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.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE

BILL LOVELL

MONDAY, AUGUST 8 @ 11AM 

Please join us at the Celebration of Life Service for our dear brother Bill Lovell. Bill went to be the Lord on July 31st. He and his lovely wife Sandi are part of our family here at Desert Springs. 

Bill had pancreatic cancer and lived just 6 months after the diagnosis.  Though are hearts are saddened and grief is heavy for family and friends, we rejoice knowing we will be with him again in heaven.  He is in Jesus arms now....no more pain, no more tears. 

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
Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Marlene Black
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta
Fred Keener
Lora Marullo
Carol Smoke  

Serena Williams & her son-in-law Steven

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.

“‘Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,’ says your compassionate LORD.” Isaiah 54:10

What are your mountains today?
You know the ones. 

The job you had to tell your family you lost. The relationship that’s not working even though you keep fervently praying. The child who is still wandering in the world without Jesus. The diagnosis that is shocking and completely life changing.

What has got you shaken up?

“Though the mountains move and the hills shake”. . . even if the very things we thought were immovable, a key to our foundation of life, are now crumbling around us, throwing us off our faith in the One who made the mountains with half a word, there is Hope.

God has not removed His love from you.

Truly. His word is complete truth. He’s telling you today you can count on Him.

No matter how ugly it gets or if your faith grows tinier than a mustard seed, He is right there with you. Jesus is holding your right hand. He’s holding you up. Carrying you through this hard time.

God is showering you with His love.

Although what we may see, feel, and hear tells us it’s over, hopeless. The Lord reminds us He will be loyal, compassionate, loving and will remain through all that shakes us.

What is your mountain? What has you shaken up today?

Excerpts from blog by Stefanie Bryant

From personal experience....continue to worship God through the hard times. He grants mercy and grace for help. He is faithful and will never leave you. He is the strength of your life, your comforter and your peace. Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you! (1 Peter 5:7)  Laura

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

Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Marlene Black
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta
Fred Keener
Lora Marullo
Mike Sassi
Carol Smoke  

Serena Williams & her son-in-law Steven

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.

WHAT DOES THE WORLD SEE?

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, 

if you have love for one another. "

John 13:35

If you see men in long black coats, white shirts, black hats, and beards, you are probably seeing Orthodox Jews. If you see someone bowing before a large statue of a man with his legs crossed and hands resting in his lap, this person is probably an adherent of Buddhism. This is not to place stereotypes on these or any other religions, but to recognize that religious groups are often identified by their behavior and appearance. But how does the world identify a Christian?

There is one sign by which Jesus said the world should be able to know they are looking at a group of Christians—their love for one another. In fact, the apostle John said our love for others can be a sign not just to the public but to ourselves. Love is how we know “we have passed from death to life” (1 John 3:14). The question is, What does the world see when it looks at the Church? Does it see love and caring—or the opposite? As an individual member of the Church, what are you contributing to that picture?

The new commandment that Jesus left with all who would follow Him is that we would love each other the way He has loved us (John 13:34).

Ceasing to be “in love” need not mean ceasing to love.
C. S. Lewis

Written by Dr. David Jeremiah, Turning Point

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

Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Marlene Black
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta
Fred Keener
Lora Marullo
Mike Sassi
Carol Smoke  

Serena Williams

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.

 Hearts are Heavy .... Hearts are Healed

When our hearts are heavy with burdens for family, friends, and our country, it seems nothing but prayer and time in God's Word can heal it.

For then, in the quietness of your soul, God can speak to you. He can bring to mind that He is there to carry your burdens, to comfort and guide you through. I know this, I am in this journey and here is what the Lord spoke to me:

Psalm 37:23-24 "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."


Isaiah 41:10 "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."


Psalm 9:65 "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."

Assurance from my Heavenly Father is right there, I just had to open my eyes, my ears and my heart. Praise His Holy Name!

In the Shelter of His Wings,
Laura

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

Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Marlene Black
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta
Fred Keener
Lora Marullo
Mike Sassi
Carol Smoke  

Serena Williams

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.

THE MEXICO MISSION TRIP TEAM ARE HOME!

We are home from a wonderful week of service in La Mision, Baja California, Mexico.  The prayers from our church family were heard and answered. We had absolutely no travel, health or safety issues. We felt the hand of God on each of us and praise Him for His faithfulness.

During the week some of our team helped to clear hard rocky land and started pouring the concrete foundation for Open Arms Childcare Ministries on-site Psychologist Panchita and her husband Sheko.  They have faithfully served at Open Arms for over 4 years and would like to have a small home of their own so they can start a family.  All this time they have lived in a tiny room off her parent's home. What a blessing it will be to have a place of real rest for them.  

Some removed the old floor in Open Arms church and replaced with new flooring and the rest of the team prepared and ran Soul Surfin' VBS for 50+ kids each day.  We even took them all to the beach to play games, do crafts, hear that day's bible story, sing praise music and worship the Lord!  It was so fun seeing the pure joy of the children, loving the ocean and sand. 

We bless God and thank Him for His provisions and the honor of serving Him! And, we thank you for your prayers,encouragement and support.

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work." Hebrews 6:10

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

Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta
Carol Smoke  

Serena Williams

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.

Twenty-four of us, baby to eighty, are leaving June 12 on the 3rd Annual Mexico Mission Trip.  I ask that you pray for us each day.  For safe travels, health, unity and opportunities share the Lord.  It's a blessing to help others but what happens is they really bless us.  The blog below shares my heart and prayer for our mission team.... Laura

Your Life Can Speak More Than Your Words

"We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:8  

Their only source of water was a three-hour walk from their huts and homes.

I was eighteen years old and knew nothing about the world, except what I saw in front of me: dozens of Rwandan children walking to fetch their jugs of water, and they had invited me along. Of course I obliged and followed behind them while the blazing African sun seemed to scorch hotter every second. I was feeling too much — too white, too privileged, and far too out of place. I was holding a water bottle in my hands and guilt wrapped around me like a suffocating fur coat.

Who was I to drink water so freely and easily while the kids around me had to traipse for hours to collect theirs?

We didn’t speak much on the walk. Their words were in Kinyarwanda, mine were not. When we arrived back at the village after the agonizingly hot and tiring trip, the pastor of their village came to me, his wife not far behind him. They took our hands and led us to their home, a humble thatched hut with benches pulled around a small table. Huge heapings of potatoes and cooked bananas were placed in front of us, and the pastor’s wife shone hospitality in a way I had never seen before. When she handed me my plate, I almost cried.

They had nothing, yet they gave me everything.

We could hardly communicate with one another — at least not in the typical way I’d been taught. But through that meal where they offered me literally all that they had, the pastor and his wife in a small Rwandan village shared with me two things: their very lives and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I saw Jesus in them, and we barely spoke. They taught me that our lives can speak more than words ever can.

May our lives be a poured out offering, an emptying of us and what we desire. May we love so deeply that we reach out our hands and grab the person in front of us, bring them into our homes and give them all that we have.

That, I believe, is where the Gospel is most evident.

by Aliza Latte

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

Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Rick Diedrich
Betty Hyta - continue to pray for her during treatments 
Carol Smoke - continue to pray for energy

Pam Vouge - hip pain
Nancy Wakeman

Serena Williams - back pain severe

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.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” 

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

When You Think You’re Not Doing Enough

There are so many times I feel like I’m botching things up.

And here I am, feeling like I can’t seem to do enough.

Sometimes I’m tired, sometimes I feel alone in the doing, sometimes I feel lost or confused or overwhelmed.

It means that sometimes we get super wrapped up on all that we’re doing right or wrong and forget to set our minds on the things above, and the things above are sometimes the simplest: Jesus, the Word, and reading His word.

Yes. That’s what I want to do. I want to stop setting my mind on my earthly fears and failures and set my mind on things above — on Jesus and His Word.

As for the other good things, like memorizing Scripture and praying more deeply and all else? It will come. The Holy Spirit will help. Life is an ebb and flow. 

But let’s just take some pressure off, take a deep breath, and get back to the basics.

One day at a time, slow and steady.

Excerts from blog by Sarah Mae

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
Beverly Baughn
Bill & Muriel Beers
Lucy Brooks
Ceil Burns
Betty Hyta - continue to pray for her during treatments 
Pete & Fran Kingstons daughter, Deidre
Sandy Marquez - father, Harold Moyer

Carol Smoke - continue to pray for energy
Pam Vouge - hip pain

Serena Williams - back pain severe