Casandra Martin

There was a riot of colors splattered across the landscape of the Texas hill country this weekend. The entire palette of the rainbow was painted in bold strokes across the fields, on the hills, and over the countryside. Bright yellows splashed down next to pockets of pale pink. Purple and scarlet competed against orange and white. Flowers carpeted the roadways and covered the meadows. Streaks of color danced in the grasses as if God took a paintbrush, spun around, and let the hues fall where they may.

The bluebonnets, however, were the best. The entire bouquet of yellows, scarlets, purples, reds, and pinks served as a frame for the bluebonnets. Bluebonnets are the color of the sky right before dawn – a deep blue with a white top. Examining a single bluebonnet reveals profound beauty. The intricacy and delicate detail speak to the glory of God.

It is, however, in seeing fields of bluebonnets that you catch their real beauty. Clustered together, they take your breath away. Just like Christians.

Each individual Christian is a remarkable testimony to the beauty of grace. The transformation of a single soul is a miracle worth celebrating. The details of Christ seen in a life devoted to Him speak to the glory of God.

When Christians stand together, linked in heart and purpose to Jesus, there is a radical beauty that God uses to take the world’s breath away. Clusters of bluebonnets along the road reminded me of congregations of Christians each committed to planting God’s glory in their little piece of the world. Some were big; others were small – each settling into the soil and planting a testimony to the grace of our Lord. It was amazing.

Then I turned the corner, and got a picture of heaven. On a back country road, I saw a field entirely enveloped in bluebonnets. Thousands of them. Millions of them, covering the ground as far as the eye could see. Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of that field. They fall short. And I am thankful for that. I like the idea that there are no words to describe exactly what heaven will be like. We will have to see it to understand it and appreciate it.

My Jesus Resolution today is to imitate the bluebonnets. I am going to bloom where I am. I am going to plant myself in the midst of a group of hearts that are committed to looking like Jesus. Linked together, we give the world a glimpse of God’s glory. I want my life to testify to the beauty of His grace and the wonder of His love. He takes my breath away. Let’s stand together today and give the world a reason to pause.

I first saw it on a t-shirt. The front had a picture of a bright, full moon with the words, “Be The Moon.” It caught my attention. The back of the shirt simply read, “Reflect the Son.”

There it was. In six words, someone had captured a perfect picture of what it means to walk in The Jesus Resolution.

The crisp morning sky brought this message home to me this morning. The dark sky was punctuated by stars. The blanket of the night wrapped itself around the glowing silver orb of the moon. It was wonderful. Looking at the moon, I thought of the t-shirt. The moon is only beautiful because of the sun. By itself, it is a big rock in the sky, pockmarked by collisions that have left scars on its face. It is a place where nothing grows, nothing can breathe, and no one can live. The sun gives the moon its purpose and its wonder.

We are like the moon. Our light comes from the Son. The beauty and wonder we carry into the world flows from our connection to Christ. I am also like the moon in other ways. Sometimes I let the world come between me and the Son. The result is that I don’t shine as bright as I should. The best times are when I am full of Jesus.

As sunrise peeked over the horizon, I was struck by the difference between the moon and sun. I turned the corner and the sky lit up in a blaze of light. I had to shield my eyes and lift my heart in praise. The moon is beautiful, but a mere reflection of the glory of the sun. Just like me.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be the moon. I want to reflect the light of Jesus in every part of my day. I am determined to keep the world from creeping in between me and the Son.  I want others to see Him in me. I want others to be dazzled, not by what they see in me, but by the glimpse of Him that calls to their hearts.

Sometimes I get stuck in a rut. I seem to pray about the same cycle of needs and wants and end up feeling like there is a little bit of déjà vu in my talks with God. Here are ten ideas of things to pray for today to help spark some new conversation in your time with the Lord.

1. Pray through the ABCs. Use each letter as a point of praise. For example, God is Able, God is Big, God is Creator. Pause after thinking of each word, thanking and praising Him for who He is and how He works in your life.

2. Pray for eyes to see Him clearly in every part of your day.

3. Pray for tenderness.

4. Pray for courage and boldness.

5. Pray for a moment of simple joy, and the heart to recognize it when it comes your way.

6. Pray for three friends off your FaceBook page, out of your cell phone contacts, or from your address book that are not regularly included in your daily prayer time. Pray for each friend by name.

7. Pray while counting your blessings. Talk to God about twenty-five things for which you are thankful.

8. Pray for an opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus.

9. Pray for more faith, deeper love, and a stronger desire to be like Christ.

10. Pray that Jesus will come back soon.

My Jesus Resolution today is to cherish the time I spend with God in prayer. Every conversation draws me onto holy ground. Every moment in His presence holds the possibility of transformation. Every word opens my heart in surrender to the power of His love. No moment spent in prayer is wasted. He will fill each one with His grace and glory.

Perspective is an amazing thing. In reality, a fresh perspective does not change your circumstances or alter the people around you. It doesn’t change the clouds in the sky or the balance in your checking account. Your house won’t be cleaner or the stack of work on your desk any smaller. Perspective speaks to the way we see our lives. It doesn’t change the people around us, but it does impact how we interact with them. It won’t clean the house, but it will help us see the blessings piled among the dirty dishes and stinky socks. This is what God offers us – a new perspective. A chance to see His hand in the ordinary moments of our day. An opportunity to hear Him speaking to us through the checkbook and the emails. Sometimes God’s answer to our prayers isn’t to change our circumstances. Sometimes what He offers is a fresh way to look at them. To discover that He has been working on our behalf all along.

My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace the fresh perspective offered by the cross. Old shadows melt away in His light. Darkness scatters before His glory. Weakness is lifted up by His strength. I can see myself and others differently because of His love. The circumstances of my day may not change, but I can take on a Christ-like perspective and see my world through His eyes. And that will make all the difference…about everything.

I love flowers. It really doesn’t matter what kind – just flowers. Fields of them. Bouquets of them. Gardens brimming with them. Pots overflowing with them. I love flowers. I delight in the myriad of colors and the variety of shapes. I enjoy the aromas and the delicate details. They are touches of exquisite beauty that God created for our joy and wonder. This past weekend, someone gave me a packet of flower seeds. “Plant these right now,“ she said. “It’s the right time.” The picture on the envelope looks great. I know – the seeds are still sitting on my desk.

I love flowers; I don’t want to plant the seeds. It’s too much work. It takes too much time. Not to mention that pesky dirt messing up my manicure. How many opportunities for beauty do I miss because I don’t plant the seeds?

My Jesus Resolution today is to plant some seeds – seeds of kindness, encouragement, friendship, and joy. I am going to invest myself in cultivating peace, quietness, and praise in the garden of my soul. I want to plant some gratitude and laughter in my family. I am going to find a friend and express appreciation. Planting seeds is a matter of being deliberate about beauty. Seeds take time to grow, but the results will take your breath away.

Standing in the glow of the burning bush, Moses asks God to reveal His name. The Lord replies, “I AM WHO I AM.” I AM is the name that Moses is to take back to the Israelites. It is a name meant to inspire hope, instill confidence, and open their eyes to God’s presence.

The name I AM still speaks to the hearts of His people. Listen for all the ways that God declares Himself to be I AM in your life today.

1. I AM the Bright and Morning Star. Look for me early in the morning. I will light your way all day.

2. I AM your Provider. I will meet every need you have today.

3. I AM very close. You will never be alone today.

4. I AM the Creator. Every splash of color, every stroke of beauty, every sunbeam was made to remind you of Me.

5. I AM Love. You can trust me with your heart.

6. I AM the Promise-Keeper. Move with confidence, smile with surety, and know that every promise I have made is “Yes!” in Jesus.

7. I AM the Joy-Giver. Walk with Me today and experience all the richness and fullness I have planned for you.

8. I AM your Savior. I will set you free, heal what is broken, and wash away every sin.

9. I AM Sufficient. I am enough for today. I will give you enough grace, mercy, peace, and hope to cover every part of your day. Be content in Me.

10. I AM passionate about you. You are the desire of my heart.

My Jesus Resolution today is to take off my shoes and recognize that I stand on holy ground. I AM proclaims His name all around me. His love fills my day. His peace covers my heart. He is everything I need to meet the moment.

We were gathered in the room waiting for a time of study and praise to begin. The woman sat down next to me. It was clear that she had something she wanted to share. She leaned in close, partly to be heard and partly for privacy. “I think I have discovered something about your books. There is a common theme running through them.” She paused. “You always talk about Jesus, and being transformed to be like Him.” She looked at me expectantly. I smiled. She hit the nail on the head. I always talk about Jesus.

My conversation with this woman has stayed on my mind. I appreciate her encouragement, and letting me get a glimpse of how God is working in her heart. More importantly, her words have humbled me and caused me to look deep within. Does Jesus define every part of who I am? Can someone see Him as the common thread that runs through every part of my life? Is His transformation evident as I walk though my days?

I can’t think of a better compliment than for someone to notice that Jesus is the theme of our lives. This is what The Jesus Resolution is all about – living lives so defined by Him that the world sees Jesus living fully in us, no matter who we are, what we are doing, or where we are walking.

My Jesus Resolution today is to surrender again to being more like Him. I want Him to penetrate every piece of my heart. I want others to see His reflection in the mirror of my life. I want to look like Jesus every day.

It is never fun to be the last one picked. We all have those memories – kicking our feet in the dirt, heads hanging heavy and low, as one by one the kids around us are chosen. We hope against hope that our name isn’t the last one called. Finally, the moment comes. It is down to you and the other kid. The team leaders conference with the kids standing on the chosen side of the line. There are whispers, a moment of weighing the pros and cons, and then the one kid in the back who reminds everybody of how you dropped the ball, misspelled the word, forgot to carry the two, or froze in the goal losing the game for everybody. A moment of silence. And then the other kids’ name is called. It is no fun to be the one nobody wants on their side.

The good news is that today is different. God picks you. He has chosen you to be His very own. He wants you on His team, by His side, and in His arms. He doesn’t hesitate for a minute – He calls your name. You get to stand next to God on the chosen side of the line.

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” – Ephesians 1:4

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” – Isaiah 43:1b

My Jesus Resolution today is to live chosen. No matter how often the world tells me that I am not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or together enough to be on the “team”, God tells me that I have a permanent place by His side and in His heart. Let’s hold our heads up today, and walk with the confidence of one who belongs to the Lord. Smile – you are loved, treasured, and chosen.

We all want to know the right answer. In school, it was multiplication tables, geography projects, and how long we could put off studying before a test and still pass. The working world, marriage, and being a parent each bring their own unique set of questions to the table. We struggle with finding the right answers. Sometimes we wrestle with knowing the right question.

In the age of information overload, global saturation, and technology enhancement, God’s wisdom clarifies our vision. His love provides the solution. His power opens the door for our understanding. The right answer is always Jesus.

Jesus is the answer to whatever we are facing in life. Questions about school, friendships, new romances, and making choices about the future are best answered in Jesus. Problems in the workplace, questions about integrity, how to treat your boss, and balancing career and family find their most complete answer in Jesus. Bringing our best to our marriages, our children, and the relationships we share with others is discovered in Jesus.

Jesus is always the right answer. Walking in His footsteps, imitating His conversation, following His lead, and reflecting His heart will always bring us to the answer we most need for our lives. It may not be the easy answer, or the popular choice, but finding our answer in Jesus will always bring us to God’s best desire for us.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember that I already know the right answer. Whatever question comes up today – how to treat someone when I have been hurt, what choice to make with the change in my hand, whether or not to go the extra mile for a friend – the right answer is Jesus. Instead of turning to the internet, my friends, a television personality, the mall, the refrigerator, or any of the other ‘answers’ the world offers up, I am going to take my questions to God. Every time, He will point me to Jesus.

It was a three-state weekend. I still marvel that I can get on an airplane, and be in an entirely different part of the country in only a few hours. This weekend was full of blessings, but the weather stood out as one of the big signposts that pointed me to the heart of God.

In south Texas, where I live, spring is in full bloom. Grass is growing, trees are budding out, flowers are beginning to show their beauty, temperatures have warmed up, and yellow pine pollen blankets everything.

I flew to eastern Tennessee where spring is just beginning to show its promise. The ground was not yet green, but yellow daffodils poked their heads out of the earth. The sky was a freshly washed blue, bringing with it the hint that spring was on its way. The trees had no leaves, but the warming temperatures offered an incentive for them to pop out of their winter rest.

From Tennessee, I made a stop in Chicago. This weekend, Chicago was blanketed in a sparkling garment of snow. The freezing temperatures ensured that the newly fallen snow would stick around for a while. Coats are still the order of the day.

In the midst of these different scenes, I see a lesson about God’s timing. He works in each of us within the timing that is best for where we are in life. God doesn’t bring spring to the entire country all in one day. It blossoms in our land, just like it moves in our lives. We may look at the way God is moving in someone else, wishing that His timing worked the same way in our lives. But His timing is just like the coming of spring – perfect for where we are, and what He wants to bring to life in our hearts.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be satisfied in God’s timing. I am going to trust that He is going to move in me at just the right moment. I am going to look for the signs of His coming. I am going to rejoice in the evidence of His movement. I am going to find peace in the fact that God is never too slow or too fast – He is perfect in everything He does.  I am going to let His springtime bloom inside of me, and pray that it is a signpost that points others to Him.