Nov. 25, 2011

The occupational therapist came through and worked his left arm today.  They are trying to get him to put his hands in a praying position and try to lift both arms together upward.  The other day he was not able to lift just one finger at a time, but today he could.  The therapist that is working with him is young, but she has had a stroke herself.  She had a very encouraging testimony to share with them. 

The swelling on his brain is definitely going down.  Mrs. Doug said that you can look at him and see that it is going down dramatically. 

They are trying to get his medications regulated.  His heart rate is still running a little high. 

Today Mrs. Doug was reading to him from the Open Windows devotional about being blessed in the midst of the storm.  When she looked up at him, he was looking right at her and nodded.  It was as if God knew they needed to hear those words and they were just for them.  Mrs. Doug said those are the moments that strengthen her the most.  The passage she was reading was Ephesians 5:15-20, with verse 20 being particularly meaningful to them:

 "¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."