Dec. 4, 2011

It was so good to have Mrs. Doug with us this morning at church!  She did made it back to Jackson safely and said Bro. Dale had a pretty good day.  He was very interested in hearing her report about how everything was going at church.  The infections that he's had seem to be clearing.  He was alert a good while today.  And he wore the speech valve on his trach for a good part of the day.  The biggest prayer request for him at this time is that his mind will start making the connections for speaking and understanding.  He is understanding and following some commands, but he has a long way to go.  The speech therapist encouraged Mrs. Doug when she said she has seen a patient with a similar brain injury to make those connections.  It took a few weeks and then all of a sudden, it just clicked.  Pray that it will click with Bro. Dale!  And he needs to reach his goal for tomorrow to be able to say, "ah."  Pray that he can do that. 

"⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
   call on him while he is near. 
 ⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
   and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.   
⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands. "  Isaiah 55:5-12 

Heavenly Father, we don't always understand the why's and the how's, but we know that You do.  We submit ourselves to You and trust You to take care of Bro. Dale.  We pray that You fill Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug with that joy and peace that can come only from You.  We ask that You will restore Bro. Dale, especially his understanding and his speech.  We put all of our faith in You.  Be glorified through us and in this circumstance.  In Jesus name, Amen.