THE OLD STORY

I love to tell the story

Of unseen things above

Of Jesus and His glory

Of Jesus and His love

I love to tell the story

Because I know 'tis true

It satisfies my longings

As nothing else can do

I love to read. I enjoy love stories, a good mystery, political intrigue fiction, inspirational and self-help books. Most of all I love the Word of God. As a Christian, I’m supposed to say that, right? I know it sounds trite, but every time I read a chapter, there is something new and exciting. In every verse God reveals a little bit more of himself.

Many may say that the Bible is not RELEVANT to their life. If you want to know how something is supposed to operate, you have to read the instruction manual. The Bible is life’s instruction manual, how can it not be relevant? Genealogy research is an increasingly popular hobby. My Bible tells me all about my Father, who he is, how he thinks and what inheritance he has provided for me. The Bible is full of action heroes, mysteries, thrillers, poetry, and love stories. It contains scientific knowledge, math problems, history, geography and even current events that were prophesied more than a thousand years ago.

I was so very grieved this week when I read an article by a former Pentecostal Preacher regarding his view of the Bible. He said while he believes there are many good things and principles to live by in the Bible, he no longer believes it is perfect, infallible and the inspired Word of God. He states it is merely a book written by men about God and contains many mistakes because it is the authors’ interpretation or view of things. This is how he is coming to terms with the sin in his life. If we can explain away truth by saying it is imperfect and subject to interpretation, then we can soothe our conscience when we choose to go our own way.

Last night, during the Republican Presidential Debates, a viewer asked the question, “Do you believe in the Bible, the whole Bible, that it is all true?” This proved to be a very uncomfortable topic for some of the candidates. They either did not want to offend those who do not believe or they are unsure of what they believe. Romney said he believes the Bible is the Word of God, absolutely. Huckabee, a minister, said he believes the Bible is the word of revelation to us from God himself. Thank God there are still some public officials who are not afraid to say “Yes, the Bible is true and the inspired Word of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Of course if you don’t believe the Bible, you’ll just have to wait until Heaven and earth are gone and all that is left is the Word.

Pick up a Bible today, read it, love it, apply it to your life.

A WORLD GONE MAD

The London Daily Mail recently reported that Toni Vernelli, 35, had aborted her child 10 years ago because “pregnancy is bad for the environment.” She was so concerned and moved by the possibility that the planet might be destroyed that she was also sterilized. In my opinion, the latter action might actually have some effect on the planet Toni was quoted as saying, “Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet.” Her hope is that this will keep her carbon footprint to a minimum. How responsible!!! Too bad she didn’t take responsibility before getting pregnant. We are living in a WORLD GONE MAD! Is it possible to actually believe that we can save a universe which God created by destroying the very creation for whom God was willing to die?

From the beginning, man was given dominion over the earth. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. I believe we are to be good stewards over everything that has been placed under our authority, including the earth and our environment. We must never forget, however, that the earth was created for mankind, not man for the earth. The creator, himself, has promised, Genesis 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. So much for global warming.

Has this woman and her Carbon Footprint Extremists considered the end result of mass sterilization to save the planet? It would mean the extinction of mankind including environmentalists. Without human life the earth becomes a huge ball of molten rock and dirt spinning aimlessly through the cosmos. At one time in history, man was so evil that even God was sick of creation. But out of his Holy Disgust, God preserved 8 people. And what do you think God did when Noah walked out into the newly washed earth? He gave him dominion over it all. Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moves upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

The Bible says that God so loved the world that WHOSOEVER not WHATSOEVER could have eternal life. Yes, God does clothe the lilies of the field and sees each sparrow that falls, but he shed His blood for people. People like you and me and even environmentalist.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

DAY 7

Yesterday, my husband and I decorated the outside of our house for the Christmas season. I am a minimalist when it comes to outside decorating. Partly because I know how much Steve dreads this yearly event, partly because I get tired before my ideas run out, but mostly because I hate the obscene displays that some people put in front of their homes. I have a 4 ft. wreath decorated with pine cones, lights and a beautiful red bow mounted at the peak of the garage. Steve was so gracious when he had to get out the 20 ft. ladder to mount a higher hook, hang the heavy wreath and attaché the extension cord so it was tastefully out of sight. The porch railings are draped with evergreen (imitation, for the environment) roping, threaded with rope lights, the posts are wrapped in more greenery and tied with cheery red bows. I have a small Precious Moments nativity scene nestled in the landscape and a smaller wreath hanging on the front door. That’s it, that’s all!!! I couldn’t wait until nightfall. The switch was flipped and unlike National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, they all worked. It was a beautiful sight.

As mentioned above I hate the garish displays that some people cram onto their lawns. We have moved from millions of lights on every tree and bush, lighted sleighs with all the reindeer, plastic santas and snowmen to lighted wire trees, deer, or carolers. One homeowner in our lovely town has a large tractor tire buried on its side in his front yard. In the middle he has a lighted reindeer reaching for the sky. Last year he even had angels on each side of the tire serenading the deer. This of course inspired Steve to write the next great country song “Angel on the Tire.” Listen for it at the next CMA awards.

My personal outrage is the blow-up ornaments. These range from inflated teddy bears, snow globes with animated figures to Santa on a motorcycle. I actually heard a TV commentator call it “Yard Art.” While they may be fine as advertising at specialty shops or the mall, leave them there!!! Every time I pass a yard filled with these vinyl monstrosities, I have the urge to carry a sharp stick. Is there anything worse? YES!!!

What drives me to the brink? People who decorate their trees with Easter eggs, ghosts and pumpkins complete with pink and yellow lights in spring and orange lights in the fall. Is nothing sacred anymore? Leave the lights for Christmas!!! Tulips, lilies and daffodils are beautiful Easter decorations, fly your flag on the Fourth of July and if you must a jack-o-lantern or two on the porch for Halloween is enough.

I ‘m not sure the exact origin of decorating with lights inside and out. Some say it represents the star that guided the wisemen, others use them to guide Santa’s sleigh. I’m sure if I dig deep enough there is some pagan symbolism, but I love them because it makes everything so warm and inviting. They signify the beginning of a season in which we celebrate the occurrence of an event that would change the world.

On this last day of my week of thankfulness, I am thankful that I have eyes to see the beautiful holiday displays, yes; even the ugly, obscene vinyl globes which I’m sure are environmental hazards or at least hazards to my mental health. I am thankful that I have ears to hear Christmas music, praise and worship music, the old hymns and even country music. I am thankful I have legs and feet to walk through the leaves or wade through the snow. I am thankful I have hands and arms to hold a child or bestow a hug. I am thankful for every breath and every heartbeat. Most of all I am thankful that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

GOD'S FAVOR

DAY 6

Today I am thankful for God’s favor. In the NIV, the word favor is found 116 times. It is referred to as grace or respect in the King James Version.

Although I have done nothing to deserve it, He has bestowed His favor on me from the moment I was born. I was privileged to have parents that not only loved and provided for me, but made sure I was taught to love God, how to be thankful and live in God’s favor. I enjoyed a wonderful childhood with 4 sisters and 1 brother. As I grew, I was surrounded by Godly men and women who loved me and encouraged me to continue to seek God’s will for my life.

It was the favor of God that led my Dad to go to a little church of 30 people when I was 16 years old. There I would meet the person He had created just for me, with whom I would spend the rest of my life. My husband, Steve, has helped me to develop a deeper relationship with God. He has also helped me to learn to enjoy the favor of God without the guilt that blessing can sometimes bring. I have been blessed with healthy children and grandchildren, in which I find great delight every day. He has provided a great home, adequate finances, friends and even 2 dogs, Gabe and Charlie.

Steve and I volunteered Wednesday at the Saginaw Rescue Mission. As we prayed with the people that had come to eat a hot meal and listen to the gospel, I was again reminded of the favor of God on my life. We prayed for people to be delivered from drugs, those who had loved ones in prison, many had lost family members to violence and were just trying to cope day to day. One lady was thankful that she had choked on a pill 2 years ago while trying to end her life. Some had no other place to get a hot meal or a safe place to live in. There were children, teenagers, young, middle age, and older adults.

Acts 10:34 tells us that God is not a respecter of persons. There always questions of why am I favored and others are not; why did God allow me to be born in America to a Godly family; why were my children born healthy and others have defects from birth? I don’t know the answers; I have to trust in God’s sovereignty and His omniscience. I do believe that we are not favored by God as just a random act, favor is bestowed to fulfill God’s purpose. It is up to me to not waste or take for granted God’s Favor. I must continue to be thankful, kind, loving, generous. I have the God-given responsibility to use this favor to bring others into a relationship with our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

VALERIE DENISE (HAWKS) SANDERS

DAY 5

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1962 had to be one of the most exciting Thanksgivings in the Hawks family. On that day, instead of a turkey, I got a baby sister named Valerie. I had just turned 5 years old and nothing could be better than my very own sister. Everything about her was wonderful. She was so tiny, just a little over 6 lbs with baby-fine hair that would soon turn into golden natural curls. I could not even imagine how thankful I would be 45 years later on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007 to have such a wonderful sister and friend named Val.

It was such a privilege to be raised in a large family, 1 boy, and 5 girls. You learned so many valuable life lessons that stay with you as you move into adulthood. You learn to share, accept different ideas and personalities, and to compromise on unimportant issues. You learn how to rejoice together in each victory and sympathize with each other in the hurtful times. Most of all you realize that if you have a sister, you will always have a friend.

I love Val, she drives me crazy, I love Val, I’m so jealous of her, I love Val !!!! Everyone in the family gravitates toward her. If you want to share something exciting, call Val. If you want to find out something juicy, call Val. During depressing times in Minnesota, she was my rock. Val had the good sense to NOT tell me to pray about the situation. Instead, she was outraged with me and offered to come and help me figure out a horrible fate for such horrible people. She has loved my kids and shared in the joy I felt when my grandchildren were born.

Val is talented in so many ways. She has written several hilarious personal family stories for me as Christmas and Birthday presents. If I need a good laugh, I go back to the archives and read them. She is a great cook; much better than Paula Deen or Rachel Ray. For several years she had her own catering business. Under threat of bodily harm, I have never given her meatball recipe to anyone. Val can sew and is quite crafty in many ways.

The crowning achievement of her life has to be that she is a great wife to Jeff, a wonderful mother to Jonathon, Andrew, Tara and Eric, a fantastic mother-in-law to Sarah, Loren and Justin, a fabulous grandmother to Charlie, Levi and soon to arrive, Emma Grace. In her busy life she has still found time to be the sweetest daughter, daughter-in-law and sister to Susan, Mike, Deb, Nita and Amy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAL.

(It’s also the 44th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, you must hate this every year.)

THE MEN IN MY LIFE

DAY 4

Today I would like to thank God for the men in my life, my husband Steve and sons Steven and Philip. I have learned to look at things from a man’s point of view, practical and to the point. They have taught me to appreciate football and always root for the Chicago Bears. I now understand that it’s “not a good job or okay” if you strike out. They would rather lose than tie, but winning is always best. I still disagree that there is no need to make your bed every day and a shirt can be worn for 3 days as long as it is your favorite and you don’t gag at the smell.

I started out with one of the truly great men, my dad. My observation of him over 18 years taught me exactly what qualities to look for in a husband and father for my children. The second man in my life was my brother Mike, who is only 21 months younger than me. As preschoolers we played pretend games endlessly. Of course he was the dad, I was the mom; he was the preacher, I played the accordion. As we grew older, we rode bikes and played baseball in the back yard with all the neighbor kids from sun up until dark. After dark, we played hide and seek and captured fireflies. When I met Steve, Mike would have him over on Saturday night after church, so we could sit up, play games and I could try to catch a husband.

I met Steve at a church Valentine banquet when I was 17 years old. I knew from the moment I saw him that someday he would be my husband. He is 5 months younger than me, so we had to wait for a whole year, until the next May to be married. For some reason our parents thought he should be 18. One of the best days of my life was my wedding day. I had dreamed all my life of being a bride. As Steve says, he was just the missing link. Actually he was and still is my dream man, my knight in shining armor, my best friend, the man who makes me furious one minute and makes me laugh the next; a real HUNK. He is the only one I could ever imagine growing old with. I am also thankful that because he is such a Man of God, we will get to spend eternity together.

Another great day was the day my first son, Steven was born. I wrote all about that day in a previous post. As he was 30 years ago, Steven continues to be a great joy and blessing in my life. He is so talented and smart, loves a good debate and has an opinion about everything. He is also a great husband to Jenesa and a great father to Caleb.

April 12, 1979, a great day in history. My second son, Philip, was born. Phil was a child that everyone was drawn to. He has irresistible blue eyes and a hilarious personality. When you first meet Phil it is hard to believe that he almost has a Masters in Mathematics. He is smart and has a mind like a steel trap. Phil can quote practically every line from all the “stupid” movies he has seen. Like the rest of my men, Phil is a wonderful husband to Holly and an adoring father to Mackenzie and Madison.

I have been so blessed by all these wonderful men. I thank God for their love, strength and faithfulness.

MY DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW

Day 3




Today I am thankful for my daughters-in-law, Holly and Jenesa. Although, I am a daughter and a daughter-in-law or maybe it is because I am both, I was very apprehensive of being a mother-in-law. I had lived in a 3-man world for so long, I wasn’t sure I could relate to young women anymore. Holly came into our lives first. Like an oldest child, she was my guinea pig. I tried to remember everything that drove me crazy and make sure I didn’t repeat them with my daughter-in-law. The first year she was married to Phil, I drove her crazy by trying too hard. Neither one of us could relax. Hopefully by the time Steven married Jenesa, my approach had improved.

I had raised my boys to be independent thinkers, so I was fully aware there was no way I could give them a list of my requirements for a daughter-in-law. My subtle approach must have worked however, because they presented the perfect candidates. The most important thing a mother wants in a daughter-in-law is that she love her son above anyone else and take care of her grandchildren. I am so blessed to have daughters-in-law who are crazy about my boys, are fantastic mothers and are also gorgeous and talented.

Thank you Holly for loving Phil. For putting up with his love of sports, even though it is something you don’t enjoy. For buying him junk food when an apple or broccoli would be so much healthier. Thank you for being such a good mother to Mackenzie and Madison and allowing us to love and know them without any restrictions. And thanks for making all those long trips across the bridge with 2 babies, letting them call me on the telephone, and just being a part of our family.

Jenesa, Happy Birthday. You are a true blessing in our lives also. Thank you for loving Steven. For listening to his “wisdom” and smiling the whole time. Although you enjoy watching sports, I’m sure Michigan and Chicago Bears Football, along with Michigan and Pistons basketball came become a little boring. And I know it is too late to convince Steven that Don Pablos is not a fine restaurant. Thank you for taking such good care of Caleb and allowing us to be such a great part of his life. And thanks for moving across the street from us and all the little ways you show you love us. We’ve only known you for 2 ½ years, but you have become one of our 4 kids.

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Thank you God for giving me sons to enjoy for 30 and 28 years. Thank you for my daughters that I have learned to love as much.