I do not always want to listen
to what God has to say to me

I do not always want to see
what God has to show me

      very often

            I want to listen least
            when I need to hear him most

            I want to avoid him
            when I need him close by

but in this moment of quiet and meditation
may I focus 

      not only

            on my comforts
            but his commands

            on my wants
            but his will

            on my obligations
            but his opportunities

            on my hurts
            but his hopes

            on what is
            but what still can be

may I be open and receptive
      to what God wants to teach me
      and then may I respond and do it

                                                       ---rus

                                         REMEMBER 
Humility teaches; pride and prosperity make you forget.
                                      Deuteronomy 8

    2"Remember that the Lord God led you all the way these
forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to
know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His
commandments or not.  3He humbled you.  He allowed you to
hunger, and fed you with manna, that He might make you know
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.  4Your garments did not
wear out, nor did your foot swell these forty years.  5You should
know as a man chastens his son, so the Lord chastens you.
    6"Therefore keep the commandments, walk in His ways and
fear Him.  7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good
land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that
flow out of valleys and hills; 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines
and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey
9a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you
will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose
hills you can dig copper.  10When you have eaten and are full,
then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which
He has given you.
    11"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not
keeping His judgments and His statutes which I command you
today, 12lest--when you have eaten and are full, and have built
beautiful houses; 13when your herds and flocks multiply, and
all that you have is multiplied; 14when your heart is lifted up,
and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt,
from the house of bondage; 15who led you through that great
and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and
scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who
brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16who fed you
in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know,
that He might humble you and test you, to do you good in the
end--17then you say in your heart, 'my power and the might
of my hand have gained me this wealth.'
    18"Remember the Lord.  It is He who gives you power
to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He
swore to your fathers.  19 If you by any means forget the Lord
and serve other gods, and worship them, I testify against you
this day that you shall surely perish.  20As the nations which
the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because
you would not be obedient to the Lord.''
               _{This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV}

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