Today I got to listen to a student explaining the reason they didn't perform well on tests. My mind quickly went to the story of the garden of Eden and the blame game that was played. Once we identify something to blame (exs. - parents, medical conditions, hormones, other people, our childhood, etc) we are then free to complain about our situation. In this case the student has resigned themselves to poor test grades. Don't worry it won't be their fault, they can't help it.

Firstly that person goes on the prayer list, that God will place the idea that improvement is possible. There is also a desire on my part to be able to say a magic word and poof they have no more anxiety. Again that isn't a normal reality, it will take earnest prayer, continuing exhortation, and work on both the student's part and mine. Those things won't guarantee success, but if God intervenes then success will happen. So if the success happens it will be a praise. What poor performance are we accepting, mediocrity?

I also searched my New Testament thoughts searching for a scripture that I was convinced I had seen, but hadn't been able to find for three days. As part of that search I came across my thoughts from James 5- One of the things that clearly came to me today has to do with blame and fault. As people we are usually looking to blame others, or find fault. I don't believe its God's way. In the garden of
Eden the woman blamed the snake, the man blamed the woman.

I think rather than focus on blame or fault we should focus on what we can do to prevent unpleasant things from happening again. We can (1) assign blame and expect others to do what is necessary without us having to lift a finger to avoid unpleasantness, OR (2) we have a dialog (2 way communication) asking what we can do to help/avoid repeats.

The first leads to frustration, or can, or hard feelings, anger, resentment, hurt, and definite repetition of unpleasant circumstances.

The second leads to dialog, stronger friendships, a working together and growing together, and positive change. This is God's plan, how do we implement it? For this to work all parties need to be willing to communicate, if anyone isn't, then avoidance of that person is probably the only safe answer. I'm advocating relationship building by doing your part- honestly communicating your feelings, and being receptive to the ideas and feelings of others. Then compare these to God's word.

Back to the garden of Eden ­ even though all parties fervently believed they were not at fault, that did not mean the unpleasant consequences were avoided, they were held accountable in fact. So blame is easy, but is not an answer. When we stand before God, will we offer Him excuses, or blame our faults on others (maybe even Him). God's heart must be grieving over our (as people) reliance on blaming others as a way to justify our actions. On judgement day our Father will be explaining to many.

1 Thess 2:12

Father's day is on the way, and I want to remind the father's of their influence. First of all most prisoners don't have or didn't have a fatherly influence. The numbers of fatherless families is staggering, so the prison situation won't improve. We as men and fathers need to take advantage of the influence God has stated is ours. Strengthening urging and comforting is as a father would of his children. So one of the father's duties in the home is to prophesy what will happen. If you are a father, what are you prophesying to happen to your family? Make sure its positive then speak it vocally, verbally and often, the good things you want to happen in your family. If you are negative (definitely a possibility) then those results will affect the family. God is our role model, and He wants only good things for His children.

Romans Ch 9

Finally that scripture. In the story of the Golden calf of Exodus Moses intercedes for the people wanting to be blotted out if God would not forgive that transgression. In Romans 9 Paul records a prayer along the same lines. I wonder if there is a third in the Bible. Is our heart for others such that we are willing to be blotted out of His book, or be separated from Christ?

Exodus 32 - Story of the Gold calf

People want God or a god- they see it as security.
Moses was gone too long and so they felt alone and sought another.
People are gladly willing to support their god, bringing the treasure ultimately used to make the calf (cheerfully in fact).
People also want their god on their own terms, and often times aren't willing to wait on the real One.
These things lead to the creation of idols.

Those things are still true of us "obstinate people" today.

God said He was going to destroy them, I wonder if it was a test of Moses heart toward these people. Was He waiting on Moses to intercede for this people showing his commitment and love for them? Do we have a heart to intercede for rebellious people or do we give up too easily?
As part of Moses intecession he wanted to be blotted out if the Lord wouldn't forgive. Paul spoke a similar sentiment in the NT about how he would gladly go to hell that his brethren would come to know Christ.- need to find that scripture.

If we are obstinate, God won't be in our midst. Put off all our ornaments and bare ourselves before God and He will know what to do with us. EXO 33:5

EXO 33:13 Moses wanted God to show him His ways, Moses had a heart for the people and for God.

EXO 34 God is talking about the covenant he made with this people and He warns them - in general - be careful about making covenants that aren't God approved, our life should be what God wants it to be, and making covenants or promises that God didn't tell us to make can become become a snare in our midst and cause us to play the harlot. This happens when we don't put God first.

EXO 35 Skillful people should do the Lords work, their hearts will be moved to do so- volunteer. Lord will provide the skilled workers necessary. Lord provided workers and material for His tabernacle . EXO 36 the material provided for the material was more than enough. So if God wants it to happen He will provide the workers and the means (more than enough).



Now from my reading in EZE
Ch 13 - Prophesy against those that prophesy of their "own inspiration" . "Own inspiration" means own agenda, not God's. God will make clear what He wants us to know, and He doesn't have to use others. The Lord is against false prophets He will show people He is God. We must be careful not to dishearten the righteous, and not fail to encourage the wicked to turn from their ways. He will lead us in the right direction. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel in real time about the iniquity of the people. We should repent from idols - countries are idols. Do we idolize our country, it may be the best in our opinions but where in the hierarchy is it in relationship to God.

Then Ezekiel 16 which talks about the city of Jerusalem, but could it not be describing each and everyone of us.
Jerusalem was of poor birth- (our history isn't flattering) The Lord made it what it is.
God gives Jerusalem wealth (He gives us ours)
God gives Jerusalem food (He provides ours)
God gives Jerusalem goods (He gives us ours)
God gives Jerusalem children (He gives us ours)

Jerusalem didn't trust the Lord but rather what He had given it - do we get caught up in our things? rather than God?
Jerusalem forgot its past, its roots, have we forgotten ours?
Jerusalem made shrines for itself out of the things God gave it rather than honoring God. Do we feel secure because of God or because of the things He has given us.
Jerusalem focused on people, other countries, do we focus on God or people to determine our happiness? Jerusalem played the harlot with these countries putting them before God, Do we put people before God. These countries became bitter - Jerusalem sought Egypt to protect it from Babylon, and not God

Sodom is described as the sister of Jerusalem, it had the following characteristics : careless ease, abundant food, arrogant. (which led to rampant homosexuality). We in the US have had careless ease- we take too much for granted, we are the breadbasket of the world so we have food, and we are arrogant in that we use our military might.

My notes for the week, the things God has brought to my mind. I can see God working in my life, little things happened all week and it was a God thing.

like being worried about a student's grade and the same student showing up and agreeing with me that the grade I had decided on was fair.
like having peace about how other students faired in my classes.
like causing the computer network at home to blink, when I should have been getting off to go to bed anyway
like the wonderful calm and cheerfulness putting His share of some income in an envelope
like the wonderful insight into how to present material to a class I'm teaching -the timing has been perfect in the last two
like His wonderful leadings into my personal life, and some of the concerns I have been having
I feel He is leading me along the path that is best for me.

I went hiking this week, a short one mile trip, the best photos I took are posted at wunderground my handle is nchiker.

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/imagesearch.html?handlebox=on&handle=nchiker&submit=go

Hiking is a wonderful reflective time in the woods. Good prayer time, and relaxation away from the things of man.

Now from the Bible reading

Nebuchadnezzar is Called "My servant" in Jer 27:6

In Jer 34:2 Jerusalem is to be burned with fire

In Jer 38:3 Jerusalem will be given into his hand (Nebuchadnezzar's)

Yet later in the book of Jeremiah it clearly prophesies the destruction of Babylon

In Jer 51:11 Vengeance of the Lord for His temple

In Jer 51:24 repay Babylon for the evil done in Zion

In Jer 51:26 will be desolate forever.

How did someone who was God's servant for a country end up causing the destruction of that country? He seemingly carried out God's will, but my question is did he? God gave him success over Jerusalem and Israel and Judah that is clear. God later destroyed Babylon for it.

Did his God given success go to his head and become pride?
There is some evidence for that, God made Nebuchadnezzar lose his mind for a period of years over pride.
Eze 7:20 transformed the beauty of His (God's) ornaments into pride. Not about Babylon, but rather the Jewish people- just sounded to me like something that could commonly happen to anyone.


Could it be that they didn't do exactly what the Lord had said, maybe He didn't tell them specifically to destroy the temple. That may have been their practice, but not God's intention. They were maybe to just carry the Jews off to exile, and decided to destroy the city and His temple. God would have known they were going to.


On another note in Lam 2:14 prophets should expose iniquity, fearing men rather than God leads to the painting of false pictures and predictions. Ezekiel was told not to fear Israel but to speak the words given to him by God. So if we feel led to warn someone we should obey that leading.

Proverbs 18:13 a scripture I had read and looked for last month, but could not find. Make sure you understand before answering. I do this to people, and I am keenly aware of when it happens to me. Getting a short answer.

One last observation from Eze 8:16 people will be in God's temple, and yet face east toward the sun to pray. (Muslims) A muslim temple on the sight of God's temple. The alter is on the west end of the temple

Thoughts for the week ending May 11.

Wisdom calls to people as we are told in Proverbs 9:4
So does Folly in verse 16. People are called to, there is a definite choice people have to make. Follow the Lord's wisdom or folly. I've read proverbs multiple times, and this is the first time I noticed this. God is truly remarkable. We are constantly making choices, choices that have consequences that we are responsible for. What voice are we listening too?

Another marvelous thought came to me while I was mowing. I've been trying to get some blueberries started. With gas going out of sight price wise I thought it would be neat to grow some fruit, maybe some fruit trees. Well the ones I planted last year have died, and I got a new one and put it out this year. When I mowed the other day I noticed one of its branches had been broken off, about 6-8" long. The thought of the blueberry bushes I have seen in the gorge came to mind. The literally grow out of cracks in rocks, and are very healthy. So I thought of the fall of man, a punishment for not obeying God. Man would labor all the days of his life. Like those plants I realized that our labor will make us stronger, and draw us to God. So the punishment He assigned actually is something that draws us back to Him. Like any good parent that wants the best for their child, God is our parent and He wants the best for us, which may not and probably isn't an easy life. His punishment for our disobedience draws us closer to Him.

I was also tarried on trip back from the in-laws and heard some good preaching. It was about slothful Christians, those that aren't progressing. His final point was a question. Where do you want to go?

My answer to that question, I want to discern God's guidance daily, and obey. I'm currently reading in Exodus and He guided them daily by a cloud, and at night by fire, so we can become in tune to His desires and then its a question of obeying. Hopefully yes.