“Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.”
~Ecclesiastes 3:1 CEV~
Maggie Lee Henson
Friday, July 24, 2009 2:56 PM, CDT
MLH’s IcP dipping to low 20’s this afternoon. I feel like a weather man. Thx for prayers and all of the sweet cards, gifts for jack, cute monogrammed pillow case, blankie and gown and special card from my Woodlawn Prayer Warriors.
All our love
Jin
Friday, July 24, 2009 8:20 PM, CDT
ICPs were in mid twenties today. Please pray for peaceful night
Jinny
Saturday, July 25, 2009 3:01 AM, CDT
Prayers for a peaceful night are evident as I sit here at Maggie Lee’s bedside. Maggie Lee’s ICP is responding well to the treatment (3% saline) that she is getting and it is staying in mid 20’s at this time. Words can’t give full description of our deep gratitude for your commitment to pray. I was moved to see just now that this site has now had 101,587 visits.
Thanks be to God.
John
Saturday, July 25, 2009 5:06 AM, CDT
I went out down to the Café de Sodexo (ok, hospital cafeteria) to get a cup of coffee and a change of scenery. When I came back to the bedside, I looked at Maggie Lee and, just for a moment, thought I would wake her up. I thought of the many times I have walked upon her sleeping and awakened her (she is not a deep sleeper and it has always been fun to come up with crazy ways to shake her out of bed). For just that moment, I had forgotten that she is hooked up to what must be miles of wiring, tubes and drugs. It wasn’t registering in my sleepy head that she is in the hospital, in a Critical Care Unit where someone must tend to her minute by minute. It somehow escaped me that her body is at dis-ease and has been that way for almost two weeks now. I walked up to her and started to wake her like I’ve done so many times before, but that moment ended and I remembered where we were.
That’s enough of a realization to leave a person feeling crushed, depressed and helpless. And I would be dishonest with you if I told you that I have not experienced those feelings many times in these last two weeks. But, as I looked at her again as the fog of my brain was clearing, the words “rise up” came to mind. The gospels show Jesus with such power to look at those who sleep and awaken them with his love and those very words. “Rise up.”
I want the same for Maggie Lee as I look at her. And I know Jesus still says them.
Lord Jesus, speak your words of reveille to her. Call her out of this deep sleep.
–John
*I know it must seem strange that I’m writing at a time like this, but I’m finding that is helpful for me to do so; to find ways of working through all of this that doesn’t make any sense at all. I have enjoyed blogging—and now mostly microblogging in 140 characters—for several years and it has become an outlet for me to articulate what I feel as well as a form of prayer. Thanks for listening.
Dukes
Friday, July 24, 2009 5:24 PM, EDT
The Roller Coaster Is Going Up Today
Because of a trip to the Big O to get a procedure done to check my legs for blood clots and a meeting I had to make at the Seminary, my first opportunity to see the Caring Bridge site was this afternoon. (Fortunately there were no blood clots, although the swelling and pain is still very present.) I can assure you the delay in getting to it was outweighed by the posts that I saw today. They were so on target to address what we have been going through the last few days. Thank you to all of you who take the time to type a few words of encouragement. You really made my day today.
The surgical procedure she had today will help the healing of the bedsore. In fact, it may lead to quicker healing. Let’s pray for that. We will keep you up on what is happening.
Today Retia has rested following the surgery, but every once in a while she would wake up and talk some. She is not in as much pain as she has suffered the last few days, and she is thinking rather clearly. We are grateful for every good day.
She did have some special visitors today who brought her some of her favorite food. Someone is preparing it now, so she will have baby butter beans and cornbread for supper along with Black Tea from Starbucks.
She will also have some more special company tonight when Erik, Erin, and the four red-headed boys get here. Life could be worse!
Please keep standing with us before the Throne. We are so thankful for old friends and new friends who help us so much through prayer and encouragement. Blessings to you all!
blessings
jdukes
DALLAS–Texas church reaching world at its doorstep.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30952
HONG KONG–China cracks down on human rights lawyers.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30955
TENNESSEE–MARRIAGE DIGEST: Clinton only latest big-name Dem. to back ‘gay marriage.’
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30953
MONTANA–Student missionaries still ‘critical’ after car crash.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30958
WASHINGTON–Pro-lifers warn about health care ‘abortion bailout.’
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30959
WASHINGTON–House effort to defund Planned Parenthood fails.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30967
WASHINGTON–Critical time on health care reform, Land says.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30966
CHICAGO–CELEBRATION: Reflections on 35 years in ministry — God is always on time.
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30954
LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): Sexual anarchy — America’s demise?
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=30957
CALIFORNIA–FIRST-PERSON (David Jeremiah): Living a prayer-filled life.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=30956
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BPNews — Witness the difference! http://www.bpnews.net
BPSports — Sports with a spiritual attitude! http://www.bpsports.net
KneEmail
Encouragement
A HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR was startled to see a patient fleeing down the hall from the operating room…
He stopped the patient and asked, “Do you mind telling me why you ran away from the operating room?” The patient looked at him with startled eyes and said, “It was because of what the nurse said!” The administer inquired, “Oh? What did she say?” “She said, ‘Be brave! An appendectomy is quite simple.'” To which the administrator replied, “Well, so what? It is a simple procedure. I would think her words would comfort you!” The patient said, “I’ll tell you so what! The nurse said it to the doctor!”
In Romans 12 Paul tells us that one of the gifts that exists in the church is exhortation. The word literally means a “calling to one’s side for the purpose of giving comfort.” The word we would probably use is encouragement.
We all need a word of encouragement on occasion. There are times when each of us struggles with what his or her role in the work of the church is. Some feel as though the only functions of profit are the “high visibility” job, such as teaching or leading in some public way. But if we all need to be encouraged, it seems that the one who encourages fills as a useful function as anyone in the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26).
The greatest thing about being an encourager is that everyone can do it. It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, but it does take some. It can be done in person, by mail, email, or phone. You never know how much a word of encouragement is needed or how much good it can do. Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” ( Proverbs 25:11). Mark Twain said he could live a week on a compliment. (Mike Greene)
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…
if a man’s gift is…encouraging, let him encourage.”
~Romans 12:6, 8 NIV~
The Prayer Link 