Bless the LORD, O my souland all that is within me
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s
Ian and I have spent a significant amount of time studying Psalm 103. We noticed while studying this that the first benefit listed is that God forgives all of our iniquities. If we were to be given no other benefit but our salvation through of Jesus' death on the cross, it would be enough to bless the Lord with all that is within us and it is of most importance.
While studying this Psalm, God brought me the idea to start memorizing scripture with Ian. It's something that he used to do a lot and that I've prayed about being able to do with him again. We've been praying for his short-term memory and I've been trying to think of exercises to help him with that. Memorizing scripture was the sweetest thing that God could've brought to mind. Since then, Ian has memorized several verses of Psalm 103, and is able to recite them with his voice. It's wonderful to hear him speaking truth again.
Speaking of, speaking, Ian has been doing a lot of it. His voice is coming more and more easily. Every day he is using his voice several times, to tell us things, to have conversations with us, to ask Lydia what's wrong when she's crying and to tell her that he loves her. I remember when we used to spend half an hour just to get one sound out. God is helping and Ian is responding in obedience.
We truly appreciate everyone's prayers. I recently told Ian how many people are reading his blog every day and right away he said "wow." I'm praying that soon we will see "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" through Ian's complete healing.
Larissa
10 comments:
Ian, we're glad that you're speaking so well and able to work on memorizing Scripture!
Larissa, you make a great encourager.
Praying,
The Freemans
You will!!!
I am so happy that Ian is finally speaking more readily. Nice to hear about him talking to his little sister - so sweet. My prayers continue that soon he will be "singing" God's praises!!
Rene
Larissa, will continue to pray for the same...thank you for this encouraging update.
I have a litany of psalms that I recite on my drive to work each day (along with the "Blessed are..." from Matthew 5.
I know that the Lord works mightily in my heart as I go over each psalm -- as I praise, question him, groan with struggles and hurt, confess, etc.
Will pray that the Lord continues to bless your Scripture memory and will touch your hearts with His Word. Blessings on your week,
Hi Larissa,
He writes, he speaks, he even memorizes. You've known him before the accident and so you can see how far he has yet to go. For us, we have known him first as someone who was in a coma. So the amazement is just ever growing. Everytime I feel this joy, I think of the post you wrote about your grief. I pray that one day, although you said otherwise in that post, your grief will be replaced with joy. Like you write, the forgiveness we have received is alone enough to thank Him. May God bless you for declaring it. But we pray with ever increasing faith-made-sight that Ian will be healed completely and you will wear these two or three years as a God-given and yet hard-won badge of honour and credibility as you spread the gospel to a much wider audience than would have been possible otherwise.
I think God selected the perfect couple for this experience.
Still praying with love
-n-
Larissa and Ian, So wonderful to know that He gave us His Word to tell us about His glorious self!
"This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me." Amen! (Ps. 119:50)
love in Him,
Aunt Terry
Ian, Larissa, Steve, and everyone-
I have been reading for over a year- and I can't remember if I've ever commented.
My son, Christopher, suffered a severe TBI on 6/12/02, four days after his 20th birthday. He was a college student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Chris was mugged getting off the EL train- he took a beating with a baseball bat across the back of his head. He had a massive bleed- I rec'd a call at work, and by the time I got to the hospital, i was advised that he was not expected to live. I even signed for him to be an organ donor-
Well, apparently God and Chris had other plans. Our story is very similar to yours, one that I'd be happy to share with you. Everything from swallowing, to speech, to accessible housing, to all of the therapy, to TAKING HIS FIRST STEP...
I understand.
Let me tell you about Christoper today, going on 7 years post injury.
He is back in school- not at the University of Illinois where he was going, but at a school called Flashpoint Academy, which is a digital media 2 year program. He is EXCELLING! This from a kid who was expected to die, or if he did live, to never be in anything more that a vegetative state.
The brain is an amazing organ. God is an amazing healer. Never, ever give up. God is amazing.
What prompted me to write this long comment was Ian's "Thank You" note. Just you watch...amazing things are coming.
Ian is in our prayers daily- we so understand.
Blessings-
Deb
"We've been praying for his short-term memory and I've been trying to think of exercises to help him with that. Memorizing scripture was the sweetest thing that God could've brought to mind."
Larissa, you are so right! Bless you for your obedience to the Lord's prompting of memorizing Scripture. May it benefit Ian's memory and his spiritual walk!
Still Praying.
Mary Ann K.
Wow! Can you imagine what the Lord thinks about you and Ian choosing to memorize HIS word? Not just on an average day..but doing it now at this point in your life when some others may have turned away? Again, you remind me and others of HIS grace in your life and mine. I thank HIM and you for that reminder. Praise HIS Holy name..and Larissa and Ian we continue to pray.
A brother and sister from Calvary Fellowship Wayne.
we love you Ian!!!
Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!
Continuing to pray for Ian and for the whole family.
In Christ's Love,
Chris P.
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