Fruits of the Spirit

The weather outside is frightful and 'tiz the season of holiday stress but if we focus on the reason for the season - Jesus - and remember why he came to this earth, to set us free from our sin, the holiday will seem a whole lot less stressful and more of a time to be grateful and thankful.  

 This is truly a time for believers to stand firm and not to be subject again to the yoke of slavery.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, what better time to show the fruits of the Spirit then the holidays, and as far as the weather goes....since I've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  Did I say snow?  I meant let the sun/son shine and shine and shine!

A lot to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving seems to get lost somewhere between Halloween and Christmas and that’s a shame, because it truly is a time for us to reflect on God and all that He has given us.

What if God wouldn’t take the time to bless us today because we didn’t take the time thank Him yesterday? What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we choose not to follow Him today? What if we never saw another flower bloom because we complained about the rain?

Life is filled with blessings my friends, many things to be thankful for not only on Thanksgiving, but every single day.

Let’s purpose us in our hearts this day to thank Him for today, to rejoice in it, to recognize that this is His day, and to be mindful of His Word. What if God took away His message because we failed to read it and to listen? I, for one, am thankful for His Word that we live in a country that allows us freedom of religion, that the doors of our churches are open to receive us in love.

During this time of “Thanksgiving” let us remember to love one another and to care for others in need, to be thankful that God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we answer His call for service, that He doesn’t meet our needs the way we give Him our lives. Giving thanks is what Thanksgiving is really all about, let’s start by thanking Him for the cross.

(This article first appeared in Crossroads Newspaper Nov. 2001)

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, not just because it's a great feast and time to be with family but because it's a time to gather your thoughts, to really think about those things you have in your life that you are thankful more.  Every day God showers us with His blessings and His love.

Throughout the month of November, several people on Face Book are daily listing things they are 'thankful' for.  The Bible is filled with scriptures that talk about giving thanks. 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to His name, to declare His loving kindness in the morning and his faithfulness by night.  He is my rock and my salvation and that is something to be thankful for.

Who put the "X" in X-ray?

Three weeks ago I fell and injured my right hand and thumb. At first it didn’t hurt all that much but after three or four days, I noticed that my thumb was really swollen.  I thought it might be broken so off to the doctor I went.  The first thing my  doctor did was to x-ray my hand to confirm that it wasn’t broken  Luckily, it was just a sprain.  But, I was told that a sprain takes longer to heal than a break.  Then I developed ‘trigger’ thumb.  Now, I’m wearing a splint!  It’s not easy using only one hand so, maybe there is no ‘luckily’ here.  A break or a sprain -- either way it spells ouch!

However, this little mishap  made me think about x-rays and how they got their name.  After I left the doctor’s office, hand throbbing, I decided to do a little research on the subject of x-rays and found that in 1895, German inventor, Wilhelm Roentgen was conducting experiments with the conduction of electrical charges through gases in a vacuum tube.  Much to his astonishment, Roentgen observed that radiation passed through objects that were usually opaque.  The applications were obvious, but Roentgen didn’t understand how or why radiation worked.  For this reason, Roentgen named his invention x Strahlen (X-ray).  He used “X” as in algebraic formulas, a modest admission that he couldn’t explain his own discovery.

I have no reason for passing this information on other than to kill time while I’m waiting for my thumb to heal.  And your right, should I really be on the computer, typing with a sprained hand and thumb?  Perhaps, I need to spend less time thinking about inventions and more time talking to God.  Less time writing about nonsense stuff and more time in knee-mail!

Oh, thanks to my friend Betty for giving me the book “Who Put The Butter in Butterfly? (And other fearless investigations into our illogical language) by David Feldman.  Both Mr. Feldman and Betty helped me in writing this blog.

Loafing Can Be FUN

Wow, I can't believe that my last post was in June -- what have I been doing over summer?  Not blogging -- that's for sure.  I guess I've been 'loafing'.  James Thurber said, "It is better to have loaf and lost then to never have loafed at all."  It's been an excellent summer for loafing, for puttering, for planting, for shopping, for lunching with friends, playing with grandchildren, sitting on the patio soaking up some rays, spending time with God, for cleaning, napping and reading! I guess I haven't been loafing at all! Ah, I sure have enjoyed my summer of loafing!  PS - note that I posted two blogs this month, already.

No Charge for Prayer

I sure do get a lot of email advertisements (on Face Book, too).  One in particular catches my eye every time, it’s a prayer link.  When  you click it on, they will pray for you -- the catch, it’ll cost you.  I’m  glad God does not charge to hear our prayers!  If we were praying without ceasing as instructed in the Bible, we’d go broke for sure.

“We ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in all our affairs, just as they happen.”  Brother Lawrence

I’m so glad that we can be ourselves with God and that He cares about what we are doing, that He hears even the simplest of prayers and I’m really thankful that we can offer up prayers free of charge!

September 1, 2013

Lunch With God

Here's a story worth sharing.  Enjoy my friends.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six pack of Root beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, ”What did you do today that made you so happy?”  He replied, “I had  lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?”  She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.”  However, before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

(Author Unknown - Crossroads – April 2001)

Are you a reason, season or life time?

Are you a reason, a season, or a lifetime?  People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person in your life.

When someone is in your life for a REASON.  It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be.  Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.  Sometimes they die.  Sometimes they walk away.  Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.  What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered, and now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON it is because your time has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done.  They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.  Believe it!  It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.  Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.  It is said that love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

This article first appeared in The Crossroads with help from the Internet - Oct. 2001

But First...

I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to continue writing this column. I’ve just been recently diagnosed with a rather serious condition, well, more of an aliment. Unfortunately, although scientists are frantically searching for a cure, none that I know of to date has been found for this rather disturbing problem.

This is an ailment many of us suffer from. Some of you, however, may not even know you have it, but, after reading about this affliction in my column, you may actually be able to discuss its symptoms with loved ones and friends—and you should, it’s that serious.

It’s called the “But First Syndrome.” You know, it’s when I decide to do the laundry…I start down the hall to the laundry room and notice the newspaper on the table. Ok, I’m going to do the laundry, BUT FIRST I read the newspaper. After which, I notice the mail stacked on the table. Ok, I’ll put the newspaper in the recycle bin, BUT FIRST, I’ll sort through that pile of mail and see if there are bills that need to be paid. Yes, there are—now, where did I put my checkbook?

Oops…there’s an empty glass on the table. I’ll look for the checkbook, later, BUT FIRST, I need to put that glass in the sink. On my way to the sink, I happen to look out the kitchen window and notice my poor flowers need water. I put the glass in the sink, and darn it; there’s the remote for the TV on the counter. What’s that doing there? I ask myself. I’ll just put it away, BUT FIRST, I need to water those plants! I head for the door and….Aaagh! Ok, I’ll put the remote away and water the plants, BUT FIRST, I need to feed the dog, which is darn nice of me considering we don’t even have a dog!

End of day: Laundry is not done, newspapers are still on the floor, the glass is still in the sink, bills unpaid, checkbook still lost—and the dog ate the remote control! When I try to figure out how come nothing got done all day, I’m baffled….I know I was busy all day long! What happened? Now, I remember the “BUT FIRST SYNDROME”. I realize this is a serious condition and I’ll get help! BUT FIRST, I should work on next month’s article, BUT before I do that, I think I’ll check my e-mail!

(Thanks Internet buddies for helping me with this article!) First appeared in The Crossroads Oct. 2001

Also in the book “The Rowboat Revisited”  under a different format but same information.

Touching Grandma's Heart

When a baby is born, so is a grandparent.  At the age of 63 I became 'grandma' for the first time.  As I think about the miracle of life, I am moved by God's awesome greatness.  I am filled with joy because of the blessings God has given me by allowing me to be here for the birth of not one but two grandchildren.  To be a part of their lives is a blessing I will never ever take for granted.  And if there should be more grandchildren to love and cherish in my future I will consider their lives a blessing to me as well.

          As grandparents we bestow upon our grandchildren strength and wisdom that time and experience has given us.  We pass that wisdom, if they will allow it, on to our grandchildren and we should not take our role lightly.  We are family.  The chain may lengthen but it will never be broken.  And, along with that wisdom will be wonderful stories to tell.

          And now friends, I get to share some of those wonderful stories with all of you in my new book!

(To order a copy of Touching Grandma's Heart, 

contact the author at: authorconnielhawkins@yahoo.com

Visit the website authorconnielhawkins.com)

What's Wrong With The World

What's wrong with the world...is becoming the slogan for 2013.  Truthfully, there's nothing wrong with the world.  God created this a perfect world and then made man in his own image -- also perfect.  As his highest and most valuable creations, God gave man free will, the ability to choose between right and wrong.  Perhaps, that's where He went wrong!  Unfortunately, man choose the wrong and rebelled against what's right -- and that my friends is what's wrong with the world.  Can God fix mankind?  You bet He can.

That's why he sent Jesus!

A Good Laugh for the Over 50 Age Group!!

When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grand kids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting World.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship. When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look. I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do fart a lot."

P.S. I know some of you are not over 50. I sent it to you to allow you to forward it to those who are.

Us senior citizens don't need anymore gadgets. The TV remote and the garage door remote are about all we can handle.

(Thanks to my sister-in-law for sharing this with me via of email!)

God's Phone Number is Never Busy

Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you, please, to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!
P.S.  Please bless all my friends and family too.

A Happy New Resolution

Every January I make a list of resolutions, things I hope to change about my life. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. 

We all have 'heartaches by the number and troubles by the score' so, letting go of these things and letting God take care of them is my resolution for 2013.  My second resolution is to vow not to break the first one!  The days are already looking brighter but, then again, the New Year is only 3 days old!