Saturday, March 17, 2007

"I've Got a Headache This Big..."

Lamentations 3:22-24 (The Message)
"God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left."

Saturday afternoon
More than dad's health, we are praising God for his Word, which has held us up with encouragement. We've shared each precious scripture with Dad and his blood pressure literally drops as he rests in the Lord and his truth. We are praying for God to bless each of you in gratitude for your prayers...our family will never be able to adequately thank you, but we offer our praises to God for His people and their love and trust in Him.

First, the praises! Dad had the doppler test (probably not the technical name, but that's what we call it) today and it showed NO SIGNS OF SPASMS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasospasm)! This is huge. Our eyes were teary with praise as they read the results. He had minor spasms yesterday, so for them to subside today is amazing.

We are praying for several spasm-free days so they can perform the next cerebral angiogram. That is a very invasive procedure so they need extreme confidence that his blood vessels have settled down. But as today is all we have, we are resting in God's grace.

On the flip side, Dad is in more pain than he's been in since the incident first occured. The doctors performed another CT scan this morning to rule out more bleeding. Basically, they just look at us & say "Sorry." When you've had a brain bleed, there is just a significant amount of head pain. But, it WILL go away. I'm not sure if Dad fully believes that at this point, but we (and more importantly, the doctors) assure him it will. He's on very strong pain meds, but even those barely take the edge off. Again, scripture and your words are what give him rest.

He is unable to eat very much, but we are trying to encourage him as best we can, knowing that a feeding tube is looming if he can't choke something down. Mark was able to entice him with a few bites of a hamburger from Houston's last night, but today he hasn't been able to eat/drink much more than water.

So again, we humbly ask for your prayers:
*That dad would sleep soundly
*Headache pain would subside
*Spasms would completely stop
*Peace of mind about work

Right now, Mom is reading dad the story from I Kings--Prophets of Baal v. Elijah. He's loving it. And for those of you who've asked, Mom is great. We are all blessed to experience someone who so fully trusts the Lord with every detail of life.

A sweet friend emailed me this verse.
“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for you have considered
My trouble; You have known my soul in adversities , and have not
Shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a
Wide place.” Psalm 31: 7-8

7 comments:

Aunt Liz said...

L'il Chris,

Do I have to come down there and administer a tepid/alcohol bath to you again --- but this time, no new toy after each treatment!

Love and prayers,

Aunt Liz

Elise Mueller said...

But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3

How great is it that we serve a God who never changes. He has called you by name and you are His!! We can find rest and comfort in God being for us! We are praying for you.

I love to worship, praise and pray through song so I sent some lyrics of praise and worship music to Nicole's e-mail account. May you meditate on the words in a fresh way as you draw near to Him.

We love you and will continue to pray,
Elise, Jonathan and kiddos

susan said...

Hi Chrisser!

I know you are enjoying the prayers and scriptures your many friends and fans are sending along to you. I am listening to Chris Tomlin's newest CD right now (I know Nicole has it on her iPod) and I encourage you to soak in it. I thank God for the musical gifts He has given to people like Chris Tomlin. The music is soothing and full of worship.

I will continue to pray for your pain to subside, NO VASOSPASMS, an increase in your appetite and wisdom for your doctors. Five days ago I didn't even know what a vasospasm was let alone a perimesencaphalic whatever. Things change in the blink of an eye.

I love you brother. I wish I could be there to hold your hand.

susan

gwynne said...

This great verse was in my Daily Light reading this AM...very appropriate!

" The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

He knows, He sees, He comforts...and we pray for a good day and NO spasms...Love, Gwynne and Don

Betty said...

Hi Chris,

I have prayed for you this morning. This is my verse for you today. Psm. 55:22 " Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you." I hope that God will encourage you is some way today. Hang in there and remember Jesus loves you and so do Jim and I.

William Phillips said...

Dear Chris,
We were saddened to learn of your hospitalization, but we were not surprised to learn that you and Carla, Nicole and Mark were using it to glorify God and testify to your faith in Him. We trust that all the heathens at the hospital will quickly be converted so you can be discharged and get back to your normal life of being the "Big Dog".
Mary and I, along with Laurel and David and their families are all lifting you up in prayer daily. We trust that God will completely heal you so that you can continue in your ministry of sharing the Good News with all the lost people you meet. We want you to know that if we could shorten your healing period, or ease your pain by the minutest amount, we would come and be physically with you. But we know that you need rest right now so for the time being we will be with you in spirt, reminding you of God's encouragement to Joshua: "Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Love, Bill and Mary

Unknown said...

Hi Chris-
You are daily (hourly, and by the minute) in my thoughts and prayers! Here is the verse(s) that God gave me today -may they be nourishment to your soul!

Isaiah 58: 6-11
(The Lord is speaking...)
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie th cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

hugs from your favorite eldee (?)
smiles- Emma