Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday April 13, 2009

The celebration dubbed Easter, which is to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, this being done somehow by coloring eggs, is now packed away for another year and we march on to the celebration of Motherhood. And then.. and then.. and then. It never ends you know.

Last week I read an article by Wilson Green in Revive, about a man down in Louisiana who had been falsely accused, convicted and sentenced to prison and served 25 years before being exonerated via DNA. Upon his release he told the media:

"I do not hold a grudge. I cannot change the past, but with the Lord's help, my past doesn't have to control my future."

I realize the Negative Nellie will say, "Well, that's fine, because he wasn't guilty." Does this statement mean that if he was guilty he could somehow change his past?

All of us can and in many areas of life, should change aspects of current behavior. No doubt about it. Behavior either stacks up with the Word or it doesn't. The aberrant behavior that fails the Word test must/should be jettisoned and soon.

Whether guilty in the past or innocent, to maintain a positive, productive life that honors the Lord and benefits humanity, we must get over "it" whatever it may be and go on with life.

Years ago most sermons on effective living nearly always mentioned a cliché which was pregnant with thought for living:

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

George Carlin thought the statement was; "Way out there. Man." Our Louisiana innocent convict grabbed onto this truth and pledges to himself, I will NOT let this injustice define my life. With Jesus I refuse to let the past control my future. I think the man has a greater chance than the myriads of men and women who sit around fuming about yesterday and being ate up with bitterness.

"I do not hold a grudge. I cannot change the past, but with the Lord's help, my past doesn't have to control my future."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with Credit.

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