\'€śEven now,\"declares the Lord, \'€śreturn to me"); document.writeln("with all your heart... Return to the Lord"); document.writeln("your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in"); document.writeln("love...\'€ť1
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In"); document.writeln("the early 1900s, the small, acrobatic songbirds known as the Swallows, became"); document.writeln("famous for their remarkable ability to travel long distances during migration."); document.writeln("Beginning their journey in Argentina, many of these Swallows still travel over"); document.writeln("6000 miles to reach their Southern California nesting grounds. Flocks of these"); document.writeln("birds made San Juan Capistrano their summer home every year, building their"); document.writeln("nests under the eaves of the local shops. Annoyed patrons would tear down their"); document.writeln("cone-shaped shelters in an effort to \'€śmake them go away.\'€ť Father John"); document.writeln("O\'€™Sullivan, feeling a deep compassion for God\'€™s creatures, invited the little"); document.writeln("winged-tenants to take refuge in the local Mission. Here, the legend says, is"); document.writeln("where the swallows made their home for the following decades. Although"); document.writeln("thousands of swallows once returned to this quaint town, urbanization has"); document.writeln("reduced their numbers greatly. Artificial nests have been built and placed"); document.writeln("around the mission in hopes that the birds will once again grace the town with"); document.writeln("their song. Every year, at the start of"); document.writeln("Spring, a festival is still held in their honor, inviting the Swallows to come"); document.writeln("back home.
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There"); document.writeln("was a time when thousands of people followed Jesus from place to place in"); document.writeln("search of building their faith in Him. They found hope in His Word and a"); document.writeln("forgiveness that kept them coming back time after time. But slowly, the"); document.writeln("multitudes have lessened and those that once found shelter near the Lord have"); document.writeln("lost their desire to return to Him. Although society has changed around us,"); document.writeln("Jesus has always remained the same. He still waits, with open arms, for you to"); document.writeln("come back to Him. Journey back to the House of God where forgiveness awaits you."); document.writeln("Feel the fullness of His grace and mercy, and rediscover His love for you."); document.writeln("The angels in Heaven rejoice and a festival is held in honor of each soul that"); document.writeln("comes back home!
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Suggested"); document.writeln("Prayer: Dear God, I have known the joy of being in your presence. I desire to"); document.writeln("return to the safety of your loving arms. Help me find you again and lead me"); document.writeln("back home. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
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1. Joel 2:12-13 (NIV).
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Today\'€™s"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Veronica B.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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