Genesis 48

Saturday, February 24, 2007, 10:14:04 AM

It is His!As I was reading today's chapter, Genesis 48, I was struck by Joseph's view of his sons. Genesis 48:8-9 says, "Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. “Are these your sons?” he asked. “Yes,” Joseph told him, “these are the sons God has given me here in Egypt.” Joseph knows that the blessing of his sons comes only from the Lord. He does not take credit for what God has done and what God has given him. This made me think, "Am I consistenly doing this . . . in all my decisions? Would I have resonded in the way Joseph did?" Congitively, I know that all that I have is from Him, but do I consider that in all my decions, actions, and responses? James 1:17, says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." In this verse, I think that the emphsis of this verse is on "every". Everything that I have is from Him and it is His. Living in light of this should should affect the way I DO LIFE . . . the way I use my resources . . . including things like money and time.What a blessing to know that I can know that not only is EVERYTHING I have from Him, but he has given me EVERYTHING that I need. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." He provides all that I need, spiritually, emotinally, and physically.Today this makes me think about counseling people. My counseling supervisor asked me yesterday, "What made you want to go into counseling?". All, that I could say was . . . "it is the only thing that has ever made sense for me." I have always enjoyed just talking to people and helping them sort through stuff . . . it is the way that God has wired me. My desire and my wiring to counsel is from Him. Any success that I have in this area is His. I can also rest in the fact that while I do not have all the answers for everyone, . . . He will give me all that I need in order to counsel in the way that He wants me too. My supervisor also asked me yesterday . . . what is the one client that will be really hard for you (a cutter, someone who is bipolor, etc.)? While I have no experience with these situations . . . well most things at this point . . . I can rest in the fact that He is going to give my what I need. I do not have to live in fear.