DeKalb High School Senior, Jessica Rivas was crowned the 2022 Homecoming Queen on the evening of September 23rd before the DeKalb Bears faced off against Tenaha for homecoming. Rivas’ crown did not stay on long, as she quickly traded it for a helmet and warmed up with the rest of her team getting ready for the game. Rivas would go on to make an impressive tackle in the backfield that night, proving to herself, and others, that anything is possible. “Growing up, I was surrounded by football almost every Sunday with my family”, said Rivas. “We would watch the games and my brother also played at DeKalb, so we would go watch him too. But the moment I was interested in playing was the spring before eighth grade. I asked the coach if I could play, and he was excited to have me.” Rivas shared that the move did not come without some hesitancy. She noted, “Honestly, I was in doubt of myself. I thought I wasn’t strong enough or fast enough to be able to play. But now that I know the game so well, I feel like I can compete as long as I give it my all.Never giving up has brought me to where I am now.” Rivas explained what the support of her peers has meant to her. “Honestly, it means everything to me to have the amount of respect from my peers and team. I never knew I had that much support from everyone.” As far as her pregame honors, Rivas said, “I still have no words. I’m honored to become this year’s homecoming Queen.” Rivas says that the coaches at DHS have made her experience rich.

As you go through life, you will likely have long- and short-term financial goals. But how will your strategies for meeting your long-term goals differ from those needed for your shortterm ones?

Gaz 7-22 Devotion 1: Matthew 6:6 “ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (NKJV) This is one of the most personal and intimate scriptures in all of Scripture. These red letters flowing with love clearly state eight times that Jesus is calling you to a closer and deeper walk with Him. Jesus emphasizes His desire for each individual person by using the words “you” or “your” eight times in this one verse. Jesus meant for this to be a very personal invitation into His presence. This is a very intentional statement made by Jesus. He wanted His followers to be able to use His words here as a very clear roadmap to a closer walk with the Father. This Scripture is an instruction manual telling us how we can have intimacy with the Father. We must find a place to pray, shut out the world, and then in that secret place, seek the Father. Jesus promises us that when we seek the father, He will already be there waiting on us. WOW! The Creator of the Universe wanted to give you clear details on how to have a personal, private and secret place prayer conversation with Him every single day.

Annual Run the Rails Race