SEEING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
This the 7th installment of the series about the severe stroke I suffered on August 19, 2014. I am not
I went home after the meeting feeling very positive and got a good night sleep. I woke up Thursday morning with no pain and my leg feeling looser than it had at any time since the stroke. I still hobbled but was much steadier on my feet and had no pain. Several people at the Claremore Veterans Center commented that my walk seemed much steadier and faster than I had been before. I normally walk between 2.5 and 3 miles per day there while carrying out my daily duties as a volunteer but on Thursday it seemed I was much more active than usual. I didn’t have my pedometer on so I don’t know how far I walked but was very tired by the time I left at 3 pm. On Thursday nights I am the greeter at the new Celebrate Recovery in Chelsea and spent an entire hour standing at the door without sitting down, something I would not normally do. At the end of the evening, I was very tired but not in any pain as I would be normally. Friday I went back to the center for another day of serving, this time with my pedometer. I spent 7 hours, walking 3.48 miles without pain. Then, after a couple of hours rest at home went to Friday night church at Vision, walking another .48 mile for a total of 3.96 for the day and experiencing no pain at all. On Saturday I again went to the Veterans Center for a 6.75-hour shift and walked 3.37 miles, all without any pain at all. This is incredible because I worked 21 hours and walked well in excess of 8 miles in 3 days, and although I was very tired I did not have any pain from it.
On Sunday morning I got to Lifechanger Church a little earlier than usual. We have a “prayer line” at the front and I like to walk and pray before service begins. The line is 60 feet long and I made 30 round trips, praying the entire time. I pray for our nation, state, county, city, the 3 churches I belong to, the pastors, elders, and other leaders of all 3, as well as for the Veterans Center, employees, residents, and the families of all as well as a variety of people individually. I also pray for my family and myself in the process. After the service I go to CedarPoint Church for the 12:02 service and then back to Lifechanger at 6 pm for the evening service ( and made another 15 round trips on the prayer line). Sunday I covered 3.8 miles on a day that I normally walk very little, with no adverse effect on my leg or back. Several people noticed and commented on my steady and brisk gait at church Sunday. As I begin this on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 I noticed that today I spent 7 hours at the center, walking 4 miles, much over my typical distance. I am also a greeter at the CedarPoint Church Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights and covered an additional 1.65 miles. I typically arrive 90 minutes before service to be at the door for the early arrivals, mainly the worship and leadership teams. I have a chair I can sit in during slack times but spent very little time sitting tonight as I felt real well in spite of my very active day. My right shoulder is pretty sore from pushing the cart around at the Veterans Center this morning and pushing the church door open against a strong NW wind this evening but there is no pain in my left hip, leg, or foot as I would normally experience after the day I have had. When Pastor Ted gave me the word Wednesday night I expected something different, not really sure what, but maybe the limp would be gone, but I still limp. It hit me after I got home from CR how much I had done since Wednesday night and how there is no pain in my hip, leg, or foot so I am beginning to see how God intends to work this out. I may still wake up tomorrow totally restored but I may just be stronger, steadier, and able to accomplish more with the current state. Whatever the case I am going to stop writing for the night, give God thanks for the last 5 days, and get some sleep so I can go again tomorrow. I don’t know yet how God is going to accomplish His promise but I know He IS going to accomplish it, in His time and according to His will, all I have to do is comply, and I will do so. Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done for me and for all You will do in the future. It is almost midnight so I am done for now.
As I renew working on this it is 3:30 pm Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, and I just got home from the Veterans
It is now 3:30 on Wednesday, Oct. 25. I spent another 6.5 hours at the Veterans center, covering 3.8 miles in my daily duties. I am tired but not hurting after my day. Tonight I am again going to the Bible study. I want to let those there know about the marvelous week I have had benefits from hearing God’s message last week. He had an encouraging word for me then and I want everyone who heard it to know how much it blessed me. I am still pumped up mentally from last Wednesday night, still very encouraged from God’s message to me. It is now 10 pm. I just got out of the shower and am finishing this so I can post it tomorrow afternoon. Everyone at the Bible study was happy to hear what I had to say about my week and prayed at the end for even more good news in the future. I had a total of 4.42 miles with 6.5 hours at the Veterans Center. I am tired but the hip, leg, and foot have no pain, thank You, Jesus.
Another of my pastors, Don Couch of Vision often says, “one word from God can change your life” and I believe the word from last week is one that will change my life. God has heard my prayers, seen my faith,
Don’t ever let anyone convince you that faith and prayer are a waste because they most definitely work!!!!! As I stated earlier, I still have to keep up my end, which entails believing, praying, and doing all I can to help myself. Difficult times will still come but God will get me through them. Last Sunday, Oct. 22, Pastors Rick and Ted both had sermons about doing things God’s way. They approached it using different verses and from different angles but the basic message was the same. If we do God’s work God’s way we will succeed beyond our expectations because God will do the heavy lifting for us. I am seeing this more and more as I walk through my health problem. One day, don’t know which one, I will wake totally restored to pre-stroke status. I am looking forward to that day but until then I will serve and praise Him to the best of my ability knowing that He has me in the palm of His hand loving me, healing me, and getting me through the hard parts of life.
I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.
Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
October 26, 2017
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