Scripture

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.

~II Corinthians 4:16, NASB

Quote

That which lies before us is infinitely greater than anything that lies behind.

~C.S. Lewis

It is not rocket science, our mortal bodies are aging, they are waring out. It reminds me of the Negro spiritual, “Aint gonna need this house no longer, aint gonna need this house no more. Aint got time to oil the hinges; aint got time to fix the door.” Young people don’t think about getting old; the thought never crosses their minds but when you hit 40, your mortality begins to enter your thoughts. Then a few years later, you begin realizing that there are things you can’t do any more. I played basketball {full court} until I was 57 but those days are history. There will be no more basketball, softball or marathons. Due to bad knees and a bad back, I do good to walk and running is out of the question. My joints ache and I am losing strength in my hands and knees. I saw someone carrying a child in their arms the other day and I thought to myself, “It would not be safe for me to pick a child up and try to carry them up steps or down.” I have a hard time carrying myself. My grand children can open bottles that I can’t open. I have almost no strength in my right hand: I can’t even give you a firm hand shake. I was visiting with Mrs. Edith the other day and she was going to show me she could stand up but she couldn’t get up, not enough strength in her knees.

I use to jump out of bed and now I crawl out of bed. I use to jump up and now I struggle to get up. So much for this old house. I want to talk about that part of me that is being renewed day by day. I enjoy worship more now than ever. We had a fantastic praise service a week or so ago and although I love to sing, I just sat on the front pew and listened. I am telling you, the Spirit of God got hold of me and I could feel the divine embrace. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. Bible reading and bible study are exciting and fun. Every time I open my bible I discover something I did not know before my reading. I keep saying to myself, “It just can’t get any better,” and yet it keeps getting better. In the past I have been pig headed and slow to obey the LORD but now it is sweet surrender, “Your will be done.” The resistance is not there anymore and this has to be a work of grace. I still struggle with fear and lack of faith but I very much want to do God’s will. I’m light years from what I need to be but I know God’s grace is active in my life. Yes the old body is wasting away but the real me is looking forward to seeing Jesus and being totally separated from sin and evil.

EXTRA

I think they may be predicting severe weather tonight so for the Grace Point family, stay tuned–Josh will make the call at noon. He is our weather expert. My phone doesn’t show any severe weather but I don’t know that much about it. We will get an email out if we cancel.

Mrs. Edith Bennich is moving to Hartselle today and she is excited. She called me last night and she was higher than a kite. She told me she was going to be jumping fences in a two weeks. I don’t know what they have her on but I need some of it. Joyce in still in CRMC. LORD willing I will get back down there today. My daughter has me employed today: I am running the shuttle to a Christmas tournament. LORD willing, we are going to be in the Mountains next Christmas. Underline the LORD willing because we don’t know where we will be this time next year.

Keep praying for my good buddy Gregg and his entire family.