Ups and Downs

Spring rains rain down
Greenery grows up

Flowering plants cheer up
Whenever one feels down

Bending down
To pull weeds up

Weeding on one's knees, down
Now hard to get up

Weekly mowing May grass down
Dandelions quickly spring up

Bending down
To pick stones up

Cutting limbs, stretching up
Then pickup, bending down

Come August hot sun beams down
Grass eventually dries up

There'll be produce to put up
After stretching up or down

A shelf with vegetables filled up
Keeps one's spirits from feeling down

After putting down
Forgot where put up

Raking leaves falling down
In a pile to pick up

Snowflakes drifting down
Bundled up, then shovel up

* * * * *

Life is filled with ups
and oft times downs

Celebrations come up
A new pillow filled with down

Appliances break down
Septic systems back up

Emergencies come up
Worries get one down

Rains come down
Floods rise up

Prayers rise up
Blessings rain down

Prayers rise up
Blessings rain down

Prayers rise up
Blessings rain down

Repeated for emphasis.
Prayer is more than a wish.
Prayer establishes relationship
with God Almighty, whom we worship.

The blessing isn't necessarily the reward.
It's the growing relationship that's the better reward.
To know that God keeps His promises.
To stand on a foundation of trust.  Yes!

Isn't it ironic that we don't recognize God's faithfulness to us
until we hear about someone else's troubles and genuine mess.
Yes, God keeps His promises to us.
Keep praying.  Keep living a life of trust.

Blessings are surely coming.
Keep praying.  Keep trusting.
Stand firm in faith.
God will keep you safe.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against that house;
yet it did not fall,
because it had it foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25

Blessings crown the head of the righteous.
Proverbs 10:6

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3