Faith

Faith (43)

WedOct19

Wednesday's Word: FORGIVENESS, forgiving, Jesus, bible, forgiving others, savior

The scream made its way from the church parking lot into the building, where I was packing up the last items of the night and preparing to lock the door behind me. It was a scream of pain, and one I recognized as my our middle son’s. I dropped my things, handed my youngest child off to someone standing nearby, and bolted outside. There I found one son screaming in pain, as his older brother looked on with tears in flowing down his cheeks, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The van door had been accidentally closed on his fingers, and it was evident by the scene, who had done the closing. I quickly climbed in the van to find that we needed to go to the hospital for stitches.

After finding other people to care for the remaining brothers, my husband drove us while I sat in the backseat with our son. His screaming continued, as his injured hand laid in his lap, the other gripping mine.

Suddenly the screaming stopped, “Mom, Taylor said he was sorry. And he asked me to forgive him. I will always forgive him. Cuz he’s my brother.” As abruptly as the screaming stopped, it began again. Yet, this six year old child, had paused just long enough for God to use him to teach us all a lesson on forgiveness.

I pray today that we are all aware that we have a Savior who forgives us, always, no need for details. No need for explanation. No need for begging. He just forgives us when we ask. Plain and simple. Because He loves us. Because we are His children. It’s as if He hung from the cross, writhing in pain, paused, and said, “Father, I will always forgive them, because they are my children.”

Let us not take for granted the love the Father has lavished on us. Let us embrace this love, ask for His forgiveness, and praise Him for giving them to us, unconditionally.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. 1 John 3:1

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us from our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Misty Cramer is an author and speaker. I you enjoy her writing, you may subscribe at mistycramer.com for her newsletter and devotions, as well as follow her on Facebook at Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker, and Instagram @mistydawncramer. Pictures are Misty’s five sons.

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TueJun11

Wednesday's Word: 6 Bible Verses for when You Need a Rescue

Have you seen an alligator without a tail? No? Me neither. Well, meet Bob. I was able to meet Bob on a trip to Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach.

Bob was born without a tail, which is the most prevalent birth defect among gators. Alligators like Bob have 0% chance of survival in the wild. Zero! Their tails are essential. Being born without one, is a death sentence. That is, unless someone saves them. Unless someone takes them into their protective “arms” and places them into a habitat where they will be protected from prey, and fed in a way that is accessible for them. Upon being saved, gators like Bob can grow, flourish, and live a life without fear of certain and immediate death.

God used Bob to remind me of a truth that some people may not know. A truth that those of us who do know, often take for granted. We are born, not necessarily needing to be physically saved from death, but certainly in need of being spiritually saved. Just as Bob would have had zero chance of life without being rescued, we find ourselves with zero chance (as in no chance at all) of an abundant and eternal life without being rescued by a Savior, Jesus, who loves us enough to go to the cross for us. A Savior who puts us in His arms, not only saving us from certain death, but loving us, caring for us, strengthening us, as we journey forward, on this often-difficult earth.

If you’re anything like me, you have had times in your life when you have certainly felt the need to be rescued. Even after I became a follower of Jesus, I still had times when I needed Him to rescue me. Times when circumstances were pushing me down, making me question my value and worth. Times when I saw no way out of a scary situation. Times when I couldn’t see the freedom He offers.

Have you been there? Have you had those hopeless feelings and scary circumstances? We can be thankful that unlike the alligators, we don’t need to wait to be rescued. We don’t need to hope that by some chance, someone may happen across our path. We are able, right now, to know that Jesus went to the cross for us. We are able to reach out to Him this very second and ask Him to save us. We are able today to let Him know that we are ready to have Him walk ahead of us on this life journey. We are able to ask Him to prepare a place for us in heaven for our future journey. We are able to ask Him to direct us on the path ahead that may seem scary to us. How awesome is that!

There are no magical words that need to be said. It’s about aligning our hearts with the God who loves us enough to send His Son, Jesus. By asking Him for the rescue, we are changing our zero percent chance of abundant and eternal life to 100% chance of abundant and eternal life. My prayer is that no one lets this rescue opportunity pass by.

Here are some scriptures that I hold close to my heart, and my prayer is they bring strength and comfort to you today in the midst of whatever situation you find yourself. And as always, shoot me a message if you need to share a prayer request or if you made the decision today to be rescued by Jesus.

Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 11:26
And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Misty Cramer is an author & speaker who recently released her first book, The Every Day God, 40 Daily Devotions for Walking with God through Everyday Moments. This book quickly made its way to Amazon's #1 New Release and Best Seller lists in multiple categories, as well as made its way into the Finals for the Selah Awards in the Devotion category. In her book, Misty authentically shares her own story to remind us all that God has a specific plan, even in the midst of life's messes. She has been married to Todd for 39 years and has five adult sons. While they enjoy their time as "empty nesters" in rural Michigan, they also love visits from their sons, four daughters-in-laws, and three granddaughters. Misty sends out a monthly devotion, and she'd love to send it along to you. The link to subscribe to the devotion, as well as the link to Misty's book can be found below:

Sign up here to receive reminders and links to Marriage Monday, Wednesday's Word, and Misty's monthly devotional newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome

Head to this link if you’d like to purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH258Y14

Follow Misty on Facebook to receive daily encouragement: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063109547064Instagram: @mistydawncramer

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TueOct04

Wednesday's Word: Soldier On, pressing on, challenges, faith during tough times,

It didn’t take long for me to dread my physical therapy appointments. After my car accident, I went through a couple shoulder surgeries. The real pain came from the therapy and exercises, following the surgeries. I remember all too well, attempting to climb my fingers up the wall, working intensely to make it even to waist height. The pain radiated through my arm, from finger tips to shoulder blades. Tears streamed down my face. Teeth clenched. One more crawl. One more inch. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. It was exhausting, painful. And yet, every day, I went at it again.

What keeps us moving forward through painful experiences? What keeps us “SOLDERING ON”? In my example, the reward for moving forward was the truth in knowing that if I didn’t, progress wouldn’t be made. My shoulder would lock in place, with the inability to move higher; my arm would be of little use with no mobility and no strength. How did I know this? I trusted what the doctor said was needed; and I carried out his plan faithfully, SOLDIERING ON through the pain.

Physical pain certainly isn’t the only type of pain we experience. Often times, our emotional pain is much greater than our physical pain. Emotional pain grabs ahold of our hearts, pulling at it in ways that make us feel as if our chest is literally going to rip apart. The tears stream down our faces. Our teeth clench. We wonder if we can crawl even one more inch. What will keep us SOLDIERING ON through that type of pain? Trust in a mighty God; one who says that He is walking with us and that He will not leave us, regardless of how difficult and painful the journey may get. One who tells us there is always hope, for He Himself, is hope.

Are you having difficulty today SOLDIERING ON? Is there a pain deep within your soul that is keeping you paralyzed? Are there relationships in your family that are causing you to grieve? Is your marriage in a place that has you wondering how you will manage to climb from the pit it seems to have spiraled into? Are the bills piled up on the desk, bank account low, leaving your heart rapidly pounding, as you gasp for air to reach your lungs? Are you wondering how to climb out of bed this morning, as the agony of a deep loss in your life has you captive?

My dear friend, I see you. I have grieved for family to the point of being physically sick. I have had anxiety overtake me while paying bills. I have caught my breath by breathing into a paper bag after my cancer diagnosis. I have wondered how to get out of bed, how to function, after the loss of a family member. I see you; my heart cries with you, and I am sorry for what you are experiencing. I promise you, even in your darkest moments, there is a God who sees you. Who wants to meet you in your pit of pain. Who wants to help you climb out of that pit, carrying you if necessary. He wants to walk with you, speak to your heart, grieve with you, and help you stand once again. Will you trust Him?

Perhaps you don’t know what trusting God looks like. If that is you, please reach out to me; I would love to share Jesus with you. Need prayer? I would be honored to pray for you; please message me with your request. Together, we will see God at work; I just know it.

Below are some scriptures to help us all continue to SOLDIER ON during our difficult times:

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

If you would like to receive notice when Misty posts a blog, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!

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ThuSep29

Wednesday's Word: VIEW, beauty, seeing the beauty, small things,

When I look out my living room window to the west, I have the gift of being able to VIEW the waves of Lake Huron crashing the shoreline of our yard, or watching a beautiful sunset in the evening. And when I look out my window to the east, I have the gift of being able to VIEW my parent’s gorgeous pond and yard, lined with a fence row of trees, flower gardens accenting the grassy areas, manicured beautifully by my parents. And yet, even with these most spectacular VIEWS, there is one that is even more special, more precious, exceedingly more beautiful than any VIEW Lake Huron, the sunsets, or the pond can provide for me. It is the VIEW of my parents walking across the yard.

If you look at the picture above, you will see my parents, walking from their home to ours. Sometimes it’s to pick me up for a walk around the neighborhood. Other times it’s them coming over for dinner. Or perhaps it’s the journey over for nothing other than taking time to have a tea and sit together. Seeing them walk over brings a smile to my face, and then hearing them say, “have time for a tea?” is one of the biggest blessings of having them next door.

There can be many beautiful VIEWS, images, that become imprinted into our minds. Sometimes from a childhood memory. Or the birth of our child. Times when the clock seems to stop, and we see God’s hand in something remarkable. Moments in time that become etched into our hearts and minds, as we seek to hold onto them for a lifetime.

My prayer today with our Wednesday’s Word, VIEW, is that we ask God to show us some VIEWS that He would like to have embedded in our hearts and minds. Perhaps there are some VIEWS that we take for granted, ones that we rush past without notice. Ones that God is asking us to see, to pause and VIEW the beauty in them. A child running to us with arms open wide. A spouse seated at the table reading the Word of God. Someone laughing. Someone helping a person in need. Or parents, walking across the yard, to sit and have a cup of tea.

What types of moments will you allow God to place in your heart and mind today? Comment below if you, like me, have a special moment embedded into your heart and mind. I’d love to hear about it.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To beyond the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4

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WedSep21

Wednesday's Word: JOY, devotion, challenges, Joy During Struggles, Finding Joy in Difficulty

Our family had just finished up a delicious meal with my parents. In fact, my mom had brought over most of the meal, so to me it was extra delicious; I didn’t have to cook.

Throughout dinner, there was one dish that was being avoided. It wasn’t because it didn’t taste good; I tried it and it was yummy. But the appearance of the mushy broccoli mixed with cheese was not very enticing. By the end of dinner, that particular dish had become the joke of the meal. Thankfully, my mom took it all in good humor. As my Dad prepared to take their dishes home, he grabbed that one and began piling the other dishes right on top of the broccoli dish. Apparently, he had no plans to eat the leftover broccoli the next day. As we all laughed at this funny demise of the broccoli, my son caught this picture of my Dad carrying said broccoli out of the house. His face tells it all.

My Dad is someone who is filled with joy. He’s filled with the kind of joy that creates lightness, laughter, and love. The kind that someone holds when they are having a fun day or holding a great conversation. It’s part of his personality and attitude that we all admire and love. He’s a cheerful man!

He’s also someone who is filled with the kind of joy that fills him even during difficult times. This is the kind of joy our family saw in my Dad as he battled cancer over the years. It’s the kind of joy that floods my Dad’s soul throughout all circumstances, not just the happy ones. The kind of joy that comes because of a relationship with Jesus. The kind of joy the bible speaks about when it says, “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) or “consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).

This second type of joy doesn’t happen as easily. This second type of joy may be more difficult for us to see. This second type of joy often comes through tears rather than laughter. Through challenge rather than cheer. Yet, this second type of joy, is the biblical joy that does indeed give us strength. Does indeed produce perseverance, as James goes on to say. This type of joy, comes from knowing that we serve a God who has provided hope in the midst of all situations. A God who has provided a way for us to experience life abundantly on this earth, pain and all, as well as provided us with an eternal destination with Him when we finish our time on this earth. Now that’s something that should bring joy to each of one of us! I hope you will be filled with this type of joy today, and every day. And also remember to enjoy some of the laughter of the “broccoli joy” too, because the bible also tells us in Proverbs that “a joyful heart is good medicine”, and we can all use some medicine like that.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

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WedSep14

Wednesday's Word: PRAY prayer, family, quiet time, bible, jesus, prayer time, devotions

“Time to pray!” My voice would echo down our hallway and then down into the basement, as I would attempt to gather our sons for our evening prayer time. Soon all five boys would make their way to the living room, sometimes pushing one another for a specific chair, other times snuggling with each other on the couch, while the little ones piled on their big brother’s laps. Upon getting settled, it would get figured out who would pray first, and then the process of all seven us praying would begin. The first would pray, and when they would finish, instead of saying “amen” they would say, “pass it on to….” and say someone else’s name. It was a little game in the midst of our prayers, I suppose. With a fifteen-year age spread between the oldest and youngest brother, this “game” brought joy into our prayer time, as the little ones would sometimes forget who had prayed and call on someone who had already prayed. With some laughter and “He already prayed!” a new name would be called.

Prayer is one of those pieces in my relationship with Jesus that I don’t begin to understand. I have studied it. I have read books about it. I know there are between 300-700 times in the bible where prayer is mentioned (depending on version of bible). And yet, it still mystifies me. I am far from understanding why some of my prayers are answered in the way I desire, and others are still being laid before Him, as I wait for His response. I am far from knowing why one person receives healing and another doesn’t. I have more questions than answers, and yet, I do know this; I know I serve a God who has provided prayer as a means for intimate communication with God, Himself! I know that because of His death and resurrection, I have a Holy Spirit who resides within me, and can intercede on my behalf when I don’t even know the words to pray. I know I serve a Savior who is available 24/7 for me to speak to Him. Isn’t that cool! Perhaps the most important reminder for me, is that I serve a God who instructs me to pray. Prayer isn’t intended to be an optional part of my faith; it is to be a cornerstone of my relationship with my God. How can I build a stronger and deeper relationship with my Savior, if I don’t spend time communicating with Him? I can’t; it is impossible to build a relationship with someone if we don’t speak with one another.

Although I don’t understand every aspect of prayer, I do know it is my lifeline in my relationship with my God. It’s as an important piece of my relationship with Him, as breathing is to living. I pray today that you take some time, sit in His presence, and have a conversation with Him. It’s alright if you don’t know where to start. Just start talking, sharing with Him your thoughts about your day, your dreams, your concerns, your gratitude. He’s listening, and He will meet you right where you are today. The quote below by Max Lucado is a beautiful way of describing this teaching. (Let me know if you have questions about how to get started on your relationship with Jesus and your prayer time.)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6-7

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado

"True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice." - Billy Graham

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WedSep07

Wednesday's Word: TRANSITION, change, College, Seasons of Life, Chapters of Life

As the last vehicle drives out of the driveway, I can’t help it; tears slowly form in my eyes, and then stream down my cheeks. My hubby wraps his arms around me, knowing that the evening will be difficult. And that even the days ahead will leave their mark, as some sadness makes its way through our home. I am pretty predictable this time of year. Whether I was sending my kids off to kindergarten, college, or even now, back to their own homes after a wonderful summer together, I just don’t deal well with the good-byes and the TRANSITION that comes with those good-byes. I like to hold on very tightly to the wonderful times that the summer brought. I still want to enjoy the laughs around the bonfire; the swims at the pond; the sounds of the guitar playing in the bedroom; the banging of furniture during wrestling matches. All of it; I want to keep it coming. I don’t want to say good-bye; and I don’t want to begin the TRANSITION.

And yet, as I speak those things to my husband. As I share with God, once again this year, my lack of zeal for TRANSITIONING from summer to fall, I am reminded of the importance, and yes, even the joy to be found in the TRANSITION. Oh, what I would miss out on in my life if there weren’t TRANSITIONS. Oh, how I would miss seeing God work in the lives of my family, if they didn’t TRANSITION from one chapter to the next. God, you are so good, to allow us the opportunity to grow, to TRANSITION from one chapter to the next. You are so good, to allow us to create memories in one chapter, and then build anticipation for what the next chapter may look like. You are so good to allow us to take all that we learn, the good decisions and the bad, and to carry those lessons into the next chapter. Thank you, Lord, for walking with me through these times of TRANSITION, for allowing me to shed my tears, but for also reminding me of the growth and the opportunities that come with the new chapters you have for each one of us.

I pray this week, that as you move from summer to fall. As you TRANSITION from one season to another, that you feel His presence each step of the way. I pray that whether you struggled as you dropped off your kindergartener, are going through difficult evenings not having your college student at home, or any other TRANSITION you may be dealing with, that you are reminded of the faithful God we serve. That you are reminded that He has prepared a plan for us, and for our loved ones. A plan that includes this TRANSITION. A plan that includes a beautiful new chapter. May we each be reminded that without turning the page to the new chapter, we will leave the remainder of the story untold. And it's a good story. Let’s take the leap and turn that page, even if we need to leave a tear-soaked page behind.

There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under the sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Transitions in life, can offer opportunities for discovery. Robbie Shell

Sometimes, God brings times of transition to create transformation. Lynn Cowell

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

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WedAug31

Wedesday's Word: RIGHT marriage, relationships, arguments, fighting, reconciliation, correction,

“If you turn left here, we will get there more quickly.”

“No, I drive this all the time, this way is quicker.”

“I just drove this yesterday, and it is quicker if you turn left.”

Voice inflections change. Eyes roll. The mood of the trip just changed.

“You never reached out to me.”

“I reached out first, last time. I was waiting for you this time.”

“What a joke! You never reach out to me first. I always have to be the one to initiate.”

Words get harsher. The sound of pain makes its way through the conversation.

“About ten years ago we went and visited Uncle Joe.”

“That was not ten years ago. It was only eight.”

“It was ten years! I remember cuz it was close to his 70^th birthday.”

Argument ensues. Tension grows.

What is it about us and our great need to be “RIGHT”? Even to the point we are willing to argue about topics that add no value to our daily lives. To the point that often times, we don’t even remember the topic of the initial argument. Years ago, my husband and I went to a marriage retreat, and speaker, Tom Harmon, gave this wise advice: “Give up the RIGHT to be RIGHT.”

What? You mean when I am RIGHT, I can just let “it” go and allow the other person to be RIGHT? Yes, it is possible. And it is a valuable tool to use in a marriage, as well as in any other relationship. When we relinquish this RIGHT, we are sacrificing self by putting the other person’s needs first. Because to be honest, many (I realize there are exceptions) of the arguments we have, are not worth battling over. They are not worth damaging the relationship. They are not worth hurting the other person. They are not worth the journey down the long ugly road. They are not worth damaging any children within earshot.

Perhaps turning left was quicker, but did the argument add value to the relationship? Maybe the other person didn’t reach out last time; are we prepared to lose the relationship over who is RIGHT. And maybe it was only eight years ago since we visited Uncle Joe, but wasn’t the goal of the conversation to set up a time to go visit him again?

I’m certainly not going to say it’s easy to relinquish the RIGHT to be RIGHT. My husband will testify to the fact that I don’t find it easy; in fact, he is much better at it than I. But I will continue to remind myself that it’s not about who is RIGHT. It’s about loving and honoring the other person, and investing in the building of relationships.

Let no corrupt talk come from your mouths, but only that which is used to build others up. Eph 4:29

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, Matthew 7:12

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

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TueAug23

Off to College, Transitions, Life Changes, Parenting, School Starting,

“It will be one of those days you will remember forever.” My aunts words were spoken to me with sincerity and the reflection of her experience over twenty years earlier, as she dropped off her oldest son at college. With the emotions that were already enveloping me, I knew her words would be accurate. Part of me wished they weren’t. Part of me wished this experience would be an easy one, one that would go by without any real tears of sadness. But without the tears of sadness, I suppose that could mean that I didn’t mind letting go of this part of our lives. And to be honest, part of me, a big part of me, does mind letting go.

Life is about letting go, isn’t it? It’s about letting go of a part of your experiences, of your family’s experiences, ones held so close, ones that seem to have slipped away much to quickly. It’s about doing the very best you can as a parent, realizing you have been far from perfect, but praying that your love for your child has covered most of your mistakes.

As you read this today, I am three hours away from my home, a little country town in the thumb of Michigan; the area that my husband and I have proudly chosen to raise our children. As you read, we are in an Orientation program at a wonderful college that my son has chosen to attend. I’m imagining myself in a program sitting attentively and yet having my mind wander as I prepare to say good-bye to my son and leave him at his new home on this college campus.

I am replaying in my mind the mental pictures I have taken the last few weeks as I’ve watched him take extra care in spending special moments with each of his four younger brothers. The trips outside to shoot some hoops. The wrestling on the living room floor. The watching of cartoons that he watches only for the enjoyment his little brothers gain from having him near them. The teasing as he attempts to persuade one to give him a hug. And the joy as he heads to work and the youngest runs down the hall yelling after him, “Hug! Hug! Hug!” Watching his 6’3’’ body reach down and effortlessly scoop up the little 20-pound body as they embrace and quickly kiss each other on the cheek.

Those are difficult times to let go, yet without change, without letting go of parts of our lives, there would be no growth, no room for new experiences. Ecclesiastes 3:1says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” There have been wonderful seasons in our lives. And yet, the story isn’t over! We must turn the page and prepare to begin a new chapter. Yes, one of uncertainty. One of unknown challenges. But also one of new experiences. One of new friendships. One of new growth.

It seems that as parents, we spend lots of time slowly closing chapters of our children’s lives. We close a chapter when take them to the bus to go to kindergarten that first day. We close a chapter when we help them through the nervousness of their first date. We close a chapter when we watch them go down that graduation aisle. And we close a chapter as we leave them at college. Yet in closing all of those chapters, we are allowing a new season to burst into bloom! It’s fun to leaf back in the pages, reminisce about the older chapters, laugh about them, but we must always be ready to start the new chapter, even if the earlier chapters seem too precious to end, even as uncertain as the new ones may seem; more of the book is to be written.

Now, I am preparing to say my good bye. I am preparing to close up the chapters of the past eighteen years, opening them every so often for the great memories, but closing them again, making room for the new chapters. Will it be easy? You can bet it won’t be. You can be sure that I have tears in my eyes right now as I think about this, but I want to share with you a promise that I hold on to during these times of change. A promise that I hope will comfort you as you go through whatever change is happening in your life today. Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I have a Heavenly Father who not only promises He will be with me through this process, but more importantly to me as a mom right now, He is promising me He will there for my son, even when I’m not able.

So as I drive away from that college parking lot, as you leave your child at the elementary school, or as you close whatever chapter of your life is ending this summer, we can both be assured that there is someone much more able than ourselves holding our babies. One who loves them even more than we do. One who is holding their hands tightly, walking them into the next chapter. Thank you God for reassuring me that you are taking care of our little ones, even the little ones who have grown much bigger than us now! And God, when we’re not able, please give our children an extra big hug every so often from mom and dad.

Author Misty Cramer. This piece was first published in the Bay City Times, when Misty's oldest son was being taken to college...many years ago.

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TueAug23

Wednesday's Word: SEEN Seen by God, Hagar, He Sees Me, God Sees Me, Not Alone,

Wednesday’s Word: SEEN

Have you ever felt as if you weren’t being SEEN? Felt alone, as if you were going through your day and no one really noticed that you were struggling? That you were dealing with family issues? That the financial stress was causing you to feel physically ill? That you were anxious about an upcoming appointment?

I recently was feeling overwhelmed. Sad from going through the transition of our home being an empty nest once again. Frustrated because we’re down a vehicle, as one was just damaged in an accident. Concerned about finances to pay for said vehicle. Sorrowful for several parents who are struggling with their children. On this particular day, the list seemed endless.

As I was sharing my feelings with God, I was brought to several scriptures that reminded me that I was being SEEN. That He was SEEING me. He was reminding me that I was not alone. That He wasn’t looking the other way. That He wasn’t paying more attention to others who may have more or bigger struggles than me. That He was SEEING me, right in the middle of what I saw as a mess that day. A sorry, sad state of overwhelmed feelings. And He SAW me.

My problems didn’t suddenly get fixed. No “kids” came back to the nest that day. The vehicle was still smashed. The bills would still arrive. The families were still struggling. And yet, I knew I was not alone. I knew the One I was sitting with, was SEEING me. And sometimes, just being SEEN, just knowing that God finds my messes worth acknowledging, is enough of a reminder to make the day better.

Today, I pray you remember, wherever you are; whatever you may be dealing with, that He, the God of the universe, SEES you. He finds you important enough to acknowledge. Important enough to comfort. Important enough to love. Important enough to take the time to SEE you. You are most certainly, not alone.

You are the God who SEES me, Genesis 16:13 (I encourage you to check out Genesis 16. The same God who saw distraught Hagar, also SEES you and I.)

But you, O Lord, know me; you SEE me, and test my heart toward you. Jeremiah 12:3

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Proverbs 15:3

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

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