19 - 23 November
is introducing
(Even Before Publishing November 2012)
About the Author:
Ray Hawkins
Ray Hawkins, retired after over 40 years as a Churches of Christ minister, enjoys sharing themes from the Scriptures through Devotional writing. Married to Mary, multi-published inspirational romance author, they have three children and five grandchildren. Ray shares his insights in his first two books on Marriage and Children with more ideas to come about ministry and much more. Living in Beauty Point Tasmania Ray heads up a new Christian Fellowship as well as doing relief preaching, community work and writing.
Book Description:
Bethlehem's Warrior (31 Day Devotional)
Short Book Description: In 31 daily devotional meditations Bethlehem's Warrior Baby takes you out of a sentimental nativity scene and into a contest with eternal significance.
It walks you through God's promise in Genesis 3:15 of Someone coming and the clues to His identity in the old Testament. You become aware that in the Christmas event that 'Someone' has come.
I believe Christmas is the culmination of Heaven's countdown to reclaim men, women and creation from the tyranny of sin, death and Satan. The cost involved to God to achieve this should make the reader bow in awe and gratitude.
Website - http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au/
My Review:
I haven't yet worked my way through all the devotions in Bethlehem's Warrior Baby, but I am impressed by what I have read, and I will get them finished well before Christmas! The overall theme is Jesus, the warrior baby, born to conquer sin, death and Satan on our behalf.
Each devotional starts with a Bible reading of up to one chapter, then a one to two page discussion of the reading, then a short prayer and a gift. This is quite unique, at least in my experience of reading devotionals. It is our gift to God: a promise of what we can (and should) do to bring us closer to God. As an example, the gift for Day 15 (The Time Has Arrived) is "My gift to you is to hang up my personal calendar and accept what you do and the time you choose to do it. I'll learn to wait and persevere until your time is ripe".
Ray Hawkins has an extensive background in Christian ministry, and this shows. The devotions are like the best sermons - easy to read and understand but not simplistic, yet covering some complex ideas and concepts without the language becoming so theological that the lay reader is lost. Recommended.
Each devotional starts with a Bible reading of up to one chapter, then a one to two page discussion of the reading, then a short prayer and a gift. This is quite unique, at least in my experience of reading devotionals. It is our gift to God: a promise of what we can (and should) do to bring us closer to God. As an example, the gift for Day 15 (The Time Has Arrived) is "My gift to you is to hang up my personal calendar and accept what you do and the time you choose to do it. I'll learn to wait and persevere until your time is ripe".
Ray Hawkins has an extensive background in Christian ministry, and this shows. The devotions are like the best sermons - easy to read and understand but not simplistic, yet covering some complex ideas and concepts without the language becoming so theological that the lay reader is lost. Recommended.
thoughtful review Iola.
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