Article: It's easy to fixate on aspects of your earthly lifefinances, possessions, and so one. These things disappear along with the mortal body, though, and have no lasting spiritual value. A big house or a fancy car are things the world might value, but they won't matter in God's kingdom. Earthly success is not inherently evil. You can live a comfortable life in a nice home with a good job and still walk by faith. The problem isn't in having these things; the problem is prioritizing these symbols of earthly success over matters of the Spirit. Instead of focusing on the life before you, focus on unseen realities, like Jesus and Heaven. Center your life around these realities instead of the visible, temporary realities of your earthly life. Store up treasures in Heaven by doing the will of God, as instructed in Matthew 6:19-20, rather than fussing over the treasures of earth. Living your life according to your faith in God will require you to follow God's law above and before the ways of mankind. God's law can be learned and understood through the study of His Word. Understand that there are times when the world will try to convince you that something forbidden by God's law is acceptable. Human inclination is follow the ways of the world, but to walk by faith, you need to follow the ways of God. You cannot control the actions of those around you, but as far as your own life is concerned, you must live according to what God has deemed is right and just. For those who walk by sight, the actions and beliefs of a person who walks by faith can seem foolish. You'll need to learn to walk on in spite of any criticism you receive from those around you. God's ways are not humanity's ways. Your natural inclination will be to follow your own understanding and the current philosophy of human society, but doing so will not guide you down the path God wants you to follow. Proverbs 3:5-6 explains, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Every road has rough patches, and the one you're setting out on now is no exception. The trials you'll face are there to give your journey strength and meaning, though. The trials you face might be self-inflicted or may not be your fault at all. You might stumble and give into the temptation to do what you know to be wrong, and dealing with the consequences of your actions can make things difficult for a while. Even so, God will not abandon you. He can even use the evils of your hardship for your good if you let Him. On the other hand, a natural disaster or some other unforeseen, uncontrollable force might rip through your life. God can and will use that tragedy for the greater good, though, as long as you are open to it. There might be times when you feel the presence of God very vividly, but there will also be times when you feel a sense of distance between you and God. You need to keep walking by faith through these dark times without waiting for some epiphany or miracle to illuminate your path. Realize that God is always with you, even when you do not feel His presence or understand how He is working in your life through a particular tragedy or disaster. The feeling of being deserted is a matter of human perception and not a matter of truth. God speaks to the spirit, but while you are still in bodily form, there will be times when the perceptions of the body drown out those of the spirit. When you are desperate to feel the presence of God but are unable to do so, rely on the promises of Scripture and your past faith experiences to give you strength. Continue to pray and to do the things you know God would have you do. You do not need to be a famous evangelist to walk by faith and give glory to God. Simply do the best you can with the tasks and circumstances God has given you. First Corinthians 10:31 explains, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." If something as basic as eating and drinking can be done to the glory of God, more complex aspects of life can be done to the glory of God, as well. If you're currently a student, study seriously and be the best student you can be. If you're working at an office, be a responsible, ethical, and hard working employee. Be the best son, daughter, mother, father, sister, or brother you can be to your family members, as well.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Focus on things that have eternal significance. Obey the Bible and God's commands. Prepare to look foolish. Expect to face trials along the way. Stop waiting for an epiphany. Glorify God in all that you do.
Article: Edema, the swelling in various parts of the body due to excess water accumulation, is the initial symptom of nephrotic syndrome in about 95% of the patients. Common places for this extra fluid include the face (around the eyes and particularly in the morning after lying in bed all night), the legs (particularly the lower legs and after being upright during the day), within the abdominal cavity (where there is lots of space for it to accumulate), and in the genitalia. It may be mild or sufficiently severe to cause a great deal of discomfort. As blood levels of proteins decrease, a portion of water contained in the blood moves out of the blood vessel and into surrounding tissue. Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides result from abnormal processing of the cholesterol and triglyceride precursors in the nephrotic syndrome. Relatedly, obesity and/or weight gain is a common side effect, too. In severe and prolonged nephrotic syndrome these levels may be extremely high, raising concerns about long-term heart disease and cardiovascular risk in general. Increased risks of serious bacterial infections are seen in people with nephrotic syndrome. There are several changes that occur in the efficiency of our immune systems that principally result from losing certain proteins in the urine: sepsis (bacteria in the blood), peritonitis (bacterial infection in the abdomen), and cellulitis (bacterial infection of the skin) are the most common. The most frequently seen bacterial organisms causing these infections are Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and bowel bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Disturbances of blood clotting can lead to thrombosis (blood clots forming within body blood vessels) of major blood vessels. This is, however, more common in adult forms of nephrotic syndrome. It is principally the result of imbalances of normal blood clotting regulation, with increases of factors that enhance blood clotting accompanied by urinary losses of substances that inhibit blood clotting. Acute kidney failure associated with the nephrotic syndrome is uncommon, particularly in the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood. When it does occur, it is usually the result of dehydration in the blood compartment of the body. Both the very low blood protein levels leading to loss of blood volume, and fluid losses from acute illnesses with dehydration can combine and lead to poor blood flow to the kidney. This is often reversible with prompt treatment of the underlying problem. Unfortunately, prolonged steroid therapy has its own complications. Each case is different, and your child may experience only some of these symptoms. Knowing that, here are the most common side effects of prolonged therapy: Weight gain, increased appetite, and obesity "Cushingoid" facial changes (rounded face sometimes called a "moon" face) Infection Growth delay Cataracts High blood pressure High blood sugars Weakening of the bones (osteopenia) Skin stretch marks Serious side effects may not be experienced by a child whose SSNS relapses are infrequent and require only modest does of steroids.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Expect swelling. Keep an eye on your child's cholesterol. Know that you're up against infection. Know that thrombosis is a complication. Monitor the kidneys. Know the complications of therapy, too.