LISTENING

[image credit]
"Speak Lord, Your servant is LISTENING!"1 Samuel 3:9-10
This image actually could have been one from me, here this week, out in my 7 and a half acres of pine trees,gazing up and allowing the Son (sun)to shine and filter through the other "noises" around -mostly in nature as I take pause & reflectas I truly tried to focus on
LISTENING
- but the image is not mine
nor does it seem to be so easy to pause & reflect
and truly 
LISTEN
to hear God speak
to listen to others
or to block out
all the noise(s)
stealing our attention
waking us at all hours
alerting us to take time
and
really LISTEN to God
for God
what is He speaking to us
individually and collectively
I am desperately trying to just hear
GOD
and so I've been really
LISTENING
searching for any
WORD
from God
Hoping to discern well
to hear His Whisper
above my fear
above the clamor
above my own thoughts
above what others are blasting so loudly
Oh Lord, how I wish to block out the evil and all that's happening
in our world, in our nation, in my personal sphere
in me
Yes, Lord
"I am Your servant
and I am
LISTENING"
SPEAK LORD
{this has been consuming me all week, perhaps too much}
So I write and wait for Your Holy Spirit
to enlighten me & help me to
HEAR as I LISTEN
and
READ
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Daily Scriptural Reading plan for April 7-13, this past week from
The 📘
{it's an actual Blue Book by Jim Branch}

11. LISTENING to God  Psalm 19  Monday: Isaiah 55:1-3 Tuesday: John 10:1-18  Wednesday: Genesis 28:10-22  Thursday: Genesis 32:22-32  Friday: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7  Saturday: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22  Sunday: Luke 10:38-42

I had hope to write my own poem
but this
LISTENING POEM
is so much more than I could write
because it encompasses so much more 
I believe this is what God might like us to do also
"Today I Will Listen"by Marva Shand McIntosh
IF ONLY
we would LISTEN this way

I do believe that God does!
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PALM SONday
{and what would be my brother's 76th birthday}
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So much passing through my mind
my heart
but
Lord, I am LISTENING 
please speak
and
help me
HEAR
"I am becoming more & more convinced thatLISTENING to Godis one of the most important practices in all of the spiritual life. ..."Jim Branch (April 2016)
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I am asking Lord
"for a LISTENING heart"
Thank You
always
for
LISTENING 
to my many thoughts
& 
ramblings!

PRAYER

For this past week of LENT

this was The 📘Reading Plan

APRIL [March 31-April 6]  10. PRAYER Psalm 84 Monday: Matthew 6:5-15 Tuesday: James 5:13-18 Wednesday: John 17:1-26 Thursday: Psalm 131 Friday: Colossians 1:3-14 Saturday: Philippians 1:3-11 Sunday: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

I found myself leaning in more closely
during my
PRAYER
time
as well as
seeming to personally need more
PRAYER
yet really hoping to listen to
Hear His Whisper.
Today
Sunday
[not counted in the 40 days of Lent]
I found myself at the computer for a medical purpose
but glanced at this exact graphic of a
PRAYER
that's special in so many people's lives
usually for those in recovery
however
we all are to some degree.
Most only know the beginning of this
PRAYER
but I hope as you read this all the way through
you will agree it's the rest of the 
PRAYER
that
matters
{at least, it does for me}

[the image is available as a print from American Luxury Gifts]

{Etsy has a beautiful print in blue - my favorite color}
I find great comfort and peace in "blue" and in the above image print 
but mostly in the 
Serenity
PRAYER
written by
Reinhold Niebuhr
an American theologian

"Therefore, the most that can be expected from any society is not love but justice – "
from this article of the background story
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Added to the serenity of this 
PRAYER
came the lyrics of a well-known beautiful old hymn
shared by
💚
my friend & sisterin Christ
[and its background here and here]
these are the words that brought healing & solace to me 
although I'm still singing the full song in my mind & heart
because it's so tender and precious when
we have that kind of an intimate relationship with
"... JESUS ..."

[1st] "... What a privilege to carry   Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit,   O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry   Everything to God in prayer! ...  [2nd] {beautiful & treasurable! but not shared here} [3rd] "Are we weak and heavy-laden,   Cumbered with a load of care? {yes(sigh)} "... Precious Savior, still our refuge—   Take it to the Lord in prayer... In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, {🙏}   Thou wilt find a solace there." [4th] "Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer— Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there."

I thank💚her for this precious reminder
and Joseph M. Scriven (1855) as well as
Reinhold Niebuhr(March 1933)
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As we near the close of Lent with
PALM SUNDAY
next week
{on my late oldest brother's birthday, who I will be thinking of & remembering fondly on April 13th}
then
HOLY WEEK
starts
ending with the
Glorious
RESURRECTION SONday
on April 20th!
The best & greatest celebration every year!
Looking forward to these last 2 weeks of
LENT
[Looking Eternally Now Thankfully]
Repented, Restored, Renewed & Resurrected
by Jesus Christ Alone
my King of kings, & Lord of lords
There is No Other Name
by which we are saved
JESUS CHRIST

HE IS WORTHY
of it all
Praise, Honor, Glory & Thanks
belong to Him alone
forever & always

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"... Living one day at a time ..."
until then
"enjoying one moment
at a time" ...
"TRUSTING"
from the
Serenity Prayer