Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21
 
 
During a visit to Paris, as I walk to a nearby museum, I round a curve and come face-to-face with armed police officers, complete with rifles, helmets, and bulletproof vests and shields. A throng of people are walking towards me on the cordoned-off street. A loudspeaker is blaring. My thoughts inevitably go to possible violence and snipers. I quicken my pace along the sidewalk and cut over to a side street, hoping I can enter the museum through its vast, fence-enclosed gardens. My plan is thwarted by a locked gate. I continue walking around the gardens to the front of the palace which houses the museum. While this plan sounds good, unbeknownst to me, the protest march starts in front of the palace! Getting through the mob congregating here looks impossible. Disheartened, I turn around. Stopping midway around the gardens, I distractedly listen to a band playing near the back gate. My day is not going according to plan and I am tired from yesterday’s travel.
 
Standing near the black wrought-iron fence surrounding the gardens, I notice a young man taking photos through the fence. As I follow his line of sight, I realize that with the gardens closed, there are no people to photobomb any shots. The colorful autumn leaves are swirling in the light breeze with the palace as a backdrop. I quickly remove my camera from its bag and aim the lens through the bars in the fence.
 
While I realize I am not in control of this Parisian protest and the way it blocked my plans, I am in control of my response. I don’t handle the interruption of my plans very well by getting angry and frustrated. Seeing another photographer taking photos makes me pause to think about how I can make the best of this situation. Following his example, at least I have a positive takeaway to a frustrating situation where God is in control and I am not. Perhaps God is trying to teach me something!
 
But perhaps I still need more lessons in the God-is-in-control class because back at home, my I’m-not-in-control-but-God-is theme continues. Because of high winds, power lines are knocked down and I am literally in the dark for several days. Worrying about getting to a museum pales in comparison to camping out in your own house! Because of those same high winds, fear and worry over neighboring wildfires keep me in a state of anxiety as I wonder if I might need to evacuate. I spend a frantic couple of hours packing in the event I need to leave. The peace of God eludes me as I allow fear to paralyze me.
 
As our key verse says, I can make my plans, but I’m not ultimately in control. But God is and His plans will succeed. His will cannot be thwarted. When we try to control our circumstances, we’ll pay in the currency of anxiety, fear, and disappointment. When we align our will with His, we will reap the rewards of peace, comfort, and contentment.
 
Trust is the opposite of fear. When I forget that God is sovereign and I am not, I fail to trust God and the fact that He alone is in control of the adversity. Then fear, with its siblings of worry, doubt, and panic, take up residence in my heart and mind.
 
Losing our perspective is all too common in both small issues and life-threatening ones, in dealing with difficult circumstances and with difficult people. In times when the landscape of world events, political posturing, natural disasters, climate change, and mass shootings looks frightening and disheartening, keeping our focus on the Lord is more important than ever. Looking up to God while living through adverse circumstances, regardless of how minor or overwhelming the problem is, is vital to our spiritual and emotional health. Reading verses on God’s sovereignty and peace (like Isaiah 41:10*) can remind us that He is in control and He will take care of us. Rather than allowing anxiety and fear to distract and paralyze us, focus on Jesus and the peace He gives (John 14:27*).
 
When we can’t control our circumstances, we can trust the God who can. We can also seek to control our own responses. Being intentional about focusing on God, praying for His wisdom, perspective, and peace and reading His Word, keeps anxiety and fear at bay. And as I discover, the theme of peace is surely better than the theme of spinning out of control.
 
 
Lord, in a time when planet Earth seems to be spinning out of control, when my personal circumstances are not according to my plans, I trust in Your sovereignty and that Your good plan will prevail. Align my will with Yours. Keep my eyes focused upward to You. Fill my mind and my heart with Your peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
*Isaiah 41:10:  "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
 
* John 14:27:  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Luxembourg Gardens, Paris.
 
 
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.™

Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Paris:

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.  Jeremiah 17:14
 
 
The previous two blog posts have highlighted the grand Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims which is located in the Champagne region of France. Its imposing structure has seen good times and bad:  coronations of kings, healing between nations, as well as destruction due to wars and fires. It remains a testament to redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Today we’ll explore another aspect of this Gothic cathedral.
 
Original construction on the cathedral was completed in the 14th century. Containing 2,303 statues, Reims Cathedral is the most sculptured religious building in France. Some of these statues are freestanding, while many are carved into the façade itself.  Some portray French royalty while others depict scenes from the Bible. The original biblical scenes were created in colorful hued stones. While the colors have faded over time, the stories remain. The façade’s purpose was to teach biblical accounts to mostly illiterate townspeople. The people essentially read the Bible on the walls of Reims Cathedral.
 
As I reach the massive door to enter the cathedral, I notice a statue of an angel. Expecting his expression to be either commanding or perhaps simply serene, I am surprised to see an impish grin spread across his stone cheeks. I learn that this famous statue of the Archangel Michael is called L’Ange au Sourire or the Smiling Angel. Originally created in the 1200’s, the stonemason apparently had a sense of humor by carving a smile on the angel’s face. During the destruction of the cathedral during World War I, the angel’s head was shattered into many pieces. Miraculously, it was restored using the salvaged original pieces plus some new ones. I pause for a moment and wonder why he is smiling. What secrets lie behind his smile? As I turn to enter through the cathedral’s massive doorway, I feel the statue’s smile break the austerity of this monumental structure.
 
While the outside of the Reims Cathedral is busy with numerous arches, peaks, and sinister-looking gargoyles, the interior is quiet, cool, and peaceful. I sit in one of the many wooden chairs lined up in rows facing the altar. I’m thankful for a few minutes to sit in such a tranquil place. As I gaze upward, I realize that while the stone façade outside recounts biblical characters and their stories, the many stained-glass windows also depict scenes from the Scriptures. What was once colorful stories on the exterior are continued in the even more colorful windows as seen from the interior.
 
According to Dictionary.com, the word “façade” means “the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one.” But “façade” can also mean “a superficial appearance or illusion of something.” I wonder what stories our personal façades tell. Are we genuine or do we put on a smiling face, like the statue I had just seen, when we go to church and pretend everything is OK? Of course, we don’t want to gush to total strangers about our woes, but do we allow our friends and other caring people in our lives to see the cracks in the façade? Do we allow the light of their concern and love help heal those broken places? It takes courage to be real and there is a fine line to walk between being authentic and being overly needy. But being genuine and genuinely caring towards others creates space for others to be real, too. Only when we can admit our brokenness and struggles can we begin to heal.
 
In our key verse, Jeremiah prays to God to heal him of his sins, to save him in the here and now as well as eternally. His plea ends in praise for he knows God will answer the prayer of a contrite person.
 
We are all broken in some way and are each a work in progress. Like those broken and now-restored exterior walls of Reims Cathedral, we don’t have to put up a façade of perfect Christianity. God can begin the process of “reconstruction” when we admit we don’t have it all together, when we humble ourselves at the foot of the Cross, and sincerely ask for His help. We are indeed redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and reconciled and restored in our relationship to God. Perhaps that’s the secret of the Smiling Angel:  to find joy in knowing that what is broken will ultimately be restored by the hand of God. Perhaps, at the sight of redeemed, reconciled, and restored people, maybe more than Archangel Michael will be smiling. Perhaps even God Himself.
 
 
Lord, heal me of my brokenness and my tendency to selfishly go my own way without You. Restore me into right relationship with You. I thank You and praise You for the reconstruction work You are doing and will continue to do in me. May I find hope and joy in the healing process. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Smiling Angel statue at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, 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.™
 
 
David and Goliath in the Reims Cathedral façade:

​The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, France :

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 1:5-7
 
 
As mentioned in last month’s blog post, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is significant in many ways, including providing a venue for the coronation of almost all of France’s kings. Weathering wars and fires, Reims Cathedral has been rebuilt and repaired over the centuries into the magnificent church it is today.
 
The windows of this cathedral fascinate me. As mentioned in last month’s post, the artist Marc Chagall created three windows in the back or apse of the church. But those aren’t the only bright windows there.
 
Inside the dimly lit interior under the grandeur of the high, vaulted ceiling, I move through the quietness of this place toward the brilliant color at the other end of the main aisle. I notice windows that are dazzling in color, each a mosaic of geometric shapes. There are six of these enormous windows, three on either side of the Chagall stained glass. I’m intrigued. The colors are magnificent, but the back-story is compelling.
 
The town of Reims was a German target during three wars, including both World Wars. Much of the cathedral was destroyed by German bombs during World War I and was rebuilt by 1938. In 2011, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Reims Cathedral, beautiful windows by the German artist Imi Knoebel were installed. Choosing a German artist was intentional. It was a sign of reconciliation between France and Germany and of the restoration of peace between them. During the celebration, the German minister for foreign affairs said that by installing these windows, a scar had been healed.
 
Taking in the rich colors with sunlight highlighting each hue, I ponder this act of reconciliation and restoration. In the quietness of this grand cathedral, I realize that before reconciliation and restoration are possible, there has to be redemption. Being redeemed by and forgiven through the blood of Christ reconciles us to God and restores our relationship with our Creator. Gazing on the central window designed by Chagall of Christ on the Cross, it all makes sense. Jesus died on a cross to redeem us, to pay the price for our sin (going our own way without God), and to reconcile us to God and restore our relationship with Him. The analogy can be taken further in terms of reconciling and restoring relationships with other people* and the obvious one staring at me from Knoebel’s windows – that of reconciling and restoring relations between nations. But it all begins at the Cross where Jesus paid the price for all of our wrongdoings, bad choices, and our rebellion against God and it’s the place where God forgave us.
 
In those quiet moments in that vast cathedral, God’s Spirit is palpable. The key verse for today speaks of walking in God’s light in order to fellowship with Him. If we claim we have fellowship with Him but we walk without Him into our day, without His light to shine before us, then we are missing out on sweet communion with God. When we fail to live as the redeemed people we truly are, our priorities often are turned upside down and our focus gets directed to the urgent, but not necessarily to the important. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Starting out each day with Scripture and prayer can provide the light we need to follow our Savior and to keep us centered in the fellowship of His presence. When we choose to walk in the light, our pace becomes intentional and focused. Our hearts can hear the whisper of God in the midst of the chaos swirling around us in our busy days. When our souls are restored, we can offer restoration to others when they see Jesus shining through us.

God’s light can shine through the windows of our souls when we come before the Cross. When we choose to walk in the light, our redeemed, reconciled, and restored souls become windows, like the windows in Reims Cathedral, to reflect the light of the Son. Every day we have a choice to make regarding how we will live. Which will you choose today?
 
 
God, words cannot express my gratitude to You for sending Your one and only Son to die a horrible death on a cross so that I can be reconciled to You. Help my actions display my gratitude as I point others to the Cross. May I live everyday as You intend me to live:  redeemed, reconciled, and restored. Amen.
 
 
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​
 
Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Imi Knoebel’s stained-glass windows in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, France.
 
*Note: Abusive relationships are not necessarily candidates for reconciliation and restoration. While forgiveness is necessary to heal emotionally, to be restored back into an abusive relationship is harmful.
 
 
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.™
 
A close-up of Knoebel’s stained glass:

​The vaulted ceiling in Reims Cathedral:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10
 
 
Visiting the city of Reims (pronounced “Rance”) in the heart of the Champagne region of France, I am unprepared for the depth of spiritual connectedness I discover here.

In the 5th century, Clovis I, the first king of France, was baptized at a church in Reims that was later destroyed by fire in 1210. Its replacement, constructed in the Gothic style over the course of more than a century, is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. Providing the venue for coronations of all but two French kings, Reims Cathedral hosted other notables as well, including Joan of Arc, who attended the 1429 coronation of King Charles VII.

Over the course of time, the structure of Reims Cathedral suffered damage by several fires and multiple wars. But it is the windows that captivate my attention.

Some of the windows in the cathedral were intentionally destroyed by monks in the 18th century to allow more light to flood into the building. These stained-glass windows were replaced with clear glass containing smaller, less colorful designs. Then came World War I when most of the structure was utterly demolished. Rebuilt by 1938, the cathedral suffered additional damage during World War II, particularly to some of its windows.

I am intrigued with the new and modern replacement windows installed in such an old cathedral. In the apse, in the back of the church, three large and colorful windows catch my attention. They were created by Marc Chagall (1897-1985), a French artist of Russian origin and Jewish descent. A master of European Modernism, Chagall is known for his brilliant use of color. His themes are often spiritual, both Jewish and Christian. Some of his most moving contributions are based in biblical scenes. Having lived through the horrors of both World Wars, his is a message of tolerance, respect, and love.

Working with stained glass allowed Chagall access to a new dimension of light and refraction. I am astonished to learn that although he was already a well-known and established artist, he did not begin working in the medium of stained glass until he was almost 70 years old. For over the next 20 years, Chagall created stained-glass windows in buildings around the world. His light-filled masterpieces can be seen in a synagogue in Jerusalem, throughout various cathedrals and churches across Europe in France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, in a church in New York, and in the Art Institute in Chicago.

As I stand staring at the brightly hued windows, I can’t help feeling hopeful. If Chagall at the age of 70 could begin to create something new and beautiful, then perhaps it’s never too late for the rest of us. Seeing his vibrant use of color, especially with the sunlight penetrating the glass, is mesmerizing. But upon taking a closer look and seeing the intricacies of his work is to marvel at his God-given talent and Chagall’s ability to tap into it.
​
Chagall himself put it this way. He said, “For me a stained-glass window is a transparent partition between my heart and the heart of the world. Stained glass has to be serious and passionate. It is something elevating and exhilarating. It has to live through the perception of light. To read the Bible is to perceive a certain light, and the window has to make this obvious through its simplicity and grace.”

His depictions of biblical scenes shown through the brilliance of the shining sun illuminate the messages contained in the pages of the Bible. As I gaze upon Christ crucified in the middle window, I connect to the excruciating sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, emotionally, in almost a visceral way.

It’s obvious Chagall imparted his passion into his work. He said, “If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.”

His light-filled, gorgeous creations, straight from his heart, invite me to ask myself what I am passionate about. What is it that God has given me the talent to do that I can begin doing, regardless of age?

What stirs up your passions to create something new? To try something different, perhaps out of your comfort zone? Maybe you’ve seen a need and want to start a ministry to address it. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to develop a talent like drawing or painting and see where it will take you. Whatever your dream, you are never too old to begin something new. Like Chagall, God can take your past, maybe even the most painful parts, and create something new. God himself works within you and His work is not done. He will continue to bring it to fruition, for His glory, to draw you nearer to Him, and to give your life meaning and purpose. The question is, will you trust Him to step out in faith, daring to tap into your God-given talents to begin something new?
 
 
Lord, sometimes I don’t see the talents and gifts you have given me or I think I’m too old, too busy, or just incapable of creating something new. Stir up the passions and dreams in my heart and motivate me to use my God-given talents to glorify You, bless others, and provide meaning and purpose for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Chagall windows in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, 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.™

​A close-up of Chagall’s window of Christ on the cross:

​La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, France :

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28
 
 
I walk the short walk to the train station, being careful as I cross the plethora of bike lanes to not get run over by a speeding bike. Buying a round trip ticket from the kiosk is surprisingly easy. Figuring out which platform is a bit more challenging. The helpful man at the information desk points me in the right direction and after waiting just a few minutes, I’m off from Amsterdam’s Centraal station. Twenty-five minutes later, I arrive at my stop. I walk out of the station like I know what I’m doing (I don’t) but, having studied Google maps earlier, I find with the help of posted signs, the Moulen de Adriaan, a windmill built in 1779 that sits right on the edge of one of Haarlem’s many canals. Lots of photo opps are to be had and after a while, I walk the ten minutes to my ultimate destination in this picturesque town.
 
A line is starting to form at the entrance. With ticket in hand, I’m somewhat confident I will be one of the twenty people admitted for the guided tour. The narrow house-turned-museum is typically Dutch and as I enter the front door when the line moves forward, I climb the steep, twisting, and narrow staircase to the single room on the next floor. A circle of chairs borders the walls of this living room. The guide begins to tell the story of this house’s most well-known resident and her family.
 
Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch woman living here in Haarlem with her father and elder sister at the time of the Nazi occupation. Her father, a watchmaker, had his shop on the first floor. He was known in the community for being a man of faith, a Christian, and for being kind to all people regardless of their backgrounds or religion. Corrie herself had started a ministry to young women and also to the mentally challenged. One day, a well-dressed woman appeared on their doorstep with a suitcase in hand and asked if they would take her in. She was Jewish and was trying to escape her Nazi pursuers. Being the kind people that they were, they invited her in. A few days later, more people arrived on their doorstep and asked to stay there. Soon, the ten Booms were working with the Dutch resistance and were central to a ring of underground workers helping Jews and other refugees to escape occupied Holland. A fake wall was built in Corrie’s room where six people could hide if they stood side by side. Ultimately, a Dutch collaborator informed the police of their underground activities and the ten Booms were arrested. Her father died soon afterward while Corrie and her sister Betsie were transported to Ravensbrück, a concentration camp in Germany. Betsie’s faith helped Corrie realize that God was with them in their darkest hour. After Betsie became ill, she had a vision of Corrie telling their story of God’s love after the war. She died soon after and within two weeks, Corrie was miraculously released from Ravensbrück (later she learned it was a clerical error).  Corrie brought Betsie’s vision to fruition by creating a home for those seeking to be healed from the emotional scars of the war. Corrie also turned a former concentration camp into a place of healing. She wrote numerous books and traveled around the world as she told the story of God’s presence and provision during their darkest times. The ten Booms lived out their Christian faith by showing love and kindness to those in need and as a result, over 800 Jews and refugees were saved while countless others, especially other prisoners at Ravensbrück, came to know the God who loved them. Corrie found her purpose in the stench of a horrific death camp and lived out this God-given purpose by sharing His love, healing, and forgiveness.
 
Having read Corrie’s autobiography called The Hiding Place many years ago, I am familiar with her story but it comes to life in the words of our Dutch guide and in the rooms where she lived and worked. The guide shows us an embroidered piece of cloth and tells us that Corrie created this tapestry and took it with her to her speaking engagements. It is difficult to figure out what the embroidery is as there are colorful strings everywhere and knots and loops. It isn’t until the guide turns the cloth over that I realize the embroidery is of a gold crown set with lots of colorful jewels. To Corrie, the embroidery represented life and each colorful thread represented an event or circumstance, each of which had a purpose. We, with our human eyes and finite understanding, only see the underside with the knots and loose threads hanging. God sees the masterpiece on the other side.
 
Often in doubt, fear, and despair, Corrie found hope, strength, and courage in God to do what He called her to do. God's plans and purposes would not be thwarted. Time and time again, Corrie experienced God’s intervention even in the most horrendous of circumstances. In the process, Corrie grew in her faith as she saw miracle after miracle of God's presence, provision, and protection. She experienced God’s love in the darkest of places. Although she wondered many times why things happened as they had, she learned that when we allow God to use our experiences, they become the perfect preparation for what He has called us to do.
 
In the midst of life and particularly in suffering, we may not realize that everything has a purpose and that God weaves all these threads of different experiences together for our good, to transform us spiritually into who He wants us to be and to prepare us for the work He has for us to do. Only when we get to heaven will we see the crown that was forged through all our trials, tribulations, and sufferings and then we will fully understand that every thread on the underside has a purpose as God weaves a masterpiece on the other side.
 
 
Heavenly Father, You are the Master Weaver. You take our trials and tribulations, even our joys and praises, and weave them with purpose into our lives. While I may not know this side of heaven the reason for events in my life, help me to trust You more as You work to create a masterpiece from the tangled threads of my life. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Moulen de (Windmill of) Adriaan, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
 
 
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.™
 
Photo of canal in Haarlem:

Note:  Corrie ten Boom often recited the following poem in her talks around the world as she held the embroidery for the audience to see. The Weaver is credited to Grant Colfax Tullar as author. Here it is:
 
“My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
I do not choose the colours, He works so steadily.
Oft times He weaves in sorrow, I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
 
Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.”

​Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24
 
 
“Dank u wel!” I said, as I turned to carefully step up and out of the boat which had taken me through a canal bordered by ancient windmills. The guide I spoke to said with surprise, “You speak Dutch!” I laughed and said I wish I did. I was happy as her next remark complimented me on my accent. She was the third person in less than a week to tell me my Dutch accent was very good!
 
Prior to a recent trip to the Netherlands, I had used an online language app to learn a few key Dutch phrases. Just the basics – hello, please, thank you. I tried to remember a few other important phrases, like the obvious one, “Where’s the bathroom?” Apparently, my efforts paid off as I passed myself off as a Dutch speaker, at least for a moment!
 
What I’ve learned in my travels is that when you greet someone in their language, rapport is quickly established and people are much more willing to help you navigate a foreign city. As I’ve worked to become more proficient in French, I’ve experienced first-hand the help and kindness extended to me that might not have happened if I had not been willing to speak the language. In preparing for my travels, I’ve now learned how to say “thank you” in about 8 different languages. Just for the record, I can also say “Cheers” in the same number of languages!
 
Words matter, regardless of what language we are speaking. We connect with people when we choose our words graciously and carefully. By speaking their language, whether a foreign language or by using words that show we are sensitive to their situation, we demonstrate that they are important to us.
 
We can use our words to accept people as they are. It’s our choice as to whether we select words that contain judgment or not. Gracious words are void of judgment but laced with love. By accepting people as they are, we point them to the Savior who loves and accepts them, no matter what.
 
We can use our words to change who we are. When we learn a foreign language, we are changed as our minds become more open to new cultures and new people. By incorrectly pronouncing those foreign words, we also develop humility. Even in our own native language, when we try to understand someone else and their way of speaking and thinking, we become more sensitive. When trying to comfort someone in their grief, we become compassionate. When we restrain our words when angry, we become more understanding and conflicts can be better resolved.
 
The words we choose reflect who we are and Whose we are. When we begin to live out God’s Word in us, the power of His Word changes us into who He wants us to be. We become more Christ-like when we are more accepting, humble, sensitive, compassionate, and understanding.
 
Our key verse today says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Gracious words in this verse can refer to God’s Word to us, our words of worship back to God, or our words to each other. In all three interpretations, the result is healing. The grief-stricken can move toward healing when gracious words are spoken to them. Conflicts can be resolved when words are gracious. Even international barriers can be dismantled and connections formed simply by learning a few key foreign phrases.
 
As a hobby, my dad was a beekeeper. I still have some of his honey which is dark, rich, and utterly sublime. I can’t help but think of Dad’s honey when I read our key verse. Honey does have healing properties. Like a dose of honey, just a few words can heal our souls, down to the bones.
 
 
Lord, make my words an offering to You. May I speak gracious words into difficult circumstances and may those words bring healing as they point others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photos of centuries-old, still active windmills in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands.
 
 
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.™
 
Another photo of the windmills at Kinderdijk:

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Matthew 6:27
 
 
Ninth grade. It was a time of beginnings, a time of searching, a time of figuring out for myself what I believed. Although my family went to church every Sunday, at this point in my life, my faith was only beginning to take shape. It would morph into a more solid faith later.
 
Every Sunday evening, I attended the youth group at my church. One evening stands out above the rest. A friend of the youth pastor, a guy named Larry, came to speak to us that night. But Larry didn’t speak as himself. He dressed as Jesus might have dressed and he playacted as Jesus. As a member of the planning committee, I had the opportunity to meet Larry ahead of time as well as to welcome him to youth group that night. What struck me most about Larry’s portrayal of Jesus was his calm demeanor. I recall asking this “Jesus” questions before youth group that night and the answers I received were mostly, “Don’t worry” or “It doesn’t matter.” I was so hung up on things to worry about that this “Jesus” knew I needed to relax and not leap ahead.
 
As Larry continued to portray Jesus that night, his answer to the other kids’ questions was the same:  “Don’t worry.” Obviously, I was not the only one overthinking and running ahead with anxiety and angst. At the time, I remember thinking that maybe this calm disposition was a little over the top. But as I read the Scriptures now, I see Jesus showing up as a calming force. In Luke 8:22-25, He calms the storm, and in the process, calms the hearts of the disciples who were fearing for their lives. Just a few verses later, in Luke 8:42b-48, we see Him quickly stop in His tracks to heal a woman who had been bleeding for years. She trusted that Jesus could heal her, just by touching the hem of His cloak. She wasn’t an interruption to Him, but a divine appointment. It was a holy opportunity to display His power and for her to be healed and restored both to physical health and to community. Throughout Scripture, we see Jesus calming storms and restoring souls.
 
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus says we are not to worry. In the verses previous to these, Jesus says that where our treasure lies, there our hearts are as well (Matthew 6:21). Jesus also says in Matthew 6:24 that you cannot serve both God and money. It’s interesting that Jesus continues telling the crowd (and us) not to worry about material things. Our heavenly Father who feeds the birds will surely feed us. He who clothes the flowers will surely clothe us. God will take care of us. He knows what we need (verse 32). When we put God first and trust Him to take care of us, we do not have to be anxious for tomorrow (verse 33). As Jesus says in verse 34, today has enough trouble of its own. Verse 27 is particularly poignant:  Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worrying is a futile exercise that accomplishes nothing except distraction and emotional exhaustion.
 
Trust is the opposite of worry. When we trust God to take care of us, worry exits stage left. God gives us today. We can choose to spend it however we wish, but if we stay in the present on this day, trusting God to take care of us, we can leave the regrets from yesterday behind, and we can put the worries of tomorrow in Jesus’ hands. We, too, like my friend Larry, can live a life of peace and calmness as we hear our Savior whisper, “Don’t worry.”
 
Jesus, I want to put my worries and anxieties behind me today. You know what I need. I trust You to take care of me. I don’t need to worry. Calm the storms of life swirling around me and restore my soul. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of water lily in Monet’s water garden, Giverny, 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.™
 
Here’s a larger view of Monet’s water garden at Giverny:

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.  Psalm 119:59-60
 
 
Avignon, France, is home to the Palais des Papes, the Palace of the Popes. It is the largest Gothic palace built during the Middles Ages. During the 14th century, the palace was home to a succession of six different popes who established the papacy here in Avignon rather than in Rome at the Vatican. Overlooking the Rhône River, the Palais des Papes is one of today’s most visited attractions in France.
 
During my visit, the guided tour of the palace ended, like most museums, in the gift shop. Milling around, I discovered hand-painted tiles for sale. I picked through the basket of tiles and found one that I liked. Ever conscious of the weight of my luggage, I hesitated to buy a relatively heavy souvenir. Just as I placed the tile back in the basket, one of my fellow travelers walks up, picks up the same tile, exclaims how beautiful it is, and walks off with it. I heard my mom’s voice in my head saying, “He who hesitates is lost!” I searched again and found another pretty tile to take home. If I wavered in my decision on the second tile, I was not putting it down until I decided for sure to buy it!
 
While I envy my friend’s ability to make a quick decision, I realize there have been opportunities, bigger ones than buying souvenirs, where I’ve waited too long and the moment is gone.
 
One night as I was driving home, I approached an intersection where many times there is a homeless man on the street corner. If the light is red, I’ll roll down my window and hand him some money. On this particular night, the light was green and I just wanted to get home. I felt God nudging me to stop anyway, but I wavered. As I sailed through the intersection, I immediately felt convicted of not obeying God’s voice and now, as I entered the freeway, the opportunity was lost to help this particular homeless person.
 
Recently, I was studying the various ways God communicates with us. He speaks to us through His written Word, the Bible, through prayer, or sometimes through other means. I learned that when we hear God’s voice and choose not to obey Him immediately, we are actually being disobedient. That’s difficult to fathom. But hesitating and not doing what we are supposed to do is actually wrong.
 
How many times do we hesitate, either second-guessing we heard God correctly, or overthinking what we need to do, or as I did that one night, choosing to disobey because I had my own agenda? When we hesitate to obey, the opportunity may be lost forever.
 
God’s voice is often a small, still voice. We need to be quiet and prepared to hear it by reading His Word, by praying, and by intentionally and expectantly waiting for it. If we are caught up in our own agendas, we will miss the opportunity to obey God and to bless others.
 
May we look for opportunities to be God’s hands and feet in a hurting world. May we not waver or hesitate in our commitment to obey God’s calling, regardless of how big or how small the task may seem. May we not run ahead with our own agendas instead of heeding God’s call to obedience.
 
 
Lord, help me to obey You more readily, without hesitating or overthinking. May I not be so busy with my own agenda that I can’t stop long enough to hear and obey You. Calm my heart and my mind so I may hear Your quiet, still voice. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of La Prière Universelle, statue by Ndary Lo, standing adjacent to the Palais des Papes,​ 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.™
 
Photo of gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the Palais des Papes:

​From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  Psalm 61:2-3
 
 
The California sky is its usual bright azure. Streaming through my car window, the warm sun feels toasty as it radiates through me. After all the rain we’ve had, I am hoping spring might actually be upon us. Thankful the traffic isn’t bumper-to-bumper, I drive along the freeway, drinking in the gorgeous day.
 
That’s when I see it. Actually, it takes a few seconds to even realize what I am seeing. It is not something you’d expect to see along the side of the freeway. I do a double-take as I whiz by. It is a ladder, the kind that folds out and stands eight or ten feet tall. Climbing up this bright orange ladder is a man. What in the world is he doing on a ladder on the shoulder of the freeway? And then I spy it. Clutching the ladder rung with one hand, the other hand grips a camera. I can’t stop myself from laughing out loud. What photographers won’t do to get a good shot!
 
I know what he is shooting. My mind harkens back only to several weeks before when I, too, pulled over near that same spot with camera in tow. In the early to mid-spring, thousands of brilliantly hued yellow flowers dot the green hills in this valley. Much to my dismay, the best views always seem to be from the freeway. That day, I had stopped at home, grabbed my camera, and headed back to the freeway to capture these tiny gems called mustard flowers. While I was satisfied with most of the photos, it was indeed challenging to shoot the verdant hill with the not-so-attractive foreground. I totally understand why this photographer brought his ladder.
 
How often do we focus on the messiness of the foreground and forget to look up to the beauty right before us? When life is stressful and busy, when bad news abounds, do we focus on the fray in front of us? Or do we climb up for a higher perspective?
 
Our key verse speaks to that vertical focus. When circumstances of life tear us down and wear us out, there is One who can lift us up out of the chaos and set our feet on higher ground. When we remember to call out to God for help, He comes along beside us and gives us a new perspective. Praying to God in the midst of trials and even just day-to-day busyness renews our spirit and keeps our focus on the Savior rather than our situation. Prayer relieves the anxiety and overwhelmed emotions as we allow hope rather than defeat to claim our mind and thoughts (Philippians 4:6-7). God’s peace and presence keep our eyes focused vertically, not horizontally. With God’s help, we can indeed rise above our circumstances. No ladder required!
 
 
 
Dear God, I thank You that when I call to You in trying circumstances, You hear my call for help and You answer me. Thank You for giving me a new, vertical focus. Keep me looking up to You for peace in the midst of the fray. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of rock at Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre, 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.™
 
If you are curious, here’s a photo of the mustard flowers:

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.  Genesis 1:31a, 2:2-3
 
 
The billowing clouds scroll across the blue sky. The sun gently warms my face as the water calmly undulates the boat, forming tiny ripples across the deep blue-green surface. Whispers of thoughts float through my mind on how peaceful it would be to live near a river or lake. While fantasizing about lake living, I’m lulled into calm for a couple of hours as we navigate the Douro River in Portugal. It’s a welcomed respite from the frantic pace of ten days traversing Portugal from Porto to Lisbon. One of my fellow travelers is so relaxed on the boat that he falls asleep. Another remarks how peaceful the boat ride is. It got me thinking.
 
Life isn’t always peaceful like a slow-flowing river. Sometimes is more like a Class 5 rapid with steep waterfalls just around the bend. Even without considering life’s hardships and difficulties, the pace of life is so fast that we frantically go from one activity to the next, enslaved to our never-ending to-do list, as we pile guilt on ourselves for not doing enough.
 
Do we crawl under the covers at bedtime only to rehash what we didn’t get done that day and feel the weight of all we have to do tomorrow? How often do we say “enough is enough” or “I’ve done enough for today”?
 
In our key verses, we see that God, after creating the world, rested. Did He rest because He was tired? No, of course not. Perhaps as He declared His creation “very good,” He realized that it was enough. His work for now was done. And He rested.
 
Perhaps it’s unrealistic to think we can carve out a whole day each week to refrain from work, to rest, to relax, to rejuvenate. But our bodies do need rest. Our minds need a break, too. Maybe finding a Sabbath rhythm isn’t about one day a week; maybe it’s all about taking “Sabbath moments” throughout each day. A Sabbath moment could be as short as a stretch break or a brisk walk outside. It could be pulling away to pray, to read, to listen to music, or to do another activity we find relaxing. Maybe it’s even a power nap!
 
Throughout busy hours and turbulent days, taking a few minutes here and there to relax and rejuvenate gives us the opportunity to reenergize, gain a better perspective on our busyness and priorities, and experience the peace that Jesus gives. (See John 14:27 below.) Sabbath moments don’t have to encompass a whole day, but creating a bit of margin in each day for Sabbath moments revives and refreshes us to continue the journey while internally taking the Sabbath peace back into our busy lives. It can actually make us more productive and focused when we return to the tasks at hand.
 
If you find your to-do list and busy life overwhelming, I encourage you to step back, take a Sabbath moment, and then step back into the fray with a renewed mind, peaceful spirit, and new energy. Then, maybe you will look around at the end of the day and say, “it is very good.”
 
 
Lord, I bring my weary and overwhelmed self to You. Teach me Your Sabbath ways so that I may live in Your peace as I do Your will and work each day. Amen.
 
 
John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2019 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Douro River near the town of Pinhão, Portugal.
 
 
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.™