GETTING OLD 6/12/18

Being 85  and nearing 86 in a few months,  LORD willing and the lava don’t rise is a very interesting study in humility for me.  

It is almost like the LORD realizes our need to become humble later in life and has set the stage for it to happen.  Things that I did 10 years ago and did not even think about I now look for someone younger and with better balance to do.   Don’t get me wrong,  I enjoy being 85, it is a brand new experience for me. 

This morning I found that the oat meal (a favorite breakfast) was on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets and needing a ladder to get to.  No one around,  wife gone to work.  So got the little step stool out and started up the steps.  And then said to myself,  what are you doing here with your bad balance?  If you fall,  you would put those you love in a very bad way to take care of you and the mending process just might not go as well as it use to.  So very carefully I got my oatmeal and had my breakfast,  cleaned up my mess and the put the oats in the freezer this time for the next time with kitchen stool ladder not needed.   I also Still have my bike license,  and that also is a no, no…..

My mind is still really pretty sharp but this house that I am living in is really getting worn out.  Should have taken better care of it.  Now if I eat much red meat the gout in my feet feel like walking on broken glass.  But I try to stay away from red meat, and miss it, and I still get things done PTL…  But much more limited.   So not so much by my own doing any more but by those who I can find to help.  Had heavy boxes stored on shelves today,  looks great, that I had been looking at for a week to be stored but just too much for me to do.  So the concept of humility settled in a little deeper today in my world.  The word humility is rather interesting when used in the Bible.

          A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. (NAS, Proverbs 29:11)

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (NIV, James 1:19-20)

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (NIV, Leviticus 19:18)

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (NIV, Proverbs 29:22)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. (NIV, Proverbs 27:1-2)

When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them. (NAS, Proverbs 11:2-3)

Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (NIV, Proverbs 22:4)

“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (NAS, Matthew 23:11-12)

And [Jesus] called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NAS, Matthew 18:2-4)

And the other side of humility is a willing heart to be obedient as was Moses and Jesus.   So it would seem that I am now entering a school to learn humility and obedience to my LORD in a way that can not be avoided that goes much deeper than ever before. 

Love you much in Christ Jesus and hope you make it into HIS KINGDOM.  Yours, in HIS great love,   Ken<><