Connie Writes

Forgiveness By Connie Hawkins “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it.   ”From the book Apples of Gold A miracle that I would love to see this year is unity in the family, forgiving one another of past mistakes. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, you Father will not forgive your sins . Matthew 6:14-15 Joseph was the pride and joy of his father. Though Jacob had ten other sons, he favored Joseph, the one born to him in his old age. He never bothered to hide his feelings—he expressed his favoritism blatantly and visibly by having an expensive coat of many colors made for Joseph. His brothers were so jealous that they plotted to kill Joseph but decided to sell him as a slave instead. They said good riddance to their brother and made up a story to tell their father about his favorite son's tragic fate.   We all try to cover up our misdeeds to ju...

He Watches Over Me By Connie Hawkins March can bring some pretty treacherous weather. Snow storms and thunder storms can both occur. But I’m not worried; I know my Savoir watches over me. His eye is on the sparrow so he must be watching me. When dangerous waters rise, when trouble and Temptations come…keep your eye on the sparrow. Remember, Jesus is watching over you. When you lose yourself in doubt and fear and hope seems to flee turn your heart to Jesus He’ll bring you through because I know He’s watching over you. His Banner - March 2018

The world is spinning out of control; times and people are changing.   “Such is the state of life that none are happy with the anticipation that change may bring. The change itself is nothing; once we have made it the next wish is to change again.” Samuel Johnson.   One thing I’ve learned in my 70+ years is that nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.     Henry S. Haskins once said of truth, “…it would become more popular if it were not always stating ugly and/or false facts.”   As a freelance reporter for over a decade, getting the facts right was crucial to any story.   The editor of the paper I worked for was not happy when his/her reporter presented only half the story.   Mark Twain, one of my favorite authors, wrote that, “Truth is the most valuable thing we have…” and the most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth.  The Bible says, “The truth shall set you free.” That’s another thing I’ve lear...

On New Year’s Eve some wait patiently for the ball in Times Square to drop, others could less and go to bed.   Perhaps, we should consider ending the old year and starting the new one in prayer.   I like what Franklin Delano Roosevelt said of prayer :   “I was thinking of an old idea of self-discipline—and old proverb of a Chinese Christian.   He prayed every day—he had been taught to pray…and his prayer was, “Lord reform thy world, beginning with me.” I think that’s a perfect prayer to start a new year with.   Change the world Lord, beginning with me.    Prayer should be the very core of who we are as Christians; we cannot survive without it and neither can the world for when we pray we rise to meet Him. “Prayer does not change God, but changes him who prays.” Soren Kierkegaard

I have been faithful to keep a journal since I've been 11 years old.  First, in a spiral notebook and then later on the computer.  Both have been a comfort to me over the years and hold anything from love and laughter to hardships and tears. A journal mirrors the habits of our mind.   It can be your enemy or your friend.   Mine takes me through the journey of my life.   A very long journey, 71 years in all; it may be a dull journey for some to read but to me it’s a reflection of the life that I’ve lived and am currently living of interest to no one but me and perhaps, some day, my children. Every year in my journal I write year end reflections, sort of a recap of what was and is going on in my life. Sometimes it’s pretty dull but still I write. Everything in life’s reflections is based on the choices you make.   If you want different outcomes in your life, maybe you need to make different choices.   I guess I write these reflections because ...