It's finally Spring!! This pic is from last June, but the tree swallows are once again building their nest in one of my birdhouses. This one broke in the wind, so they are using a different one. The new one's hole is a bit smaller and it is funny to watch the chubby little birds trying to get through the hole with twigs and grass for the nest. I hope to get this old one fixed soon. I didn't post yesterday because I tried to work all day. I couldn't make it. I only survived until 1 pm then I had to have the office get someone to cover for me so I could go home and sleep for 2 1/2 hours. Yesterday evening I went to a movie with some people from church. It was "Ben Stein: Expelled." What an excellent documentary. I urge everyone to go see it.

A Little Change of Pace

For a little while, I am going to be posting some daily devotions I find helpful. One (of many) of the virtues I am lacking in is perseverance, so I won't say how long I will continue to do this. But this morning I found these two to be especially helpful. The first one is from a book called :Believing in Myself, a Daily Devotional by Earnie Larsen and Carol Hegarty. Children will not remember you for the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them. Gail Grenier Sweet. More than one person's self-esteem has been dampened because, in comparing ourselves with other providing parents, we come up short. In a consumer society, value and love are often equated with "how much," "how often," and "how expensive." Yet the deeper truth is, material things rust and are soon put aside and forgotten. What abides are the memories of being loved. These precious recollections are the ones that we tuck away in the treasure box of our minds. We hang on to the times when we were made to feel special. Consider your own memories. Which are the sweetest? Chances are they have very little to do with things unless those things were genuine symbols of true caring. It's much more likely they had to do with a special nickname, a shared secret, a time when a parent was truly there for you. Our favorite birthday or Christmas memories are rarely about the things we received, but the warmth of caring behind the giving. Gifts from my heart are more valuable than gifts from my pocket. The next selection is from the April-June 2008, issue of Portals of Prayer FAITH TO BE HEALED Acts 14:8-10 Psalms 86:8-17 Mr Smith, a driving instructor, considered two of the boys he taught. Jared was ready to learn because he understood the risks; but LeRoy, who wanted to drive so badly, saw only fun, but little of the danger. St. Paul also evaluated those he instructed. Today's reading tells us that he observed one who "had faith to be made well." This does not mean that the man expected to be healed or that his faith was stronger than others. Rather, he was ready to make godly use of healing, that he would give God the glory, not take credit himself nor make a god out of Paul. Faith does not presume that God will give us what we want. Faith is confidence that God has given what we need in Christ. Whether we are given healing and a productive life or decline into a blessed death, faith accepts God's will in all things. This is why most Christians regect "faith healing." We humbly ask for healing in prayer, confident in God's compassion. Ane while our prayer is often granted without stage lights or a crowd, it is just as often answered with "wait" or even "no." This is to train us to pray with Jesus, "Not my will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) O Lord. give us faith to be healed in body and soul, and if it is Your will, grant us health for Your service. Amen