Do You Play The Blame Game?

It was the big day, I took my son to school early, visited with people for a few minutes, then headed home. He wasn't presenting until 10:30, and it was only 8:30, plenty of time to do a Bible study/devotional message and get back before the big presentation started. Time flew by, at 10:00, I noticed my hair had gone flat and frizzy from the early morning beach air. I decided to re-curl it (thinking I still had plenty of time.) We arrived at the school by 10:25, but...the door to my sons presentation room was shut. We were not allowed to go in!

The kids, blocking the closed door, informed us that they were running ahead of schedule and decided to send them in early. I was so angry! My son had been working on this business project for months. I didn't hide the fact that I was upset, (as the tears threatened to pour down my cheeks,) I stood at the door, face pressed close to the tiny glass window, watching my son, in his black suit, standing handsomely in front of the judges, calmly portraying confidence and poise, as he presented the groups closing remarks and answered several questions.

I wanted to bust through that door and dare those kids to try and stop me!

But I didn't, I just stood there, seething with anger and frustration, blaming the kids for allowing it to start early, as they singled out the boy, who was the master mind behind the sabotage to keep me out. His face was red, as he tried to explain what happened and why he let them go early.

LET THE BLAME GAME BEGIN!

Who's fault was it? Did it change the fact that I wasn't there to support my son? Did it change the fact that "I" chose to curl my hair instead of getting there 15 minutes early? G U L P...yes, there it was! As I blamed them and they blamed the boy, ultimately it came down to ME! My issues with being late to EVERYTHING! Yet another conviction in this area. But this one not only hurt me, but my son too.

In what area of your life are you playing the blame game? Is there something that keeps popping up over and over again, causing you to give excuses and get angry? Yes? Then it's time to stop pointing the finger...you're trapped in this deceptive game too. The important thing is to recognize that you're part of the problem (it's not always everyone else.) Once you realize you need help in a certain area, then begin to pray and ask the Lord for His help. Break the 'blame game' cycle and take responsibility for your actions, the Lord will guide you in truth as He helps you change.

Tend your vine, water the areas that need it, get rid of the heavy, dead branches that hold it back from growing.

Jonah 4:10 But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight."

Hosea 11:4 "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them."

Hosea 10:12 "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.

Going Deeper

Story By: Lisa Petrarca

Are you taking the necessary steps to building a relationship with the Lord? Not only limiting yourself to prayer in the morning or evening, but praying throughout the day.

When a decision is needed to be made...

When you're angry...

When you're lost...

When you're scared...

When you're worried...

When you're frustrated...

When your life & your choices no longer make sense...

PRAY!

I've discovered that the more I pray, the more opportunity I give the Lord to help me. He knows your needs, but He is waiting for you to stop trying to do it alone and ask for His help. Our days are filled with so many emotions and decisions. Our human nature usually makes decisions based on our feelings. God basis His decisions on complete knowledge of what is best for you.

So does it really make sense to trust your fleeting, passing, whimsical emotions?

Or trust in the Lord, the one person who knows you better than you know yourself?

God sees you!

Not the person you show to the world, but YOU!

Your true heart...

Your soul...

Your true self behind all the walls of protection.

Let God answer your prayers. Pray throughout the day and watch the change in your life as you build a close relationship with your Father in Heaven.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:4-6

And this is my prayer: that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

Who's In Control?

By: Lisa Petrarca

As the New Year begins, we need to strive to stop letting our thoughts control us. They are just feelings, momentary bursts of emotions. They can often pound us down, like huge crashing waves, leaving us gasping for air, paddling to reach the surface..

Waves of emotions hit us each day~happy, sad, frustrated, angry, hurt, annoyed, scared, worried....they are never ending.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "Who's in control of my life?"

Imagine a day that you were able to actually stop and rationalize the situation you're going through without following your feelings.

This year take a stand...

Stop letting your thoughts interfere with your faith.

As your emotions begin to overwhelm you...STOP....PRAY...ask the Lord to fill your heart and mind with His peace.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Proverbs 12:25

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-10

Fix It Now!

I just finished putting the last of the groceries away and put a baked potato in the microwave when the lights went out. We scrambled around to find some matches and candles. Expecting the lights to go on in 10 to 15 min., we sat down to eat our chicken and bread dinner by candlelight.

An hour went by, still pitch dark…now I was starting to get a little angry. A show I had been waiting to watch was coming on. I thought, “What are those guys doing? They need to fix this problem NOW!”

The time stretched to three hours…pitch black. My mind now raced to all the food I had just bought. “What is going on?” We finally decided to just go to bed because there wasn’t anything we could do about the situation. At 4:30 a.m. all the power came back on.

During the dark times in your life do you find yourself worrying? Are you filled with anxiety and stress while your waiting for something to change? We cry out to God, “Fix this problem NOW! I have tried everything, I can’t take it anymore.” Nothing seems to happen…everything stays dark.

What we don’t see is what’s going on behind the scenes. I didn’t know how the electrical company was going to fix the problem and turn on my power. But I knew that they were going to make it happen. I knew that I could go to sleep and wait for them to do their job.

We need to adapt this same mentality with God’s work in our lives. He has a plan for us. We may want something to happen NOW…but he knows there are some things that we aren’t yet ready for. Know that He is working behind the scenes in your life. In times like this, pray and ask for Him to fill you with his peace, trust and FAITH.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13