Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! Proverbs 30:4 (NIV)
Nowadays, when we want to know the weather forecast, we have a multitude of options. We can watch the television news at six, noon, six and eleven or if we have cable, the weather channel broadcasts twenty four hours a day. We can log onto our computers and get our local forecast in an instant. The websites even have a handy feature that tells you by the hour what the weather will be. If I want to go for a horseback ride, I might delay a few hours if weather.com tells me it will be pouring at nine, but clear by Noon. I have another method, though not always precise, that works for me. I just look at the wind. Well, now, I can’t actually see the wind, I can only watch its effect, but I know from living in Florida all my life that if the wind is out of the east or west, we will probably get rain. If it blows from the east, the rain will come in the morning, but if it blows from the west, it will come in the afternoon. It is caused by the collision of the warm air over the land and the cooler sea breeze. I also know if the wind blows from the south, the day will be hot, but if it comes from the north, in the winter, I better take a jacket. Lately, though, our weather had been odd and it is all due to the wind which cannot make up its mind which direction it wants to blow. One day, I can be freezing and the next, the air is balmy and tropical. The wind doesn’t just affect my clothing choice; it impacts my mood as well. On brisk, cooler days, I am pumped up and full of energy. Warm, humid days make me ready for a hammock and a nap. Too often, I let the wind dictate how I feel and react to life. The same goes for other circumstances beyond my control. I respond to them as they impact me instead of staying on course and steady. Someone once told me that while I can’t control the world, I can control my own emotions and decisions. I have been thinking about that more and more as we go into the Christmas season. If I expect the music, the lights, the shopping, the presents or other people to get me into the Christmas spirit, I will be disappointed. They are like the wind, blowing from one way to the next. What fills my heart with joy and peace that the season is all about, is remembering the Father and Creator, and the sacrificial gift He gave in the form of His Son. It’s not the stuff or the festivities that will put me in the mood to celebrate, but a thankful heart for grace and forgiveness offered freely and consistently without fail. It’s simple, really. If you want the Christmas spirit, keep your focus on Christ.
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