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.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.  Today while over 900 Los Angeles Schools were closed because of a "viable threat" it's hard to NOT be afraid. 

"WHEN I AM AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN GOD" Psalms 56:3

It doesn’t matter what fear the world’s selling. The only Story that matters keeps repeating it: Do Not Be Afraid.

Do not be afraid of the unknown when you know the One who does the impossible.

Do not be afraid of what could fail when His arms are stronger than any failure & He cannot fail or let you fall.

And do not be afraid of any evil because greater is He who is in the depths of you and breathing the wild courage to love right into your bones.

Do not be afraid to see the face of God in the dark where you did not expect Him.

Do not ever be afraid of suffering because suffering can birth a greater resurrection. Do not be afraid of laying your life down in a thousand ways because this is the only way to ever rise.

Do not be afraid to pack nothing and only pick up your Cross.

"Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.  But whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it." Mathew 16:25

Excerpts from Ann Voskamp

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 - strength improving
Hugh & Lily Boyd
Lucy Brooks
Gail Ehler - pain level is still an issue

LaReign Hodges 

Betty Hyta
Mary Ireland

Patty Marillo - prayers for strength
Chris Marlow
Carol Smoke - pray for energy

Serena Williams

Missions Request:

We have received some very heartbreaking news from Heidi & Daniel, the founders and directors of Open Arms Childcare Ministry in La Mision, Baja California Mexico.

In 2014, our mission team helped to build a duplex home for Cindy (whose husband had just been killed by a drunk driver), her daughter Brisa (now 5) and baby Alvaro (now 2). The other part of the duplex was for Rafael (Cindy’s brother) and his three sons, Jesus (now 11), Robert (now 10) and Osbaldo (now 7) and their new step-mom Gladys (now 18) to live in.  Gladys watched the kids, while Cindy & Rafael worked, and she helped us often during the build. On the 2015 mission project, we installed a power line to their home so they could have electricity!  They were using a line from their neighbors, because they could not afford to put a line in and only had electricity a few hours a night. 

The children, as far as we understand, and the moms have given their lives to Jesus but Rafael was still running from Christ. Now, sadly he is in the hospital with 2 types of rare aggressive cancer, he is very ill and unless God touches Rafael he will not live.  His children do not yet know this. Our first request for each of you is to PRAY, pray that Rafael will turn to God and no matter what happens have a sense of peace that passes all understanding knowing he will have eternal life.  Daniel & Heidi are visiting, praying and sharing God’s love and salvation message with him.

Our second request is to ask, if at all possible, to give a financial gift to this family.  We want to be sure they have money for food, and daily necessities.  Gladys will have to look for work in the future, and the children can remain with Open Arms, so they are safe, fed and learning each day about how much God loves them.  But for now, they need help. 

Please pray for Rafael and entire family and if you feel led to give financially, drop a check (made out to Open Arms Childcare Ministry) to me at the church office and we will get it to them.  We will be sure that Daniel & Heidi hold the money in their account and give it to Gladys as needed.  Thank you, my heart is heavy for these families and I know the Lord put them in our lives for a reason.

  

Below is Heidi’s reply to our email to her a few days ago:

“Sorry for the delay on responding. Thank you so much for wanting to help this family. Our hearts are broken over the situation, too- we know your group was very involved and invested in this family, so we can imagine you're also experiencing some of the heartbreak. 

If you would like to make a donation, we would gladly purchase food and make sure they have what they need. Rafael is the main source of income for the family, so any kind of donation would go a long way for them. As far as Christmas commitments go, we have our big Christmas party on Saturday and the kids will receive plenty of gifts that day (shoes, clothes, books, toys, etc.) so that is not a huge need. However, the family will be in need of the basics such as food, filling the propane tank, gas in the car, etc. If you feel led, we think it'd be great to have a fund prepared for them so that when they need these things we can quickly provide them. 

Thank you so much for your care and concern and prayers. We are believing God in this. Please continue to pray with us.

Love and blessings, Heidi”

  

Thank you all for taking time now and praying about how you can help.

Serving Together,

      Laura Keener, Frontline Director at Desert Springs

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19:17

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” I John 3:17-18