Starvation

Starvation. In class this week, we learned the process of starvation. First, the body uses the carbohydrates that it has stored. Then after 18 or so hours it runs out of carbs and turns to the stored fat. This usually lasts anywhere from 4-6 weeks..in the more severe cases less than 4 weeks. After the body runs out of fat, it turns to the protein. This protein comes from the plasma as well as internal organs. The body starts to swell as there is no where for the fluid to go. It doesn't take long for the muscle to wither away as well as the liver. If a person is not put back on a diet high in protein and other constituents death will soon be a reality. 

I have always heard of starvation. I have seen pictures and heard stories of people during times of famine and everyday life that are starving...but I never understood physiologically what is happening to their bodies. My eyes have been opened. I get it. I am crying just thinking about this reality. I cannot even begin to imagine this reality. It is so sad because it is preventable! All these people need is PROTEIN and carbs and fat and they would live. My heart breaks when I think about the thousands of men, women, and children around the world that are literally starving at this moment. 

Father, I pray that you would wrap your arms around the world tonight! I pray for these people, these human beings that are literally dying while I am totally fed and completely content. I pray that you will comfort them and that you will miraculously provide them nutrition but more importantly provide them with the JOY of knowing YOU. Let their eyes and hearts be open to Your great love for each and every one of them. May they know that they are not forgotten; but that they are being prayed over and loved even from thousands of miles away. Thank you Father for the examples of your servants that are actively serving and making a difference in the lives of children NOW. May your name be glorified and praised FOREVER and EVER. amen. 

Passion 2012- Tiny Taste of Heaven

I'm not sure that words can adequately describe the feeling of worshiping my Savior with over 45,000 of my brothers and sisters. Throughout the four days of the Passion Conference, God showed Himself to me in so many ways. He gave me a love and a hunger for His word that I never have experienced before. He opened my eyes to the beauty of seeking after Him and savoring/memorizing His word. God also revealed to me His vast, limitless, never ending, never failing love. I am so unworthy and yet He pours out innumerable grace and mercy on me. Because of His great love how can I do anything besides love others with everything I have? I am absolutely nothing without the Lord! I do not want to live an insignificant life. I desire to love others and bravely share the Love of my Savior!!

Passion Recap:

we left Indy at 7am on Jan. 2, 2012...we had no idea what the next 96 hours would have in store for us!

The DOME! We arrive to over 45,000+ college students from around the country (and world) all ready to praise and worship Jesus!

there is literally nothing better in the whole world than worshiping Jesus with so many other believers!!

I could not stop crying while I watched this unfold. The Lord does not speak a specific language...He speaks the world! This is exactly what Heaven will be like! <3

FREEDOM! Do Something Now... the goal of Do Something Now is to give everyone an opportunity to take all of the information that we have been given over the course of the four days and to do something about it. Not just acknowledge its existence..but take a stand to CHANGE it. The main goal of Passion this year was to raise funds and awareness towards the end of slavery in America and around the world. Today in this world there are over 25million slaves. The plan was for us as a group to give over 1million dollars to different organizations that are actively taking a stand against slavery around the world. It was INCREDIBLE to see God move. Not only did we reach that goal...but we tripled it! 45,000+ poor college kids gave over 2.5 million dollars...and we inspired an anonymous couple to give $500,000...to make the grand total over 3.06 million dollars! The LORD is SO GOOD!

CNN covered the story in a video... here. 

We will be a light to the world burning brightly!

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians 6:19-20

Patience- Hospital Edition

I always thought that I was pretty patient person. 

That is until this break. 

Mom went into the hospital on Dec. 14. 

It was supposed to be an easy surgery, easy recovery. 

And it was. 

Until...

She started throwing up and didn't stop. 

Three days later they finally figured out why and tried to fix it. 

Eleven days later she was still in the hospital. 

FINALLY on Christmas Day she made her escape! 

I couldn't have asked for a better present!

Those eleven days of waiting taught me so much. 

I learned patience... waiting for the body to heal takes time. 

I learned the joy of family. Watching my family rally and make trips to the hospital to see mom "fun" was such a blessing. 

I learned the importance of nursing firsthand. The nurses were invaluable to my mom and our family. I hope to one day be that for a family. 

I learned that I am NOT at all in control...God is so much bigger than my plans. 

I learned that trusting in God is the best thing I could ever do. 

I learned the special blessing of having a loving church family. We have had so much food these past few days and it's all because of families making it especially for us. 

I learned that no matter what..in our best and darkest moments the Lord is right by our side. He will never leave us through any of it. 

Thank you so much for your prayers for mom! Even though it has been a tough few weeks I am so very thankful for them and all that I was taught through it all! To God be the Glory Forever and Ever! :)

Capturing Gratitude [31-40]

                                        

31. Finals being over...and NO studying for a whole three weeks!!


32. Family dinners with my indy family. :)

33. That my mom's surgery went well and she is on the road to recovery!

34. Christmas Time!!

35. To have time to read this book by an inspiring sister in Christ!

36. Stories of hope and God's grace in tragedy.

37. The fact that I am officially 1/3 of a nurse and so excited to see what God has in store for me!
 

38. Christmas Music (Especially the David Crowder kind)

39. The fact that Passion is only 18 days away!!!

40. JESSICA AND BRYAN are COMING HOME in TWO DAYS!!!!

World AIDS Day

Here is a post from Now Abide In Me...a blog that I have enjoyed reading. I agree wholeheartedly with this post and the girls that wrote it. I pray that people National AIDS Day will open people's eyes to the harsh reality of HIV/AIDS and that this will truly be the beginning of the end of AIDS.

"She jumps up and down, demanding to be picked up. You snuggle her close while the other children grab at your skirt, demanding the same attention. As the dinner bells rings you gather them up and move with them into the home. They all sit down as you pass out plates of food and water and bow your head in thanks. She looks up at you with gleaming eyes and smiles as she shovels food into her mouth and dribbles water down her front.

And you would never know.

Never know that there was a little symbol that changed her life. That that symbol, written in her profile, brought her chances of being adopted down dramatically. That that symbol makes people avoid her. Nervously offer hugs. Push away her kisses. Freak out at the sight of her blood.

+

HIV +

That’s all it takes. One symbol. And her life is changed.

What if we didn’t tell you? What if we treated her like everyone else and you never knew the difference? You would hug her. You would kiss her. You would put Band-Aids on her scrapes. You wouldn’t fear. You would love her freely.

And maybe… just maybe… you’d consider making her your daughter.

The thing is- you’re confused. That + sign doesn’t make her unadoptable. It doesn’t even necessarily make her sick. HIV has never been spread in a household environment. You can’t get it from hugging and kissing and putting on band aids. It’s easier to manage than diabetes.

She’s not stuck in that orphanage because she’s HIV+. She’s stuck in that orphanage because we are misinformed. Because we don’t know.

Today is world AIDS day. Take the time to KNOW and LEARN. And maybe…just maybe… take a step to help children like her out of orphanages. Take a step to reach out to someone branded with that symbol. Take a step to speak out for the people all over the world fighting this stigma. Take a step to love them like Jesus."

waiting with patience

**How do we wait for God? 

We wait with patience. 

But patience does not mean passivity. 

Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. 

It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full 

in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.

                 The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior which means "to suffer."

Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, 

tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground 

on which we stand grow into strong plants. 

Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes 

and seeing there the first rays of God's glorious coming.**

                                           

                                                  {henri nouwen}

Capturing Gratitude [21-30]

21. That my Grandpa has been worshiping Jesus in Heaven for almost a year. (So thankful to be able to spend eternity with him someday)

22. Passion Conference 2012. So excited to spend four days with thousands of college students praising Jesus!

23. Study Buddies.

24. My Indianapolis Family.

25. Stories of God's Grace through trials and heartbreak.

26. Winter is coming!

 27. The amazing ways God shows us that He is the perfect creator of all things.

28. The opportunity to easily help children in Rwanda go to school.

29. Videos that make you laugh when you are sick of studying all day!

30. Happy Hour Sushi!! :)