Here it I sit in my familiar chair at the familiar Starbucks that is located near my familiar home. It was said by a Roman writer, that "familiarity breeds contempt." Later Mark Twain said "Familiarity breeds contempt - and children." The latter quote is meant for nothing but humorous purposes. But the first quote is interesting to me. I suppose constant familiarity would breed contempt, however, in my case, it has proven true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'm not sure who said that in the first place, but how true it is for me. I grew up in Colorado and though I've traveled to many different places, nothing to me can compare to my home. My roots are here. I've truly blessed by God to have the home and family that I have. My entire life belongs in Colorado. I know I talk about my family alot, but I have to credit my entire life to the way my family raised me. I'm so thankful for the family God placed me in, because I seriously do not deserve it. I've said before that I feel so spoiled in my life and just how ridiculous it is that I have the life I have. And sometimes, I would hear others' stories about trials they've gone through in life and hardships they faced, but the faith they received from God. When I hear these stories, I just sit back in awe because of the faith that these people possess, it's truly an encourgement to me. I've talked about how I haven't really had any major hardships in life, and how I felt sometimes I couldn't relate to those around me going through these major tragedies. Sometimes I would feel bad, because I couldn't relate and though it sounds so stupid to me now, I would almost want something to happen to me, something that I could grow in God through, I guess I wanted to be able to have that same type of faith and I somehow, it sort of felt like my faith wasn't as "good" or valuable if I didn't go through something major. (I was having some of these thoughts on Wednesday night, after our girl's Bible study when Bailey's mom spoke about some of the things she's gone through, she's a really amazing woman) So anyway, after thinking these things, the next morning, we had our RUF leadership meeting, and my friend Rob led the devotion and he used the passage from I Corinthians 12 about speaking of the unity of the church which is some really good stuff, but the passage that really opened my eyes was the verses right at the beginning of the chapter. It says:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
I think that the Scripture can speak better for itself, but I definitely realized that by my trying to look for some trial or miracle or whatever to grow my strength, I was being proud and not fully believing that God's grace is sufficient for me. Maybe I haven't gone through a major tragedy, maybe I never will, but no matter what happens to me in my life, I can have full confidence that it is a gift from God and it is exactly what I need and at the right time. It is His grace, and it is most certainly sufficient for me. God's Blessings.
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