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