In 5^th Grade my life started spiraling down hill. I developed anxiety of throwing up and I also developed separation anxiety. So I would have to stay at home I was out of school for 2-3 months and while I was out I was going to all different counselors and doctors for anxiety medication. Well it just so happened that the doctor we choose to help figure out what I would need to do to be able to control my anxiety, was in a partnership with a man who owned a facility that you would go to during the day and learn how to deal with all different things. I was placed in a class were it was kids younger than me so they moved me up to a middle school class. By this time it had been about a month and I weighed 70 pounds. Well they tried scaring me back into eating telling me all this stuff about what was going to happen to me if I did not start eating again. My parents took me out of there and I started eating again very slowly and schoolwork was being done at home. By the end of going through all that my faith with God was down to 0. I would question him and ask him why he made me go through all the pain of going to that place, or why did he even have to give me anxiety? Well the summer before 7^th grade my eyes were opened back up to him. I went to Pine Cove Christian Camp and my counselor, Elizabeth, was the most amazing person I had ever met. We just talked and I felt so open to talking to her I think I could sense God trying to come back to me through her.

Elizabeth

But I still felt that I needed to go back there was some thing more just waiting for me. Well I was right I went down to the lake one day and one of the counselors, Michelle, was just sitting there. So I set there and she asked me what I talked to Elizabeth about in our talk? I told her about my anxiety and she kept tearing up then asking me stuff that was right on with what I was about to tell her. When I was done she was in awe she told me she had gone through the exact same thing at the same age and even went a place just like I did. She is on the same medication as me to. I was so amazed that God would put some one in my life that went through the same thing.

Michelle

But I still did not forgive God for what he had done to me. Then I went back to church and had amazing youth leaders!!!! I could see how Keri lives every minute for God and she trusted him with her heart like nothing else mattered to her.  I love talking to Andrea she always has really good advice and always tells me that God has a plan for me. I look up to Christen for her perseverance and her passion for Christ which she does through singing. Brent…I love asking questions to him about what I’m going through and he always has an answer and a reference to the bible. Mr.S is my Bible teacher and it was Easter week and I kept asking him how I could reconcile my anger with God and how I know it is the right time to do it. He said that you have no doubt about it and you know it is right in your heart. Well it was the Friday before Easter 2010 and we were in Chapel singing, With Everything, and I just felt in my heart it was the right time and I started crying and just sang out. Then I prayed for him to forgive me for being mad at him and not wanting to have anything to do with him. And I felt so good to have that part of me back but I know that I need to make my faith stronger and I will have to do a lot to get it there.

There is no excuse…this blog has been pretty lame this semester.  Last semester, it was the place to be..seriously, it was the best website on the internet…sorta. But it has gotten pushed to the background this semester and been covered with dust, and spiderwebs.

The hope is that we will be able to bring it back to life over the next few weeks.

If you are interested in writing or adding to the blog, let me know because we love to get fresh voices on the blog.

Do you like fun?

Do you like mayhem?

Do you like craziness?

Then the TCS CHRISTMAS LOCK-IN is where YOU need to be!

…trust me, you do not want to miss it!

::Need to Know::

Dec. 4th – 5th :: Meet at TCBC @ 7pm on Friday night and we will be done at 8am on Saturday morning

Cost: $25

This event is for our Jr. High and High School students.

What to bring:

• You MUST have a TCBC Medical Release form AND a Broomball release form {These forms are available by church or Brent can e-mail them}
• Close toed shoes and long pants for broomball….we are running around on ice
• A change of cloths for after broomball…you will get wet/cold at broomball
• Snacks to share

::What to Expect::

Broomball

Go Crazy at Broomball…the greatest game in the world.

Sponsoring Angel Tree Students

Shopping for Christmas gifts for the Angel Tree students we have sponsored

White Elephant Gift Exchange

We will be enjoying a White Elephant gift exchange ($5 limit) so bring your best random, weird or crazy gift

Guest Speaker Jacob Seay

Jacob (the bald guy from last year’s retreat) will be back with us and teaching on the Christmas story and the Gospel of Christ

AND MUCH MORE!

You don’t want to miss any of it.

Talk to Brent Dore or Jim Douglas for more information

So, Thanksgiving is upon us. Tomorrow!! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by. I’m home in Omaha right now enjoying good time with family and friends from high school. I’ve had a hard time staying in the Word while I’ve been home… something about being here makes me spiritually lazy and I’m not a big fan of that. But anyway… I’ve been reading John Piper’s Desiring God, which has been GREAT and very thought-provoking.

I’ve been reading about worship and what worship is and how we so often worship in vain when our hearts are not engaged. As you reflect on what you are thankful for tomorrow, I am praying that the Spirit will stir your heart and your affections as you worship the Lord for His provision and blessings in your life!

Here are a few thoughts from Piper on worship:

“Worship must have heart and head. Worship must engage emotions and thought.”

“Worship is a way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth.”

“The engagement of the heart in worship is the coming alive of the feelings and emotions and affections of the heart. Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead.”

“In the end the heart longs not for any of God’s good gifts, but for God Himself. To see Him and know Him and be in His presence is the soul’s final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail.”

I love this… “Saving faith also receives Christ as our Treasure. A non-treasured Christ is a non-saving Christ. Faith has in it this element of valuing, embracing, prizing, relishing Christ. It is like a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field and ‘from joy’ sells all his treasures to have that field (Matthew 13:44).”

Just some thoughts to digest regarding worship as you give thanks and digest your delicious Thanksgiving dinners… :]

I am so thankful for each of you and the place you hold in my heart, TCS. You are a blessing in my life! Keep seeking hard after Him!

For His glory,

Keri