I've just returned from the hospital. From holding the hand of a dear friend who lies "asleep" but alert to my words.
She gave me several sweet squeezes on my hand as I spoke to her. As I prayed Psalms over her, she even tried to move her lips, attempting to praise HIM even in this condition.
Please continue to pray for her and her family. Swelling and bleeding are chief concerns at this point. I will continue to post on her progress.
In the meantime, wanna do something? If you know Joanne, you know that she is deep lover of God's word. Please write a scripture or prayer on a card and sent it this way. We can wallpaper her recovery room walls with the promises of her maker.
Mail to her sister's address here:
Joanne Heim
c/o Kristen Haufschild
11004 Grayledge Circle
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
Also, if you want to leave a verse/prayer in the comments section of this post and I will print them out on pretty paper to deliver.
Great idea! Will pass it along. Love you, Janna!!
Posted by: Holly Smith | January 11, 2011 at 06:25 PM
Janna,
Joanne has talked of you so often it feels like I know you. Please squeeze her one extra time for all who love her and wish we could be there too.
I'll send a verse that is very relevant to me personally and now finds more meaning...
"Many, O Lord my God, are your wonderful works which you have done; and your thoughts which are toward us are more than can be recounted in order; if I would declare or speak of them, they are more than could be numbered." Psalm 40:5
Believing that God's works are always towards us, I'm boldly asking our Father to be add Joanne's healing to the innumerable acts which he performs on the behalf of His children.
With much love,
Lisa McKay
Alabama
Posted by: Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife | January 11, 2011 at 06:34 PM
“And he said unto me, O (Joanne), a (wo)man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent…Then said he unto me, Fear not, (Joanne): for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”
Daniel 9:11, 12
Posted by: PastorMarian | January 11, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Thanks so much for passing our messages on!
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Sweet friend, believing and praying for the day you are walking and running again! Much love, Stephanie (ocean mommy)
Posted by: Oceanmommy | January 11, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Woman of God
I stand in prayer with you and our Sister in the Faith...
marian
Posted by: PastorMarian | January 11, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Praying with you all! I love that girl!
((hugs)) from TN!
Posted by: Fran | January 11, 2011 at 06:39 PM
Isaiah 40:4 - Praying that your every valley shall be lifted up, and your every mountain and hill will be made low, and that the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain that HE may be glorified through you. It's a Beautiful God Who lives in you. Col 1:29 and it is His Energy that is so powerfully at work in you. Just as Jesus touched a hand in Matthew 8:15, we are laying our hands on top of yours in this picture---may you know His Healing Touch. My Love & Prayers, Bev Brandon
Posted by: Bev Brandon | January 11, 2011 at 06:41 PM
Thank you for sharing. I've been in prayer for Joanne. Continuing to lift her and her family in prayer. A few hand squeezes can be the biggest blessing! She has been a blessing to me via her books and blog.
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8
Posted by: heidi | January 11, 2011 at 06:45 PM
Janna - Thank you for posting these updates. I first met Joanne at a Living Proof Life Event for Beth Moore bloggers back in August of 2008. She is PRECIOUS. Joanne, Holly Smith, Deborah (Twinkle), and I prayed together during one of the breaks and it was a highlight of my weekend in San Antonio, TX. I've read her blog and kept in touch with her since.
I am praying and will continue to pray for this sweet and beautiful woman of faith. Praying for Toben and the girls as well.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.
Believing God,
Jan Morton
Posted by: Jan | January 11, 2011 at 06:46 PM
I have been praying all day and will not stop. She has been in my constant thoughts.
Please tell her that her fellow Siestas are praying and we love her so so much!
1) "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27
2) LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. Ps. 30:2
3) Ps. 31:1-2
In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
I love you Joanne!
Posted by: Patty | January 11, 2011 at 06:47 PM
I do not know you personally, but am praying for you sweet sister in Christ!! I am lifting you up to our great Physician so that he may fully heal your body. With love that never ceases, Kim Hardin in TN
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Posted by: Kim Hardin | January 11, 2011 at 06:52 PM
What a great idea! Will do.
Posted by: stephanie | January 11, 2011 at 06:54 PM
On my knees for our sweet siesta.
Posted by: Lora | January 11, 2011 at 06:54 PM
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph.3:20-21
Sweet Jesus, YOU ARE ABLE.
Praying for you and yours tonight, Joanne.
Kristin in Arkansas
Posted by: Kristin | January 11, 2011 at 07:02 PM
This was a verse that became very special to my family during my teenaged niece's battle with brain cancer: " We have this hope as an anchor for the soul...firm and secure." Heb. 6:19
Many prayers for Joanne and her family.
Posted by: Lisa@SliceOfLife | January 11, 2011 at 07:10 PM
As my eyes fill with tears at all of the Word being prayed over a sister in Christ whom I do not know, I feel the love of Christ and the bond that exists between people who may not even know Joanne, but love her because she is part of our eternal family. My heart is touched and lifted to the throne of God and I pray that all of His Words and our thoughts lift her to Him and He receives all the praise and glory from all of our prayers. May our great Physician touch her and hold her with His righteous right hand.
Posted by: Mary Lou | January 11, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Thoughts, Prayers & much love to you!
Posted by: Val | January 11, 2011 at 07:20 PM
I will pray for Joanne and her family. I used to participate in her Memory Monday meme and I follow her blog. I am so so sorry to hear about what has happened! Please let her know I've been praying for her.
Sincerely,
Karen Lowe
Posted by: Karen | January 11, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Will get something in the mail...Have been glued to the computer all day....I met Joanne in San Antonio also...but I have special encouragement...recently
I am going to give a word of encouragement since I am so close to this..Jack, my husband, had a major stroke on Oct 2 in a hotel room in Dallas. We know for sure he had it during the night and was not found until 10 AM, he was life flighted to a major stroke center, could move only his right toes when he arrived. They ask me on several occasions to sigh a DNA, so I knew they were thinking he might not make it. On the first night we were called back to the hospital as his heart rate was dropping. He had a bleed that we had to watch for days. I knew nothing about strokes and got a crash course very quickly. We heard the same report they have just given Joann's husband (more than once) you can read the reports on my blog...starting Oct 2...Today is Jan 11,2011, only 14 weeks later... After six weeks in the hospital, four of those being in a rehab hospital, the only lingering problems he has are some swelling and tightness in his left hand and a little tightness in his left shoulder...and maybe tires a little easier. Just today he was released to go back to the workout center and began working out again. He drives, (has from week 9, has even driven in holiday traffic in Dallas which really impresses me) walks with no limp, no assistance, talks totally normal, has no memory loss, well no more than I do, and if you were meeting him for the first time would have no idea that he had a major stroke three months ago. When we transferred him back to our home hospital in Shreveport, he could not walk, had some speech problems. The first three weeks were not all positive...there were some setbacks, some scares, but here we are three months later. One day last week someone ask me what he could not do and I had to think. That morning he had dressed the grandsons for school, taken them to breakfast, then to school, had the oil changed in my car, taken the dog to be groomed, stopped at the grocery store and the pharmacy and was back home before I got up. I would say there is not much he cannot do. I believe in MIRACLES and am praying for one for Joanne.
Posted by: Teresa | January 11, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Prayers for this precious woman of God and her family. I read "Hinds' Feet on High Places" based on Joanne's recommendation, so here is a verse I think she'll like:
2 Samuel 22:33-34 (New King James Version)
God is my strength and power,and He makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.
Posted by: Lina | January 11, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Oh, Joanne. I had no idea until I read Beth's blog just a little bit ago. I love you, friend. I'm getting on my face to pray for you and Toben and your sweet, beautiful girls. Looking at the giraffe bag you just made and sent me last week and can't believe this has happened. I love you, love you, love you!
Oh, sweet Jesus, heal our friend!
Because she holds fast to me in love, I will deliver her. I will protect her, because she knows my name. When she calls to me, I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble; I will rescue her and honor her. (Psalm 91:14-15)
Posted by: Marla Taviano | January 11, 2011 at 08:33 PM
Matthew 17:20
Nothing is impossible..
Posted by: MichelleSarabia | January 11, 2011 at 08:50 PM
I do not know Joanne or follow her blog, but I heard about her condition via twitter. My own mother had a stroke in her brain stem last year. GOD protected her from the serious effects of the stroke. HE provided us with a miracle. I know HE can do the same for Joanne. She and her sweet family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Wired Whimsy | January 11, 2011 at 08:52 PM
I saw Beth Moore's tweet about Joanne; I am so sorry for all close to her. This verse became very special to me this year. I hope it brings comfort, as you reflect on His promises of comfort, peace beyond understanding, and the hope of a future full of his blessing.
"For by his own glory and excellence He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4)
Posted by: Kimberly Merrill | January 11, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I too, met Joanne in San Antonio. I am in prayer for her complete healing.
No eye has seen
No ear has heard
No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for those who love Him,
but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Posted by: Melana Cummings | January 11, 2011 at 09:20 PM