Published: June 29, 2009 12:35 pm      

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

By PAMELA ROBINSON

Register Staff Writer



Guest speaker Hazel Harris brought a fun and spiritual message to the Christian Women’s Connection luncheon June 25. Harris addressed the topic, “Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired? There’s Hope.”

A native Texan now living in Fort Worth, Harris brought a unique personality and perspective to the podium. Her presentation ranged from a lot of very funny jokes to a serious witness of Jesus Christ.

Harris spoke about the pattern of Christ. She asked the audience if they had ever made a project, such as a dress, without a pattern and realized the unmatchableness and messiness of the outcome.

“We serve a living Savior,” said Harris. “He is the great pattern-maker.

“Jesus is a long-range planner,” said Harris. “Our Savior has planned for eternity.”

Harris compared the timeline Jesus has prepared to the planning and time-lines of most businesses and organizations on earth which maybe have a five-year, ten-year or a 20-year plan.

“He stretched himself upon a tree to make a pattern for you and me,” said Harris.

“Things happen to us in life and we don’t know they why,” said Harris. “Later on things become clearer to us as to the reason.”

Harris said her mother was a good model of Christianity for her. “I watched my mother live a life of faith,” said Harris, “and she was a happy Christian, always smiling.”

Harris is an honors graduate of South Texas State University, a registered nurse and former high school teacher and youth sponsor.

When Harris told her friends she was leaving teaching and nursing to talk to healthy adults they said “good luck!” In 1999 Harris began sharing her testimony with Christian Women’s Clubs.

“We always have music at the monthly luncheon,” said CWC Chairwoman Genevieve Avinger. “First a secular song and then a spiritual song.”

Avinger said that music helps the women to prepare to hear and receive the spiritual message of the speaker.

This month the music was provided by singer Jobell Schalk and she was accompanied by pianist Glen Wilson. Schalk sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and later sang the a spiritual medley including “Jesus, Jesus” and “He Touched Me.”

Avinger said the CWC usually has a special feature and this month it was the boutique store “Bella Matise.”

There were also drawings and a raffle with winners receiving a gift from Bella Matise.”

The “Stonecroft Project” for the month was hosted by Nancy Mountcastle. The project, for which contributions were gathered, was for bible studies that Stonecroft organizes across the world for U.S. soldiers. “Stonecroft has provided this project for many years,” said Mountcastle.

Avinger said the CWC started meeting 12 years ago at the Holiday Inn with about 20 people and has just grown from there. Women come from all around the Gainesville area, including Muenster, Collinsville and Lindsay to attend.

“CWC is open to women all across the county,” said Avinger. The group is non-denominational and there are no dues.

“These are fun and positive meetings,” said Avinger. “We come together to pray for our community and friends, and have a good lunch.”

CWC is sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries, an international ministry founded for women who want to pray for their communities.

CWC meets the fourth Thursday of each month for a luncheon meeting.

For more information about CWC call Nancy at 940-612-2811.