Ray on Monday - Jesus was a Fundamentalist

Whoa! Hold on. Don’t jump to unfounded conclusions. He wasn’t a terrorist but He was and remains a fundamentalist.

The unfortunate fact in society is the corruption of language. Someone apparently aligned the word terrorist with fundamentalist by stating how one leads to another. To lock every political theory and religious belief into such a link is unfair and unfounded.

Fundamental simply means foundational, essential. What did Jesus consider foundational for His ministry? The Jewish scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. ‘It is written’ was His conviction. People and events considered as fictitious by some critics Jesus endorsed as real. Such critics make excuses for Jesus’ conviction as simply being a man of his time. Any attempt to squeeze Jesus into a mould of conforming to the age actually undermines His total credibility. Where would you stop?

By faith based upon biblical knowledge and historical certainty, Christians believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. Therefore we hold what He believed and said as well as what He did as fundamental to our understanding and appreciation of Him.

To be a Christian fundamentalist is to live according to the teaching of Christ. How can you link Him to terrorism when He said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven…’ Matthew 5:44-45. He practiced this when He was unjustly crucified. Remember His prayer, ‘Father forgive them, they know not what they do!’

There are groups whose fundamental beliefs allow for and encourage death, deceit and destruction. Such are terrorists. No fair-minded person would place Jesus and His teachings anywhere near such perverted ideologies.

Jesus the fundamentalist offers abundant life, not death. He gives power to leave the kingdom of evil and join in His kingdom of grace and love. He promises to be with His disciple, unseen yes but nonetheless real, as the disciple walks in the light of Christ’s words. Such fundamentalism is good for time and eternity. I guess that makes me a fundamentalist.

Ray (a disciple of Christ) Hawkins.

Ray on Monday - The Case of the Lost Community Compass

A fantastic day last Saturday at the Romance Writers of Australia Roadshow - but more of that next Thursday. However, writers also need - a Compass!

A faulty compass is a silent killer or guide to an undesirable end. Many in society have accepted a faulty moral compass with distressing results. Proverbs 16:25:’There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.’

As people live by their faulty direction finder, how loud is their condemnation when things go wrong; how self righteously they throw stones at a person who is revealed as a scoundrel, thief, sexual deviant. But, in fairness to those enduring unpleasant consequences, they are the result of their compass.

Manufacturers of the faulty moral compass have worked hard and long to replace the time tested, correct directional finder for personal happiness and community well being. Such a compass was set to the Ten Commandment as absolutes to guide through life and relationships. It was there to make us appreciate our need for the Saviour and His help to live the way the compass pointed. Once rejected and replaced, men and women set their own course without having a sense of direction or an unchangeable standard of behaviour. Is it any wonder the young are exploited, the old are disillusioned and life is lawless!

God’s compass for life hasn’t been destroyed. It has been replaced. The answer to personal integrity, nobility of character, persistence in faithfulness is to reclaim the compass of the Absolute. To accept its direction will reveal personal inadequacies and at the same time point to the One who can provide forgiveness, newness and hope. As the Lord says in His word, “Why will you die?” – especially when He offers life, abundant life, with a compass pointing to truth, righteousness and justice!

Now is a good time to have a serious look at your life’s directional code. Is it leading you to disillusionment with moral and eternal destruction? You have the choice to change and reclaim God’s absolutes for a fulfilled and purposeful life. Pick up a Bible and start reading, it is absolutely great!

Ray (with the Absolute compass) Hawkins.

When the courier arrives...

No matter if it is your first book, third book or 19th title, when that truck arrives at last the excitement hits. Well, at least when I know it can’t be delivering anything else except those boxes of books at long last.

The weeks, months, even years coast by. The manuscript is thought about, even dreamed about, written, re-written, edited, re-edited and submitted at last to a publisher – or many publishers for my books! Then the edits arrive, the manuscript checked and checked and re-checked again. The release date is decided and the wait for that Courier truck starts!

Well, Ray’s boxes arrived today. He wasn’t at home so I had to sign for them. And of course, he took one look at my face when he arrived a little while later and said, “the books arrived!”

I already had the scissors ready for him to open the box on top. For the first time he held “Captured by Calvary” in his hand. We are delighted with the cover and the way Rochelle Manners at Even Before Publishing has presented it. Do click on the publisher's name and read more about the book and his first two books also of course. (There have not been enough comments on his Ray on Monday giveaway for "From Eden with Love" yet but we will only draw next Monday if we have four comments! Of course, there will be some giveaways of this new book too. Watch this space!)

A little time later an old friend arrived we had not seen for quite a long time. Need I mention he took home a signed copy?

Now the wait starts to see if our friend enjoys it, if reviews are positive and, above all, if Ray’s devotional book is used by God to bless and challenge all those who read it and meditate on its truths.

Ray on Monday: DO MEN FEAR WOMEN? (book giveaway)

Enter the draw for "From Eden With Love" (print book) as a giveaway. (Details and announcement at end of post)

Mmm, not quite sure what I think about the following, but Ray would like your views on this as he works out in more detail the ideas in this week's devotion.

Over the past little while I’ve been disturbed by the way women are treated around the globe. The brute force of a man is more than a match for any woman. Why then do I imagine that many men have an unreasonable, inbuilt, systemic loathing or fear of the gentler sex? It goes beyond experiences in upbringing or broken relationships. Something in the heart has been twisted and become manipulated by the powers of darkness.

This irrational and undefined fear is expressed in religions which imprison women behind a burka, refuses them liberty of an education and makes them inferior before the law. There are similar attitudes in any secular society where a woman is a sexual object, someone to assault inside or outside marriage while denying her respect and equal opportunities.

Men may laugh at the suggestion they are exploiting and limiting women out of fear. However I believe this fear is a result of a spiritual state of mind. To restate that – it is the rejection of, or opposition to, the Biblical view of a woman as defined by Christ in his treatment of the Church. Check Ephesians 5: 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22:Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...

In the Bible I believe there is a revealing of the source of the moral and spiritual demeaning of women. God promised Eve in Genesis 3 that through a woman would be born the one who would crush the head of the serpent. In verse 15, God told the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring] and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

It was Adam who fouled things up and made a mess of this World. In verse 17, God said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’... “ The curse for his disobedience followed.

Eve was deceived but he had the direct command from God. It was Adam who disobeyed. His male descendents probably have been trying to rid themselves of this shame on their “maleness” ever since. How do some try and cover this shame? By blaming the daughters of Eve and making them suffer.

The devil and his kingdom sought to prevent the promise of God to Eve. A promise repeated in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1 and Luke 2. The devil knew God would choose a pure and holy woman to be the mother of the promised Messiah. So, the devil’s answer? Crush, imprison, defile and abuse. Heaven’s answer was a spiritual and moral code in Israel for the welfare and dignity of the woman!

Satan feared the promised woman who would give birth to the Saviour Jesus. He fears the ‘Woman’ called the Church, the Bride of Christ, for she reveals his doom and failure. Satan fears the ‘woman’ called Israel (Revelation 12) for she has God’s promise of future glory. This spills over into his loathing for all daughters of Eve. Every time a man, nation or religion despoils, destroys or demeans a woman they are siding with Satan’s strategy.

How different is the attitude of Jesus. The Gospel accounts reveal His appreciation and defence of women. He treated them with respect and imparted to them dignity and equality. Those who say they follow Jesus must treat women with Christ-like respect. Why? For to love Christ as Lord and Saviour is to be delivered from such devilish fear!

Ray (without such fear) Hawkins.

I’m very glad about that my darling husband!

Some of Ray’s thoughts about marriage are in his 31 Day devotional book, “From Eden With Love.” Check out Ray's books at :-http://www.evenbeforepublishing.com/rayhawkins.html

This is also available as an eBook, but if we have at least four comments here from anywhere in the world, we will have a draw and send the winner the signed, printed version of "From Eden With Love".

YES! A NEW BOOK OUT SOON!

This is to celebrate in anticipation, Ray's new book "Captured by Calvary" available very soon. And don't forget to return here when we will have another draw for this new book also. 

Please leave a comment to win "From Eden With Love – and don’t forget to add your email address.

Where is God in a Writer's Day?

I’ve been preparing a Bible study on “Where is God in your Day.” As all speakers will know, it is the speaker who seems to be challenged and blessed during the preparation of a talk even more than she would hope the participants and listeners will be!

Confession time:

As much as I try to be disciplined in spending special time in the scriptures and prayer by myself every morning, there are too many days when the “Tyranny of the Urgent” takes over and those precious moments are either skipped completely or rushed through in a few moments.

So, that is my early morning season with God. What about when pressures of trying to cope with all the demands of that day keep pounding away at me. Where is God in it all?

There are many times when I cannot help comparing my love relationship with God like the one I have with my husband. There are busy days when we are not able to spend much time together. There are hectic days when one of us is away from home altogether, perhaps even away for several nights too. (I have always been so very thankful God has not required that very often of us!) Then there are days when we can enjoy spending all the time together. No matter what kind of “Day” Ray and I share, whether away or together, our love and concern for each other’s welfare is always there in our hearts – even if not always at the forefront of our minds.

Although it is pretty impossible comparing a mere man to Almighty God, in so many ways my relationship with them both has similarities. Okay, so Ray is not God and like me makes mistakes, but I have to confess not always wanting to listen to Ray’s words, wanting to do what he suggests I should do even when I know deep down he is right! There are too many times I behave like that with God. “Trust Me,” God says. Especially during those days in dark valleys of doubt, pain, grief that is often hard to do.

When Ray and I were first getting to know each other forty-nine years ago, there was no way I knew his heart and mind as I do now. Since a child I have been so fortunate getting to know the God who never changes. Now I have experienced His care and love so many innumerable times and in so many varied and wonderful ways, I find trusting Him much, much easier. But still He needs to remind this frail, so often faithless woman, that her faithful God IS in control, that He DOES know what is best for her.

There are hours, perhaps even days, when I have not deliberately gone to spend time talking to Him and listening to what He has to say from the Bible to my curcumstances. How stupid I have been! How many mistakes I have made! But our Faithful God, through His Holy Spirit, tries to bring thoughts to my mind, remind me of God’s words, His ways, and prompts me to do things I would not otherwise do. But how much easier it is to hear and obey when I do spend those quality times alone with Him.

As I look back over my “days” – and there have been a huge number of them now – God has always been there in them in ways no one on this earth ever can be and this does include that wonderful husband of mine God has given me!

And no, afraid I did not spend more than a few moments this morning talking to God, just asked Him to control and direct my day.

Now back to spending more time with the great Lover of my soul before I do more writing – and more preparation on that Bible Study. Sigh! Guess I know I’m going to be challenged and convicted myself first by the Holy Spirit through the Word.

So, where is God in YOUR day?

Ray on Monday -What Noah found

My apologies for no blog from Mary last Thursday. I was busy publishing my rostered post on International Christian Fiction Writers blog It is about promotion - whether pleasure or pain for writers. Click here to have a read of my thoughts a few days ago!

And Ray too has been busy but has made time for these thoughts to share with us today.

Read Genesis 6:1-22
Imagine being on board the ark. Tossed around by the cataclysmic weather outside; feeding the animals; cleaning their stalls for a year and maybe enduring sea-sickness. Noah found grace but not comfort. He knew security but not idleness. God’s call on his life was challenging and often unpleasant.

Christians know they are saved by Grace. They have found peace with God and safety from Judgement. What hasn’t been promised is a smooth journey. Christ’s words to the original group, recorded in John 16:33 still rings true, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

The disciples of Jesus are called to be witnesses, spokespersons and co-labourers in the Gospel. All have their gifts and abilities and are placed in various circumstances to be God’s sign-post, helping hand or messenger. His grace is tasted by faithful obedience.

The journey with Jesus may be rough but the destination makes it all worth while.

Prayer: Lord, whether I’m happy or not in my circumstances I need you to impart your Grace to me. Cause me to be confident you will work things out for good and make me your sign-post and stepping stone for others to know you. Amen.

Just a closing thought.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10.

Ray (becalmed) Hawkins.

Ray on Monday - A Teaser about Ray's NEW book arriving soon!

Well, the galley proofs have been edited and back at the publisher EVEN BEFORE PUBLISHING. In several weeks time Ray's 3rd book in his 31 Day Devotional Meditation series will be released.

I thought it would be good to let you read this introduction by Ray to CAPTURED BY CALVARY.

The following 31 Day Devotionals are meant to deepen your understanding and increase your love for the Lord Jesus. As you reflect upon what the Lord achieved for you at Calvary, the horror of the cross is transformed into Christ’s glory. It is also our assurance of salvation. The cross for the Christian is an expression of glory and wonder. Why?

Because it speaks of God’s grace, love and majesty!

The message of the crucified Christ comforts because it deals with the issues between us and the Almighty.

It humbles because it says Jesus alone could solve our sin and condemnation problem.

It compels a man or woman to commit his or her life to Jesus. It calls us to leave the realm of Darkness and take up our crosses and follow Him.

The cross is a stumbling block to many. Their sense of righteousness is offended or the effectiveness of their religion is undermined. For others the cross becomes the stepping stone into a new relationship of grace, a new destiny with the Lord God, a new sense of their worth.

There are two roads the Church can travel as it reaches out into the community. The road most appreciated by any community would be the way the good Samaritan travelled. He cared for the oppressed and vulnerable. When the Church serves this way it doesn’t upset people or create waves of antagonism.

The other road is nowhere near as popular or appealing. It is the way of the Cross. This is no scenic route. It is gruesome. It is threatening. It is uncompromising. And yet this very road is the one which brings people out of spiritual and moral darkness and into the light of God’s grace. It is along this way that the Holy Spirit attracts the hearts of people with the wonder of a new beginning, the hope of a greater destiny.

Why?

Because it shows the way to be transformed, made acceptable to God! The individual is liberated to worship the God of Grace and Glory.

Both roads are important.

However the Faith Community must major on what the Apostle Paul considers the power and wisdom of God. This is the road we enter upon when we are captured by the Christ of Calvary.

(copyright 2012) Raymond N. Hawkins.

Hopefully this book will be available by Easter. We will keep you up to date here with news of CAPTURED BY CALVARY so do return to our blog for the Monday and Thursday posts. There will sure be a free giveaway again too!

ENCHANTED

What’s so special about the Bible?
Ray would say many things, but in the following poem he has expressed some from his personal experience.








       ENCHANTED

I was told, when I was young
Christ Jesus would spoil my fun.
Now older, I’ve been told
God is indifferent, cold.
Sitting on His heavenly throne
Indifferent to my groans!
Simply put, I must stand alone.

One day a book I discovered
Written all about a lover
Who from heaven came
The lost, unloved, to claim!
By its sincerity captured
With its clarity enthralled
Simply put, I was enchanted.

Enchanted,
   Delighted,
      Enthralled,
          I sit amazed
            As I ponder
               At the wonder
                  Of the news
                      God loves me!

He sought me,
   Through His Son,
      The only One,
         With love sincere
            Who could rescue
                This prodigal
                    From sin’s horrible
                       Wasteland
                            To holy ground!

Enchanted,
   Enraptured,
      And captured
          By such love
             Shown to all
                 In Jesus Christ
                     At Calvary!
Love supreme,
   There redeemed,
      Made precious
          The unloved,
              The unholy,
                  The unwanted
                      Ready for God
                          In time
                             And eternity.
I’m enchanted!

©Raymond N. Hawkins 2011.

Ray on Monday - Anyone Tuned In?

Time…5pm.
Place…Down the backyard.

Lord, I’m deflated!

I came home from my community radio broadcasting shift all excited. It was my first go and my ego was all pumped up. Family and friends knew about it and were going to listen in. At least someone would be tuned in to hear my first attempts at being an announcer.

My wife saw me when I walked in the door all excited. Blank looks immediately warned me something I wasn’t expecting was about to burst on me. “What! Don’t tell me you’ve been on air already. Oh dear, the time just got away on me and I haven’t turned the radio on. We’re so sorry.” I tried to smile and brush it off, but it did hurt.

Others I phoned to get their reports had similar excuses. Some were out of range. That’s fair enough. Others said they couldn’t hear it real well as something was causing interference. Was I just talking to the air? Was anyone turned on and tuned in?

Lord, I know you don’t get deflated. You must surely get disappointed though with your people from time to time. How many folk are tuned in to you, or even switched onto your frequency? Across the centuries your word has been on the ‘airwaves’. How have you managed to get men and women to listen? I guess that’s one of the miracles of grace woven into individual circumstances.

Makes me think about the way you grabbed my ‘ear’. Those broadcasts of grace that were beamed across my being through the years didn’t leave any impression. I wasn’t interested in you even though I was using your facilities and people. How well I recall the incident that made me take seriously my need for you. Heartbreak isn’t fun. It did however cause me to search the spiritual airwaves. I’m so grateful that you were still on the air. Looking back now I know what you were saying came through loud and clear. I’m glad, so glad, that I didn’t miss that broadcast. I wish I’d been switched on and tuned into you much sooner. Would have saved me and others a lot of wounds and tears.

Since that day I’ve had battles with lifestyle matters and priorities that create all sorts of interference to hearing your word. One thing that’s a comfort however is that I’m never out of range of your broadcasts. When I’ve put things right in my life according to your teachings it’s amazing how clear your word comes through again.

Don’t let my pity party cause a hearing problem between us today Lord. I’ll pray and believe there’s someone out there who was tuned in and what I’ve said and played has been a blessing to him or her.
Thanks.
Amen!
Ray

I do trust you are blessed - perhaps even challenged - by Ray's devotional thoughts each Monday.
We have been having problems with our computer which hopefully is now sorted out. If you have any problems with our blog do please email us on mary@mary-hawkins.com
Hopefully we are the only ones having problems now!
Thank you. stay tuned!
Mary

Ray on Monday - A Dangerous Letter

After reading this meditation by my husband, I thought those of us who write should be extra careful of our words!

Strange how something from long ago drops into the mind. I must have been fifteen or sixteen years old. I’m now over seventy and a sermon by A.B. Clark slipped into my consciousness. Well, it was only snippets of what he said but it must have made an impression way back then.

His emphasis was on a most dangerous letter, the letter S.

It can turn word into sword, will into swill, lush into slush, nob into snob and in into sin.

If you took the time I’m sure you could conjure up more. The point I think he was making was how careful we must be with words and not allow our ‘S’ nature–meaning our sin disposition–corrupt what we present with our mouth.

The Bible tells us that by our words we will be either condemned or justified. We are also accountable for those ill chosen expressions which so glibly flow from our lips, especially when we are angry or resentful. No wonder James called the tongue a ‘fire’ and a ‘world of evil’ (James 3:6).

The old saying, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but name will never hurt me’ is untrue. A broken bone can heal but a lacerated heart and mind may be poisoned and perverted forever. Relationships have split asunder by words being made swords aimed at cutting another to pieces.

Is it any wonder we need to ask the Lord to control, discipline and cleanse our ‘S’ nature?

Psalm 19 encourages us with these words: ‘By them (the words of God’s Law) a servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’

Ray (always wrestling with the ‘S’ nature) Hawkins.

Mediatation Moment

Well, Ray and I have been a team now for nearly 46 years. And yeah...I'm the one with her mouth open - the talker - and Ray the patient listener! I am so grateful he shares this blog with me from time to time.

He has more of his 31 Daily Meditation books being published by Even Before Publishing next year. These are "extra" meditations he writes for my blog. I do trust you not only "enjoy" them but they draw you into a deeper, loving relationship with God.

The Graffiti Artist’s Plea.

Reading…1 John 4:7-19.

…faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.

The brick fence had become a billboard. A graffiti artist had vented his anger, or longing, in huge white letters.

‘Where’s the love?’ it shouted.

What drove him to do this? Was it a judgement on world events or a longing of the heart? Was the writer merely asking the question without wanting an answer? Some are like that. There is an answer, and down the road that day it was on another wall. It was a poster.

It read, ‘the passion of the Christ.’

Did the artist ever read it? See the film? Open the Bible and find it?

According to John chapter eight, Jesus did a bit of Graffiti . When some leaders tried to trap Him about a woman taken in adultery He simply wrote in the dirt. The Law required stoning. What did Jesus recommend? We know not what He wrote but He did say the one without sin could cast the first stone. From the wisest to the youngest - and probably the most impetuous, they left. Jesus, who could have thrown stones didn’t. He simply said to go and sin no more. She had experienced forgiveness.

Love is the person of Jesus, not a theory or emotion. His love is expressed in the cry from the cross, “Father, forgive them…” Although its location is specific, such love is unconditional. The love God has for you and me is bound up in the person and work of His Son Jesus. To know love and all it offers on Heaven’s behalf requires a personal response to the invitation of Jesus to go to Him by an act of faith.
The great thing is Jesus will not say “No” to us but will receive us.

Raymond N. Hawkins

The Preparations Continue - for Life's Journey.

Well the last few days I have managed to finish preparing the Romance Writers workshop for the Word Writers Fair. Or at least this "perfectionist" certainly hopes she has finished preparing!
I've also been spending far too many hours agonising over suggestions for the back blurb for Justice at Baragula to send off to Ark House Press with other hopefully helpful ideas for the cover art of this Book Three of this series.

A few minutes ago I also finished the notes for my talk to readers at the Toowoomba Library on November 13th. Reviewing how I've reached this stage in my writing career is actually very humbling.

First of all there is that battered looking Exercise book which became my first diary. I never dreamt then that expressing my hopes, dreams and feelings in it was only the forerunner of twenty years later and that little green folder. On the very first of that folder I wrote, "DESIRE & AIMS OF WRITING A CHRISTIAN NOVEL." Then there are pages and pages about the theme, the characters, even a brief summary of each chapter. How different that eventually published book was but the Writing Journey God is still taking me on stills leaves me with a sense of awe and immense thankfulness. 

Writing now with a computer and years more experience is so different from that first attempt, that first novel which eventually became my first book, "Search For Tomorrow." Damged Dreams was my first submission to Mills & Boon but Priority Care was my first contract in those medical romance novels and a revised Damaged Dreams became my second Inspirational novel with Barbour publishers in their Heartsong Presents Book club

Now my new novel next year, Justice at Baragula, will be my 19th title. This never ceases to amaze me, humble me, and I love sharing with folk the journey God has taken me over all these years of writing.

My darling husband and I come from different backgrounds. He also looks back, so let us mediatate for awhile as he shares a few thoughts with us on Life's Journey...

The Hawkins Family motto.

I bought the Hawkins heraldic shield for my Mum and Dad. After their passing, I claimed it. The words are ‘Toujours Pret’ - which, I’m led to believe mean ‘always ready.’ People who know me would either smile or cringe in applying that to me.

My nature seems to be ‘she’ll be right mate’ and ‘we will see which way the ball bounces before we decide what to do.’ Over the years I’m sure it has given ulcers to many and caused concerns in planning circles - especially in my younger days.

I’m thankful to God for many things, not the least for taking an unready, rather careless young man and giving him a major make-over. If He hadn’t, I would never have been ready to stand in His company and be accepted.

Life’s journey is a mystery waiting to be solved. Often we can misread the clues, go up detours only to be disappointed, hurt and hurting others, confused. We suffer apathy or misplaced enthusiasm which can play on our mind over time. However what I have come to realize as my journey is now a long way down the track, God has journeyed with me. I often didn’t recognize His presence or appreciate His interventions, but He was making me live up to my family motto.

I still have some way to go, perhaps a few false starts, but I do have a desire to be always ready. For what you may ask? The expected and the unexpected! To be available for family and friends, to use my resources rather than hoard, to share my faith when and where possible are among the list. To recognize my Lord may blow the whistle for full-time on my life, and to be ready to give an account of how I played the game according to His rules. It is my hope that the family motto will be worn more faithfully and fully by my children and grand-children.

Do you have a family motto? How does God fulfill or transform it in your life.

Mediatation Moment

For many years now, my darling husband has put up with me while I am concentrating, trying to find that right word, that right phrase, that right scene to entice the reader to turn that next page.
Now Ray also needs me to try and give him space - and non-interrupted times to write. Afraid there are too many times my tongue forgets and blurts out words that do interrupt him, and yet he remains his usual courteous, patient self.  Perhaps his thoughts here will make you too pause awhile, consider what it is really like sometimes for writers!

The ‘W’ Infection.

Who knows from whence it comes?

Who can tell whom it will bite?

What will be the affect of the infection?

I don’t know! Others might, but I don’t.

This I know, I was infected by the ‘W’ bug. Since then, over many years, I have suffered untold recurrences. Sometimes these have developed at most inconvenient moments. There is only one remedy -Write!

For me, the ‘W’ infection is discernable by the compulsion to write articles, (not novels - that’s my wife’s infection.) devotionals and Bible studies. In many ways I enjoy being infected by the big ‘W’. Words on paper are seeds waiting to germinate in the mind of the reader. Words can lie around for years in dark, forgotten places then spring to life when found by an inquisitive mind. Depending upon the intent of the writer such ‘seeds’ can produce moral and spiritual weeds or gorgeous flowers. The sown seeds can bring death or life, sickness or healing. No seed is neutral.

As a Christian and a preacher I write from a Biblical faith perspective. Initial expressions of my ‘infection’ can be found in the Churches of Christ NSW journal archives. There are other areas as well which would be revealed upon request. The big ‘W’ took hold in the 1970’s when the director of J.E.W. (now David House Fellowship) came to the church. He invited me to write for his magazine, ‘The Vineyard.’ I did this for nearly 30 years.

As I reflect upon this unrelenting obsession, I know Jock Hunting was the ‘carrier’ of the infection. Is it an illness? Maybe it’s a curse to some but to me, or any writer, it is a love affair with 26 lead soldiers.

Whether I’m published or not is of no concern to the infection. The ‘W’ fever simply must find expression in writing. The rest is up to the editors, printers, booksellers, readers and, dare I say, God!

Sorry!

Must go!

I’m feeling the infection level rising again.

Hoping you are the same!

Raymond N. Hawkins.


Meditation Moment

Life’s Hurricanes

From out of nowhere it came. Sweeping across my life with the ferocity of a hurricane it caused widespread devastation. Emotional wreckage lays strewn amidst the physical pain. I’m powerless, speechless, miserable.

Voices within and around call me to curse you Lord.

They taunt me with your unfairness. Their words are like swords piercing the heart as they belittle your goodness and grace.

My tears burn as they fall.

Weariness overwhelms.

Aftershocks batter my spiritual life,...O God, unbelief is trying to undermine trust in your love and holiness.

I feel as though I drowning in the deluge. I cannot hold onto you.

Lord, don’t let me go.

In my numbness I feel you not. Your word is all I can take hope in.

Silence my lips from making rash comments about you or life’s circumstances.

Wipe the mist from my eyes.

I need to see beyond the moment and behold your faithfulness and purposes.

As the hurricane spends itself across my life let it not smash me to the ground. Be the strength of my being. Let me stand true to you, surrounded though I be by broken dreams, unanswered questions, uncertainty of action. From my quivering lips and burdened mind may I truthfully share to any who will listen, “God is Good. His mercy endures forever!”

I understand not that which has come to pass.

What I know and by an effort of my will I do, I bow before you and seek to honour you in and through it all.

Meditation Moment

White Feather Horror

A picnic lunch on a warm, sunny day beside a river is a great way to spend a Saturday. I’ve just had a look at a small plaque however and the beauty of the day suddenly became marred. There, at the base of a giant Norfolk pine on the otherwise treeless area of land were the words of a grieving father for his son. The sixteen year old lad had been killed in the first world war of 1914 -18. What had saddened my day were the words indicating the underage boy had joined up because at least two unknown ‘friends’ had sent him white feathers, a sign of cowardice.

     The tree had been planted by his father in memory of his son. Now the breeze continues to play a sympathetic lament through its leaves as an unending requiem.

    
     Standing alone and silent before the plaque, I wondered at the folly of war and the stupidity of anonymous ‘friends’ with their insinuations. My heart asked a question which could not be answered. Did those who sent the feathers ever grieve over what they had done? Did they seek forgiveness?
     I know this tree will cast a shadow over my soul for weeks to come. Every time I drive past it I will remember the grief it silently honours and the unmentioned stories it hides. Standing here just before I leave, I acknowledge the bravery of that young man, and the millions he is part of. In so far as it’s within my power, may I protect the young people within my care from the ignorant and judgemental attitude symbolised in those white feathers.

I cannot help feeling, Heavenly Father, that you would have had a soft spot for the father of that boy. He planted a tree to honour his son. You have given to the world a ‘tree’ that honours your Son. The lad gave his life in the cause of freedom from earthly tyranny. Jesus gave His life to free us from eternal tyranny. You have given us more than a plaque. You have given us the Communion service to remind us of the death burial and resurrection of our hero and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thank you once again, Ray, and I knew I should take a photo of that memorial tree one day for you.

Meditation Moment

Another busy week for both Ray and I. Ray was thrilled to be asked to sign a contract with Tyndale for two of his devotions to be included in one of their 365 day devotional books. I have just finished editing and sending off the three manuscripts of my Baragula series to an agent who has asked for them. I do not expect to hear for several weeks whether she will ask me to be one of her clients. However, in this waiting period I can now try and forget them as I tackle that list of “To Do” things and enjoy our precious grandchildren more. One “to do” thing of course – in between preparing a writers’ workshop and talks for a Womens’ Retreat - is to try and be more regular with posting here to our blog!
I do hope you enjoy these thoughts from Ray – and the photos of our three children, three of our grandsons in their Larry Boy hats, Clint and Serena sharing Ray’s new recliner. Adam is no longer that small new-born baby we first met last year but starting to move around on the floor – a very happy little fellow.

It has been fun finding these photos to share with you – and also a reminder to me that “I am being watched” always!

                          You are being watched

Those big brown eyes didn’t blink. With the intensity of a small child he was absorbing all I was doing. Sitting on my knee as I was having a cup of tea and munching a biscuit, my grandson had a quizzical look. At a guess I’d say he was wondering what I was doing. It made me slightly edgy.

Giving him a biscuit (a cookie for any American readers) to distract him became a lesson to me. He watched me chew and then tried to eat his the same way. I became rather self conscious as I ate, knowing he was trying to eat the same way.

However it did re-enforce the truth about setting an example and acting responsibly.


During the time we had together I pushed the swing in which he sat, we kicked a ball, read a story and watched some cartoons. Great fun, wonderful privilege and all the while he was taking in my attitude and actions.

When he went home I was exhausted. I also felt as though his eyes were still looking at me. They were so trusting. There was a sense of being secure with me which gave me a real sense of privilege.

Lord, I’m so grateful for being a father, a grandfather. At the same time I know it is a big responsibility. You have taught my wife and I so much as parents as we built our lives on your word. To have our three children walk their journey with you has been our greatest thrill. Now you give us the joy of being a support to our son and daughter in law in their God given role as parents.

I’m reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.”

Lord, as you can see I’m resting up at the moment, recovering I guess it’s called. Still, I’ll be ready when he returns. May it be soon! I wonder what he will be watching me doing - and trying to do it too? Should be an interesting time together.

It makes me wonder who else is watching?

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It is always good to welcome new followers. I trust you all continue to join us regularly. And never forget, Jesus wants us to know Him, watch Him at work in our lives so we can share His love with those we meet.

MEDITATION MOMENT: The Frantic Fowl

Priorities? Finding enough time? They were obviously very ‘dangerous’ topics to post about in June. I’ve had very little time since then to write for this blog and am still sorting out my priorities each day since that post!

So, on this last day of June, I am so thankful for all those who have gone to the trouble of reading this “learner’s” efforts on this blog! Well, I’m still learning. One lesson has been that some weeks are so busy that posting as many times as I would like to simply is not possible. However, Ray supplied me with another of his devotions for today. I wonder. . .did he by any chance notice his wife has been too busy? Hopefully there have not been too many ‘frantic’ moments as crazy as the fowl in his story! Well. . .husbands do somehow notice these things! I certainly must try harder to put into practice the truths he shares here with us. I certainly need to find God’s way of escape through all the difficult, busy times.

Enjoy:-

The Frantic Fowl

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up to it. (Corinthians 10:13.)

Mary and I were awakened very early by the frantic screeching of an African Guinea fowl. We were part of a short-term mission team to Northern Ghana and had just finished three days of tiring and uncomfortable ministry. You can imagine the battle between the spiritual and carnal nature going on as I struggled out of bed.

Trying to find a hole, the fowl was running back and forth along a wire fence. Why the panic? Three vultures were eyeing it from a nearby tree waiting for it to die from exhaustion. The fowl ran backwards and forwards with non-stop screeching, but it was going only part of the way in one direction before turning back and thus each time missed finding the huge gap offering escape. I went out to chase it towards the breach. Unfortunately it must have thought I was going to get it for the pot and it became even more frantic. After a number of futile attempts I eventually managed to get it to the gap. Without a ‘thank you’ it went through in a ‘turbo’ charge and escaped. I have to say the vultures were unimpressed.


Panic in crisis moments can make us blind to ways of dealing with the issues. The Scriptures offer sound advice when it tells us ‘not to fret.’ Fretting makes us short-sighted, fearful, insecure, unbelieving and exhausted. What we need is to find God’s ‘hole in the fence’. God’s way out may be to give us His strength and wisdom so we will ‘stand’ or provide a fellow disciple to show the way. Maybe He will calm our spirit so we can see for ourselves the way out is there all the time but panic made us blind. At other times we may have to take a deep breath and trust God to blow a hole in the fence somehow, sometime! Paul’s confidence in tight situations is recorded: 'The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His Kingdom.' ( 2 Timothy 4:18)

Then there was the incident with a pet goat. . . But that’s another story!
Ray.

Thank you, my understanding husband!
I am really grateful to those readers who have honoured me by leaving comments and especially thank those of you who have become ‘Followers’ since my first post here on May 20th about ‘Learner Needs Help.’ I would love to send ten small gifts to Followers who leave a comment too about this post. That does only leave room for a couple of new ones, but I do need to have ten postal addresses to be able to honour you in this way. Later I am planning some book give-aways – both my own as well as guest authors who will share with us. So, Followers, please comment and then send your addresses via email to me at mary@mary-hawkins.com 
Please send them to me before Friday July 9th

Meditation moment: Watch the Clouds

I know I am very prejudiced but I am always blessed by Ray's devotional thoughts. After all, after over 45 years of marriage, just think of all those sermons! However, he has taught me even more by the life in Christ he lives himself than even those great messages from the Word.

Whether you agree, disagee or want to add some further thought to bless us all, do leave a comment -and also become a Follower of our blog of course.

Watch the Clouds

Read Matthew 24:15-35.


Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him Rev.1:7a)

Clouds fascinate me. I enjoy discerning faces and shapes they create as they flit across the sky. They remind me that the Bible is laced with references to God in the company of clouds. He spoke from Mt. Sinai shrouded in dark clouds.(Exodus 19) That left a lasting impression to Israel’s national psyche.

Part of the reason Jesus was crucified was because He said, “…I tell all of you: (The Sanhedrin) in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven.” This is a quote from Daniel 7:9-14 and the Jewish leaders knew its links with Yahweh and the promised Messiah. The crucifixion tried to prevent this promise. Instead it fulfilled other scriptures and His resurrection guaranteed the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise to return. In Acts 1:9-11 His ascension is recorded and confirmed the future expectation. It was visible. It was from the Mount of Olives. It was with the clouds. In Zechariah 14: 4 foretold an event yet to take place which links an Old Testament prophecy to Jesus and the reading from Acts.

Today we wait for it. When we pray, “…Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven…” we are making a faith statement as well as expressing our hope! This is the great expectation and motivation of Christians especially under harsh regimes. When the Lord returns on the clouds the longing for righteousness, justice and peace on earth will become a reality. Until then we walk by faith and keep our eyes on the clouds. As 1 Corinthians 16:22 puts it ‘Maranatha’. (come O Lord)

Thought for the day: No one will be able to counterfeit that event.

©R.N.Hawkins 2010

Meditation moment

These last few days have been filled with helping our son and daughter-in-law. They own Seahorse Australia and have been so busy Ray has been helping at the seahorse farm while I have been helping with our grandchildren. Okay, so that's my excuse for once again having to postpone Part Two of the ACFW conference in Denver. However it also is an opportunity to share the first of these "Moments" from Ray.

Let the Lord speak to you as you dwell a few moments here with us.

                                            MY SPECIAL GARDEN

                                 Come my child,

                                        come to my garden,

                                              meet me there,

                                                    know me there,

                                                         hear me there.

                                You my child,

                                      may not see me

                                              with your eyes,

                                                    or hear me

                                                         with your ears,

             But...

             I will listen to you.

             I will understand.

             Let my creation

             perfume your mind,

             helping you

             to know you’re precious

             to me.

             I will comfort you.

             I will sympathise.

             Let my soft breeze

             refresh your soul,

             helping you

             to know you’re special

             to me.

                  

             I will speak.

             I have words to share

             Let my scriptures
             safeguard your heart,

             guiding you
             to know you’re beautiful

             to me.

                                 Come my child,
                                       come to my garden
                                            I wait for you
                                                  to share

                                                      some time together.     

                                                                                            ©Raymond N. Hawkins
 

There's a vacant chair, a place for us to share fellowship with Him - our Creator, the One who loves us beyond our comprehension. I too need to enter HIS garden at every opportunity to 'share some time together.' Will you join us and listen to His Word?