Casandra Martin

An oxymoron will keep you on your toes. They can make you laugh, raise your eyebrows, or even do a double take. Phrases like “jumbo shrimp,” “definite maybe,” and “paid volunteers” bring a smile to my face as we stop and catch the contradiction captured in a play on words.

An oxymoron is a self-contradictory phrase. It comes from the ancient Greek root words – oxus = sharp and moros = dull.

A lot of oxymorons are seriously funny.  But sometimes there are oxymorons that interfere with our relationship with God. Oxymorons that blur our vision and steer us away from intimacy with the Father. One of the most damaging oxymorons is the phrase “self-righteousness.”

Righteousness means “to stand in a right relationship with God.” It is a legal term which carries with it the picture of standing before God and being declared “without guilt.”

That is why self-righteousness is an oxymoron. It is impossible to be self-righteous. It is a term that we have developed to describe the attitude of someone who doesn’t recognize their absolute need to depend on the blood of Jesus. Someone who measures themselves by the wrong standard.

In order to escape the contradictory trap of self-righteousness, we have to fix our eyes on Jesus. When we buy into the idea of self-righteousness, we believe that our right standing with God depends on our actions, our works, our goodness, and our choices. We convince ourselves that it is up to us to keep our relationship with God on the right track, and we end up with a very heavy burden to bear.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:9.

My Jesus Resolution today is to anchor myself in His grace. Jesus is the only one who can make things right between me and God. It is only in living in Him, depending on His blood, and immersing myself in His love that I remain right with God. It is only at the cross that I can find forgiveness. It is only in the resurrection that I find the power to live in the righteousness He provides. When it comes to picking between self-righteousness and Jesus, Jesus is my only choice.

It was one of those moments that just makes you smile. There is an elderly gentleman who walks by our home. He moves slowly, wears a hat, and is as regular as clockwork. He quietly moves through the streets, taking his walk, and enjoying the spring air.Today, he wasn’t walking alone. He was pushing a stroller.

The little girl was his granddaughter. He quietly pushed her on his usual route, but today the journey was transformed. The little girl, dark hair blowing in the wind, was bringing joy to everyone they passed. As they made their way through the neighborhood, it was clear that she was enjoying herself. She sang her way through the streets. She sang loudly. She sang with joy. She sang in response to the birds and the trees. She sang her own tune. She sang, and the neighborhood smiled.

I want to be more like that little girl. She sang her own notes. She sang even though no one sang with her. She sang because there was a song in her heart. And everywhere she went, she left a song behind for others to sing.

Psalm 92:4 says, “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

My Jesus Resolution today is to sing. Sing out loud. Sing for joy. Sing a song of praise. Sing because God has put a song in my heart. I want to move through my day and leave others with a song to sing, a smile to smile, and a reason to look into the heavens.

They were beaming. That is the only way to describe it. After weeks and weeks of practicing, studying, working, and sweating, they were finally ready. Speeches had been written, puppet scripts polished, Bible readings practiced, and service challenges completed. All that remained was dress rehearsal. It was a big night.

In the blink of an eye, teenagers were transformed. One minute they were in t-shirts and tennis shoes. The next thing we knew ties and dresses filled the rows. But it wasn’t their physical appearance that captured my heart. It was the excitement you could see in their eyes.

They had grown. Probably physically, but definitely spiritually. They are stronger, wiser, more connected, and more confident than they were when they started. They look more like Jesus because someone was willing to walk beside them and help them take a step of faith.

All it requires is a little bit of attention, a willingness to share yourself, and some time. You have something to offer a child. It can be a baby or a high school student, but you have a lesson about Jesus that the next generation needs to hear. Maybe it is a word of encouragement, a testimony of faith, a prayer, a Bible lesson, or a pat on the back. You can write a card, color a picture, change a diaper, or teach someone your special talent or skill. Every time you reach out to a child and show them Jesus, you are investing in the future and helping to spread the kingdom into the next generation.

My Jesus Resolution today is to invest in a kid. I am going to be deliberate about modeling Jesus for someone who is taking their first steps of faith. I can encourage someone to stretch and grow. I can give a hug or write a card. I can share my excitement about the Lord and tell a story about what He has done for me. Thanks to all the teachers, youth leaders, cookie makers, VBSers, and faith challengers who modeled Jesus for me. Now it is my turn to invest in the future.

Listening is a tender art. When we listen, we give ourselves into the hands of another. We allow them space in our hearts to pour out their thoughts, share their perceptions, and voice their ideas. We stop, quieting our own hearts in order to create room for another to inhabit these moments of our time.

In stopping, we set ourselves down. The best listening is done with more than our ears. It is done with our eyes, hearts, and hands. In listening, we learn to see through another’s eyes. We catch a glimpse of where another walks and the circumstances, pressures, and perspectives that shape them. Listening is also done with our hearts. It is a gift that gives honor and value to another. True listening moves our hands. It might move them to give a hug, write a card, hold a hand, wipe a tear, or fold in prayer.

Too many times I hear, but I don’t listen. Sometimes, I only sacrifice part of my attention. In other moments, I focus on my pride. I want to be right, look good, or sound impressive. Other times find me being defensive. The dialogue in my head takes center stage, leaving the other person talking with no one to engage.

One of the most touching things about Jesus is that He always listened. Really listened. Listened to the heart behind the questions. Stopped to see the fear behind the tears. Saw the ache of loneliness in a cry for help. Observed pride when it masqueraded as piety. In listening, He gave Himself. And in giving them Himself, He gave them the opportunity to see God and be changed.

My Jesus Resolution today is to listen…really listen. I am going to set down the multi-tasking that is really an excuse for not giving someone my full attention. I am going to listen with my ears, eyes, heart, and hands. Listening requires a slowness that is not in sync with the pace of this world. It does, however, match the rhythm of God’s heart.

My son was working on a project for school. Suddenly, he was pointing at the screen and calling for his dad. A virus alert was prophesying imminent danger if a click of the mouse didn’t come quickly enough.

My husband looked at the screen and told our son not to touch the pop-up. He explained that this was “scareware,” a scam meant to scare you into clicking on their icon and downloading the virus it claimed to be protecting you from. He then walked my son through how to tell if there was a real virus threat, the safe way to handle the intrusion, and the safeguards on our system to keep viruses at bay.

Scareware sounds like a tactic straight out of hell’s handbook. Make a threat, cause a panic, start a scare, and wait. When we are afraid we tend to react without thinking. We “click” when we should call out for help. We accept the solution suggested to us by the one making the threat in the first place. And then we end up with something worse than a virus in our computers. We end up with an infection in our souls.

My son taught me a lesson in sin prevention today. Ask for help. Rely on someone who understands the way things work. Depend on their expertise. A simple lesson is all that my son needed to put things in perspective. A moment spent with his dad’s hand on his back cleared the intrusion and got him back on track. If I am willing to ask for help, I may avoid a lot of heartache.

My Jesus Resolution today is to walk with a friend. I am going to develop relationships that encourage me to call for help when I need it. I don’t have to all the answers. I don’t need to figure it out by myself. Someone else looking over my shoulder may protect me from the scareware that tends to show up in my life.

My husband and I were out for dinner. Nothing fancy, just a quick meal before we started working through a list of errands. We got our food, prayed, and began to enjoy our sandwiches.

A few minutes later, a gentleman came over to talk. “I saw you praying,” he said. We had a nice conversation about church, some activities he was excited about, and then he went on his way.

It was an interesting moment. We didn’t think about the fact that others in the restaurant watched as we prayed. When we bowed our heads, it didn’t occur to us that we were leading other eyes toward heaven.

But they noticed. At least one man did. God used the moment to reinforce on our hearts the power we have to influence others through our quiet actions. People are paying more attention to the way we lift up Jesus than we sometimes realize. Others notice the quiet kindnesses, the silent surrenders, and the little sacrifices that define people of grace.

You are not invisible. People see you, watch you, notice you, and pay attention to you every day. People in the store, at work, in the post office, at home, in church, and at the movies. You may be the tool God uses to plant a seed, nourish faith, start a conversation, or initiate surrender. Don’t underestimate the little habits of holiness that flow through your day. Each one may help another see Jesus.

My Jesus Resolution today is live out Matthew 5:16 – I am going to let my light shine. Today I have an opportunity to live out faith in the ordinary, normal places I walk. I am going to be aware of the truth that others are watching. I want them to see Jesus.

I saw my first butterflies today – two yellow ones flirting with a field of fresh purple wildflowers. I have been watching for them. Butterflies are a particular favorite of mine. They dance in the wind, play with petals, and drink nectar. There is a grace about butterflies that seems to set them apart from the rest of the world. They challenge my imagination to see differently and to dream of a life defined by beauty.

Butterflies are one of the best pictures of the transformation God wants to work in our lives. Butterflies don’t start out as butterflies. We first see them as caterpillars – fuzzy worms. After crawling on the ground eating their weight in leaves, the caterpillar turns itself upside-down and spins a cocoon. Inside that cocoon something wonderful happens. Metamorphosis transforms everything about the caterpillar into something new.

When the caterpillar emerges from the cocoon, it has a new identity. It is now a butterfly. It moves differently, eats differently, has a different purpose, and draws a new kind of attention. In their fluttering wings and exquisite beauty, we have a picture of our souls.

My Jesus Resolution today is to commit myself to transformation. Just like the caterpillar, I have to put my whole self in the hands of God and let Him change me. I need to trust His design, open my heart to His power, and surrender to His purpose for my life. Just like the butterfly, the results will be something beautiful, amazing, and beyond my imagination.

The Great Smoky Mountains are beautiful. The horizon is painted with deepening bands of blue as the mountains frame the distance between sky and ground. The upper elevations still have snow and ice clinging to the crevices of the cliffs. The wind blows across the summit as visitors crowd to the edges of the overlook to take in the deep beauty of the mountains.

Trees cover the peaks. Each level of elevation plays host to different variations of vegetation, supporting ecosystems that nurture plant and animal life. As we crossed the Newfound Gap, it was the hemlock trees that caught my eye. Hemlocks are amazing trees. They are called “the redwoods of the east.” They seem to grow straight out of the rock, anchoring their roots in the craggy stone of the sides of the mountain. They look sturdy and strong, able to withstand the wind, rain, and snows that pelt the mountains.

Instead, the mountain was covered with dead trees. They hadn’t died in a winter storm. A fierce wind hadn’t been able to knock them over. They were dead because of an insect. A little bug, the hemlock woolly adelgid, has moved into the neighborhood and the results have been devastating. The insect injects the tree with toxins as it feeds on its sap. The toxin blocks the path of the nutrients through the tree, causing the needles of the hemlock to die. The trees literally starve to death because of a little bug.

If you were to take a guess, it would not seem like an insect no bigger than the end of your little finger could do any damage to a tree that can grow more than 150 feet tall. Yet today more than eighty percent of the hemlock trees are dead.

The hemlock trees remind us of a sobering truth. Sin works like the hemlock woolly adelgid. It seems small and harmless, yet attaches itself where we are most vulnerable. It can interrupt our connection to Christ, leaving us to slowly starve to death.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be on the lookout for little things that can have a big impact. I want to be aware that every choice has the potential to draw me closer to Jesus or open my heart to a little bit of sin’s toxins. It may not seem like much in the moment, but once the bug takes hold, it has the power to bring down even the mightiest tree.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”  – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love Dr. King’s perspective on prayer. Prayer is essential to life as a Christian. It gives us focus, shapes perspective, honors holiness, and fuels surrender. In prayer, we meet God. We draw near to His presence and learn to bow in submission to His sovereignty and humble ourselves before His mighty power. Our eyes, which get so distracted and dazzled by the world, become reoriented in the light of His glory.

Faith finds its footing in prayer. Prayer acknowledges who is King and who is servant. It helps us seek His will in all things, asks Him to move in our circumstances and struggles, and opens our hearts to the blessings He longs to pour into our lives.

Intimacy is born in the arena of prayer. It is here that our souls become most transparent, our motives move into the penetrating light of His wisdom, and our actions must stand beneath the gaze of His faithfulness and purity. Here is where we are most deeply known and where we learn to know Him. He invites us into prayer because it is the place where relationship grows best.

In experiencing the power of prayer, we are transformed. As we pour out our hearts to God in prayer, He moves in and fills us with Himself. Prayer helps us shed the selfish, me-oriented baggage that we tend to carry around. In its place, God changes us to look more like Jesus. With each word, we take on more of His character. With each confession, we receive more grace. With each note of praise, we learn to seek His face. With each act of surrender, we walk deeper into His presence.

My Jesus Resolution today is to pray. I want to pray without ceasing. I want to develop an awareness of His presence that is so vibrant that I can’t help but invest myself in conversation with Him. I want prayer to be as natural as breathing.

Sweaty and sticky, I stepped into the shower and let the hot water roll over me. Do you know the feeling? Just standing there letting the water wash away the grime felt like heaven. After a few minutes and a little soap, I started feeling like a new person.

It is amazing how a quick shower can change your perspective. All I did was wash the dirt off, but I went from feeling yucky to feeling refreshed and renewed. Today I am thankful for my shower.

The water coming out of the shower always reminds me of the waterfall that cleanses our souls. Walking in the world makes us sticky. We pick up bits of self-reliance, lost focus, and turmoil while moving through our days. We step in sin, stumble in selfishness, and struggle with surrender. On our own, we are doomed to stay sticky and grimy.

While the hot water in the shower cleans our bodies, the blood of Jesus washes the grime and guilt away from our hearts. His precious blood cascades over a believer’s heart like a waterfall of grace. It continually rinses away the rebellion that so often tramples on my heart, reshaping me into the image of Christ.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be thankful for being clean. I am thankful for clean water, bubbly soap, and big towels. I am even more thankful for the blood that washes the sin away from my soul. His grace and mercy have the power to cleanse even the deepest stain, the nastiest sin, and the most stubborn rebellion. Because of the cross, I don’t have to walk around feeling sticky. I can have a fresh, clean heart today and that feels like heaven.