

When speaking of being accountable, money always surfaces. The bible says that “…if you haven’t been faithful in unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust true riches?” Luke 16:10 says it this way “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much”. There are many examples or parables where Jesus refers to money to explain the importance of being a good steward of what has been given to you. This provides us with a great opportunity to do what I refer to as “heart checks”. If we want to be used by God and entrusted with spiritual matters, particularly the ministry of the word ask yourself the question, Can I be trusted? We also have to look at each task as an assignment and not assign any particular importance. All assignments/tasks are important in the kingdom of God. We have to be willing to yield our supply, gifts, talents and all resources to the work of the ministry. 

Our faithfulness to make this yield to another man’s vision activates God’s principals of blessing. Whatever good thing you make happen for someone else’s GOD will cause that same thing to happen for you. I believe this is the main goal of the book “Accountable Men”. Apostle Chuck desires that the body of Christ is enlarged through the equipping of saints and focused on one vision to ensure that occurs. This can only be done when you have accountable men and women to a vision of a house. When we decide that it’s more important to fulfill the vision of our local ministry, it proves to God that we can be trusted for promotion and rule. You will find that the activation of blessings is not limited to your spiritual life, but also in the natural things. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be add unto you”.

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Accountable Men Part II by Holly Spence

Competently and plainly the traits of faithfulness are outlined for the reader - meeting the goal of knowledge concerning the requirements for leaders and the expected self examination that must occur after reading such a persuasive truth. The traits of faithfulness are submission, consistency, loyalty and stewardship. Submission is a foul word in the church today and is often interpreted as control or being a slave. Unfortunately it does stem from abuse of leadership in today’s churches. Pastors making a poor attempt to justify their behavior through the scripture particularly Hebrews 13:17 (NKJ) which reads “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” We are to be submissive because they “watch out” for our souls and the leader should be under the ruling of God. I love how the message bible reads; it puts it all in perspective and makes it quite clear leaders should be lead by God and not their own wisdom. “Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?”

“….They are alert to the condition of your lives and WORK UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION OF GOD…” when this is occurring in a leadership team coupled with a believer free of the “slave mentality” the work of the ministry is a joy! While there is much responsibility on the leadership team, those that follow do have a responsibility which starts at agreement. Submission is required from leaders and followers alike. You have need to pass through the gate of the shepherd to be examined and checked for life threatening organism that may have attachment themselves to you. We as sheep can sometimes be blinded by things, situations and people. However the Shepherd won’t miss anything. This examination allows for the fine tuning that is needed to ensure leaders have fruit that remain. 

We don’t necessary care for the correction or assessment of our weaknesses. However, how do we ever expect to grow without such pruning? We need people around us to tell us where we error as well as encourage us when we are doing a good job. This type of correction ensures that as leaders we are meeting the faithful trait of stewardship. The bible says in Luke 16:11 that “…if you haven’t been faithful in unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust true riches?”

When a person is faithful these traits are seen clearly and concerning stewardship all of the persons resources are available to be used how God sees fit (including our money). Stewardship is not a self-centered or selfish, but rather selflessness which looks for opportunities to serve. Serving others and not for the sake of our own agendas or for our own glory. As faithful stewards we recognize the need to be what God has called for us in the earth – a reflection of his image, an explanation of him in the earth, the answer to someone else’s problem.  The work of the ministry is not about what we want to do and how we want to do it, but carrying out the assignment given to us through the “God-father” (God through the spiritual father/pastor). 

As believers we will not be judged for our sin, because that has been eradicated at Calvary, but on our works. We are going to hear our Heavenly Father say, “Well done…” or “Depart, I knew you not…”

Good stewardship is fueled by consistency, which is yet another faithfulness trait identified in “Accountable Men”. There is a need for us to be steadfast and unmovable. Not on an emotional roller coasters or a worker for God one week and the next week we don’t have time. Noah was consistent in the assignment God had given him. Although he had never seen rain, never built an ark or gone to the university majoring in zoology Noah was faithful to his ministry assignment. I can imagine the looks, stares, and the ridicule he encountered concerning the building of such a massive object. Noah was not deterred. The bible never mentions him being discourage or frustrated. He was a good steward of his time, resources and abilities. He worked faithfully to complete his assignment. 

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