A Small Little Rant...

One of my biggest frustrations is when individuals fail to accept responsibility for themselves. A constant need and attitude of blame toward others puts you in a position to limit your ability for change and God's ability to work in your life: if nothing is ever your fault and you have no affect on the outcome then your actions and choices don't matter; your life is then a result of chance. It's crucial for parents to teach their children that a specific set of actions results in specific consequences, and that there's consistency throughout their life. So many individuals mine and Kevin's age have never been shown consistency in regards to their behavior, or they have friends and family members who excuse their behavior instead of forcing them to own up to the choices they've made and the role they've played in their current situation. YOU are responsible for YOUR life: your choices, your words, your actions all add up to where you are currently. If you don't like it, change all of the above. But, don't blame others in an effort to remain lazy and not take responsibility.
The Word states that we have what we say, that the power of life and death is in the tongue - in the words that you speak! The manner in which you speak is the direction your life will take. You have individuals around you that are watching you, examining your life to see if it mirrors what you say you believe, and you can't be lazy regarding the influence you have. You have friends, children, family members, all watching you to see if what you profess to believe is true. This is a tremendous responsibility that we have as christians, and we can't do any of it in our own strength or through our personal ability - we don't have to calculate our steps and our thoughts and our behavior in an effort to "look" like we're doing the right thing. We love God + we love His Word + we put it into practice. Will we get it right every time, no. But, the fruit of our lives, the result of a life that lives to bring glory to God, is a life that speaks for itself and that will speak to the hearts of those around us.
But, you can't make excuses for yourself. You can't accept everything that comes your way. You have to take control of your life and it starts will your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Take responsibility.