The Public Health Christian Fellowship at JHSPH

Dear PHCF, Sorry for the late email this week! A Scripture to rest on, from Isaiah 43:1-3 -  But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  Dear ones, will you trust in the grace and the power of our Lord afresh this week, the mighty one who came to seek and to save the lost? Will you surrender your own ambitions and ask the Holy Spirit to shape your dreams and hopes to look like Jesus? PHCF events this week:  Wed Feb 27, 12:15pm, Room W2033 - Travis will be leading us again in a study of the Book of John (The Hope of Christ: John 15 and possibly 16). PHCF whatsapp group:  we've created ...

Dear PHCF, just a quick note: the interfaith panel for humanitarian health event has gotten postponed to April 10, due to the snow day today! More time to pray for the event :)

Dear PHCF, It is midterm season for many students, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by to-do lists and piles of study materials. Praying that you take comfort in the words of King David in Psalm 139:  O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.  Jesus is with you (and he is for you), no matter what - today, will you trust him, and let him lead you  in the way everlasting ?  PHCF events this week:  Wed Feb 13, 12noon, Sheldon Hall - Interfaith discussion panel hosted by the Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health. (assuming that the JHSPH is open tomorrow... there's snow/sleet in the forecas...

Dear Public Health Christian Fellowship, Good morning! You probably know Psalm 42:1,  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God . But when was the last time you reflected on the rest of Psalm 42, as the psalmist writes out his struggles: a deep thirst for God, tears and sorrow, questions and doubts and memories and feeling forgotten by God. And yet, he says,  my soul is downcast within me;  therefore  I will remember you  (v6) and finally  Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God  (v11). Dear ones, praying for you that whatever you're going through today (questions about what-next for classes or group projects or theses job searching or grant applications), that you can embrace the full expanse of emotion that God has made us humans capable of with all its highs and lows, but also that your heart stays rooted on Jesus, the rock of...

Dear Public Health Christian Fellowship, Brr! Hope you are all warm and well, despite the ice and slush outside! Here's a passage to meditate on this morning:  Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  (Heb 10:19-25) Dear ones, praying this morning that you remember the confession of your hope - this God-man Jesus...

[Sorry this post is a week late... Forgot to cross-post from the listserv. If interested in receiving weekly emails, please send your name and email address to jhsph.phcf [at] gmail.com - thank you!] Dear Public Health Christian Fellowship, Welcome back! It's been quiet on the PHCF listserv (and around the school) for the past few weeks while many have been out of town, but it is a joy to see the SPH bustling with people again with the start of 3rd term. Perhaps in the hectic-ness of projects and practicums, events and evaluations, it is good to pause and rest on the words of Isaiah the prophet:  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you  (Is 26:3). This week, can you lay your burdens, your what-ifs, your if-only's, your I-am-the-captain-of-my-own- ship mentality, down at the feet of Jesus? ( A song for reflection and meditation. ) PHCF events this week: Tuesday faculty lunch meeting: contact  Teresa  for details We...