It's NOT MY FAULT!

For those of you who have children- and for those of you who don't.

Having children is a great blessing, and this writing is not so much about our raising them.
I wondered, as a parent, or perhaps, in a parental position of authority, ever had a kid say to
you, "It's not MY fault. He/she did it!" It's true that it takes two to tango, and sometimes
it is difficult where to lay the blame. Sometimes it is obvious, even to the one who was the
'culprit' but, pride overtakes and there you go.

I had one of those days yesterday. My husband and I have been working on a certain area in
our lives that needs cleaning up. I'm not talking about my yard or home, but our budget.
Why does money seem to cause so many arguements? Could it be as the Lord has spoken,
the LOVE of money is the root of all evil? Anyway, there was a complete misunderstanding on
this and I over reacted. Me? The one who prays to God above, each and every day for advice
and one who seeks the Lord in prayer for everything- well, most every thing. Hmmph. Me?
Wow! Where did that anger come from? I know I'm not perfect...or 'holier than thou'...but,
if I was tired and not paying attention, the best thing..would have been to just walk off..if I could not have restrained myself from harsh words.

The Bible has alot to say about this kind of stuff. Restraining...holding back the tongue from its
'deadly' evils! It's really not funny- or is it? Sometimes, we can sound just like those children..
"it's not my fault!" He did it! She made me do it!!" Didn't that start with Adam and Eve? Hmmn . Well, anyway, I love my husband dearly and I know he loves me and we can't always be on even keel...but, we can try and communicate in God's way.
I think if we look to the LORD above to fulfill us...to answer our prayers...He will. I think if we spent less time trying to get someone that annoys us about things...or perhaps just doesn't understand us-and look to the Lord for help..then God will help us. Sometimes, in God helping us...He is adjusting our inner thermostat and helping us to see the situation as He sees it. What better loving parent than our God above! Kind, but effective discipline.
So...here's some words from God- His Word- the Bible...from Proverbs and Psalms...May they
be a blessing to you and yours...today!
" A man's wisdom gives him patience - it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (OH?.. to our glory to forgive and forget?)
"He who pursues righteousness finds life, prosperity and honor!"
"He who guards his life and his TONGUE keeps himself from calamity!"
"A quarrelsome wife is like a ocnstant dripping on a rainy day, restraining her is like restraining the wind- (lol) - or grasping oil with the hand!" (that's for sure!)
"An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot tempered one comments many sins!"
"It is to a man's honor to avoid strife- every FOOL? is quick to quarrel" (how foolishness I was) More promises:
"With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord, in the great Throng I will praise Him- for God stands at the right hand of the needy one to save his life from those who condemn him!" Wow! "Let love and faithfulness never leave you- Bind them around your heart for they will PROLONG your life Many Years! AND bring you prosperity!!" (I like that one!)
"But you oh Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, SLOW to Anger(thank you Lord!) abounding in LOVE and Faithfulness!'
"Lord, if YOU kept a record of sins- WHO COULD STAND? But, with you, there is forgiveness and therefore you are feared!' ( So happy for that one)

and finally...as a prayer to our Lord above for all of us...(.we are in trials, people...down here on this earth...each and every day....God is allowing stuff...and we are in tests...and God will be faithful...if we are!):
"SEARCH ME, OH GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART- TEST ME..AND KNOW MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS..SEE IF THERE IS ANY OFFENSIVE WAY IN ME AND LEAD ME...(AND ALL OF US LORD ABOVE), IN THE WAY EVERLASTING!!!!
finally...
'Set a GUARD over my mouth (our mouths) OH LORD- keep watch over the door of our lips
Let not our hearts be drawn to what is evil...To take part in wicked deeds with men who are evil doers"

"Lord- the world tells us one thing- many things- YOU tell us another- You always show us
a better way to walk in triumph over our enemies. Our love ones are NOT our enemies!
We have a real enemy, the devil, who walks around ...sneaks...comes fiercely in...however he does that...to overtake the righteousness in us- to try to collapse our witness for you.
We can pray - shout - cry - get angry- and go through the whole process again and again, but
true victory comes with our looking at ourselves...and beyond ourselves to YOU! Not always
praying for YOU to fix someone else...FIX US LORD! ME! AND sometimes that 'aint easy- we don't like it...but, in the long run....we will be overcomers and enter in to your peace and joy
and everlasting wonder- love...righteousness. Yes, and even FORGIVENES! - It's so much better...on the blood pressure reading...and in that relationship that we long to see be what it needs and should be...Thank you again...for opening my eyes...Remove those Blinders Lord! In Jesus's Name. Amen."