Not of this WorldNovember/December 2012

I’m so excited for you to read this issue! For several weeks, though, I was actually a

little discouraged about it. Because of college application deadlines and homework, I’ve had to push back the publish date again and again. I never thought I’d have the time to work on it and I was nervous it would be a half-hearted effort in an attempt to just get it published. But here it is. It’s 19 days late, but it’s here, and I can’t wait for you to see it. As always, God made sure I had the time, inspiration, and encouragement to finish.

From hot chocolate recipes to advice on cultivating rich friendships, this issue is full of articles about daily life. It’s important to look at the big picture of our lives, but it’s equally important to pull our focus down to all the little pictures that make up life. I hope you are encouraged and blessed by what you read. It’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the holiday season we’re about to enter, but I hope you still make time to meet daily with God, invest in your friendships, read good books, and sip on hot chocolate.

-Courtney R. I love hearing from you! Send me a note at notofthisworld.r2@gmail.com

a note from the editor

table of contents

On God 36/37 | Holiday Bible Verses 28/29 | Heart of Worship 30/35 | Limping to Heaven

On You 22/27 | Made for Relationships

On TCKs 13/18 | He Said

On Life 5/12 | Hot Chocolate Recipes

20/21 | To Read 38 | From the Blog

2 | Note from the Editor

30 5 22

Third Culture Crafts hats scarves headbands

etsy.com/shop/ThirdCultureCrafts

[redefining a beloved winter treat] by Courtney R

[lavender hot chocolate]

2 cups whole milk3 ounces dark chocolate1 ounce milk chocolate

1/4 teaspoon lavender buds1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar

For whipped cream, place cold cream, vanilla, and sugar into a cold mixing bowl. Beat the mixture with a whisk or mixer until stiff peaks form. Keep refrigerated until ready for use.

For hot chocolate, heat milk and lavender over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the milk begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let lavender steep for 5 minutes. Strain lavender and return milk to saucepan. Over medium heat, add chocolate and mix until chocolate is melted and incorporated. Whisk milk mixture for 10-20 seconds until frothy. Pour into mugs or bowls and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

recipe from à la mode*

[frozen hot chocolate]

king size chocolate bar2 teaspoons hot chocolate powder

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar1 1/2 cups milkwhipped cream3 cups ice

Over a double boiler melt about 6 oz. of the chocolate. Add sugar and hot chocolate and stir until smooth. Add 1/2 c. milk and stir. Put that mixture in the blender with the rest of the milk and blend with 3 cups of ice.

Shave the rest of the chocolate bar, to put on top of the whipped cream.

This makes about 3-4 normal size drinks.

recipe from making the word cuter

[pumpkin hot chocolate]

1 1/2 cups whole milk1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon vanillapinch sea salt

2 ounces white chocolate (roughly chopped)

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine milk, pumpkin and spices. Cook, stirring constantly. until just simmering.

Remove from heat and add chocolate (reserve some for garnish).

Just before serving, top each mug with a generous mound of whipped cream, a few shavings of white chocolate, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. Serve immediately.

recipe from Tidy Mom

Spread cool whip on a tray and let sit in freezer. Use cookie cutters and place in hot chocolate.

OR

Take your whipped cream and spoon individual

servings onto parchment lined baking sheet. Place in freezer for 2-3 hours

or until completely frozen. Move to airtight container and store in

freezer.

[whipped cream tips from pinterest and the creative mama ]

He Saidwhat

TCK guy

s

really t

hink

Do guys care about makeup or not? This is

the question.

I don't care at all if girls wear makeup. Honestly, most of the time they are more attractive if

they don't wear makeup.

-Reed

Funniest TCK moment?I don't know which is the funniest, but one memorable TCK moment was when I was eating breakfast at a hotel in America. I grabbed a pastry and some juice and fruit loops, and then I grabbed a boiled egg. In Kenya, they only have brown eggs, so I knew that the boiled egg I had grabbed (being white) was already peeled. I took a bite out of it, and discovered that, in America, they have white eggs, where the shell is white, not just the inside.

-Ellis

JackEllisTrent

Bryan Connor Kyle

JTReedPhilip

...when you don't get your driver’s license until you are at least 18.

-Trent

...when your "home" is in your

relationships with people,

not necessarily in a particular

place.

-Kyle

...when people ask you to speak your second language but don't tell you what to say.

-Connor... when Fahrenheit is foreign to you.

-Reed

...when you go crazy in the store because you just

realized how cheap candy is in

the USA.

-Philip

You Know You’re an MK When...

What should girls know about guys?

Most guys are really shy when it comes to liking

girls. So just because a guy doesn't give a girl a lot of attention doesn't mean he

doesn't like her. Many guys really like it when a girl

will approach them and initiate conversation. It makes us feel comfortable.

-Kyle

If you’re trying to

communicate, put it in the context of food and a guy will

understand!

-Bryan

Guys are a lot less complicated than girls think they are. We’re

pretty straightforward.

-Trent

Guys can think about nothing.

-JT

How has being a TCK changed your approach

to relationships?

Friendships can seem so shallow and almost not worth the work.

-Jack

I would only marry a non-TCK if she understands where I am

coming from (language, likes, etc) and if she would be willing

to give up the "American Dream Life" and possibly go somewhere else, wherever it may be that God calls us to.

-PhilipIn Japan, dating isn’t that big

of a deal. Instead, a couple will move from being in a close

friendship to getting engaged. Growing up in this culture has made me not want to enter a

relationship lightly.

-Connor

I’ve never wanted to be in a

relationship with someone because

I know my family will probably move

again and we’d have to break up.

-Bryan

third culture kid (tck) (n): Third-culture kids

are those who have spent some of their growing up years in a foreign country and experience a sense of

not belonging to their passport country when they return to it. In

adapting to life in a ‘foreign’ country they have also missed

learning ways of their homeland and feel most at home in the ‘third-

culture’ which they have created.

Missing Not of this World in between issues? Pour

yourself a cup of tea and read all of our stories on TCK topics here.

to read.

⌃

[shadow eyes by dusty crabtree] I must admit, when I started this book I was a little apprehensive. I often find Christian fiction for teens to be a tad cheesy and poorly written. This was not the case for Shadow Eyes. I was pleasantly surprised by Crabtree’s solid writing and gripping plot. The book’s protagonist is Iris Kohl, a teen girl who, after a traumatic event, is able to see demons and angels. To her, they only appear to be shadows. She can see dark, thick shadows hovering around people, whispering in their ear, prompting sin. She is also able to see bright flashes of light, protecting people and battling evil. As her family struggles to maintain unity and joy, Iris searches for her own happiness, struggling with the confusing shadows that invade her life.

I couldn’t put this book down. Not only was the story fast-paced and intriguing, but it opened my eyes to how real spiritual warfare truly is. Of course, the book cannot accurately display what demons and angels actually look like and how they act, but it does an excellent job of showing why it’s so important to put on the armor of God daily and constantly pray.

[not a fan by kyle idleman] Are you simply a fan of Jesus or a follower? A fan would know all the Bible stories, all the right “Sunday school answers,” and be able to spit out all kinds of facts. A follower is in a relationship with God and is willing to put everything on the line to follow Him.

In his book Not a Fan, Idleman takes his readers step by step on how to go from being a fan to a follower. He writes with humor, conviction, and powerful truth. I tend to be picky about devotional books, but I could not put this down. I read it for hours at a time, simultaneously feeling pangs of conviction and rushes of joy at the prospect of truly denying my desires to the Lord.

Idleman does not sugar-coat Christianity. Instead, he points to scripture and personal stories that clearly show what the life of a true Christian looks like - a painful, but beautiful, journey of becoming more and more like Christ through prayer, commitment, and sacrifice. If you want to take your walk with the Lord to the next level, please read this book.

∧∧∧

by Millie Welsh

made forpart 3

Looking at the big picture of the relationship cycle hopefully

motivates you to dive in and intentionally pursue friendships of depth. I am forever grateful for the treasured friendships God has put in my life. I donʼt ever want to take those for granted because of the time (and often trial and error) it took to build them. Yes, you read that right: build them. A God-honoring, deep friendship does not just happen. Friendships of depth take work. Itʼs worth it though - I promise!

In my 24 years of doing ministry with women, I have observed a few common truths about female friendships. Female friendships are invaluable! You will always need the friendships of women - even when youʼre married. (If youʼre a guy reading this, please realize Iʼm not addressing you in this paragraph!) Find me a healthy marriage and Iʼll bet youʼll find a woman who has good girlfriends. Notice I said a healthy marriage. But thatʼs not our topic right now.

I have been blessed with a number of “best” friends over my life. For a long time, I refused to use the label “best” because I saw that God provided so many different friends for different aspects of my life. But in my 30s, I finally gave in actually started calling my friend, Shannon, my best friend because God had crafted a truly special connection between us. Shannon and I both “get” each other. But the ironic part of our friendship is that we are polar opposites! Sheʼs skinny, Iʼm not; sheʼs a thinker, Iʼm a talker; sheʼs a runner, Iʼm a sitter; sheʼs competitive, I just wanna have fun; sheʼs blonde, Iʼm brown; sheʼs deliberate, Iʼm drastic. And now, she has sex and I donʼt - because sheʼs married and Iʼm single! We are so different but we see God growing us and changing us to continue to learn from each other in those differences. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” has taken on significant meaning to us over the years.

Shannon and I love each other enough to speak into each other’s lives; even if it’s hard to hear. A phrase we coined in the beginning of our friendship was “Delighting in the differences!” We used to say it laughing and really delighting in how different we are. And now, with more knowledge of the frustrations that are inherent in relational differences, we often say it through clenched teeth! But that’s what loving by faith looks like, doesn’t it? That’s what agape love is really about: “I love you, period. In spite of the differences — and even the things about you that drive me crazy.”

Relational PillarsSince God made us for a relationship with Him,  I think itʼs the coolest thing that He chooses to tangibly show us His love, care, and concern through the people He puts in our lives. As Iʼve experienced my own friendships and observed many other female friendships, I have noticed some common “foundations” that contribute to building and supporting a successful friendship. Weʼll call these “pillars:” strong, supportive, and foundational. These are essential elements in the architecture of friendships, giving solid support to withstand  the challenges that come along. Of course there are probably dozens of other factors that contribute to  building a healthy friendship, but the following seem to be the most consistent and crucial.

Pillar #1: CommunicationDepth makes all the difference in a good friendship. Let me explain with an illustration Iʼll refer to as “relational water sports.” Weʼll use water-skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving as our comparisons.

When youʼre water-skiing, youʼre flying along on the surface of the water and getting a fun, exciting experience. But you donʼt have the time to really stop and enjoy the scenery. However, snorkeling is a whole different experience than water skiing. Now you look below the surface and you see things you couldnʼt see at all from above the water. You see fish and various sea creatures as you allow the current to take you where it goes. Next up is scuba diving. (And honestly, it is beyond me why humans want to do something that God obviously didnʼt intend for us to do since you have to strap on a huge air tank to continue living, not to mention weights to hold you down there! I canʼt breathe just thinking about it.) Iʼm told that when one scuba dives, an entirely different world opens up and the experience is breath-taking (which is pretty dangerous because you really do need your breath down there!) As you submerge dozens of feet underwater, you can see fish and plants that are full of colors we rarely see above the surface. Itʼs apparently an amazing experience, but one that takes a lot more effort than just floating along the surface.Letʼs compare these three activities with our communication experiences in friendships. “Water- skiing” is when you basically stay at a surface level with your friend. You have fun together and share laughs and relate together about things you do but thatʼs as far as it goes. Thereʼs nothing wrong with this level of communication. But honestly, youʼll long for more eventually. I know I do.

Depth makes all the difference in a good

friendship.

Then we have “snorkeling:” going a little deeper with your friend as you share things together beyond just fun experiences. Now youʼre exploring thoughts and feelings as you test the waters of vulnerability. You get to see things in your friendship you didnʼt see when you just stayed on the surface, and a meaningful relationship is forming.With continued acceptance, trust and safety, this friendship can take a “scuba diving” adventure! This is when you really “go there,” to a level of depth that is truly meaningful and life changing. You both trust each other with things you donʼt tell just anyone. Vulnerability and intimacy become a shared experience, which allows you to bond in a way that leads to the sharpening and honing of your character and maturity. This can only happen with someone who loves you enough to tell you hard things, as well as life-giving things. Itʼs in the “scuba diving” of communication that you see God love you through someone else. We need to take the scary risk of this communication level if we want to experience what God intends for our relationships. I say “scary” because sometimes becoming known by another isnʼt always easy! Itʼs not all that fun to have your sin and yuck be exposed . . . but we put those “weights” on to hold us down there so we can experience  that unconditional love that makes us grow and become more like Christ – the ultimate scuba diving instructor!Having this kind of communication is very challenging to do through Facebook or texting! But thatʼs a topic for another time. “Scuba-diving” will usually occur in person, although there certainly are exceptions to this now that we can see each other over our phones and computers. Being able to deeply connect with a friend is crucial in experiencing a strong friendship — we need people in our lives we can “go deep” with and know itʼs safe. Which brings us to the next pillar.

Read part 4 and find out what the other relational pillars are in the next issue!

Millie and Shannon

Heart of Worship: when i am weak

by Michaela F.

Have you ever had a day where you started out by looking in the

mirror and saying “yikes” because you really have no other words for the bags under your eyes and the brand new pimples

that sprouted overnight?

You know what kind of day I’m talking about right? The one that continues with you being a jerk to your siblings in the car and getting scolded for it, then slamming the trunk and heading through the doors of school with the obligatory “Bye Mom” muttered in the most civil voice you can muster (which ends up sounding like a death threat despite your best efforts).

And it’s only 8:00 in the morning! The day only goes downhill from there between frustrating teachers, immature classmates, and a lunch you’re not too excited about. Is there anyone that can track with me here? Please tell me I’m not alone. By 3:00 you’re thinking to yourself “How on earth am I going to

survive life if I can’t even handle high school?!” and, before you know it, you’re crying on the phone to your mom and feeling like the world’s biggest failure.

Girl, I feel ya. From the deepest, rawest, realest part of my heart I feel ya. And my heart breaks for you. And you know what, God’s does too. But this is not an episode of Once Upon A Time and praise the Lord for that. You certainly do not have to carry these feelings to bed.

Let me tell you about a passage that I never really paid any attention to before this year. It may or may not be familiar, but, either way, please let it give a fresh chance to speak to your heart today. Here it is:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is

made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about

my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why,

...then i am strong

for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am, weak then I am strong.”

-1 Corinthians 12:9-10

Now read it again. Let it sink in. Christ’s power is in us. The power that could raise the dead and heal the sick and feed the crowds. The strength that enabled Jesus to withstand the cruelest of torture is in you. There is no way we will ever comprehend the significance of this truth but hopefully we will all strive each day to apply what we can understand to our lives.

We are EMPOWERED. On our worst days, God can show up bigger. When we feel like we are not good enough, God can be better. When we mess up 10,000 times in the same area, God’s grace can be more than enough. Do

you believe that? Deep down in the core of who you are, do you believe that? Can you boast in the fact that while you will never ever be even close to perfect, He already is?

And now we get to my favorite part of all. “For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Friends, you are strong because Christ loves you more than any human ever can or will and He made a way for you to share in His strength. He thinks you are beautiful, pimples and eye bags and all. He is the ultimate comfort, the ultimate Savior and the ultimate power. Can I get an “amen”? We need some more strong women in this world. So let’s go and boast in our worst days. Let’s allow Christ to show up in our lives bigger and better than ever before.

Limping to

Heaven by Courtney R.

“God cares more about your character than your comfort.” I heard those words from a guest-speaker at church several weeks ago. I don’t remember the man’s name and the topic of his sermon is a little fuzzy, but that one sentence has remained crystal clear in my mind.

My family lived in Italy for five years and it was hard. There were countless moments of joy and contentment and gratitude, but that season of my life was a daily struggle. And I was ok with that. We were missionaries and living in a foreign country - of course it should’ve been a challenge! However, what surprised me was the continuation of those struggles upon returning to the United States.

Since moving, I’ve found myself falling into the trap of thinking that I deserve something from God. After “suffering” for five years, I feel like it should be my turn to have a strong community of friends, sports and activities I can enjoy, and a school where I feel like I really belong. But that’s not how God operates. He’s blessed me with so much, but He hasn’t always granted my desires.

In my mind, there’s a clear line before Italy and after Italy. I see strips of yellow caution tape, blocking off that chunk of my life as a rocky adventure. I assumed that when I climbed aboard our one-way flight “home,” my hardships would be over.

I’ve noticed this school year especially it’s been difficult for me to come to grips with the fact that God doesn’t have to give me several really happy years because He allowed several really hard years. And, honestly, it scares me a little that He can let my heart hurt for as long as He wants.

However, through this struggle, God has really spoken to me. This past summer, I went on a missions trip to South Africa. It was a sweet balm to my soul - I got to spend a month with my dearest friends serving God

in amazing ways. It was such an encouraging and refreshing summer. But the downside to having such an amazing month overseas was having to come back home to reality. It was hard going from acceptance and belonging to feeling like a foreigner again. In the first month or so after coming home, though, I started noticing God talking to me through quotes and Bible verses and sermons. They weren’t cheerful reminders of God’s love or His faithfulness or His blessings. Instead, almost everyday for a month, I stumbled upon one message: life is a journey of heartache and struggles. It’s about dying to yourself daily and denying yourself of everything in order to whole-heartedly serve the Lord.

While that might sound discouraging and depressing, it was just what I needed to hear. I don’t deserve comfort. I don’t deserve to have everything I desire granted. God doesn’t owe me anything. I, on the other hand, owe Him everything.

Though the Lord doesn’t promise this life will be easy, He does promise He will never leave or forsake us. One of main ways God has been teaching me this is through the book Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. I love this quote in particular,

“Jesus invites you to deny yourself. He invites you to be a slave. But as a slave may I tell you about my master. My master will provide for you. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; he can take care of your needs. My master will protect you. He speaks and even the wind and the waves obey him. My master has the power to forgive sins. If being a slave to sin has left you broken and bruised and you find your life is in pieces, my master can take the pieces of your life and turn them into a beautiful mosaic. If you are worn out and exhausted, my master gives rest to those who are weary and heavy burdened.”

God doesn’t owe me anything. I, on the other hand, owe Him everything.

And even more encouraging is this verse from Isaiah: 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. (Isaiah 43:1-4)

When I first read that, I was so touched - a sweet love note from my God. God places many challenges in our lives, but He is there to walk us through them. He doesn’t act on a whim or randomly throw things in our path - He only wants what is best for us. He wants us to find joy in Him, bring Him glory, and become more and more like Him. This brings me back to the original quote I shared: God cares more about my character than my comfort.

Though at times it is difficult for our human minds to accept, true joy and contentment are only found in seeking God with body, mind, and soul.

Richard Sibbes once said, “If a man be going to a desired place, howsoever the way be troublesome, the sweetness of the end will make him forget the discouragements of his passage. Perhaps we must wade to Heaven through a sea of blood. It matters not. The end will recompense all. Though we lose our limbs on the way, it is better to limp to Heaven than to dance to Hell.”

My prayer for you is that when troubles come - and indeed they will - you’ll keep Heaven in your eye and keep trudging through the mess of this world with the knowledge that you’re on your way home and when you arrive, God will look at you with a smile and tenderly say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

...true joy and contentment are

only found in seeking God with

body, mind, and soul.

“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his

presence with singing. Know that the Lord he is

God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter

into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his

courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and

bless his name.”

-Psalm 100:2-4

“For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given;and the government shall

be upon his shoulder,    and his name shall be

calledWonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,    Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.”

-Isaiah 9:6

from the blog...

When you’re talking with a friend, and you sense you the need to share how your relationship with God has changed your life, what do you say? How do you start?

One of the most powerful ways to share the love of God with someone is to simply tell your own story – or in “Christianese,” share your testimony.

I love what Shelby Abbott says on the topic in his book, Jacked, “Your story is authentically and uniquely ‘you.’ It’s not a debate, it’s not pushy, it’s not fake, and it doesn’t feel like religious propaganda because it’s coming from your heart. Very rarely will someone argue with you about your own story. In fact, they are more likely to engage you and ask clarifying questions, which in turn pushes the dialogue about Jesus to another, more personal, level.”

read the rest here and more on notworld.wordpress.com

[see you in january]

Romans 12:2Not of this Worldfor MK girls by MK girls