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Published May 25, 2017

Be Still and Know

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“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

The classic hymn “It Is Well” begins with these famous lyrics:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Have you heard the story of the man who wrote it? The author, Horatio G. Stafford, was a lawyer whose first major test of his faith came in 1871 when the Great Chicago Fire ruined him financially, destroying most of his real estate investments. Two years later, when his family had finally pieced their lives back together, he decided to take his wife and four daughters on a vacation. However, at the last minute, Stafford was called back on business, so his wife and children went ahead on the ship. A short time later, the ship sank, killing all four of his daughters; only his wife survived. After hearing the tragic news and setting out to travel to meet his grieving wife, Stafford penned the classic hymn.

How was Stafford able to write “It is well, it is well with my soul” despite the tragedy he experienced? And how can we remain faithful to God’s truth even in desperate times when we feel far from Him? The few short words of God in Psalm 46:10 will help us understand.

First God says to “be still.” In other words, don’t panic!

Sure, you may be thinking, that’s easy enough to say, but quite tough to do when it feels like your world has been turned upside down.

That’s why God told us to “know that I am God.”

Note carefully what God did NOT say. He did not say “Be still, and FEEL that I am God.” He said “Be still, and KNOW that I am God.” Regardless of how we may feel, if we know that God is there, and that His Word is true, we will be able to have confidence in Him and praise Him, regardless of our temporary feelings.

This doesn’t mean that feelings should be ignored or marginalized. But it does suggest that feelings are fleeting and uncertain, while God’s promises are everlasting and certain. Therefore we must try to pray and trust based on what we know in times of tragedy rather than primarily on how we feel.

If today you are feeling “peace, like a river”, thank God and increase in knowledge so that you will prepare yourself for times of trouble.

And if you are instead at a time “when sorrows like sea billows roll” don’t focus on your temporary feelings, but focus instead on the knowledge that God loves you, Jesus died for you, and, like Paul said as he suffered in prison, “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” 1Timothy 1:12, (NLT)

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

By Darren Hewer

Used by Permission

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today, if you have fallen away from God but want to renew your commitment to Him, if you are looking for a deeply satisfying relationship with God, I encourage you to pray by faith and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this suggested prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Prayer to the One Who is Here

Dueteronomy 31:8 The Lord will never leaver you nor forsake you

Published March 7, 2017

Prayer to the One Who is Here

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Every week I meet with a small group of friends from my church. We study a passage or chapter of the Bible, play games, cook food, or just hang out. But we always pray together, and this is a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement for which I am truly grateful.

But I have to admit praying sometimes makes me uncomfortable. I’ve never been totally comfortable praying. Recently as I sat praying with my small group, my mind started to wander, and I started to think about what prayer means. I know it means “talking to God” but I was hoping for some deeper understanding.

Suddenly a verse suddenly popped into my mind: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

God revealed something to me, in an out-of-the-blue understanding of a simple yet profound truth: When we pray, we must pray as though God is right here with us … because God IS right here with us!

We need to speak to God as though Jesus were standing in front of us, hanging on every word … because HE IS!

When we pray our words are not dispersing into the air; they are being heard by God, whose Spirit lives within us (1 Corinthians 3:16) and who hears us because He is with us, not as a vague spirit but as a living person.

Jesus promises that when you pray he is right here with you. Not only that, He promised that He is “with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) When we pray, let’s speak to the One who “will never leave you nor forsake you”, as though He is right there with you … because HE IS!

Questions: Are your prayers sometimes abstract and generic? How could keeping in mind God’s presence with you help keep them personal and specific?

by Darren Hewer

Used by permission
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
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God’s Timing is Not Ours

Published August 24, 2016

God’s Timing is Not Ours

Jairus is in a hurry. If you have children, or even if you don’t, you can probably sympathize with his plight. You see, his little daughter is dying. Or, as the Message paraphrase puts it, his “dear daughter is at death’s door.” Mark 5:23

So you can imagine why he’d be more than a little perturbed when, the Lord tarries on the way to Jairus’ house. “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus suddenly asks the crowd. The disciples, perhaps a bit anxious themselves given the gravity of the situation, reply “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask? Who touched me?'” Then Jesus proceeds to leisurely engage the woman in conversation. It turns out that she’s suffered from a medical condition for the last twelve years.

“Twelve years?” thinks Jairus, “My daughter is dying! Surely this woman can wait a little longer!”

Then, while Jesus is still talking with the woman, messengers arrive with the most dreaded news imaginable: “Your daughter is dead.”

“Oh Lord, why couldn’t you just have hurried?” Jairus probably cried to himself. From a human perspective, all was lost. But from a heavenly perspective, “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Jesus responded immediately: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)

God’s timing is not ours: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8) But we can be confident that whenever and however God chooses to respond to us, it will be good, just, and to His glory.

If you’ve been patiently praying with seemingly no response, don’t lose heart. Jesus implores us to not be afraid and trust in Him; consider the parable of the persistent widow Jesus told in Luke 18:1-8, which Jesus told to encourage us that we “should always pray and not give up“. Be encouraged that while God’s timing is not ours, because He is always for you, not against you, and we will someday, at just the right moment, fully understand His divine timing.

Questions: What is a prayer that you have been earnestly praying for lately? Are you ready to leave it in God’s competent hands when/how/if he answers it?

By Darren Hewer

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Strength in Numbers

Published February 29, 2016

Strength in Numbers

The Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City, Colorado was completed in 1929 at a cost of $350,000. (The relative cost today would be approximately $15 million dollars.) The bridge spans 1,260 feet and stands 150 feet above the ground below.

As the bridge approaches its 100 year anniversary, it seems to be holding up quite well: There are no signs of it collapsing. The bridge is held together by 2,100 strands of galvanized wire. Individually, each wire could easily be snapped. But working together in tandem, they are able to support the entire weight of the bridge, plus much more. This allows the bridge to remain a significant tourist attraction for hundreds of tourists every year, even though it is nearly a century old.

By working together, we can achieve much more than we can on our own. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to “not give up meeting together … but let us encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). In Acts we read about the early church, and how they would meet together in order to encourage each other (ex. Acts 2:42-48).

This often will be difficult, since our churches are sadly sometimes filled with strife and argument instead of encouragement and fellowship. This is why Paul teaches us to “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

Our work with our fellow Christians is too important to ignore. We as frail individuals are like thin strands of wire: Weak individually, but when mutually supporting one another, enabled to do so and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are strong.

Question: Do you sometimes find it uncomfortable when meeting with other believers? Why or why not?

By Darren Hewer

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Thanksgiving and Prayer

Published August 27, 2015

Thanksgiving and Prayer

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have you ever noticed how often thanksgiving and prayer are mentioned together in the Bible? In the same breath that Paul encourages us to “pray continually,” and also says we should “give thanks in all circumstances”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) Author Paul E. Miller, in his book A Praying Life (pg. 89-90), collected over a dozen verses where the apostle Paul explicitly connects thanksgiving and prayer. Here is a sample:

”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

”We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2

“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayer.” 2 Timothy 1:3

“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.” Philemon 1:4

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

Prayer itself sometimes will be a struggle, as Paul admits when he explains how Epaphras has been struggling in prayer for their friends in Colossi. (Colossians 4:12) However, by always praying with thanksgiving, we can remain encouraged by remembering what God has done and what He promises He will continue to do. By matching prayer of thanksgiving with prayer of intercession, we will not be weighed down by the prayer needs of others (or ourselves) but instead will balance these needs with the assurance of how God has already provided and will continue to provide for us. In this way, we can, as Paul also encourages, “be joyful always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Even when we are praying for help in the midst of deep distress and struggle, give thanks to the God who has sustained and will sustain us always!

What are you thankful for today? What would you like to ask God for, in a spirit of thanksgiving?

By Darren Hewer

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Published February 8, 2015

The Church is for Sinners, Not Saints

‘While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:10-13)

When I first became a Christian at age 22, I thought church was only for perfect people. Or at least people who could act perfectly on Sunday mornings. I didn’t understand that the purpose of the church is to give a hand to the sick, not pat the healthy on the back.

Jesus often ate at the same table with “sinners”, and when he did, the Pharisees questioned why He did so. Jesus responded by saying “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12) Author Brennan Manning put it this way: “The church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners”. That’s encouraging, because I often don’t feel much like a saint. Do saints lose patience with their brothers and sisters in Christ? Lose their temper? Sometimes even lose that passionate fire for the gospel?

The apostle Paul recognized his own moral failures when he says: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” But Paul continued by noting “for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
(1 Timothy 1:15-16)

So at the same time as we acknowledge our sin, by trusting in Jesus’ righteous sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we can gather together to strengthen and encourage each other in our faith, so that we can continually strive towards becoming “perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Lesson: Never feel unworthy of worshiping God in repentance and faith with your fellow believers, because Jesus welcomes you to His table!

Question: Do you sometimes feel guilty or unworthy of worshiping God? Why do you feel that way?

By Darren Hewer

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2015/02/08/dh_the-church-is-for-sinners-not-saints/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published May 30, 2014

Complaining in the Wilderness

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.” Philippians 2:14 (NLT)

Do you enjoy waking up early? I don’t. I emphasize with the psalmist when he writes: “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” Psalm 119:147 (NLT)

It’s not that I’m lazy, I’m just not a “morning person”. That’s why I need to continually turn away from the temptation to complain.

Just after the Exodus, when Moses had miraculously led the Israelites out of Egypt, the Israelites sung a song of praise to the Lord for their deliverance. (See Exodus 15.) But just a few days later they encountered hardship and quickly changed their tune. The title of the next section after the Israelite’s song of praise reads “Complaining in the Wilderness,” in my Bible, which is a poignant example the way our hearts can often be fickle.

How can we guard against becoming “complainers in the wilderness”?

Think about the end of Psalm 119:147: “I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” Throughout the Bible we are constantly reminded to remember what God has done for us. All history is truly “His story” … the story of God’s mighty acts. When we are faced with difficult times, we can reflect upon what God has already done for us, and His promises for the future which we find in His Word, because we know that God is faithful and will fulfill all that He has promised to us, including our own resurrections to eternal life in fellowship with God Himself.

I’m still not a morning person. But I try to remember that when I wake up early, that groggy feeling lasts only a few fleeting moments, and then the rest of the divinely gifted day awaits me. It’s hard to complain about a free gift, and a promise of the ultimate free gift to come.

Question: What has been bothering you lately that you need to bring to God in prayer?

by Darren Hewer

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Published February 4, 2014

Luke Warm

by Darren Hewer

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm ”neither hot nor cold” I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.

“This porridge is too hot!!” she exclaimed.

So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

“This porridge is too cold,” she said.

So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

“Ahhh, this porridge is just right“, she said happily and she ate it all up.

According to Goldilocks, being lukewarm is just right. But what is good for porridge isn’t good for our spiritual lives. Jesus tells us that “because you are lukewarm – I am about to spit you out of my mouth!” That’s strong language. What’s so bad about being “lukewarm“.

Notice how our passage from Revelation 3:15-16 begins: “I know your deeds“. The focus here is on what we do, because our outward actions reflect the condition of our inner hearts (James 2:17). It’s easy to see why someone should be “hot“, passionate for God and His word. When Jesus clears the temple, kicking out the money changers and merchants, “His disciples remembered that it is written: ˜Zeal for your house will consume me’. (John 2:17) Jesus demonstrated his zeal by helping the poor, curing the sick, encouraging the discouraged, and preaching God’s word to those who had lost hope.

But what about being “cold?” Jesus says that being cold is still better than being lukewarm because of something else Jesus preached against: hypocrisy. It’s hypocritical to be halfheartedly seeking God.

During our spiritual valleys, we should be honest about how we feel. Reading the Psalms can be tremendously helpful during such times. King David gives us an example of someone who was hardly lukewarm about anything in his life. His Psalms fluctuate between praising God and sorrowfully crying out. Being cold is still worse than being hot, but at least if we admit we are sometimes “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17) we are being honest with ourselves and with God, and we can ask God to help us regain the passion we once had.

Has your spiritual life felt “lukewarm” lately? Has your relationship with God become routine, or even boring? If so, perhaps it’s time to seek a revitalized relationship with the God who yearns for your passionate commitment. In conclusion to the “lukewarm” passage Jesus gives you a promise: “To those who are victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” Revelation 3:21 (TNIV)

How would you describe your spiritual life lately? Hot, cold, or lukewarm? Why do you think this is so?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Published December 2, 2013

Do You Go to the Hospital on Sundays?

by Darren Hewer

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:10-13)

When I became a Christian at age 22, I thought church was only for perfect people. Or at least people who could act perfectly on Sunday mornings. I didn’t understand that the purpose of the church is to give a hand to the sick, not to pat the healthy on the back: ““It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12)

Author Brennan Manning put it this way: “The church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners.” That’s encouraging, because I often don’t feel much like a saint. Do saints lose patience with their brothers and sisters in Christ? Lose their temper? Sometimes even lose that passionate fire for the gospel?

But if we come to Jesus, acknowledging that we’re “the sick,” we always find a seat at His table reserved for us each time we gather. Plus, we can minister God’s healing grace and love to anyone there with us in the hospital called the church.

Is it time to admit you’re sick? Is it time for you to encourage the hurting in your church?

Jesus, thank You that You came to heal me and welcome me to Your table. I open up my heart for You to heal me today. Massage my old scars so that nothing gets in the way of me fully obeying You. Help me minister Your love and healing to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Action Step
The next time you’re together with other believers, humbly ask for prayer if life’s been a battle for you lately. If you’re doing OK, make a point of praying for or encouraging someone who’s struggling.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2013/12/02/dh_do-you-go-to-the-hospital-on-sundays/
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Published October 27, 2013

The Bible

by Darren Hewer

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

I love the Bible. It’s God’s Word, our ultimate source of truth. It contains not only the grand story of the beginning of time and space and our Earth, but also the intimate story of God’s people, and the glorious coming of God’s Son Jesus Christ for our salvation.

But even so, I find that there are times in my life when my daily Bible reading becomes merely routine, if I happen to do it at all. In fact, sometimes I wonder about the Bible: Couldn’t God have given us a more efficient manual? What I mean is, it sometimes seems so complicated. Did you know that the Bible has 66 books, containing 1,189 chapters and 31,170 verses? Instead of 17 major and minor prophets, for example, maybe we could have been given a list of the top 10 marriage tips instead?

Then I think: God didn’t want to give us the kind of book that you read once and put on the shelf. He wasn’t interested in giving us a pamphlet. God wanted to give us something that would engage us and continue to challenge us for a lifetime. He, in His infinite wisdom, gave us a book that was so deep that we could read it every hour of every day of our entire lives and still not exhaust its wisdom.

If you’ve spent any serious amount of time reading the Bible you can probably attest to how you’ve read a passage a dozen or more times before, but somehow this time, it hits you in a totally new way as God illuminates your mind to deeper meaning and fuller understanding. “How did I not see it before?” you think. And it’s so amazing how deep this book is!

God Himself is like that: Our great God isn’t someone of whom you could say, “Oh, God? Yeah, I met him once, I think.” God is so amazingly great that it’s a lifelong process to know Him. He wants us not to just know ABOUT Him, but to KNOW Him intimately. And for that, a simple pamphlet won’t do.

God, we thank you for your Word, the wisdom of which can never be exhausted!

Question: How has your Bible reading been lately? Is it time to begin to re-read it with “new eyes?”

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2013/10/27/dh_the-bible/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published January 20, 2013

Money Matters

by Darren Hewer

“41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:41-44

Do you ever feel anxious when the collection plate comes around? Paul somewhat surprisingly tells us that “You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give.” Not only that, but giving should be joyful, not forced: “Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully”
(2 Corinthians 9:7). Jesus spoke more about money than almost any other topic. According to author Randy Alcorn, about 15% of Jesus’ sayings recorded in the Bible relate to money and possessions. Why did Jesus (and the New Testament authors like Paul) speak so often about money? Perhaps because we seem to have so much trouble using money wisely. Thankfully, the New Testament gives us plenty of guidance.

In the story of the widow’s offering, Jesus commends her gift of the equivalent of two pennies. She gave “more than all the rest.” Paul clarifies that “If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give” (2 Corinthians 8:12). So, clearly the amount given is not most important. Then what is? It is our attitude towards giving.

Often, the Pharisees (the religious zealots of Jesus’ time) tried in vain to trap Jesus with tricky questions. On one such occasion, Jesus’ reply was “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). So what portion of our money is “God’s”? In a sense, it all is, since we have been given stewardship over our money. How much should we give to the church or other important causes? Paul answers this question thusly: “Give whatever you can according to what you have” (2 Corinthians 8:11). The widow did just that; she gave what little she could afford and Jesus approved of her.

Finally, note what Jesus says about giving: “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired … Give your gifts in secret” (Matthew 6:1,4). Keeping your giving between yourself and God ensures you are giving for the right reason and won’t become prideful. As Paul says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others” (Philippians 2:3).

Follow these biblical principles when giving, and you will be giving joyfully, as the Lord wills you to do.

Lord, help me to remember that You own everything and my finances are Yours. Forgive me for the times I stress over money and hold it as an idol in my life. Help me to fully trust You with my earnings. Amen.

Question: What is your attitude towards giving? What can you do to become more like Christ in this area?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2013/01/20/dh_money-matters/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published October 11, 2012

Because You Said So

by Darren Hewer

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything,” Peter said. “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:4,5

Peter was an excellent fisherman. He’d been at his profession for a very long time. After all, he made his living that way. One morning, after a long night of fishing and catching nothing, he was ready to hang up the nets and go home for a good sleep. But Jesus had other plans, “Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch,” he told Peter.

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything,” Peter said. “But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:4,5). Peter could have argued, “I’m the fisherman around here. You do the preaching and I’ll do the fishing, okay.” But he surrendered his pride and his tiredness to Jesus.

“Because you say so, I will let down the nets,” he said. The end result? “They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in another boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6,7)

Sometimes what God wants us to do doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t seem to be the right timing or the right thing to do. Still, if God is speaking to us, we don’t need to understand, obedience is what counts.

One note of caution: Make sure it’s God’ voice you are hearing. How can you tell? God will never tell you something that goes contrary to His character or His word.

Dear God, I want to listen well and to obey promptly. Amen

You can comment on this devotional online at:
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Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published September 7, 2011

God in Nature

by Darren Hewer

Please open your Bible and read Psalm 19.

Truly “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1) and God is revealed in our natural world: “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)

It is, however, a mistake to base our beliefs on the natural world alone. Christian apologist Matthew Slick notes that “If we look at a beautiful sunrise, we decide God is ‘good’; if we look at a hurricane, we decide God is ‘cruel’” for our world has been corrupted by sin. Although God’s image which he imbued in us upon creation has been defaced by our sin, it can never be entirely erased. Similarly, although the world is corrupt, God’s glory continues to peek through the dark clouds, providing illumination for all who allow God’s light to shine in their hearts. (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

After all, “Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) While we might know about God from nature, we can only know Him personally through His Son Jesus Christ and by reading His word to us in the Bible. Nevertheless, we can experience God’s real presence through His creation, and this is one of the amazing gifts that God has given us.

Question: How can the grandeur of God’s creation help a person begin to know the God who created it?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2011/09/07/dh_god-in-nature/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published August 10, 2011

The Wonder of a Child

by Darren Hewer

Please open your Bible and read Psalm 78:1-4.

Little six-year-old Timothy skipped home at a leisurely pace with his older brother. His elementary school was only a 5 minute walk from his house, but it took him a lot longer than that to arrive at home, much to his brother’s chagrin!

It was the first day of spring. The sun shone brightly. The wind whistled gently through the air, and it seemed as though the entire world was blooming … alive after its winter slumber. At seemingly every turn, the natural world around him aroused his amazement and wonder: a dancing butterfly, a fuzzy caterpillar, a colorful flower, all alive with growth and life and wonder!

Sometimes we’re almost like polar opposites of little Timothy when it comes to God. We get accustomed to God’s grace. Blind to His glory. Oblivious to His love. When there’s work, plus family, plus church, plus everything else, it’s easy if we’re not careful to become distracted.

When was the last time you were in awe of God? While must constantly strive to increase our knowledge and understanding of our Lord, we should never lose the sense of wonder at who He is and all He has done for us.

Jesus called the children around Him, “took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:16) Can you approach Jesus as a child, not with a childlike intellect (1 Corinthians 13:11) but with a childlike attitude? A childlike attitude will keep us humble as we continually are reminded of God’s high exaltation, our lowly place, and (despite of our lowly place) how God has lifted us up with Him when we put our trust in Him, so that He may even call us “friend”. (John 15:15)

“Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” Psalm 113:2-3

Question: What do you admire most about the natural beauty around us, and have you stopped to really see it lately?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2011/08/10/dh_wonder-of-a-child/
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Short Thoughts for Cell Phones – God-daily.com

Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Published March 20, 2010

Jesus Loved Martha

by Darren Hewer

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to [Jesus] and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me.” Luke 10:40

Ever feel like a Martha? Someone who is focused, driven, hardworking “someone who wants to just get things done? Have you ever read Jesus’ interaction with Mary and her sister Martha, and felt sympathy for poor Martha, who is doing her best to be busy and work, only to be reproved by Jesus?

Does Jesus despise working hard? Surely not; Jesus commends hard work and perseverance (Revelation 2:2), and gives many parables to illustrate the value of hard work (such as the Two Sons, Matthew 21:32). What, then, does Jesus object to? Martha was not just working, but was : distracted,” “worried,” and “upset.” Just as “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17), the inverse is also true: Actions done with a gladful heart are what God desires.

What is the “better” thing that Mary has chosen? “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29). If Martha were doing her work with the proper focus (on God) and a loving attitude, she would not have complained that her sister was focusing on listening to Jesus, for Jesus told the crowds to “Listen and understand.” (Matthew 15:10).

Even when we have a Martha attitude, we can take comfort in this: “Jesus loved Martha” (John 11:5) Even when we miss the mark, have a bad attitude, or lose patience, God still loves us. Take this opportunity today to examine your servant life, and see if your heart is “distracted,” “worried,” and “upset.” If so, it would be worthwhile to take time to spend some time in peace and quiet with God. Remember, “Jesus loved Martha.”

Question: Is your heart distracted, worried, or upset today? If so, take solace in the fact that God loves you, and try to turn those feelings into something great, by listening to God through His word.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/20/dh_loved-martha/

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men

Category: <span>thoughts by Darren Hewer</span>

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