Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12
 
 
I love to travel. I always have. While working in the corporate world for many years, I dreamed of retirement when I could travel the world, exploring new cultures, languages, and sights.
 
My brother Logan loved to travel, too. I’m thankful he did travel to several exotic places. I know, though, he had so many other travel dreams he left unfulfilled when he died at an early age. My dad also loved to travel and he planned to sightsee once he retired. Unfortunately, he left his career at age 60 due to a disability. He never traveled after that.
 
Psalm 90:12 tells us that we are to “number our days”, meaning we need to understand life is brief. We must make the most of the time we have. When we do, we will be living wisely as the second half of the verse indicates.
 
What is it that you want to ensure you accomplish in your lifetime? What God-given talents, abilities, passions, and dreams do you want to see utilized and fulfilled before it’s too late? Take stock of your talents and abilities. Pray to line up your desires with God’s desires for you.
 
And don’t be afraid to dream. Psalm 37:4 says “take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart”. Even bigger and better than your own dreams are God’s dreams for you. Dream. Dream big. God is able.
 
As I reflect on my own dreams, desires, and passions, I realize that my love of travel, writing to encourage others, and photography are gifts from God that I feel compelled to open and fully embrace. As I check off the activities and places from my bucket list that I’ve already experienced, I’m grateful. Yet I long for more – to meet people from different lands, to hear and to understand a foreign tongue, to indulge in wonderful and different cuisine, and to see God’s handiwork in creation. I long to live life to the fullest while being centered in who I am as a child of God, thankful for the opportunity to grow through my experiences at home and abroad. The God of the universe, the One who created the entire world and who also created me, instilled the desire in me to see His world. I am truly awe-struck.
 
What are your dreams? What do you want to accomplish or experience before it’s too late? What small step can you take today that moves you toward your dream? It doesn’t have to be a radical, life-changing event. Taking even one small baby step is a move in the right direction. Don’t wait until you think you are ready or have the time, money, or energy to make your dreams come true. Dream. Dream big. God is able!
 
 
Heavenly Father, You created me uniquely with specific talents and abilities. You instill dreams and desires within my heart. May those dreams line up with Your will for me. Give me the courage to step out in faith, to dream, and to take that first step in fulfillment of that dream. Thank You that You are able in bringing to life even better dreams that I could hope for or imagine. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo 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 nk 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.™

There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.  1 John 4:18
 
 
As a photographer, I am always curious about what’s up ahead. What wonderful photos can I shoot? I’ve found that sometimes I have to get out of my comfort zone and move toward an interesting shot. I have to be curious and let God surprise me with the beauty of His creation.
 
Likewise, in my travels, I’m always curious about where I’m going next. In navigating a winding road, there’s always the possibility of a car coming head-on towards you as you take a curve. Nowhere was that more real than on the northern tip of the island of Maui. I had misread the sign saying the road for the next eight miles was a one-lane road. I thought it said 0.8 miles! I was not only surprised when the road curved around the mountainous slopes over and over again, but I was getting a bit nervous as I couldn’t see around the next curve if a car was coming toward me. Car horns make good warning signals and honking the horn was the only way to let an oncoming car know I was there.
 
Driving the rental car around the curvy road bordered by the mountains on one side and a drop-off cliff to the ocean on the other side was harrowing at best. To say I was “white knuckled” is an understatement! But I had no choice. There was no place to turn around. I had to keep going. At the same time, the scenery was amazing! Traveling the one-lane, somewhat frightening road was the way to get where I wanted to go. I couldn’t give up or go back. I had to move forward through fear.
 
In life, we cannot see around the next bend. The straight I-can-see-for-miles road can suddenly become as spiral as a corkscrew. How do we respond? Do we hold onto life with a death-grip, white-knuckling our way forward? Do we stop and hope someone will rescue us? Do we try to turn around and go back to more familiar territory?
 
When we are scared of the future, our perspective needs to change. Letting go of our anxieties can allow a sense of curiosity to take hold. Maybe we’re on a winding, uncertain path now, but perhaps there is something beautiful just around the bend.
 
Curiosity did not kill the proverbial cat. Fear did. Living in fear instead of wonder and curiosity can cripple us. God does not intend for us to live in fear. In 1 John 4:18, the Bible says “perfect love cast out all fear.” His Word also tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan to give us a hope and a future. We can live confidently know that God loves us and longs to give us hope as we travel into our future. We don’t have to be afraid.
 
As I move through life, even when circumstances are difficult and stressful, I want to be curious about how God is using even the difficulties of my life to shape me into who He wants me to be. I want to be curious, not afraid, about the next step, the next curve in the road. Because no matter what the road looks like, I know Jesus is walking with me. And that is the only thing that matters. Life with Him is in the here and now and also just around the bend.
 
 
Lord, thank You that You are always with me, even when I’m afraid of the future. Help me live in Your perfect love, with curiosity instead of fear, knowing You have a plan for me as I travel life with You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
PS – No photos were taken on the winding road on Maui – for obvious reasons! The attached photo was taken on a recent trip to Scotland.
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of gorse-bordered road near Scott’s View in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™