Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday July 28, 2009

If a poll were taken asking "What do you think is the most important attribute for success," what would the top answer be?

It's hard to tell, but I can tell you one thing, the answer would be what the majority of respondents felt was their weakness on the day the question was posed.

In accordance with my mood of the last few days my answer would be one word, one word that God used when He was motivating an 80 year old man to accept a mind boggling assignment. How often do you read of such a scene? Most 80 year olds are trying to find the strength to get from room to another.

The scene to which I refer is in the wilderness, the wilderness where Moses moseyed about for 40 years taking a 10 day journey. Joshua was 80 when the Lord told him in Joshua 1:9:

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Several verses in the context say essentially the same thing. At 80 years along the trail it is likely that Joshua felt a little weak for the job and he certainly had a healthy fear. Fear of the unknown is always a bear and stops many otherwise brave souls from even attempting the thing grand.

Miguel de Cervantes, of Don Quixote fame said it well:

"He who loses wealth loses much;
He who loses a friend loses more,
But he that loses his courage loses all."

Years ago I picked up a phrase from Earl Nightingale that I use on occasion as it vividly pictures a timed soul on his earthly sojourn:

"Like a man tip toeing safely to the grave."

I would rather accept strength and courage from the Lord and attempt wonderful new things in His name.

Courage is the word.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit

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