Susan Rimes is much better. Thank you for praying for her.
Dukes
He’s Bigger than the Battle
Erik left a little while ago to go home and help a longsufferi
ng boy momma with some sick boys. On his way he called me to share a song he heard on XM Radio. Well, I think his main motivation was to make fun of one of my pet peeves: those 7-11 songs. You know. Those songs that have seven words repeated eleven times. I am never sure whether they are not smart enough to think of enough words or whether they are afraid they will not be able to remember the words. Anyway, that is my problem.
In this particular song the words that were repeated over and over were about God. The words were, “He’s bigger than the battle.” Now, those are words worth repeating over and over. God is bigger than any battle we face. He always helps us in the battle by taking us through it or ending it. Either way he decides, he takes care of his people.
I had a number of responses to my recent words about anger. Never let it be misunderstood. James said, “God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger.” (James 1:20, The Message) I know that. But let’s remember that God is also bigger than our anger and is not intimidated by it. He is still God and he still loves us. That we have learned.
Not only is he bigger than our anger, he is bigger than any battle we face. That we are experiencing as well. Remember he is not surprisable He knows what is going on in all our lives. However difficult we may see the circumstances, we can see him as bigger and more powerful. I thank him and praise him for that.
Retia has had a good day today. She has been very alert and is working very hard to keep moving her arms and legs on the days she does not have therapy. She is fighting hard and has a strong desire to get better and get back to Orlando.
In spirt of the increase in cognitive problems, she tries hard to relate to us and often her personality and sense of humor are coming through clearly. We occasionally hear a “Whatever” and she often rolls her eyes at things she finds hard to believe. She still loves old movies, and still has a crush on John Wayne and “East Clintwood,” as she calls him. We try to keep the classic movie channels on for her when we are not here.
Two really encouraging things have happened in the last couple of days. The first has to do with Retia. That one is bitter sweet because the same medicine that increases the cognitive problems has also increased her flexibility in her left arm and leg. While she has had a lot of difficulty moving her left arm and leg in recent days, she is now moving it with much more ease. In fact, I noticed two days ago that she was scratching her head with her left hand. She has not been able to do that before.
The other thing has to do with freedom for me. When we left the hospital this morning, Erik handed me the keys to my truck and told me to drive. I think I must have felt like he did the first time I handed him the keys to a little red Ford Ranger and told him the same thing. Anyway, I drove from Kenner over to Clearview where we ate lunch. I must have done OK, because he let me have the keys when we got back to the Seminary. I was able to drive over to the hospital this afternoon. They may not get the keys back. This freedom will make it possible for me to be much more mobile and independent.
It is another small step that proves God is bigger that the battle. Our prayer is that we will continue to see those steps demonstrating his power as Retia continues to improve. Thanks for standing with us and for remembering to lift us up to the Big and Mighty Father.
The Prayer Link 