last night I was sitting on my porch watching the wind nearly knock down my roses.I like to close my eyes and listen to the tree's.it's an odd sound mix through the mesquite and then through the palm tree's...almost like the ocean, but not quite. :)as I sat and watched and listened, I was struck with two thoughts...1. the christina rossetti excerpt:"Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you: But when the leaves hang trembling The wind is passing thro'... Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I: But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is passing by."faith is like the wind to me.you cannot touch it, but you can see the effects of it.and for someone to be deemed faithful, something in my mind worth being pursued, the act of faith has to be done over and over again.at this point in my thinking on my porch, I began to get a little sad thinking of the life I have lived and the people I have lived it with.some still in faith - and that made me smile a sad smile...only because I really wish people never had to move on in this life.but then the second thought came of the others who have chosen to live without.as I looked at the wind, I recalled the story of Jesus in essence telling the storm to "shut. up." and it did.I know that the same wind that moves my roses could just be as easily silenced today.that is my faith.my faith affects everything I do.I don't fear the wind or the darkness, because I know the One who has made it and controls it.and I also know that He has called me to remain faithful...in spite of who is next to me or not...as much as that hurts.and in spite of what I can see or can't see.we're now studying romans on sundays.tim talked very clearly about how paul's desire to the romans was for them to see the story of Jesus painting a picture of faithfulness for them to live and breathe by.the hero of the story isn't me...it's Jesus.it always has been and always will be.He demonstrated very clearly what a leader is supposed to look like.He came to serve and not be served...the greatest leaders are the greatest servants.so in romans, paul was encouraging them to:remember the gospel.the good news that sin can be forgiven...to have faith in the One who can forgive.to be faithful to the church. it's very much your spiritual body...if you aren't around the people in it, your faith with start to suffer.  and what's more, if you think of when paul was writing this, nero was in power and he was beyond sick and crazy.these roman believers that paul wrote had only one option, put up - or shut up.their faith was big because of Him.to be a faithful pray-er.it's the only antidote to living by sight.and to be faithful to hearing the message.it should create a knowledge of your obligation to live out the gospel.I was in need of saving and He saved me.if you are saved from something, that should conjure up feelings of elation and joy.true joy talks...you can't contain it.this is me...knowing full well that every good gift comes from Him...talking. :)