“God Is Not” ( Psalm 14:1 WYC ) by Carley Evans

Notice who is the fool? The fool is the one who says there is no God. With no Creator, the foolish man is corrupted by his own study; his view of the universe distorted by his own thoughts. With such a view of life, the fool is incapable of doing good. His deeds remain abominable. Not one person who denies God’s existence does good for the capacity for love is absent.

“To the victory, [the psalm] of David. The unwise man said in his heart, God is not. They be corrupt, and they be made abominable in their studies; none there is that doeth good, none is till to one. (To victory, the song of David. The fool said in his heart, There is no God. Such men be corrupt, and they be made abominable in their deeds; there is no one who doeth good, no not one.)”

“Out Of The Overflow” ( Psalm 19: 14, ESV ) by Carley Evans

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14, ESV)

David sings how the skies speak of God, declaring His glory and proclaiming the work of His hands. He sings of the goodness of God’s ordinances, how “the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” (Psalm 19:7, NIV) Then he muses, “Who can discern his [own] errors?”; and he prays, “Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” (Psalm 19:12-13)

How is this accomplished? Through “the meditation of [the] heart.” Jesus says, “From out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

David recognizes he has hidden faults. His prayer is that the Lord Himself would work to keep David “from willful sins” that these would not “rule over [him].” His hope is to remain relatively free of “great transgression” so that from the overflow of his heart, his mouth will speak what is “acceptable” to God.

Jesus speaks against keeping our outsides clean while allowing what’s inside us to defile our speech and actions. Jesus calls us to make His kingdom our treasure, so that what emerges from us naturally reflects what is in our hearts. Like David, let us rely on God the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out, not from the outside in.

“Hot Anger And Steadfast Love” ( 1 John 1: 9, Psalm 86: 5; ESV ) by Carley Evans

God makes it crystal clear that He is holy and just. In Him there is no darkness. He makes it even clearer that He is merciful. Throughout His Word, He speaks of and shows off His great hatred of disobedience, sin, and waywardness. Simultaneously, He speaks of and shows off His willingness and great desire to forgive, restore, and love those He calls His own.

Our part is believing these two truths regarding the nature of God. Believing in God’s wrath necessarily leads to fear, but “perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18) Our fear is rather awe of God, a marveling of God’s ability to “forgive the iniquity of Your people; You cover all their sin. You withdraw all Your wrath; You turn from Your hot anger.” (Psalm 85:2-3) “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.” (Psalm 85:11)

Jesus proclaims, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32) “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins; I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Luke 5:24)

“If we confess our sins, [You] are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.”

“A Restless Evil” ( Proverbs 25: 11, ESV ) by Carley Evans

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

“We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell… No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” (James 3:2-10)

“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged.” (James 5:9) “Do not boast and be false to the truth.” (James 3:14) “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:15-16)

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26-27)

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” (James 2:8)

“Proclaim God’s Righteousness, His Alone” ( Psalm 71: 20, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

“God, who is like You? You cause me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but You revive me again. You bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. You increase my honor and comfort me once again.” (Psalm 71:19-21)

I “endure suffering as discipline. God is dealing with [me] as [a] son. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if [I am] without discipline — which all receive — then [I am} an illegitimate child and not a son." (Hebrews 12:7-8)

But,"You redeem me." (Psalm 71:23) Therefore, "my mouth tells about Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up. I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God; I proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone." (Psalm 71:15-16)

I "strengthen [my] tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for [my] feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)

“My lips shout for joy when I sing praise to [God] because [He] redeems me.” (Psalm 71:23)

“By The Abundance Of God’s Love” ( Psalm 5: 7, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

David sings, “For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You.” (Psalm 5:4) Then, sings, “But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You.” The psalmist glorifies God.

David does not sing of how righteous he is or of how much he deserves the favor of God; instead, he sings: “Lord, lead me in Your righteousness… Make Your way straight before me.” (Psalm 5:8) He asks, “Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your Name boast about You;” i.e. not about themselves! (Psalm 5:11)

What brings David and us into the house of God? David claims that “by the abundance of Your faithful love” we enter God’s dwelling. No evil may reside there. What takes away our evil? Jesus answers this question.

“I Am Never Shaken” ( Psalm 62: 7, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Like David the psalmist, I am completely dependent upon God; for this reason, I am grateful He is both strong and loving. Because “He is my fortress, I am never shaken.” (Psalm 62:2) “With God I gain the victory.” (Psalm 60:12)

My rest is found in God alone. My hope comes from Him which explains why I trust Him at all times. I pour out my heart to Him, for He is my refuge. My salvation depends upon God alone; in the same way, my glory, my honor derive from His.

“I long to dwell in [His] tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of [His] wings… for [He] gives me the heritage of those who fear [His] Name.” (Psalm 61:4,5) “May [I] be enthroned in God’s presence forever.” (Psalm 61:7) May God “appoint [His] love and faithfulness to protect [me].” (Psalm 61:7)

“O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.” (Psalm 59:17)

“Where Is Job?” ( Job 1: 8, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Where does it say that God knows the location of His servant, Job? In the Book of Job, the angels come “to present themselves before the Lord.” (Job 1:6) Satan is present with these angels. God says to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8)

God’s question implies that He knows where Job is located and what he is doing.

Jesus confirms, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Matthew 10:26) We are not capable of hiding from God. Remember, “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 10:30)

“Get Some Rest” ( Mark 6: 31, NIV ) by Carley Evans

My 9 year old Bichon Frise, Bolind’s Frosted Katie Hanna [Hanna for short] died suddenly this weekend. She began walking stiffly, then foaming at the mouth, vomiting water, with profound lethargy following. She died within 24 hours of the first symptoms. Apparently, the symptoms sounded like antifreeze poisoning to the vet, who was too busy to see her. And, I am currently having her dog food tested as a precaution. We buried Hanna in our backyard.

Jesus tells His apostles, “Come with Me by yourself.”

On top of my dog’s sudden death, my daughter is presently in Japan. Although she is currently safe, the constant news coverage of the six nuclear reactors in Fukushima being near meltdown has caused me some loss of sleep, despite my mental discipline of refusing to worry. I’ve actually discovered that I worry that she is worried!

Jesus says, “Come to a quiet place.”

Kindly, my supervisor at work allowed me an extra day to be at home this week. I initially thought the two days without Hanna and with my daughter in Japan might be depressing, but I needed that time to be with the Lord and to be in a quiet place.

Jesus says, “Get some rest.”

Here is the command from the Lord with which I believe many Christians have the most trouble. So much to do, so little time to do it all — how can I rest?

I can tell you from this week’s experiences — I needed a rest. I needed a quiet place. I needed to be by myself, alone with the Lord.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret.” (Psalm 37:7) “Get some rest.”

“Give Thanks” ( Psalm 136: 23 -24, NIV ) by Carley Evans

“His love endures forever,” writes an anonymous psalmist. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” (Psalm 136:1) “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: to the One who remembers us in our low estate His love endures forever. and frees us from our enemies, His love endures forever.“

In the garden of Eden, Adam – after falling to temptation – tries to hide from God who “remembers [man] in [his] low estate.” Though God soon banishes Adam from earthly paradise, He also sets His plan in motion — His plan to “free [man] from [his] enemies.”

“Give thanks to the Lord, to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:4)

The greatest wonder of God is His willingness to sacrifice His Son – Himself – on the cross for Adam’s salvation. Even as the angels bar the way back to earthly paradise, God provides the narrow gate to a heavenly paradise.

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26)