Wind brings change and renewal

Last Fall while we were at church, a huge wind came from the east opening the doors of the church building. When we returned home, we found it had barreled down across our field and took down the 66 feet of grape arbor and fence and gate attached. Most of the grape plants were cut off a the base. By God's grace we noticed it and put up a temporary wire fence across most of the expanse and latched the fallen gate to the one standing to keep the deer out of our garden.

The nest boxes for the Violet green swallows, abandoned since the end of July, were left hanging on posts parallel to the ground.

So this spring, we hired a crew to rebuilt the fence. They finished just in time for the swallows return.

We placed the nest box a little higher, than this picture, on a pole as before. Today we hear newly hatched swallows chirping from the box. Any day we will see the new life.

We need a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to take out the old and bring in the new, so we can hold up under the greater storms of life and give others hope.

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8