We arrived in Holland and enjoyed wonderful food and a good night's rest. The following day being Sunday, we arrived in the parking area to pick up our rental vehicle, dressed in what I would describe as Sunday clothing. Thus, we began our journey to Rome.

I do not remember how we decided which church we would like to attend. We simply parked and entered a long, narrow sanctuary with bench seating on either side of the one centre aisle. High up — almost to the ceiling — were narrow windows lining the whole length and width of the walls and letting in the sunshine. Outside were very tall trees, and the wind kept swaying the branches gently, making a moving pattern on the floor of the chapel. We did not recognize the language of the people who had warmly greeted us upon our entrance.

Regardless of the language barrier, there was an unmistakable sense of joy which permeated the whole of the church. The organist put a great amount of energy into his presentation of the hymns. Some hymns we recognized, and we happily sang the words. My husband, having a very good voice for harmonizing, contributed his presentation of the tune. There was no movement of heads turning to look at us from the front — no, it was simply accepted. We were indeed fellow worshippers. Recently, I came across one of Fanny Crosby's writings and it reminded me of this wonderful time of worship:

Praise Him! Praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honour give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him! Praise Him!
Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Ever in joyful song!

As I carefully read these verses, I was reminded again how the people of that little church gathered around us when we left. We did not understand the language, but it was a form of God's blessing on our journey. Looking back over that tremendous trip from our homes to the great city of Rome, the coverage of God's care was never amiss, and the prayers of those strangers held us in good stead. Try as we would on subsequent journeys, we never rediscovered that special little church.

Ephesians 5:18b-19 – Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (NKJV)

When Christians gather together, there is a unity in the Spirit that transcends language. Perhaps, when everyone understands each other, we don't notice it as much. Next time you worship, be aware of that and watch for it.

Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father for this day. May we be used in some small way which will bring glory to Your name. Indeed, for this day, we claim Your promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The ceiling is so high that it is impossible to see that part of the cathedral without possibly lying on the floor. However, this situation has been overcome by mirrors placed on small tables in a slanting position down the main aisle of the cathedral.

One of the main features is the spire; it is so high that it really dwarfs the surrounding buildings. It is thought that the German pilots did not bomb the cathedral because they took their position based upon its steeple as it rose above the surrounding buildings and pierced the mist. Perhaps the moon even aided in its visibility. I like to think that a Christian pilot chose this approach and others just followed. Regardless, this cathedral has brought joy to many people who make it an important part of their visit to the United Kingdom.

Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV)

Like a cathedral spire rising above the clouds, we are called as Christians to rise above the murk of a society gone morally amok, and point the way to God through righteous living.

May we, like those ancient workmen, add to our generation, under the guidance of His hands, some form of lasting value which will encourage others to seek our Saviour this day and in the days to come.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we do not know what this day holds for each of us, but we are confidently resting in Your hands as You direct and guide us. Bless us, heavenly Father, and make us a blessing. We pray in the name of Your Son and our Saviour, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

John 12:46 – I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (NKJV)

When my husband and I began to travel by boat up the inside passage on the west coast of Canada, there was one stipulation that I made, and that was that we would never travel at night.

However, there was one occasion when we were detained by our purchasers, and we began our journey very late in the evening. The eerie blackness of the sky (not one star could be seen) and the blackness of the water seemed to close in on me. The only light that we had in the wheelhouse was the small glimmer which revealed our compass reading. Even when my husband would walk around the deck to see (if possible) that all was well, the sudden opening of the door startled me. Hour after hour into that darkness we went, with only the sound of the swishing waters indicating that we were actually moving. The engine seemed to be particularly silent! Then, my husband made a very definite change in our direction as indicated by the compass. Suddenly, the night sky was pierced as if by a blazing sword cutting into the darkness. It was the beacon encircling the whole area. We had arrived safely at our destination! Indeed, I shall never forget that moment. I never would have anticipated or even imagined such a situation in which I would trust my very existence into the hands of my heavenly Father. There was no light in my world.

Colossians 1:13-14 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (NKJV)

Only when I experienced the power of darkness did I put my very survival into the hands of my heavenly Father, and He never failed me. Similarly, it is when spiritual darkness engulfs us that we turn to God for salvation in Christ. Later, it is often the case that we drift spiritually and take our relationship with God for granted. At such times, it is good to remember the power of darkness from which He has delivered us, through the forgiveness of our sins.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, the darkness in our society is extremely powerful. Use that to remind us of the darkness from which You have delivered us, and encourage us not to give up, so that we will continue to shine as Your lights in this dark world. We pray in the name of Your Son and our Saviour, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 107:23-24 – Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. (NIV)

It was my husband's desire to take the gospel of Christ along the west coast of Canada up to the Alaska border, perhaps holding a Bible study here and there, or even praying with someone who had suffered the loss of a family member or friend. We provided for our own support by representing sixteen companies based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our boat became the showroom for the various items, with approximately two tons of samples. The owner of a store would come to the boat to select his merchandise, the orders would be mailed to Vancouver, and the purchases would be forwarded directly to the store owner. Each trip would take approximately three months, one in the spring and one in the fall.

We were ending our fall run and were making our way south from Prince Rupert. Our boat was sixty-five feet long, with a draft of approximately six to seven feet. When we moved into the channel, the wind was blowing one way and the sea was running in the opposite direction, producing a situation which my husband described as "smoking", and smoking it was! The boat took on a strange bucking movement similar to that of a horse that didn't appreciate its rider. I was so pleased that I had placed all mobile items in the galley into the safety of the huge cupboards and drawers. My husband and I were in the wheelhouse, where all possible items — even the wheelhouse stool — were stowed away in cupboards. The waves were increasing in height. At the helm, Ron said above the noise, "I am going to turn around and go back to Prince Rupert. Hold on!" He need not have added that last piece of advice, but I was not aware of the possible danger.

Psalm 107:28 – Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. (NIV)

When a massive wave held back for a moment, Ron swung the wheel. The "Old Girl" shuddered, but she responded immediately, and the bow began to rise up to meet the oncoming wave. We did take on a tremendous amount of water, but because of the angle of the boat, the water quickly washed over the deck.

Psalm 107:31 – Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. (NIV)

As I look back at this event, I see that only later did I realize what I didn't understand at the time: we truly are in God's hands, even when we are not aware of the danger. It does not matter from where the danger arises, He is, indeed, right there beside us, guiding and watching over His children. Going forward through our lives, such a realization should serve to strengthen our faith in God's loving care, as it did mine.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, may we always have the courage to accept the task which You softly whisper into our heart and mind to do in order to extend Your kingdom in some small way. Throughout our lives, build our confidence that the safest spot to be is obeying Your will, especially when preparing for the impossible. We pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son and our Saviour. Amen.

Amidst all this rush and hurry, it is possible, when we are in our car facing the long drive to our place of employment, to have those precious few moments in the presence of God.

Exodus 33:14 – And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. (AMP)

This Bible verse is one of my favourites, because it suggests that we can be on the move, yet at the same time be completely at rest! We are not travelling alone, but we travel with a wonderful, unique Companion Who is constantly by our side.

How tremendously reassuring it is to know that even in our hectic lifestyle, we need never step out of His presence! Is it not wonderful to have the promise of the great I AM God, Who has proved not only by His Word, but by His actions in the past, that He is still there for us today! Indeed, we have a very special relationship, a contact which enables us to call upon His name and to be heard at any time, night or day. In this world of ever-changing circumstances, within a twenty-four hour period, our secure situation can change so very drastically. Regardless, even during such an experience, He has promised to be with us. We have such a wonderful illustration in nature itself, for in the eye of the storm, there is quietness and rest. Just so, it can be the experience of everyone who has accepted His promise, "I will go with you and give you rest" in every desperate, horrifying situation which may face them today. May we display to others who have not yet put their trust in this wonderful God that His promises are irrevocable and cover the whole spectrum of time: the past, the present, and the future.

Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, of which every moment is known to You. May we live this day with quiet confidence in the knowledge that You will not allow any circumstance to come into our lives which we cannot face victoriously together. We offer this prayer with assurance in the name of Your Son and our Saviour Christ Jesus. Amen.

Because of our past year, we are perhaps anticipating a new year of shadows and darkness, but regardless, has not our Jesus brought us through to this moment in time? If we could see the future, would we require faith? If we were to see the future, would we have the courage to meet that coming day?

As the ballad writer suggests, "One day at a time, sweet Jesus."

As we consider the shadows and darkness of this, our moment in time, Jesus lifts our eyes to view Himself as the light: light which lifts us to another dimension, light which will not only take us through the difficulties of this world, but light which will also lead us to another world of endless joy unspeakable!

A short time ago, I was given the following little prayer which I would like to share with you:

Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, may we be given Your light which will shine through any darkness to lead us in the way in which You would want us to go, physically and spiritually, in this coming year 2015. We pray in the name of Your Son and our Saviour, Christ Jesus. Amen.

On the door of my refrigerator are pictures of my family and friends, but scattered amongst them are various little quotations, which mean a lot to me. I have a quotation from that wonderfully well-known writer Emily Brontë (1818-1848) who is famous for her book Wuthering Heights. My little quote:

No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.

Many years ago, I journeyed to Yorkshire, England, tramped the same moors which the Brontës must have walked, and stayed overnight at the local inn which Branwell Brontë may have frequented. I also viewed their items of clothing. The one outstanding feature was the smallness in size, characteristic of people of those days. Their tools for writing were inexpensive straight pens and small bottles of ink.

The sisters, Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, were very conscious of the shadow of death in their lives. Their very early years were overshadowed by deaths in their family, but they did not allow this to dominate their lives, thus to quietly sit and wait. Teaching was their profession for a while, but much of their time was spent in their one driven occupation: to write. In Emily's quotation, we have her attitude to death: No, she was not a "coward soul" indeed!

Likewise, we, too, who trust in Jesus Christ, do not need to fear death. We know the One Who has promised that He will go on before us to make way for our arrival! Jesus gave His life on the cross "that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14b-15 NKJV). Does that not challenge us to spend our time, our talents, our gifts, and our love for the extension of His earthly kingdom that others may learn of this promised place?

Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for the faithful ones who have had the courage to be our example and who have displayed in their lives the joy of knowing You as the One Who is and will be faithful to His promises. Give us the courage to follow their example in our lives and actions. We pray in the precious name of Your Son and our Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Amen.