Happy New Year!

We look forward to watching God work in 2014.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

The family at Faith Christian School wishes you and your family a wonderful Christmas!

Love is a Battlefield

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

I am more convinced than ever that our enemy seeks to destroy marriages and is unfortunately succeeding in many lives.  It seems that every time I look around, I hear of another marriage under attack.  I have even recently walked through a dark valley in my own marriage and am coming out the other side victorious in Jesus.  In our culture, there are so many things that tempt us to walk away, to give up, to go running.  We get distracted with our busy-ness, our children, our sin, and even our church activities.

Dr. James Dobson gives the image of marriage as two people in a row boat.  When the wind and waves come, they are thrown apart - riding the waves in the opposite directions.  To keep those boats together requires intense rowing - a lot of hard work, especially considering the rough waters.  Some lose strength - because of discouragement, because of disappointment, because of sin - and allow the waves to take them farther apart.  Others are able to struggle in their own strength, but eventually become weary and if the marriage survives they are weather-beaten and weak.  The smart ones give their row over the best Pilot and allow Him to calm the storm and lead them to safety.

This weekend I attended my cousin's wedding reception and they provided cards to give marriage advice and greetings.  I thought a long time about what to say....I've only been married for 15 years - and have had a bumpy few months - what could I possibly share that would have any value or worth?!  All of a sudden, a verse came into my head and I paraphrased the passage for them - applying it to marriage.  Here it is for all of you in a more expanded form:

If you love Jesus and if you find any benefit in your relationship with Him, if you feel any tenderness and compassion, then in your marriage, be of one spirit and mind.  Keep your eyes always on Jesus.  Do nothing out of selfish motives, but in humility, consider your spouse more significant than yourself.  Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of your spouse.  Your attitude should be the same as Jesus, who although  He was God, did not use that to his own advantage, but He humbled himself, and served others, even to the point of sacrificing His life for the ones He loved.  You do likewise with your spouse (Philippians 2:1-7).

Isn't that really the key after all?  If both spouses take Jesus's attitude with each other, forgive as Christ has forgiven us, extend grace and mercy with each new day...if we see them as God sees them - wearing the righteousness of Christ and use that as our motivation to pour into their lives and seek to meet their need, I firmly believe that there won't be much room for our enemy to take a foothold.  With the perfect Pilot, we can navigate those rough waters that most certainly will come our way.

What is the best marriage advice you've ever received or given?  Share in the comments below or on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/faithchristianschool

Walking on Water

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

I have been thinking lately about Peter’s trek upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14:22-33) thanks to a currently meaningful song by Hillsong United, “Oceans.”*  The opening stanza of the song personalizes this experience of one of His disciples.

                He calls me out upon the waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail.

Most of us are familiar with this story.  Jesus had just finished up what was one of the most incredible miracles He performed while on the earth, feeding over 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.  It was a desolate place where the people had come to see Him, hear Him and experience His miraculous wonders.  It was getting late and He urged the disciples to go on ahead of Him across the Sea.  He stayed on shore to dismiss the people and to spend some time in prayer.

Meanwhile the disciples had encountered some problems getting to the other side.  The wind was against them and they were rowing with all their might to try to fight it to their destination.  Along with the wind, they battled the waves.  It must have been a significant hindrance as they had been rowing practically all night and were still a good distance from land.

It was then that Jesus came to them in a manner they were not expecting, walking on the water as though it were pavement, and making much better progress than they were.  We are not told, but apparently the disciples assumed Jesus would catch a ride with another boat that was crossing, for they certainly didn’t expect Jesus to come across the water on foot.  When they saw Him, their immediate reaction was fear.

I am reminded how easy it is for me to experience fear in the midst of trial and hardship.  It is almost my first reaction to anything that I am not expecting.  And yet, as in the case of the disciples, it is often at the presence of God’s provision for the trial that I quake the most.   When the gracious hand of God is extended to me, I tend to cower in fear.

Once Jesus had identified Himself, very likely using the Personal Name of being that identified Him as God in the flesh, Peter asks Jesus to invite him outside of the boat to walk upon the wind-whipped waves that had been preventing them for getting to shore.  I have asked myself why Peter would do this.  Who would even think of such a thing at a time like this?  Did he think it was really cool and wanted to try it out?  Was he impetuous and just blurted out the first thing that came into his head without really thinking through the consequence?  Was his faith so large because he had been in the midst of all the miraculous activities earlier that day?  Why would he ask to do what, in all other cases, would be impossible?  Though we are left to speculate at the ultimate reason, it is obvious that Peter is ready to back up his request with the faith necessary to actually go over the side of the boat at Jesus’ bidding.

Most of us would not ask to be put in a situation of hardship and trial that would test our faith.  If you are like me, you have plenty of opportunities to test your trust in God without seeking more.  Yet the ride for Peter must have been incredible, albeit brief.  Can you imagine putting your full weight upon something that all your experience has shown will not hold your weight and have it now fully support it?  It must have been a tremendous faith-exploding experience!

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Have you the courage to pray thus?   Would the experience of walking upon the water with Jesus be worth the wind and the waves?

Peter walked upon the water for a time, but the scripture tells us that instead of looking at Jesus and pressing

forward toward Him, Peter began to look about himself.  He was reminded again of all his experience with water in the past.  It had never held him up before.  And the wind and waves!  These had not ceased just because he was out of the boat.  These continued to rise and fall as they had been doing much of the night and now he felt vulnerable outside the safety of the boat.  He took his eyes off Jesus and focused upon his circumstances.  This is something you and I know well.  We know with all our hearts that God is good.  We know that He is more than able to do far more abundantly than we can think or imagine.  Yet our gaze is drawn with laser-focus to our circumstances and we begin to think these will overwhelm us.  We take our focus off the One who knows us and knows everything we are going through and knows the way through.  Just like Peter, we began to sink and the old fear comes back once again. 

While Peter’s faith waned, it was not completely gone as he knew to whom he needed to cry out.  He could have asked the other disciples to throw him a rope or reach out the oar.  He could have tried to reverse course and swim back to the boat.  But he did not.  He cried out to Jesus, “Save me.”  Even in the midst of failing faith, he turned to the one place he knew there would be help.

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

The reality is, Peter experienced a level of intimate relationship with Jesus that none of the other disciples shared.   He was the only one who walked on the water with Jesus.  He was the only one who experienced the strong hand of Jesus pulling him up to save him.  It is as though each trial we face in our lives is the opportunity to experience anew the grace of salvation.   Nothing assures us more that we belong to Him than when we see Him provide in the circumstances that are beyond our own ability.

A couple of observations to ponder:

1.  We will experience that call of Jesus to come upon the waters of tribulation many times in our walk with Him.  It is the expectation of His disciples.  Do not fear.  Have faith.

2.  He is on the water of tribulation Himself.  He is not sending you out alone or into something He has not already conquered Himself.  Look for Him in the midst of the wind and waves of the trial you are experiencing. 

3.  Keep your eyes above the waves and on Him.  It is easy and natural to focus on circumstances and try to fix whatever we are dealing with.   “Seek first the kingdom of God,… and all these things will be added as well.”  (Matt. 6:33)

4.  Call out to Him.  There is salvation in no other.  Though we may think that we can find another solution to our trial, it has most likely been given to us to cause us to trust more fully in Him.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sov'reign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

*Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm © 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

'Tis the season . . . for sickness . . . tra la la la la la la la la

Please tell me that my household is NOT the only one that has been hammered by an endless barrage of sickness lately. I don’t know why it would give me comfort to know that others are sick too, but the validation of knowing that it’s not just me makes me feel a little better. Hand sanitizer and Airborne have been no match for what we’ve been fighting in our household and not only has discouragement and exhaustion crept in, but an overall sadness at seeing my little ones (and husband) in misery. 

Our family of six has passed around various strains of stomach flu, sore throats, fevers, and other undesirable symptoms and no one has been immune. Each morning seems to be a new conversation about who is sick and who needs to stay home. No one can afford to miss work, so we end up saying things like “Well, I’ve already missed 4 days this month,” or “Maybe you can go to work for half a day and then I can go to work the rest of the day.” Can you relate to the stress and frustration? I haven’t even mentioned how behind the kids get in school by just missing a couple of days. 

In the midst of the sickness storm last week, I jokingly told Mrs. Smith and Mr. B. that my theme verse for the week was Proverbs 4:8, “Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave.” I’m fully aware that this usage of the verse is out of context, but it surely expresses what I’ve been feeling lately. 

I sat down to write this blog on a mission to find encouragement and hope for our family's current health situation. What amazing comfort there is in God's Word! Ultimately, I know that God is in control and there is a season for everything. If you or your family has been dealing with sickness as mine has and you are feeling discouraged, I pray you find hope in the following verses.  

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

Psalm 23:1-6 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ... 

Psalm 91:1-16 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ... 

I don't know how long this season of sickness will last. I DO know, however, that I will keep these verses close to my heart and sanitizer close to my hands.  

In the words of John in III John 1:2,

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

Meeting Discouragement Face to Face

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Hello Discouragement!
I wish I could say "Pleased to meet you"
But I'm not
You've knocked at my door
And I've looked you in the eye
Do I let you come in?
I'm thinking about it -
No enthusiasm or joy?
Fear tugging at each corner of my heart?
Loss of hope?
That's who you are
And then I hear a whisper
"The waters will not sweep over you...
For I am the Lord, your Savior
And you belong to me."
A wind comes from behind me
The door slams
And I see you no more.

Have you ever walked through such deep waters that discouragement threatens your well being?  Most people who serve the Lord with their whole heart can relate and I am no different.  I'm not a person who reaches discouragement easily, and, being an English teacher, I have to have an intellectual understanding of the word, including its full etymological meaning (much to the chagrin of my students).  So when I was facing discouragement, I wanted to know all about it - what it truly was and how to battle it - and I was surprised by what I found!

When I looked up "discouraged" in my Bible concordance, I was shocked to find that over 50% of the references tied fear and discouragement together.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" ( Joshua 1:9).  Throughout the book of Joshua, the leader of the Israelites reminds God's people to not be afraid and not be discouraged.  

"...This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's..." (2 Chronicles 20:17).  This same idea is repeated in many passages throughout the Old Testament.  God asks His people to not be afraid and not be discouraged.

In debate class, I teach students to research all sides of the issue - to know it backwards and forwards. So, I went in my concordance and looked up the opposite of discouragement and spent some time looking at "encouragement."  Do you know what I found?  Encouragement and strength seemed tied together.

"But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see" (Deuteronomy 3:28).

"Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace.  It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father....encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17).

Times of discouragement seem to hit hardest when we are in the midst of a terrible battle.  We could be fighting for our marriages, praying fervently for a family member who has not yet been saved, seeking financial stability, or battling a severe disease.  It is at those times that we need the most strengthening.  So where do we find encouragement?  Seek out a friend.  Listen to worship music.  Read an excellent book.  But always, always look to the Lord for the best encouragement and strengthening.  After all, the battle is His!  This is the passage that helped me shut the door on discouragement; may it encourage your heart today:

"But now this is what the Lord says -
he who created you, O Jacob
he who formed you, O Israel.
'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name.  You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior"
(Isaiah 43:1-3).

Just Yesterday

by Dick Buckingham

Administrator

One of the things we promised you when we began this blog over a year ago is that we would give you thoughts and insights from a broad range of our experiences. Our contributors include Meridith, who just recently was blessed with her fourth girl. She is a young parent dealing with the struggles of being a working mom. Her perspective on family and life is different from Jennie, whose oldest son just entered seventh grade and the often-feared teenage years. These are yet to be tested waters by Meridith. I, on the other hand, am in a much different life stage. All three of my boys are grown and living on their own. All are married - the last, just this past weekend - and I am enjoying the privileges of being papa to two wonderful grandkids with a third on the way.

I have been through (and survived, though not with all of my hair intact) what both Meridith and Jennie are experiencing first hand. Yet I remember these times like they were yesterday. Indeed, they were just yesterday.

This week my oldest will turn 30 years old. It has become a time of reflection for me as his dad. I remember the day he was born - what joy we felt! We were so blessed to have such a beautiful son! But it was not without its challenges. He sustained injury in the birth process and we experienced one of the most frightening times in our lives as he required brain surgery the day after he was born. God was faithful to us and he not only survived, but thrived!

I remember well the significant moments of his life, like his first steps and words. I remember him attending preschool and then on to kindergarten. He was an energetic young lad and we worked diligently to guide and correct his steps. It seems like just a few days ago when he moved from elementary to junior high. Oh, those were the days! Then on to high school and the dalliances of a teenager! We both survived me teaching him how to drive and how to handle himself around young ladies. I remember how proud I was the day he graduated. It was not the first time I wept on his account, nor has it been the last. Then on to college and he quickly demonstrated his ability for working with computers, graduating with honors. Another proud day! In the midst of all of this, he learned what it meant to work hard and to be faithful to a task no matter what. This characteristic earned him a good job at a place where he loves to work. The day he moved out on his own was another day the tears fell from my face. This past Saturday, he took a beautiful wife and he is beginning a life and family of his own.

Yes, I have covered his life thus far in just a few short sentences. I did that with purpose, because from my

perspective, it seems like it went just that fast. It seems like my parenting days were over before they had just begun. If there is anything I would share with Meridith and Jennie, and any other young parents like them, it would be to try to see their lives from this perspective. Sometimes, when you are in the midst of parenting, particularly during difficult times or struggles, you think it will never end. Believe me... it will, and you will look back with a desire to do more. You will think of things you had planned to do, but never did and things you wished you had done. You will second guess if you did the right thing and sometimes wish you had done more. Before you know it, the story of your life as an active parent of youngsters is over.

I would also encourage parents not to put off until tomorrow something that is important when it comes to your kids. I remember when JJ moved out of the house, I panicked because I felt there were so many things I still needed to teach him, that my job as his dad was not complete. Clearly that was an emotional response and I continue in the role as his dad and build into his life to this day, but we never want to look back and say I wish I had done more. Take every opportunity you can to teach, train and direct the lives of your kids. What the Bible says about training up a child in the way he should go is very true. When he is old, he will not depart from it.

Finally, relish in every moment of being a parent. There are times for every mom or dad that are not very pleasant. There are many scary things that happen and you may not know what to do in every circumstance. But look for joy in each situation realizing that even the worst is only for a time. There will come a day, and very soon, when you will look back with longing remembrance on the days when you were the parent.

As for me, Lilly and Isaac, soon-to-be-born Ezekiel, and all the other beautiful grand kids that God blesses me with will have the loving attention of their papa every moment I can be with them. I am going to treat this new stage of my life with all the energy and strength that I can, for I know it, too, will soon be gone. Thank you God, for a lifetime of joys!

Be the 3 you were meant to be!

Faith Christian School went on Fall Break a few weeks ago. In the weeks leading up to the Fall Break, I had

multiple friends and non-FCS teachers ask me, “What are you going to do for Fall Break?” Saying that our Faith teachers would be attending a Professional Development event while the students were off of school was met with some sympathetic expressions. However, the pity was unnecessary. While it would have been nice to have 2 whole days off to do whatever I wanted to do, what I experienced was a refreshing and inspiring time of remembering why I am a teacher and the influence I have on the students I come in contact with.

The Professional Development event we took part in was at an off campus site with 120 satelink sites participating all over the globe. This format was a bit of a change for those of us who have been around a while. These two days used to include live speakers, breakout sessions, and vendor giveaways. But, “times they are a changing”. You know how hard it is to set aside memories of the good ole days, but my goal was to have a good attitude about the changes, and walk away a better teacher and administrator than I was before. I believe I met my goal. 

Since that event, I have thought back quite a bit on one particular speaker who spoke about 3 types of people: 1s, 2s, and 3s.

1s are people who don’t do the right thing even when someone is looking

2s are people who do the right things ONLY when people are looking, and

3s are people who do the right thing even when no one is looking.  

Throughout the course of the session, the speaker explained the characteristics of each—mostly as it applied to students, but also as it applied to teachers. Judging by the laughter, most of the people at the event could personally relate to the examples she was giving and could probably even picture that one student or teacher that fell into each category. We were challenged to be the best teachers we could be by being 3s at all times. We would all certainly expect surgeons to be 3s during every surgery, so why would the expectation of teachers be any less? It's not! Don’t you know that teachers save lives too!

Ultimately, this is not just a challenge for teachers, but for everyone.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Everything we do should be to the glory of God and that requires us to do the right thing even when no one is looking.

It’s not like we wake up each day and say, “You know what. I think I am going to be a 2 today.” Sometimes we just get lazy or overwhelmed or stressed or just plain tired of doing the right thing--especially in a world that tries to blur the lines between right and wrong. However, Galatians 6:9 reminds us,  “ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

I hope you are challenged as I was to never tire of doing good. No matter where you are or who is watching, be the 3 you were meant to be!