FCS Blog
FCS Blog
FCS Blog
December 16, 2025
The Reason for the Season: Hope That Holds Us Close
The Christmas season is more than twinkling lights, wrapped gifts, and festive songs. At its heart, it is a love
story, God’s love reaching down into our world through Jesus Christ. It is the reminder that no matter what we
face, His promises are enough, His covenant is unbreakable, and His presence is with us always.
Christmas is proof that God keeps His word. He promised a Savior, and He gave us His Son. That covenant
wasn’t distant or abstract, it was personal. It was for you, for me, for every heart longing for hope. “For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given…” Isaiah 9:6 and Jeremiah 31:33 “I will be their God, and they will be my
people.” When we see the manger, we see God’s faithfulness.
When we hear the name Emmanuel, we remember: He is with us. Life doesn’t pause for Christmas. Some of us
carry grief, uncertainty, or heavy burdens into this season. Yet the miracle of Christmas is that hope shines
brightest in the dark. “So do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah
41:10 and Romans 8:38-39 “Neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us
from the love of God.”
God doesn’t promise us a life without adversity, but He does promise His presence in the midst of it. His love
steadies us when the ground feels shaky. His covenant assures us that we are never alone.
Emmanuel, The name given to Jesus is the most endearing truth of Christmas. God didn’t stay far away; He
came close. He entered our brokenness, our humanity, our need. Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel (which means
‘God with us’).” That means when you feel unseen, He sees you. When you feel weary, He carries you. When you
feel uncertain, He whispers peace. Emmanuel is the gift that keeps us steady through every season.
This Christmas, let’s pause. Let’s breathe in the wonder of God’s love. Let’s remember that the reason for the
season isn’t perfection, it’s presence. It’s the God who walks with us, loves us, and holds us close. “Now may the
God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Christmas is not just about what happened in Bethlehem long ago, it’s about what is happening in your heart
today. God is still faithful. His promises are still true. His love is still enough. My prayer is that you feel His nearness this season, may His hope steady your soul, and may His joy overflow
into every corner of your life.
~God Bless and Merry Christmas
FCS Blog
December 09, 2025
Created to Praise
What do a pencil sharpener, a wrench, a tire pressure gauge, and an orange
juicer have in common? I’ll give you a hint--it has to do with our theme for the
year. They were all created with a specific purpose (our theme is created with a
purpose). Someone saw a need and created a special tool to meet that need.
God has created each of us for a specific purpose. He has also created us to do
several other things including praising Him, serving Him, loving Him, . Psalms 96
tells us to praise our Lord. Verse 4 says,
“For great is the LORD and most worthy of
praise.” With all that God has done for us, who are we to not praise Him early
and often.
The Christmas season is a perfect time to praise God for what He has done for
us. He sent His Son to earth to save us from our sins; the very best gift ever
given. Because of the gift He gave us, we should thank Him for His love, mercy,
and grace. We were created with a purpose and to praise our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas,
David
FCS Blog
December 02, 2025
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and
perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-2.
Thanksgiving break was wonderful! My brother and his family came down from
Kentucky and stayed with my family for the week. We spent time together eating great
food, shooting guns, playing catch with the boys, and trying to prevent my two-year old
niece from being successful in her numerous attempts to scratch my boy’s eyes out.
There were a lot of events piled on top of each other for four consecutive days and they
were a lot of fun, but it sometimes seemed like we could hardly catch our breath.
For the next few weeks during the Christmas season it will likely be a similar time with
school events, Christmas plays and parties, and fellowship with friends and family. It
will likely be a joyous time, but can be very distracting. With all that goes on during the
season, I find it sometimes distracts me from keeping my focus on what the season is
all about. The Christmas season is all about Jesus. Without Jesus, none of the other
stuff matters. It’s like Dave Ramsey said “If you eat enough lobster, even it starts to
taste like dish water.” All of the parties and events can become stale and tedious if we
don’t have gratitude towards the One who gives us everything we have. So during this
season, I hope we can take the time to remember that we celebrate the greatest person
who has ever been born and He is the reason we should celebrate this season.
FCS Blog
November 04, 2025
Created to Serve
Our staff is currently reading Kisses From Katie, a beautiful book about a young
woman named Katie who travels to Uganda during her gap year and falls deeply
in love with the people there. Her journey takes an unexpected turn as she
follows God’s call—adopting several children and choosing to stay much longer
than she ever planned. Katie’s story is a powerful reminder of what it looks like to
simply be obedient to what God asks of us.
We are created to serve. The book of Acts reminds us to care for widows and
orphans and teaches that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” James
challenges us not only to be hearers of the Word but also doers. In Ephesians 6:7–
8, we are told that we will be rewarded for serving others, and 1 Samuel
encourages us to serve because of what God has already done for us.
God makes it clear that there are countless ways to serve Him. In a fallen world,
there is great need everywhere we look. We can volunteer at food banks, open
our homes to foster or adopt children, support shelters for the homeless or
abused, or join mission trips through our church or other organizations. Even
giving financially to ministries that meet needs around the world is a meaningful
act of service.
At FCS, we have many opportunities to live out this calling. Right now, our entire
school is participating in a service project by collecting items for Operation
Christmas Child. Each grade has been asked to bring in specific items to fill
shoeboxes that will be delivered to children around the world—children who may
have very little but who, through these gifts, will experience the love of Jesus.
Once all the donations are gathered, our middle school students will assemble
the boxes as part of their own service project.
We can all do more. Take time to listen for how God is calling you to serve. The
key is obedience. You were created for a purpose—find that purpose and serve
with joy.
God Bless,
David