I changed my blog name!
I posted on Facebook that I wanted a new name for my blog (and I promised a tasty baked consumable in exchange for a better name than the one I previously had), and my lovable sister responded within minutes with a long list of possibilities!
And all of them had "REL" in the name (I'll explain the origin of that later in this post if you don't already understand it). Even the one I chose to use.
It was a pretty entertaining list, so I've decided to share some of the funnier ones!
Aurora Bore-e-Rel-is
Are you for Rel?
Rellie, guys?
REL, Oh.
Tor-Rel-tial Downpour
Isn't she a fun one? Haha
So where did we ever come up with "REL?"
Wellllll. You know my name is Aurielle.
When pronounced correctly (although there are tons of way I've heard it pronounced, including but not limited to: Ariel, Oreo, Oriole, Anjrielle[when people somehow forget Anjoli's and my names and just mash them together hoping it works], and Arrelle), it sounds like "R-E-L." Yep, just say those three letters as one fluent word and you've said my name!
As a quicker, more text-friendly way of saying my name, my lovely twin started typing it "REL" and eventually other people started doing the same. It even transformed into just "Rel" in many cases (yes, it was sometimes even said aloud that way when reading texts out loud that included my name).
So that's the story. My "nickname" when typed is "Rel." Haha. I'll admit: even I sign "Rel" on messages to friends too. So I can't blame anyone else for doing it!
Although, between you and me, I always though "Auri" was a cool nickname when I was younger, but I have never been brave enough to establish a nickname for myself. And I do actually enjoy my full name. Oh well. Another issue for another day. Maybe when I'm 80 or 90 I'll start going by "Auri" just to switch it up sometimes. ;)
Back to the name change:
"It's all RELevant."
Now you know why "REL" is in the name, but the rest of the name was chosen because it represents what I post pretty well: whatever is relevant to the times and/or to me at the moment I'm writing it.
Maybe I'll even start posting more blogs. Who knows? I tend to forget to do these things.
I have a one-line-a-day journal (shouldn't be that hard to keep up with it, right?) and I'm about 6 weeks behind. No I need to go back through my schedules and everything to see what important and memorable things happened during the past 6 weeks so I can fill in those days. Wish me luck.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What should I know about Ebola?
Alright, so there's been a lot of talk about the Ebola outbreak and the subsequent transport of infected individuals to the United States.
And if you know me at all, you know I like a good controversial topic for blogs.
On this one, however, I'm not going to say much about the controversies of this topic (Should those patients have been brought here? Should ZMapp and other experimental drugs be used on patients [regardless of the country in which they're treated]? Should we be worried about the virus spreading in the US? etc.). I simply want everyone to stop posting on social media about their strong opinions regarding these issues when in actuality they don't know the first about Ebola.
So I'm compiling a summary of things I think you should know so you can formulate your own informed thoughts on the matter.
And guess what: everything I'm about to tell you is coming from reputable sources (yay!! insert cheering here!). They're coming from peer-reviewed articles and I may even throw something in here from sources like the CDC or Mayo Clinic (yes, those two are relatively dependable and often cite peer-reviewed sources in their articles) or some other academic resources. I'll even put all my sources at the bottom of the page and color-code the sections with info from those sources so you'll know where to go for more info (you might want more info on some things because let's be real: I'm not writing a dissertation here).
What does all that mean? WELL. It means that unless you're one of those I-hate-"Big-Pharma" individuals who thinks that every doctor and scientist is part of a "Big Pharma" government conspiracy, then you should believe everything I say here because it's derived from tested, falsifiable data that resulted from real research.
Anyway, here ya go. Everything I find important about Ebola all in one place:
1) Ebola is a hemorrhagic disease. That means you bleed from literally every orifice of your body, but it starts with just the typical flu symptoms. The incubation period (the time it takes you to get sick after being exposed) can be between 2 and 21 days. Up to 90% (depending on origin/strain) die from this disease. The first documented Ebola case was in 1976.
2) The disease is caused by Ebola virus (different sources use "ebolavirus," in which cases you'd specify by strain: Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus; but I'm speaking in general terms here and will therefore use only the term "Ebola virus.").
Ebola is NOT caused by bacteria, parasites, or other protozoans. It's not caused by molds or other fungi.
Ebola virus is a member of the Filovirus family (along with Marburg virus, which is also the cause of a hemorrhagic disease) and is an RNA virus (which means nothing to you unless you're into the science-y stuff, in which case it's important for you to know that).
It may also interest you to the know that the Reston strain was shown to be asymptomatic in humans.
3) Every virus comes from somewhere in nature. That place in nature is called a reservoir for the virus. The sources of every virus is not necessarily known yet. The reservoir of the Ebola virus is currently thought to be the fruit bat.
4) How contagious is Ebola? Well, that's debatable depending upon your source because "how contagious" is a pretty subjective if you ask me. Without interjecting my personal opinion, here are the facts:
You can contract the virus through contact with blood, secretions (and other bodily fluids), or organs of infected individuals (or even contact with those things in infected primates).
Men can also pass on the virus through semen for 7 weeks after recovering from the illness (assuming they survive it in the first place).
If you're traveling to areas where Ebola is prominent, here is a good resource from the CDC to help you prevent contracting the disease:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/humanitarian.pdf
It's important to note the social implications of these facts. The mourning/burial rituals of some of the cultures in Africa where Ebola is currently prominent have to be ceased during these outbreaks because special burial protocol must be followed for Ebola victims. It's heartbreaking that their families and communities don't get the chance to mourn in the way they wish to do for their loved ones.
5) There is currently no proven-effective treatment or vaccine. Some studies have shown it's possible to develop vaccines -- at least for primates (but that gives us some hope, right?)-- for the virus but so far none have been developed and approved.
ZMapp is an experimental drug that has just recently been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use during the current outbreak. It was produced from mouse antibodies by a company called Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. It has so far only been tested on infected animals (believe it or not, it's difficult to get permission to try out new drugs on humans) but due to the severity of this outbreak, an exception has been made.
So far, the Americans who have received the experimental treatment (and some doctors in Liberia who also received the treatment) seem to be recovering.
Could this experimental treatment prove most effective? Hope so!
Well that was what I thought was most important for you to know while also sparing some of the more cumbersome details. Now you can come up with opinions on the topics while knowing the facts. Please visit the sources (listed below and color-coded with the facts above) to get more details and information. Stay healthy and be respectful if you comment!
Sources (not written in any special format, just the URLs):
http://www.pnas.org/content/94/26/14764.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Sanchez&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/full/438575a.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0042682287902832
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v408/n6812/full/408605a0.html
https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/17723053/115806057/name/nejmp1409494.pdf
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5161.abstract
And if you know me at all, you know I like a good controversial topic for blogs.
On this one, however, I'm not going to say much about the controversies of this topic (Should those patients have been brought here? Should ZMapp and other experimental drugs be used on patients [regardless of the country in which they're treated]? Should we be worried about the virus spreading in the US? etc.). I simply want everyone to stop posting on social media about their strong opinions regarding these issues when in actuality they don't know the first about Ebola.
So I'm compiling a summary of things I think you should know so you can formulate your own informed thoughts on the matter.
And guess what: everything I'm about to tell you is coming from reputable sources (yay!! insert cheering here!). They're coming from peer-reviewed articles and I may even throw something in here from sources like the CDC or Mayo Clinic (yes, those two are relatively dependable and often cite peer-reviewed sources in their articles) or some other academic resources. I'll even put all my sources at the bottom of the page and color-code the sections with info from those sources so you'll know where to go for more info (you might want more info on some things because let's be real: I'm not writing a dissertation here).
What does all that mean? WELL. It means that unless you're one of those I-hate-"Big-Pharma" individuals who thinks that every doctor and scientist is part of a "Big Pharma" government conspiracy, then you should believe everything I say here because it's derived from tested, falsifiable data that resulted from real research.
Anyway, here ya go. Everything I find important about Ebola all in one place:
1) Ebola is a hemorrhagic disease. That means you bleed from literally every orifice of your body, but it starts with just the typical flu symptoms. The incubation period (the time it takes you to get sick after being exposed) can be between 2 and 21 days. Up to 90% (depending on origin/strain) die from this disease. The first documented Ebola case was in 1976.
2) The disease is caused by Ebola virus (different sources use "ebolavirus," in which cases you'd specify by strain: Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus; but I'm speaking in general terms here and will therefore use only the term "Ebola virus.").
Ebola is NOT caused by bacteria, parasites, or other protozoans. It's not caused by molds or other fungi.
Ebola virus is a member of the Filovirus family (along with Marburg virus, which is also the cause of a hemorrhagic disease) and is an RNA virus (which means nothing to you unless you're into the science-y stuff, in which case it's important for you to know that).
It may also interest you to the know that the Reston strain was shown to be asymptomatic in humans.
3) Every virus comes from somewhere in nature. That place in nature is called a reservoir for the virus. The sources of every virus is not necessarily known yet. The reservoir of the Ebola virus is currently thought to be the fruit bat.
4) How contagious is Ebola? Well, that's debatable depending upon your source because "how contagious" is a pretty subjective if you ask me. Without interjecting my personal opinion, here are the facts:
You can contract the virus through contact with blood, secretions (and other bodily fluids), or organs of infected individuals (or even contact with those things in infected primates).
Men can also pass on the virus through semen for 7 weeks after recovering from the illness (assuming they survive it in the first place).
If you're traveling to areas where Ebola is prominent, here is a good resource from the CDC to help you prevent contracting the disease:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/humanitarian.pdf
It's important to note the social implications of these facts. The mourning/burial rituals of some of the cultures in Africa where Ebola is currently prominent have to be ceased during these outbreaks because special burial protocol must be followed for Ebola victims. It's heartbreaking that their families and communities don't get the chance to mourn in the way they wish to do for their loved ones.
5) There is currently no proven-effective treatment or vaccine. Some studies have shown it's possible to develop vaccines -- at least for primates (but that gives us some hope, right?)-- for the virus but so far none have been developed and approved.
ZMapp is an experimental drug that has just recently been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use during the current outbreak. It was produced from mouse antibodies by a company called Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. It has so far only been tested on infected animals (believe it or not, it's difficult to get permission to try out new drugs on humans) but due to the severity of this outbreak, an exception has been made.
So far, the Americans who have received the experimental treatment (and some doctors in Liberia who also received the treatment) seem to be recovering.
Could this experimental treatment prove most effective? Hope so!
Well that was what I thought was most important for you to know while also sparing some of the more cumbersome details. Now you can come up with opinions on the topics while knowing the facts. Please visit the sources (listed below and color-coded with the facts above) to get more details and information. Stay healthy and be respectful if you comment!
Sources (not written in any special format, just the URLs):
http://www.pnas.org/content/94/26/14764.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Sanchez&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/full/438575a.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0042682287902832
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v408/n6812/full/408605a0.html
https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/17723053/115806057/name/nejmp1409494.pdf
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5161.abstract
Monday, February 24, 2014
Why Kids Give Me Hope
I've been "princess sitting" two little girls for the past six years. For the sake of this blog, I'll call them "M." and "A." They're currently ages 10 and 8, respectively (and to show how old I am, I definitely typed "8 and 6" the first time!).
I was watching these two "princessesses" this past Friday when one of their neighborhood friends (I'll call her "S.") stopped by for a short visit. All three girls were playing in a little playhouse at the top of their swing set and I was on puppy duty (puppies are horribly messy when it's a post-melted-snow type of day and no one wants little girls with muddy paw prints all over their clothes!) but what I heard from a short distance away absolutely made my day--no, my week.
M. and A. asked their friend, S., if she had been reading the Bible they gave her and whether or not she had been going to church. S. said, "well...I haven't really read it yet...I get really busy with homework and stuff..." and re:church she said that "church is REALLY boring and the last two times I went I didn't learn anything!"
Thinking that this would discourage the princesses I know and love, I thought the girls might just shrug it off and let it go or perhaps change their tone to a disappointed one and continue playing.
But, no.
They countered their adorable little friend and said, "But church is fun, and the Bible has LOTS of really good stories in it!"
Then M. proceeded to tell the story of Moses in great detail (it may have helped that we talked about part of his story--but still, only a small part of it--earlier that day during homeschooling) from birth to rescuing his people from Egypt. My heart melted!
A little more than halfway through M.'s story, S. said, "I'm getting SO BORED. Are you done with the story yet??"
And without missing a beat, M. said, "almost, then we can play!" and continued where she left off in the story.
And, of course, A. was adding wonderful details to the story, too!
At the end of the story, again, S. very explicitly expressed her boredom (even though, personally, I thought the girls did an excellent job of telling the story with excitement and enthusiasm to make it interesting for S., but the princesses didn't get discouraged. Instead, they said, "yep, we can play now!"
But not before adding this statement:
"The truth is, you don't understand how important this is. You have to have a relationship with Jesus to go to Heaven."
The whole time I was listening to this conversation (okay, not eavesdropping! I was probably 6 feet away and they were looking at me as if to acknowledge my presence in the conversation, so I was, indeed, allowed to hear everything!), my heart was filled with so many emotions and my thoughts were running wild.
Poor girls, their friend doesn't really want to hear about Jesus. :(
Good job with being persistent and trying to help her want to read the Bible!
And good job remembering what you've learned about Moses!
Why would a girl speak so disrespectfully about what her friend has to say to her?! (That was me kind of being a momma duck and sensing some injustice, but the princesses handled everything very well and were respectful in return regardless of what S. had to say, so I suppose it worked out alright. Gotta let little ones choose their own battles sometimes!)
But probably the most heartwarming thing for me was seeing the true, genuine, love M. and A. have for their friend and the passion they have for making sure the people they love get to be in the Kingdom of Heaven with them.
This moment is one of the reasons why kids give me hope. :)
I was watching these two "princessesses" this past Friday when one of their neighborhood friends (I'll call her "S.") stopped by for a short visit. All three girls were playing in a little playhouse at the top of their swing set and I was on puppy duty (puppies are horribly messy when it's a post-melted-snow type of day and no one wants little girls with muddy paw prints all over their clothes!) but what I heard from a short distance away absolutely made my day--no, my week.
M. and A. asked their friend, S., if she had been reading the Bible they gave her and whether or not she had been going to church. S. said, "well...I haven't really read it yet...I get really busy with homework and stuff..." and re:church she said that "church is REALLY boring and the last two times I went I didn't learn anything!"
Thinking that this would discourage the princesses I know and love, I thought the girls might just shrug it off and let it go or perhaps change their tone to a disappointed one and continue playing.
But, no.
They countered their adorable little friend and said, "But church is fun, and the Bible has LOTS of really good stories in it!"
Then M. proceeded to tell the story of Moses in great detail (it may have helped that we talked about part of his story--but still, only a small part of it--earlier that day during homeschooling) from birth to rescuing his people from Egypt. My heart melted!
A little more than halfway through M.'s story, S. said, "I'm getting SO BORED. Are you done with the story yet??"
And without missing a beat, M. said, "almost, then we can play!" and continued where she left off in the story.
And, of course, A. was adding wonderful details to the story, too!
At the end of the story, again, S. very explicitly expressed her boredom (even though, personally, I thought the girls did an excellent job of telling the story with excitement and enthusiasm to make it interesting for S., but the princesses didn't get discouraged. Instead, they said, "yep, we can play now!"
But not before adding this statement:
"The truth is, you don't understand how important this is. You have to have a relationship with Jesus to go to Heaven."
The whole time I was listening to this conversation (okay, not eavesdropping! I was probably 6 feet away and they were looking at me as if to acknowledge my presence in the conversation, so I was, indeed, allowed to hear everything!), my heart was filled with so many emotions and my thoughts were running wild.
Poor girls, their friend doesn't really want to hear about Jesus. :(
Good job with being persistent and trying to help her want to read the Bible!
And good job remembering what you've learned about Moses!
Why would a girl speak so disrespectfully about what her friend has to say to her?! (That was me kind of being a momma duck and sensing some injustice, but the princesses handled everything very well and were respectful in return regardless of what S. had to say, so I suppose it worked out alright. Gotta let little ones choose their own battles sometimes!)
But probably the most heartwarming thing for me was seeing the true, genuine, love M. and A. have for their friend and the passion they have for making sure the people they love get to be in the Kingdom of Heaven with them.
This moment is one of the reasons why kids give me hope. :)
Monday, December 9, 2013
MRSA, MRSA, MRSA!
(Please read the title "MRSA, MRSA, MRSA!" as if you were Jan on the Brady Bunch. Maybe you're now ashamed to know me, but I needed a title and it was fitting so...don't judge me!!)
Due to a recent influx of questions to me about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and its transmission recently, I thought I'd share with everyone some info. By the way, I used reliable sources and linked every single one of them at the bottom for you to read on your own! :)
Please note that most of the info in the second link is mostly referring to the person actively having sores and not having had an infection in the past. These sources are good because they're academic/state and consistent with research. Plus they're easy for anyone to read. And I color-coded the ones I quoted with the link so you can keep track of exactly where I got each quote!
But if you want more in-depth stuff, I also provided some links to some great journal articles (I encourage you to read them!).
Some important points:
"Staphylococci or 'staph' bacteria commonly live on the skin and in the nose. Usually, staph bacteria don’t cause any harm. However, if they get inside the body they can cause an infection." - second link.
Note from me: an organism that lives on humans normally but causes harm only if you're susceptible at the time is called an opportunistic organism. The bacteria that cause strep infections do the same exact thing!
"Many people with active infections are treated effectively, and no longer have MRSA." - second link.
"...you can return to your normal routine including going out in public because many activities in the community involve less risk for transmission and because the risk of MRSA infection is low in healthy adults and children." - first link.
"You are more susceptible to get MRSA if you have been very ill, have been in a hospital or nursing home, or have been on many antibiotics. Careful hand washing is the most important way to keep from spreading MRSA to other patients." - first link.
If you've heard of someone acquiring MRSA (or some other infection) while in a hospital (during illness recovery, post-surgery, or during their stay in a nursing home even), this is called a nosocomial infection. They occur when you're susceptible to an infection and happen to be in an establishment that's got opportunistic organisms everywhere!
The above quotes are just a few of the main things I wanted to share based on the questions I've been asked, but there is a lot more you can read about it! Information is everywhere but don't believe just anyone--look up reliable sources yourself or check the sources someone else used (it won't offend me if you check out the ones I used--in fact, I encourage it!) when they explained it to you. There is A LOT of misinformation out there these days, so you want to be extra careful about what you read. But I assure you this information is trusty!
And if you find an issue with my sources or if you have newly updated research with different information (science is ALWAYS changing!), please let me know and I'll fix/add it!
My sources!
University of Virginia Health System
Minnesota Department of Health
Health Care–Associated Invasive MRSA Infections, 2005-2008 (This one was more on the side of stats and tracking but still a good read!)
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor so all I've told you is what I've learned from research and in courses I've taken. If you want medical advice, ask your doc!
Due to a recent influx of questions to me about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and its transmission recently, I thought I'd share with everyone some info. By the way, I used reliable sources and linked every single one of them at the bottom for you to read on your own! :)
Please note that most of the info in the second link is mostly referring to the person actively having sores and not having had an infection in the past. These sources are good because they're academic/state and consistent with research. Plus they're easy for anyone to read. And I color-coded the ones I quoted with the link so you can keep track of exactly where I got each quote!
But if you want more in-depth stuff, I also provided some links to some great journal articles (I encourage you to read them!).
Some important points:
"Staphylococci or 'staph' bacteria commonly live on the skin and in the nose. Usually, staph bacteria don’t cause any harm. However, if they get inside the body they can cause an infection." - second link.
Note from me: an organism that lives on humans normally but causes harm only if you're susceptible at the time is called an opportunistic organism. The bacteria that cause strep infections do the same exact thing!
"Many people with active infections are treated effectively, and no longer have MRSA." - second link.
"...you can return to your normal routine including going out in public because many activities in the community involve less risk for transmission and because the risk of MRSA infection is low in healthy adults and children." - first link.
"You are more susceptible to get MRSA if you have been very ill, have been in a hospital or nursing home, or have been on many antibiotics. Careful hand washing is the most important way to keep from spreading MRSA to other patients." - first link.
If you've heard of someone acquiring MRSA (or some other infection) while in a hospital (during illness recovery, post-surgery, or during their stay in a nursing home even), this is called a nosocomial infection. They occur when you're susceptible to an infection and happen to be in an establishment that's got opportunistic organisms everywhere!
The above quotes are just a few of the main things I wanted to share based on the questions I've been asked, but there is a lot more you can read about it! Information is everywhere but don't believe just anyone--look up reliable sources yourself or check the sources someone else used (it won't offend me if you check out the ones I used--in fact, I encourage it!) when they explained it to you. There is A LOT of misinformation out there these days, so you want to be extra careful about what you read. But I assure you this information is trusty!
And if you find an issue with my sources or if you have newly updated research with different information (science is ALWAYS changing!), please let me know and I'll fix/add it!
My sources!
University of Virginia Health System
Minnesota Department of Health
Health Care–Associated Invasive MRSA Infections, 2005-2008 (This one was more on the side of stats and tracking but still a good read!)
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): burden of disease and control challenges in Europe (This is a REVIEW article but covers a lot of bases and is quite informative!)
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor so all I've told you is what I've learned from research and in courses I've taken. If you want medical advice, ask your doc!
Have an amazing week and good luck to everyone who will be taking finals!
Love,
Aurielle
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Somebody Else's Story
During the John Waller concert on Sunday night, John Waller told us how he came up with his song, "Somebody Else's Story." A mother at his home church was thanking a children's pastor and that pastor replied, "I just want to be a part of their story."
I can't wait to be a part of someone's story!
In fact, I hope I already am a part of several stories. A testimony is a powerful thing, and the road to redemption is incredible. I love having a role in that. I just can't wait to be a missionary in healthcare; then it will be my job to be in those stories.
My challenge to you is this:
This month/semester/year, make it a goal to make your school/home/workplace your own mission field. Whether it's an unsaved friend you want to help find salvation, a brother/sister in Christ for whom you can be accountable and help them strengthen their relationship with God (while letting them help you grow in your relationship with Him, too), or someone who's fallen off the wagon a bit recently and needs a little hand up, there's someone who could use more of God in their lives (uhm hello, everyone needs more of God than they already have!!). Be a part of their story and make them a part of yours. :)
Somebody Else's Story - John Waller
I can't wait to be a part of someone's story!
In fact, I hope I already am a part of several stories. A testimony is a powerful thing, and the road to redemption is incredible. I love having a role in that. I just can't wait to be a missionary in healthcare; then it will be my job to be in those stories.
My challenge to you is this:
This month/semester/year, make it a goal to make your school/home/workplace your own mission field. Whether it's an unsaved friend you want to help find salvation, a brother/sister in Christ for whom you can be accountable and help them strengthen their relationship with God (while letting them help you grow in your relationship with Him, too), or someone who's fallen off the wagon a bit recently and needs a little hand up, there's someone who could use more of God in their lives (uhm hello, everyone needs more of God than they already have!!). Be a part of their story and make them a part of yours. :)
Somebody Else's Story - John Waller
Monday, January 30, 2012
Heaven Just Got Better
Recently, a lot of the people in my life (and I) have been exposed to a great deal of death (or so it seems to me). Whether death is via an accident, an illness, or old age, people mourn and people grieve over the loss of a life. That's normal. It's even good, I think. But during a concert I attended last night (John Waller. Amazing.), I was reminded that there's a whole other side to that story. God rejoices when we can join Him in Heaven. Heaven is a beautiful and incredible place, but it's even better with those fantastic people there. And it will be even better with you there, too. :)
This isn't the best version of the song, but it's pretty new so this is the only available video of the song on Youtube! If you find a better version, feel free to post it here and I'll update my post with it. :)
Heaven Just Got Better - John Waller
P.S. He's amazing live. If you ever get a chance, go see him. He's very real and uplifting.
This isn't the best version of the song, but it's pretty new so this is the only available video of the song on Youtube! If you find a better version, feel free to post it here and I'll update my post with it. :)
Heaven Just Got Better - John Waller
P.S. He's amazing live. If you ever get a chance, go see him. He's very real and uplifting.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Looking for Direction
Recently, I've been trying to give God complete control of my life. Simply put, I am a stressed-out senior who is constantly worried about where I'll be next year, what I need to be doing now, and why all the hoops through which I must jump seem monotonous and impossible.
A popular quote my family tries to remember is:
Another quote I like is:
Well, I can't really figure out how to put all of my thoughts today into this blog, so I'll just give you the concluding statement:
God has made a way for each and every one of us. We need to actively pursue the goals He has set for us, but we also need to ask Him for the guidance to discover what's out there for us.
Today, I heard this song and it was a reminder to me that I should be more concerned with what God is doing within me and the doors He has opened for me than with the doors that seem to close for me. A closed door is just a new direction; it's time to stop feeling discouraged when a door closes and get excited about the new steps ahead!
A popular quote my family tries to remember is:
Worry is like a rocking chair: you can do it all day but it'll get you nowhere.
Another quote I like is:
Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
Well, I can't really figure out how to put all of my thoughts today into this blog, so I'll just give you the concluding statement:
God has made a way for each and every one of us. We need to actively pursue the goals He has set for us, but we also need to ask Him for the guidance to discover what's out there for us.
Today, I heard this song and it was a reminder to me that I should be more concerned with what God is doing within me and the doors He has opened for me than with the doors that seem to close for me. A closed door is just a new direction; it's time to stop feeling discouraged when a door closes and get excited about the new steps ahead!
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