Casandra Martin

My little friend and I were eating breakfast. Muffins, yogurt, and juice were spread out on the table as we sat together, talking and getting ready for the day. Between mouthfuls of muffin, he excitedly told me about the book he checked out from the library at school. It was a book about the animals that live in Africa. Lions, tigers, giraffes, and monkeys joined us at the table as he described them to me.

Grinning from the adventure playing out in his mind, he asked me about the animals that live in our neighborhood. I laughed and told them that elephants didn’t live in our backyards here in Houston. He paused in mid-giggle, as a deep thought filled his eyes. He was absolutely puzzled by this news. “I thought we lived in Texas,” he said. “We live in both,” I told him. “We live in Houston, Texas.”

His question taught me a lesson. Sometimes I forget that we live in two places. Our hearts have two addresses. This world is the residence of our bodies, but there is another kingdom that is the residence of our souls. We have dual citizenship. We belong in two worlds – an earthly reality and a heavenly kingdom. We have a physical home here and a room with the Father being built for us there. Here there is crime, war, politics, and disease. There the King reigns, wiping away every tear, abolishing pain, having vanquished the enemy, and defeated death.

My Jesus Resolution today is to change the way I answer the address question. Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” I am called to live an abundant, holy, cross-shaped life in this world, while never forgetting that I have another home. My allegiance must first belong to God, as I pledge to live my life in His grace and under His authority. Breakfast today has me rethinking how to answer the question about where I live. The next time someone asks, I am going to be brave and say, “I live in Houston, Texas and the Kingdom of God.”

We are in the middle of an election season. Political ads, campaign promises, and partisan dialogue fill the airwaves. As we walk through these last weeks before the election, here is a list of ten things you can do as you get ready to vote.

1. Pray. Pray for our country, our government, the candidates, and the voters. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

2. Accept the challenge to be content no matter how the election goes. Philippians 4:11

3. Examine your priorities as you prepare to vote. Matthew 6:33

4. Determine to be thankful in all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

5. Confess your sins, not those of your opponents. 2 Chronicles 7:14

6. Remember what is really important. 1 Timothy 6:17

7. Love your enemies. Pray for your candidate. Pray harder for the other one. Matthew 5:44

8. Make sure that every word you speak is encouraging. Colossians 4:6

9. Have the same attitude as Jesus – even in the voting booth. Philippians 2:5

10. Always remember that God sits on the throne. Isaiah 14:26-27

My Jesus Resolution today is to walk with God through the election process. God wants me to walk into the voting booth with my eyes on Him and my trust grounded firmly in His promises and purpose. He wants me to walk out of the voting booth understanding that He is in control. He promises to work in the challenges of my citizenship here even as He reminds me that this world is not my home. As I think, pray, decide, and determine who will receive my vote, I resolve to let God direct my attitudes, align my priorities, define my perspective, and control my actions. Ultimately, the most important thing is not who is in the White House. The most important thing is – did I look like Jesus through the process?

Disappointment is difficult. When our dreams crash, the door is slammed in our face, or the path takes an unexpected turn, waves of disappointment and discouragement have the power to knock us off our feet and leave bruises on our hearts.

She called me in tears. She had been working toward this day for months. She had poured her heart into learning and rising to the new challenges before her. She had set her goal, preparing herself for settling into a new routine of service and compassion.

Unexpectedly, the plan took a twist. The door she was counting on swinging open stayed firmly closed. She turned around in bewilderment, staring at another door that was now ajar. She didn’t want to go through it. It wasn’t where she wanted to go. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to work out. After months of praying and preparing, disappointment left heartache in its wake.

She struggled to make sense of this new reality. Disappointment gave way to discouragement. She doubted her talents, and her ability to adjust and accept the new situation. Her confidence took a hit as she compared her door to the doors that others had seen open. Frustration erupted as she questioned the path that led her to this unexpected, unwanted place.

I wish I could tell you that I was able to give her some grand advice or make sense of the twists and turns that now lay before her. Instead, she taught me how to look like Jesus when your heart is hurting. Humbled, I read what she wrote only a few hours later. “Faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse. Your plans are greater than my dreams.”

My Jesus Resolution today is to meet disappointment with faith. In every moment of disappointment, we have a choice. We can trust or we can complain. We can look for His hand or stare at the closed door. We can remember God’s faithfulness or rehearse our frustration. We can demand our own way or walk in His way. We can sit down, letting disappointment stop us in our tracks or we can stand up, wipe away the tears, reach out for His hand, and take a step of faith.

I am not a big fan of dusting. Dusting is one of those required chores that is necessary, but brings no joy. Sometimes I put it off, and the evidence of my procrastination builds up in unexpected places.

In our family room, we have a metal piece that says “Faith” in large letters. It sits there as a reminder of who we are and where to turn as we live in the everyday routine of life. Cloth in hand, I pulled it down from the shelf where it sits in order to dust it off. I was surprised by how much dust had accumulated since the last time I had tackled this particular chore.

Dusty faith. The significance of the layer of grime on the letters that spelled out faith struck me hard. I don’t want to have dusty faith. Too often, faith becomes something that sits on a shelf to be looked at from a distance, but never used or enjoyed. We keep it in our pockets, carrying it around like a good luck charm or a membership card. Faith isn’t something we can pick up and set down when it is convenient. Faith is a way of living, a way of looking at ourselves and the world, and a power that fuels the way we walk through our days and face our fears.

Faith is like a muscle. It has to be exercised daily to help it grow and keep it strong. When faith is unused, it atrophies. It gets dusty.

My Jesus Resolution today is to exercise my faith. I am going to nourish it with His Word, let it breathe in the fresh air of His presence, expose it to the wonder of worship, and strengthen it in service to others. I am going to remember that faith isn’t one part of who I am. Faith expresses the whole of who I am in Jesus. It testifies to how God is moving in my life, making me new, filling me with grace, and transforming me into the image of His Son. I am not going to put my faith up on a shelf, only pulling it down in emergencies or when I need a little bit of comfort. If my faith gets dusty, I want it to be because I have been working, loving, following, forgiving, and living like Jesus.

It started seventy-two years ago. On September 7, 1940, Nazi Germany began a bombing campaign meant to cripple the resources and melt the resolve of the United Kingdom. It was called The Blitz, which in German means ‘lightning’. For fifty-seven straight nights, waves of German bombers flew into England, dropping terror and destroying over one million homes in London alone. More than forty-thousand people died as Hitler attempted to bully England into concessions and fear.

England refused to stumble before the evil pushing so hard against its national soul. The people of the United Kingdom dug in, preparing to withstand the onslaught. Children were sent from the cities into the countryside in order to take them out of the bomb’s path. Shortages caused the people to come together to survive. And the cities went dark. Complete blackouts were required in order to prevent giving German bombers a clear target.

Imagine the preparations that took place just before nightfall. Windows were covered. Every crack was examined. Lights were doused. Supplies were gathered. Places of refuge were sought. They knew the blitz was coming. Their best defense was found in their resolve to never, ever give up.

Sometimes it feels like we are in the middle of a blitz. The enemy unleashes a lightning attack on our souls. We feel pounded, pressured, prodded, and pummeled by unrelenting waves of terror. His aim is to puncture our hope, drain our joy, and rock our peace. Wearying nights of fear give way to dawns filled with taking inventory of the debris and destruction. Is it possible to hold on through one more blitz?

My Jesus Resolution today is to resolve to never, ever give up. The enemy is strong and unrelenting, but Jesus is stronger and more faithful. He calls us to take shelter in His love, find our peace in His presence, and rely on His promises. He sees the attack. He collects your tears. He understands your fears. He gives us words of hope and encouragement to write on our hearts, in our homes, at our offices, and within our relationships. Words to whisper to our loved ones and shout at the enemy. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

I smiled as I heard the story. A child’s simple actions are often the gateway into deeper faith.

Our friends were visiting a different congregation. Dad is a preacher, and he had been invited to come and share a lesson about Jesus with the Christians there. His little son eyed the auditorium full of people, and asked his mom if he could go up to the front and sit with his dad. Mom gave him permission, and he hurried up to the pew where his dad waited to extend an invitation to become more like Jesus.

The little boy snuggled in next to his dad. The bigness of the crowd was tamed by the big arms of his father. When dad stood up to talk about Jesus, the little boy knew exactly where he needed to be. He got up and stood next to dad. He wasn’t content to watch from a distance. He planted himself by his father’s side. I wish I could have seen it. The picture of a son standing next to a father is the best invitation into the heart of God.

I love this little boy’s actions. He didn’t let the crowd intimidate him or keep him away from his father’s side. In order to face the moment, he knew where he needed to stand – close to dad. Any other place wouldn’t do. He didn’t try to handle it on his own. He didn’t make excuses, worry about what others would think, or shy away from expressing his need. He refused to settle for anything less than the presence of his father. And in his actions, he challenges me to move in closer myself.

My Jesus Resolution today is to stand close to my Father. Too often, I think that I should be “big enough” to handle it by myself. I let the world tell me that distance equals maturity, independence is a good goal, or that there is some benefit in holding back. Sometimes I let the crowd convince me to wait and watch from afar. Today God opens His arms and reminds me that there is always room for me by His side. It is time to get up and move closer.

Today is Labor Day. It is a day in America where we honor the workforce in our country by taking a day off and not going to work.

Our jobs provide us with a unique privilege. They are the places that offer us the chance to use our skills and talents to benefit others, while providing for our families. The way that we walk through our workdays matters. Here are ten ways to open the door for Jesus to impact where you work.

1. Set your mind on things above as you head into the office. Turn off the radio and let His voice and His words jumpstart your thoughts and direction as you start your day.

2. Look at your shoes for a minute as you step into your workplace. Let 1 John 2:6 determine the way you walk through your day.

3. Smile. Joy is always a choice.

4. Let integrity shine through every action and choice you make today.

5. Pray for each person you encounter today.

6. Listen. Really listen.

7. Watch for God moments in your day. He is in your office. Keep your eyes open.

8. Worship before you worry.

9. Be willing to go the second mile.

10. Work to please God first.

My Jesus Resolution today is to make Colossians 3:23 come alive in my workplace. Sometimes people are difficult, deadlines are pressing, situations are sticky, and stress is the only thing that is in full supply. Each day I have an opportunity to walk with God into my workplace. His wisdom can guide my steps. His character can shape my choices. His power can infuse my actions. His grace can transform my perspective. Choosing to look like Jesus at work means God gets to shine through everything I do.

School buses rumble through the streets. Backpacks are full, books are open, pencils are sharpened, and bells are once again calling children to pay attention and jump into the business of learning. The new school year is underway.

Watching my children lay down the carefree days of summer and pick up the mantle of learning is always an interesting process. Hope, anticipation, anxiety, nervousness, excitement, and uncertainty all play across their faces. Going to school carries with it the knowledge that this time spent in classrooms is designed to stretch, change, mature, and grow their minds, hearts, and spirits. They will look different on the last day of school than they look on the first. They will be exposed to new ideas, learn new information, develop new ways of thinking and seeing the world, and, hopefully, be more equipped to be the people God intends for them to be.

A new school year always makes me look in the mirror. It reminds me that we are meant to be life-long learners. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since you sat at a school desk, God wants us to engage in the discipline of being students. He wants us to be open to learning, growing, stretching, changing, maturing, and transforming. That means we have to go into each day expecting a lesson, searching for truth, seeking to understand His ways, and anticipating His presence.

My Jesus Resolution today is to prepare to be taught. Jesus has things He wants me to learn today. They may be lessons about His love, His grace, His holiness, or His will. He will use the way I surrender to His teaching to open my hands, stretch my heart, expand my vision, and transform my soul. Students live within the expectation that new opportunities and exciting possibilities are around every corner. When I live as a learner, I can expect to be different at the end of the lesson than I was at the beginning. I will look more like Jesus.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Who are your faith heroes? Names pop off the pages of the Bible as we think about the people who have walked with God, showing us all it means to live lives committed to imitating His character and glorifying His name. Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Esther, Mary, Peter, and Paul all have a faith that calls us to dedicate our hearts to the One who loves us more than we can imagine.

But don’t stop there. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They include the people in your life who point you to faith, challenge you to keep going, and model Jesus for you every day. Their faith isn’t abstract. You have seen it struggle, even fail, and get back up and keep going. Their love isn’t intangible. You have felt its strength, been touched by its intensity, and benefitted from its perseverance. Their hope isn’t elusive. You have watched as it anchored them through the fiercest storms and the darkest nights. They are your faith heroes.

Faith heroes help us understand how to live this Christian life in the here and now. They encourage us to keep going, hang on, step out, and surrender again. They remind us that we don’t walk alone. They demonstrate the power of grace, the wonder of worship, and the joy of living fully in His presence.

My Jesus Resolution today is to stop and look at the faces in my great cloud of witnesses. Some of those faces are only painted for me in Scripture. Others fill the pictures on my walls, can be found in the pews at church, sit across from me at the table, or live in my memories. I want to impress their living lessons of faith on my heart. I want to thank them for the way they show me Jesus. Most of all, I want their example to inspire me to be a faith hero for someone else.

Our society has a saying – boys will be boys. It is meant as a license for bad behavior and a free pass to act in ways that are foolish and immature. Too many of us buy into the ‘boys will be boys’ mentality. We paint all young men with a brush that says that they are incapable of being anything more than the sum of their hormones and base desires. Jesus teaches us differently.

Jesus was a boy. He was born male, and walked this earth as a young boy, teenaged guy, and adult man. Jesus was born into a family that taught Him how to honor the presence and purpose of God for His life. As an adolescent, He obeyed His parents and grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men. As an adult, He listened to the voice of God, doing His Father’s will and surrendering His life to His eternal plan.

Jesus is the Model for our sons, grandsons, nephews, little boys, teenaged boys, all boys. Too many times we assume the worst about our boys, rather than expecting them to live like the Best. We give into the world’s wisdom, allowing society to set our standards, color our vision, and define our expectations. When we look at our young men, we can choose to see the world’s reality or the potential they have in Christ. We can settle for leaving the bar in the dirt or raising the bar to the standard of Jesus.

My Jesus Resolution today is to raise my sons to look like Jesus. They do not have to be who the world tells them they are. Choosing to be a man like Jesus is the harder, longer, more difficult path. It requires men willing to look like Jesus in transparent and personal ways in the lives of my boys. It calls for women who will live out God’s own unique call for their lives in front of them. It means finding role models who will walk with them and encourage them to be more. It demands diligence, determination, and discipline. The ‘boys will be boys’ mentality diminishes the possibilities of transformation and the power that flows from the empty tomb. I want my boys to be more. God says that they can look like Jesus.