Saturday, January 31, 2015

HIS BLESSINGS

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Springtime is coming, birds fly in the air,
God watches over them, giving them care.
Not one of them falls without His consent,
And it's so with us, so let us be content.
He knows all about us and what we need,
So cheer up dear child; you will succeed.
God values you more than all of the birds,
So rest dear reader upon these sweet words. (RP)

Our Bible class was a blessing yesterday. I am so thankful for the ones who come to study God's word. They help me teach. We have fun. His blessings upon us are so evident. Margie had a good night last night. It is such a blessing when she is able to sleep. Please pray she will be able to do the physical therapy routines without getting ill. She has had to limit them because of this. Thanks dear friends for praying. We appreciate you greatly. 

Friday, January 30, 2015

GOOD REPORT

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus our High Priest understands, and surely knows our needs,
He sympathizes with our weakness, for the believer who intercedes.
He has no sin, but helps the sinners; how fortunate we are,
A loving Savior He is to all: and even for sinners He goes so far.
Today and always we come boldly to Him at the throne of grace
And oh what joy we receive from Jesus in this holy sacred place.(RP)

We were pleased when Margie's doctor phoned with the news that the ultrasound yesterday morning showed no problems whatever.  We thank the Lord for that. We were not able to stay at the afternoon prayer meeting at church. Margie was feeling badly, so we returned home. She is discovering that the physical therapy is causing a negative response and we are trying to pace things differently with the hopes it will regulate itself.  Thanks so much for praying. We look forward to the Bible class this morning. 

Thursday, January 29, 2015

ULTRA SOUND

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

God calls His children to be witnesses, and empowers them to serve,
He sends them to tell others of Jesus; this command we must observe.
The Holy Spirit gives power to those who will submit; it all starts here,
And we are to go into all the world and give out His message so clear.(RP)

This morning Margie will have an ultrasound. We are praying they will have wisdom to read the results correctly. It would be a great blessing to find what is causing her distress.  We had a pretty full day yesterday and today promises the same. We are in the countdown for final preparations for the Friday Bible class also. Thanks for your prayers.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

SCARE

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. I John 5:14 

Prayer is the recourse of all who believe, and a blessing Christians enjoy,
Those who talk to the Lord know this is something no one can destroy.
We ask God for those things that are needful in life; this is normal for us,
It is important that we ask according to God's will; to this we must adjust.
Thank God He hears us when we pray, and we are encouraged by this,
Praise God for answered prayer; this is the greatest thing that exists(RP)

Margie had her second therapy session Monday and saw her doctor yesterday. The doctor was very pleased with Margie's appearance and condition. In the afternoon we continued with her physical therapy at home and in late afternoon she had another spell of shortness of breath. She did not want me to call 911 so we braved it out at home. It was scary however. We even wondered if there was one of the therapies that could have aggravated this attack.  We really don't know. But we do appreciate your prayers for her that she can get feeliing better. Thanks for doing it. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

THERAPY

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

The world is upset with riots and war; I'm glad there is still hope for all,
Jesus is peace and gives it freely to any who upon Him will call.
Believers in Jesus have tribulations, but He has promised us hope,
Because He offers us help from above, we know we can always cope.(RP)

Margie had the first therapy session after her initial introduction interview last week.  Lisa put her through the routines she has been doing here at home and introduced some new ones. These will hopefully give her more help in her breathing. We pray they will work.  This morning Margie sees her regular doctor. This afternoon we will be going through her therapy routines together. I am coaching her as much as possible. Thanks for your prayers.

Monday, January 26, 2015

UNDER THE WEATHER

Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

When it all began so long ago, you'd think that holiness prevailed,
God gave man the option to choose, and see, he really failed.
Man's wickedness was very great; it obviously was in every place,
The thoughts of humans all over the world was evil, and a disgrace.
God's plan sent Jesus to die for sinners in order to set them free,
In Him there is salvation for all who believe; then they will see. (RP)

Unfortunately Margie did not feel well all day. We were ready for church and never made it. She felt punk all day. We almost cancelled our first therapy session today and also the doctor's appointment for tomorrow. But even though she did not sleep through the night real well, she did her exercises this morning and wants to go to therapy.  We are grateful she is well enough to want to go. We need your prayers that the Lord will give her strength and relief from these discomforts that haunt her so much. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, January 25, 2015

COACH

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We need so many answers to life's challenges each day,
I'm so glad I have the answer; it's in God's word on display.
When I lack wisdom God gives it to me; it says so right here,
And If I will only listen and heed, all doubts will disappear.
We have to ask God for wisdom, and when we do He acts,
And when we seek His help, I assure you nothing lacks.
God is generous and grants our request; He tell us so here,
And He never scolds His children for being so sincere.(RP)

I am Margie's self-appointed coach for physical therapy here at home. I help her do the counting for her exercises. I am sure it is also an encouragement because we are working together on it. She was a little upset yesterday morning and we don't know if it was the result of the exercises or her diet.  Who really knows.  She even felt a little off kilter this morning also. We are planning on going to the worship service this morning.  Rawlie came Friday night and he and I attended a men's breakfast where Jake Locker (football player from Ferndale) spoke. It was an enjoyable morning. This morning we will return from church, Lord willing, and have a leisurely afternoon her at home.  Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, January 24, 2015

HOPEFUL

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD 
is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

When I walked in darkness the world was so bleak; I needed light for my way,
But without Jesus in my life there was no hope; all was in sad disarray.
But I met Jesus who gave me life; now He's light and salvation for me.
It is so great to have Him as my guide; He has set me free. 
With His strength I can face every trial, and fear does not haunt me now,
I thank God for the life he has given, and at His feet I fall and humbly bow.(RP)
(RP)

Margie's trip to the physical therapist brought much encouragement to us. The treatments prescribed should help her balance, breathing and general well-being. We are hopeful this will be the case. She has already stdarted the therapy.  She said last night that her legs really "feel" the effect of the exercise. We pray this will be a blessing to her and help she has needed for some time. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, January 23, 2015

CONFIRMED

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8

Believers can't be too careful in their daily walk down here,
The devil seeks our downfall; you can be sure he will appear.
We must be alert and watching to keep ourselves from attack,
We must be in fellowship with Jesus, so we will never slack.
Our enemy roars like a lion seeking to destroy and devour,
We must be cautious and ready, every moment of every hour. (RP)

Margie's first session at the therapy center was confirmed yesterday. It will start with an evaluation by one of the professional therapists. After that Margie will choose the therapist she desires (already known) and she will begin her appointments. We are praying this may bring some relief to her. It is only an attempt but it could possibly resolve some of her problems. We are looking forward to the Bible class this morning. Our study in I Thessalonians is going well with excellent class participation. Thanks so much for praying.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

THERAPY

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.Romans 8:1

I wandered condemned, a sinner by birth, until I met Jesus my Lord,
He saved me from sin and gave me new life; now we are of one accord.
In Jesus there's no condemnation; He washed me and saved me from sin,
A new creation I am because of His grace, and now all is peaceful within.(RP)

Yesterday I had my hearing aids cleaned and checked and recalibrated. Maybe I will be able to more clearly distinguish the letters b...e....t...c..d... and others. Margie kept busy around the house and rested because she is very weak. She called her doctor and it was decided to try physical therapy which may help with some of her back discomfort plus her breathing. She calls today for an appointment for the first session. We thank you for praying about these things. 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

ANOTHER ONE

Psalm 19:11 Moreover by them your servant is warned and in keeping them there is great reward.

The statutes of the Lord are rich, and guide us in our way,
They are special to my needy heart, and help me day by day.
The Word warns me when I need it most,and I rejoice in this,
If I disregard this alert to my soul, then I am very remiss.
To be led by His hand works well, for believers in every land,
It is joy for all who listen to Him, and readily obey His command.
If I pay attention to God's holy word, there is always a rich reward,
And you can be sure that in doing this, blessing on me will be poured.(RP)

We are thankful Margie had another good night ini her own bed. That is two nights in a row. We are pleased. She was extremely weak yesterday and some depressed. Her breathing is still a major concern for her. She will explore more options with her doctor about this. Miracle: Margie has no appointments today. But I do. I see the audiologist for a regular appointment and probably hearing test this morning. My high tech. hearing devices are a blessing and I only have occasional problems with understanding things. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

TWO MONTHS

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.

When things started out in this world long ago, Adam was all alone,
It was not good so God made him a mate,someone he had never known.
Now married and in a beautiful spot, surely things will be okay,
Their duty was set to glorify God, and His every command obey.
Eve was now Adam's companion, and together their family began, 
History tells us this story of the first couple: a woman and a man.
Marriage is God's holy institution, and we tell our story with glee,
I am thankful for my God-given spouse; for us this is the key. (RP)

With our new setup, Margie did well last night.I installed a  vertical grab bar so it is to her right as she gets out of bed. There is one already at her left side, so there is plenty of security right there. All she has to do is take one step to reach the next grab bar by the bathroom door which helps her get inside.Inside the bathroom there are grab bars to help her.Plus all this, I removed the bed risers that raised the bed too high, and replaced them with small ones. All in all it seems to have worked. We pray it will continue. She told me she loves her bed.Those are good words. YESTERDAY MARKED TWO MONTHS SINCE SHE FELL AND FRACTURED HER SPINE. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, January 19, 2015

POOR NIGHT

Jeremiah 1:6-8 Then said I: Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."7 But the Lord said to me: Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.

It seems excuses abound; we hesitate to follow God's command,
We think we're not able to do His will, though for us it was planned.
God comes and reprimands us when we claim we can't do His will, 
His orders are clear and make sense; if we disobey we go downhill.
Cheer up, and be not afraid, God will help you each step of the way,
When you obey His words, you'll be blessed, and delivered every day. (RP)

There is no other way to say it.  It was a poor night. Awake many times and with special needs we helped her with. She slept some but not very well.  She finally got to sleep and made it until around 8 this morning.  That goes for both of us because I am awake to care for her when she's having trouble. She really wants to try her own bed tonight instead of the lift-chair.  I am going to try to find some bed risers that are lower than the last ones I bought. They brought the bed so high she could hardly get into it. Please pray I will be able to get the bed so she will be comfortable in it. Today I am also installing another vertical grab bar near her bed for more security. We pray it helps a lot. Thanks for praying.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

URGENT CALL

Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;  For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

Parents bear a mighty task to teach their kids what's right,
Their example should be Christ-like; pleasing in His sight. 
Instructing their children God's way, helping them to obey,
The results are rewarding, and it will be so all the way.(RP)

Margie called me around 2 this morning and the lift chair lost its power. She was stuck in an awkward position unable to do anything. I am glad I heard her call.  I worked over a half hour trying to find out why the power failed.  Finally I got it and we got her up. The lift chair is wonderful when it's working, but when the power goes out, it is useless. I thank the Lord I was able to get the power restored.  Other than that I think she had a pretty good night.  And the best of all is that she wants to attend the worship service today at church.  We have missed it for 8 weeks. Thanks so much for praying.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

EXCHANGE

Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Oh the Love of Jesus that saved a soul like me,
I was in chains of darkness, but Jesus set me free.
He took me from darkness and put me into His light,
And now thank God, in Christ everything is alright. It's the blood of Jesus that was shed to save my soul,
And I rejoice to know that now my life is under His control.(RP)

We were concerned that the medical supply company would not exchange the items our son purchased from them last Saturday. He and I thought they were the best at the time for Margie's need.  Margie did not feel easy with the bed rails that were confining. In case something happened to me, she couldn't get out of bed. She prefers to have the vertical grab bar close to her bed. The man at the store kindly made the exchange which was an answer to prayer. I will get the grab bar installed and when Margie feels like she can return to using her bed, it will be in place for her. She had another good night for which we are thankful. Thanks so much for your prayer support. 

Friday, January 16, 2015

GRATEFUL

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
Prov 10:12

The sin of hate is awful, and fills the world with strife,
And many a family has suffered: children, husband and wife. 
God's love is eminently better and is free for all to take,
Let it cover you now, dear reader, and a new life for you He'll make(RP)

We are grateful for another good night for Margie in the lift chair. Who knows when she'll return to her bed?  We had a fairly full day yesterday and Margie was able to keep up the pace. We are pleased. Today is Bible study and some visits in the afternoon, after lunch with Margie's brother and sister-in-law.  We must also drop a medical supply story in Bellingham, checking out more possibilities for Margie's safety in the house. Thanks for praying.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

SECOND OPINION

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? I Thessalonians 2:19

Have you ever led a soul to Christ; it is a thrilling thing,
Your heart is filled with ecstasy, and you really want to sing.
When Jesus reviews our lives one day; what will be our lot?
Will we be blessed or will He have to put us on the spot?
When Jesus comes those dear ones we've led to the Lord,
Will be our hope and joy and a crown of rejoicing our reward(RP)

Margie's regular doctor referred her to a specialist and yesterday she had her first interview. It was revealing and very helpful and Margie was enthused with her counsel. We pray it will give her some painless days ahead. We can hardly believe how quickly the days pass. But we know that happens at a rapid rate as we age. Today will be another active day as we do what I call the "hair and prayer" day. Thanks for your prayers.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

COMFORT ZONE

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
I Corinthians 6:20

God saved me by His grace and now I belong to Him,
I want this precious fellowship to last, and never dim.
Help me glorify You Lord in my body; that's all I own,
May I live for you because of all the care you've shown. (RP)

Margie's comfort zone is apparently still in the lift chair. She opted to stay there last night. She did well and we are glad she did. Today she has another doctor's apointment, to arrange for an upper endoscopy test.  I know the doctors are very busy doing these and she may have to wait some time for the actual procedure.  We hope not. The discomfort continues in her stomach area and she at times complains of difficult breathing. We pray the doctors will be able to discover what is causing these problems. Thanks so much for praying. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

HALF & HALF

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

A fact of life is this: we all think we are doing right,
But thank God He really knows our honest plight.
We need to walk in the light of God's holy Word,
It shows our way and is the best thing we've heard.
I am glad He weighs our actions and knows us well,
And as we walk with Him all fear He will lovingly dispel.(RP)

Margie slept part time in her bed and the rest in the lift chair. For some reason, the bed rest only lasted a shorter time. We home things normalize tonight. Yesterday she got a good report from her retina specialist and another shot in the eye. It was late when we got home. Today she sees her regular eye doctor. While she is there I will try and get some needed shopping done. Thanks dear friends for praying. 

Monday, January 12, 2015

A GOOD NIGHT

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12
The Lord is coming; are you ready for Him now?If you need to be prepared,do you know how?
Jesus is the answer; receive Him as your own,
Join with the millions who in Him are never alone.
Put on the armor of light; dispel darkness today,
Help the lost find the Savior, and walk in His way.(RP)

We are grateful Margie had a good night.  This is the fourth night on her own bed which has been adapted for her sleep needs. We pray it will continue this way. She has an important schedule with the retina specialist this afternoon. Yesterday before Sunday School a friend advised me that our car had a very low tire in the front. This friend went home, returned with his compressor and filled the tire. What a special friend he is. Our family came by for a visit before leaving for home in the later afternoon. Our son was such a help to us in installing the special devices on Margie's bed.  We appreciate it greatly. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, January 11, 2015

STILL HOPEFUL

Psalms 89:1
I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 

When you've been touched by God's special love,You realize in your heart His great help from above.
I sing of His love with joy; it always thrills my soul,
It's a thrill to know our loving Lord is in full control.
Lord please help me tell others of your faithful care,
I want to be true always, and spend time in prayer.(RP)

We are still hopeful that Margie will be able to conitnue sleeping in her bed.  Last night was the third night. At one point her back was aching, so we put a heat patch on and she slept on her right side rather than the left. She made it through the rest of the night just fine. We are thrilled because we plan on attending at least Sunday School this morning. We have not been able to attend the worship service for seven weeks. Our son yesterday purchased two significant pieces of safety devices for Margie's bed. He also installed them.  What a blessing and special help he has been through her illness. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, January 10, 2015

MAYBE

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.Heb 11:8

Abraham brings us a lesson sure, as we see how he obeyed,
And left his home and loved ones and not a minute was delayed
God promised him a place that he received by faith alone,
And the blessing he received was the best that ever was known.(RP)

Maybe Margie's bed set-up will work for her. Last night she slept in it and only complained of back pain this morning. She had a pretty good night. I purchased some devices to help secure her in the bed but we think they are not going to be practical. Our son came up last night just in time to get involved installing these things. We are so thankful for his help. Today he and I plan to investigate other possibilities to help her in sleeping. I think Margie is more encouraged about being able to use her own bed again.  At least last night for part of it, it worked fine. We are pleased. Thanks for praying and we will keep you informed about our progress.

Friday, January 9, 2015

POSITIVE

Galatians 6:9 
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Have you ever felt like giving up, and calling it all quits,
Have you run the course, and your heart to this admits?
Christians see things differently; they listen to God talk,
While learning and listening to Him on this earthly walk.
They learn to not grow weary in doing what they should, 

And soon they are empowered to do what's really good.
God promises us victory if we stay the course with Him,
The chances that you'll not be happy are very very slim.(RP)

I'm happy to report Margie had a good yesterday and last night. Hopefully today will be a repeat of this. Today I will be setting up an appointment for her with the specialist for an upper endoscopy. We are sure it will take a long time to be able to see him.  Mine took many weeks. We are going to Bible class this morning. I am so glad she is able to go with me. We appreciate so much all who are praying. It means much to us. Thank you.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

WISH IT WAS BETTER

Proverbs 9:10 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Some think they are wise, but know nothing about its source,
They have no concept of God with his unbelievable force.
If they knew that trusting Him is the beginning of it all,
Maybe they would come to Him, and at his feet humbly fall.
When one has knowledge of God, then he's on the right road,
His heart will be joyful, and God's presence his abode.(RP)

We are not complaining. We do wish her sleeping could be better. She slept part of the night, then moved back to her bed for the rest of the night. That did not work out because it hurts her back too much. She told me this morning that she will not be able to go back to her bed unless we can elevate it more.  I had originally elevated the head of the bed thinking that would be more like a hospital bed. But that did not work out at all. So now I will see how I can elevate the height of the bed and we'll see if that helps. So we keep trying by trial and error to make things so she can be comfortable. Thanks so much for praying. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

A GOOD NIGHT

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Jesus is peace and gives peace to His own,
This peace is so vital and is the best ever known.
God's peace can be found in Jesus today,
And we urge all to seek it without delay.
Tribulation abounds in this world of ours,
With all of its headaches, wounds and scars.
Jesus overcame the world, my friend,
For you I sincerely this One recommend.(RP)

Margie saw her doctor yesterday ordered by the discharge papers from the hospital. Her doctor did not believe Margie has heart failure. She ordered more blood tests and will let her know if other kinds of tests are recommended. Margie feels better about this evaluation and we will keep monitoring her condition.
She had a good sleep for which we are thankful. Because Margie sleeps in the lift-chair, and I in the bedroom, the distance between the family room and bedroom is considerable. I installed a wireless doorbell so now all she has to do is push the button to awaken me.  I told her to press the button several times because once last night I never even heard the thing. Now we have a system and it works well. Thanks so much for praying.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

FOLLOW-UP

Exodus 20:3 
You shall have no other gods before Me.

In life it's easy to have other gods; those things to which we devote our time,
If we are guilty indeed, and dedicate time to things more than God, it's a crime.
How it should grieve us to think that things have more importance than God,
But we are prone for such things, and for the Christian this action is very odd.
Let's obey God today, resolving to have no gods before our Father above,
And learn to walk in obedience to Him, and sincerely give Him our love(RP)

Today is Margie's follow-up visit to the doctor after being disccharged from E.R. and hospital Friday. She is hoping her doctor can give her more help on this discomfort which constantly annoys her. She had a pretty good night. We only wish she could sleep in her regular bed, but there is something about it which aggravates her back condition. Thanks so much for your prayers which are appreciated.

Monday, January 5, 2015

ANOTHER TRY

Romans 1:16 
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

We should stand tall for Jesus; we are not ashamed.
He is our mighty Captain, the greatest name proclaimed.
The gospel is the power of God that saves the souls who are lost.
And Jesus is the one who did it, at a very incredible cost.
If the lost will believe in Jesus, they will be saved right now,
This message is for Jews and Greeks and all the rest, we vow.(RP)

Margie gave it another try sleeping in her bed. As usual it was short-lived.  Soon she was back out in the family room in the lift-chair. We are sorry the bed is so uncomfortable. It really aggravates her back condition. She did not do so well until after midnight, but then leveled out and had a pretty good rest. We are grateful.  We are trying this morning to get an appointment with her doctor. This was ordered by the discharge process from the hospital. She is praying for more relief from the gnawing pain in her stomach. We are in the process of following the orders given in her discharge folder about taking her daily weight to determine if she needs water pills or not.  So far none are needed. Thanks so much for praying. 

Sunday, January 4, 2015

POOR NIGHT

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

My heavenly Father watches over me, every day and every hour,
He sees what I am doing and guards me with His great power.
His watching eyes see everything whether it be good or bad,
And I'm comforted by this because it makes me very glad. (RP)

We are not bragging about Margie not having a poor night. The night before she slept like a baby, but last night was sad. I hope she can get some cat naps in today that will not bother her sleep tonight. Our son and his family were here for a short visit and our son stayed here one night.  We do not discount the doctor's diagnosis of her condition, but she is still convinced something is not right in her system besides this matter of heart failure. She will consult her doctor about this soon. Today Margie is not strong enough to attend church services. We will listen and watch good programs via the radio, Ipad and TV. We look forward to this.  And we pray for the services in our church and would love to be there for the fellowship and instruction from God's Word. Thanks, dear friends, for your prayers.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

HEART FAILURE

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8

Life has its fun times, and this is okay; but some things are serious for sure,
Christians are to be aware of things, knowing our enemy wants to allure.
The devil is after us like a hungry lion, desiring only to devour,
His goal is to get you at the weakest point, your very soul to empower.
Dear friend, put on the gospel armor, and get help from God today,
Your life will be blessed beyond measure as you serve Him and obey.(RP)

Margie was on the 4th floor of the hospital and that part of it is called the Cardiovascular Center.  A sticker on the folder she was handed says plainly " Heart Failure"  The papers inside tell the story of those who have heart failure. It is complex and has many facets to it. It appears after Margie's many trips to E.R. and subsequent stays in the hospital, they have concluded this is what is causing her many problems that brought her each time to the E.R. So we are on a new regime now. Weight is important so this morning she weighed herself on the scales. I will go down in a few minutes to get more medication prescribed by the doctor. It is a different ball game from here on out but we are glad for the guidelines given.  Margie had a pretty good night. She tried sleeping in her bed, but it just did not work, so she moved to the lift-chair.  It is a blessing having it. So today starts a new chapter in her care. Thanks so much for your prayers. We deeply appreciate it. 

Friday, January 2, 2015

LITTLE ACTIVITY

For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

We don't walk alone in this life down here; our Savior is with us today,
No matter the place or circumstances, He is with us each step of the way.
I'm so glad that when troubles overwhelm us, He never will forsake,
He understands every problem we face, and the things that make us ache.(RP)

You can be sure that New Year's day at the hospital was in a calmer mode. I think that was not the case for the E.R. Margie's signal device would not work so it was very difficult to get help when needed. Finally a phone number was given instead of using the call button (which didn't work) They did fix it in late afternoon.  Margie's distress continues. The doctor was in to see her in the early morning and admitted he knew she would return, after seeing her the day before--the day she was released. We continue to pray the Lord will give wisdom to the doctors to help her. Thanks so much for your prayers.  I teach my Bible class this morning, then go to be with Margie at the hospital.   

Thursday, January 1, 2015

E.R. AGAIN

Psalm 65:11 
You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.

We look back to last year and praise the Lord for all He has meant to us,
And realize very soon that it will be the same as we face this year with a plus.
God's goodness abounds to us all, and we never can thank Him enough,
Because we know one thing is sure: He'll be there in good times and rough. (RP)

We arrived home from E.R. and the hospital Tuesday evening at about 6 PM.  Yesterday, Wednesday we had to return to E.R. because Margie was having great trouble with her breathing.  The waiting room was packed. We waited a long time before getting admitted. They did x-rays of back and lungs, did an E.K.G and blood work of various kinds. I left the hospital at 11:15 and finally got to bed around 12:30. Because it was New Year's Eve, Margie did not get settled into a different room until around 2 A.M. She just called and they are going to take an x-ray of her stomach because she still has the discomfort which prompted us to come to E.R. yesterday. We pray they will find some solution to her problem.  Thanks for praying.