As the sun shines brightly in my window today, my mind takes me back to the first Good Friday. I sit reading the crucifixion story in my Bible, and I can’t help but feel anger and gratitude simultaneously. Although neither of those words quite touch the extreme emotions felt, they mix together, penetrating my soul in an unexplainable manner.
Anger, even rage, darkens my mind, as I read of the flogging of my Jesus. The mockery of him, as they clothed him with the scarlet robe. As they placed a staff in his hand, and pressed the crown of thorns deeply into his head. As they hurled insults at him…at my Jesus. The pain he felt as they took the staff and beat him over the head with it; physical pain that I can’t begin to imagine. And yet, for the Jesus I have come to know, that paled in comparison to his internal pain. His heart pain...as they mocked him, spit on him, sneered as he walked by, carrying the very cross each of them, each of us, deserved to carry. My Jesus. Enduring this pain. For each of them. For each of us. For me.
The world went dark. For three hours. That first Good Friday. Silence. As my Jesus hung on the cross. As my Jesus cried out and died the death that I deserved.
So, yes, anger. Rage. It’s ok that I feel those things when I consider that first Good Friday. Yet, I have a benefit that those who loved him, those who sat at the foot of that cross, couldn’t yet see. I have the benefit of knowing that Sunday was coming. And it was just around the corner. I have the benefit of sitting in my rage, while also sitting in my gratitude. I have the benefit of sitting in the darkness, knowing the hope has already been revealed. I have the benefit of being consumed by the pain of the death, only for a moment, because I know the end of the story. That death was short-lived. That death was defeated that day. That the empty tomb found three days later was the key to victory. That death was beaten! That my Jesus overcame the darkest of days with the most victorious of days. From cross to grave…He has won!
Isn’t it a wonderful gift to know the end of the story? To know that as we acknowledge and sit in remembrance of the darkest day, that we are able to do so with gratitude, hope, peace, and even celebration of what was to come after that first Good Friday?
I challenge you this Easter weekend to sit in the darkness for a bit. Read the scriptures of that first Good Friday (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). And then praise God for the end of the story. For the victory. For death being defeated.
Walk in the Truth this Easter Weekend. Because if you are a follower of Jesus, this weekend should be one of celebration! A reminder that my Jesus, your Jesus, overcame. He won! And because of that you and I are also victorious. We win…abundant life here on earth and eternal life is our future.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of death that I deserved. As I wrap my head and heart around that today, I also praise you for the victory that came three days later. Thank you for the cross. And thank you for the empty grave. Because you beat death, I may live in relationship with you today and forever more. I love you, Lord. Amen.
©Misty Cramer 2024
Misty Cramer is a best-selling author & national speaker who recently released her first book. The Every Day God, 40 Daily Devotions for Walking with God through Everyday Moments. The book quickly made its way to Amazon's #1 New Release and Best Seller lists in multiple categories, and is a Selah Awards Finalist. 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
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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
Todd and I enjoyed an entire Saturday at home this past weekend. With two sons getting married in the next month, it was a wonderful weekend to soak in one another before the wonderful weeks ahead place some extra commitments on our plate.
By Saturday evening, we had both spent time going in and out of the house, sort of rotating between work around the house and relaxation. As the sun was beginning to set, we took a walk around the yard and landed in the chairs overlooking the water. We soaked in the sunset, the sounds of the birds surrounding us, and the warmth of one another’s bodies. I sat nestled under his arm with my head resting on his shoulder, and closed my eyes. After close to 40 years of marriage, his shoulder was still one of my favorite places to rest. It always brings me peace, comfort, strength, assurance.
In the silence, my mind began to reflect upon the many ways I am grateful for this man. The list in my mind just kept growing. From his hard work around the yard to his love for his family. From his passion for ministry to his desire to provide for us. From his hunger for personal spiritual growth to his desire to see others know Jesus. From the way he looks at me when I’m being silly to the way he opens the door for me when we go out. The list continued. And then I lifted my head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
“Babe,” I said with an inquisitive smile, “Do you ever just look at me and think of how thankful you are for me?”
He kept my gaze and softly responded, “That’s what I was just doing.” And he kissed me.
It is so important in our marriages to share with one another the gratitude we feel for the other. Life is crazy busy and if we aren’t intentional, it just won’t happen. It isn’t necessarily because we aren’t thankful or grateful for our spouse; it could truly because we aren’t making it a priority to leave ourselves time to lean into the art of gratitude for him/her.
I know I mention “priority” almost every week in my Marriage Monday, but that’s because it’s important! We must prioritize what’s important. And it is of utmost importance to share with your spouse the gratitude you feel for them. Unfortunately, you might be making a list of all the things he/she does that bother you. Or maybe you’re not in a good spot in your marriage right now, so you are stopping yourself from even allowing anything pure and good about them to enter your mind. I challenge you to stop that today. Satan loves to grab our train of thought and head it down a negative direction. Before we know it, it’s hard to get dug out of that rut. I’m asking you today, to make an intentional decision to get out of the negative rut. And to make a gratitude attitude adjustment this week. I have faith in you! You can do it! Check out the Practical Tips below to get started on the journey to strengthening your marriage. Because your marriage matters!
Practical Tips for Strengthening Your Marriage this Week
*Pause and pray. Ask God to forgive you for any negative thoughts you have been holding against your spouse, and ask Him to renew your mind with thoughts of gratitude.
*Grab a piece of paper and write down at least five characteristics in which you are thankful for your spouse. Do this each day this week, so you have a list tucked away to refer to when you need the reminder.
*Leave your spouse a note on his/her mirror, pillow, coffee pot, vehicle (you get the idea) that tells him/her specific areas in which you are thankful for him/her. Do this several times this week.
*Take your spouse by the hand, or in your arms, look him/her in the eyes and tell him/her, “I am so grateful for ___________. Thank you for caring for me/us in this way.” Do this several times this week.
*Have a conversation with your spouse and discuss how you both can move forward with making the sharing of gratitude a priority. This could be making gratitude lists and setting aside a special time to share them with one another. Perhaps you could commit to sharing something you are thankful for each night before you go to bed. There are many ideas you could implement; enjoy creating them and soak in the blessings that sharing your gratitude for your spouse brings to your marriage.
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