FCS Blog
FCS Blog
FCS Blog
December 02, 2024
Gifts of Christmas Blog
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” That is the chorus of a popular
Christmas song this time of year. For many people, this is their favorite time of
the year. There are so many things to like about Christmas. There are the lights,
the food, the time with family and friends, and gifts all around. For some people,
gifts are their love language. For others, finding the right gift is their nemesis.
I’m not great at giving gifts. For our Secret Pal at school, I have Cindy Feagin
help me, as in she does everything and I get credit for it. I do get a few gifts on
my own, but they are usually fairly lame.
My daughter Jodi, on the other hand, is a great gift giver. She knows the people
that she is buying for and keeps an eye out for the perfect gift starting December
26. She has a gift for all occasions and keeps a stash of gifts just in case she gets
caught by surprise. Even her gift stash is good stuff. She is one of the most
creative and giving people I know. I am sure that she did not get that from me.
I do know someone else who is really good at giving gifts. God is a great gift
giver. 1 Corinthians 12 lists several gifts that God has for us: healing, miracles,
prophesy, among others. Romans 12 lists others such as teaching,
administration, service, exhortation, and generosity. In Ephesians 4, He gave the
ability to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These are just
some of the gifts that God has given to his followers to build His kingdom. He
gives just the right gift to just the right person to accomplish His purposes.
We can accept these gifts or not. It is easy to be excited about the gift that you
asked for and received. But maybe you received a pair of socks from your
grandma. You can either be excited about the gift or grumble about the socks.
You can look at the socks as not as important as the other gifts. You can feel that
there was not much thought to the gift. That shiny gift may not last long, but the
socks will be with you for quite awhile. You will remember your grandma every
time you put those socks on. The other gift will often be forgotten before too
long.
God’s gifts may not always be the ones we would like. Maybe you want the gift of
teaching, but you have been given the gift of encouragement. You can tell God
that you are going to use the gift of teaching even though that is not the gift He
has given you. You will labor and labor and may even get pretty good at
teaching, but if that is not your gifting, you will not be as blessed as if you would
have worked in your gifting. If you do not use the gifts God has given you to
achieve the purposes He has for you, you miss out on the blessings that He has
for you. He will achieve His purposes through you (best case scenario) or through
someone else (not so good). Ask God to show you what gifts he has given you
and do your best to use these gifts for His glory.
Have a wonderful Christmas season!
God Bless,
David
FCS Blog
November 18, 2024
irtue that transforms the way we see the world. It lifts our eyes from the mundane and fixes them on the blessings
that surround us, no matter how small. The Bible encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), not
because life is without hardship, but because gratitude anchors our hearts in God’s goodness.
In this season of Thanksgiving, let’s reflect on what it means to live a life marked by gratitude—not just during special holidays but
every single day.
It’s easy to be thankful for big milestones or answered prayers, but God also calls us to recognize His hand in the everyday. The food
on your table, the warmth of a home, the laughter of a loved one—these are gifts from our Heavenly Father. When we cultivate
gratitude for the small things, we begin to see that every moment is an opportunity to praise Him.
Philippians 4:11 reminds us to be content in all circumstances. Contentment grows when we focus on what we have, rather than
what we lack. In doing so, we shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance, recognizing that God’s provision is always sufficient.
Life’s trials can make gratitude feel difficult, even impossible. Yet, the Bible teaches that even in suffering, there is a reason to give
thanks. James 1:2-4 encourages us to consider trials as opportunities for growth, producing perseverance and maturity.
In difficult seasons, gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring pain or pretending everything is perfect. Instead, it’s an act of faith—a
declaration that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). Trusting in His sovereignty allows us to give thanks,
even when circumstances seem bleak.
True gratitude is not merely an attitude; it’s an action. When our hearts are filled with thankfulness, it overflows into generosity,
kindness, and worship. Consider how you can bless others with the blessings you’ve received. Perhaps it’s through a word of
encouragement, a helping hand, or simply sharing your testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Moreover, let gratitude shape your prayer life. Instead of focusing solely on requests, make space to thank God for who He is and
what He’s done. This practice not only deepens your relationship with Him but also aligns your heart with His will.
As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ in all we do, including how we express gratitude. Imagine the impact of a life so rooted
in thanksgiving that it inspires others to see God’s goodness. Let’s teach the next generation—our children, grandchildren, and
communities—that gratitude is not seasonal but a way of life.
As you walk through this season, take time to count your blessings and thank the One who has blessed you with them. Let your
gratitude draw you closer to God and radiate His light to those around you.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)
FCS Blog
November 11, 2024
On this Veterans' Day, let’s take a moment to honor and remember all who
have served in our armed forces. We are truly blessed by their commitment to
protect our freedoms, especially our freedom to worship and praise God.
In Galatians 5:13, the Bible calls us to "serve one another humbly in love." Our
veterans exemplify this service, putting the needs of our nation above their
own. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 20:26 that true greatness comes from
serving others, a principle our veterans have lived out through their sacrifices.
If you have not yet seen our FCS Wall of Honor, I encourage you to visit the
cafeteria in Building 3. We are fortunate to have many veterans in our FCS
family, and I am especially proud that my son is among those being honored
this year, alongside his dad, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The
sacrifices and dedication of all veterans reflect the spirit of honor and
protection for our cherished way of life.
Let us take time to honor those who have served. I encourage our FCS
community to lift them up in prayer and find meaningful ways, both big and
small, to express our gratitude.
May God bless our veterans and continue to bless the United States of
America.
Blessings,
Valerie Rose, Ed. S.
Principal, FCS Elementary
FCS Blog
November 04, 2024
We can all do more. We can be a better spouse, a better parent, and a better child of God. We can rely on God
to take care of us and quit trying to do it all on our own. We can go to God first in everything instead of just
when we can’t do it on our own. We can work together to support and help each other. We need to serve one
another. To do this, we need to be obedient and available.
This weekend, my pastor preached a sermon on 2 Kings 4:1-7. It says, “The wife of a man from the company of
the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But
now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and
shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live
on what is left.”
This lesson reminded me of a couple of lessons that I have learned but needed to be reminded. The first lesson
is that God has provided me with everything that I need to either do a task or at least start a task. The woman
did not feel like she had what she needed to keep her sons out of slavery, but Elisha showed her that what she
had with God was more than enough. She had enough to pay off the debt and also live comfortably afterward. We need to be willing to start to pour out what we have. When we do, God will increase our efforts to
overflowing if we are doing it for and through Him.
Another lesson I was reminded of was that I need to be available if I am going to be filled. The widow was only
able to fill the jars that were available to fill. Once there were no more jars, the flow of the oil stopped. If my
schedule does not allow me to be used or filled, the flow of the Holy Spirit can be slowed down or completely
stopped. That is not a comfortable place to be. I would like to think that all of us want to be used by the Holy
Spirit to help others and be a blessing to others. We need to have time for daily reading of God’s Word and
prayer. We need to have some margin in our schedules to be still and hear from God. We need to have time in
our schedules to be obedient to His promptings.
One of the core values at Faith Christian School is service. At school, we need to have margin, so our students
can get into the community to see some of the needs of others and meet some of those needs. We hope that
this serving at school will spark the desire to serve their community on their own or with their families. We want
this to become a way of life for each of us. We can only do this if we are available and are willing to pour out into
the lives of others.
Look at your schedule. Look at your resources. How can you use these things to serve others and serve God?
In Christ,
David