Articles

Dealing With Grief During Christmas

Articles, TCK's Articles, TCKs for Christ

Christmas is known to be the holiday of joy. During this season, families typically invite their relatives and close friends. Around the table gather cheery eyes, rosy cheeks, and bellies savoring warm food. 

As perfect as that scene may appear to be, my Christmases often tasted of a blend of flavors. All sorts of ingredients are thrown together into a pot – sorrow, happiness, longings, thankfulness, and contentment roil around and bash against each other. I eventually found the word to describe my mixture of emotions: grief …

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Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, heaven is her only home. She desires to love Jesus and sow His seeds. You can find her writing at TCKs for Christ and Light Unto Darkness. Besides writing, she is also part of Diamonds’ chronic illness community.

Three Ways Love Casts Out Fear

Articles, TCKs for Christ

Are you sick of living in fear? I know I am. The TCK life can introduce a myriad of fears – fear of interacting with people who may stereotype you, fear of not knowing what will happen in the next country, fear of committing social faux pas … you name it.

A friend once recommended that I write my fears down. Let’s do this small mental exercise together, shall we? Grab a pencil and jot five fears that come to your mind. Try to be as specific and honest as possible. 

For example, one of my fears is the pain of leaving people behind when I move to another country.

Now take a step back and look at your list. Ask yourself, “Why am I afraid of [insert fear]?” Note it down. Before you set your list aside, keep it near you throughout this article ….

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Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, heaven is her only home. She desires to love Jesus and sow His seeds. You can find her writing at TCKs for Christ and Light Unto Darkness. Besides writing, she is also part of Diamonds’ chronic illness community




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Sowing seeds

To the Discouraged Sower: Persevere

Articles, Light Unto Darkness

Imagine sowing Gospel seeds day after day and not one of those people placed their trust in Jesus. On the other hand, a fellow believer has been reaping a harvest.

Does this sound like you? Because that is me. I have not seen a single person get saved from my witnessing despite how many times I sow. A missionary couple I know of, who are serving in the Czech Republic, experienced similar frustration. Days of sowing turned into months and months into years. Year after year, despite sowing the Gospel to hundreds of souls, few were saved and the size of the church barely grew. No one seemed to respond to the Gospel. 

“Maybe the harvest will be reaped after God takes both of you home,” I said, trying to encourage them. “Like how the results of some past missionaries were not visible until after their passing.”

Not seeing results can be disheartening. I was feeling exactly that way during my mid-teens, even to the point of wondering if I was doing it wrong. What about you? Are you thinking the same? These three reminders encourage and direct me to the truth whenever discouragement hits …

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Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, heaven is her only home. She desires to love Jesus and sow His seeds. Besides writing, she would be washing dishes, chopping ingredients into smithereens, and recording music. You can find her writing at TCKs for Christ and Light Unto Darkness.




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Rainbow in rain

Updated: Giving Thanks In Everything

General Articles

Dear Friend,

Like the weather, life has different seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 describes the seasons of life in detail, and to categorize them in human terms, we have good and bad seasons. We tend to define good seasons when good situations happen and bad situations for bad seasons. Regardless of the weather, we still need to give thanks in everything.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV (Emphasis added)


How do we give thanks in everything? Everything covers both good and bad, big and little. Yes, it can be easy for us to give thanks for good things, but it can be difficult to naturally always give thanks for them, let alone the bad things. Humans generally tend to murmur, which is the opposite of giving thanks. Complaining is being ungrateful. Ungrateful to Who? To God. And I’m guilty of this. Because my sinful nature is prone to be ungrateful, God commanded that I must give thanks in everything.

“… for this is the will of God …”


It’s His will that I should be grateful. Do you know what’s hard in giving thanks? Giving thanks from my heart. That is true It’s His will that I should be grateful. Do you know what’s hard in giving thanks? Giving thanks from my heart. That is true thanksgiving.

To truly give thanks to Christ means –

  1. I’m trusting Him wholly,
  2. I believe that God is Who He is,
  3. I’m surrendered to Him,
  4. And I’m submitted to His will.

Whereas complaining shows that –

  1. I’m doubting Him,
  2. I don’t believe that God is Who He is,
  3. I’m not surrendered to Him,
  4. And I’m not submitted to His will.

Ouch. I feel bad from reading the last points. Choosing between giving thanks and murmuring is choosing between acknowledging God and letting unbelief rule my life. However, it is impossible for me to consistently choose the former because it’s against my sinful nature. But

“… in Christ Jesus …”



it is possible because He has freed me from sin. And because I am free, I can give thanks for His salvation, His faithfulness, His words, His grace, His mercies, His punishments, His blessings, my sorrows, my pain, my difficulties, and so on. It is possible because of Who He is instead of who I am and what my situations are. Dear friend, my prayer is that in all of your rain, sunshine, sweet moments, and broken messes, you will look to Jesus and give thanks.

Resulting in the fullness of joy and peace in Him no matter what circumstance I’m in. Then I’ll have two more things to be thankful for.

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.”

Psalm 30:12 KJV


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo

P.S. If you have a paper and pen near you, write down each good and bad thing for this day and give thanks to Jesus regarding them. If you want to take a step further, write ten of His characteristics that you’re thankful for.

This article was also published in the private email magazine ministry, The Father’s Kingdom, and was originally published in this site.

P.P.S. Stay tuned for the next post – I have exciting news to share with you!

Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, heaven is her only home. She desires to love Jesus and sow His seeds. Besides writing, she would be washing dishes, chopping ingredients into smithereens, and recording music. You can find her writing at TCKs for Christ and Light Unto Darkness.




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When We Compare

Writer's Articles

Dear Friend,

Comparing myself to others is so easy. It’s a struggle I’ve faced many times. I know I shouldn’t do that when the Bible clearly says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12, KJV). What the Bible tells me to be wary of, is for my good.

So, why is it not wise to compare myself with others? Well, when I see that the other person’s path or what they have is “better” than mine, I want to have what they have or want to be on the path they’re on. And that shows I’m discontented and ungrateful.

On the other hand, when I see that what I have and/or what I’ve accomplished is “better” than what others have, I will elevate myself, thinking I’m “better” than them. And that shows I’m prideful.

Does the above sound familiar?

All of us have fallen into these traps one way or another. In both, we focused on ourselves and what others are doing.


How do we get out of it?   

Shift our focus to Jesus. We must be thankful, content, and praise God for where He has placed us and the blessings He has given us.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Timothy 6:6-7, KJV


And quoting from Anneliese Louise, “When God blesses another, do not internalize it as though it were an attack on you. Rather, thank Him out loud for being such an overwhelmingly generous God.” Did a friend achieve something good? Praise God that He brought them there.  

As for pride, we need to humble ourselves. Acknowledge that all that we accomplished and have is because of Him. He is the One who blessed us and He is the One who brought us to where we are.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Romans 12:3, KJV


It’s Not A Competition

The truth is, our paths are different, just like my journey in God’s will is different from yours in His. “It’s a personal race, not a competition,” a close friend once told me.

About a year ago, I told my mom I’m reaching my mid-twenties and started writing seriously not too long before that and additionally, I’m an unemployed graduate who needs a salary, how could I catch up? She said, “So? Your dad started “late” in his career and look where God brought Him now … Anyone can learn a skill no matter where they are in life.” What’s important is where God places me right now, no matter “where” I am in life as compared to other writers.

Currently, I’m 24. I am not published and am still looking for a job amid the pandemic. When I compare myself with others, it feels like I’m lagging. However, in God’s eyes, if I follow according to his plans and timing, I’m not falling behind. And being where God wants me to be, close by His side, is more than good enough. After all, He is the one writing my story. Who am I to say that I know it best? 

Thus, every time, I compare myself with other people, I try to remind myself this: 

Focus on Jesus, not on others nor myself. 

“Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.”

Psalm 105:4, KJV


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train

P.S. I’ll be participating in the 7 Days of Hope Blog Tour! Hosted by Sawyer Marie and Abby Elissa. To follow the tour, go to either blogsite, Sundrop Girls or Abby Elissa from April 5 – 11.



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Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.