Through The Ups and Downs of 'Becoming'

Nothing in life stays the same for long, does it?!

Seasons change. People change.

Change is constant but something I read this morning reminded readers

that rather than just seeing ourselves, or situations as changing, 

to view it as 'becoming'.

This attitude helps us be more merciful and prudent 

with both ourselves and others!

So off we go to meet the ups and downs of

a new day and a new week, of Becoming

all by the changeless grace of our changeless, loving God.

p.s. it's worth every precious while we take

to think about how much God loves us!

Doesn't the canvas of a new day sometimes almost take your breath away,

considering humankind's track-record?!!

Oh, the ups and downs of living

Oh, the cups that fill and drain

As torrents of take-and-giving

Rush hearts with pleasure and pain

Oh, the highs and lows of loving

Oh, the ties that strain and bend

In the thick and quick of proving

Love’s faithfulness to the end

Oh, the Yet of have-and-holding

Oh, the letting go it bears

Teaching us the art of folding

Life-long learning into prayers

Oh, the tug of wars we weather

Oh, the hug that bids release

Oh, the testing of love’s tether

As God works its masterpiece

Oh, the rise and fall of laughter

Oh, the prize and gall of tears

Caught between before and after 

While a lifetime disappears 

Oh, love's fumbles, oh, life's stumbles

Oh, the bumbles we repeat (or, oh, the humble pies we eat)

While God's grace and goodness tumbles

New 'becoming' 'neath our feet 

Oh, the beauty of His favor

Oh, the duty of reply

Oh, the love of Christ, our Saviour's

'Upsy-daisy, here am I 

Through the ups and downs of living

In the cups that fill and drain

With torrents of take-and-giving

Here am I to help again'

© Janet Martin

May we take heart through

Solomon's Benediction, as relevant now as then!

1 Kings 8:54-61

Solomon’s Benediction

54Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD,

he got up before the altar of the LORD,

where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.

55And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel

according to all that He promised.

Not one word has failed of all the good promises

He made through His servant Moses.

57May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers.

May He never leave us nor forsake us.

58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways

and to keep the commandments and statutes

and ordinances He commanded our fathers.

59And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD

be near to the LORD our God day and night,

that He may uphold the cause of His servant

 and of His people Israel as each day requires, 

60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God.

There is no other!

61So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God,

as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”