A few days ago, my sister deemed me germ-free enough to visit for lunch and squish my nephew. If I have an idol in life, it’s Tedders (I repent to Jesus every day.) This kid makes me so so so happy. We have tried not to subject teddy’s face to the internet, so enjoy this blurry gif that captures the ridiculous affection I have for this child who shares my genetics of strong toes and an orbital forehead:
i’m his favorite 姨姨 [yiyi / aunt]. i’m his only yiyi, but nevermind.
high fantasy children’s novel
I am loving The Chronicles of Prydain! (heh, thought I was gonna say Narnia, eh?) I’m nearly done with the first book of the series. The main character has really grown on me. Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper, desperately wants adventure and, spoilers, finds himself on one that will change him forever. Despite being a rash and naive youth, I admire his courage and especially his quick willingness to admit when he is wrong. So far, my favorite characters are Eilonwy and Gurgi (the alternate universe Hermione and Dobby). My favorite scene has to do with crunchings and munchings.
paul & suffering
I like doing house chores. It has all the benefits of going for a walk—helping the brain to freshen up and process problems. Except everything is nice and clean afterwards (yay!). I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the concept of Lent. How is it same same but different than Advent? What does it mean to enter with Christ in his suffering? How can we grasp the importance of this? How can we proactively practice this rhythm without the legalism that I personally feel is always lurking around the corner, ready to pounce.
I felt stuck. So I did chores. And turned on the audiobible of Philippians (since we’re going through this sermon series as a church). I was so fascinated by The Message version that I wound up replaying it four times. A few of the sections that struck me:
"Everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a platform! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose." (1:20-21)
There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. (1:29)
"I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it." (3:10-11)
I don’t have any answers to my questions. But something is here. Praying that going through the Philippians series will help prime me (and our church) to ready ourselves for the Lenten season. To want to become more like our Savior in his suffering and resurrection.
a movie
Wonka! Wholesome! Heart-warming! The perfect Thursday evening excursion with my friend as we snuck onigiri and pretzels in our pockets for our self-proclaimed dinner-and-a-movie. It was magical, suspending reality ever-so-slightly. It was sweet, yet not saccharine. I resonated with its message that life is about the people you share it with. As the kid who obsessively borrowed Roald Dahl’s books from the library, I was pleased with this musical prequel.
two songs on repeat
Reward by Josh Yeoh. I was introduced to this song when leading worship for a friend’s wedding at the start of the year. It speaks my heart’s desire for Jesus to be my greatest treasure. To be a child who finds ultimate joy in obeying her good Savior.
Come and be my exceedingly great reward
You're the treasure that I would give my whole life for
What would it profit me to gain the world but lose my soul?
I know my life is not my own
Jesus, Strong and Kind by CityAlight. My friends chose this song for their newborn daughter’s funeral last week. I physically couldn’t sing it. But cried along. Caskets should not come in children sizes. In the midst of the grief, there was something profound happening. Through their weeping, my friends preached God’s goodness. It was beautiful and extraordinary to witness. To be a part of something precious God is doing on this Broken Side of eternity. It was a glimpse of the Hope we have. And the Hope to come.
Jesus said, if I am lost
He will come to me
And He showed me on that cross
He will come to meFor the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kindJesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strongYes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
I ask Holy Spirit to meet with me often in my livingroom, with my piano. To not necessarily make sense of what’s happening. But just to be with me. To help me. To tune my heart. To stumble through the truths (and the correck notes) until I believe them.
Friends, leaving you with Lamentations 3:21-23 (CJB):
But in my mind I keep returning to something,
something that gives me hope—
that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,
that his compassion has not ended.
[On the contrary,] they are new every morning!
How great your faithfulness!
“Adonai is all I have,” I say;
“therefore I will put my hope in him.”
love,
reb