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 me, Laura Keener, Frontline Director at Desert Springs....760-568-3646 or lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org.

Missions Update: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - Nov. 1 & 8

November 1 & 8, believers around the world are taking time to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted.

Each MONTH:
322 Christians are killed for their faith
214 churches & Christian properties are destroyed
772 forms of violence are committed against Christians

For more information:
www.icommittopray.com
www.gfa.org/idop
www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS

Health, Wisdom, Strength

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Beverly Baughn - strength improving  
Mona Bills - in rehabilitation
Bill & Muriel Beers

Hugh & Lily Boyd

LaReign Hodges

Betty Hyta

Patty Marillo - prayers for strength

Carol Smoke - pray for energy

Serena Williams

EACH OF US:

Each of us is better because of the others. God purposefully created each of us with special insights and giftedness. He made each of us uniquely individual, but with a need for community. Despite our many differences, we have common ground.

Each of us is made in the image of God.

Each of us has needs — body and soul.

Each of us has talents and gifts.

Each of us has joys and fears.

Each of us is broken and flawed.

Each of us has hopes and dreams.

Each of us wants to love and be loved.

Each of us is known by God.

We are not meant to be alone. We need each other. When we work together, our gifts complement each other and God is glorified. No one is better than another. I look forward to working and serving together!

                                                        Laura 
1 Corinthians 12:15-20

“Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

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 me, Laura Keener, Frontline Director at Desert Springs....760-568-3646 or lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org.

GOING ALL IN...
Sometimes we confuse “finding God’s perfect will for our lives” with just being available right where we are.  Our vocation, our spiritual gifts, our creative outlets, our day to day choices are all ultimately acts of worship. I pen those words, but I need to re-read them to myself.

My day to day monotony equals worship? I want those words to soak deep into my soul and breathe life into this very moment. I know my calling and worth aren’t defined by salary or positions or popularity, yet at varying times in my life, in my mundane moments of sameness, it’s hard not to wonder what I’ve missed.

And then I hear Mordecai reminding Esther,”For such a time as this,” and it fires me up. The Lord has called, equipped, and appointed us to do amazing things right where we are, in whatever role we work or serve.

I’ve been convicted over and over that I need to stop guessing and waiting and wondering what the next big thing is because often the elusive “thing” that matters most is for us to dive in right where we are planted. God shows up repeatedly when I decide to “be all in” regardless of how I feel about my circumstances at the moment.

If you were called to create, then do so right now because the Master Artist breathed beauty and life into this world canvas Himself and it’s a reflection of his glory.

If you were called to make oatmeal for toddlers, it’s not just another meal; you are nourishing the next generation of world changers.

If you are called to keep books and file papers, know that God is the master organizer. He created order and you are fulfilling a sacred calling which helps elevate those around you.

We are in God’s will when we are doing what He called us to do at this very moment.

It looks different for all of us; it may be in the classroom, at home, in the workplace, or in full time ministry. No job or gifting or calling is greater than another when you are in His will.

The nameless Samaritan woman who repented at the well was just as much in God’s will as Queen Esther when she saved the Jewish people and ultimately an entire nation.

The young boy who shared his five loaves and two fish was just as much in God’s will as a rich man who would give everything he had to the Lord.

Jesus was just as much in God’s will when He was a carpenter as He was hanging on the cross!

Never doubt your incredible value.

You are worthy! You are needed! You are already amazing!

Stop waiting, stop wondering and be all in right where you are.

Shared by the girl who loves making ordinary moments extraordinary: Jen of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.



PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS

Health, Wisdom, Strength

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Beverly Baughn - strength improving  
Mona Bills - in rehabilitation
Bill & Muriel Beers

Hugh & Lily Boyd

Janet Hellman

LaReign Hodges

Betty Hyta

Patty Marillo - prayers for strength

Walter Rohm

Carol Smoke - pray for energy

Missions Update: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - Nov. 1 & 8

November 1 & 8, believers around the world are taking time to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted.

Each MONTH:
322 Christians are killed for their faith
214 churches & Christian properties are destroyed
772 forms of violence are committed against Christians

For more information:
www.icommittopray.com
www.gfa.org/idop
www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution

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 me, Laura Keener, Frontline Director at Desert Springs....760-568-3646 or lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

{Isaiah 41:10, NIV}

With Us and for Us . . .

I came across this passage in Isaiah, where God says He is with us and for us. He is our God. And He will strengthen us. Help us. And uphold us.

For twenty-five years now, I’ve known these words to be true.

When we seek Him with all of our heart, we find Him, and when He’s with us, He’s also for us, and Fear has no place in us.

I can’t say that I’ve never had a moment of fear since. But I can say that Fear must flee in God’s holy presence. God doesn’t promise to make our lives easy and carefree, but He does promise to be with us every single step of the way.

He is with us, friends. You can count on it. He will never leave us, and never forsake us. He will love us through whatever circumstance we face.

And then one day, we will see Him face to face . . . and spend eternity in the light of His presence.
by Denise J. Hughes

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS

Health, Wisdom, Strength

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Darlene Atkinson

Beverly Baughn - strength improving  
Mona Bills - in rehabilitation
Irene Buonarigo - at home now!

Bill & Muriel Beers

Hugh & Lily Boyd

Janet Hellman

LaReign Hodges

Betty Hyta

Patty Marillo - prayers for strength

Walter Rohm

Mike Sassi

Carol Smoke - pray for energy

Missions Update: OpenDoors - Pray with the Persecuted

WHAT IS PERSECUTION, AND HOW MANY CHRISTIANS EXPERIENCE IT?

Christian persecution is any hostility experienced from the world as a result of one's identification as a Christian. Beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and employment, and even death are just a few examples of the persecution they experience on a daily basis.

According to The Pew Research Center, over 75% of the world's population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions (and many of these people are Christians). Also, according to the United States Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ.

HOW WAS OPEN DOORS USA STARTED?



The year was 1955. A young Dutchman was burdened with the desire to reach out to Christians in Eastern Europe, where Christianity was becoming more and more illegal. He took his first trip to visit Christians in Poland, and was amazed at what he saw: Entire underground churches with only one Bible to share!

Brother Andrew knew he had to do something. Two years later, he arrived at the same border in a VW Bug filled with Bibles. He knew that if he was caught with the Bibles, he would be arrested, so he prayed: "Lord- In Your Word, You made blind men see. Now, I am praying that you would make seeing eyes blind." And God answered his prayer!

Brother Andrew was able to deliver Bibles and training materials to Christians in Eastern Europe, allowing Christians to freely read God's Word in those countries.

Today, Open Doors - the ministry started by Brother Andrew- has expanded to strengthen persecuted Christians in over 60 countries!

WHY DOES OPEN DOORS FOCUS ON PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS?

When Open Doors was started by Brother Andrew in 1955, he felt a calling from God to minister to fellow Christians who were persecuted for their faith. As a result, Open Doors has specialized in helping Christians who are persecuted for their faith. However, we work with persecuted Christians to reach out to non-Christians, even their persecutors, so that they can reach them with the message of Christ.

STATEMENT OF FAITH/ CORE VALUES

We are part of the Body of Christ; a people to people people
We are persecuted church driven
We are people of the Bible
We are people of prayer
We live and work by faith
We are devoted to Jesus Christ and His commission
We are motivated solely for the glory of God

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 me, Laura Keener, Frontline Director at Desert Springs....760-568-3646 or lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS

So many decisions. With potentially long-lasting implications.

Most of the time, however, it’s not a major life change we’re staring at; rather, our days are filled with small everyday choices. None of which may seem crucial at the moment. But every small choice we make leads us to the next choice available.

So whether a decision is big or small, wisdom is always desired.

And the one place we can always turn to for wisdom is God’s Word.

In Psalm 119, we’re told that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet. We may not know everything that lies ahead, but we can know which direction to take because His Word lights our path. And when God’s Word lights our path, we can trust the direction we’re moving in.

"For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
Proverbs 2:6

 PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS

Health, Wisdom, Strength

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Darlene Atkinson

Beverly Baughn                                 

Irene Buonarigo

Bill & Muriel Beers

Hugh & Lily Boyd

Janet Hellman

LaReign Hodges

Betty Hyta

Patty Marillo

Walter Rohm

Mike Sassi

Carol Smoke 

MISSIONS UPDATE:
Evangeline Byrnes St.Clair, our very own precious sister and missionary to the Philippines, has sent an update on her time at New Life UTAP Bible Church in Tacloban. 

"We appreciate God's and your faithfulness. We are thanking Jesus for the joy we experience and with the new believer's lives. His blessings are upon us, with you.  In His wisdom we have inner strength to continue sharing His love and the Holy Spirit is equipping us."  

Please keep Evangeline in your prayers, she needs continued health, financial support and strength to endure long, hard days. They are continuing to feed the hungry, do prison ministry, children and women's ministries and rebuild the compound after the 2013 typhoon destroyed so much.   

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13