Charted

What is Charted?

Like a master surveyor, Jesus gives us clear directions to find a fulfilling, purpose-filled relationship with Himself - a map to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Charted is a daily devotional written by the junior class at Fountainview Academy (Class of 2019). Based on the book Steps to Christ, this book explores the path to the Originator and Provider of Genuine Joy. We don't have to be confused about the way. The certainty is in the journey: divinely Charted.

The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and
occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and
acts. – Steps to Christ, pp. 57-58
Splash.
I stood on the wharf gazing down at my brother who had just
perfectly executed another front flip-three sixty. How I wished I had the
courage to try, too! Come on, it can’t be that tough, my mind reasoned.
Deciding to try it, I knew I was setting myself up for guaranteed failure.
Sauntering to the end of the wharf, I turned around and mindlessly ran.
Gaining momentum, I gave a final push with my right foot, launching
myself into the air and into a flip.
Smack!
I did a back-flop. With a burning sensation running down
my back, I proceeded to slowly swim back to the dock. Looking up, I
expected Dávid to be making fun of my epic fail, but he wasn’t.
“That wasn’t too bad. If you keep practicing, you’ll be in the
Olympics before you know it!” Then, with a broad smile on his face,
he added, “And then you can tell everyone that your little brother
taught you how to flip." Afterwards, I was thinking about the situation,
and a thought struck me. While he could have made fun of me and
discouraged me from trying again, my brother instead chose his words
carefully to ensure I would try again.
Words affect us a lot more than we let on. As one person said,
“It takes a million compliments to build you up and one insult to send it
all crashing down.” Every word has the power to build someone up or
to chop someone down. It is like we have a word sword. In Ephesians
4:29, we find this advice: “Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or
dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift”
(MSG). God wants us to be kind to others and follow the golden rule.
We should do or say what we would want others to say or do to us. So
today, I challenge YOU to give a compliment—a sincere one—every
time you feel like complaining.