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Listen while you read: "Peace Perfect Peace"1 (Lyrics) |
I grew up in a small town, and even though I have lived in a big city most of my life, I still claim Mossyrock, Washington, USA, as my hometown. There were 32 of us in my high school graduating class, and none of us would be too hard-pressed to name everyone in our class. How different this school setting was from that of my friends who had 400 in their graduating classes!
This small rural community is set like a jewel in the beautiful foothills of the Cascades mountain range, and is surrounded by lakes and parks. The name is ear-catching to be sure, but, to my amazement, in my travels around the world, I have met people in far-flung places who have heard of Mossyrock! Perhaps they know someone from Mossyrock, or possibly they have gone camping or boating at one of our parks, but the little town itself seems to be notable.
It has warmed my heart to learn from time to time of someone from Mossyrock who has done something of note. We may not have many powerful or famous people from our little town, but there are many who have led respectable lives, contributing much to the world around them. Personally, it has been immensely encouraging and affirming to me to have childhood friends who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus throughout their lives.
Jesus Himself grew up in the small town of Nazareth, which led Nathanael to question His credentials.
John 1:46a – "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. (NIV)
There may have been more to Nathanael's question than meets the eye, but he did seem to wonder how Jesus could merit consideration, coming from Nazareth.
Paul expressed the concept of "small but mighty":
1 Corinthians 1:27 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (NIV)
As we look at our own lives and our own situations, do we compare ourselves negatively to someone else whom we consider to be smarter, richer, more powerful, or better in some other way? It is wise to recognize that God made us and mapped out our lives precisely for our own time and place in history.
Psalm 139:16 – Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (NIV)
Let each of us be thankful for our birth families, where we grew up, and where our life's path has taken us!
Prayer: Dear all-knowing Father, may we be grateful for who You have made us to be, and for all that has gone into forming us as we are. May we be content with our own lives without wishing them to be otherwise. Amen.
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Thank you.
Thanks for the encouragement, Gail.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging with message with us. Blessings.
Thank you, Gail, for today’s devotion.
I enjoyed it very much.
(Quebec)
Wonderful Gail and so simply true! I grew in small rural area and walked to country school. There was 4 of us in graduating grade 8 class.
Wowie, Gail! It all goes together so beautifully – the question and your answer! Thanks for a memorable reply and a blessed remembering of those lovely places.
Gail, a very encouraging word today! I loved reading this, and since you’ve shared your Mossyrock story and taken me there, and you’ve introduced me to a couple of your special friends, it is even more special to read this.
Thank you for your message today. It is very appropriate for me on this my dear Mother’s birthday. She went to be with her Lord many years ago but left her example of faith and consistent devotion to her family. Her love of gardening and seamstress skills are very evident in me, and I am eternally grateful that God gave me such a special Mother.
I pray you will continue to bless us with your writing.
(Ontario, Canada)
Greetings Gail,
Many thanks for another of your very meaningful devotionals. I too grew up in a very small village where we had a one room school in which we attended grades one to six before having to walk several kms for the classes in another school after grade six. I agree with you that we owe our thanks to the Lord for placing us where He did, guiding us through the life he has planned for us, and that we can be a good example of His love, to share with others.
Blessings for your special and encouraging writings.
Good morning, Gail,
I looked up Mossyrock on the internet to see what it looks like. It looks like a lovely small town.
Your prayer is definitely one we should all practice every day and love who we are and our lives. God has given us all a purpose whether it is small or large in our eyes, it has a reason to be in His World. Before Jesus started his ministry, he was a boy growing up in a small town doing things with his family and learning from his father. These are all important things that helped shape him and for him to know how we feel in our skins. God had a purpose that Jesus would spend 30 years being a human on the earth before he began his ministry.
The song Peace Perfect Peace fits your devotional so well. I do not know this song, but I enjoyed the words. May we all love ourselves and be content and continue to grow as the Holy Spirit guides us. Thank you for encouraging us all in our gratitude. Blessings.