ODB for today…

Last Christmas, while wrapping some gifts for family and friends, my mom gave me 3 Our Daily Bread booklets to wrap, for just-in-case gift giving. I wrapped it but at the end of the celebration, it remain there, lying under our Christmas tree. Well, my curiosity aroused me to open up one for myself and I began to read it each day starting Jan. 1, 2008. I read it every morning before I start my work and it feels nice good.

So I just want to share today’s topic. It is about waiting (patiently)…

“[Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. — Genesis 15:6

Any mother can tell you that waiting to give birth is an experience that builds patience. But pity the poor mother elephant. It takes about 22 months for an unborn elephant to mature to birth! The shark known as the spiny dogfish has a pregnancy duration of 22-24 months. And at elevations above 4,600 feet, the Alpine salamander endures a gestational period of up to 38 months!

Abraham could have identified with these examples from nature. In his old age, the Lord made a promise to him: “I will make you a great nation� (Gen. 12:2). But as the years passed, Abraham questioned how the fulfillment of the promise was possible without even the basic building block of a son (15:2). So God assured him, “One who will come from your own body shall be your heir� (v. 4).

Despite his advanced age, Abraham believed God and was called righteous (v. 6). Yet he waited 25 years from the time of the initial promise for Isaac to be born (17:1,17).

Waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled is part of trusting Him. No matter how long the delay, we must wait for Him. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful� (Heb. 10:23). — Marvin Williams

Not so in haste, my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long,
He never comes too late. — Torrey”

God always performs what He promises.

Add comment January 5th, 2008

How to recognize a STRoke

“Stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the clinical designation for a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain.” It is caused by the lack of oxygen supplied to the brain, causing the brain tissues to die. It may be due to ischemia or the lack of blood supply caused by thrombosis or embolism, or due to a hemorrhage. When a severe blood clot, for example, blocks the passage way of the blood to the brain, it may cause stroke.

It is an emergency scenario and every second count in quickly and accurately detecting a stroke. In order to save a patient or a loved one’s life, we must know the early signs of stroke and immediately bring it to the knowledge of doctors.

To recognize a stroke, just remember the first three letters of the word and ask the individual to…
S * SMILE.
T * TALK and SPEAK A SAMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
R * RAISE BOTH ARMS.

A new way of detecting if a patient is suffering stroke is to ask him/her to stick out his/her tongue. If it is crooked or goes to one side or the other, then it is a sign of stroke. In cases of stroke, life is hanging by a thread so protect your family and friends by knowing ahead.

Add comment January 5th, 2008