Blame

030608: Today Hanzo and I went to Caleb's celebration for his second chance at life. Little Caleb had drowned in a pool and was brought back to life by God's grace when his father, Brandon, prayed over him. It was truly a reminder of how important life and health is. Also, it reminded me of God's love and grace. Miracles do happen. Check out prayforcaleb.com for more information.

Deuteronomy 4:21 Furthermore the Lord was angry with me because of you, and He swore that I should not go over the Jordan and that I should not enter the good land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance.

Psalm 36:2For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes that his iniquity will not be found out and be hated.

It seems like these passages are teaching about blame. Psalm 36 says that it is a psalm of David the servant of the Lord. A servant does not blame others. Moses would not stop blaming the Israelites for God's judgement upon him, which was that he would not be able to enter into the promised land. Moses was the one who disobeyed God's instructions, but when God told Moses the consequence of his actions, Moses set the blame in his heart on the Israelites because he was angered by them. In the psalm, the wicked are said to flatter and deceive themselves in their own eyes. They do not look at their own faults, instead they point and blame others.

As I prepare my heart and mind for this weekend's retreat at Camp Waianae, I must remember that servants do not blame others. I am a servant of the Lord. Especially, because I will be helping the Pursuit leaders, I must set a Christlike example. Jesus never blamed anyone. I sense that I may be placed in a situation at camp where I can either point and blame someone for what happened, or I could look at myself with my own eyes and ask Jesus for forgiveness. What I also learned in pre-marital class is that no one can make you feel a certain way, you get to choose your reaction. I need to remember that no one except myself can make me upset, sad, or frustrated. I want to be a person that considers all things with joy. I pray that I am pleasing to God in all that I say and do.

Lord, I know I'm not perfect. I know that I'm not even inherently good. But, You are good, Lord, and You dwell in me. Please use me as Your vessel. Forgive me, Lord. I forgive as well, Lord. I lay all accounts of sin against me at Your altar right now. Please take it from me, Lord. Cleanse my heart and prepare me for the retreat. May I have a servant's heart. Keep me from blaming. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.