AMILY 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.

Our sweet sister-in-the-Lord and friend, Fran Kingston went to heaven on Sunday, March 18th.  Pete, her dear husband of over 52 years, was by her side. A date for Fran's Celebration of Service will be decided soon.

Laura’s Reflection: PURITY, Living a PURE Life

A few weeks ago I had the honor to lead a session (with some of the young moms & mentors involved with the Apple of Gold study), on living a PURE life.

We discussed why this is important to God and can we live a PURE life? Is it even possible in today’s world?

Psalm 19:14 - May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

PURITY = the moral excellence I demonstrate (I choose) in my life as I consistently (choosing again) do what is right (in God’s eyes, not the world).

PURITY involves thoughts, words and actions because it is a heart issue and the heart is the center of our personality, emotions, as well as the mind.

Ask these questions when making a choice… 

Is it P.U.R.E. ?

P= Pleasing to God, Praiseworthy

U= Uplifting, Unifying

R= Restoring, Respectful

E= Edifying, Encouraging

I feel strongly about how the things we watch, where we go, what we listen to and read affects us. What you think you become. Thoughts bear fruit. Where the mind goes, the man follows. 

Philippians 4:8 - And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

It’s impossible to not see evil or impure things because we don’t live in a bubble. The ads, commercials, offensive email pop-ups and even misspelling a word in google can bring up disgusting pictures, porn, etc. Seeing these things will not corrupt you, but if you are drawn back to it, it can be destructive. So, we should flee and control our thoughts.

1 Thessalonians 5:22- Keep away from every kind of evil.

Romans 8:6 – The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  

Titus 1:15 - To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

When tempted, speak scripture just as Jesus did when tempted by Satan (read Matthew 4:1-11):

1 Corinthians 10:13 -  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 -  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Mathew 26:41 – Watch and pray so you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing but the body is weak.

Remember this … don’t chase after happiness, chase after holiness.

Mathew 5:8- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

1 Peter 1:15-16 - but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Live PURE! 

  Laura

Laura Keener

Frontline Director, Desert Springs Church

lkeener@desertspringsfamily.org

760-568-3646  

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST

Comfort, 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

Rick Diederich * Sherry Gagliardi * Eddie Hernandez * JoAnn Hassett * Fred Keener * Bob O'Conner * Walter & Joan Rohm * Sharon Warner's Granddaughter Kelly

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.

Our sweet sister-in-the-Lord and friend, Carol Smoke went to heaven on Sunday, January 7th. She was surrounded by her children and grand-children.  Carol really was looking forward to seeing her Jesus face to face and then greeting her beloved husband and our dear departed Pastor, Jim  Smoke.
Carol's Celebration of Life is now scheduled for Sunday, March 11 at 3 pm in the Worship Center at Desert Springs. All her DSC family and friends are invited.

Laura’s Reflection:  Do Not Withhold Good …

Has someone ever asked you to help them out with something and you really could do it, but just didn’t want to? It wasn’t convenient. I have. There is a difference in your saying “no” to another golf game, movie or even volunteering at a church event. But to say “no” to helping someone in need, when you can help – that is wrong, according to God. 

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold GOOD from those to whom it is DUE, when it is in YOUR power to ACT.”

This means if you can help – do it! Don’t ponder, say you will pray about it or consider it … ACT.  This means saying YES to sharing your money, your time, your heart.

I love what author Liz Higgins said “We study God’s word, not just to understand it, not just to meditate on it.  God wants us to DO it. He calls us to act and He gives us the power to do so.”

Paul wrote “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we WILL reap a harvest if we DO NOT give up.” Galatians 6:9

I must remind myself that everything I have is a gift from God, the blessings given to me are so I can care for others. How about you? Let’s all remember that we are GOD’S HANDS to the world. Doing good means letting go, letting go of our agenda and sharing in God’s.

Doing GOOD for God!

   Laura (2/7/18)

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST

Comfort, 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

Rick Diederich * Eddie Hernandez * Steve & Sally Herthel * Fred Keener * Fran Kingston * Dave Metzler * Theo Nichols *  Bob O'Conner * Neil Riordan * Walter & Joan Rohm * Sharon Warner's Granddaughter Kelly

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.

Our sweet sister-in-the-Lord and friend, Carol Smoke went to heaven on Sunday, January 7th. She was surrounded by her children and grand-children.  Carol really was looking forward to seeing her Jesus face to face and then greeting her beloved husband and our dear departed Pastor, Jim  Smoke.
Carol's Celebration of Life is now scheduled for Sunday, March 11 at 3 pm in the Worship Center at Desert Springs. All her DSC family and friends are invited.

Also, many of you know Bob & Mary Ireland. Bob came in to tell Pastor Mark that Mary went to heaven last Saturday, Jan. 20th. He is planning a Celebration of Life Service for Mary this Saturday, Jan. 27 at 4 pm and it is open to all our DSC family. I believe Bob said they were married 62 years, she will be missed by all!

Laura’s Reflection:  Discouraged not Destroyed!

Discouragement happens, even to the strongest and most confident people.  I know this because throughout the Bible you read of discouragement. Job was discouraged with friends and family as they heaped shame on him. Peter was discouraged when he denied Christ. Disciples were discouraged before Christ rose from the dead! I bet you are wondering if maybe I am discouraged and YES, I am. It seems we take one tiny step forward with my sweet husband’s recovery and then take 10 steps backward. It’s just so hard to see him suffer and now he’s discouraged too. Trust me, I do keep a positive outlook when I am with him. The last thing he needs is for me to be down. I really do believe with all my heart that JESUS is with us every moment of this journey. He brought Fred through the surgery and He will bring him through the recovery. I know this, so why do I get discouraged?  After some praying and reading, here is some good advice I need to heed:

Be honest. It does you no good to pretend you don’t feel what you feel. You can’t take action against a negative feeling until you first admit you have it. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

Take care of your body. If your body isn’t working, your mind, emotions and will are also weakened. Sometimes the circumstances of life drain us dry, and we need to press pause, stop doing, and simply rest and refresh. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.

Pay attention to your thought life. Learn and train to think on these things “… whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy…”  Philippians 4:8 and to “… take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Train yourself to “see” life as it really is. See both the temporal (life is hard) and the eternal (God has a purpose here) at the same time.  “Therefore we do not lose heart… So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16,18 The Apostle Paul never minimized the pain of the temporal, yet discouragement didn’t win because he knew that God’s purposes were at work.  “Now, I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1:12

Press close into God. The truth is life can be hard and we don’t always understand God or his ways. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, he knows those who trust in him” Nahum 1:7

GIVE THANKS. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

Confident in Him!

   Laura

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST

Comfort, 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

Rick Diederich * Terri Griffin * Barbara Gronek * Eddie Hernandez * Steve Herthel * Fred Keener * Theo Nichols * Bob O'Conner *Gail Rubly *  Neil Riordan * Walter & Joan Rohm * Gary St. Angelo * Sharon Warner's Granddaughter Kelly

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.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service here at Desert Springs for Don Howard on Saturday, January 6 at 11 am. Don was owner of Cherokee Homes and years ago he built our Family Ministries building. Our thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace are with his family and friends.

Laura’s Reflections: Remember What the Lord Has Done

For me, 2017 was definetly a year filled with many trials and heartaches and to be brutally honest I just wanted it over.  While I reflected on the year the Lord began to speak to my heart. It was not easy to hear.

“Was I not with you? Did I ever forsake you? Did you already forget it was also a year filled with miracles, blessings and sweet times of communinion? Did you forget all the brothers and sisters that reached out to pray with you, for you, to help you? Did you forget that I commanded my angels to surround you and guard you?  Did you forget my faithfulness, mercy and grace? Did you forget the battles are not yours, but MINE? Did you forget the compassion I have for my loved ones? Did you forget that I am the strength of your life, your protector, your shield? That I uphold you with My righteous right hand?”

Ouch, that hurt. Really hurt, tears were shed and forgiveness asked (once again). I humbly thanked Him for every day of 2017 and for His never ending love.  A day later I read this prayer and felt it was exactly what I needed to pray:

A Prayer for the New Year

Lord, whether we’re leaving behind a year of joy and blessing or trials and difficulties, we pause to give thanks.
We thank You that You are always with us every single day of every single year.
Please remind us of Your presence in the year ahead, even when life is busy.
We are so thankful that we serve a God who makes things new and gives us the grace of fresh starts and new beginnings.
Be glorified in our lives this year.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Jesus Name,

Laura

Laura Keener

Frontline Director, Desert Springs Church

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST

Comfort, 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

Rick Diederich * Terri Griffin * Barbara Gronek * Eddie Hernandez * Mary Ireland * Fred Keener * Darrell Miller * Theo Nichols * Bob O'Conner * Neil Riordan * Walter & Joan Rohm * Carol Smoke * Sharon Warner's Granddaughter Kelly