FCS Blog
FCS Blog
FCS Blog
March 24, 2025
Saturday night, I was watching March Madness, Tennessee vs. UCLA to
be exact, to see which team would advance to the Sweet Sixteen. I
don’t watch much basketball, but anytime my husband and I can
watch “Good ‘ole Rocky Top” get a win, then that’s what we’re doing.
Just as in any sport, there are principles these basketball players
should live by. Teamwork, perseverance, discipline, and striving for
excellence are just a few of those that make a great sports player. To
be a team player and show great teamwork, these men and women
must work together, life one another up, and encourage one another.
In sports, when one player succeeds, the whole team does as well. As
the saying goes, “there is no I in team”.
As followers of Christ, our teamwork, discipline, and perseverance are
SO important. The Bible says “For we are co-workers in God’s service;
you are God’s field, God’s building.” When we come together and
share the Gospel, we can reach many. This life is not always easy,
things happen that we don’t understand. But we persevere through
this life because we know what waits for us. Being a believer also takes
discipline. It involves a conscious effort to cultivate a life aligned with
faith, which necessitates practicing spiritual habits, resisting worldly
temptations, and striving for obedience to God’s teachings.
Combining those principles in a sport makes for a great player and a
great team. Combining those same principles in life as a follower of
Christ will plant the seeds for so many souls to be saved, to gather
together in one accord to worship the Lord, and to fight the good fight
until we are called home and God says to us “well done my good and
faithful servant.” A player’s goal is to win the game...OUR goal is to hear
those words spoken to us when we take our last breath here on Earth.
I challenge all of you to go out and plant those seeds...and when we
work together, just imagine how many we can plant. My favorite show
is The Chosen, and the director loves to say “Remember: it’s not your
job to feed the 5,000. It’s only to provide the loaves and fish.” If you’re
reading this today, let’s help each other plant those seeds. God will do
the rest.
FCS Blog
March 10, 2025
HOPE
In our journey through life, we all face challenges that test
our strength and faith. During these times, hope becomes
our steady anchor—not just wishful thinking, but our
confidence that God is always faithful!
Scripture reminds us that hope brings joy: "May the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
(Romans 15:13). This hope never fails because it is built on
God's unchanging love for us.
God promises us that He is always with us. Even in the midst
of trouble, when things seem impossible, He is there, working
for and with us. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the plans I
have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future." God sees beyond today's
problems to tomorrow's victories!
Hope pushes us forward. As Hebrews 6:19 tells us, "We have
this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." When
the work seems too hard or relationships get complicated,
we can find strength in God's faithful presence.
This week, take time to find hope in your everyday lives. Think
about how knowing God is with you brings comfort and how
you can share hope with others who might be struggling.
May the God of hope light up your path this week and always.
Blessings,
Valerie Rose
Principal, FCS Elementary
FCS Blog
February 25, 2025
God is Good, All the Time
If you have grown up in the south just as I have, then when you hear someone
say “God is good”, your reply is “all the time”. Then, they come back with “and all
the time”, and then you finish it with “God is good”. I have heard AND said that for
as long as I can remember. It is a simple, yet humbling reminder that we serve an
all the time good God. But let’s dig a bit deeper into that for a moment….
“Good” is what God is, what He does, and what we experience on His behalf. God,
in His goodness, is sovereign over every circumstance. At the end of every day of
creation, the Bible even says “and He saw that it was good.”. I don’t know about
you, but what a joy it is to know Him and to reap the harvest of His goodness on a
daily basis!
In the day to day, we may see it through people, answered prayers, and in the
blessings He gives to us. Or, we may even see it in nature, which is so important
because on that day, the Bible says that He saw that it was VERY good. We can
even see it in the truth of his word, His provision over us, His forgiveness, or acts
of kindness. There is one goodness that trumps all of these, and that is His
goodness at the cross.
The cross reminds us that God loved the world so much that He sent His one and
only son so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life in Christ Jesus. It’s
the greatest act of love. The promised Messiah, fully God and fully man, came
down to earth to sacrifice Himself on the cross. He was innocent, yet died a
criminal’s death, intentionally for you and I so that He could carry out His father’s
will. Only He was capable of fulfilling that. The cross is a daily reminder of the
goodness of God. He is so good to us, even when we don’t deserve it.
“I love you Lord, for your mercy never fails me. In all my days, I’ve been held in
your hands. From the moment that I wake up, until I lay my head, Oh I will sing of
the goodness of God. Cause all my life you have been faithful, and all my life you
have been so, so good! With every breath that I am able, Oh I will sing of the
goodness of God.
FCS Blog
February 18, 2025
~The Greatest of These us Love~
Valentine's Day has just passed and it seems the whole world was focused on love, embracing love, looking for
love, trying to understand love and on and on.
For Christians, the concept of love should be the simplest thing in the world because, Love is at the very
heart of the Christian faith. It is the foundation of God’s relationship with us and the command He has given us
for how we should live with one another. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul writes, “And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
The Bible tells us that love begins with God. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). His love is not
based on our performance or worthiness but is given freely and sacrificially. The greatest example of this love is
Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
This kind of love is not just an emotion but an action—God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to redeem
us. His love is unconditional, unchanging, and eternal.
Jesus made it clear that love should be the defining characteristic of His followers. When asked what the
greatest commandment was, He replied:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Loving others is not always easy, especially when people hurt us or challenge our patience. But Jesus calls us
to a love that goes beyond convenience—it is sacrificial, forgiving, and enduring. “But I tell you, love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Paul beautifully describes what love should look like in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
Love is patient and kind – It shows grace even when others fail.
Love does not envy or boast – It is humble and seeks the good of others.
Love is not easily angered – It is slow to take offense and quick to forgive.
Love rejoices in the truth – It stands for what is right.
Love never fails – It endures through trials and challenges.
Loving like Christ requires daily surrender, relying on the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and actions.
God's Command gives us multiple opportunities to show love's In Our Families we can show grace, forgive
quickly, and serve one another selflessly.
In Our Churches we can encourage, support, and bear each other’s burdens.
In Our Communities we can reach out to the lonely, help those in need, and be a light to those who don’t yet
know Christ.
In Our Workplaces & Schools we can treat everyone with kindness, even those who may not treat us the same
way.
Jesus told His disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John
13:35). Love is the most powerful witness we have to the world.
Please remember that Love is the greatest gift we can give and receive. It is the very nature of God, the
command of Christ, and the evidence of our faith. Let’s strive to love as He loves—unconditionally, sacrificially,
and faithfully.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14