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Bless You for revealing... we ... like You Father of truth and love... like Your eternal Spirit Jesus... like the eternal Holy Spirit within us Who leads us into all truth... are eternal spiritual beings... ever living in our present eternal now. We are not bound by sin... by our body... or earthly time.... or this earthly realm... we are loosed from that which would seek to imprison us and limit our thinking... because we are seated with Jesus in heavenly places... near Your Throne heavenly father ... resting in Your completed work... as You call others to rest in Your goodness and faithfulness as well.
IT is Your life within us... which brings heaven onto earth... within each of us. This life purifies us... giving us abiding peace and joy... and is eternal.
Thanks for revealing to me ... us ... when we let go of our limited human concepts.. by way of example... say... of the word Kingdom... then You dad can move us to a new way of thinking... and renew the spirit of our mind, because you have made us free to live a new revelation... another reality... having grown to this state of being... as You have directed our steps to this present eternal now for those of us who desire to hear and understand Your mysteries... and to know YOU intimately.
What a blessing it is to rest in Your revealed truth... Your love and peace ... rejoicing... thanking You... acknowledging... rather than begging for that which You are already doing... or have done ... because in our spiritual blindness... deafness... we did not recognized Your mysterious ways... Your truth as our own. Bless You for spiritual eyes to see... ears to hear... the mind of Christ to understand... and the heart of You dad... which empowers us to serve one another with love... imparting blessings rather than curses... our having become motivated by love and truth. Bless You dad... for that which You have done... are doing... and will continue to make manifest in each of our lives... as YOUR Kingdom continues to manifest itself on earth... as it is already established in heaven.
I receive that which YOU have promised... and are making manifest... with a truly grateful heart. I love you ...Thank You for glorifying Yourself and for glorifying your descendants... as YOU reveal Your truth... Your Kingdom... Your love... and the fulfillment of that which You ordained at the foundations of the world... to each of us.
Bless You... we live in YOUR Presence... through Your abiding Presence within... because nothing exists without YOU... all exists through YOU... and all is returned to You... through the power of the resurrection .... ascension... and impartation of the Holy Spirit within... when Your Spirit was poured out on all flesh and Your laws were written on each of our hearts.... as promised through prophets of old.
Through Your intervention... we freely entered into the Holy of Holies... are purified in Your sight through the shed blood of Jesus... the prophetic fulfillment of the lamb of God who took away sin... for all of eternity. Bless You for the awareness we never have to leave.... nor do we have to ask for Your Presence in such a way that we would doubt You are there. We bless You... for allowing us to see ourselves through Your eyes... the eyes of love and not self condemnation. You see us as we are ... and love us unconditionally... there is nothing which can separate us from Your Presence and Your love... and nothing we can do to earn it! Your life and love in... through us is eternal!
Bless You We abide in Christ and Your words... through the desire You work into us... for such we are truly grateful. Thank You for Your mercy and grace.
Bless You, in Spirit and in truth YOU abide in us... We are one... even as Jesus prayed we would BE.... and Your Presence is manifested as we walk in Your love... having grown to love You in all of Your creation... thus loving them to life ... as You do such through us. Thank You for revealing Your desire for love... and not vengeance.... for healing and not dis ease. We see no need for evil... for when we draw near to You... evil flees and love overcomes and we rest in the unfolding of Your eternal plan with an assurance Your word will not return to You void.
Dad You have promised... You will open Jerusalem's' eyes... in due season... as You wait for all to come to know of their Messiah... their kinsman redeemer... the promised lamb who took away the sins of the world. We embrace Your timing... with a heart of love and gratitude... for had You not blinded those who were bound by man's limited understanding of the laws of Moses for a season... the rest of us would not have known of our need for reconciliation ... for purification of our thoughts and deeds... of our need for a Messiah who could transform us ... and empowered us to enter into a new... all encompassing covenant of grace and truth... with You.
Bless You ... All have been freed from the covenant of the law... and are being offered the covenant of love... eternal truth and grace... Father... dad... Bless You that we as Your children... are empowered to offer that which You alone can reveal... and bring to fruition, through our union with You. Thank You for the daily opportunities we are given ... to live out Your covenant... extending that which we have received with.... humility and a heart of unconditional love and grace.
www.EnterRest.com |
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Pastor Angie Simbeck has asked for our prayers... she is ill with a sinus infection, bronchitus, and fluid in her lungs. Please join me in prayer for all of those who are ill as we stand in faith for their healing. Thanks...
Father... we stand in faith... knowing of Your goodness and the healing power which flows through the expression of Your love towards us. Thank You we can come to You and receive that which we need during such moments. May those who are ill... receive from You that which is ours through the Covenant You made with us through Christ our Lord... may those who are in need of knowing Your New Covenant power receive... and be blessed in the receiving. Thank You... for that which You have manifested to us. Through the Spirit of Christ interceding through us... we stand as One. May those of Your choosing who have the gift of giving... serve those in need.... with hope. Thank You... |
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The following is a prayer request... I continue to receive such from members of tthe body of Christ, who have in days gone by asked me to put them on a prayer chain. This person is such a one. I sensed her prayer need, needed to be posted here, because she represents members of His body who are battling some sort of sickness, which is causing them to slow down and let go of their own agenda... and seek the Spirit of the Lord afresh, because their circumstance has brought their life to a standstill. I sense this prayer need is but one example of many... and ask, if you are so inspired... that you lift such a one before HIM, as led. Perhaps some of you will be led to join me in the prayer below. Please feel free to add to it... or to leave a comment of your own, which iwill be used to intercede for another HE has brought across your path. Thank you: Keep me in your prayers - I have been having some serious back issues with sciatica pain lately. I sure will... I know how uncomfortable and painful that can be experientially... and I know of HIS healing power when it comes to back pain... having been healed of a herniated disc and other back problems.... was scheduled for surgery, but never needed it. When I sought the mind of the Lord, Father told me to follow the Doctors directions while I waited for surgery.... and assured me, if I did... He would heal me. I was obedient. Would you like me to put your request on a blog, I blog with for and from the body of Christ? I do not need to mention your name unless you request it. Sure. It is what I would call episodic though out the day - it is helped with rest, stretching exercises and ibuprofen but sometimes it is excruciatingly painful. I think it is getting better but it has certainly slowed my life down - I just pray that I will enter into what the Lord wants to do in my life during this season as I have pretty much set aside any agenda I may have had. Mark has been wonderful. He's a great nurse! Bless Your Lord for providing a competent, compassionate helper in her spouse, in her time of need... so she can wait upon You without distractions or burdens. Thank You for daily manifesting Your healing power in their marriage... may this season of rest before You... and Mark's loving care... bring to pass Father's full intention in having allowed these circumstances in the life of one of Your disciples, a representative of many who is but one part of the whole body of Christ ... May those Who have find themselves in similar circumstances... receive that which You ordain for them through the Covenant You have made with us. Thank You.... |
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Please pray for my friend Sherry... she's 60 ... a committed believer who is raising her grandchildren with much love. Her daughter, who now lives with them is a new believer who, through the gift of repentance and revelation knowledge has been turning her life around.... and chooses to lean on the Spirit of the Lord through the process. Sherry is in the emergency room tonight... the Doctors are not sure if she had a minor heart attack or a stroke. Thanks...
Father... thank You we can come to You for ourselves or another in our time of need and You make Your Presence and will known. Bless You for being with Sherry and her family... as You give them the comfort and wisdom and support they need. Through circumstances You have allowed, there is lots going on in this family at this time... as You know, they are feeling overwhelmed... even so... they are choosing to work with You in obedience... as they learn to let go of their need to be control while they trust in Your revealed will for their future. If it is not time for You to bring Sherry home... we thank You for fulfilling Your purpose in her life and the life of her family in the days to come. We know if you choose to bring her home soon... Your plan for her will be complete. If such is Your will... thank You for giving her the peace she needs to let go... and for empowering her family to go forth with YOU... with all they need as a family to grow in Your grace, love and Your truth... in either case we thank You for manifesting Your will and for imparting the faith, love, trust and healing power... which is needed to go through this that you have allowed according to the unfolding of Your plans for their lives... May they hear Your voice clearly and rest in Your plan. Bless You.... and thank You... |
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If I may offer by way of encouragement and our helping in the releasing of this burden ... as we seek Father's will, and to partake of His healing power with Child of God who posted the following prayer request at: www.mychurch.org/Walkin_with_My_JeSuS Please pray for my cousin Amber Thompson. She is in the hospital with her brand new baby who has pneumonia. Please keep her and Aaron in your prayers. thanks!!!!!
Father... bless You for the gift of life ... for the gift of children ... for the gift of love and compassion, for being with us in our time of need... for those who help in the releasing of our burdens to You and stand with us as we seek Your will to be made known. Bless You for leaving us a witness of Your healing power through the life of Christ. We ask for Your healing power to be manifested in the life of this child ... may those who love them, reach out to You and not be disappointed. May Your words of comfort come into the heart of her family and their friends and be spoken as assurance and faith through those You send. May fear and anxiety be removed and replaced with the gift of faith and inner peace You alone impart when You touch the heart and mind of the ones seeking Your grace. Thank You... for all You intend to do... for this family, Your Covenant having been offered to them ... we ask and receive this through all which the name of Your son promises us through Your having sent Him to reveal and establish Your Covenant in our lives and the lives of our families. Bless You...
1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; |
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With regard to my friend Sherry... (prayer request above) I visited with her when she was released from the hospital. After running numerous tests, the Doctors could not find evidence of anything wrong with her health except for her need to loose a few pounds ... They sent her home to be monitored with a special heart monitor for the next month, just in case. She has been told to go about her life as usual... after she rests a day or two. In the meantime, she and her daughter has seen the need for them to work together to release some of the care of her children back to the daughter, (the grandmother was given custody before the daughter repented and turned to the Lord and has been faithful to walk in His light since).
Bless You Father for working your purpose and intent into this situation. May the fullness of it come into being and through it mend hearts which have been broken and establish trust where it has been lost and bring about a new bond of love within the hearts of all as they grow closer to you as a family. Thank You.... May the following scripture become a part of their daily reality:
15:6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank You.... |
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| Some of you may have noticed the following prayer request was left as a comment ... Because I receive requests similar to this often ... I am led to post the prayer which comes through me as I seek the mind of the Spirit of the Lord and to experience His anointing. May what comes forth empower, enlighten and comfort any who find themselves in a battle with fear or anxiety or similar struggles. To quote from the following prayer request: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." If anyone desires to join in please do so.... Dear HolySpiritWithin, please pray for me as I dare to share His Holy Word again this Sunday on the Topic, “Passing through dark valleys”. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Have a Blessed Week-end “when we were headed in the wrong direction, thank God, He allows U-Turns. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Ps 119:16 (NRSV)
Father... thank You for Your gift of prayer ... thank You for the trials which come through the spirit of fear... whereby we are given favorable circumstances to draw upon Your Holy Spirit for Your anointing which tears down strongholds and breaks the yoke of bondage ... not only for ourselves but for all You intend. Bless You ... we acknowledge through Your anointing we are released from fear and natural ways of thinking and being, which came with the unredeemed mind and in it's efforts to stay alive, attempts to rob us of the joy, peace, wisdom and revelation knowledge You imparted in it's place. We are grateful to You for giving us the awareness Your thoughts towards us are good and You have a plan which is unfolding ... and truly You have gone before us and made the way and bring those of Your choosing across out paths to receive that which You desire to impart with signs and wonders. Thank You for giving us the mind of Christ... and the gift of the Holy Spirit... Who empowers us, comforts us, teaches us, develops the fruits and gifts of the spirit in us... as we are matured and come into fuller knowledge of Your truth... Your abiding Presence... and the entirety of our relationship with You in our day to day living ... Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth and brings to remembrance that which You have spoken and made alive within experientially; through our union with You and the daily experiencing of Your unfolding eternal plan. We appreciate the predestined circumstances You bring into our lives which firmly establishes Your truth and brands it upon our heart with Your holy fire... so nothing can take it from. We confess this holy fire or moments of anxiety may not always be to the liking of our flesh nature ... even so ... deep within through the uniting of our hearts with Yours, we rejoice in the knowing, such moments are used by You to transforms us, to mature us and conform us to the image of Your son ... freeing us from the desires and temptations to walk in pride... self promotion or whatever it might be which the unredeemed mind seeks to feed upon to give it strength as it wrestles against Your Spirit in its efforts to be our god.
Father...thank You... we need not be burdened as to what to speak and when... and it's outcome... for we know You are with us and within ... having sent us and prepared the way. Bless You for imparting the revelation, when we answer Your call... when You empower us... when You commission us to speak Your message in Your name ... Your word is brought forth with power... it does not return to You void... it accomplish's that which You please and it prospers through the intention and purpose You sent it. We are grateful You are faithful through the Holy Spirit within to remind we are to be anxious for nothing. Thank You for the reminders... as we seek You first... as we seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness all which is needed is added to us, enabling us to take no thought for tomorrow... but to rest in Your will of the moment and moments to come. We recognize afresh, or receive anew the power of the faith You impart which causes us to rest in Your completed work; and it's coming to pass for all who are called according to Your purpose. Thank You.... may You be blessed... as we receive Your answers with a heart filled with love, joy and praise.
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Please pray for me... everytime I need to drive a long distance... I find myself struggling with anxiety for days in advance. I have asked the Spirit of the Lord why this is... and each time something new comes to the surface HE desires to deal with which is rooted in my unredeemed nature. I give whatever it is to Him... and press through. Sometimes I am told the battle is a reminder to pray for others who have fear, especially those who do not know Him intimately. It began as an inherited way of being. My mom has lots of fears which were passed down to us and fear of being on the highway is something she still has. So... with that being said... I ask for your prayers for both of us ... that HIS will to be done regarding these anxiety attacks. Thanks (((((family)))))
Thank You Father, You have not given us a spirit of fear... but a sound mind. Bless You for the awareness when such comes... we can draw near to You... resisting satan. Bless You for the power to overcome... and press through. I come to you not only for myself... once again, but for all those who live in fear... or fight it through Your power... thank You for breaking generational curses... and for the work You have begun in our family and will bring to completion in due season. If there is a root which needs to be exposed... I ask that You do so... so Your ax can be laid to it's root once and for all.
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Am being led to post this here too .... it is from *an update from an email I received* from a group I am part of... know this person personally and know she would treasure your prayers too:
Sent: 3/9/2008 4:16:18 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Prayers needed for Barbara Sheridan
One of our Feed My Sheep founders needs your prayers. An update on Barbara Sheridan now in a California hospital,
an update from her daughter: Hi Everyone-
I am sorry to have to tell you this at all and also sorry it comes in the form of a mass email. Mom had a pretty big stroke yesterday on the same side (right side) as the original little stroke she had after surgery #1. Meanwhile, she still has the effects of the clot on the left side, with the primary impact being that she is essentially unconscious - or "drowsy" as Dr. Lee likes to say. What this means for the next several days is that we cannot know the impact of the stroke. She does have some movement on the left side of her body, so we know she's not paralyzed.
The "drowsy" state is caused by pressure on the brain from both the clot and general swelling. There was/is a chance that they might have to do more surgery to relieve the pressure on the brain but she has managed to dodge that for the last couple of days. The daily CT scans show that the clot is not growing, which is good news. the tricky part is that they are now walking a tightrope between keeping her pressure up enough to hopefully avert further ischemic events on the right side while keeping it low enough so as to not aggravate the swelling on the left side.
Mom is on a breathing tube to protect her airways and also has a nasogastric tube for nutrition. she is keeping the ICU nurses extremely busy now, but they are giving her wonderful care. Today George even took the time to clean some dried blood away from her second surgery site, which I thought was sweet. John and I are propping each other up and are still spending a fair amount of time with Mom - talking to her, reading to her and holding her hand. sometimes it gets so busy for the nurses that we step out, but they have all been very nice about letting us spend time with Mom. They assure us that Mom can hear us and knows we're there. Top three reading materials are: her daily devotional book, cards from back home, and a book of short dog stories called "Howl".
The best we can hope for over the next several days is that nothing else bad will happen. So far so good today. She had a CT scan this a.m. that did not result in a flurry of MDs and a new MRI so we are assuming things are unchanged. This is a very good thing. Dr. Lee believes it will take several days to recover from the "drowsy" state caused by her left side issues. Hopefully sometime mid to late next week, she will begin to rouse and they can start assessing the stroke consequences. They already have told us that her stay will be longer than planned, and we'll deal with that as it becomes known. In the mean time, it's day by day and hoping for the best.
I tried to send this info last night but was apparently sufficiently overwrought as to fail in that effort. Please don't worry if the news is sparse over the next several days. We are in a "no news is good news" period now and will be for awhile.
thanks for all you're doing on the other end of these messages and please keep it up.
xo,
Ann
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an update from John a family member (will keep you informed):
Hi Everyone,
I'm giving Ann a break on the email updates. There is not a lot of news to report with respect to Mom's condition, but I know everyone's worried, so I wanted to pass on what news there is. The good news is that there is no more bad news. The CT scans show that the clot has not increased in size, and Mom is continuing to show small improvements over the past few days. Yesterday she opened her eyes and looked at us for a short period. She also is continuing to show movements on both sides with arms and legs and responds readily when the nurses turn her or do something else to rouse her. Her doctors are still unable to comment on her prospects for recovery, but this morning Dr. Steinberg said that we should know more next week. It is frustrating of course to have so many unknowns -- we don't even know when she will wake up so the doctors can assess her further. It is still a question of waiting for the pressure on her brain to subside.
Yesterday Mom had a nice visit from the hospital priest and received a light touch massage from a hospital massage therapist. Ann reads a variety of selections to her and I have been singing to her from time to time. And of course we pass along any news from back home and all the best wishes from all of you. Please keep up all of your prayers and positive vibrations.
John Cards can be sent to: Ann Herchenrider/Barbara Sheridan Creekside Inn 3400 El Camino Real Palo Alto Ca 94306 |
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Was asked to pray for someone going through a tremendous spiritual battle, (some scripture references will follow in next post for those desiring such). Please join in if you are led as we stand in faith for the will of our Father:
Jesus... thank You for the gift of prayer... for interceding through me... a redeemed sinner... one of many who is aware I am redeeme and overcome by Father's loving Grace and Mercy. Bless You.... through the union of our Spirit... in faith I stand with You (and those of Your choosing) as one in Spirit... before our Father victorious, resting in HIS completed work established for us as recorded in Ephesians 1:4. Through the heart You have given me, my having asked ... I yield to You now, seeking Your words in behalf of one who has asked.... they seek to know Your truth.... to hear Your voice afresh. May she and those in need receive your spiritual gifts according to Your Present truth for them, releasing them from condemnation and sin consciousness. May they receive a purified heart... one which causes them to walk victorious; in the wholeness of Your redemptive power as it unfolds before them daily... manifesting Father's perfect will and truth of the moment.
According to Hebrews 12:2... It is You who is the initiator and perfector of my/our faith... thank You Father for empowering Jesus to break through victoriously in our behalf.... for imparting the gift of faith.... of life eternal! For revelation knowledge... words of wisdom and truth... for scripture which reveals and imparts into us words of life.... power and might! Bless You for the power You impart in the process and through that which is to Be ....
Bless for the Holy Spirit who brings to remembrance Your words to us... who...................... causing us to be conformed to Your image... our having been predestined as it is written in Roman's 8:29-39. For such and more I/we acknowledge You... and choose to receive our portion according to the fulfilling of Father's eternal plan for man with a humble and grateful discerning heart. Bless You... It is through the gift of surrendering... through receiving the power of Your Holiness... Your righteousness... Your will ... Your desires, which are at one with our Father....... it is through receiving Your conviction... Your gift of repentance... Your gift of faith... the gift of Your Holy Spirit within... that we overcome sin according to Father's eternal plan. It is through You and Father's plan we come to know and our reconciled to Our Heavenly Father manifesting the hope which is ours through 2 Cor 5:18 and Rom 5:10. It is through You we are able to hear our Father's voice... we are touched with tranformative by His abiding Spirit of love and grace. It is through following Your leading we can eat and drink in the pasture of the Great Shepherd's choosing... we can sup at the table prepared for us... we can dwell in the House of the Lord... with the assurance... unless the Lord build the house... those who labor... labor in vain. Thank You for going before us... for interceding in our behalf... for empowering us to be sanctified... to be made whole to the ultimate fulfillment of 2 Cor 9:8 and Hebrews 13:21. It is through Your rod and staff leading and guiding us we receive the correction and comfort/safety of our Father; brought about through mercy and grace... ultimately extending Father's unconditional love toward us with peace and joy. It is through You............................... much is revealed as truth.
Without Your righteous acts I am, we would be condemned sinners.... lost with no hope of reconciliation, justification, redemption, restitution............ release from condemnation and all which follows as it's consequences. Bless You through You we have been redeemed from the curse of the law as is stated in Gal 3:13. May we ever draw upon Your power within... as we are matured and become who were created to Be according to Father's unfolding plan.... as we come to recognize the truth of 2 Cor 12:10 and Psalm 3:3-4, when I am weak... then am I made strong! You are my shield... my glory and lifter of my head. Thank You for revealing our Father... and His will to us... for reconciling us to our Father. Thank You Father... for sending Jesus and drawing us as it is written in John 6:44... Bless You for imparting life... and it more abundantly, so we can walk in Spirit and in Truth.... and not after the lusts of our flesh nature; according to Your promises... as we grow into the fulness of Your appointed anointing according to Ephesian 4:13. Bless You Jesus .... for truly it is the Holy Spirit of the Lord within us Who gives us the power to overcome as Kings and Priests in the Kingdom of God ... first as a gift of faith through Father's extended grace... then as a spiritual reality... as we die to the old from glory to glory... our having become a new creation through abiding in You and Your word. May we receive that which You purpose for us according to Phil 2:13... and Your overcoming power expressed in Rev 3:21... Thank You.... we receive by the faith You impart... through Your word of truth and Holiness... So be it....
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The following are some scripture references (in particular those spoken of above), which were brought to rememberance as I yielded to the Christ in prayer. If you are in need of more references (those not pointed out specifically), please let me know and I will seek to post them:
1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 8:34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 9:8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work: 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
3:3 But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. Psalms 3:3-4 KJV
6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
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Further update on my friend who just had brain surgery:
Good morning from Palo Alto-
Still more waiting for all of us at each end of these emails. I had hoped that we'd really see Mom waking up this week, but the daily improvements are still incremental. We rejoice in each incremental improvement and in every day on which there is no more bad news, but the waiting is still hard. Also, they moved Mom to an isolation room yesterday as her sputum tested positive for MRSA (antibiotic resistant staph). We can still visit, but we have to gown up every time we go in and they require hand sanitizing on the way in and out of the room each time. We are commanding respect with the newer ICU families, as they think we are medical professionals. It's a private room with a view to the west and mountains and Mom has a dedicated ICU nurse at all times. They had been watching her white blood cells and already had her on an antibiotic over the last couple of days before, but now she's on the really strong stuff and they will be continually monitoring that issue to see how much of the medication she needs to stay ahead of and eventually beat the MRSA. Again, no one seems to know the time frame for that either. An infection is certainly not good news but we are hopeful that it will be only a sideshow to the main concerns.
Some of you may know that Mom was keeping a "gratitude journal" in which she would write down something or things every day for which she was grateful. I've been keeping a mental gratitude journal without even realizing it, especially since last Saturday (our first day of "no news"). Two days ago, for example, I was grateful when the case manager nurse in ICU and Steinberg's nurse coordinator started talking to me about Mom's rehabilitation. They could not have known how wonderful it was to start looking down the road, however bumpy it may turn out to be, and start thinking of getting Mom home. By the way, they still can't tell us the time frame until Mom wakes up, but they definitely know that Mom's rehabilitation will begin in California. Depending on Mom's condition, she will either rehab in the hospital on a "regular" floor/stroke unit or they may refer her to an acute rehabilitation center (inpatient) in Marin County (north of the Golden Gate Bridge) called Kentfield. It's a little hard to find online, but its something like kentfieldrehab.com. Those in the know at the hospital rave about Kentfield, so it sounds like it's the place to aspire to.
Another thing for which I am grateful is that the stroke team (Mom has a bunch of teams on her case - neurology, neurosurgery, stroke, medicine, and now infectious diseases) decided two days ago to start physical therapy. All this lying around is not good for a body and the stroke team sent the physical therapist in. The therapist even taught John some arm, hand and foot exercises we can do with Mom on our own. The only limitation is we can't manipulate her right hand because the ICU nurses don't want us disturbing an arterial line in Mom's right wrist. But, hey, she's left-handed after all so we may as well give her left side a bit more attention for now. It's nice to feel like we are participating in her care and recovery in a more hands-on way and Mom already seems to be benefitting with increased flexibility.
Yesterday, I was grateful when Anne Creamer (daughter of our grandfather's dear companion, Mary) picked us up at the hospital and took us out to dinner. She also came with veggie lasagna packaged in individual portions which fit in the mini-fridge and which we will microwave and enjoy this evening. I won't go on and on, lest I embarrass Anne who is on this mailing list, but I will just say that kindness like that is a much-needed balm during the time.
John is heading back to Virginia on Saturday, so I'm taking advantage of his being here to take some mornings off from the hospital. This is so I can run errands, manage some of Mom's affairs and also to restore myself a bit. I am on a waiting list for an apartment in a building owned by the hospital and across the street from the hospital. Organ transplant families have priority in the apartment building but ICU families come next. I am hopeful that I will get in there by next week. The cost is about half of what the hotel charges and it is a real apartment with a kitchen and room for two to sleep. It will be better to be closer by so that I can go back to the apartment during the day when I want to.
As always, I am grateful for the "fan base" on the other end of these emails. This is truly an endurance event and I appreciate everyone hanging in there with us.
xo,
Ann
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Another (more current) update on my friend who just had brain surgery:
Hi Everyone-
I'm taking my lunch time break and thought I'd send a quick update. Mom is definitely doing a little better again today, opening her eyes spontaneously and more often and keeping them open for longer. She also is tracking light and voices a little better each day. I felt like Mom really looked at me for a few seconds today, as John saw her do with him yesterday. I don't see anxiety in Mom's eyes or face, so hopefully she's hearing all the encouraging words from us and believes it when we tell her she's getting better every day.
On the medical front, they are probably going to give Mom a tracheostomy next week, as she is still not awake enough to protect her airways but the breathing tube is making her mouth really sore. Mom's white blood cell count dropped yesterday and again today, which means the antibiotics they have her on are working. She has been off the blood pressure meds for at least two days now and is maintaining the range the docs have prescribed, so that's another good thing. Also, the infectious diseases team told me yesterday that Mom has not gotten any pneumonia. The physical therapy seems to be helping Mom maintain some flexibility and generally just feels (to me) very good as they are clearly planning to do more with her each day with an eye toward doing things like sitting up, standing and walking again.
Things for which I am grateful include having ICU nurse Jocelyn (from our first weekend here) taking care of Mom for the last two days. Jocelyn is extra sweet and gentle with Mom and is always trying to get her better stuff. For instance, Mom was not scheduled for any physical therapy this weekend, but Jocelyn talked the therapist (Melena) into coming back today and tomorrow. We definitely are drawing plenty of empathy from the ICU staff as a whole the longer Mom is in there. This translates into being allowed to stay with Mom more and other extra kindnesses, pats on the back and encouragement.
It's still one day at a time, but each day brings a little encouragement. Thanks as always for what you're doing on the other end of these messages.
xo,
Ann
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