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.

Three Reasons We Need Rest and Solitude

1. God made rest a priority

He rested after He worked. Jesus sought solitude and so should we.

2. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness

When we take time to rest and seek God, we are acknowledging that we need His help. We weren’t meant to carry the weight of the world, but we often don’t realize how badly we need rest until we take it.

3. Respite gives us the opportunity to hear God

More than anything, I want to hear God. But in order to lean in and listen close, I have to be still and quiet.

How are you resting? Do you carve out times of solitude to be alone with God?

by Kristen Welch of We are THAT family blog and founder of Mercy House

PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST 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
Bill & Muriel Beers
Hugh & Lily Boyd
LaReign Hodges
Betty HytaWalter Rohm
Robin Ott
Carol Smoke  

MISSIONS UPDATE - Young Life Desert Cities

Thank you for your monthly support and prayers for Young Life. New ministries have started, kids’ lives are being changed; they are finding hope that comes through a relationship with the Lord! Weekly club meetings continue to grow as do the discipleship programs called the Campaigners. Additionally a new outreach called YoungLives (a ministry to teen moms and their children) is getting ready to start in our valley. This is a direct result of your prayers and support. Thank you, again, for being a blessing to Young Life!

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.

This week our dear brother in Christ, John Ott, husband of Robin Ott, went to be with the Lord.  It was quite sudden and Robin is still "in shock".  When speaking to Robin I was not sure what to say but then recalled an article I read. I have posted it below. I hope it helps you too when you are struggling for the "right words to say".

Ten things that are good to say and do. 

1. “I love you.”
   Short, simple, profound. We can never say — or hear — it often enough.
2. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
   This is the heartbeat of sympathy: shared sorrow.
3. “I’ll be praying for you.”
   Even better, be specific: “I’ll pray for you every morning at nine on my way to work.” Not only will your promise comfort them each morning, it also opens a door for you to call and check on them: “What can I be praying about this week?”
4. “Here’s something I really appreciated about your loved one.”
   If you have a brief story or memory to add to their collection, they’ll be grateful to hear your words and will cherish them for years to come.
5. Show up. Be there. Visit.
   At the viewing. At the funeral. At their door, if and when it’s appropriate. Flowers are nice, but hugs are better.
6. Weep with those who weep {Romans 12:15}.
   Not everyone has a ministry of tears, but if you do, bring tissues.
7. Listen.
   Save your questions and suggestions for another time. Concentrate on making eye contact and nodding.
8. Provide food.
   Bring a meal. Do their grocery shopping. When they’re ready, take them to a restaurant. People in mourning may forget to eat. Help them remember.
9. Keep in touch.
   Send a sympathy card or note a month later, when their mailbox is empty.
10. Include them in your life.
    Invite them over to watch a movie or play board games or bake cookies or whatever’s happening at your house. The less fuss, the better. Think family, not company.

The day will come when your friends will be ready to put aside their heartache and rejoin the land of the living. If you’ve walked that hard road with them, then you’ve lived out His truth: “A friend loves at all times” {Proverbs 17:17}. 


WE ARE PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST - 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
Bill & Muriel Beers
Hugh & Lily Boyd
LaReign Hodges
Betty Hyta
Kristen Largen
Walter Rohm
Robin Ott
Carol Smoke  

MISSIONS UPDATE - Hungry Persecuted Christian Families

OpenDoors is needing help to feed the thousands upon thousands of persecuted Christians forced to leave their homes due to the Islamic State.  If you can help with a donation to feed Christian families ...please go to their website www.opendoorsusa.org and donate.  These are our brothers and sister in Christ whom we are commanded to care for and help in any way we can.  This is a real issue that we can do something about. Just $50 a month will provide a family with a food kit - enough to feed an entire family for one month! Please pray for these families and provide for them. 

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.

HARD TO ADMIT .... this is me, if I'm  honest. Maybe it's how you feel....if you are honest.  

But there is hope, read on....Laura

Times of Refreshing

August 10, 2015 01:20 AM CST | Karina Allen

I’m tired . . . really tired. It’s the kind of tired that can become crippling. My brain is tired. My heart is tired. My emotions are tired. 

Honestly, my faith is tired. I’ve experienced hard friendships, hard church transitions, and a slew of financial hardships. And so, I am tired.

This summer has left me with a bit of whiplash. Literally, one thing after another has come against me. I am at a loss in many ways and don’t know what to do. If you are in this place, know that God wants to bring us direction.

I don’t want to be tired and the Lord doesn’t want me to be tired. And He doesn’t want you to be tired either. His desire is for us to learn the rhythms of life and to learn how to navigate them with grace, endurance, trust, and hope.

I look through the Scriptures and I look at the life of Christ. He was busy. He was persecuted. He felt every emotion there is and faced every temptation imaginable, and yet, I don’t believe He lived tired. In those hard times, I believe He discovered how to find times of refreshing.

I have come realize that I was missing those times: Refreshing. Rested. Energy. Doesn’t that sound so good? Doesn’t that just fill you with the deepest sense of peace?

In recognizing that we are in a season when we need refreshing is exactly where He wants us. So, how do we lean into this refreshing?

Intentionally Give God Our Weariness

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” {Matthew 11:28-29}

This verse couldn’t be any clearer. We are weak and frail. Life can be overwhelmingly difficult. In our own strength, we will fail and be overcome by adversities. But in Christ’s strength, we will stand firm and push past every obstacle that opposes us. He willingly and gladly wants to lighten our load. But it’s our choice whether or not we intentionally lay our burdens at His feet. My soul needs rest. This rest only comes when my heart’s affection and my mind’s attention are fully fixed on the work of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Intentionally Confess Our Sin

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” {Acts 3:19}

Now, Jesus didn’t have a need to repent because He was without sin, but He always spoke this need into those He came in contact with. We are human. We falter and miss the mark. No one likes to admit their sin. No one likes to admit they have fallen short of God’s standards. But this is where He can bring His deepest refreshing . . . when we admit our need for Him to work in our spirits. Our confession opens a door for lasting restoration.

Intentionally Refresh Others

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” {Proverbs 11:27}

This one is a favorite! Refresh and be refreshed. It’s that simple. “Others” is always a calling in our lives. Let’s be generous with our time, our resources, and our encouragement, and the Lord will meet us in our greatest need. He will heal every hurt and speak life into dry places. When our faith is shaky, He will uphold us. He will place people in our paths who will believe in us and believe for us.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST - 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

Bill & Muriel Beers
Hugh & Lily Boyd
Chris Burks daughter
Ed & Carol Ann Burns family
Pat Collins daughter & son-in-law
LaReign Hodges
Betty Hyta
Kristen Largent
Walter Rohm
Carol Smoke  

MISSIONS UPDATE

 

Last Sunday, August 9th we had the honor to have one of our Desert Springs missionaries, Adam Hussey speak. He spoke on finishing well, staying obedient and faithful.  We felt the Holy Spirit speaking through Adam and reminding us to stay the course.  I ask that you pray for Adam & Alei Hussey everyday, be faithful in that.  Our prayers hold them up as they serve with Action International in Manila, Philippines,