June 17, 2021 Thursday Evening
Adam update! Riley and Adam went to appointments and rehab today. He got his cast taken off his wrist, stitches taken out, xray done to make sure it was healing correctly and cast back on again. 😊 He is doing well, walking slowly and carefully with his pelvis fracture and taking it easy so his brain can heal.
Steve update! They did a breathing trial today. I had to have it explained to me a couple times to try to grasp what that means. So today was a baseline to see where Steve is, the result is neither good nor bad, just a baseline. There are many settings on a ventilator and part of it is like a CPAP machine providing oxygen and pressure to keep the lungs open. The other part sets how many breaths and how much per breath. They kept on the CPAP part and shut down the other part which forces the breath and how much. He was able to breathe on his own and keep his oxygen saturation up for an entire hour before he started getting tired and struggling a bit. When someone is on a ventilator, the body gets used to and reliant on the machine to do all the work. It takes time to build up stamina again to be able to do it on your own, especially since he has been on it for a month now.
Reliance, we all rely on something or someone. It is how God made us, it is natural, in our DNA. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines Rely as To be dependent, To have confidence based on past experience. In 2 Chronicles 14:11 Asa called out to the Lord his God, saying, “O Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in and rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” King Asa realizes that sending his army against the Ethiopian king and his 1 Million warriors would mean total defeat if The Lord wasn't with him. He had been walking solidly with The Lord for over 10 years fortifying, building, preparing. Relying on The Lord to guide and give him wisdom. The Lord indeed did defeat the invading army and king Asa even said: "So The Lord defeated the Ethiopians." He gave God the glory.
What are you building, fortifying, preparing for and with. I remember January 2020, our Church had a really cool walk through the stations prayer evening. It was so powerful. At the last station, we took a shard of pottery and prayed. Some people wrote a verse or a word that came up for them during the stations. Mine was Prepare, and the verse was 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. I took it seriously and dove into His word and time with Him. LOL, who would have known what was coming!
During the pandemic, we were all turned upside down. We, including myself, became cut off, self reliant, tried to prepare for whatever may come. Praise God we started online Bible studies, zooms, and worked at staying in relationship with The Lord and each other. Are you relying on yourself? It isn't too late to rely on The Lord. Have you ever had an experience with The Lord when He delivered you from something, healed you, moved mountains for you? Draw on that experience. Write those down! Those "stones" of remembrance are the memories, the touch points of my confidence because of my past experiences with The Lord. Oh, I fall down a lot. In fact, this whole writing thing is a big, big area of disobedience. I knew that The Lord wanted me writing way back in 2007. I refused because I don't like it and I'm not good at it. This has come up time and time again through the years as He builds testimonies in my life He wants me to share. I know in my heart what God wants from me and I just didn't trust enough. I am being very transparent, and I have a pit in my stomach. Years ago, I started to be obedient and I started a blog. I even put the link on my signature line of my email. I walked away from it after only a few entries, and I felt bad. I send an email, and I erase the link. For YEARS. I could just go in and erase it, but I know what He wants from me. He still hasn't given up on me. He still loves me. He still gives me another chance.
I know that I can rely on The Lord. I know that He has been working in me, fortifying and building things that were broken in me and in our family, building trust, experience, faith, hope. His word and experiences with Him prepare us for the hard stuff when we need to rely on Him because there is no worldly help, nothing that fills the gap or the hole. I know that I myself let me down all the time. When I dip into self-reliance I am very often disappointed. When I am obedient and God-reliant. He does the equipping, where I am not able. He is my supplier of the words typed, He is enough for me, and for this moment, today, I am basking in His mercy, grace, love and blessings in my obedience and love for Him.
Please continue to pray for nurse Dillon, Jenn, and so many more who bless us with their caring and protection of Steve, as well as those in Adam's rehab helping him to also gain fullness of health. Thank you for your moving prayers. It was like butter! Now it is organizing and going through all the boxes I have with me to find what I need. I am so thankful for all of you. Lord, I ask that you would bless each reader from the top of their head to the soles of their feet. Lord, bless them in all their comings and goings. Shine your face upon them, be gracious to them, look upon them with Your favor, and give them Your peace. Have a blessed rest of your week! Love you!
Comments
- Niki MattsonHeather, thank you for pouring your heart out to us through this journey - you are a wonderful writer and your words encourage me every day. At Mosaic yesterday, we prayed for you and Steve; and we remembered the many ways Steve has modeled the love of Jesus to all of us and our clients - we miss him and can't wait to see him again. We love you and are praying God's abundant peace and strength for all of you. ❤6/18/21
- Ann PoulterHeather you never cease to amaze me. You are our modern day Dorcas always helping others with your encouragement. We continue to pray for you and your beautiful family and am always here for whatever you need. 💜6/18/21
- Kathi and Doug JohnsonHeather, I continue to pray every day for all your family especially healing fir Steve and Adam. Your faith sharing has been my inspiration as I am struggling with the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis for my husband Doug. Thank you for being so eloquent with your love of God. I thank God every day for my gift of faith. Jesus, I trust in you! Kathi Johnson6/18/21
- Sharon DanielsHeather, your posts are so encouraging. Lord, please continue to use Heather as an avenue to show your love and grace. Let her words draw people closer to you. Please strengthen and renew her and Steve and their family. We pray for Steve's complete healing.6/18/21
- brade byersLove you all and praying for you.6/18/21
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