David Spears

JULY 20 UPDATE – Day 60

Eph. 1:18-23 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

David spent most of his "day of rest" with his mother. He receives very little rehab on the weekend. So Jenny spent the better part of the day with him. Pray for her - it is not easy spending all day with him when he is not making any neurological improvement. Some news I haven't passed on: they have put a 'cap" on his trach and he is breathing through his mouth and nose (they may take the trach out early this week) He makes a constant drone - he seems to like to hear himself. Please pray diligently for his neurological improvement. If any of you are in the Atlanta area, I think Jenny would appreciate a call or better a visit (possibly to eat lunch or supper)

Phil. 3:7-14 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

JULY 21 UPDATE – Day 61

John 17:1-3 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

GOOD NEWS!!! David began to show some signs of cognitive recovery today!!! The physical therapist told Jenny (who the therapist had asked to step out of the room) that David chose a green ring when she asked him to pick out a green ring from a red one. She also said that he held up 2 fingers when she asked him. The speech therapist told Jenny that they rate the recovery of patients using a point scale. On Friday, David scored a "6", today he scored a "10" (she also said the a "14" marks out a return to cognitive function). These are both very positive steps in the right direction. Jenny says that David really enjoys taking "walks" = Jenny walks and David rides in his wheelchair!! Please pray for Robert as he travels from Greenville to Atlanta for a meeting with David's "team" at 1 pm and then he returns to Greenville. Pray that David will continue his physical, cognitive, and Spiritual recovery.

John 14:1-6 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

JULY 23 UPDATE – Day 63

Psa. 132:1 Remember, O LORD, on David’s behalf, All his affliction… (interesting psalm!!)

More Good News!! (Sorry I didn't get this site updated yesterday – we are having an all-day Bible/sports/music camp at our church this week and I didn't get home until almost 11 pm.) I also traveled to Atlanta and back to attend a "team" meeting with the doctors and case manager) News from the meeting: The doctors have David on a four week program to hopefully enable him to become (1) alert, (2) aware, (3) able to participate in his rehabilitation. IF this happens, then he would move to more aggressive rehab. Of course this schedule is not written in stone. It will be modified as he progresses or doesn't. PLEASE PRAY DILIGENTLY FOR HIS COGNITIVE IMPROVEMENT AND FOR HIS SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT. It has been 2 MONTHS since the accident (May 22) - David has made amazing progress overall but he still has a long way to go. The doctors had up on a veiwing screen the CT scans from the first hours after the accident - it is scary to see how far the board went into his head (basically all the way to the back right side of his head!) GOOD NEWS TODAY!! - The docs removed David's trach!!! They didn't stitch it up (much to our amazement) but said it would heal itself in 3-4 days. PLEASE PRAY THAT DAVID WOULD SOON BE ABLE TO EAT BY MOUTH SO THAT THEY CAN REMOVE HIS PEG! Also please pray that he gain weight - he has lost over 40 pounds since the accident!!! We talked with the doctors about increasing his caloric intake and they said they would try. Please continue to pray for Jenny as she is alone in Atlanta and stays with David all day (8am–9pm)

Psa. 77:1-14 My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint.
You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion?
Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.” I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people,

JULY 24 UPDATE – Day 64

Prov. 17:17 A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
Ecclessiastes 4:9-11 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?

David is still in the process of adjusting from being in an ICU bed to living as normal as medically possible. The docs are also trying some "experimental" brain stimulating drugs (not that the drugs haven't been used but they are not tested and approved to stimulate low functioning brain injury patients. Please pray for the drugs effectiveness. Also, please pray for David as one of these drugs appears to being causing him an upset stomach and vomiting. Please pray for his body health and pain because they will impede his neurological recovery.

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

JULY 27 UPDATE – Day 67

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

David had many visitors today - his maternal grandparents, his sister and her boyfriend, his California cousins. For some reason he became very agitated and didn't do well this afternoon. Please pray for his cognitive improvement, his Spiritual nurture, and for his physical strength. Pray for his ability to take more "food" this week so that he can gain some weight. Pray for his ability to swallow, to eat, and to talk (he is not doing any of those now!) Pray for his doctors (esp. Dr. Leslie and Dr. Long), his nurses, his therapists, and the techs. Pray for their skill, wisdom, discernment, and diligence. Thank you for your prayers.

1Thessalonians 5:23-25 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Brethren, pray for us!

JULY 28 UPDATE – Day 68

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

David had a very hard day - he had 2 seizures around noon today and he ran a high fever (103.5 degrees). The staff had to put him on an anti-seizure medication, tylenol (for the temp) and put onto an ice blanket to bring the temp. down. Please pray that the staff will be able to diagnose the cause of the temp. and the seizures and to deal with the problem. Please pray for his health and strength, for his improvement in every aspect of his rehab.

Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

JULY 29 UPDATE – Day 69

Genesis 22:1-3Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Gen. 22:10-14 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”

David had a relatively quiet day - he is on two anti-convulsants, strong antibiotics, and medication for his fever. He has a urinary tract infection. The docs have temporarily taken him off the neuro-stimulants just in case they caused the seizures. Please pray for him to stabilize, for the infection to subside, and for him to progress neurologically. Pray for Jenny's strength, and patience, and peace as she ministers to him almost all day, every day.

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

JULY 30 UPDATE – Day 70

Jer. 18:1-10 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.

David had a another relatively quiet day - he (and Jenny) spent most of the day waiting to get a CT scan which finally occurred at 4:30 pm. We don't know the results of the CT scan or of the EEG that was taken on Monday and was the reason that the docs ordered the CT scan. Jenny is somewhat frustrated because it seem as if David is "losing" time by these setbacks. Pray for his return to good health and that he would make good and rapid progress in his strength, in mental abilities, and in Spiritual maturity. Pray for us: our patience, our trust, our wisdom, our needs. Thank you for your faithfulness in our hour of need.

Eph. 3:14-20 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

JULY 31 UPDATE – Day 71

Isaiah 64:1-9 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence— As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil— To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things which we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned, We continued in them a long time; And shall we be saved? For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Your people.

David had a relatively good day - he didn't throw up, his temperature was down (not to normal, but much lower), he had his first supplemental feeding (he is still being fed continuously from 4 pm until 8 am every day. We still have not heard about the results of the CT scan or even the EEG that was done on Monday. Jenny came back to Greenville this afternoon to check up on us and she will return tomorrow. Please pray for his continued health, for the return of his cognitive abilities, for his strengthening, and for his Spiritual growth and peace. Pray for us: our peace, love for Christ and one another, for our strength and ministry to David and our other children.

Jude 1:22-25 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.