Job/School: Senior – Early Childhood Education major at TCU!
Role @ TCS: Junior High Girls Leader
What did you want to be when you grew up?: Well, I wanted to be a paleontologist in 2nd grade because it sounded cool and I could spell it… then from 4th grade through freshman year of college I wanted to be a writer. Then I wanted to be a teacher freshman through junior year of college, and now I want to go to seminary and do something pastoral, providing people with spiritual direction, whether that’s in a church or a corporate environment. :]
She has skillz…
Favorite Books: The Irresistible Revolution, Crazy Love, any Christian fictional series…
Favorite Sports Team: TCU Horned Frogs, duh!
Favorite Movie/TV-Show: Movie… hmm… I LOVE Narnia… I cry every time I watch it. I also love Serendipity, You’ve Got Mail… lots of chick flicks. :] TV Shows: So You Think You Can Dance, even though I’ve missed the past 2 seasons… ha. I don’t watch TV.
Keri on one of her many trips to Belize on the TCBC mission trip
Why do you serve in TCS?: I am so passionate about raising up strong leaders in the next generation, which is YOU, TCS!! Let’s build up Christ’s army! I love pouring into y’all and seeing you grow in your walk with Christ.
Favorite thing about TCS: Life*Groups… talking about life and the Lord and what He is teaching us. :]
Soap-Box {any random thoughts you want to share}: I’ve never been to high school prom… I can do the worm… I’ve danced/performed at DisneyWorld.. met Tom Hanks… almost auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance… and was almost in a musical this Christmas season. HA! :] Oh, and I got a rock stuck in my ear when I was 3. Ask me about it sometime…it’s a good story!
It’s a question that we don’t ask ourselves and we take it for granted most of the time..
Here is my attempt to answer it..
…I’m thankful for Jesus. This might sound like the “church” answer but its true. I am incredibly thankful for Christ coming to earth, living a sinless life, dieing on the cross, conquering the power of sin, defeating the devil, AND RISING AGAIN! This makes salvation possible…and I am incredibly thankful for that amazing gift!
…I’m thankful to be alive. It is a privilege to wake up everyday.
…I’m thankful to have an amazing family…Julie is the greatest wife in the world and I am very thankful for her. My mom, dad, brother, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are all crazy awesome as well.
…I’m thankful for TCBC. It is an honor to be a part of a great church that has meant so much to my spiritual development.
…I’m thankful for TCS. Wow…all I can say is wow. The last year and a half has been an incredible journey full of crazy adventures, laughter, joy and so much more. This group is amazing and I consider it a privilege to be able to lead, encourage, and go crazy with such an amazing group of students, leaders, and parents. WOW.
That’s what I’m thankful for….what are you thankful for? Leave some comments and let us know.
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!
Here are directions and details for the Sportsday @ TCU and the Guys/Girls Dinner…see you there. This is going to be an incredible day for our Junior High and High Schoolers.
Sportsday @ TCU :: 4:30-8pm :: November 23rd (TODAY)
We will be playing at the TCU Alumni Field from 4:30-6pm. Make sure that you wear cloths that can get muddy and wear tenis shoes.
Directions to the Field
From I-30: Exit University and head South. Continue to Berry Street. Turn Right on Berry St. Turn Right on Stadium Drive. Turn left at Frog Alley (2nd Stop Sign). The Field will be on your right hand side.
From Hulen: Turn west on Bellaire towards TCU. Continue until Stadium drive. Turn left on Stadium Dr. Turn left at Frog Alley (2nd Stop Sign). The Field will be on your right hand side.
Guys/Girls Dinner – After Sportsday Tonight
After we play some amazing games at TCU, the girls will be headed to dinner at Dutch’s Hamburgers and the guys will be headed to dinner at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. If you can’t make it to the Sportsday; then come and hang out with us for dinner.
We will eat dinner from 6:30-8pm; so pick up your students at the respective restaurants. The addresses are below.
Bring $10 for dinner
Fuzzy’s Tacos Address: 2917 W. Berry St. Ft. Worth, TX
Dutch’s Burgers Address: 3009 S University Dr Ft. Worth, TX
Talk to Brent or Jim if you have any questions. See you then.
“One Day At A Time” – taken from Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts (aka the best devotional ever) :]
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” -Matthew 6:34
O My child, have you not known the way of the Lord, and can you not trust Him now? Nothing shall befall you but that which comes from His hand. No one shall set upon you to hurt you, for your God has built around you a wall of fire.
Be content with what each day brings, rejoicing in your God, for surely He shall deliver you. He is the One who has brought you here.
His way is discernable to the eye of faith. His heart is surely your strong tower. In His affection you have security. In His love are your hope and your peace.
Do not question and do not doubt. Each day holds some small joy that shall escape you if you are preoccupied with tomorrow.
Nothing daunts your Father. Nothing can restore the past and nothing can bind the future, but today you may live in the full blessing of the Father’s smile. Hold to His words, for they are like a nail driven into solid wood. All else may seem shifting and transitory, but His Word is firm. It is a rock that shall not be moved. It is a firm place to stand.
Do not walk in the path of human reason, and resist the pressures that would project you into conjectures about the future. Live one day at a time! Simply striving to bring joy to your Father’s heart is enough to keep you occupied. For you know that He loves you, and you will find your peace as you rest in Him.
This was an incredible week for TCS. Sunday mornings are always a ton of fun as we see students develop relationships, learn about Jesus Christ, have fun, and discuss the great truths of God. It is a great blessing to have a group of students, leaders, and parents who are so committed to seeing the glory of God on display. Well, without any more rambling…here’s the Sunday Rewind…
High School – Soul Pursuit: A Journey through Ephesians
Our High Schoolers have embarked on a challenging journey through Ephesians this semester and have come through with flying colors. We are starting our final two chapters next week and will finish up in December. The last 2 weeks have focused on practical elements of how we live the Christian life in response to God’s grace and mercy.
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and washed clean of all of our sins past, present, and future.
And the amazing thing that on top of being forgiven; we are declared righteous. When God declares us righteous, it means that we are brought into right relationship with God. We are no longer sinners who are hopelessly seperated from God…instead we are God’s righteous, redeemed, and forgiven sons and daughters.
Righteousness should transform the way we live our lives. Paul challenges his audience to consider the ways that they live and realize that believers in Jesus Christ are called to live differently.
Paul’s challenge is to put off your “old self” of sin and deceit and put on your “new self” of righteousness, and holiness.
Follow-Up
What stuck out to you? What surprised you about righteousness?
What do you think about the fact that God not only forgives your sins but also declares you righteous?
Was righteousness a new idea for you to consider? What do you think about the way Paul teaches his readers to live righteously?
In what areas of your life do you not live righteously?
The Apostle Paul teaches that peace is incredible important to our spiritual lives. Peace with God, peace with others, and peace with ourselves.
God’s peace is different than human peace. When we grasp God’s peace we are able to trust in His perfect plan no matter the situation.
There are many things in our lives that distract us from peace…worry, desire for control, and busyness. Christ calls us to make him central in our lives despite the distractions.
Our calling is to make Christ central in our lives and pursue His perfect peace.
Follow-Up
What surprised you? What stuck out to you?
What challenges you about God’s call to trust in Him and have peace with him no matter how difficult the situation?
What are enemies of peace in your life? What distracts you from having peace with God…with others…with yourself?
How can you focus on God’s peace this week?
V56 – The Life of Christ
This Week: “Is That Your Final Answer?”
Scripture Focus: Matthew 19.16-26
Key Points
Christ loved us while we were still sinners….Christ died on the cross, rose again, and conquered the power of sin….Christ’s death makes eternal life possible
Because of what Christ has done…we should make him central in our lives
We make many things more important…success, popularity, athletic achievement, etc….BUT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
Nothing in our lives is more valuable than following Christ
Follow-Up
What stuck out to you? What surprised you?
Why do we so often focus on other things in our lives instead of Jesus Christ?
What is most important in your life? What do you care about more than Jesus?
What will you do this week to strengthen your relationship with Jesus?
That’s all for now…let me know if you have any questions. – Brent