Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday June 17, 2010

It is beyond strange to me that I like so many people who do or did not like NOT like each other. Earnest Hemingway and William Faulkner's dislike for one another is famous, with Faulkner having said, "He (Hemingway) has never used a word that sent anyone searching for a dictionary." This was a shot across the bow seeing as how Faulkner lived in Oxford, Mississippi, but three semesters was enough for him at Ole Miss. In spite of this he was awarded the Noble Prize in 1949. He was some writer. And as was Hemingway, one of my early favorites.

William Faulkner encouraged folks with this gem:

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better that your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."

The men or women who are living a high life and do so with the inner attitude, "This will show them," is often haunted by a fear of failure which would thus enable "them" to mock. And the fear of being mocked is known to cause the break-out in cold sweats in the night.

Joseph, the 17 year old boy mentioned in the Bible who dreamed of leading the family, even though he was young, managed through horrible events in his life, to keep the dream before his eye, firmly focused in his mind and burning like nuclear fire in his heart. His brothers mocked, "Here comes the dreamer" yet the day came long, often painful years later, when they said, "It, can't be, but he is the dreamer, surely he will kill us."

Joseph out performed his most bitter enemies, and at this point in life he showed that he also had overcome his most vicious enemy, himself. Joseph knew that realizing the dream was more important than getting even, with those who had misunderstood, even feared the ramifications of his dream concerning them. After all if Joseph fulfilled his dream, than the older brother's dream could not be realized. Yet God had something far better.

The principle here is simple; God has a dream for you, learn what His dream for you is, and pursue it with passion, all the while considering your brother/brothers and understand God's dreams for you will, unlike the dreams of the world, include blessing for others.

The biggest hindrance to the pursuit of your dreams is the person whose reflection you see in the mirror. Most people really could care less about your dreams, one way of the other. The Self-driven dream will, with little or no provocation, destroy all who stand in the way. The Christ-driven dream considers the benefit to others. Do the will of God.

One of the beauties of the Last Days is found in Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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