I Found The Way: Find Victory Over Hopelessness, Despair, and Defeat

By George Hawkinson

Whether our lives are successful and fulfilling or sometimes hopeless is usually
determined by the decisions we make along the way. No matter what your
circumstances or what you are looking for, there is always a way. However, as you
read this book, you will find the only true way.
*****
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this book will go to the protection and
care of single moms and kids. Additional books can be purchased on Amazon.
George is available to share his testimony and stories at gatherings, functions, and
fundraisers. His fee is that you would cover his traveling expenses. Arrangements for

speaking engagements can be made by emailing to [e-mail].

About the Author
When all seems hopeless, there’s always a way. George discovered this when he hit
rock bottom and his entire world went up in smoke during the 1980s recession. He
found himself void of any self-worth. It was only after he met Jesus that he realized
that his self-worth had already been established at the cross two thousand years ago.
With that as the starting point, George was able to make a new life.
*****
Every Christian finds themselves in times of struggle and moments when they
question God’s leading in their lives. In this book George Hawkinson shares the
encouragement he received in over 40 years of walking with the Lord, through good
times and hard times. Each story is an illustration of God’s love and guidance. May
you find within these pages insights for your own walk with Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781638148326

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

The Road to Calvary

The Lonesome Cross

The Battlefield

Where I Met Jesus

The Mediator

His Program

The Captain's Friend

The Grand Entrance

His Hand

The Son of God

The Bargaining Table

The Vessel

The Flame

Who Is Different?

The New Heart

One of the Sheep

The Steering Wheel

The Used Car Lot

Deceiving Appearances

First in Line

The Captain of the Ship

The Assignment

The Little Boat

The Helper

The Desert

His Plans

Riding the Fence

The Greatest Event

About the Author

cover.jpg

I Found The Way

Find Victory Over Hopelessness, Despair, and Defeat

George Hawkinson

ISBN 978-1-63814-831-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63814-833-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63814-832-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 George Hawkinson

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Ordinary stories mixed with God's extraordinary grace! Open it, read it, and be ready for it. Each time I read through story after story, I found myself transported directly to the scene as if I was there with George. At other times, I become the character infused in the story and exposed to the full experience and presence of Jesus. It's a collection of unique visions, dreams, and reflections within another story. A colliding and intermingling of Jesus's biblical account connecting with another man's personal life account. The beautiful part about it is that it can be your story too. A great reminder and encouragement that each of our life's moments (stories) is somehow connected and intertwined with God's story—that my story is part of His (Jesus) story. Short stories that will help you see and know that God's grace is real in each of our lives.

—Neil Navarro, Major (pastor/minister/officer of the Salvation Army)

In these stories, George Hawkinson has given us a front-row seat to his personal journey from utter despair to abundant life in Jesus Christ. Powerful!

—John Simpson, outreach pastor of Bethany Christian Assembly

Every Christian finds themselves in times of struggle and moments when they question God's leading in their lives. In this book, George Hawkinson shares the encouragement he received in over forty years of walking with the Lord, through good times and hard times. Each story is an illustration of God's love and guidance. May you find within these pages insights for your own walk with Jesus.

—Brett Birdsong, Illustrator

Each story is an inspirational life lesson to help you find the only lasting way to love, hope, and encouragement.

Diane Tillman school teacher and editor of this book.

Dedication

I have always associated power with strength and wealth. I saw love as only a measure of weakness. When I dedicated my life to God through Jesus Christ, I had difficulty understanding how God, the source of all power and wisdom, was also the author of love.

During an extremely difficult period in my life, I was in desperate need of a person of exceptional strength and wisdom to guide me. Ironically, God brought a man into my life who could not even stand or dress himself, let alone walk. Yet I knew almost immediately that his man was no ordinary person. His direction and inspiration kept me from collapsing as my earthly possessions and dignity were being stripped away. What made this man so unique was that in all times while in his presence, I had a feeling of being loved.

He had a special gift for loving and allowing God's love to flow through him to me as well as to others. We were together on numerous occasions in his office, home, and in a number of hospitals. While having to cope with his own infirmities and frustrations, he never complained or gave up hope.

At no time have I ever felt so protected by another human being since outgrowing my mother's care. This beautiful quiet man, whose wasted body served only as a vehicle to house his vital organs, was and is the most powerful instrument of Almighty God that I have ever known. The source of my friend's strength and wisdom is love, God's divine love. This dedication is my way of thanking Him for loving me in such a special way.

Thank you, John Woodburne, my dear friend.

Acknowledgments

These stories took place over a period of forty years. I am neither a typist or a grammar expert. Consequently, I have often had to rely on others to decipher my long hand scribbling. These essential people often sent me back to the drawing board to rewrite certain excerpts. I can't recall or remember the names of all these benevolent individuals. But I thank God for each and every one.

I am not a Catholic, but I remember attending a retreat with a friend in Sacramento. He gave the story to a priest, who handed it to a nun, who typed the first of many stories.

Two days later, I met a beautiful woman at a church service named Sharon Grant. Her devotion to Jesus often inspired me to put in writing the stimulating messages that the Holy Spirit was conveying to me.

Approximately a decade ago, I met a woman named Janet. We were both attending a Celebrate Recovery meeting in a church. She was recently retired and volunteered to assist me. She not only typed a number of my new stories but helped me to go back and rewrite many of the original stories.

A few years back, a special friend named Sarah Smith took time from her hectic school schedule to assist me in putting a couple stories on paper. A couple years ago, a woman named Lydia Hathaway, who had a full-time job and family, stepped up to the plate and helped me in the evenings.

Recently the Holy Spirit brought a very busy and dedicated woman into my life, named Diane Tillman. She typed my last three stories and the preface to accompany this book of short stories. Diane has also been instrumental in editing and packaging up the final manuscript and finding a publisher to send it to. Without her help and commitment, there would be no published book at this time.

At times over the years, I would dream about having my stories published. I also envisioned some relevant artwork to compliment the stories. In the eleventh hour, God brought Bret Birdsong into my life to accomplish this task. I consider his contribution to be the