FAMILY LIFE at Desert Springs - a place where we can share the heart of our church family; prayers, praises and important announcements.  Be sure to check-in often to see what is happening. 

If you have a prayer request or praise, please submit by contacting Laura Keener, Frontline Diector at 760-568-3646 or lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING! 

IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM!

Sarah Markley blog:

Christmas is a season built for expectation, but we build all of our expectations around the wrong things. When we expect the holidays to be easygoing and full of laughter and peace, yet we schedule ourselves silly, expect our families to act differently than they've always acted, and spend far more than we make, then we are doing this wrong.

I believe God really does want to surprise us. He wants us to have the wonder and the amazement that we want too, but we seem to get in the way of ourselves.

It might be too late this holiday season to create the perfect Christmas, but I do think we can do a few things differently to help our season meet our expectations.

1. Let things go. Just let them roll. I promise, it will be okay. If your pie doesn’t come out, it isn’t the end of the world and your children will survive without everything on their lists.

2. Remember that people are people. Your father-in-law will act as he always acts, your aunt’s house will feel way too far to drive to like it always is but family is about love and grace.

3. Let a few things go off of your schedule. It’s okay if you don’t make the neighbor’s holiday gathering. It’s okay if you can’t get to the school Christmas party on time. You don’t have to see everyone you've ever met in the month of December. You can follow-up with them in January. It’s okay.

4. Let go of what you think Christmas should be. There are a few things that are important, yes, but let your season take you where it will. Maybe your kids don’t decorate cookies this year, maybe they build a fort instead. Maybe you all get the flu (let’s hope not) and spend the holiday just the few of you around your own tree. Maybe things are different this year.

5. Take some time each day to be still. We have to fight against the fury of the world during the holidays and everyone will tell you that you have to keep moving. But they are wrong. Be still.

6. Expect Jesus. The Advent season is about expectation. Expect Jesus today. Expect Him tomorrow. Just expect Him. Let Him surprise you like He wants to.

Let’s wrap our expectations, not around perfection and schedules and accomplishments, but around Jesus. We will never be disappointed. 

Tis the Season for Spiritual Gifts!

• Worship Choir CD's                                           
• Devotionals for Kids & Adults
• Let There Be Food Cookbook
• Inspirational Mugs

We have the perfect Christmas gifts for your family & friends...and they are available at the NOOK at awesome prices!  

PRAYING FOR HEALING, COMFORT, STRENGTH & WISDOM

 Harry Bryant * Ceil Burns * Ginny Folkers * LaReign Hodges * Phyllis Johnson *  Bonnie Keller * Al Stokes * Jack & Joan Washburn's son, Steven

DSC Supported Missionaries Prayer Requests

"For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor with a shield."  Psalm 5:12

Continue to pray for the people in Tacloban, Philippines where our sister Evangeline St. Clair Byrnes was born and serves as our missionary to that area.  There is still so much to be done to restore their homes, churches and businesses. 

Our missionary Junio Souza has moved his family from Nepal to Thailand and is asking us to pray for his daughter who is having trouble adjusting.   Also for the Lord to continue to provide for their new ministry in Thailand as well as in Nepal.

OUR PASTORS in GUINEA BISSAU continue to need SPECIAL PRAYER COVERING!  Guinea Bissau borders Guinea, Liberia & Sierra Leone where the EBOLA VIRUS outbreak is still critical.  

As the UKRAINE continues to crumble, let's lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ who are standing strong in their faith! Pray for our missionaries Jim & Annie Leonovich who are standing the gap and planning their next mission visit.