For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16
 
 
As I entered the Romanesque church, the plain exterior belied not only the beauty within, but the depth of legend and lore. Alabaster windows instead of stained glass curiously let in sufficient light. Built in 1087, the Basilica di San Nicola stands as it has stood for centuries in the Old Town of Bari, Italy. While I’ve visited many churches, basilicas, and cathedrals, I was struck by the magnitude of stories and miracles centered around its patron saint, San Nicola.
 
In the English-speaking world, we know him as Saint Nicholas. Born in AD 270 in a town called Myra in what is now modern-day Turkey, Nicholas became a bishop in the Catholic church and was one of the signers of the declaration of faith known as the Nicene Creed. Legends surrounding his life create a persona who was extremely generous, giving to the poor, often at night anonymously. Deemed the patron saint of children, many of the miracles attributed to Saint Nicholas involve helping and even rescuing children. One such story tells how the father of three daughters, too poor to afford their dowries, planned to sell them to prostitution. Nicholas is said to have dropped three bags of gold coins through their open window at night, providing the needed dowry and saving the girls from a life of ill repute. Another story, more gruesome, involves the murder of three brothers and their miraculous resurrection from the dead by Nicholas.
 
When Nicholas died on December 6, in 343, many churches were built in his honor and his tomb outside of Myra became a popular pilgrimage site. Even today, December 6th is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Day. In 1087, when Myra was conquered by an opposing army, afraid of what would happen to the tomb, sailors from Bari scooped up most of Saint Nicholas’ remains and carried them back to Bari.
 
Today, our modern-day Santa Claus has his beginnings in the story of Nicholas, this saintly priest and bishop. In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem entitled Twas the Night Before Christmas changed the American view of Saint Nicholas from an elderly bishop in robes to a jolly and rotund man in a red suit trimmed in white fur.
 
While I knew Saint Nicholas was an actual person of history, I had no idea of the legends, miracles, and generosity attributed to him. As our tour guide regaled us with story after story, I couldn’t help but think of the One who was miraculously born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave the greatest gift of all when He gave His son Jesus to be born as a helpless baby in a manger. And Jesus gave His life so generously on a cross so that we could receive the greatest gift of all, a personal relationship with God and eternal life. Jesus came down to earth one holy, silent night to lead us up to heaven.
 
May we not get so caught up in celebrating Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas that we forget to worship the One who came on that dark and wintry night to be the Light of the World to all who believe. I believe. Do you?
 
 
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the miraculous birth of Jesus on that most holy night. I thank You for the gift of Your one and only Son who in turn, through His death on a cross, gives eternal life, the most generous gift of all, to anyone who believes. May I look past the busyness of the season and remember the true Reason we celebrate Christmas. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Italy.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed— or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42
 
 
As I shopped recently at a local department store for some early Christmas gifts, I entered the check-out line to pay. Normally, I would have felt impatient to stand in the line, but that day, I felt strangely at peace. I was in the moment, not wishing I were done and back in the car, not mentally going over my to-do list of all the things I could be doing but were not. The supernatural peace ruling in my heart must have reflected on my face. When I finally made it to the check-out counter, the clerk remarked at how calm I was. Used to seeing frazzled shoppers, I’m sure she viewed me as an anomaly. I was, even to me.
 
Today’s key verses contain a familiar story of two sisters who host Jesus in their home. Martha is stirring around in the kitchen, resenting the lack of help from her sister. Mary is quietly sitting at Jesus’ feet, absorbing all He is teaching. When Martha charges into the room and abruptly demands Jesus to ask her sister to help, she assumes Jesus will be on her side. Instead, Jesus chastises Martha for not taking time out to learn from Him, to grow her own spiritual life, and to set the appropriate priorities. All the while, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to truths taught. By sitting at His feet, Mary demonstrates she is submitting to His guidance. Her faith and love of her Lord, Jesus says, cannot be taken away from her (see also Romans 8:38-39 which says nothing can separate us from God’s love).
 
In this busy season of the year, there are many tasks at hand, from shopping to wrapping, from cooking to entertaining. While none of these things are wrong in and of themselves, the frantic and frenzied pace robs us of peace. At the end of the day, we’re physically exhausted as we mentally beat ourselves up for what we didn’t get accomplished that day. We are more focused on remaining tasks than relationships.
 
Psalm 143:8 is a key verse for me, one that I read every morning as I spend time with God. It says, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” As I read God’s Word, the Bible, His love for me becomes real. When I put my trust in Him and choose to follow Him, He shows me not only my path for life’s journey, but He also reveals what my priorities are for today. I can trust Him with the way I should go today and with my whole life.
 
Pondering the story of Martha and Mary, I know I tend to be a “Martha”. I’m naturally task-oriented. I’m usually too busy “doing” and not spending time “being”. On the day God used a store clerk to get my attention, I realized that spending time with Jesus allowed His peace to reign in my heart, so much so, that a stranger noticed. While I missed the opportunity to tell her about the source of my peace (an obvious opportunity, in hindsight), the opportunity to connect the dots wasn’t entirely lost. It was a growth opportunity for me, to better understand and apply the connection between Martha and Mary. When the “Mary” in me sits at Jesus’ feet each morning, the “Martha” in me is able to be the hands of Jesus to better accomplish what is truly important throughout my day. When I spend time with Jesus, I’m empowered to take His peace and love with me, reflecting a deeper calm while demonstrating His love to those I encounter along the way.
 
 
Lord, thank You for the lessons learned from two sisters who both loved You. May I learn from them and put into practice that balance between faith and works, of being and doing. Create in me a desire to spend more time with You to discern my priorities so that the peace from knowing You reflects in all I do throughout my day. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of woodland path near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
 
  
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  Psalm 126:3
 
 
Today an anxious thought threatens to circle around and around in my mind, looking for a place to land. This flight of worry wasn’t even on my radar screen last week. Yet here it is, trying to control my mind and heart.
 
Worry either locks us into the past as we replay regret over and over again or it catapults us into the future to dwell on events yet to come. Either way, worry steals precious moments from the present. We’re too caught up in thoughts of the past or the future to fully live in the moment.
 
The anecdote to worry and anxiety is gratitude. When we take our horizontal focus off our worries of yesterday and tomorrow, we’re free to vertically focus on God in the here and now. When we abide with Jesus (see John 15), thoughts of gratitude chase thoughts of worry from our mind.
 
As Thanksgiving Day approaches here in the US, we often express what we’re thankful for. Thanksgiving isn’t just for one day. It’s an attitude for every day. When anxiety threatens to overtake us, if we turn our thoughts to what God has done for us and how grateful we are, we can experience reprieve from worry. When we literally count our blessings and park our mind on the positives, we can live in the present moment, free from the past and the future. Even when we are in a difficult season, we can still see God’s fingerprints in the details, little reminders that He is present with us.
 
Gratitude not only helps us refocus from negative thoughts to positive ones, it also replaces worry with joy. To live a joyous life is to live out of a grateful heart. When we look at what we have instead of what we have not, we can experience gratefulness. And in that gratitude, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 126:3, when we realize the great things God has done for us already, we are filled with joy. Gratitude and joy go hand-in-hand and send worry and anxiety packing. Gratitude crushes worry and creates joy.
 
Research has even shown that people who have an attitude of gratitude live longer, are happier and healthier, both physically and psychologically, and even experience less depression. They have better self-esteem and also have more compassion for others. They sleep better, too, when they are grateful. Gratitude multiplies itself into all nooks and crannies of our mind, body, and spirit when we practice it daily.
 
Sometimes writing down that for which we are grateful helps us focus on God’s faithfulness and His good gifts to us. Later we can look back on what we wrote and experience continued gratefulness. We can trust that the God who was faithful then is faithful now.
 
Even though the worrisome situation hasn’t yet been resolved, I am confident of this: God is bigger than this situation and He has already worked wonders. I can count, not only my blessings, but on God’s faithfulness to continue to do great things. With a grateful heart, I am filled with joy as I abide in Him. I can live in the present without being held hostage to the past or the future. I can say wholeheartedly that this is the day God has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).
 
 
Heavenly Father, as I focus my mind on You and not on worries, I thank You for what I have already, for what You have already done for me. Thank You for the joy that comes from abiding in You with a grateful heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Vettica Maggiore on the Amalfi Coast, Italy.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  Psalm 20:7
 
 
He was lying face down where he had fallen. His last act was to cover his face in an effort to breathe before the noxious fumes and excessive heat overtook him. He looked no more than a boy. From his clothes, he appeared to have been a slave. Was he forced to stay behind? Was he running for his life or was he overtaken before he had a chance to flee?
 
Mount Vesuvius is an imposing volcano, towering over the nearby towns on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. On a recent trip, I had the opportunity to visit Mount Vesuvius and tour the excavated ruins of Pompeii. I learned that the population at the time Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD was about 20,000 people. It’s estimated that 1,000-2,000 died that fateful day. While I was glad most inhabitants escaped to safety, I felt sad that so many still perished, like the slave boy depicted in the plaster cast I viewed.
 
Modern-day Pompei (spelled differently) sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Although there has not been an eruption since 1944, scientists predict that someday Mount Vesuvius will explode and once again cover everything within its reach with volcanic ash and pumice while spewing poisonous gas. The air will become so hot that it will kill a person before they asphyxiate.
 
Almost three million people live within twenty miles of this active volcano. According to one local, people who live there are afraid of a potential eruption. They trust in the patron saint Gennaro to keep them safe. They also trust in scientific predictions to warn them with enough lead time to leave.
 
As I pondered what it was like to live in ancient Pompeii and what it is like to live in modern-day Pompei in the proximity of one of the most dangerous volcanoes, the question “whom do I trust when I’m afraid?” filled my mind. In whom or what do you entrust your cares and concerns?
 
The key verse today says while some trust in material possessions, we, as believers, trust in the name of the Lord our God. Sometimes it is all too easy to trust in ourselves, to believe we can control the outcome. Perhaps we trust in our assets, our position, our power, or in people significant to us. The problem with trusting in anything other than God is that everything else can change overnight. Stock markets tumble, jobs are eliminated, relationships crumble. But God never changes.
 
We can trust God in His sovereignty to be in control, especially when circumstances explode all around us. Jesus said in John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” We can trust Jesus, the One who died on a cross for us to know God, to deliver us and give us peace, despite the situation. When we look vertically up to God, our line-of-sight is no longer horizontal across our current state of affairs. We can live in peace, not fear. Worry doesn’t control us. Whether we live in the shadow of an active volcano, in the path of wildfires, or on an earthquake fault line, we can experience peace and know that God alone is in control and totally trustworthy. Out-of-control circumstances cannot control us when we place our trust in the One who is Lord of all. Thanks be to God!
 
 
Sovereign God, I thank You that You are in control. I trust in You when life’s circumstances spin out of control. You are my God in whom I trust. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Mount Vesuvius as seen from Sorrento, Italy.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens…When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  Psalm 8:1, 3-4
 
 
Traveling in the south of France, I saw one charming town after another. Amazed at both the history and the quaintness of these villages, I wasn’t prepared for our tour guide’s next remark:  “The people of this town don’t really see its beauty.” I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly. How could they not see how absolutely gorgeous their corner of the world was? This thought haunted me the rest of the day as we traveled on to other lovely towns.
 
How often do we miss the beauty surrounding us? When traveling to new places, I can easily see with fresh eyes what the locals miss. The cobblestoned streets curving gently passed pastel buildings and the bobbing heads of brightly colored flowers waving welcome never fail to enthrall and capture my heart. Yet, I wonder, what do I totally miss in my everyday?
 
Travel teaches us many lessons that, if we aware, can spill over into our normal routines. When traveling, we switch over into vacation mode, relishing the slower pace and relaxed days. Seeing our surroundings perhaps for the first time allows us the luxury of paying attention to details and soaking in the new and different. Travel teaches us mindfulness, the art of being present in the moment as the usual worries and anxieties fade away the further we travel from home. Being fully aware as we engage in new cultures and sights creates an excitement within, a freshness, a desire to experience life to the fullest.
 
Bringing back that mindfulness from vacation and incorporating it into our daily lives is challenging. Busyness robs us of the opportunities to focus on what is right in front of us. Taking even a short second to notice our surroundings, drink in the beauty deep into our souls, and inhale the fragrance of present moments is an art worth pursuing.
 
When was the last time you noticed a striking sunset or brilliantly hued flowers? Or the laughter of a child? Or the smiling face of a close friend? When did you drink in the beauty of your surroundings until you thought your soul would burst with sheer happiness and gratitude?
 
If your answers, like mine, are “too long ago” or “never”, then take a “vacation” in your everyday to stop, look, and listen. Feeding your soul with morsels of beauty each day is too good to save for special vacations. Our corner of God’s vast world is beautiful, too, right here and now. Like the writer of Psalm 8, we, too, can marvel at God’s glorious creation and reflect back to Him the beauty of a grateful soul.
 
 
Lord, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation. Give me eyes to see and a heart of gratitude for sights and sounds that tell of Your majesty. Make me mindful, unhurried, and aware of Your presence every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of sunset from San Juan Island, Washington.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3
 
 
“That was really stupid! How could you do that? And how could you be so careless?” Taking a deep breath, I exhaled, feeling despondent. Perhaps I should have said, “You have no right to talk to me like that.” But I would have been talking to myself.
 
Do you catch yourself in negative self-talk? Sometimes we would not speak to another person the way we talk to ourselves. Why do we do that? How do destructive thoughts like “I am not enough”, “I am less than”, and “I am not worthy” become embedded in our souls? Are they from previous failures or words others have used to pierce our hearts?
 
Instead of telling ourselves emotional fabrications, listen to what God says about us. God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves when we’re caught in this negative spiral of self-loathing. God lavishes His love on us and calls us His children (1 John 3:1). God showed us His love for us in sending His Son to die for us so that we might have life through Jesus (1 John 4:9). God rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). God created each of us uniquely and endowed us with gifts, talents, and abilities. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses and loves us unconditionally. We don’t have to prove anything to Him as He has already proved His love for us long ago on a wooden cross.
 
If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). If the God of the universe loves us, who are we to not love us? God loves us and He created each of us uniquely. If we embrace who we are, faults and all, we no longer expend energy trying to be who we are not. When we can love and accept ourselves, and yes, even like ourselves, others are free to love and respect us as well. And we are free, in turn, to love and respect them.
 
The key verse for today says that God loves us with an everlasting, forever kind of love. Because of His great love for us, He shows us “unfailing kindness”. How do we love and show kindness to ourselves? The next time you find yourself in the middle of negative self-chatter, stop and ask yourself where these destructive thoughts come from. Be curious about where they started. The Bible says the enemy is the father of lies (John 8:44). Acknowledge to yourself that these are lies from the enemy and refuse to believe them.
 
When we grasp how much God loves us, we can stop the negative self-chatter and treat ourselves with kindness and self-respect. This means not judging ourselves harshly nor comparing ourselves to others. Set clear boundaries with yourself on what is not acceptable to say to yourself. Gently remind yourself of the lies driving the negative self-talk and the fact that God loves you and created you to be uniquely you.
 
We can be victorious. With the Sword of Truth (the Bible) in our hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we can slay the dragon of negative self-chatter and can begin the journey back to liking, loving, and respecting ourselves. Cherish your uniqueness. Embrace who you are and live the abundant life God intends for you, free from judgment and disrespect, free to be you.
 
 
Lord, I am forever grateful for Your love for me. Thank You for Your unfailing kindness. May I show myself kindness and respect because in You, I am worthy. Thank You that I am Your precious child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Gaillardia flowers amidst a field of Mountain Bluebells near Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”…But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.  Genesis 19: 17, 26
 
 
While our key verses for today teach on obedience and Lot’s wife’s clear disobedience to God’s instructions, verse 26 also speaks to me of regret. In Genesis 19, Abraham’s nephew Lot lived in the city of Sodom. As God was preparing to destroy the city, Abraham’s prayer sought to save Lot. As the story unfolds, Lot shows the customary hospitality to two strangers who are seemingly passing through Sodom. Lot is unaware these men are actually angels. When all of the town’s men show up at Lot’s doorstep to harm the strangers under Lot’s protection, the angels grab the hands of Lot, his wife, and two daughters and pull them to safety outside the city, telling them to run to the mountains and don’t look back at the destruction of Sodom. But Lot’s wife couldn’t help herself. She turned to give the town one last glance, a look that would cost her her life.
 
At the risk of turning into a pillar of salt (or stone as ancient historians have recorded), what made Lot’s wife turn back for one last look? Was it just sheer disobedience? Curiosity? Or could it be she was experiencing regret? Digging deeper into the Genesis text, I realized that Lot had other daughters in addition to the two that escaped with him. In Genesis 19:14, Lot urged his sons-in-law to leave the city with him but they laughed at him instead. Their wives were the sisters of the two daughters living at home. Perhaps Lot’s wife looked back to see if her other daughters were escaping the city, too. Or perhaps she knew they were not, and her mother-heart was filled with sadness, grief, and regret. Scholars believe that unlike her husband, Lot’s wife was from Sodom. Perhaps the look back was one of sadness to know that the rest of her extended family would soon perish. Or maybe she was filled with regret at not being able to bring her belongings with her. Whatever caused Lot’s wife to look back, her action was deadly.
 
Our own regrets can be emotionally deadly. I met someone recently who shared with me regrets he had involving a childhood friend. The guilt and blame he inflicted on himself over the years played havoc with his relationships until he came to terms with it through counseling. I could relate to his words as I have my own list of regrets. At the top of that list is not spending more time with my brother before he passed away. But other regrets surface, too, of bad choices in relationships, words said in haste and anger, opportunities missed, wrong opportunities taken.
 
Dictionary.com defines regret as “a feeling of sorrow or remorse” and “a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction”. Regret also involves a sense of guilt.  
 
King David of Israel knew regret. His story of committing adultery and orchestrating the cover-up involving the murder of the husband wronged is recorded in the Bible in 2 Samuel 11-12. In this account, the prophet Nathan confronts David with his sin. David is struck with remorse, guilt, and sorrow over his actions. He pours out his heart to God in Psalm 51. Verses 10-12 say “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
 
God can take whatever we’ve done, whatever regrets we have, and give us a fresh start. He can wash us clean from our sins and guilt and restore joy in our hearts. But to experience this renewal, we have to confess our wrong actions and acknowledge our regretful thoughts and feelings to Him. When we do, God meets us where we are, washes us clean, and sets our feet on a new path. We don’t have to look back to a place of guilt and regret. Our past does not define us. Instead of having hearts of stone, we’ll have pure, grateful hearts. Thanks be to God!
 
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. Belief in His sacrifice for my sake removes the stain of sin and regret. Wash me clean, O Lord, and create in me a pure heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Côte d’Azur from the hilltop Jardin Exotique in Eze, France.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

​“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18-19
 
 
Stepping out of my comfort zone, I said yes. But not before I had weighed the opportunity over in my mind for a while. Would this be the only time I’d be able to do this? Would I regret this if I said no? I could hear my mother’s voice in my head saying “He [or in this case, she] who hesitates is lost.” Walking over to a spry, fun-loving new friend, I asked if there was still a seat left. She said there was. I went for it.
 
While I had flown in airplanes of all sizes over the years, from two-seater, single props to jumbo double-decker jets, I had never ridden in a helicopter before. My perception that helicopters seem to crash more often than airplanes had kept my feet firmly on the ground, until the chance arose that day to travel along the Côte d’Azur from Monaco to Nice. I convinced my fearful self that it would be OK, even fun, and the risk of crashing was low. As I imagined the magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastline, I decided this was not a venture I wanted to pass up. A little while later, we were skimming along the surface of the glistening turquoise water. Sitting in the front seat, the floor-to-ceiling windows gave the unnerving illusion of flying without the aid of the helicopter. The sea felt so close I could almost touch it. The views were spectacular as we passed Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Nice before landing at the airstrip just south of the city. This exhilarating ride ended all too soon!
 
How many times do we pass up opportunities because of fear? Does leaving our comfort zone seem too daunting or at the very least, too inconvenient? Do we ever regret not saying yes when a situation presents itself that would be in our best interests to take? How many times do we hesitate and then lose the chance presented?
 
In Isaiah 43, our key verses 18-19 tell us not to dwell on the past where regrets of missed opportunities and wrong choices live. God does work on our behalf, creating new things out of the old, making ways for us even when the path has detoured or dead-ended. These verses are the prophet Isaiah’s words from God to the Israelites who, under Babylonian captivity, needed hope. God promised renewal and a new order of life in the form of His Son, Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews.
 
Jesus is our hope, too. In the journey of life, where there are opportunities both taken and missed, we can rest in the fact that God has our best in mind, that He goes with us, and He is sovereign. Stepping into a God-given moment gives us peace and joy as we follow Him. While we might miss out if we hesitate, all is not lost with Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who uses opportunities and regrets to build our character and to give us hope. He can take the regrets of lost chances and use them to teach us how to step through doors He opens next time. If there are regrets due to unwise choices of stepping through the wrong door, God can take those, too, and redeem them, weaving them into the fabric of our lives to teach us who He wants us to be. With God, all opportunities are full of grace.
 
 
Dear God, help me step out of my comfort zone and into the opportunities You provide. I’m so grateful that even if I hesitate too long out of fear, You still lead and guide me, opening other doors along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Nice, France, from the top of the Bellanda Tower.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13
 
 
Driving through the French countryside near Blois one day recently, I was admiring the surrounding beauty as I followed the GPS to my destination. The sky was itself an azure landscape dotted by giant puffs of cotton. The land, verdant farmland spreading out to my right, was replete with fields of various crops in hues of green and beige. It was indeed idyllic.
 
As I continued my drive, I spied a curious sight ahead. Drawing closer, I realized an ancient bridge spanned across a patch of land and then stopped abruptly. It looked as if the left side of the bridge had been shaved off. Perhaps the ground beneath it where grass was now growing had at one time been a flowing stream or river. I passed it all too fast as I pondered where this “bridge to nowhere” had gone.
 
Reflecting on my own life, I could see similarities to that abruptly-ending bridge. Thinking I was heading in one direction, my life came to a grinding halt. My journey took an unexpected detour when my brother died suddenly of a massive heart attack in 2009. There were no orange cones or construction signs pointing in the direction I should go. The lane ahead of me dimmed as the road appeared to dead-end.
 
In Jeremiah 29:11, God is talking to the Israelites who were prisoners of the Babylonians. Their lives had taken a sudden detour as Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, took them captive. Perhaps they felt life had suddenly lost control and veered sharply off to one side. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord reminded them that He was still in control and that He loved them and had a plan for their lives, a plan not to harm them, but to help them. He desired to give them hope and a future. But in the meantime, they were to settle into this new land and make the most of it, building homes, planting gardens, and carrying on with their lives. This detour, for now, had become their new way of life.
 
I wonder how that message from God was received by the Israelites. Did they trust God had their best in mind? Did they have hope for their future? Could they see that life’s detour had purpose and meaning? Could they see that their detour had actually become their new path? It is in the difficult times that we grow the most and become who we were meant to be all along.
 
While the detours of my life since 2009 have been unforeseen, filled with potholes and unexpected twists and turns, unlike that “bridge to nowhere”, God’s detour for me has become my new journey. Although it’s been difficult at times, I am thankful that no matter where the road takes me, Jesus walks with me. When I seek Him with all my heart, I will find Him.
 
Even when the detour signs go missing and the way up ahead abruptly changes, I trust that God has a plan to give me hope and a future, one that is even better than I could ever dream or imagine. He can take your detours and dead-ends, too, and turn them into new paths of hope. He never wastes any potholes, ditches, or worn out pavement. God is the master engineer of every road and bridge as they all lead directly to Him.
 
 
Heavenly Father, You are sovereign over all, including my journey through life. Open my eyes to see you at work in the detours and ditches of life as You prepare the way for me to go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Pont Saint-Bénézet in Avignon, France, built in the 12th century over the Rhône river, rebuilt in the 13th century after a war, and then left damaged by floods over the centuries.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
 
 
How do I turn on the water at the sink? How can it be this difficult? At a public washroom in France, I suddenly felt very inept. There were no hot or cold knobs to turn on, so I gave up and decided to use hand sanitizer instead. It wasn’t until later, at another bathroom, that I realized there are foot pedals, a blue one for cold and a red one for hot, that turn the water on at the sink. Voilà! Mystery solved!
 
Traveling internationally can be a humbling experience. The little things in life that we totally take for granted at home can be problematic abroad. I think there must be at least a dozen ways to flush a toilet in Europe, some of which are obvious and others are not. Likewise, pumping gas when the directions are in a foreign language can be challenging. Driving a rental car where the road signs are in a different language and the rules of the road are not intuitive can be a bit nerve-racking. Even though I’ve had my driver’s license since I was sixteen, I still felt like a novice driving a car in France.
 
Travel has a way of humbling you. You think you know how things work, but there are constant surprises that make you feel less than intelligent and far from competent. There are language and cultural barriers that can become insurmountable walls where you might as well just wear a sign around your neck saying, “I’m sorry. I’m just a foreigner. Please forgive me!” The locals are more likely to be helpful and friendly if you attempt to speak their language. Trying to adapt to foreign customs, no matter how clumsy our efforts, will open doors. Having a humble and teachable attitude goes a long way, too.
 
Our key verse today highlights how behaving toward each other with humility builds relationship and models Jesus’ own behavior. God will shine His favor on you when you act in humility toward others. He actually opposes the proud. Pride has a way of getting between people and destroying relationships. Humility builds relationships. Philippians 2:3-5 puts it this way, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Humility is essentially having a right perspective of yourself in relation to others, not thinking of yourself as better or superior, nor allowing yourself to be a "doormat", but being willing to put others’ needs above your own. The opposite of humility is pride.
 
Pride not only creates barriers to relationship with others, it can also come between us and our relationship with God. The text in the second chapter of Philippians goes on to say that Jesus humbled himself in obedience to God, even to death on a cross (verse 8). In doing so, Jesus’ act of ultimate humility created a relationship between God and us.
 
James 4:8 says to “come near to God and He will come near to you”. Seeking God requires humility on our part as we acknowledge God is the great “I Am”, the Lord of the universe, the Creator of all, and the Savior to those who believe.
 
I am thankful that Jesus’ humility on the cross paved the way for restoring our relationship with God. Walking in humility, whether in our own neighborhood or on the other side of the pond, is what we are called to do. Humility opens the doors of relationship, both with those we meet and with God Himself.
 
 
Lord Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself on the cross in obedience to God the Father. May I seek humility in my relationship with You and with those I meet as I travel along this road of life. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of sunflower field near Avignon, France.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™