Zephaniah 3:17

Tonight at phcf girl's group we did a little study/reflection on Zeph 3:17 -- one of my favorite verses.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Song to verse here: very twangy, catchy =) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dniFr5HWo Keke one of the girls sends this song as a baptismal gift! Cute.

Some thoughts:
God is love. And he demonstrates his love (for a people who turns away from, who rejects him again and again) in many ways.
- He is our God. possessive. continual relationship.
- He is WITH us, present in our midst. What a gift, that he never leaves us or forsakes us.
- He is continually working protection over us, promising salvation, no doubt/uncertainty about it.
- He rejoices over us, an abundance of joy, and not out of duty but out of gladness!
- He quiets us by his love, giving peace and rest and security and identity. We don't have to scurry and work and worry. He is worthy of trust.
- He exults over us with singing. Reminds me of the troubadours of yore, writing sonnets to their lady-loves, expounding on beauty of face or form or character. But this is even better because it is God, who knows us inside and out, even better than we know ourselves -- all the good and all the bad -- and yet still exults!! over us! Utter bewilderment at this love that pursues the least worthy, that instills worthiness by function of being chosen, not by internal merit.

Praise be to Him who loves and thus teaches us to love -- to love him back, and to love others as well. Such joy to be reminded of solid truth in his Word, especially on a cold night that feels a tad lonely at the apt with a boatload of work to do before the morrow.

moar snow

it's almost the end of february.
snow's coming down again.

my olive oil turned solid. o.o

what's going on?!

perk: now i can eat my chinese new year leftovers without compunction! snack all day to stay warm, huzzah! so far, small portions of: dumplings, lo mien, you tiao, pajeon, egg rolls, nian gao. (also, just learned that nian gao means "year cake" ... AND "sticky cake" -- how clever! keke)

also, wearing ann's bday-gag-gift tiger hat. and pjs. and mommy's random-sale-find fuzzy boots. haha no need for fashion sense when the only ppl to see me are my roommates and hobbes!

---
yesterday, phcf did a lunch seminar with dr p, an old-timer prof who's been around jhsph forever, it seems like! told us the history of public health (esp international public health, since that's the dept he's in) as related to medical missions and christ-followers whose life mission was to love and serve the poor and underserved all around the globe. amazing stories of people who really did leave everything for the sake of Christ. working with grace and humility. and so cool to see how all these people's stories intertwine. relationships matter oh so much. and ultimately, beautifully, how all these stories (hopefully mine too), all this history, is tied up into His Story.

"A season for the broken heart: a reflection for Lent"

http://www.diomass.org/reflections/season-broken-heart-lenten-message-bishop-gates
thoughtful post. resonates, convicts.

// And also, it's LNY! Haha surprise surprise, my parents are coming over for dinner tonight. I'd thought that I would wait til this term is over in a month to go home... and they're coming to me! And bringing gifts (food and company). Huzzah!

hehe

Today, I met someone who actually uses 

in real life.

Ah this city, how I love you!

Though if it were warmer right now I totally wouldn't mind. Brrrrrrrr