March 1‚ 2024 When You Feel InvisibleDORINA LAZO GILMORE-YOUNG Lee en español "And he said‚ ‘Hagar‚ slave of Sarai‚ where have you come from‚ and where are you going?'" Genesis 16:8a (NIV) For some of us‚ the weeks after Valentine's Day bring a slow ache. Every grocery store is stocked with discounted roses‚ every boutique has marked-down cards and heart-shaped boxes of candy‚ and we’re reminded of who and what we are missing. The year my husband went to heaven‚ I grieved a lot of things. One of the painful realities was that my love story had abruptly ended. I found myself a suddenly single mama raising three daughters on my own. I feared spending the rest of my days alone. My heart felt like a teacup poured out and shattered into a hundred pieces on the floor. I felt unseen‚ unloved and forgotten in my grief. But the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 was a profound reminder to me that God sees and loves us and that He does not forget His promises‚ even when we feel like we are alone in the wilderness. Hagar was an Egyptian girl who was sent (perhaps by Pharaoh) to be a servant of Sarai‚ Abram’s wife. After years of infertility‚ Sarai urged Abram to sleep with Hagar in hopes Hagar would bear a child. Hagar had no agency in this situation. She became pregnant‚ but as you might guess‚ the household dynamic quickly went sour. Genesis 16:6 says "Sarai mistreated Hagar" (NIV)‚ and Hagar fled to the wilderness‚ which felt like a better option than staying put. The wilderness is the landscape for many key moments in Scripture‚ often signifying a dry or lonely time when a person or group is suffering‚ struggling in their faith or in need of mercy. But God meets His people in the wilderness with His presence. God found Hagar in the wilderness and asked her two important questions: "Hagar‚ slave of Sarai‚ where have you come from‚ and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8). God knew the answers — but He invited Hagar to share her story. He helped her understand she was not alone. God promised to care for her and all her descendants. Then Hagar called Him by the name El Roi in Hebrew‚ which means "the God who sees‚" because He saw her personally (Genesis 16:10-13). Although my story is vastly different‚ I've always felt a kinship to Hagar‚ lost in a wilderness under impossible circumstances. And just as He did for Hagar‚ God has met me in my grief with His love‚ and that makes all the difference. Maybe you are navigating heart weariness today too. Maybe you’re grieving a loss‚ a broken relationship or circumstances that feel impossible. Friend‚ El Roi cares deeply about you. He calls you beloved. He is your Maker and eternal Husband (Isaiah 54:5). God will never betray you‚ walk away‚ or fall short on His promises. Dear God‚ thank You for seeing me and adjusting my perspective. When I feel unloved or invisible in my grief‚ remind me I am never alone. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Dorina is the author of a new devotional journal‚ Breathing Through Grief. This comforting‚ giftable journal is for those who are processing their own loss‚ whether loss of a loved one‚ a season of life or a community. Let the words and prompts in Breathing Through Grief encourage you with the knowledge that you are not alone and bring you peace as you continue forward on the road to healing. ENGAGE Dorina also offers a weekly Glorygram‚ which includes encouragement for chasing God's glory on life's unexpected trails as well as great resources for friends navigating grief. Follow her on Instagram @DorinaGilmore for daily glimpses of His glory. FOR DEEPER STUDY Exodus 34:6-7‚ "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed‚ ‘The LORD‚ the LORD‚ a God merciful and gracious‚ slow to anger‚ and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness‚ keeping steadfast love for thousands‚ forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin ...'" (ESV). The Hebrew word hesed is used more than 250 times in the Bible and is often translated‚ as in Exodus 34:6-7‚ as "steadfast love‚" which describes the heart of God. How have you experienced God's mercy and steadfast love in your life? How might you show that lovingkindness to others? Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post When You Feel Invisible –  Encouragement for Today – March 1‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Health officials are investigating if there is a link between two new RSV vaccines and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Last year‚ an advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended Americans aged 60 and older have the option of a single dose of RSV vaccine. Two RSV vaccine options would become available‚ one by Pfizer and the other by GSK. The CDC said patients should talk to their doctor before taking the shot. “Serious neurologic conditions‚ including Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)‚ have been reported after RSV vaccination in clinical trials of older adults. It is unclear whether the vaccine caused these events‚” the CDC writes. The Associated Press reports that officials are investigating more than 20 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome. NEW: “Officials are investigating more than 20 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome‚ an rare illness in which a person’s immune system damages nerve cells‚ causing muscle weakness and paralysis.” —AP pic.twitter.com/GmnA7z50BB — Te𝕏asLindsay (@TexasLindsay_) March 1‚ 2024 From the Associated Press: Officials said they were investigating more than 20 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome‚ an rare illness in which a person’s immune system damages nerve cells‚ causing muscle weakness and paralysis. An estimated 3‚000 to 6‚000 people develop GBS in the U.S. each year‚ and it’s more commonly seen in older people‚ according to the CDC. Most people fully recover from the syndrome‚ but some have permanent nerve damage. Guillain-Barre can occur in people after they are infected with a virus‚ but in some instances cases have been linked to vaccinations. RSV‚ or respiratory syncytial virus‚ is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and the elderly. Last year‚ the CDC signed off on a recommendation made by the advisory panel‚ aimed at Americans age 60 and older. It was for a single dose of RSV vaccine. There were two options‚ one made by Pfizer and the other by GSK. Report: Officials investigate rare nervous system disorder in older adults who got RSV vaccine ~ AP pic.twitter.com/Bk6QfmIt5d — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) March 1‚ 2024 “Two people who received Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine during a clinical trial were later diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome‚ and the US Food and Drug Administration has asked Pfizer to conduct a safety study if the shot is approved‚ according to agency documents released Friday‚” CNN reports. The Pharma giant claims its RSV vaccine‚ Abrysvo‚ protects older adults from respiratory syncytial virus for more than two seasons. Pfizer announced that its RSV vaccine protects older adults for more than two seasons‚ according to a late-stage clinical trial https://t.co/4FolP4vONP pic.twitter.com/qcq83neLZH — The Hill (@thehill) February 29‚ 2024 Pfizer said one dose of Abrysvo was 77.8 percent effective against lower respiratory tract disease associated with RSV following the second season. Out of 20‚000 vaccine recipients in Pfizer’s Phase 3 clinical trial‚ two Guillain-Barre syndrome cases were confirmed in adults in their 60s. Per CNN: One person’s illness had completely resolved after three months‚ and another was improving after six months. There were no Guillain-Barre cases among people who didn’t receive the shot. “Given the temporal association and biological plausibility‚ FDA agrees with the assessments of the investigators that these events were possibly related to study vaccine. … Therefore‚ [Guillain-Barre] is being considered an important potential risk‚” the FDA says in the documents‚ which were released ahead of a meeting of its independent vaccine advisers‚ the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee‚ on Tuesday and Wednesday. The committee is scheduled to discuss and make recommendations on RSV vaccines for adults 60 and older from Pfizer and GSK. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks its own nerves‚ causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Although most people recover completely‚ some cases can be fatal or have lasting effects. The incidence of Guillain-Barre is about 1.5 to 3 cases for 100‚000 adults over age 60 in the US annually‚ according to the FDA. “Given the higher than background rate of GBS observed in the Phase 3 study‚ FDA will recommend a postmarketing study and enhanced surveillance for further evaluation of GBS and other immune-mediated demyelinating conditions with postmarketing use‚” the FDA says. In a briefing document submitted for next week’s meetings‚ Pfizer says that the cases have other possible explanations and that its shot is a “well-tolerated and safe vaccine‚ with a benefit-to-risk ratio that is favorable.” The company says it will conduct a safety study on Guillain-Barre syndrome if its RSV shot is approved.

1872 - Yellowstone becomes the world's 1st national park 1913 - 1First state law requiring bonding of officers and state employees‚ ND 1941 - Former University of Notre Dame star fullback Elmer Layden is named first Commissioner of the NFL 1953 - After an all-night movie and dinner session with his top advisers‚ Joseph Stalin suffers a stroke and collapses. He dies four days later. 1966 - Venera 3 becomes 1st man-made object to impact on a planet (Venus) 1991 - 37 year-old Pat Day becomes the 6th jockey in history whose mounts earned $100 million when he rides Wild Sierra to 2nd-place in the 1st race at Oaklawn Park‚ Arkansas 1992 - "Visit" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 45 performances 1993 - New expansion NHL team‚ owned in Anaheim‚ CA by Disney‚ receives its name‚ inspired by the 1992 Disney movie 'The Mighty Ducks' 2003 - Legendary Mount St. Mary's basketball head coach Jim Phelan wins final game of 49 year career as Mountaineers win 60-56 over Central Connecticut State; Phelan: 830 wins in NCAA record 1‚354 games 2004 - Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum becomes President of Iraq. More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1847 - Michigan becomes 1st English-speaking jurisdiction to abolish the death penalty (except for treason against the state) 1946 - Panama accepts its new constitution 1970 - End of US commercial whale hunting 1984 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR #3931 Batten‚ #4529 Webern‚ #4530 Smoluchowski‚ #4818 Elgar‚ #5502 Brashear and #5943 Lovi 1991 - US Embassy in Kuwait officially reopens 2023 - At least 1000 Iranian school girls exposed to toxic gas attacks‚ since November‚ amid accusations they are an attempt to close schools after girls participated in recent anti-government protests More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1432 - Isabel of Coimbra‚ Queen of Portugal (d. 1455) 1734 - Pieter Valck‚ Dutch artist and sculptor (d. 1783) 1822 - Albin Francisco Schoepf‚ Polish-American Brigadier General (Union Army)‚ born in Podgórze‚ Kraków‚ Poland (d. 1886) 1837 - William Dean Howells‚ American novelist‚ critic and editor (Atlantic)‚ born in Martinsville‚ Ohio (d. 1920) 1920 - Howard Nemerov‚ American poet‚ two-time US Poet Laureate and novelist (Blue Swallows)‚ born in New York City (d. 1991) 1956 - Timothy Daly‚ American actor (Joe-Wings‚ Diner‚ Made in Heaven)‚ born in Sufferin‚ New York More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1510 - Francisco de Almeida‚ Portuguese soldier‚ explorer and 1st Viceroy of India dies at Table Bay‚ Africa at about 59 1826 - Friedrich Weinbrenner‚ German architect‚ dies at 59 1906 - Moritz Heyne‚ German germanist (Beowulf)‚ dies at 68 1928 - Jacob Adolf Hägg‚ Swedish composer‚ dies at 77 1980 - Dixie Dean‚ English soccer striker (16 caps; Everton)‚ dies from a heart attack at 73 1991 - Scott Huston‚ American composer‚ dies at 74 More Famous Deaths »

Israel is demanding that “antisemitism” be “criminalized” in countries including the United States in order to stop any and all criticism of Israel regardless of their actions. The Israeli paper the Jerusalem Post ran a [...] The post Israel Demands ‘Antisemitism Must Be Criminalized In America Before It’s Too Late’ appeared first on The People's Voice.

While boundaries with toxic family members are healthy and good‚ one way we can continue to love our estranged family members while remaining separated from them is through prayer.