Casandra Martin

If you read the newspaper or watch the news, it only takes a glance to realize that the world is filled with bad news.  It is easy to get depressed or discouraged as the media gives us a front row seat to the scary, horrible things happening all around us.

There is an old saying that says, “What happens in you is more important than what happens to you.” It is a reminder of a truth that often gets lost as life’s circumstances threaten to overwhelm us. The news is a report of what is happening around us. We talk to our friends about what happened during our day. Happiness is a byproduct of whether we’ve had a good day or a bad day. Rejoicing, on the other hand, focuses on the way that God is working in us as we move through our circumstances. The transformation that results from keeping your eyes on Him no matter what is the fuel for our joy. We can choose to worry about what is happening to us or we can choose to praise God for how He is working in us. Choosing joy celebrates how God is changing our hearts one moment at a time.

My Jesus Resolution today is to make a good news report. God is at work all around me. His grace has the power to seep into even the darkest places, providing light and hope. As I walk in my day, I want to make a note of the positive things that I see. I am going to pay attention to kindness, be awestruck by beauty, and celebrate someone lending a helping hand. There is bad in this world. But take heart, Jesus has overcome the world!

He was being a servant. Walking up and down the aisles at worship, this young dad was helping others remember the Lord through communion. He was doing a great job, but when he passed by, I almost burst out laughing. I was so tickled I poked my husband and pointed to our friend. All down one leg of his pants were stickers – rainbows, hearts, butterflies, you get the idea. He was covered in the imagination, affection, and creativity of his beautiful little daughter. His little girl wasn’t any place where I could see her, but it only took a glance to know that he had been in her presence.

What an amazing, holy moment.

This dad became a snapshot of what it means to walk with Christ. He was so covered in the love of his daughter that he gave and served without even realizing that her touch on him was recognizable. He was so used to being ‘stickered’ that he walked unashamed through his tasks, and unapologetic for the place his daughter holds in his life. He knew that it was more important to come back to his daughter with the stickers in place than to care what anyone else thought. She used him as a living illustration of surrender, and he proudly embraced the moment for the rest of us to see.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be just like that young dad. I want to be more concerned about wearing Jesus than impressing the world. I want others to see His fingerprints on my life, and notice the blessings of spending time in His presence. I long to live unashamed, unapologetic, and unwavering about who I belong to, who I want to be, and Who loves me. I want to live a ‘stickered’ life so that others can see Jesus when they see me.

I have a much loved old hymn speaking grace into my soul this morning. Will you sing with me?

“Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

(words by Johnson Oatman)

One of the first things we learn to do as children is count. We practice and practice, learning to count higher and higher, and maybe there is a deeper wisdom in that than I had realized. Counting your blessings is a game changer, a perspective lifter, an eye-opener, a soul calmer, a smile inducer, and a peace infuser.

Sometimes, however, all I count are the “big” blessings – the ones that warm our hearts, fill our lives with joy, and brighten our days. Today, I want to encourage you to search out the blessings that may be a little more difficult to spot. These are the blessings that are wrapped in inconvenience, are tucked in a difficulty, or are hidden in a hard circumstance. I prefer my blessings to be wrapped in sunshine and topped with a bow, but the blessings that most deeply shape my heart are sometimes found in the things that require me to look beyond myself and surrender. It takes time, perspective, and maturity to search out these blessings, but when we find them, we see God’s hand and His heart in a whole new way.

My Jesus Resolution today is to count my blessings, all of my blessings. I want to keep my eyes open to all the ways God is present and working all around me. I want to be like a little child, counting higher and higher as I witness His wonders. I don’t want to miss the blessings that come in unconventional or uncomfortable packages. Today, let’s sing and count and number the mercies of our God.

Go look in the mirror. Take a long, hard look at the reflection you see. I know that it is easy to zero in on the things we don’t like or make us uncomfortable, but the truth is that you are looking at a miracle. Your eyes, your intellect, your fingerprints, your height, your gender, your heart, your toes, and your talents all have been touched by the hand of God.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it full well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” – Psalm 139:13-15

There is much in the news these days about people going to extreme lengths to be someone different than who God created them to be. There are times when we all wish we had different characteristics than the ones we have. It is easy to get stuck in a place where we spend our time wishing we were something we are not, or we can learn to live in the miracle of who we already are. You are a vessel created to uniquely reveal God’s glory to the world.

My Jesus Resolution today is to look in the mirror and see God at work. God created me for a purpose. He numbered my hairs, shaped my body, invested me with gifts and talents, and gifted me with a soul. I am not an accident or a mistake. When I embrace the reflection in the mirror, I am embracing the whole of who God made me to be.

“And He said to him, ‘Follow me.’” – Luke 5:27b

Did you ever play Follow the Leader? Follow the Leader is a simple enough game. One person is the leader, and the rest of the group follows in the leader’s steps. You can run, crawl, skip, jump, do loopity-loops, or tip-toe. The only rule is to do what the leader does. The leader sets the pace, determines the direction, and defines the movement of the group. Such a simple game, and such a hard way to live.

Walking with Jesus is as simple as following the Leader. All I really need to do is imitate Him. And yet I find so many ways to get off course. I get distracted and wander off on my own. I get stubborn and refuse to move. I get frightened and fret about taking the next step. I get impatient and want to step out in front. I get self-conscious and worry what others will think of the way I am walking.

Jesus knew that I would struggle with His call to follow Him. That is why He came to earth. That is why He gave me the Holy Spirit. That is why He connected me to His church. That is why He provided the Bible, the avenue of prayer, and the privilege of worship. Everything from His example to entering His presence helps me learn how to take the next step in following Him.

My Jesus Resolution today is to follow the Leader as I walk through my day. I am going to match my stride with His. I am going to stop where He stops, and run where He runs. Join me in following the Leader today. Let’s find joy in knowing that wherever we go, He is leading us deeper into the presence of God.

What is the most beautiful, breathtaking sight you have ever seen? A sky stuffed with stars? The endless waves of the ocean? The sun rising over the crest of a hill? Light shimmering like diamonds in the snow? The beauty of a lake hidden in the mountains? What do you see when you close your eyes and remember catching your breath in wonder? Moments when we catch a glimpse of God’s glory are moments that stick with us. They give us a peek into the amazing things we will see when we stand fully in His presence.

Now go look in the mirror. When God wants to show the world His power and glory, He shows them you. You are living, breathing evidence of His grace and His deep desire. As a sanctuary for His presence, God’s glory is revealed through you. When others see Jesus in you, they catch a glimpse of God’s purpose and love. Don’t underestimate your beauty or the way God is using you to teach others about His heart. I see Him in you all the time, and it takes my breath away.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be thankful for beauty. I am going to slow down today, and let the beauty around me soak in deep. God has planted beauty in the simple, ordinary, and the everyday so that I can catch my breath and catch a glimpse of Him. I am going to look for Him in the flowers outside my window, the warmth of my husband’s hand, the hugs of my children, the mess of blessings on the floor, and even in the mirror. Today I am going to take Ralph Waldo Emerson’s advice. He said, “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.”

I love my life. There is very little about who I am, where I am, or what I have that I would change. One thing that does color every one of my days, however, is my longing for heaven. Anticipation is a glorious burden. Philippians 3:20-21 reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to Himself.” Do you see it? We not only get to go to heaven, He is going to transform everything!

So many things here give us a peek into heaven, but there are some things that remind us that we live in a broken world.  Here is a list of ten everyday things that you won’t find in heaven.

1. Handicap parking spaces
2. Kleenex boxes
3. Medicine bottles
4. Obituaries
5. Light bulbs
6. Pain relievers
7. Laundry soap
8. Calendars
9. Bills
10. Smoke detectors

My Jesus Resolution today is to let the here and now help me focus on someday. The beauty of today allows me a glimpse into the glory of heaven. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, so those moments give us a taste of the wonderful things God is preparing for us. There are things, however, that should remind us that God has promised a new, whole, unbroken eternal life with Him. As I do my laundry today or reach for a Kleenex, I am going to smile, knowing that these things are temporary. I can’t wait.

We had a terrible thunderstorm this week. Rain fell in sheets, thunder boomed and rattled the earth, and lightning lit up the sky. It was awesome, a little scary, and left the echoes of God’s words to Job ringing in my ears. “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt…?” (Job 38:25)

Thunderstorms are noisy. There is obviously the thunder, the crack of the lightning, and the pounding rain. The thunder was so intense it set off car alarms. The wind blew through the trees. As we listened to the howling storm outside, my husband noticed a new sound. He told me to be quiet and listen to the sounds below the storm. That’s when I heard it – the frogs were singing in the rain. I smiled. Even here, even now, His creation was praising Him.

Today the sun is shining, but I have not forgotten the lesson of the frogs. It is easier to praise God when the sky is blue, the rainbow is visible, and the way is bright. It is harder in the storm. When the sky is dark, the wind is screaming in my ear, and everything I know feels under attack, praise is often the last thing on my mind. Fear often stomps on my faith. Worry trumps worship, while doubt drowns out delight. The frogs reminded me of the importance of singing through the storm. When the storm hits, God is still sovereign. He is still in control even though I feel completely spun out of control. He still loves me even though storms make me feel isolated and alone. He is still watching over me, making a way for me, even when I can’t see the next step. Singing changes the sound of the storm.

My Jesus Resolution today is to sing in the rain. Choosing to sing in the rain means I make the deliberate decision to praise God even when things are dark and tough. Praise doesn’t necessarily change the fury of the storm, but it does change my focus on the storm. It tells my fear, doubt, and worry that God is bigger than the storm scaring my heart. The frogs taught me that I don’t have to sing louder than the storm – just sing. A quiet whisper of praise will be heard by those who choose to listen.

Reading through my Bible, I keep coming across an interesting command – celebrate. Over and over, God commands His own to be a people defined, shaped, and identified by celebration. We are to celebrate His movement, His timing, His love, His protection, His mercy, and His provision. Psalm 145:7 says, “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”

This command has caused me to pause and look hard at my heart. Am I a celebrator? Do my children know that celebrating God’s goodness is going to be a constant priority in our family? Do my friends know that every time we talk, we are going to come around to the marvelous things of God? Do the people I meet through my day walk away with a little bit wider eyes for His movement and His love? Amazingly enough, celebration doesn’t come naturally to us. It has to be rehearsed, practiced, and formed into a habit. But imagine the possibilities if we let celebrating Jesus shape our souls….

Here are three steps to making celebration a holy habit:

1. Notice God’s movement in your day. Keep your eyes open for things to celebrate – blessings, answered prayers, reminders of God’s promises, His fingerprints on your day.
2. Stop and say “thank you.” Express your appreciation and offer your praise to God for His love and presence in your day.
3. Tell someone what God has done for you today. Celebration is meant to be shared. When you share your celebration, it opens your eyes, softens your heart, and multiplies joy in unimaginable ways.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be a celebrator. Celebration has the power to transform my perspective, my priorities, and my prayers. I want my children to have a mom who sees God around every corner, points Him out, and cheers. I want my husband to be encouraged by the way I see God working in him and through him. I want my friends to expect to hear that the best news of the day is the way God is keeping His promises and empowering His purpose in them. Today I am going to celebrate. With all that Jesus has done for me, how can I do anything else?