I Praise God for all those who prayed for Debbie last night at our prayer meeting as well as all over the country - in homes - in your car - in your own Bible studies and at your churches.
This afternoon when I went to visit her again - she still didn't open her eyes or respond to me. I sat on her bed for quite awhile and just read scripture to her, then prayed for her, then turned up the praise music that others had brought.
Then I got in her face and I began talking to her. I kept saying my name to her and asking her if she could hear me. I asked her if she could say my name. Her eyes began to flutter like she was really trying to open them. So I encouraged her to open her eyes. I said to her, "Come on Debbie, come back 'to the land of the living' and open those eyes for me. Can you say my name? Can you say, Stephanie?"
Then she opened her eyes and whispered my name. I almost jumped off the bed. I asked her about another friend, Kate. I told her that Kate was there earlier in the morning along with her other good friends too. "Can you say Kate?" She whispered Kate's name. Then she began to cry and talk with me. We cried together and talked as she fought her way back into the land of the living. By the time her husband came in - she was fully awake again and she ate almost two full dinner meals that were left on the tray for her and her husband. We got her up and walked her a bit too. After more than 10 days of being in that catatonic coma - God brought her back - through YOUR prayers!
She has a really long road ahead. Please keep praying that she does not go back inside herself. Pray for her family in the decisions that they have to make tomorrow about her further care.
Her other friends, Dee and another Stephanie really pulled together to get the prayer ball rolling in the last few days. We need to bathe her in prayer from now on.
Many of you have left messages and e-Mails wondering how she is. Her father brought her two young daughters to the hospital before I left and the reunion was a special time.
It was amazing to see how God's people have pulled together for this family in prayer and support to help them. God kept showing several scriptures over and over.
It was these:
Psalm 139 the entire psalm but these verses in particular:
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
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Psalm 63:7-8
7 Because You are my help,
I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
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2 Corinthians 4:16 [The Message]
16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
Choosing Great JOY,
Stephanie
[JESUS - the One I Worship]