​In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1
 
 
In 1940, four boys were off on a new adventure when their dog disappeared into a hole. When they rescued the dog, the boys found themselves standing in an underground cave. Hoping to find buried treasure, the boys began to explore. Disappointed at their initial find, they discovered something much more valuable. Drawn and painted on the walls was ancient artwork. Believed to be created 20,000 years ago, these paintings depicted mostly large animals, such as horses, cattle, and bison, in colors of red, yellow, and black. The paintings were still incredibly vivid because the porous rock absorbed the paint. In parts of the cave where the rock was not as porous, instead of paint, there were etchings. Because everyday life was not depicted by these drawings, the cave was thought to be a religious place, a sacred space.
 
Tucked away in the picturesque southwest of France are the Lascaux caves discovered by those four boys almost 80 years ago. Today, the caves visited by tourists are actually copies of the original ones. Heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide produced by over a thousand daily visitors in the 1940’s began to destroy the paintings. Several exact replicas were made to allow visitors the opportunity to see this fascinating art. When I visited Lascaux IV recently, I was impressed by the paintings and etchings. I wondered who created these drawings and why. I mused that even primitive humans needed art.
 
God is a creative God. He spoke and creation came into being. With a word, He created the heavens and the earth. His powerful voice proclaimed the stars, moon, and sun into reality. He declared the plants and animals into existence. When He formed humankind, He pronounced His work to be very good.
 
When God created us, He made each of us unique, blessing us with gifts as distinct as we are. When we follow our dreams and passions and use our gifts to create, we reflect our heavenly Father. We mirror God’s creation and its beauty when we create.
 
Art nourishes our souls. It’s not optional. Even prehistoric humans needed art. We can’t live without it. When we take time to appreciate art and when we create it ourselves, we experience a range of emotions, from childlike wonder and curiosity to harmony and joy. The poet John Keats* said “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” Joy, often so elusive, can be experienced if we slow down long enough to notice the beauty and art around us and perhaps to take the time for our own artistic endeavors.
 
Artwork doesn’t have to be paintings or etchings. What are you passionate about? What do you dream of doing? Take one tiny step in that direction. Carve out a few minutes to be creative. Use the talents and gifts God gave you. In the process, you will feed your soul and find joy. And just like the artwork in the Lascaux caves, the world will be a better place because of your art, your craft.
 
 
Father, I praise You for being the ultimate Creator. I thank You for Your creation. Unleash the gifts You have bestowed upon me that I might glorify You while creating beauty right where I am. May I experience the joy of art and the satisfaction of creating something that is uniquely beautiful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Iris from Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France.
 
*From Endymion Book I
 
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 is a photo from the visitors’ center of an example of the cave paintings. 

You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.  Psalm 31:8
 
 
The birds chirp their cheery song punctuated only by bees buzzing their own tune. The soft grass is verdant and neatly trimmed. Calmness exudes from the dark stream dotted with yellow, white, and purple irises. Tall trees standing sentinel over the garden cast their cool shadows over flowers and shrubs.
 
Seeking peace, I find it in an off-the-beaten-path kind of way. But getting here is not so easy. Driving in France in a rental car is something I do only out of necessity, but occasionally the joy of the freedom it brings outweighs the costs. Choosing a destination and striking out on my own is outside of my comfort zone. The narrow roads were apparently designed without the likelihood that two cars might need to pass each other as they travel in opposite directions. The roads are only wide enough for one and a half cars which is a cause of concern on my part, but apparently not on the part of the drivers coming towards me. The blind curves and winding asphalt create a sense of unwelcomed adventure. As Google Maps alerts me of my destination just ahead on the right, I frantically scan the scene for a parking lot. Going too far and then doubling back, I locate a mostly dirt and gravel lot that grass threatens to overtake. I park and get out of the car.
 
Crossing the road to Château de Pesselières, I am greeted by a helpful young man who trades my euros for a map of the park. As I wander down the path, I feel enveloped in a sense of peace. As there are only a few other visitors, the gardens around the château are quiet. My pace slows down. I regain a sense of balance and perspective.
 
Château de Pesselières is a small castle located between Sancerre and Bourges in France’s Loire Valley. Steeped in history, this stronghold existed as far back as the 12th century. Owned by the Counts of Sancerre, the castle has been partially destroyed and then restored repeatedly over the centuries. Due to being strategically located, it bears witness to both the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) and also the Wars of Religion (1562-1598) where, in the very center of disputed territory, it protected the defenders of Protestant Sancerre.
 
Wandering through the lush grass, taking photos as I go, the verse in Psalm 31 comes to mind. God has indeed set my feet in a spacious place. But the road to get here was not easy. Looking back at the curves in the road, the blind spots, the too-narrow-to-pass places, I realize God’s goodness over the years. After one loss after another over a period of six years, God has put my feet in a new space, a new beginning, indeed a new life. He wove the threads of my grief in with His grace to create a fabric stronger than before and more beautiful.
 
Where are you in the road of life? Are you traveling a winding road full of unforeseen circumstances that threaten to overtake you? Take time out to take care of yourself, to find and enjoy beauty around you. Take heart that God travels with you and will certainly set your feet in a most bountiful and spacious place.
 
 
Lord, thank You for Your goodness. Even though the road of life may be difficult and unpredictable, I thank You for peace in those respite moments, in spacious places where I discover and enjoy the beauty You created. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Château de Pesselières, Jalognes, 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.™

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.   Psalm 145:13b
 
 
One of my favorite movies is Chocolat. Set in a quaint French town just after World War II, the film begins as Vianne arrives at the start of Lent and opens a chocolate shop. Because she is an unwed mom and tempts them with forbidden desserts during Lent, the town’s pretentious mayor shuns her and encourages the townspeople to do likewise. Despite how she is treated, Vianne perseveres in showing love to her neighbors and helps many of them resolve the struggles in their lives. Even in her own disappointment, she reaches out to help others in theirs. She overcomes prejudice and contempt with love and care. Even though she doesn’t attend the local church, she is far more Christ-like than the church-going townspeople.
 
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, that quaint village where Chocolat was filmed. I was so excited to be going there and couldn’t wait to take lots of photos. Upon arriving, I wandered the narrow streets lined with medieval houses and buildings. Our guide pointed out where Vianne’s chocolate shop was filmed. It was never actually a chocolate shop. The ancient structure with its arched window seemed to me to lack the luster and allure I remembered from the movie. Opposite the shop stands the church where several scenes in the movie were filmed. I knew there had been a statue in front of the church in the movie and when I inquired about it, the guide said it was only there for the movie. Silently entering the church, I sensed the interior seemed much smaller than in the film. While I am so glad to have traveled to the picturesque town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain where I did take lots of interesting photos and had a lovely visit, I am a bit disappointed the town didn’t resemble the village I had seen in the movie.
 
My life is not movie-set perfect either. Scenes are unscripted. Lines are ad-libbed. Improvisation rules. When feeling disappointed, I find I’m not a character in a movie where I can simply memorize my lines and act courageously. And life does disappoint sometimes, doesn’t it? We don’t have the career we dreamed of. We wake up and discover our spouse isn’t who we thought they were (and we’re not who they thought we were!). We don’t live up to our own expectations of ourselves. The people in our lives, whether friends, family, or co-workers, let us down without meaning to. Circumstances, too, morph into situations we never expect and would never want.
 
What happens when we feel disappointed? Do we internalize disappointment and allow it to impact our self-worth? Do we let it influence our decisions so that we play it safe or give up? How can we be real with our disappointment and find the courage to move forward?
 
Psalm 145:13 says that God is faithful. His promises are trustworthy. We can count on Him to do what He says. God will never disappoint us. When life doesn’t happen like we expect and people let us down, being honest with the Lord through prayer helps us find the courage to persevere. Reading the Bible keeps us focused on God’s character. Knowing God is in our corner even when it seems others are not, we can find joy and contentment. God is faithful through all of life’s disappointments. His love for us never fails. Thanks be to God!
 
Lord, I thank You that You never disappoint. Your love never fails. Help me be real with You when I feel disappointed. Give me the courage to move forward as I rely on You and Your never-failing faithfulness. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo from Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Burgundy, 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.™

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Psalm 46:10-11
 
 
As I walk along the street, the noise is distracting. Students on lunch break lounge on the sidewalks, chattering away, with music blaring in the background. Engines rev as the cars and motorcycles pass by. The tiered bell tower rises sharply above the multiple roof lines. I circle the perimeter taking photos as I go. After coming full circle, I enter through the side door. Organ music wafts through the air. Immediately I feel its magic working on me. As I walk toward the front and look upward, I’m struck by how large and imposing the interior is. The nave is simple but beautiful. The tall barrel-vaulted ceiling supported by numerous narrow-arched columns creates a sense of majesty. Hovering above the ornate altar is a pastel fresco that portrays Jesus, the One who is above all. This is truly a holy place. I sit quietly in one of the pews and pray, asking God to show me what He wants me to learn here in this moment. I experience palpable peace flooding my soul. The tranquility inside is juxtaposed against the noisy exterior from which I had just escaped.
 
Built in the Romanesque style, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin sits where it has for centuries in Toulouse, France. Consecrated in 1096, it is the largest Romanesque-styled church in Europe. Its thick rose brick and white stone walls – strong, heavy, and solid - were built to withstand both the elements and enemies over the years. Its interior, as equally imposing as its exterior, is softly lit by sunlight streaming through its narrow windows. Multiple candelabras intensify the ethereal light in this vast expanse. The strains of organ music wrap around this sacred space. This stillness, this holiness permeates my mind and soul.
 
When it’s not possible to travel to a faraway basilica, how do we re-center our perspective on our everyday lives? Where do we go to escape the busyness, the craziness of life, even for a few minutes? Are we willing to pull away from an overloaded to-do list long enough to sit with the Living God? When life is noisy on the outside, how do we find the calmness of faith within?
 
In Psalm 46, we read of external disasters, earthquakes, and wars. Verse 2 says that even if the mountains fall into the sea, we don’t need to be afraid. God is our refuge. He is our strong fortress. God is the God over the daily chaos and chatter, over circumstances gone awry, over difficult relationships. In verse 10, God entreats us to enter into the sanctuary. When we intentionally take time out to meet God in the inner sanctum, God stills our souls. Realizing that God is both omnipotent and omniscient, we have no reason to fear or to worry. We can enjoy peace because God is in control. Verse 11 says “The LORD Almighty is with us.” His presence enables us to move out into the din again, only this time with an inner peace that cannot be shaken.
 
 
Lord, help me slow down and re-center myself in You. I want to find the peace that so often eludes me in my busy day. Draw near to me as I seek to draw near to You. Still my soul as I sit still before You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photographs copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photos of the Basilica Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, 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.™

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7
 
 
I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Something felt unsettling. While preparing for an extended trip that would span several weeks, I couldn't shake the anxiety. With so many things to do even before I began packing, it was difficult to distinguish the stress of having too much to do from the anxiety about the actual trip. Having traveled many times, particularly in the last several years, I was surprised this pervasive emotion seemed to spread like a sickness through my mind and body.
 
About a week before my trip, a close friend asked me if I was OK. She was concerned that I wasn't my usual self. In that moment, I realized how much anxiety and stress controlled my mind, my attitude, and my countenance.
 
As the trip grew closer, I asked several friends and family members to pray for me. Even the morning of my departure, I claimed the key verse for today. Praying against anxious thoughts and praying for God's peace helped calm my heart. Knowing others were praying for me gave me courage.
 
I remembered God's faithfulness in the past. I thought back to other travels where I knew God was with me wherever I went. I knew in my head that He would be with me again. But my heart still needed convincing.
 
As I stood outside my home with suitcases in tow waiting for my Uber ride, I realized God had already shown up. I had woken up 32 minutes before my alarm. God's timing is perfect. Without those extra minutes, I would have been frantic trying to get ready on time. Instead I had a few minutes to spare, a few minutes to relax and reflect.
 
Moments later as I chatted with the Uber driver, he asked me the reason for my travel. I responded that I am an inspirational writer and travel photographer. When I shared I am the author of a couple of books and also numerous blogs, he asked for the website name. As I handed him my business card, he handed me his. God had shown up again! The Uber driver was also a pastor. I felt like God was sitting in the driver's seat. Obviously, He wasn’t but again I was reminded of His presence.
 
As I contemplated my conversation with the kind Uber driver, I knew God was with me. Before I left my neighborhood, God was already vying for my attention to let me know He was with me and would be with me wherever I would go. I realized anxious thoughts have no place in a mind filled with God's peace and presence.
 
No matter where you are in your own journey, God is with you and will go with you wherever you go. Give your anxious thoughts up to Him in prayer. Fill your mind with verses like today’s key verse. Go forward in His peace and presence.
 
 
Lord, help me turn to You first when I feel anxious and overwhelmed. May I give my requests to You with thanksgiving, remembering Your faithfulness in the past. Fill my mind with Your Word to overcome my anxious thoughts. Help me live fully in the present and step into the future with my heart and my head filled with Your peace. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Dordogne River at La Roque-Gageac in southwestern France.
 
Note:  Anxiety disorders are common in our culture. Prayer is a powerful tool to use against anxious thoughts. For pervasive anxiety, praying for the right therapeutic solution is appropriate. Sometimes therapy and/or medication are necessary to work in tandem with prayer.
 
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 see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8
 
 
The beach looked like any ordinary beach. The beige sand squished beneath my feet as I walked closer to the water. The large grey rocks behind me belied the historical significance. I felt transported back into time and into a place foreign to me. Yet, as I stood there, I felt a part of something bigger, something larger than myself, and something of great magnitude.
 
The place was Omaha Beach on the shore of Normandy, France, just days before the 74th anniversary of D-Day. Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne division moved silently where their ancestral comrades lived and died. From where I stood, I could see all the flags of the Allied countries being raised one at a time while the strains of each country’s national anthem played in the background. It was a poignant scene.
 
As the music to The Star-Spangled Banner reached my ears and my eyes beheld the stars and stripes rising on the tall flag pole, more than a lump caught in my throat. To me, D-Day and World War II had been something in the past and not my own past. Standing on Omaha Beach that day, I sensed the significance in a way that no history book could impart. My heart broke for the thousands of soldiers who died, particularly in those first two days during the Battle of Normandy. To them who fought the ocean current only to be struck down before they reached the shore, I gave a silent prayer of thankfulness for their lives and sacrifice as well as for the many who were laid to rest not far from where they fell and from where I stood. As my eyes blurred with tears, I realized the true cost of freedom. Without those brave soldiers and paratroopers who faced death so that those they had never met would be free struck a chord deep within me. As a turning point in World War II, the Battle of Normandy was incredibly significant. And it reminded me of something else even more significant.
 
Freedom doesn’t come cheap. Just as the sacrifices made on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and beyond freed the French people and turned the tide of a maniacal dictator and perhaps preserved the freedom of the rest of the Western world, the sacrifice of Jesus and His death on a cross frees us. Dying a criminal’s death, Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can know God, not as just a deity in the sky but as a personal Lord and Savior. Jesus purchased our freedom, freedom from the entanglement of sin, freedom to know and love God in a personal way, freedom to live life more fully, and freedom to live with God throughout all eternity.
 
In the sacredness of that moment on Omaha Beach, God touched my heart in an unexpected way. The cost of freedom is heavy. I am so thankful for those who gave their lives so that others would be free, for those who suffered injuries in the name of freedom, and for those who survived but carried the horrors of war home in their memories.

Yes, the cost of freedom is expensive. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the Savior who died for each of us to purchase our freedom. Thanks be to God for His undying love for us that in dying for us, He saved us and set us free.
 
 
Lord, thank You for paying the price for my freedom so that I am set free, free to love and worship You, free to live with You for all eternity. May I never take for granted the cost of freedom. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Omaha Beach and Les Braves Monument by sculptor Anilore Banon, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, 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.™

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:13-14
 
 
She stumbles forward in the heat of the day. Alone. Thirsty, parched, and tired under the burden she carries. Little does she know who is waiting for her. He, knowing she would be there, travels off the usual route to ensure they meet.
 
In this familiar passage from John 4, Jesus intentionally travels through Samaria instead of around it and stops at Jacob’s well. It’s the middle of the day and hot. A woman hurries forward towards the well, as if she doesn’t want to be seen. Carrying a large water jar, she pauses, noticing Jesus and realizing He is watching her. He, a Jew, initiates conversation with her, a Samaritan woman. How surprised she is to realize he is addressing her! He asks her for a drink and moments later, she is asking Him for water, for she is thirsty, both physically and spiritually. Jesus offers her living water, water that will quench her thirst, that will satisfy the longings of her heart.
 
Although the source of physical water in this Biblical account is found in an ancient well, often in Bible times, water was housed in cisterns. Each home had its own cistern, a reservoir that collected water, often rain water. Cisterns were constructed of stone, usually excavated from rock. Filled with water, cisterns provided the necessity of life for people in this arid climate.
 
Cisterns fulfilled their purpose until they developed cracks. When the water leaked out, the cistern was no longer usable. Instead, often these dry cisterns were used to hold prisoners, like Joseph in Genesis 37.
 
How much like these cisterns are we? Do we become cracked and dry, unable to hold water, the purpose for which we were made? Do our “wells” run dry due to busyness? Are we pursuing dreams of success, power, wealth? Are we chasing after beauty and the fountain of youth? Are we running after love and acceptance? If so, perhaps the pursuit leaves us drained, unsatisfied, and empty.
 
The woman at the well can relate. She has been pursuing love and acceptance only to find herself ostracized and lonely, not even comfortable drawing water from the well with the other women in the cool of the day. Jesus meets her where she is. He has compassion on her brokenness. He offers her the living water of eternal life so she will never thirst. She is changed and becomes light and hope to her village as she runs off to share the good news.
 
Jesus longs to fill us with His living water, water that will never leave us thirsty, water that satisfies like nothing else can. His love can heal the broken places so we can hold the living water, even to overflowing to others around us, in hopes that they, too, might offer their own cracked cisterns up to Jesus to heal and fill them. Jesus came so that we might have life, true life, and have it to the full, overflowing with love for God and love for others. Instead of pursuing that which will never satisfy, pursue the One who will fill you to overflowing. And that, my friend, is the only thirst worth quenching.
 
 
Lord, You are the Living Water and You long to fill me with Your love and presence. Heal the broken places in me and fill me to overflowing so that others may see You and Your compassionate and redeeming work in my life and want Your living water for themselves. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Wahkeena Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.
 
 
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.™

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”  Luke 7:13
 
 
Compassion is an under-rated feeling, perhaps a lost art. In a day and age where every day brings news of atrocities committed and lives lost or maimed, sometimes we find ourselves more than a wee bit anesthetized to pain and suffering.
 
Dictionary.com defines compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” The first part of this definition defines what we feel when we see or hear about someone in pain. The latter part of this definition, though, is more than a feeling:  it’s a strong desire that leads us to action, to do something to help those in need.
 
In the seventh chapter of Luke, Jesus and His friends walk a good day’s journey from Capernaum south to the town of Nain. It’s probably dusk when Jesus and His followers, mostly numbered in the hundreds, reach the city entrance. Dusk was the time of day funerals would be held and the dead buried far outside the city gates. Tired and hungry from their journey, they approach Nain just at the time a funeral procession is leaving the city for the burial caves. Jesus, ever aware of His physical surroundings and the emotional landscape of people He encounters, realizes the body on the bier is a young man who is survived only by his mother. In Biblical times, women didn’t have the right to financially support themselves. Instead, the men in their lives provided monetarily. Since her husband died, this woman, like other widows in this culture, depended on her son to take care of her financially. Without a husband and now without her son, this widow’s future looks very bleak. Jesus, knowing all of this, has compassion for her. In verse 13 we read these words, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’ “
 
Jesus walks up to the bier and touches it. The pall bearers stop. The crowd’s collective breath is on hold as they watch wide-eyed, waiting in suspense for what will happen next. In a loud and clear voice, Jesus commands the young man to get up. Imagine the widow’s shock as she sees her son sit up and start talking. The pall bearers lower the bier and Jesus helps the young man to stand and walks him over to his overjoyed mother. The onlookers are amazed and immediately give credit to God for this miracle they have just witnessed.
 
The raising of the widow’s son is the first instance of Jesus raising someone from the dead. I am awed by His power, but I am overcome by His compassion. Tired from His journey, Jesus saw the funeral procession as an opportunity, not an interruption. He looked beyond the physical circumstances to see a widow’s broken heart. He went beyond mere words of “Don’t cry” to the helping and healing hands of action.
 
When Jesus saw the widow, the Bible says “his heart went out to her”. He felt compassion deep inside. His caring touch raised her son from the dead and His guiding hand brought her son back to her.
 
Jesus is the God of Compassion. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Jesus sees into our pain, has compassion on us, and has the power to transform our mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11-12). He isn’t too busy or uncaring. Jesus sees, cares, and heals. He is the very definition of compassion. Let Him bind up your wounds. He loves you so.
 
 
Lord, I am truly overwhelmed by Your compassion. Thank You for binding up my wounds and for turning my mourning into dancing. Help me to follow Your example in not only feeling compassionate towards others, but actively showing compassion to those who need Your healing touch. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Mount Rundle at sunset, 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.™

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 43:19
 
 
How many times did you hear growing up that children should be “seen and not heard”? There were too many times for me to count. I can’t think of my childhood, though, without thinking of my two brothers. Logan, the older one, was born less than two years after I was. We were close growing up, not just in age, but in interests, particularly as we became teens.
 
In 2009, Logan suffered a massive heart attack and immediately passed away. Only in his forties, his death was a horrible shock to me, to our family, and to his wife and children. There was no chance to say good-bye. One day I was talking to him on the phone and the next week, I was attending his memorial service.
 
Many times, I have felt as if I were wandering around in the barren desert, parched and dry. Like the Israelites who camped out in the wilderness for forty years, I can relate to at least some of their despair.
 
In our key verse, Isaiah 43:19, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah with imagery from that desert trek Moses and the Israelites endured so many years before. God tells the Israelites to forget the past, even the miraculous deliverance from Egypt when God parted the Red Sea, because He is doing something even more incredible. This text is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who would be the salvation to all, to the Jews and to the Gentiles, to all who believed. The imagery of a way made in the wilderness suggests that Christ will be the way for lost people in the world’s wilderness, particularly for God to include the Gentiles in His plan for salvation. Streams flowing in the desert signifies not only God’s provision but also the many blessings found in Christ. Like a river overflowing, life with Christ is an abundant one, overflowing with God’s love and care.
 
As Logan’s birthday rolled around this year, I realized a heavy sadness had settled in my soul. Grief will do that, catching us unaware even when we think we’ve been down this road before. As I began my time with the Lord that morning, God spoke to me through an online devotional on hope through grief, one written and posted for that day. At the risk of sounding super-spiritual (I’m not!), as I opened two different devotional books, both the entries for that day spoke on God changing mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11-12) and God making all things new in Isaiah 43:19. I was overcome with the feeling that God deliberately spoke to me that day, not once, but three times.
 
I’m still not sure why this birthday of Logan’s hit me harder than some of the previous ones, but I do know that God is a God who sees and hears all who call on Him, particularly when they find themselves in the desert or wandering through the wilderness. We have hope because God is making all things new in all ways. God sees our tears. He hears our cries. He came to make a new way for us, one of hope, not despair. Flowing like a stream in the desert, Jesus’ offer of living water (John 4:13-14) totally quenches our thirst like nothing else can, giving us the abundant and everlasting life. As God’s children, we are not just “seen and not heard”. He sees us and He hears us. His love never fails. Thanks be to God.
 
 
Thank You, Jesus, for pouring Yourself out as an offering in order to offer us the spiritually abundant life now and eternal life for always. I praise You and thank You for seeing me, hearing me, and loving me, no matter what the circumstances surrounding me. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Marble Canyon, British Columbia, 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.™

“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
 
 
On a trip to my hometown, I drove down memory lane. Passing schools where I attended, stores where I had shopped, restaurants where I had dined, plus all too familiar streets and houses unleashed memory after memory as I drove around town. I wish I could say these were all good memories. None were horrible, but many left me wondering why my mind diverted down these forgotten paths to places unbidden, leaving me feeling less than nostalgic and more introspective.

Letting these memories wash over me like waves on a lonely seashore in some ways felt cathartic and therapeutic. As I named these memories for simply being just memories, they began to lose their power over me. Lifting these burdens up to God, I allowed the waves to rinse me clean of yesteryear as these thoughts receded into the depths of the sea in my mind’s eye.
 
What is this tremendous pull the past has on me? Like the lunar tug on the sea creating wave after wave, the past tugs on my mind and heart. Sometimes, the past comes back to haunt me in the form of regret and sadness, tinged with hopelessness and mingled with a sense of emptiness, washing up on the beaches of my soul, day after day, year after year.
 
How can I shake off this grip from the past? As I continued driving, I found myself involuntarily shaking my head. Perhaps not hard enough to dislodge the phantoms of the past permanently, but it was enough to clear my brain so I could thank God for my present and to have hope for the future.
 
Thankfulness creates a sense of joy, a blanket of contentment under which I can crawl when I have allowed my mind to creep back to the past. Being thankful covers the emptiness, the sadness, with a healing balm, soothing the corners of my mind and smoothing out all in between, with God’s peace and presence.
 
Where do you go into the past? Is your trip backward disturbing or healing? Do you let the memories of yesterday wash over you for cleansing or do these waves crash on the beach of your mind, jarring you into time you thought you had forgotten?
 
I love the fact that God isn’t bound by time. He is simultaneously in our past, present, and future. When we turn to him in our present with the load of the past on our backs, He gently lifts our burdens, nailing them to the cross. In the present, we can experience the gift of Himself, full of comfort and healing, true rest for the weary soul. As He leads us forward, we are free from our past, free to be who He created us to be, with a hope and a future.
 
What regrets do you have? What memories, when triggered, haunt you? Give the burdens of yesteryear up to God and allow His cleansing power to wash you clean. Look to Him for comfort, rest, and hope.
 
 
Dear Jesus, thank You for taking my burdens upon You and exchanging them for peace and rest. Thank You for your comfort and healing power. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of sunset at La Jolla, San Diego, 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.™