All text within this site is (c) Mary Hawkins. All design is (c) Paula Roe.
Reprinting any part of this website without prior permission is prohibited.
The 'W' Infection
Who knows from whence it comes?
Who can tell whom it will bite?
What will be the effect 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 lay 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. The big ‘W’ took hold in the 1970’s when the director of Jewish Evangelical Witness (now David House Fellowship) came to the church. He invited me to write for his magazine. I’m still doing that. Since those early years, The Vineyard has spread to several other countries, including America, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom and other European countries.
During the past five years The Upper Room has regularly accepted my submissions to their daily devotional booklets. Multi-published author in fiction and non-fiction, Debra White Smith, has included several of my poems and articles in two of her books, 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Romancing Your Wife. As well as sneaking quite a few words from my wedding ceremony service notes, Mary has also included a couple of poems in her Love in the Great Southland historical novel.
Now the first three 31 Day devotional books have been published, there are still nine months of the year to go! These other daily devotional manuscripts are creating a writer's fever and tension headaches as they strive to be released. Whether I'm published or not is of no concern to the infection. The 'W' simply must find expression in writing. The rest is up to the editors, printers, booksellers, readers and, dare I say, God!
R.N.Hawkins
I Married a Writer
When I met her first,
she was a nurse.
We married.
No worries.
One day,
let me say,
that all changed.
I’m slightly deranged.
Living’s not the same
since a writer she became.
This writer, my wife,
pleasure of my life,
at weirdest moments
feels a writer’s torments.
Unable to rest,
becomes a mess.
until, before the computer,
to the point of stupor,
her characters she births
within stories of worth,
and a heart that pleads
an editor to agree.
She’s persistent.
Drought resistant.
Mind perspires,
faith inspires
noble intent.
Books content
dwells on lofty plane.
Amidst joy and pain,
sunshine or rain,
life’s stress and strain
hero, heroine face,
overcome with grace.
I will not complain,
in spite of the strain
that arises at home
because of the tome.
For pleasures accrue
when writing is through.
This keyboard girl
keeps my heart in a whirl.
Life certainly changed,
since this writer came.
We Love Because...
We love because
God first loved us!
He claimed our lives
with the great love of Calvary.
From that awesome discovery
comes a love eternally.
We love because
God first loved us!
He brought us together
To live under his Word
embraced with a passion
to know and serve the Lord.
We love because
God first loved us!
He linked our hearts in love
allowing us to show
abiding, growing devotion
regardless of life’s flow.
We love because
God first loved us!
He called us to Himself
gave each to the other
His pleasure to treasure
His grace beyond measure.
That is why we love because
He first loved us!
R.N.Hawkins
(1 John 4:19 has been the theme of our wedding and marriage)
from
101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage by Debra White Smith
At last! You're here.
I've been waiting for you.
Come... Let me introduce myself and then you can
browse some of my writings.
I'm about a fifth generation Australian with roots going
back to Burwash, West Sussex, England. My father
came off an orchard in Dural and moved to Rockdale, NSW. My mother moved from Merriwa to Sydney where they met.
After primary school at Rockdale and High School at Kogarah in Sydney, I began work at 15. This was a labouring job and then worked with Dad in light steel fabrication. When I was 21 I entered the Churches of Christ Bible College at Woolwich, NSW, for the four year Ministry Diploma. In my final year (1963) I was elected Student President. That was the year Mary Pedler came to do a two year Missionary certificate! In December 1964 we were married.
We have been blessed with three children, Lance, Craig and Gaylene. Now we are grandparents to five - soon to be six - grandchildren.
After 40 years of Pastoral ministry, including church planting and two years in a church in Northampton, UK, we have retired to live in Tasmania. Today I'm still active in preaching, establishing a new congregation, helping out at Craig and Rachelle's Sea Horse World tourist venture and Sea Horse Australia Breeding program.
I keep fit by chasing grandchildren and writing Devotional Meditations. You can read one and a poem or two here. My books are available in Christian Bookshops or from me as indicated below.
all payments to
mary@mary-hawkins.com
Also available...
Calm the Waters Lord
Read Matthew 11:28-30.
He (God) stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29)
Collecting the baby seahorses required the waters to be calm. This meant catching them before the adults stirred and were fed. Water flow and air pressure were lessened also as swirling waters in the aquarium tanks make it difficult to see beneath the surface. Often as I've been doing this the statement by Jesus strikes to mind, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28.
Jesus didn't promise to fix the problems causing agitation. Why? Surely He could have sorted out the issues, lifted the burden or solved the problem! In effect, He would have been the puppet master, not a disciple's Lord. By offering us a calm spirit Jesus trusted us to evaluate what caused our weariness or produced the burden. Peace of mind shrinks a burden to a manageable size. When we have inner quietness God's word is able to refresh our weariness. The issues confronting us have not disappeared but now we have, by the Lord's grace, a more confident grip on them.
Three words give directions for calming the turbulence of our soul. In the reading they are, 'Come!' 'Take!' 'Learn!' To 'come' is an act of faith in the Lordship of Jesus. To 'take' is a willingness to identify with the Lord's interests. To 'learn' is expressing humility by acknowledging we don't have all, or even a few, of the answers for what is sapping our inner being.
Each ties us to Jesus and His Scriptures. Doing this by faith enables Him to calm the troubled 'waters' of our soul. In clear mindedness our decisions and responses arise from godly wisdom spirituality maturity.
Thought for today: Yoked to Jesus ensures inner peace.
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!
R.N.Hawkins
Children: God's Special Interest
31 Biblical devotionals to meditate on God's heart for children
Ray Hawkins has a heart for children. In these devotions he quotes scripture and helps us really meditate on God's heart for children.
Rediscover God's word about children.
Refresh your heart with God's love for children.
Rekindle passion to be their example for Christ honour.
Reflect on God's special interest
ISBN 9781921633355 (RRP AU$9.95)
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From Eden with Love
31 Biblical devotionals to meditate on God's heart for marriage
Be taken on a tour of the majesty of marriage and discover the heavenly mystery underpinning the meaning of the Christian marriage.
ISBN 9781921633416 (RRP AU$9.95)
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The Neurotic Rooster and other Devotional insights from an African short term mission experience.
All proceeds from the sale of this book (less postage) goes to support Eagles Wings Children's Centre - a ministry to street children in Northern Zambia.
The ultimate aim is three-fold:
- to raise money for very needy kids;
- to inspire others to catch the dream of Eagles Wings; and
- to enrich our own personal walk with God through each Devotion.
AU $12.00 ( includes postage and package in Australia only.)
Also available from Even Before Publishing and Christian bookshops.
For postage cost and details for sales outside Australia, please email Ray.
For more details see
