Do seasonal transitions come easy for you? They certainly don’t for me. As I wandered around my house this week, picking up little toys and hair ties, and swooshing balloons across the floor, my heart ached. They were reminders that Summer was coming to a close and Fall was soon to begin.
Our family had the most marvelous of summers. We started right out with two of our sons getting married. It was absolutely wonderful to experience those unions. Weddings also meant there were some really great family gatherings, which I love and treasure. We then we headed into our 9th Annual July 4th Family Extravaganza. That meant even more family time. We had trips up north to see family. We had our South Carolina family come to Michigan for several weeks. The opportunities for fun, conversation, and laughter seemed endless this summer.
And yet, this week, the time arrived for that phase of life to come to a close. Did I mention how much I dislike that?
The family activities wrapped up, as the last of our family, including two of our granddaughters, our daughter-in-law and our son, loaded up and pulled out of the driveway on Monday. And this grandma shed some tears. Transitions are hard, especially when they include good-byes.
Today there were no morning conversations with my son and daughter-in-law.
There was no pitter patter of our granddaughters little feet making their way down the stairs. There were no snuggles on the couch before the day was to begin.
There would be no more setting up for movie nights. Or making popcorn. Or choosing a candy to add to that popcorn. (Does anyone else add M & M’s or Skittles to their popcorn?)
The pond will remain still, without the endless swimming and paddleboard rides.
The bonfire pit won’t be as active.
The jars for catching fireflies will remain empty.
The “grandma tears” came again at 2:00 pm when I was picking up some random item they left lying on the living room. And even now, as I write this. The sadness does fade. It takes a bit, but that’s ok. Giving myself time to sit in the “loss” of summer, of noise, of family is healthy for me. And it takes me through the memories of all the wonderful things that happened this summer.
What transition are you preparing for today? Do you have a little one heading to kindergarten? Are you dropping a child off at college? Maybe you’ve had a summer break from work and you’re preparing to head back this fall. Possibly, you’ve had a different type of loss; the loss of a marriage; the physical loss of a loved one; the loss of a job.
All of those changes mandate a transition. Some are easier than others. All can be a challenge and bring an array of emotions. I want to remind you today that we serve a God who is walking with you during every transition. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
The changes in your life and the transitions you are walking through at this very moment are no surprise to God. He is not caught off guard by your circumstances. He is not puzzled by your pain. He is not silenced by your sadness.
He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), prepared to give rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28), and provide strength (Isaiah 41:10) for each one of us.
I pray that whatever transition you are walking through right now, that you would rest in the arms of the One who has held your past and holds your future. And as for my transition, I am going to praise Him for a splendid summer, and lean into whatever fabulous fall plans He has for me. (Yes, I may shed a few more tears and I definitely will be counting down until I get to see my family again.)
Scripture and Prayers for You Today
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
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans15:13
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18-19
Heavenly Father, I am going through some challenging transitions right now. It’s hard for me to let go of the past and embrace the future. I ask that you would walk before me, light the path for me, and prepare me in whatever ways needed for the road that is ahead. I love you Lord, and thank you for your goodness and grace. Amen
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, quickly made its way to Amazon's #1 New Release and Best Seller lists in multiple categories. In this book, she 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, two daughters-in-law, and three granddaughters. Misty sends out a monthly devotion as part of her newsletter, 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 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=100063109547064
Misty Cramer © 2024
We were created by an all-knowing, loving, and powerful God. And in His creating of us, He designed us with the desire for community. To be a part of a family-sometimes a family connected thru a bloodline and other times connected thru a God-line.
Jesus, Himself, had a community. Think of the men and women who did life with Jesus (Matthew, Mary, Mark, Martha, Luke, Susanna, John, Joanna…so many more!) They traveled with Him. Ate with Him. Served with Him. They loved one another. Learned from one another. Supported. Encouraged.
Jesus had created the ultimate, beautiful example of community. He did so by inviting them into His life, teaching them and showing them how to love one another.
A.J. Swoboda, in his book Subversive Sabbath (pg. 69) says this, “True community is not born of our efforts in creating a sense of community-it is the natural outcome from the act of loving other people.”
When I read this sentence, I immediately highlighted it. It spoke to me. I thought, in a world where we, as churches, neighborhoods, and schools, are attempting to “do” and “create” activities to create community, I wonder if we have lost the main ingredient. An ingredient Jesus loved and taught daily. The act of loving others.
- John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
- 1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- Matthew 22:36-40: A person asks Jesus, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Jesus replies, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself".
I’m not saying fun programs and group gatherings are to be totally set aside. I love a good program as much as the next person. In fact, I am passionate about developing programs. But I am more compassionate about relationships. And that is where we must place our focus.
If we create programs to develop community, but we fail to implement the act of loving others, then we have failed. We will simply be a church, neighborhood, or school who happened to put on “that one cool event”.
But, when we do those events as an act of love for one another…watch out! When we sit down and have real life conversations with those around us. When we listen intently to the hurts of our neighbors. When we cry with each other. When we get into the mire, mud, and mundane with one another. When we choose to see the unseen. When we choose to hear the unspoken words. That, my friend, is when community is built. That’s when Church happens. That’s when communities will be changed. That’s when neighborhoods will be transformed. That’s when Jesus shows up in big ways.
Let’s go, Friends. How will you choose to love your neighbor today? May the way you choose to love them begin to build a Christ-like community in your Church and neighborhood.
Misty Cramer is an author, speaker, mentor, and pastor. As a teen mom, she found out what it was like to live in shame. But she also found out what it was like to be given the opportunity for a fresh start because of Jesus. She uses her personal experience and her experience as a professional mentor and speaker to help people take steps toward a fresh start and creating a new legacy for themselves and their families. And, she absolutely loves what she does!
Sign up here to receive Misty's popular marriage blog, "Marriage Monday" 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=100063109547064
Misty Cramer © 2024
Do you remember, as a child, being in a large crowd, straining to see something special? And then realizing that all you could see were the backs and behinds of the people in front of you?
That is, until an adult noticed you struggling to see. They lifted you up, placed you on their shoulders, and suddenly you were higher than everyone else. You realized you had the best view in the place!
On my journey through Luke today, I was reading Luke 19, and was considering what the view must have been like for Zacchaeus on that day he decided to climb the tree. You see, the bible tells us that Zacchaeus was “short”. So, when the crowds began to gather to see Jesus, he was seeing the backs and behinds of the people in front of him. However, he may have been short in stature, but he was most certainly not short in creativity and ingenuity. He found a tree. And he climbed it. He suddenly had the best view in the place! How awesome is that! Not only was Zacchaeus able to see Jesus, but Jesus saw Zacchaeus!
As Zacchaeus is up there enjoying the view, perhaps waving at the people below him, Jesus sees him. He not only sees him, but he greets him. And he not only greets him, but Jesus invites himself over to dinner at Zacchaeus’ house! Wow! That climb up into the sycamore tree was so worth it!
Zacchaeus did what hopefully any of us would do, “came down at once and welcomed him gladly”.
Today, I pose this question-how eager are we to see Jesus? Are we hungering Him to the point that we are willing to “climb the sycamore tree”? To do something unusual, so we can see Him more clearly? To go out of our way to hear His voice?
Everywhere we look, it seems there are currently big crowds. Restaurants. The expressway. Stores. It takes some effort on our parts, to find a way to see Jesus through the crowds and chaos. But when we do, when we put in that effort, when we climb that tree--the view is so beautiful. The relationship with Jesus is so sweet. We see Him. He sees us. We are reminded that He longs to sit at our table and share in conversation with us. We are reminded, as Zacchaeus was, that He “came to seek and to save the lost”.
Today's blog is teaching from Luke 19:1-10. Enjoy reading the full story on your own.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as I navigate this busy season, I don't want to forget You in the midst of it all. I want to hunger for you. I want to chase you. I want to climb to the tallest tree, so I can see and hear you more clearly. Come, Lord Jesus, sit with me. So, I can give you praise and thanks for coming to earth to seek and save someone like me. Amen
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, quickly made its way to Amazon's #1 New Release and Best Seller lists in multiple categories. In this book, she 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 40 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-law, and three granddaughters. Misty sends out a monthly devotion as part of her newsletter, 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 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=100063109547064
Misty Cramer © 2024
My heart hurts today. It hurts for many of you. My friends out there who are struggling with deep pain. The world is going on with the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and you are holding on by a thread. You’re doing your best to smile as you check out of the store. You’re saying the words, “Merry Christmas”, and yet you feel anything but “merry”. You’re hiding the tears, as people mention their families gathering for Christmas. You’re forcing yourself to get up and go, to move forward, when everything in you wants to stop. I see you, Friend. And I love you. More importantly, God sees you. And He loves you.
To my friends who are crawling instead of walking. Crying instead of laughing. You are seen. And you are loved.
To my friends who have lost a loved one, those of you who will sit through Christmas with that empty chair filled with memories staring back at you, you are seen. You are loved.
To my friends who have a family member who is distant, perhaps writing you out of their story, your pain is real. You are seen, and you are loved.
To the family who just lost a wife and mom, we are reeling with you. You are seen, and you are loved.
To the one spending this holiday season in the hospital, wishing to be with your family around the Christmas tree, know that you are seen. And you are loved.
To the family sitting alongside their loved ones in the hospital, wondering if you have enough strength to support your loved one on their health journey, you are seen. And you are loved.
To the couple who lost their baby before he could take his first breath, we mourn with you. You are seen. And you are loved.
To my friends who are silently struggling with addiction, those who will watch the food and drinks pass by them, as the desire to partake grows stronger by the minute, you are seen. You are loved.
To my friends who sit alone this holiday season, remembering the days when your home was full of love and laughter, you too are seen. And you are loved.
Although our world is much different than it was 2000 years ago, when Jesus was born, the pain remains the same. The hopelessness was evident. Sickness darkened the doors of families. Wayward family members impacted the group around the dinner table. Loneliness was present. These are not new hurts. They are hurts that a living God saw, as the perfect world He created became filled with pain. But our God saw that! Just as He sees every one of us. He saw the need for a Savior. He saw the need for the brokenness to be healed. For loneliness to be replaced with joy. He saw the need for families to be restored. For addictions to be broken. He saw the need for healing. He saw the need for eternal life, so we could sit at the table once again with those we lost. He saw…and He sees.
Our loving and faithful God chose to send His Son, Jesus, into a lost and painfilled world. He did that for you. He did that for me. Because He sees us. And He loves us.
My hope and prayer for you this Christmas season is that if you are one of the people who are hurting, allow Him and others to walk this journey with you. Let people minister to you; that’s what our loving God does for us. And if you’re one of the people who are doing well, then please keep your eyes open for those who need you this holiday season. In Matthew 9:37 it says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest". May we be one of the laborers He sends to walk alongside the hurting this holiday season.
If you or your family need some extra prayers this Christmas, please let me know. I’d be honored to pray for you.
Scriptures of Hope
Today, I encourage you to choose a verse or two, write them down, place them somewhere in your home where they’ll be visible, and allow God to minister to your heart through His Words.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:9
Isaiah 43:4: God sees us as precious and honored, and loves us so much that he would exchange nations for our life.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
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, quickly made its way to Amazon's #1 New Release and Best Seller lists in multiple categories. In this book, she 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 40 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-law, and three granddaughters. Misty sends out a monthly devotion as part of her newsletter, 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 a free devotion, 5 Steps for Walking with God through Everyday Moments: 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=100063109547064
Misty Cramer © 2024