Our God's tender love for His servants makes Him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that [He] would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without... doubt, without cowardice.

[He] does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad... He would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice.

[We] ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that [we] may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in a heroic manner... Let your spirit by joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you, but cowardice throws down the banner.

Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."
-CH Spurgeon, Daily Readings

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
~Zephaniah 3:17

Things I've done/experienced in NYC thus far!

- Playing basketball in a beautiful park in the Upperwest Side over President's Weekend
- Swing dancing at Swing 24 near Times Square
- Dancing and more dancing :)
- Watched Billy Elliot
- Experienced "snow days" off from work
- Visiting Redeemer small groups
- Karaoking and getting Korean food in K-town
- visiting the Guggenheim Museum on a "pay as you wish" night
- volunteering with Hope for New York (including with the NYC Relief Bus on a freezing Saturday morning in the Bronx)
- visiting the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)
- living in and navigating Flushing..enough said :)
- watching a Eugene Park concert at the Village Underground
- going to a Lifehouse Concert at the Hard Rock Cafe
- walking the NYU area on foot
- trying the best halal place on 53rd & 6th where there is a ubiquitous line
- Steak Shack
- going to the Cloisters
- experiencing long lines akin to airport security check lines at Whole Foods
- Seeing the Highline and exploring the Meatpacking District (including a covered market there)
- going to see a Mets Game
- salsa dancing at the LQ at the Radisson Lexington Hotel
- bike-riding along the Hudson River
- going hiking about an hour and a half away from NYC
- going to the REAH NK meetings
- running in and exploring Central Park
- visiting Times Square Church and the Brooklyn Tabernacle (the best gospel choirs ever in my humble opinion :)
- the YWCA Queens and KAFSC's 21st Annual Gala
- reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones :)