Around the Table ~ Jansenn

Jansenn de Guzman is a second-year Chemistry student at the University of Edinburgh. He and his family moved to Scotland from the Philippines several years ago. This is his story of finding home in God.

Around the Table ~ Abena

Abena is a fourth-year student studying history at the University of Edinburgh. She is actively involved in King's Church, and welcomed me to her small group. Her faith is fierce, her confidence in Christ complete, her laugh the most lovable. Hear her speak about why God's plans are greater than ours.

Manny Pacquiao

This morning, a friend messaged me on Facebook:

"Regardless of the outcome, he can't lose-- in the only decision that matters, in the eyes of virtues, he's won by a mile".

 

The biggest boxing fight in decades will happen in just a few hours. I am rooting for Manny, not only because he is Filipino, but most importantly because he is my brother in Christ.

"I want to let the people know that God can raise someone from nothing in to something ... and I owe everything to God" ~ Manny.

 

Around the Table ~ Cammy

Cammy is a fourth-year chemistry student at the University of Edinburgh. I met Cammy through Christian Union, and he co-produced the Mark Drama play, which I had the joy of being a part of this past semester. This is his story of how, though born prematurely and deaf, he knows he is a child of God.

How to Discover the True Meaning of 'Home'

I wrote a reflection about how God has been teaching me the meaning of 'home'. Through my study abroad experience in Scotland, I've learned that our true citizenship is founded in heaven, with God. My piece was published on faithcounts.com ~ all credit and glory to God :).
http://faithcounts.com/homeward-bound-true-meaning-home/

Around the Table ~ Craig

Craig is a 3rd-year civil engineering student at the University of Edinburgh. I know Craig from Christian Union and the Mark Drama. Learn about how he uses his passion for running to honor God.

Around the Table ~ Nigel

Nigel is a first-year student studying chemical engineering at the University of Edinburgh. During my study abroad semester in Scotland, I got to know him more deeply. We all wrestle with questions about faith, and for Nigel, he said his longest journey was one of the heart and of the mind. He wanted to find something the world hadn't been able to give him.

Everyone has a story to share.
This is Nigel's story.

Audio / Podcast Version:

Easter Holiday: 2 Weeks of Adventures in the United Kingdom

Incredibly thankful to all these people who took me in, hosted me, fed me, toured and explored with me. From Iceland to all around the U.K., my friends in England, Wales, and Scotland have made my Easter holiday all the more memorable.

SHOUT-OUTS

Wenbo
Thank you for visiting me in Edinburgh over Easter weekend. I enjoyed playing both tour guide and tourist with you as we rolled through the city in a car, fed the birds at swan lakes, climbed Arthur's Seat, played the ukulele on the meadows while eating haggis crisps and chocolate...enjoy the rest of your study abroad in Denmark :).

Maya
The one and only Maya, thank you for Harry Potter-ing it up with me at King's Cross station, walking with me along the Thames, eating ice cream from an ice cream truck, eating more food ie pizza from Pizza Express...hadn't seen you since last year so loved meeting up with you in London. We will definitely chess-it-up over the summer :). #fabiano

Nina
My Iceland travel buddy, we had a blast chasing the Northern Lights, eating ice cream at the top of the glass dome, eating chips from the local 24/7 grocery and watching the Food Network Channel (squealing when the Cincinnati episode of Guy Fieri's show came on)... enjoy the rest of your time in London and see you back in Cincinnati!

Megan
Our friendship was definitely a God thing, from first meeting you in Edinburgh back in January to recently visiting you in Wales! Thank you to you and your family (your mum, your dad, your sisters, your Nana and Taid) for welcoming me to Flint! From eating Welsh cakes at your grandparents' house to touring the castle to worshiping God on a Sunday morning together to watching your Disney trip home video, God's love is so evident in you and your family. Thank you, and just remember you already have a space reserved in my home when you visit America!

Amy
My awesome flatmate, thank you for hosting me in lovely Maidenhead, England. My favorite parts were eating toasties (all day every day), hearing my voice echoooo under the bridge, playing Super Smash Bros Brawl, and baking a (successful!) cheesecake. I am thankful for a flatmate and friend like you!

Liv
Another awesome flatmate, thank you to you and your family for having me over in the great border city of Carlisle! My penchant for all-things Roman was piqued with a walk along Hadrian's Wall,  wandering around the Roman fort and pretending to be a Roman soldier. My favorite part, though, was definitely experiencing Eurovision!!! I need to bring that TV show back to America. #riselikeaphoenix

Jansenn
Church friend, Filipino friend, all-around great friend, thanks to you and your family for hosting me in Brechin. From wandering through Glamis Castle, hiking the Arbroath cliffs, your mum cooking Filipino food, mall-hopping in Dundee... maraming salamat!





Now I'm back in Edinburgh, writing a paper, revising for an exam, and praising God for showing his amazing love through all these people.

Around the Table ~ Sam

Sam Stevens is a 1st-year student studying civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh. He is from Aberdeen, Scotland. I got to know Sam as a brother when we performed together in a play called "The Mark Drama". As I listened to his journey of transformation, I discovered how God has changed his life.

Everyone has a story to share.
This is Sam's story.

Audio / Podcast Version:

Around the Table ~ Pamela

Pamela is a 2nd-year Napier University student studying Nursing. She is originally from Northern Ireland. I know Pamela from King's Church and from small group. Discover who God is to her.

Around the Table ~ Kat

Kat is a 3rd-year medic student from Plymouth, England. I know Kat from Christian Union and from performing together in the Mark Drama. Hear how God has moved in her life.

Around the Table ~ Angela

Angela is a 2nd-year student at the University of Edinburgh and is from Northern Ireland. I know Angela from King's Church and from small group. Find out what God has been doing in her life.

"Around the Table" ~ A New YouTube Series

Faith and film are two of my passions.

So my heart was encouraged to combine both.

Thus was born "Around the Table." Students sharing their stories of faith.

Who is God?
Why do people believe in God?

Find out more and to hear my friends' stories, stories of how Jesus Christ has changed their lives. And maybe you, too, will discover your own story.

Thanks for watching!

SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER SCOTLAND

You know those once-in-a-lifetime events where you mark your wall calendar iCal make sure you set an alarm 3 alarms to wake you up in time for such an event?

It happened this morning.

BAM. BADABING BADABOOM.

A solar eclipse over Scotland. Cue music.

So maybe I didn't necessarily get a Bonnie Tyler moment like in the music video above, but it was cool to experience a total solar eclipse while living in the UK.

Millions of people across northern Europe, from Scandinavia to the British Isles, set aside their morning to witness the moon passing over the sun in perfect form. In Edinburgh, hundreds of people showed up on The Meadows, a vast stretch of green space in the heart of the city. Dog-walkers, joggers, throngs of primary school children happily running around and swinging on the playgrounds, and university students like me waited with bated breath to catch a glimpse of the ever-elusive eclipse.

In the days leading up to today, all the news outlets (and my friends) told me not to look directly at the sun. I pleaded, noooooo whyyyyy in typical pleading fashion, because I wanted to watch the exact moment the moon covered up the sun. But alas, my friends, especially my astrophysicist friend, implored me to use a pinhole cardboard device or special eyewear or just simply don't look at the sun directly, lest I damage my eyes. Permanently.

I don't want my eyes to develop cataracts or go blind, so I opted to follow the advice of the people around me (thanks, friends and BBC).

This got me thinking...the Sun sort of represents God. It's not a perfect metaphor to describe the nature of God, but the Sun does provide insights into his holiness and life-giving power.

(so you might be thinking, "waaaaiiiit whaaaa" ... #dontworryigotchu)

3 REASONS WHY THE SUN = METAPHOR FOR GOD

1) Without the Sun, we'd be dead. Let's be real, the world would be an ice-cold, frosty-frozen place.

do you want a world full of frozen Kristoffs? (no.)

No plants, no trees, no jungles, no Lion King...no food, no crops, no bread, no bread pudding because of no bread...

SAME WITH GOD. Without God, we wouldn't exist. The first thing the Bible talks about is God creating the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), and later on the same story declares God made mankind in his own image (Genesis 1:27). I believe we were created with a purpose, with a reason for existence, and we wouldn't have existed if it weren't for God's great love.

2) No matter how tempting it may be...no matter how beautiful the Sun is...ladies and gents, please don't look at the Sun directly. (Take it from someone who has, and is probably suffering permanent eye damage right now...). The Sun is awesome, but if you (i.e. astronauts / NASA people) travel too close to the Sun, they'll burn up because the Sun is so hot! 

Similarly, we as human beings can't approach God by ourselves. God is so holy that nothing unclean can enter his perfect presence. (Remember when God told Moses to take off his sandals because the ground he was walking on was holy? And other stories like that show us God's amazing holiness and perfection). We are unclean people, sinners in need of saving. God did that. God sent his son Jesus Christ to die for us so that Jesus could clothe us with His righteousness, with His perfect holiness. That way, we may enter into God's kingdom (and party with God forever)!

3) There are sunny days, and there are not-so-sunny days. Attending Brown University in Rhode Island has taught me that. Living in Scotland has taught me that. First-hand experience has taught me that beautiful sunny Sundays may turn into cloudy-and-stormy Mondays.

But just because the Sun shines bright on Sunday doesn't mean the Sun disappeared on Monday. Just because we can't see the orange orb rising or feel the warmth of its golden rays doesn't mean the Sun vanished...it just means there are things in the way, like rain, or hail, or clouds. But the Sun is always there. It's always there.

So it is with God. Some days we're gonna feel like we've known him for so long (#bffs), other days we're gonna ask him "where are you?!". But just know and believe and trust that God is always there, with us. He's not up in the sky or thousands of miles away. He is here, right here, with you. All you need to do, is just ask him to make you more aware of his presence. His awesome, perfect, loving presence.

(Where is the) Sun in Scotland

found this bag in a tourist shop. pretty much sums it up

These past few days in Edinburgh have been particularly rainy and foggy.

fog #alldayerrday

I look out my window. (sigh) No sun in sight.

blue skies come back

It's as if a woolen blanket of gray has cloaked the stone buildings of the city.
Where is the sun?

This got me thinking how a lot of times, we feel like the sun isn't there. Especially during thunderstorms and hailstorms and windstorms, we think the sun has vanished. We think the sun has stopped shining, stopped emitting its golden rays of light, stopped being there for us.

But in reality, the sun is always there. It hasn't vanished.

When those foggy and cloudy days descend, we may feel like God isn't there, too. I've asked this question multiple times: where are you, God?

Yet God is patient with us, showering daily mercies on us, mercies we often are not even aware of.
When you feel like God isn't there, Jesus understands. One afternoon in the midst of spring in Israel, as he hung on a wooden cross, arms stretched out with nails pummeled into his palms, a crown of thorns piercing into his forehead, Jesus died the death we should have died. He suffered tremendous separation from God.

But Jesus had the incredible courage to keep going and pursue the heavenly Father's will and see through it to the very end.

That's what faith is. Believing, even when it's difficult to believe.

Let us be like Christ. In our darkest moments -- those moments when we don't see the sun -- let us trust in God. He is the great I AM, he existed before we even existed (and before the whole universe was even made!), he is Immanuel ~ God with us.

so we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
for what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen
is eternal

2 corinthians 4:18

there will be days like this

but just remember, there will be days like this, too

What is God's will?

Raise yo hands if you've asked this question.

Raise'm. Raise'm high.

'Cuz I, too, find myself asking this question. A lot.

What is God's will?

I'm the type of person who likes to plan things out. Graduate, finish my medical degree, get a job, earn money, find a guy, marry, build a family, star in a movie alongside Tom Hanks, etc etc etc...

Yeaaa, being abroad has compelled me to be more spontaneous --- lots of things are done on the fly, like choosing to hop on a bus and venture out to Murrayfield for a rugby match I had just heard about that day, or deciding to take an early morning train to the northern Belgian town of Bruges the very day we were supposed to hop on a plane back to Edinburgh...

But I'm still an ol' fashioned planner. (I even write out all the food items I need to buy before going to the grocery...and I map out all my meals for that week...lol...)

I am also the kind of person who is so indecisive. (Just ask any of my friends, and they know not to ask me where to eat out for dinner, because literally I will say, "whatever is best for you guys!" or "I'm good with anything!"...sorry, friends!)

In a sense, I'm a bit flawed in those ways, because this often leads me to fear.

Fear of making the wrong decision.

Fear of stepping out of God's will.

******

What is "God's will"?

Many of us want to do God's will, but sometimes we struggle because maybe God's will isn't as clear as we'd like it to be. We want to know his plans for us, we want to know where he will lead us, we want to know when this or that will happen, and so on...

When things aren't clear, go directly to God. Voice your concerns to him, because he truly does care. Speak with him, and listen, too. Relationships are a 2-way thing. If you put your trust in God, He gives you his Holy Spirit and lives in you. The God of the universe offers himself to you in a personal relationship. #amazing

When things aren't clear, go to the Scriptures as well, because "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I like to start my days by reading a passage from the Bible, like a Psalm. As the word of God becomes more and more embedded in you, the more he is able to guide you on a daily basis.

I could go on talking forever about God's will. God's will is "good, pleasing, and perfect" (Romans 12:12). What God wants for us is to have a personal relationship with Him. To put our faith in Him. That's all he wants. He doesn't want perfect hearts, but yielded hearts. In all things, then, whether it's our careers or relationships or aspirations, let us seek Him and His will. So if you're ever worried about a decision you have to make, thing about this: does it seek to glorify God? is it in tune with what the Bible says? does it reflect the love of Christ?

I believe that anything you do out of love, of the kind of love that Jesus Christ gives us, can bring no harm. I believe a decision based on Christ's love is good.

For now, I think I'll end with this: the apostle Paul writes,
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. +1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I read this and it gave me tons of encouragement. I hope it does for you too.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.

this is what happens at 1 am...

so I wrote a love song lol...

You Are

Verse 1:
you give me hope
when no one else can
you are the rock
on whom i can stand

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Verse 2:
you reach my heart
with your tender voice
you see my soul
above all the noise

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Chorus:
you are my love
you are my joy
you are my freedom
and my light            (2x)

Verse 3:
you make me laugh
when no one else can
you are foundation
on which i can stand

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are
 
Verse 4:
you still my heart
with your gentle voice
you whisper words
into my void

you love me for not what i am
but for who you are

Chorus

Verse 5: 
you are
you are
you are
my God    (2x)

Chorus

Why Did Jesus Come During Roman Rule? (Thoughts from a Day Trip to Chester, England)

On Sunday March 1, my friend and I took a train from Liverpool to nearby Chester. Decked with cobblestone lanes and Tudor-style townhouses, the city transported us back in time.

 In fact, all the way back to ancient Roman times!

The biggest Roman amphitheater in the UK is in Chester. The remaining stone walls outline a huge arena, which could have seated 8,000-10,000 people! The Latin nerd in me still stands strong!

Russell Crowe, come at me

This got me thinking about the vastness of the ancient Roman Empire. When he defeated the King of Pontus in 47 BC and won the Battle of Zela, Julius Caesar (in)famously declared, “veni, vidi, vici” = “I came, I saw, I conquered.” From Egypt to Spain to Turkey to yep even England, Roman influence stretched across the Mediterranean.

And my mind stretched back to a different Roman province: Judea.

*****

            Why was Jesus born there? Why did he live and do all his ministry there?

            Why not North America, or Asia?

Why not somewhere else, and at some other time?

Hmmm, I’ve always wondered that...

Why did God specifically send his son to be born in a little town called Bethlehem in an area reigned ruthlessly by the tyrannical Roman rulers?

I think it was exactly because of that.

At the time of Jesus’ life on earth, the Romans taxed the people heavily, took away their livelihoods, and governed viciously.

Jesus wanted to tell the world of a different kingdom. He wanted to give hope and new life to his people. He came to earth, not only saw us but also lived among us, and conquered death for us.

Born around 7-2 BC and living on earth until around 30-33 AD, Jesus came at the right time. The Jewish people were looking for a king, a hero, a rescuer. Jesus is that king. Also, at the time, the worst possible way to die was death on the cross. Though innocent, Jesus died the criminal's death in the most horrible way ever. When he rose from the dead, I'm sure he not only baffled the locals, but the Romans, too.

Practically, roads had been built by the Romans, so all across the Mediterranean, from Greece to Turkey to Italy, Christianity spread quickly. And the written word of Latin and Greek could be understood by many peoples across many provinces.

(I'm sure there are more reasons as to why Jesus came to earth during Roman rule, but these are just a few that I'm thinking of!)

The Latin phrase imperium sine fine (aka "empire without end" -- the Romans, o so humble) expressed the thought that their empire knows no bounds. 

I believe, though, that Jesus declared to his people of a new kingdom, one that truly goes on without end. A kingdom that is limited by no walls, no geographical lines, no boundaries. A kingdom for all peoples of all nations. A kingdom that, in the very end, will stand strong.

Life Lessons from Football: A Weekend in Liverpool

This past weekend, armed with a bag of carrots and a pack of crumpets, I boarded a train at the leisurely hour of 6:32 am. 4 hours later, after a scenic journey through the Lake District (and after a wee nap), I arrived in Liverpool to meet up with Quyen, a friend from America.

Liverpool boasts a dynamic waterfront, Albert Dock. I enjoyed wandering through all the museums and lil’ shops and cafes, learning about the city’s connection with the Titanic, seeing seagulls fly over the sea, and consuming a ginormous crepe-topped-with-2-scoops-of-ice-cream.

Liverpudlians (as the locals are dubbed!) also proudly showcase a dynamic musical history as the home of the Beatles.

 

3 interesting facts I learned:

1)    Did you ever watch the “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends” show on TV? Turns out Ringo Starr narrated some episodes! #mindblown.

2)    The band first started out at a local club called The Cavern!

3)    As the Vietnam War stormed onwards, in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono conducted 2 week-long “Bed-Ins for Peace” (in Amsterdam and in Montreal) to advocate for peace.

Liverpudlians also proudly showcase their football pride. The city bears a long-standing friendly rivalry between its 2 premier football clubs, Liverpool FC and Everton. “You’re either red or you’re blue!” Despite the competitiveness between the two, both teams came together to support their city after the “Hillsborough disaster”: on April 15, 1989 at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, during the FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC, 96 people died and 766 people were injured due to a mad rush/overcrowding crush. The teams set aside their differences and came together in support of one another. 

Football has been known to unite countries and peoples of all backgrounds. (Tis true, from watching the World Cup to playing FIFA on the Xbox, football has forged a stronger bond between me and my brothers.) Other sports, like rugby, have been known to stitch back together wounds of a land (just look at South Africa and the 1995 Rugby Cup, the first major sporting event in South Africa after the end of apartheid #Invictus #Mandela).

We won’t achieve world peace through football alone, or through music alone, or through our hands alone. This world is broken, and we are a broken people. But when moments like that of reconciliation remind me of the God who came down from heaven to live among us on earth, the God who offers true peace, a peace that lasts forever.

11 Days, 5 Countries, Countless Crazy & Memorable Moments

3 days in Belgium.
1 day in Luxembourg.
(1 night in Scotland.)
4 days in the Republic of Ireland.
3 days in Northern Ireland.

Belgium
A small country with a big heart. And big Belgian waffles and frites (French for 'fries'). Together with Jill and Joan, we were three musketeers munching on chocolate (lots of it) in Brussels, wandering the streets at night in search for the (in)famous fries, and hearing World War I stories from our enthusiastic Sandeman tour-guide of how Belgium bravely stopped the Germans from invading France. On our last day in Belgium, we caught a train to Bruges. The fog enveloped the land and added a mystical magical-ness to the place. Boat-riding on the canals of Bruges and climbing up the tower were great ways to end our Belgian adventure.

waffles for breakfast in Brussels!

Luxembourg
Europe has a lot of preserved history, from castles to churches to grand markets that have operated for centuries. With its ducal palace and churches around every corner and picturesque cobblestone streets, Luxembourg is no exception. It really felt like walking in a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale story. I am thankful that a local showed us around and taught us some words from the Luxembourgish language, and we ended up eating one of the best lunches I've had: kniddelen!

whoever invented the choco-spoon, you're brilliant

Scotland
I bid adieu to my traveling companions and headed back to Edinburgh, 1) to unpack and 2) to re-pack. When I arrived at my flat, I was greeted by Valentine's Day gifts left for me in front of my door. Polish chocolate snacks and hand-made origami. How thoughtful <3.

my flatmates are so sweet

Ireland
My flatmate Amy and I woke up early to fly to Dublin, and the sun shone brightly throughout our first day there. Dublin is lively, day and night. Beautiful bridges span the River Liffey, and we loved walking around in the sun in the gardens behind the castle. The highlights were reuniting with old friends. 1) ate lunch with my high school classmate (Colleen), whom I had known since 5th grade. and 2) ate Nando's chicken dinner with a friend I met in Hong Kong last summer (Michaela), who had worked at the same children's camp I did. Reunions are always uplifting, because they're glimpses of what it'd be like to return home to God.

reunited with Colleen at Trinity College Dublin!

on the River Liffey!

reunited with Michaela, a Godly young woman!

Northern Ireland
What can I say about a country with rolling green pastures, ancient castles, sheep grazing in the fields, dramatic landscapes featuring unique rocks rising out of the sea, and friendly people? This past weekend was the last leg of my holiday break, and it was the best way to end. I stayed with family friends, who were the most welcoming hosts ever, taking me on a bus tour of Belfast and Giant's Causeway on the northern coast. But what I enjoyed the most was just chilling at their house, playing games and watching TV ("River Monsters" #jeremywade), worshiping God on a Sunday morning, meeting their grandmum and her cute wee dog. And just before boarding the plane, the rain stopped and the sun shone and a rainbow appeared in the sky. So clutch.

struck with wonder

braving the wind at Giant's Causeway

I've learned that you can travel to far-off places, eat exotic foods, discover mountains and oceans, and explore hidden lands. But what really makes the place, and what really makes a trip memorable, are the people.

How to Cook Turon in Scotland (Recipe Included!)

If you're looking for something sweet + crunchy + banana-y that is quick and easy to make, then "turon" is the snack for you. I grew up eating this Filipino dessert a lot (...a lot...) so making it here in Edinburgh brought me back to my childhood days.

Here are the ingredients and recipe for turon!

+bananas
+spring roll pastry wraps (you can buy them at any Asian market!)
+brown sugar
+vegetable or corn oil
+bowl of water

1) Peel the bananas, and slice them in half. Slice again in the middle to make fourths.
2) Sprinkle brown sugar on the bananas.
3) Lay out a spring roll pastry wrap on a clean surface. Put a sugared banana slice in the corner.
4) Then roll it up! Halfway through, fold the other corners in, and then keep on rolling.
5) Before finishing rolling it up, there should be a corner flap still left. Dip this flap in some water as an adhesive. Then roll it up all the way.
6) Heat up some oil in a wok or pan, and fry the lil' sweet packages!
7) Wait a few minutes (usually 3-5) for them to turn golden brown. Then take the turon out and put them on a plate with paper towels to dry, then transfer to a clean plate.
8) Eat them as is or served with any flavor of ice cream :). Enjoy!

dat Scottish ice cream tho #toogood

PS cooking turon is best done with friends! :)

What Every Young Woman Needs To Hear

The 14th is coming up, and y'all know what that means...

Valentine's Day DAY OF CHOCOLATE

jk.

(sort of.)

but I digress...

Every year, there's a particular day in which single ladies may feel more lonely and more acutely aware of feeling lonely.
You'll see elderly couples strolling through the park, a husband and wife holding hands while gazing out into the sunset, a boyfriend and girlfriend eating at a restaurant on a date night...the list goes on, and yeah, maybe you're like me and are simultaneously happy to see other people happy, but also have felt that loneliness before.

When those feelings of loneliness surface,
I want you to know that God loves you.

This is what every young woman needs to hear:
God loves you.

He's not some far-off, distant entity who's controlling the world like puppets on string.
He's not some deity who demands you to be good.
He's not imaginary.

God is real, and God wants you to know that he is the giver of all joy, all hope, all love.

No matter how many times we mess up or are hurting or feel lonely, God actually truly really does love you.

We have someone who can complete us. We have someone who can actually make us truly feel valued. We have someone who says He would do anything for us.

And how do we know?

How do we actually know that there's someone out there who loves us unconditionally? With a love that can change us? A love with no limits?

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. +1 John 4:9

Ladies, you are made in the image of God.
You are beautiful, not because of what you look like, but because of who made you.
The God of the universe (the whole big vast mind-boggling universe!) knows how many hairs you have on your head. The God who made the mountains and the oceans and the stars in the sky formed you in your mother's womb and saw you before you were even born on earth. The God who gave his life for you wants you to know that you can have eternal life with him, eternal joy, forever.

And when that truly sinks into your soul, you realize that you don't need the world's validation. When you realize that your true identity is in Christ, then you can start loving others with Christ's love.

(And trust me, it's hard. We as human beings are not perfect, and we can never love another person perfectly.)

But the more you walk with God... the more you begin to love other people, not because you want them to love you back, but because God already loves you. It's like we're a cup, and when we let God's love fill us up, his love will overflow to other people.

Thankfully, we can never "earn" God's love. God offers his love freely to anyone and everyone. All you need to do is accept his gift :).

So.

This Valentine's Day (and any other day!), if you're ever feeling lonely, just know that Someone loves you, and He's reaching out his hand to you, and all you have to do, is just reach your hand out back to him.

***

PS thankful for these lovely ladies for spending an early GALENTINE'S DAY with me!

breakfast-ing

Mary's Milk Bar-ing

Citizenship

Hailing from the land of Hershey’s chocolate and vast stretches of cornfields (America), I feel a bit of a stranger to Scotland, for now. Walking on the left side of the sidewalk, eating (and actually enjoying) haggis, drinking tea with milk, trying to come up with the best team name at weekly pub quiz nights (Tequila Mockingbird or You’re a Quizzard, Harry)... In ways such as these, my life is a bit different from the one back in America. I do feel settled in, but at the same time, I bear an acute sense of awareness that I am not from here, and I don’t know if I will be able to ever say I truly belong here. 

And I think that's okay, because my citizenship is founded in another world, one in which peoples of all nations will come together, people from all neighborhoods and zip codes and cities will gather round as one. A world in which there will be no more crying, no more death, no more pain. No more feeling like a stranger in a strange land, but a citizen. 
A citizen of a kingdom that knows no bounds, a kingdom where all are welcome, a kingdom better than the ones we see on earth.

week 5: when you look up

 

when you look up

what do you see?

do you see sapphire-blue skies

or bunny-shaped clouds

or orange and pink paint at nearly sundown?

can you see a blanket of indigo

peppered by stars

that light up the night way from afar?



or maybe, just maybe

do you see his glory

More Than Just A Coffee House: Salt Yard Sessions

Music + cake + comfy couches.

Saltyard is a wonderful lil' coffee shop run by a local church in Edinburgh.

Salt Yard Sessions are wonderful gatherings of the community in which we seek God through live music at said wonderful lil' coffee shop. 

Saturday night, I ventured a wee bit away from campus and trekked two miles to see acoustic performances from bunderland, Illuminate Scotland, and Nathan Jess & Band. It was worth it. 

raise your hand if you're like me & love the hanging lights & paper triangles in the background

me with Nathan Jess!

Besides the delicious home-baking (like seriously delicious cake...lots of it), what made the night special was just a group of believers gathering around, sitting on comfy couches and singing together to celebrate the Heavenly Father we love.

We sang this one song called "Spirit Break Out," and it really hit me when the lyrics "heaven come down" were repeated again and again.

What would it be like if heaven actually did come down, right now?


PS happy birthday to my dear brother Joseph! Though he turned 15 years old today, I will forever see him as my baby bro.

(Breakfast) Clubbing

This morning I had breakfast with the lovely Lucie. I first met Lucie through mutual family friends and am so grateful. Food, friendship, and fellowship ~ a great way to start the day!
Go check out her blog!
http://juicyluciefoods.blogspot.co.uk/

Week 4: Reunions!

reunited!

I've known Nina since ... I can't even remember because it's been so long! We grew up in the same city, went to the same school since we were bout 5 years old, graduated high school together...our shared history stretches far back. I even remember going to her grandma's house for a Filipino Christmas party one time when we were young!

postcard perf

 I'm so happy Nina got to visit and that we got to catch up. Awesome weekend, awesome friend!!

climbed columns on Calton Hill #alliteration

hiking up Arthur's Seat with school friends

Studying abroad at St Andrews, Mary also popped by on Saturday! We knew each other from high school so it was nice to see another familiar face in a foreign place.

thankfully I did not fall down

On Sunday after church, we food-toured our way through the city (ate @ Oink, Scottish cranachan @ World's End Pub, Mars Bar cupcakes @ Mimi's Bakehouse).

pretending to be Highland cows

Waved goodbye to Nina at the train station on Sunday evening, but we will definitely see each other again! Thank you, Nina, for a wonderful weekend <3!

did someone chop up some onions? #brb #crying

The saying goes that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Being abroad has definitely taught me to cherish new friends made here and also to cherish the ones from back home. Friendship is a beautiful glimpse of God. Friendships are truly a gift.