AGAIN
Today's reading: Genesis 48-50

"But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head. So he lifted it and placed in on Manasseh's head instead. No, Father, he said, this one over here is older. Put your right hand in his head.
But his father refused. I know what I'm doing, my son, he said..." Genesis 48:17-19 NLT

I think this is the fourteenth time I've read this portion of Scripture at this time of the year.

I only know that because I've used the same Bible reading plan for that long, it's my favorite and it works well for me.

I would have to look back over my journals, but I believe I stop at these same verses each and every year.

They speak to me.

They speak about me.

Today, I hope they speak through me...again.

Again because I have no doubt I've written about this section each and every year.

It's that personal to me.

It's a lesson I'm repeatedly learning, re-learning and learning again.

Maybe you're tiring of reading about it. Maybe you're reading it for the first time. Maybe, like me, you need the reminder...

I, too often, attempt to move God's hand for Him. I try to place it where I believe it needs to be. I give Him, laughable isn't it, instruction as to what's best for my life--and His plans. I give Him reason after reason as to why what I suggest might be best, filling Him in on what He may have overlooked. I provide Him with information and well-thought out advice. I doubt Him. My faith wavers. I think too highly of myself and too little of Him.

I've done it as recently as, well, this morning. As I read over the Bible passage looking for something else to write about. Something new. Something fresh. Something I'd not written on several times before. Something I'd won the battle over, not something I still struggle with.

And He whispers in my ear and in my heart, again--I know what I'm doing, Malinda.