Casandra Martin

Our daughter is home for Spring Break. It is always a joy to see her smile. She brings beauty and laughter with her every time she enters a room. Her presence around the dinner table makes us feel complete.

It is in her attitude about coming home that I most clearly see Jesus. She is thriving in college – making friends, stretching her heart, and soaking in the education she has dedicated herself to achieving. But she is very aware that school is not home. It is a temporary place. There is much to be embraced, absorbed, and enjoyed about college. She loves it, but lives with the reality that it is not a permanent home for her heart. It is a training place, a learning place, a growing place, and a blessing place. She commits herself to living in the moment, but always has her eye on when it will be time to come home.

I want to be like her. I want to see my surroundings for the temporary dwelling that it really is. I want to long for home the way she does. Living with a “coming home” perspective changes my priorities. I don’t need to invest myself so heavily in the temporary things of this world. I can look at my circumstances, struggles, and to-do lists with eyes that long for home. This life is a training place, a learning place, and a growing place. Here I learn to look like Jesus. Here I am shaped to walk with Him, grow in Him, and imitate Him. Here I learn to long for home.

My Jesus Resolution today is to point my heart toward home. I am going to spend time today thinking, reading, and praying about home. I am going to connect with my Father who is getting things ready for me. I am going to look at the events of my day with eyes focused on home. I am going to let my desire to see Jesus color every part of who I am. I can’t wait until it is time to come home.

“4…3…2…1… Ready or not, here I come!” Did you ever play hide and seek? There are so many childhood memories tied up in playing this game. Seeking was okay, but I really liked hiding. It was so much fun to search for the perfect spot – one that hid you from the probing eyes of the seeker, but close enough to listen to what was happening during the search. I found the perfect spot back in the corner of the basement. It was behind the water heater, hidden by a curtain. It was a little dark and scary, but definitely a game winner!

Jesus wants to be our hiding place. Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” I love this picture. We are hidden in Jesus. He surrounds us, protects us, and enfolds us in His care. The deeper we burrow into His heart, the more of Jesus is seen in my life. My goal is to be so hidden in Christ that others see Him rather than me.

My Jesus Resolution today is to hide myself deeper in the shadow of the cross. I want the people who look my way today to see Jesus first. I want them to hear His words in my voice. I want them to feel His love radiating from my heart. I want them to experience His grace through every one of my actions. His arms are a big enough for both of us. Will you hide with me?

His little hand reached up to grab mine. It was a simple move, a natural move. He saw me across the playground. His teacher held him back until I could reach the gate, but as soon as I was close enough, he ran to me and took my hand.

There is something extraordinary about holding hands with a child. It is a profound expression of trust, commitment, and belonging. When a child holds your hand, they literally put themselves in your shadow. They try to match your footsteps. They touch your heart while reaching for your fingers. They announce to the world where they belong.

It was an ordinary day, a part of our regular routine, but his little hand painted a picture for my soul today. With every squeeze of his fingers, I felt the hand of God. With every tug on my arm, I learned another lesson about holding on to Jesus.

Trust. When a child holds your hand, they are making a declaration of deep trust. They don’t know where they are going, but they follow. They don’t see the road hazards or traffic dangers, but they stay close to your side, trusting you will keep them safe. They don’t set the pace, but they enjoy the time together.

Belonging. Holding hands announces to the world that you belong together. You don’t hold hands with strangers. Reaching for my hand is a practiced move for this little one. We fit together because our hearts are connected.

Safety. Clasping your hands together creates a place of safety. You no longer stand alone. You move with someone by your side. There is a peace that flows from knowing that you are enfolded, not only in the grasp, but in the love of someone committed to watching out for you.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be aware of my hands. I want to be like my little friend. I want to hold hands with Jesus. Who will you reach out for today?

Flying at 32,000 feet, we were all settling in for the trip to Houston. I pulled out my IPod and my book, and tried to get comfortable (or as comfortable as you can get squished together in a plane). I had just turned the page when the pilot’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Ladies and Gentlemen, our navigation system has failed. We must return to the airport immediately.”

The buzz in the plane started before the pilot clicked off the communication system. People all over this very full flight began wondering and worrying about what would happen next. In the end, everything was fine. We flew back to the airport (with several people anxiously watching out the window to make sure we hit the runway), the mechanics fixed the plane, and finally, several hours late, we landed in Houston.

Navigation systems are important. No one on the plane doubted the necessity of fixing the broken system. Without a navigational system, we would fly off course and crash.

Buckled into my seat, I thought about how many people try to live life without a spiritual navigation system. Despite understanding the importance of it in the physical world, how many times do I try to go my own direction, plan my own path, and plot my own course?

God gives us a GPS – Jesus. He is the Way. Walking with Him will get us exactly where we need to go. He will always lead us in the proper direction. He will choose the right path, take the right road, and open the right doors. He will get us home.

My Jesus Resolution today is to pay attention to my GPS – Jesus. I am going to focus on the directions He is giving me. I am going to check my route against the path He calls me to follow. I am going to match my footsteps with His, trying to walk as He did. I am going to let my desire to go home pull me closer to His side.