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?