Laurel Hawkes: 2025

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

With Christmas freshly around the corner, I’ve seen a lot about pagan rituals and how Christians stole them because the pagans came before Christianity. No. No, they didn’t. Christianity is woven into the creation of the world. Jesus created it. Jesus existed before He was born on this planet. He lived to show us the way, following Him. He died to conquer sin and Resurrected to conquer death. He is the author and finisher of this world. He is the beginning to the end. Everything else is a copy or twist.

Animals were sacrificed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Animal sacrifices, a representation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, continued down through the ages until Jesus offered Himself as the final physical sacrifice for sin. Thereafter, Jesus required a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

This world is a three act play: Old Testament, New Testament, and from then to now with the final climactic ending being the coming again of Jesus Christ to reign on the earth.

Did you know that Christian is not what the followers of Christ called themselves? It was a label created by unbelievers. The followers of Christ called themselves disciples and saints. Disciples and saints practiced the rituals Jesus started, the Sacrament and baptism, healing, teaching, sharing His words, and doing what He would do. As time moved on, they adopted the title Christian. They also adopted many traditions created by those around them, seeing the beauty and symbolism as it applied to Christ.

For the record, pagans or whatever you want to call anything that doesn’t follow Jesus twisted what God created to fit their own story. It continues, today, we just don’t call it paganism anymore, except as a specific sect. It has many names now. Perhaps the most common name we use is secularism, which tries to divorce God from His creation.

Jesus came first. He made paganism and secularism possible because He gives everyone a choice to follow Him or not. Those who choose not to will be separated from Him, from His light, His glory, His presence. They won’t be comfortable in His presence. How could anyone be comfortable in the presence of someone they derided or declared didn’t exist?

We are encouraged to embrace all that is good and beautiful because all that is good and beautiful comes from God. Is it really so difficult to believe that the merciful Lord inspired even those who don’t believe in Him to seek out light and goodness?

A few examples: The evergreen remains green and living year around, like a true life centered in Christ. Jesus will come back to rule and reign on this earth dressed in red. Santa is the spirit of giving and joy. What the adversary means for evil, God is able to turn for good. Stockings and gift giving are all representative of all the blessings God gives us, small and large, every day. Followers of Jesus joyfully seek every little thing that reminds us of Jesus and His love and goodness and grace.

I’m able to be grateful to those who attempt to belittle and diminish and dismiss Christmas and/or Christ. They strengthen my faith because I know they are wrong. Even as they are wrong, God’s hand is stretched out still, beckoning, inviting. As long as there is hope for them, there is hope for me.

Celebrate the traditions, create new ones. Seek for every reminder of the goodness, mercy, and love of God. Christmas is more obvious, but in the dark of cold winter, we need the light and warmth of an everlasting Savior and Redeemer, Lord and King, born in obscurity for each and every one of us.

A whole year lies ahead to prepare.

Monday, December 29, 2025

Monday Quote

Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this.

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Sunday Scripture

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Saturday Links

Gail Johnson inspired me through her faith in her troubles:

https://gailjohnsonauthor.com/2025/12/02/joy-and-peace/

Nuggets of Gold shares bits of inspiration:

https://joyroses13.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/fridays-extra-special-short-stories/

God bless.

Friday, December 26, 2025

The New Year is coming.

Celebrate with a story.

Happy New Year?

Welcome to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Officer Tim Black moved to Holiday for a change of scene. He never anticipated wanting to change his single status at the same time, but the lady refuses to even date him.

Sandy Foster moved to Holiday to escape her dysfunctional family, changing everything about her life. Finding someone who wanted to share her life holds a never-ending spot on her uninspiring list of New Year's resolutions.

The tiniest misunderstanding and the willingness to set pride aside might make the difference between spending the New Year alone and a Happily Ever After...

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-New-Year-Holiday-USA-ebook/dp/B00HCQKGF4/ref=sr_1_1

For those who prefer paperback: Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

All four novellas published in 2014 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_6

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Happy Christmas

Luke 2:1,4-14 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

What Child is This by Clamavi De Profundis https://youtu.be/vx-ffIBm_CU?si=BpixVVMB7ZMWILwl

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Happy Christmas Eve

Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.