Brian Hawkins

Ministering Before the Lord

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Again, we are in a brief season of transition as we move up to Cottonwood, and it is great to see God working all around. We signed a lease for a house in Cottonwood and are excited to watch the Lord work. For a couple of days, or more accurately weeks, we have been reflecting on how amazingly blessed our family truly is. Over the years, we have been so very blessed to be a part of many church families and individual lives in all the places the Lord has taken us. Our time in Phoenix has been no different. The Lord continues to use people locally and all over the world to join, support, pray for, and equip us for the work that He has called us to.

In 1 Samual 2 and 3, we see a young Samual “ministering before the Lord.” At such a young age, this work is most likely what some would call inferior tasks, which must be done anyway. Each person is to “minister before the Lord” in whatever ministry the Lord has given them, big or small, seemingly essential or not. There will be both immense and minuscule tasks in Cottonwood as the Lord grows His church. My question is who is going to join us in “ministering before the Lord?

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God’s beautiful Creation

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Sometimes I just have to write things down to remember how abundantly blessed we are.  Most recently I feel that God has been showing me how much He loves me through His beautiful creation.  When we felt the Lord calling to a training school in Spain we knew nothing about the country.  In the months before we left for that school God just kept putting people in our path that had a connection to Spain and they would tell us how lovely the country is.  Since our arrival I have been continually reminded of what scripture says in Romans 1:20: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 

There is no doubt that our awesome Creator has made everything and wants to show us how much He loves us by allowing us to be a part of it.  And I want to express my praise to God Almighty for His gift and letting my family be a part of it.   Again like scripture says: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.  Psalm 96:11,12 

So thank you Lord!

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Interview with Kati

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Kati had the opportunity to share about our journey and her faith walk in an interview with Jeremy Clark at South Union Christian Church. 

This weeks lesson was about Lydia from the book of Acts (See Acts 16:11-15).  Lydia is an example of a believer immediately stepping into service once she accepted Christ Jesus as her savior, even though she didn’t have all the details.  She offered what she had to the Lord’s work (v.15). 

Thank you all for you prayers, this was a lesson in trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead you.

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Minding, Loving, Living

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Mind your own business, Love one another and Live a pure life: Because the Holy Spirit was sent to help you!

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

1 Thessalonians 4 offers a timeless lesson for all of us today; minding your own business (v.11), loving one another (v.9,10) and living a pure life(v.7) are all biblical principles.  There are endless ways that our society justifies living the total opposite of each of these.  Living in a way that contradicts any of these principles is inconsistent with who we are in Jesus Christ.  He has sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy and pure lifes, because we can’t do it on our own.  Just ask God our Father for help!

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:9‭-‬12

Here is what David Guzik’s commentary has to say:

The quiet life contradicts the hugely successful modern attraction to entertainment and excitement. This addiction to entertainment and excitement is damaging both spiritually and culturally. We might say that excitement and entertainment are like a religion for many people today.

  • This religion has a god: The self.
  • This religion has priests: Celebrities.
  • This religion has a prophet: Perpetual entertainment.
  • This religion has scriptures: Tabloids and entertainment, news, and informational programs.
  • This religion has places of worship: Amusement parks, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas; and we could say that every television and internet connection is a little chapel.

The religion of excitement and entertainment seduces people into living their lives for one thing – the thrill of the moment. But these thrills are quickly over and forgotten, and all that is important is the next fun thing. This religion conditions its followers to only ask one question: “Is it fun?” It never wants us to ask more important questions such as, “Is it true?” “Is it right?” “Is it good?” “Is it godly?”

  • We need to live the quiet life so that we can really take the time and give the attention to listen to God. When we live the quiet life, we can listen to God and get to know Him better.
  • To mind your own business: This means that the Christian must focus on his or her own life and matters, instead of meddling in the lives of others. “Mind your own business” is a Biblical idea.

 

*These thoughts are were taken from David Guzik’s Bible Commentary:  https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-thessalonians-4/ *

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Mexico Outreach October ’22

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Wow, I know I have said it before, but we are so blessed!  We just got back to the States after an amazing week in Ensenada, Mexico.  We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that supported us and our team to make this trip possible and to everyone that was involved in planning.  It was amazing serving with the other families from Boise and that the kids were able to be involved. Sometimes we don’t see or notice all the people and things that God arranges for us before we actually get to that step as he guides our steps.

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?  Proverbs 20:24

This was an incredible trip and there is so much I could write about, but I will try to keep it short and give some of the highlights.  One of the most amazing things that happened was we (the whole team and some leadership help) were able to build a house for a young family in just 2 days!  These houses can change so many things for the families that receive them from better health to completely breaking the cycle of poverty.  The father of the family said he was already a believer, but when we were done said he is receiving God’s love even more everyday now! 

We were able to serve with two different child care facilities; one that is also a church and brings in kids that would be otherwise be left alone all day and feeds them  The other was a daycare and orphanage that also brings kids in and feeds them and cleans them, but also has 24 orphans that live there full time.  Of course these two places were our favorite places to visit.  We asked all the kids what their favorite food was and the overwhelming answer was pizza, and we were able to buy them all pizza for dinner that night!  The kids on our team also did a drama about Daniel and the lion’s den in Spanish!  

It was also great to see some of the other ministries that the Ensenada base is using to reach into the community.  Our favorite was the old school bus that has been converted to house a sewing ministry for the women living in the colonies to teach them a skill.  The bus also is used to teach the kids in the community about computers.  Please pray for this ministry, Hope Zone, as they have a vision to grow and purchase some land and establish a more permanent location in the community.  

This was a great reminder of how blessed we are to be in the United States, and to remember that even when we don’t think we have enough God has truly blessed us.  Probably the thing that sticks out to me the most is how much different life in Baja is even though it is so close to the US.  There is a Wal-Mart in Ensenada, but the family we built the house for has never been to it because it’s too expensive. Can you imagine not ever being in a Wal-Mart your whole life?  Please pray for the Ensenada community and that God’s light would continue to grow and shine there.  

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Just like the Redwoods

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This is a special post by Madalyn!

It’s amazing how Redwoods can start from a tiny seed and grow into a gigantic tree. We also start tiny in Christ and have growing stages as a Redwood does. While we may think we need other things but we need sun, soil, and water aka Christ. We may be young in Christ or young in age (like me I’m 10) we can still make a difference in the world!

Ask God how you can make a difference. Have a blessed day!

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5

I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. Song of Songs 6:11

 

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Baptized in the River!

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And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 3:21

On the afternoon of August 14th, 2022 Madalyn and Winston made one of the greatest choices that anybody could ever make in their life!

Earlier this year in April Madalyn said yes to Jesus and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior!  We had talked last summer about her giving her life to the Lord and then on the evening of April 24th the Holy Spirit stirred Madalyn to make the walk down the aisle and give her life to God!  We were overjoyed with her decision!  We firmly believed that it was her choice and so we talked about baptism and made sure that she understood what it is and what is symbolizes, but we wanted her to make that choice and not be pressured. 

For a few weeks in the church announcements we had been talking about getting baptized in the Big Wood River. Neither of the kids had said anything about it. Then on the night of August 9th Winston approached us about giving his life to the Lord. So we talked about it and we prayed  with him and walked him through what it means to commit his life to the Lord!  And again we were overjoyed but still didn’t want to put any pressure on either one of them to be baptized. Then on Saturday night right before the baptisms were to happen both of the kids approached us about being baptized in the Big Wood River the very next day!  We spent the rest of the evening talking about what baptism is and what it symbolizes. We talked to Pastor Konrad and told him the kids wanted to be baptized the next day. 

After church and a wonderful church picnic on Sunday we were able to go down to the river with both of our children and church family. I got one of the greatest honors a Father could ever have and baptized Madalyn and Winston in the Big Wood River!  It means more than they may ever know that they wanted me to be the one that baptized them into our Lord Jesus Christ!

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Why can you trust God?

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Why Can You Trust God?

1. Because His Word is true! (John 17:17).
2. Because His plans are set! (Ephesians 2:10).
3. Because His faithfulness is forever! (Exodus 34:6).
4. Because His justice is perfect! (Job 37:23).
5. Because His love is unfailing! (1 John 4:16).
6. Because He gave His Son for you! (John 3:16)

Truly there is no reason why you can’t trust God because He loves and adores you!

The Bible is the Word of God!

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-2‬

– The Bible is active. (Hebrews 4:12)
– The Bible is light. (Psalm 119:105)
– The Bible is wisdom. (Proverbs 2:6)
– The Bible is spirit and life. (John 6:63)
– The Bible is the way, the truth, and the life.(John 14:6)

Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.
~ John Wesley

Thanks brother Eddie for the references!

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Spreading seeds

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A couple of evenings ago my beautiful wife, the dog and I were out on a walk up to the top of the Elkhorn/Dollar Mountain. As we walked up the service road I noticed a strange thing happening, the dog’s leash was hitting all the plants and grass and weeds that were growing in the middle of the road.  Now you need to picture this “road” in your mind, it is more of a trail that is wide enough for a truck to climb up the side of a mountain full of rocks, dirt and ruts.  As I watched this I noticed two things happening first was it didn’t matter where the seeds were going whether they were going to good soil or the rocky soil where it seemed that nothing could grow. The second thing I noticed was the dog leash did not care which seeds that it spread.

The lesson to me is that we need to spread the love of Jesus to everyone everywhere even if we think that they are ” rocky soil “.  As we walked up the trail that seemed nothing could grow on it there were beautiful wildflowers everywhere. So to me this is a picture of the amazing things God can do. He can take things that seem like nothing to us and turn them into beautiful creations. Go be a light, spread the love of Jesus and put the rest in God’s hands and watch as he works!

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