Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Monday April 11, 2011
Most of us spend a lot of time wishing we had this or that and over the years this trait becomes more pronounced as we blame what we do not have for not doing better with what we do have.
It is interesting to study your own life and admit just how easy it is to fall into this achievement killing mind set.
The other day I realized that I was not only in this slime pit of low production, but sinking ever deeper into this sewer of "stinking thinking" as Zig Ziglar would put it.
In browsing through the margin notes in a Bible that I used at least 48 years ago, a handwritten note of mine leaped off the page. The author of the note was Gertrude Walker, my wife's sainted grandmother. It would be impossible for me to overstate the impact of Mrs. Walker on my life. I recall we were all gathered around a table discussing the scripture, and I was complaining the if I had a tractor (semi) with a more powerful engine I could get where I was going faster and thus make more money. At this point Grandmom shot this vignette right at my heart.
"Larry, you can't ride the horse you wish you had. You must ride the horse you have."
I always respected Grandmom as she was a real world beater. She and her husband Frank had started as farm hands working on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Over the years in spite very low wages they had raised a family, saved every dime they could lay their hands on and bought their own place in Cecil County. Gerty knew about hard times and "wishing" for something better, but I suppose her great Grandmother had taught her about "doing what you can with what you have" therefore they plodded on maximizing what they had while working to get what they needed. Sounds very old fashioned, but that’s the way the world worked not so long ago. Of course she and Frank avoided debt like it was an Egyptian Plague from the days of Moses.
The verse that we had been discussing was really a panorama of the Christian life, well lived for God's glory. Paul wrote in Hebrews 13:5;
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Conversation is lifestyle, covetousness is said to be "materialism" and being content is something people used to have. And while we may not as yet have the bigger engine or house or whatever we can and should wisely use what we do have and grasp at the very heart of our life that with Christ, we can and should take refuge in His presence with us in and through the trials of life.
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 920 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Larry Lilly or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 920 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.