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 readersthat 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 ofa new day and a new week, of Becomingall by the changeless grace of our changeless, loving God.p.s. it's worth every precious while we taketo 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 livingOh, the cups that fill and drainAs torrents of take-and-givingRush hearts with pleasure and pain Oh, the highs and lows of lovingOh, the ties that strain and bendIn the thick and quick of provingLove’s faithfulness to the end Oh, the Yet of have-and-holdingOh, the letting go it bearsTeaching us the art of foldingLife-long learning into prayers Oh, the tug of wars we weatherOh, the hug that bids releaseOh, the testing of love’s tetherAs God works its masterpiece Oh, the rise and fall of laughterOh, the prize and gall of tearsCaught between before and after While a lifetime disappears Oh, love's fumbles, oh, life's stumblesOh, the bumbles we repeat (or, oh, the humble pies we eat)While God's grace and goodness tumblesNew 'becoming' 'neath our feet Oh, the beauty of His favorOh, the duty of replyOh, the love of Christ, our Saviour's'Upsy-daisy, here am I Through the ups and downs of livingIn the cups that fill and drainWith torrents of take-and-givingHere am I to help again' © Janet Martin May we take heart throughSolomon's Benediction, as relevant now as then! 1 Kings 8:54-61Solomon’s Benediction Now 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. And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israelaccording to all that He promised.Not one word has failed of all the good promisesHe made through His servant Moses.May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers.May He never leave us nor forsake us.May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His waysand to keep the commandments and statutesand ordinances He commanded our fathers.And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORDbe 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, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God.There is no other!So 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.”