If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:8-9
 
 
During all the Easter services and festivities recently, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are quick to say that “Jesus died for our sins” or that “Jesus took on the sins of the whole world when he died on a cross”. While both of those statements are true, sometimes I think we gloss over the word “sin”.
 
In today’s culture, we make light of the word “sin”. In the news and in pop culture, when someone is caught in wrongdoing, they often do not admit they’ve done anything wrong and chalk their behavior up to a misjudgment, a mistake, or an unfortunate situation.
 
Do we as Christ followers do the same? The word “sin” is not popular and probably not part of our everyday vocabulary. What do we really mean by the word “sin”? Sin is anything that separates us from God. Certainly breaking the Ten Commandments is considered sin – lying, stealing, murder, and the like. (See Exodus 20.) We consider those to be the “big sins”. But what about the little everyday sorts of crimes we commit against God, ourselves, and others?
 
Sin can be in our thoughts, attitudes, and words, not just our actions. Sin is not just telling an out and out lie: it is stretching the truth, even a little bit, perhaps to make ourselves look good. We may not commit murder, but we do “kill” others with our words, wounding them deeply in a split second with a sharp and spiteful tongue.
 
Perhaps our sins are thoughts that judge others. Even when we don’t voice these thoughts, they creep into our relationships and destroy. Our selfishness and pride can also be a source of sin when we think more of ourselves than we ought to and treat others accordingly. Perhaps we use our words and actions to shame and blame others as we seek to control and manipulate. Sometimes our sin is harboring resentments and past hurts as we refuse to forgive. The person we hurt the most when we are unforgiving is ourselves. Sin can also be in the “keeping up with the Jones” mentality that pervades our society. It’s all too easy to literally buy into a culture that promotes materialism and living beyond our means - to focus on what we can get rather than what we can give.
 
Sins come in all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, we don’t have to carry around this burden of sin that weighs us down and isolates us. Celebrating Easter is coming to terms with Christ’s work on the cross – taking all of our sins, whether big or small, and nailing them to the cross forever, so we can live in peace with God and with others.
 
When was the last time you confessed your sins? It’s not too late to start now. As our key verse says, all you need to do is to stop and reflect, asking the Holy Spirit to show you where you’ve sinned against God, others, and yourself. Confess and turn from those sinful behaviors into the light of God’s love, grace, mercy, and peace. Jesus’ death on a cross makes it all possible. Thanks be to God!
 
 
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for me, for my sins, even before I’ve confessed them. Help me be quick to confess and turn from my sinful thoughts, attitudes, words, and behaviors. Thank You that You are ready to cleanse me and restore me into a right relationship with You, by Your mercy and grace. Amen.
 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.
 
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.™

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”  Mark 8:34-36
 
 
This week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is known as Holy Week. For Christians, these eight days are a time of reflection on the last few days of Jesus’ earthly ministry and a time to celebrate His resurrection and triumph over death on Easter.
 
As Jesus prepared His disciples for His impending death, He spoke to them of taking up their own cross and following Him. What was Jesus asking His disciples to do? Picking up their own crosses meant sacrificing their own comforts and living less selfishly. It implied truly dying to self. Following Jesus involved living as He lived and that cost the disciples. When they followed Him, they gave up their time, their jobs, the comforts of home, and probably family time as they traveled around their corner of the world. They may have sacrificed their reputations. Eventually it would cost them their lives.
 
Why would the disciples pick up their cross and follow Jesus? Because they realized the benefits outweighed the price. The opportunity to dwell in the presence of their Lord now and the gift of eternal life overshadowed any inconvenience here on earth. Jim Elliot, the missionary who was martyred in 1956 by the Huaorani people in Ecuador, made this rather prophetic statement before his death: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot gave his earthly life in an effort to bring the gospel of Jesus to a group of people who had never heard of Christ. Eventually, many of that people group came to salvation in Christ as a result of the faith of Jim Elliot and the other men martyred with him.
 
As believers, when we struggle to control and hold on tightly to this world and its comforts, we aren’t picking up our crosses. If we focus on our own comfort and worldly advantages and not on the kingdom of Christ, we lose the chance to walk with our Savior now and grow in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (See Galatians 5:22-23) As followers, we can experience the kingdom of God in the here and now. And it makes a difference in our lives. We can have freedom from the chains that bind us. We can have joy in the midst of sorrow. We can have peace in the midst of tumultuous circumstances. If we don’t pick up our cross and follow Jesus, we miss the benefits of kingdom living now.
 
Not only are there benefits to be gained in the short run, there are long-term benefits as well. Instead of striving for the good life here, we can enjoy the good life hereafter – by following Jesus and being who He wants us to be while doing what He wants us to do. The world will pass away and we are no fools who lay up treasure in heaven as we will one day live with Jesus for all eternity, never to die again.
 
We may not be called to lay down our lives for our faith like Jim Elliot, but like him, we are called to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Every day, not just during Holy Week.
  
Lord Jesus, You willingly gave Your life for me by dying a horrible death on a cross. Thank you for giving me abundant life now and life for all eternity with You in heaven. May I daily pick up my own cross and follow You, knowing it will cost me but also realizing the benefits far outweigh the price. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
 
 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved. Photo of cross atop Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara, California.
 
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.™

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:7-8
 
 
In this short Psalm of just 8 verses, David, who penned these words, found himself in difficult circumstances.  David’s situation in this Psalm is most likely when he was on the run from his son Absalom who was out to overthrow David and be king.  David, called a man after God’s own heart, found both joy and peace in the midst of trying times.  Do we?
 
As we take a closer look at Psalm 4, we find that these elusive twins of joy and peace can be ours, too.  In verse 1, David calls out to God and asks for relief from his distress.  His cry for help was based, not on his own righteousness, but on God’s.  He calls God “righteous” as he implores God for His assistance, appealing to God’s goodness and holiness.  David asks for mercy and for God to hear his prayer.  When we are going through rough times, do we call out to God based on His character or do we believe we’re somehow entitled to God’s aid based on ours?  When we humble ourselves before God, asking for mercy based on His righteousness, He will hear our cries.
 
Part of that humbling process is found in verses 4 and 5 which says “search your hearts and be silent.  Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”  Do we take the time to “search our hearts”?  Do we spend quiet moments contemplating our wrong attitudes and selfish behaviors?  When we confess these to God and believe in the sacrifice of Christ who nailed our sins to the cross, we can trust God to be with us, to hear our prayers, and to take care of our needs.  The result is greater joy and peace than we have known before.  Our hearts, like David’s, can be filled with inexplicable joy, even in the middle of life’s difficulties.  We can rejoice in the everyday, like spring flowers or a beautiful sunset, as part of His incredible creation.  We can rejoice in the profound, like knowing God, trusting that He is faithful and good, and that He will work out the most complicated and overwhelming circumstances for our good.  We can experience peace and freedom from anxiety, knowing “God’s got this” and we don’t have to.  As verse 8 says, sleep doesn’t have to elude us when we find both joy and peace in Him.
 
 
LORD, You alone are righteous.  Fill my heart with great joy and peace in knowing You hear my prayers and provide help in my time of need.  Thank you for your mercy and faithfulness to me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
  
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.
 
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:14-16
 
 
Recently, Dictionary.com's word for the day was "apatetic".  A new word for me, apatetic means "assuming colors and forms that effect deceptive camouflage".  Typically a zoology term, apatetic applies to humans as well as animals.
 
As I pondered my new vocabulary word, I realized that sometimes I am apatetic.  Often I hide my true self.  Usually it's not intentional.  It mostly depends on how I connect with others in relationship with me.  Perhaps I hide my real identity in an effort to self-protect.  Not because I don't want to be open and honest, but because I feel the need to protect myself from the hurtful and destructive behaviors of those who do not have my best interests at heart.  In hiding my true self, I feel safe.  Perhaps I bend to others' wishes, either to keep the peace, avoid conflict, or to please.  By doing so, I push down deep inside me the real person I am.  Eventually, in unhealthy relationships, I indeed lose who I am.  I become who they need me to be.  I become who they want me to be.  But where is the person God intended me to be?
 
Psalm 139 says God lives in the secret place where He created me.  I was not hidden from Him then.  Neither am I unseen by Him now.  God lives in that safe abode where my real being dwells.  He alone knows my true soul.
 
Verse 16 says "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  God has ordained each of my days.  He knew my journey, my destiny, even before He created me.  There are no surprises with God.  He is weaving the fallout from unhealthy relationships together in such a way as to create in me a tapestry, beautiful, yet fiercely spun, of the life He has for me.  Who am I?  I am a child of the King Himself, the Creator-God who is spinning and weaving the threads of my life for His glory and His honor.  Do I, deep in my soul, believe that?  I think so...I hope so…yes, I know so.
 
 
God of Heaven and Earth, I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Continue to create in me the person You intend me to be, not swayed by others but guided by Your loving hand.  Take the brokenness and weave it for good in my life.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
  
 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.
 
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.™

“I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak…My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”  Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.  “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said.  “Peace!  Be strong now; be strong.”  Daniel 10:16b, 17b-19
 
 
Do you forget to breathe?  In times of distress, I find myself not breathing.  A dear friend told me during a particularly difficult season of life, “Don’t forget to breathe!”  How right she was!  When we are going through trying times, we often forget to inhale deeply.  Ironically, that’s when we need it the most…long, deep breaths, in and out.  Breath that relaxes us.  Breath that takes the focus off of the source of stress.  Breath that indeed gives life.
 
All through the Bible, there are dozens of verses that speak to breath and breathing.   God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7).  At the other end of life, Jacob, the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, “breathed his last and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 49:33).  God breathed on creation and powerful events happened.  In Exodus 15:10, the power of God was displayed when He blew on the Red Sea causing Pharaoh and his men, who were chasing the Israelites, to drown.  In the New Testament, the risen Jesus breathed on His disciples to give them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
 
In the book of Daniel, in the 10th chapter, the prophet sees the incarnate Christ and almost faints.  His strength leaves him and he can hardly breathe.  Unlike Daniel, when my strength leaves me and I feel I can hardly breathe, it’s not because I’ve encountered the risen Christ.  But rather it’s because I focus on my circumstances, often running ahead of them to some worse-case-scenario outcome.  I feel overwhelmed.  And I forget to breathe.
 
The angel Gabriel revives Daniel with his touch, giving him both strength, courage, and peace.  If I stop to breathe, to really inhale deeply, perhaps simultaneously praying or meditating, even for a few minutes, my soul revives, my anxiety melts, and my courage returns.  All because I remembered to breathe and I, like Daniel, am touched by the Spirit of God who gives me strength, courage, and peace.
 
When you are facing stressful circumstances, don’t forget to breathe!  God’s power can manifest itself in you when you take a few minutes to breathe, relax, and regain your strength.
 
 
Lord God, You alone have the power to give me strength, courage, and peace.  May I remember to breathe in Your Spirit in the midst of difficult circumstances.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
 
  
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.
 
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.™

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  James 1:19-20
 
 
When was the last time you lost your temper?  Did you say words that the minute they came out of your mouth, you wish you could take them back? Or have you done something damaging in anger that cannot be undone?
 
Anger is a human emotion.  The Bible doesn’t say “don’t be angry ever”, but rather, in Ephesians 4:26, it says “in your anger, do not sin”.  Letting anger control us incites us to say or do things that hurt other people.  That is wrong and what the Bible refers to as sin.  In James 1:20, we learn that anger doesn’t bring about the righteousness that God desires.  What does that mean?  It means that our anger stands in the way of being in right relationship with God.  Not only does our anger harm others, we impair our walk with God which ultimately hurts us.
 
So what do we do instead?  We need to stop and look at what is really going on inside of us.  Lack of self-control is most likely part of the anger issue.  Ironically, anger has a way of making us feel we’re in control, even when in fact we’re acting totally out of control.
 
But what is really behind our anger?  Oftentimes, anger is a secondary emotion, meaning that another emotion underlies that anger and drives our behavior.  What primary emotion hides behind anger?  Perhaps it is fear or self-doubt or some insecurity of sorts.  In our culture, particularly for men, showing up fearful is not socially acceptable.  Fear also generates feelings of vulnerability which may feel very uncomfortable.  Or perhaps the emotion behind the anger is pride.  When someone steps on our toes, we explode.  Peeling back the layers allows us to discover the hidden truth behind the anger that drives us to say and do unkind and hurtful words and deeds.  Stop and look at the underlying issues.
 
It’s no coincidence that in the verse before James 1:20, the Bible says we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.  I’ve heard many times that “God gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason!”  We need to listen more than speak, especially if we feel we’re getting angry.  Who should we listen to?  Obviously, we need to listen to the person with whom we are interacting, but I believe we are to stop and listen to that small still voice inside of us, to God Himself, before we proceed to open our mouths and speak.  His Spirit within us can guide us to say what is appropriate and if necessary, table the discussion until we can converse in a calm and kind manner.
 
If we stop, look, and listen to what’s going on inside of us, straining against all the clamor to hear those quiet words God impresses upon our hearts, then we can exercise self-control and bring about that beautiful righteousness that God so desires for us.  May it be so for each of us today.
 
  
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the hurtful words and deeds I have said and done in anger.  Help me to stop, look, and listen to Your voice when I feel angry.  Keep me from hurting others in anger and keep me always in a right relationship with You.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
 
 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.
 
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.
 
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.™

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Are you busy?  Overwhelmed?  Stressed?  If you slowed down long enough to reflect, would you admit that you find your worth in how much you accomplish?  Or are you afraid of what you will discover if you pause long enough to contemplate?  Busyness compels us to do too much at the expense of who we are becoming.  It’s “doing” rather than “being”.

Rest is not a valued commodity in our culture.  Our calendars are so full we have no time to relax.  We may even feel guilty if we take some downtime.  But what exactly is rest?  The word rest means tranquility, calmness, refreshment, and to be quiet or still.  There are four types of rest.  Sleep is one type of rest in the physical sense.  Experiencing peace instead of anxiety and worry generates emotional rest.  Harmony in our relationships with others is relational rest.  Spending uninterrupted time with God creates spiritual rest.

How do we begin to experience rest?  Our quest for rest starts with Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 where He says, paraphrased, “Come to me all you who do too much, who have overburdened yourselves and overwhelmed your souls, and I will put you at rest when you take my yoke upon you.”  The word “yoke” may seem the opposite of rest as it conjures a picture in our minds of working oxen being yoked together.  Jesus’ audience would have understood that analogy as meaning yoking a stronger animal with a weaker one.  In the spiritual sense, being yoked with Jesus means letting Him carry us.  As He is joined with His Father in heaven, so we too are joined (yoked) with Jesus and enjoying the same intimate fellowship that He has with God the Father.  By abiding with Jesus throughout our busy day, we can find rest even amidst the chaos.  He is our strong shelter in the midst of a storm.

Finding calmness in the craziness involves surrender.  Again, in our key verse, Jesus tells us to learn from Him, to be like Him in that He is gentle and humble in heart.  When we surrender our striving and drivenness and become gentle and humble, we will experience rest as we abide in Jesus.  That same gentleness and humility will carry over into our other relationships bringing peace and harmony to feed our soul and theirs.

Rest involves silence and solitude.  Find a few minutes every day to spend with God, read His word, pray, meditate, reflect, and just “be” with God.  Jesus often retreated from the crowds to find a solitary place to pray.  He needed refreshment and renewal.  So do we.  Resting in His presence is a soul-satisfying way to start our day and to be intentional about our “being” before we begin our daily “doing”.  This refreshing time each day can help us set our priorities so that we do what is necessary and have some margin throughout our day.

When we take time to quiet our souls, becoming keenly aware of who we are and who God is, we can then begin to be intentional about who we are becoming.  Our “being” becomes more important than our “doing”.  We can find peace and joy in simple pleasures, like beautiful sunsets or a child’s laughter.  We can begin to let go of the striving and worry.  We can start living in the present moment, not the past or the future, knowing that the One who created us, who longs for fellowship with us, is pleased with our choices.  And we will indeed find that His yoke is easier than we thought and His burden is light after all.

Dear Jesus, I believe You when you say Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light.  Keep me yoked to You throughout each day as You create a sense of rest and peace in me.  Help me be intentional about “being” as I go about doing the tasks You would have me do.  In Your Precious Name I pray, Amen.


Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.

Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.

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.™

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Matthew 14:29-30

In the 14th chapter of Matthew, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus’ miraculous feeding over 5,000 people with five small loaves of bread and two fish.  After they’ve picked up the leftovers, Jesus sends them out in their boat while He escapes the crowds to pray.  Sudden storms are a common occurrence on the Sea of Galilee.  That day was no exception.

As the disciples and their boat are whipped about by the fearsome wind and formidable waves, they are terrified.  Suddenly they see Jesus walking on the water towards them.  You’d think they’d be relieved to see their Savior and Friend, especially after just witnessing His power to feed the multitudes.  But they were even more afraid as they thought He was a ghost.  Peter, ever the impulsive one, gets out of the boat and starts to walk on the water towards Jesus.

The boldness of Peter is truly amazing!  Would you have the courage to jump out of a boat into a stormy sea?  Yet, Peter’s bravery only last a few seconds.  The minute he takes his eyes off Jesus, he begins to sink.  As Peter cries out to the Lord to save him, Jesus reaches out, catches Peter, and they both climb into the boat.  Jesus calms the wind and the waves, delivering the disciples out of danger.

When life’s storms threaten to swallow you whole, what do you do?  It’s all too easy to let the wind and waves buffet and batter us as we tremble in fear.  Whether it’s mass killings and terrorism that frighten us or whether it’s something we’re struggling with personally, looking to Jesus to save us from the tumult is the first step.  Believing that He is able to save us because of His past faithfulness is crucial.  Just as Peter had to step out of the boat to see if he could walk on water, we too need to step out in faith that Jesus is trustworthy and will catch us if we fall.  When we’re walking our faith in obedience to God, we will still experience life’s storms.  But we can trust Jesus to grab us by the hand and hold us up.  The key is to learn from Peter and don’t take our eyes off Jesus.  For when we do, we will surely sink into the depths of the storm.

Being brave doesn’t mean that we are not afraid.  It means we step out in faith, perhaps in fear, but trusting in the One who calmed the Sea of Galilee to calm the sea inside of us.  Doing it afraid is sometimes the only way to step out in faith and be brave.

Dear Lord, You know what storms life brings my way.  I thank You for your faithfulness in the past and Your power in the present to save me.  I ask for Your peace in the midst of the turmoil and the courage to step out in faith knowing You are with me.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.

Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.

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.™

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  Hebrews 13:2

Riding her bike on the busy street wasn’t unusual.  Maneuvering around a parked bus wasn’t too unusual either.  But crossing over the cable car rails on the pavement was.  The tire caught in the slot between the rails and the bike came to a screeching halt, throwing its rider onto the unforgiving asphalt.  What happened next was a miracle.

Within seconds, pedestrians witnessing the accident ran to her aid.  One woman calmed her down and helped extricate her from the bike.  One man lifted her up, carrying her out of harm’s way onto a nearby sidewalk.  Another hoisted her bike up out of the street and placed it next to her.  He ran to a nearby café for ice to put on her already swollen knee and stayed with her until her friend arrived.  When my daughter told me of her rescuers, I was overwhelmed by their kindness.

Care from total strangers is so foreign to us.  While we are accustomed to news of man’s inhumanity to man, how heart-warming it is to hear of the compassion of strangers who saw a need and met it.  My faith in humanity is restored.  To believe in unprompted goodness and mercy is wonderfully encouraging.

When asked “who is my neighbor?” by an inquiring religious leader, Jesus tells the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, who despite the fact he was an enemy, took the time to care for the victim of a robbery.  Jesus points out that the Samaritan showed mercy to his “neighbor”.

Who is my neighbor?  Is it simply someone who lives in my neighborhood or is it anyone who crosses my path who needs my help?

When we see someone in need, do we actually stop to help?  Or are we too busy?  Do we have our calendars packed with appointments and “to do’s” that we can’t meet a need when it is right in front of us?  Do we rely on others who have “the gift of mercy” to help instead of us?  I’m so thankful that those who stopped to help my daughter that day didn’t hesitate. 

According to Hebrews 13:2, when we show hospitality to strangers, we could indeed be providing hospitality to angels.  Or maybe, as it happened that day on her bike, my daughter was ministered to by pedestrian angels who showed kindness to a stranger.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your ministering angels that come to my aid.  May I be that “angel” that helps the strangers You put in my path that need Your loving care.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.

Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.

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.™

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Psalm 46:1-2

Earthquake season is upon us.  Or so it seems.  Earthquake after earthquake has rocked our world here in the San Francisco Bay in the last week.  I have to tell you that when I sit down to breakfast, I’d prefer my kitchen table not to slide back and forth while I’m eating!

I know there are devastating earthquakes around the world so I’m not trying to make light of them.  But when I count in ONE day the number of quakes that are 2.0 and greater just a couple of miles from me and that number is 23, I do get a bit concerned.  We’ve had several over 3.0 this past week.  The largest was a 3.6 just a couple of days ago.

What I’ve noticed is that most native Californians don’t seem to be bothered by these sorts of statistics.  They’ve experienced quakes many, many times.  But for those of us, including myself, who are California transplants, let’s just say we’re more than a bit nervous.  Especially when we’ve felt quakes several times in one day.

When the house shakes and the household items start to rattle, I catch myself feeling afraid.  Is this is the “big” one?  What if the earth just opens up and swallows me, my family, and all our earthly possessions?  Just in case you’re curious, I’m absolutely not planning to see the movie San Andreas. But what I do plan to do is “drop, cover, and hold on”.

In schools here, the students undergo earthquake drills in which they are taught to drop, cover, and hold on.  If a quake hits, they are to drop to the floor, go for cover under a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture, and with one arm covering head and neck, use the other arm to hold on.

That’s good advice for physical safety.  But what about emotional safety?  How do we keep fear from ruling our hearts and our minds?  While it’s human to feel fear, it’s possible to keep fear in check.  I call it the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle.  When we’re afraid, we need to drop to our knees in prayer, find cover in God’s refuge and strength, and hold on to His word of truth.  Today’s verse tells us how.  Psalm 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  When we’re in trouble and feeling afraid, God is with us.  Always.  And He is willing and able to help.  The best way to realize He is with us is to pray.  When we do, as verse 2 says, “we will not fear” because we’ve opened ourselves up to His love, presence, and power.  We may still feel a twinge of fear but it will not consume us.  Even “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (or the San Francisco Bay), we do not need to fear.  God is our refuge and strength.

What are you afraid of?  Practice the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle and be free of fear.

By the way, experts say that the ground during a quake opens up into a big crevice only in movies and books.  As for me, I’ll keep reading the Bible, the Book of Truth, and trust in the God of refuge and strength.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God of the heavens and the earth.  You promise in Your word to be my refuge and strength.  I claim that promise now when I feel afraid.  Thank you for Your ever-present help in my troubles today.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

  

Want to subscribe to future posts?  Click here.

Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey.  All rights reserved.

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.™