Always There

By Bob Rasmussen

I am going to share what happened to me and why I want to share. It was a typical Friday.

Doing what I do most days
Project with Subway
Put ladder up, in several spots, successfully
On my last camera
Ladder slipped
Fell 10 feet onto stainless counter and then I fell to the floor

I could not breath, initially at all

I Tried to stand, could not breathe
When I did, still hard to breathe
People were asking what should they do
I could not speak – out loud
But I could do 1 thing:
- I could call upon the name of the Lord
- Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
- 1st and foremost, let me say thank you for You Lord that I am standing here
- And let me be clear. Glory to God, thank You Jesus
- Because of the work at the cross, I could speak to Jesus – I did not have to go to
  - Temple
  - I did not have to make a sacrifice
  - I did not have to speak out loud
- I did not have to have the words being in the state that I was, because He is able to help with the Spirit that lives in us
- Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Obviously, he heard my prayer and I was able to start breathing, yes, with difficulty, but I could breathe. I was now able to ask people to:

Move my equipment into the car
Ask them to stow my ladder – last thing I wanted to deal with
Open doors for me as I could not –
- Asking for help is not a weakness

Next problem – parked illegally, knew I needed help
- Parking issue
- Not sure what would happen next
- Decided to get to hospital
Called Diana on the way
- Wife
- Best friend
- Wife and friend with benefits
- Prayer warrior
  - Experiences
  - Intercession
  - Protection
  - Encourager – faith
- I wasn’t even sure what hospital I was at initially,
- It turns out it was a hospital that I had taken Diana to during COVID
I pulled` into the drive up
Walked out of the car, and I think the guy said you can’t park there – and then he was like OK and ran and got me a wheel chair
The rest was a blur
But when I had the where with all, I texted Pastor Jeff, because all I could focus on was the pain, I needed some more help from others who believe as I do
Matthew 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
And Jeff sent an encouraging message
I texted him text a little later that what had happened was I had fractured 7 ribs
And Jeff said then sent the following
“Well if your doing something you had to go all the way”
Always the encourager!

The next part of my journey was to go to the UW trauma center

Still pain, even with pain meds, and that meant an ambulance ride – they were not going to let me or Diana drive me there
In the ambulance, I started praying to God because well, I have never been to a trauma center
To be honest, based on the pain, I was scared
I do not think that at that time there could be a high level interaction, or a supreme revelation and all I got was this:
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:
So that is what kept playing in my mind and my spirit
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:

Anybody watch any watch of those medical shows?

I did not know that where that the trauma center I was going to was a level 1 which I guess is the best of the best
And it was just like on TV, there had to be 14 people waiting to receive me
C-Collar
Remove the clothing
People probing, drawing blood, x-rays, questions
But through it all I was getting comfort with Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:

After that it was certainly a blur, but there was a decision for surgery. They wanted to do something called rib plating

I am more familiar with plates of ribs rather than plating ribs
There was also blood causing a pneumothorax
I do want to publicly thank Diana and Pastor Jeff for being there because something that gave me comfort is in that verse again
- Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
- Difference for me and Diana with Covid rules
- Difference for others who are alone
- There I an importance of surrounding ourselves with godly people
- Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
- That verse is used a lot in marriage, but it really is about our whole life and the relationships in our life
  - Times of hardship
  - Times in illness
  - Times of sadness
  - We want to have those people who know the same God that we do, and no matter what the issue is that we are going through, they can help remind us of:
    - Who God is
    - What God can do
    - The promises we have in God
    - That God is a healer
    - That God is present
    - That God can do anything when nothing seems to be happening
    - That is who we need in our lives, amen?

Pain was still pretty major, treating me with a lot of things which did not work well to say the least.

And the enemy knows best when to attack
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Ketomine elaborate
It is a warning from God that these things will happen, but we are not defenseless, are we?
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

There were definitely high moments in my faith and low moments, it was not perfect and an even keel

There were moments where I did not “feel” my faith
There were moments that I could not “See” in faith
But as I said, I was lucky to have others to remind me of that at times
And one thing that really encouraged me in those nights of pain was remembering how so many of you, with your testimonies, shared the goodness of God
Remembering how many of you, even in what was a very dark hour, still came to church, still raised your hands, still praised God, even in the middle of the storm
And all that scripture that I have referenced, did I know it all by heart, did I know the exact book or chapter or verse? No, believe it or not. But I do know this.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. 10 With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. 11 Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Things were looking up! I was walking, well sort of. I was preparing to go home by practicing going up and down the stairs – 16 stairs. I could pee by myself. All roads leading to going home.

I was able to use this device, a Spirometer and getting good results, working my lungs
One of the biggest concerns when you have fractured ribs is pneumonia – because of the pain that the ribs cause, people tend not to breathe deeply, so you can set this device to measure how well you are doing breathing in or out and work the lungs
But my nurse came in the afternoon, she was like huh? She listened some more to my lungs and said she needed to consult a PA. A PA came in and all of sudden he had to do a consult with the trauma team

Apparently there was an issue impacting my lung capacity negating my earlier results. There were blood draws. 2 I think. And then another X-Ray and then a discussion of possibly getting antibiotics. Now they were talking about inserting a new chest tube.

The thought of a chest tube while I was awake and the possibility of infection was frightening. I already had a 5” cut on my rib cage that would have to opened for the tube with only a local anesthetic.
I let Diana know and we had a lot of waiting. The decision was made it was all dependent on what happened overnight and a 4:45 AM X-Ray, blood test, and performance on this thing (Device).

After speaking with Diana I told her I was going to use this device and pray, and as I was doing it that night, I was reminded of a song “Your Grace Finds Me” and particularly where it goes “I’m breathing in your grace, and breathing out your praise”.

This time it was very intentional. When I would breathe in I would focus on things like this:
- Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I would then focus and praise God for His word and His promise. Things may not make sense to me now, but I would trust Him

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

I praised God that He said He could heal me, that He could save me, there was nothing I could do in the immediacy of the moment

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

This one hit differently for me, when I thought about Jesus getting those stripes, compared to the pain that I was feeling, it was nothing compared to what He endured, and I was reminded of that so I thanked him for His work at the cross and His sacrifice.

This went on for a while, a long while, and I stayed up as late as I could doing it.

Long story short, I got my X-Ray in the morning, lab tests, lung check, PA came in again. Then the waiting.

Then a while later, about 8:00 AM, the trauma team came in and one of the doctors that had visited regularly, they told me to use the breathing device — I breathed in and, she smiled.

I was told that the blood was no longer there, the air pocket that was there was gone, my lung was in better shape than any point in my recovery – and I would get to go home.

I let Diana know and I can tell you that from me, there was some teary eyed heart felt praise. And I guess what I realized that

When I fell, He was there
When I was in pain, He was there
When the enemy was attacking He was there
When I was in surgery and after, He was there
I my hour of fear and desperation, He was there
In everything, He is always there

Altar

Don’t know what the future looks like
Waiting for February appointment
If you want an relationship with the God who saves, the God who heals, the God who comforts, we encourage you to find a local church and follow Acts 2:38
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.