You Know You’re an MK When…

When I first started Not of this World, a reader sent me a list of 165 “You Know You’re an MK When…” responses. I’ve had so much going through them and sharing them with y’all over the past two years! Here are a few more…

…you have friends from all over the place

…you speak with authority on the quality of airlines

…you can’t remember how to say something because another language comes in your head

…people ask you if you have electricity

…you’ve spoken to dozens of churches but aren’t a pastor

and my own: …when you have nightmares about losing your passport. I was so. stressed. out.

Now it’s your turn: you know you’re an MK when…

student to student

Advice from college students to high school students//Photography by Jessica B//Read more about this project on her blog.

Things to Ponder

“All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” -Proverbs 21:26

What would happen if we started to crave less? To think less about material things, and more about things of eternal worth? If we gave more than we desired? If we thought of others more than ourselves?

Real life would abound.

A Sunday Poll

A Reminder for Your Day

When you feel like your potential is limited by your past….

Your past does not have to control your future. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17

Taken from Lies Young Women Believe

This is Where We Are

I want to share this thought-provoking video with you that was made by The Tribe of Timothy. Take a minute to watch.

He Gives Power to the Faint

Last night, I was at a friend’s house and, as a family, they do devotionals every night during dinner. That night’s devotional was on idols. One of the questions at the end was, “What do you think you deserve, that then turns into a demand, and thus becomes an idol?” We all started thinking aloud and being the perfect Godly children we are, came to the conclusion that we had never really demanded anything before. One person mentioned sleep and we all smiled. I think we all eventually came up with something, but it stuck with me because I started to wonder, is rest an idol in my life?

I constantly think about it; I always plan out peaceful weekends and then am absolutely crushed when they don’t happen. I tell myself I deserve it. I’ve been telling myself I deserved this past weekend to rest before school starts. I told myself I didn’t deserve all of the summer reading I had to do for my new school. I still am telling myself that.

I don’t think resting is wrong, in fact it’s a good thing. God ordained an entire day for rest. But if I’m putting rest above God, which I am, then it is wrong.

If I put rest before God, it’s not going to happen because true rest comes from God.

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

-Isaiah 40:28b-31

I’m claiming that promise today. I may not get to read a book, sleep as long as I want, or do whatever else is restful to me, but I’m trusting the Lord to give me energy to start school when I have none. I’m trusting Him to fill me with joy because I will never be able to find it anywhere else. I’m trusting Him that I don’t need my definition of rest to do His work.

Is rest an idol in your life? Do you work too hard to get that rest? If so (and even if you said “no” to the above questions), rest in Jesus today and let Him give you the strength you need to accomplish what He’s called you to do.

Weekend Poll

Food for Thought

“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.” -Richard Sibbs

20 Ways to Make Someone’s Day

1. Make dinner for a family with lots of little kids

2. Do your younger sibling’s least favorite chore

3. Leave an encouraging note for your dad in his briefcase

4. Make cookies for your neighbor

5. Complement your teacher

6. Surprise your mom with flowers

7. Send your grandma a long letter

8. Make a rainbow cake jar for a friend during finals

9. Make your own day and take a bubble bath with a long book!

10. Make God’s day and spend the afternoon reading His Word

11. Take your dog on a new route for his/her walk

12. Take your friend out to coffee and listen instead of talking

13. Babysit your pastor’s kids for free

14. Head over to one of Not of this World’s favorite blogs and leave an encouraging comment

15. Send an encouraging e-mail to someone who’s going through a tough time

16. Tell someone she’s beautiful

17. Offer to watch an expectant mother’s other kids so she can nap

18. Pray for and with your friend

19. Leave a fun voice message on your friend’s phone when you know she won’t answer

20. Remind the people you love how much you love them every day!