Consider...the Wind

                                         "The wind blows where it wishes
                                               and you hear the sound of it,
                                      but do not know where it comes from
                                       and where it is going; so is everyone
                                                 who is born of the Spirit."
                                                               John 3:8


The way of the world is to do your own thing and, at best, ask God to bless it.
(see Judges 17:6; 21:25).
The way of the word is to commit your works to the Lord and let Him establish His plans for you (see Proverbs 16:3).

There's a mystery to it.

The way of the world is to make your own plans (Proverbs 16:25).
The way of the word is to let God make your plans (see Jeremiah 10:23; 29:11).

There's a mytery to it.

The way of the world is to take care of yourself and look out for #1
(see Philippians 2:21).
The way of the word is to seek God's kingdom first and let Him take care of you (see Matthew 6:33).

There's a mystery to it.

The way of the world is to strive with all your might! (see Haggai 1:5-9).
The way of the word is to cease striving and know that He is God
(see Psalm 46:10).

There's a mystery to it.

The way of the world is to trust in what you see (1 Corinthians 1:25-28).
The way of the word is to trust in what God says (see Proverbs 3:5).

There's a mystery to it.


                                                "Have you ever seen God?
                                                     I've never seen God...
                                                  I've never seen the wind.
                                          I've seen the effects of the wind...
                                             but I've never seen the wind. 
                                                 There's a mystery to it."
                                                         -Billy Graham

Come Home to God's Love and Forgiveness
by Rick Warren

Nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:39 (NIV)

"Christmas proves that God loves you!"

Did you know that your heavenly Father wants you to come home this Christmas? It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or how long you've done it.  God says, "I want you to come home to My love and My forgiveness." That's what Christmas is all about.

What would keep you from doing that?  What would keep you from coming home to God's love and forgiveness? The fear of rejection. 

You may think, "God wouldn't want me now. I'm too far away from God. I've been away too long. I've done too many things He probably wouldn't approve of." 

If that's what you think, you're dead wrong! Romans 8:39 (NIV) says, "Nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." God doesn't care who you are or what you've done or how long you've done it. He still loves you and wants to forgive you. 

But how do you know God loves you? Christmas proves it. God came to earth in a human form - Jesus Christ - to show that he loves you and wants to forgive you.  The Bible says, "God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we can have eternal life through Him. This is real love. He sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:9-10 NLT).

Here's how you know that Scripture is true: Jesus didn't stay in a little cradle in the manger. He grew up. He went from the cradle to the cross.

On the cross with His arms outstretched He said, in essence, "I'd rather die than live without you."  That's how much God loves you. Christ left His home in heaven and came to earth to show His love for you and to pay for your sins so that you could be forgiven and come home to Him. 

That's real love. That's the reason for Christmas.

The Brick

A young successful executive was travelling down a neighborhood street,
Going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids
darting out from between parked cars and slowed down
when he though he saw something.

As his car passed, no kids appeared.   
Instead a brick  slammed into the Jag's side door.  He slammed on the brakes and backed up to the spot where the brick was thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the
car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up
against a parked car shouting,


'What was that all about and who are you? Just what
the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that
brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why
did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic.

'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't
know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the
brick because no one else would stop....' With tears
dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth
pointed to a spot just around a parked car.. 'It's my
brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell
out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy
asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help
me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and
he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words,
the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling
lump in his throat... He hurriedly lifted the
handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took
out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh
scrapes and cuts.

A quick look told him everything
was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless
you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too
shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy!
push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk
toward their home..

It was a long, slow
walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair
the dented side door. He kept the dent there to
remind him of this message:

'Don't go through life so fast that someone has
to throw a brick at you to
get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and
speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have
time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's
our choice to listen or not.

Take Your Laughter... It's Good Medicine
 
A lot of the sickness in our world is simply because we don't have the joy that we should. When we live uptight and on edge, it causes headaches, digestive problems, lack of energy. We don't sleep well. Much of this would go away if we would just learn how to deal with the stress properly. One of the greatest stress relievers God has given us is laughter. Laughter is like taking medicine. It not only makes you feel better but it actually releases healing throughout your system. When we laugh it restores and rejuvenates what the pressures of life have taken out.

Proverbs 17:22 puts it like this, "A happy heart is like a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing." Notice, when we're good-natured and full of joy, taking time to laugh, taking time to play, it's like taking a good medicine. That's what helps us to stay healthy. In fact, medical science tells us that people that laugh, it boosts their immune system. Laughter reduces blood pressure. People that laugh regularly are 40% less likely to have a heart attack than people that don't laugh regularly. Laughter triggers the right side of the brain, which helps release creativity, helps us to make better decisions. Laughter activates the body's natural tranquilizers that not only help us to calm down but it helps us to sleep better.

Friends, there is healing power in laughter. When you have a joyful spirit constantly on the inside, health and healing are flowing. Let me ask you what the doctor asked a friend of mine, "How long has it been since you've had a good, hearty laugh?" A day? A week? A month? A year? Ten years?

There's a medicine available, a cure that is completely free. It has no side effects. You can take it as often as you'd like.

I'm going to give you a great tip today: Every day, at least three times, find something funny that makes you laugh out loud. Not a laugh on the inside. Not a chuckle down in here. No, release that joy out loud. Release those endorphins on the inside. Activate your natural tranquilizers.

Every time you laugh it boosts your immune system. It reduces your blood pressure. Tension leaves and creativity comes. If you'll stay on this prescription and laugh every day with a happy heart, having a cheerful mind, then you're going to sleep better. You're going to get more done. You'll have more energy. You're going to make better decisions. You'll be more creative. I believe even some of these areas of chronic pain, chronic fatigue, you'll begin to see them go away.

Laughter is good medicine.  Make sure you're taking your medicine!