Casandra Martin

Your closet is sort of a snapshot of your life. Right? The thought is a little intimidating, but it really is true in many ways. Your closet is picture of who you are. It’s where you hang your clothes, stash your stuff, and keep the things that are the most personal to you. Some closets are organized, some are messy, some are big, some are small, some are stuffed to the rafters, and some just stick to the basics. Just like people.

Maybe that’s why what happened in my closet spoke so loudly to me. The muffled crash went unnoticed in the middle of the night. When I got up in the morning and opened the closet door, it looked like someone had come in and tossed my life upside down. Clothes were everywhere, the Christmas present I bought and lost was now in plain sight, and there was a hole in the wall. The rod from which I hung all my hangers and which supported the design of my closet was laying on the floor.

My husband looked things over, while I was just overwhelmed by the chaos. Turns out that whoever hung the rod in the closet had mounted the supports in the drywall, rather than making sure that it was firmly attached to a stud. It looked fine. You couldn’t tell that anything was wrong. Until what was anchoring my closet came apart, and I was left with my life laying all over the floor.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24-25

My Jesus Resolution today is to make sure I’m building my life on the right foundation. Jesus is my Rock. Anything in my life that is built on anything else will not stand. It may look good for a while. I may not notice that anything is wrong until life crashes in and finds me standing in a mess. Building on the right foundation requires investment, deliberateness, and a commitment to anchor my soul in nothing less than the person of Jesus. Storms will hit my life, and my closet, but when I’m anchored in Jesus, at least I know that what is holding me up is rock solid.

The sign on the storefront said Hearing Solutions. I know the business is set up to serve people who need help with their physical hearing, but as I passed by I felt a tug at my heart. I wish there was a hearing solution for my soul.

Listening for the voice of God is essential for my soul’s well-being, but it is amazing how difficult it is. Our world is a noisy place. We live with the constant barrage of media, busyness, and opportunities for entertainment, success, and satisfaction all pulling for our attention. Even when I try to be quiet, the noise is deafening. My head and my heart keep up a constant storm of to-do lists, criticisms, wish-I-was-better-ats and what-else-do-I need-to-dos. All of this noise, the noise that hits me from every side as well as the noise that fills my mind, makes it hard to hear God’s voice.

It is no accident that the core statement of faith that God gave His people starts with the word “hear.” “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Every day, as the people remembered the Lord and recommitted their hearts to serving Him, they reminded themselves that God’s first instruction is to hear. Hearing ignites obedience. Hearing shapes perception. Hearing lets the words of God’s soak deep down into our souls and transform who we are. Hearing shapes our priorities. Hearing lets us be aware of God’s presence, see His power, and walk in His purpose.

My Jesus Resolution today is to listen. There are no hearing aids for the heart, but God teaches us how to adjust our hearing so that we can listen to His voice. He tells us to be still and know that He is God. He knows that we need to be quiet in order to balance the deafening rumbles of the world with the eternity-soaked echoes of God. He tells us to learn to recognize His voice. This comes from spending time in His presence and time in His Word. Listening isn’t easy in a world that encourages us to shout and scream and claim our place on the stage. Listening, though, is the key to unlocking the transformation that will help us look like Jesus.

There is an older gentleman at church whom I adore. He looks just like my grandfather. He is gentle, has a ready smile, and is always willing to help someone in need. One of the neatest things about him is his nickname. His family and close friends call him Honest. I don’t know the story behind his nickname, but I do find it intriguing.

The people who know him best gave him a nickname that says something powerful about his heart. Every time they call him by his nickname, he is reminded of who he is, of the special traits others see in him, and the standard he is called to live by. If your family and close friends could pick one word to describe you, what nickname would they give you?

It is an interesting question. Many of us don’t like the first word that pops into our heads. So then the question becomes who do you want to be? Pick one word that you would like to have describe who you are. Now think about what you need to do in order to make that word come to life in your life. You have a tremendous amount of say in what other people say about you. You get to decide what others see in you, how you make others feel, and the impression that you want to leave behind.

My Jesus Resolution today is to pick my nickname. It might be Joyful, Generous, Wise, Patient, Confident, or even Honest. I want to look in the mirror and through the pieces of my day and decide what I can do to bring that nickname to life. Striving to have that kind of nickname inspires me to measure my actions, taste my words, and weigh my motives. Just like Honest, I want the name I wear to not only say something about my character, but about the Savior whose grace makes all things possible.

Today is Labor Day – a day in which Americans stop and recognize the contribution made to our country by workers and laborers. We celebrate by taking the day off of work and enjoy time together with family and friends. Labor Day is seen as a transition time between summer and fall. Today is also a good day to stop and listen to God speak about the work He calls us to do.

1. God calls us to abound in good works.      1 Corinthians 15:58
2. Our works are to proclaim His glory.         Matthew 5:16
3. Our good works can be seen by all.            1 Timothy 5:25
4. Stir each other up to good works.               Hebrews 10:24
5. We are to commit our work to the Lord.    Proverbs 16:3
6. The work of God is to believe in Jesus.      John 6:29
7. Work for the Lord, rather than men.          Colossians 3:23
8. Bible study prepares us for good works.    2 Timothy 3:16-17
9. We are created for good works.                   Ephesians 2:10
10. Our good works bear fruit for God.            Colossians 1:10e

My Jesus Resolution today is recommit to doing good works in the Lord. Saved by grace, the things I do and the actions I engage in reveal the transformation being worked by God in my life. The deeper my surrender the more my works take on the character of Jesus. I want all of my labor to be a labor of love for the Savior who showed His great love for me.

“Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn. “ – Benjamin Franklin

It is the beginning of a new school year. School buses are rolling, lunches are packed, new backpacks are filled with supplies, and children are heading into classrooms ready to begin a new year of learning and exploration. It is an exciting time, a bittersweet time, and a time to reflect and renew our commitment to be learners.

Learning doesn’t just happen when you are a kid sitting in a classroom. Learning is a lifelong privilege. God intends for all of His children to be learners. He wants our eyes to be open, our hearts to be ready, and our minds to be quick to absorb the truths that He plants in our way. A willingness to learn is a wonderful characteristic of a mature follower of Christ. God’s lessons are everywhere – in His Word, His creation, and His people. Our job is to have eyes and hearts opened big enough to learn.

God’s teachers are everywhere as well. He uses children, strangers, co-workers, family, teenagers, friends, and even enemies to teach us lessons about how to be more like Jesus. Sometimes I don’t recognize a lesson or a teacher until the opportunity passes. Sometimes I am just too proud to learn what I so desperately need to know.

My Jesus Resolution today is to learn. I like what Benjamin Franklin had to say about learning. Not knowing the answer really isn’t a big deal. Being unwilling to search out and learn the answer is a much bigger problem. Having a teachable heart is essential for a soul that longs to look like Jesus. Remember to look for your lessons, pay attention to your teachers, and to learn something today.

Johann Sabastian Bach is one of the greatest composers in history. His writings shaped and transformed the music of his day, and continue to inspire us today with their beauty. Living in the late 17^th and early 18^th century, he wrote several hundred pieces, many of which were written to draw people closer to God.

A peek at his musical manuscripts reveals something interesting. At the top of his compositions, we find the letters “JJ” written in the corner. At the completion of his musical manuscripts, he penned “SDG” as the concluding statement to his music. A little lesson in Latin helps us understand Bach’s intentions. The letters that Bach wrote at the beginning and end of his music are prayers. JJ is an abbreviation for “Jesu Juva,” which translated into English means, “Jesus, help me.” At the beginning of every work, Bach beseeches the Lord to guide him. The SDG at the end of his music stands for “Soli Deo Gloria.” Here Bach prays that each piece of music will humbly proclaim “To God Alone [be] the Glory.”

You may not be a classical music fan, but Bach sets a challenging and inspiring example for us all. He encourages us to begin every day, every task with the prayer, “Jesus, help me.” Bach didn’t write one note without seeking God’s blessing. In the same way, I want to cover each piece of my day with the same prayer. Bach also wanted to the world to know that anything he accomplished, he did so that God alone would get the glory. What a powerful reminder that how we complete our tasks is just as important as how we begin them.

My Jesus Resolution today is to learn to follow Bach’s example. I am going to write “JJ” at the top of my to-do list. It will serve as a reminder to seek His wisdom, walk in His way, and surrender to His purpose as I move through my day. I am also going to write “SDG” at the bottom of my list. I want everything I do, even washing dishes and packing lunches, to reveal God’s glory and point people to Jesus. I love how Bach used simple letters to remind himself, and us, about who we serve and who is sovereign. I want to do the same. SDG

The ALS Ice Bucket challenge has gone viral. Social media is saturated with videos of people supporting a good cause and getting ice water dumped on their heads. For the few of you out of the loop, in the challenge someone is nominated to either donate money to support ALS research or submit to having a bucket of ice water dumped on them. They then have the privilege of nominating three people to complete the same challenge within 24 hours. To date, the ALS Foundation has raised awareness of this crippling disease and over $50 million dollars.

Watching video after video of my friends getting wet has been fun, but has also gotten me thinking. What impact would it have on our nation if Christians flooded the internet with videos, tweets, pictures, and status updates about kindnesses done in the name of Jesus? In Mark 9:41, Jesus said, “For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.” Instead of pouring water over people’s heads (or maybe in addition to it), we could commit ourselves to offering a cup of water or any type of kindness to somebody in the name of Jesus.

Here is your three-step challenge: First, in the next 24 hours, do something deliberately kind for someone else. You can bake cookies, pick up trash, help someone to their car, donate to a charity, send a card, give a hug, or offer someone a cold drink of water. Use your imagination and creativity. Second, use social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. – to share your act of kindness with others. I’m not talking about bragging or being proud, but of encouraging others to join you in doing a kindness in the name of Jesus. Third, challenge three of your friends to do their own act of kindness in the next 24 hours.

My Jesus Resolution today is to accept Jesus’ cup of water challenge. I am going to go out of my way to show kindness to someone in the name of Jesus. I nominate and challenge you to do the same. How fast do you think a tidal wave of kindness can spread across this country?

I was driving today and saw an interesting sign. It was an advertisement for a storage facility and in big, bold letters it said, “Do you have extra baggage? Store it here.” I know that the sign is appropriate for the business, but to be honest, it touched a tender place in my heart.

Do you have extra baggage? Me too.

The truth is that we all carry around baggage. It comes in all shapes and sizes. The baggage that we carry weighs us down, steals our joy, invades our peace, and disrupts our contentment. Guilt, shame, disappointment, and discouragement have a way of piling up, settling in, and squeezing our faith in a vise. We pick up our baggage in the morning and it influences how we see ourselves and our day. We lug our baggage with us, bumping into our opportunities and choices where it colors everything with a tinge of fear. We tuck our baggage in with us at night. Exhausted, we lay awake worrying about our baggage.

There are moments when we long for freedom from our baggage. What if we could set it down? What if we could let it go? But our baggage tenaciously clings to our hearts. I am just not strong enough or brave enough to break its grip on my soul.

God doesn’t want us to store our baggage. He wants to carry it. He wants to lift it off your shoulders and free you to experience all of the abundance and joy He has planned for you. Instead of storing our baggage in our hearts, souls, minds, actions, and relationships, God wants us to bring it to the cross and leave it there.

My Jesus Resolution is to take my baggage to the cross. At the cross, Jesus shows me His willingness to carry my heaviest loads. At the empty tomb, He unleashes the power that I need to break free from my heart-numbing burdens. I don’t have to drown in guilt or suffer with shame. In Christ, I am set free.

I have to admit that I sometimes skim through the Old Testament kings. After a while, they all start sounding alike. This one did evil while this one did what was right. This one ascended to the throne while on the other side of Israel this one died and was buried. I am not saying that I am proud of my skimming. I’m just being honest.

Today, though, I didn’t skim. I slowed down and let the images of kings serving the Lord inspire me. Even those who walked away from God have lessons to teach me. A good king named Jotham captured my attention. He isn’t famous. His entire reign is summarized in nine verses in 2 Chronicles 27. Jotham is king in Judah. He is the grandfather of Hezekiah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. We have a record of building projects, battles, and the people’s continued heart for idolatry. In the middle of the description of Jotham’s reign, it says this – “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” (2 Chronicles 27:6)

This one sentence about Jotham challenges and inspires me. He ordered his ways before the Lord. He let the things of God shape his priorities, activities, and accomplishments. What if I did the same? What would happen if I brought my to-do list to God and let Him order my day? What would God add to my list? Take away? (Makes you nervous, doesn’t it?) It takes courage to let God have control of my laundry, work deadlines, and grocery shopping. I might find that He adds rest, laughter, and celebration to the list. He would remove the superficial, giving me opportunities to be touched and transformed. Mostly, I think He would want me to open my eyes to His presence and be more aware of His movement.

My Jesus Resolution today is to follow Jotham’s example and order my ways before the Lord. Ordering takes deliberation and investment. Things don’t become ordered by accident or chance. I like what happened in Jotham because he ordered his ways before God. He became mighty. I want to be mighty. I want to be mighty in praising His name, mighty in telling others about His love, mighty in lifting up the cross, and mighty in imitating His Son.

One percent. It doesn’t sound like much. A one percent change in economic indicators or political polling is considered inconsequential. One percent is easy to dismiss because one percent doesn’t seem like it could make any difference.

That is what I thought too, until I saw a billboard that captured my attention and challenged me to look at one percent with new eyes. Here is what it said: “When 1% of the church shows up, abortion stops.” One percent can change somebody’s life, save somebody’s life. Perhaps one percent has more power than I realized.

It got me thinking. What else might one percent be able to accomplish if we committed, as God’s people, to showing up? Showing up means leaving our comfort zones and stepping into the messy brokenness of the world. It is hard. It is scary. We like the safety of our bubbles. It requires time, sacrifice, and a willingness to make our hearts vulnerable. It means that we stop complaining about the problems in the world and develop a willingness to be a part of the solution. For ninety-nine percent of us, we are content to gripe about a problem on Facebook or with our friends. How might God work if one percent of us showed up, committed to bringing grace, mercy, and hope into the darkness that fills our world?

My Jesus Resolution today is to step out of the comfort zone of the ninety-nine percent and be a part of the one percent that shows up. Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” There is power in the one percent because God’s power flows through those dedicated to bringing Jesus to the hard, messy, broken places in our world. And when God’s power is at work, hope blossoms, grace flows, and transformation is unleashed. Ninety-nine percent or one percent? Do you have the courage to show up?