DeSoto Hills Baptist Church

Back in November I announced to the world, via the pulpit, that I had already bought Kathy’s Christmas present and that she was going to love it. Since that time, both of us have been asked about it and some of you have even speculated as to what it was. Well the wait is over and at last I can reveal the nature of this mystery gift, or I should say gifts. This year Kathy received two gifts from me- an original abstract painting of the nativity scene, complete with professional framing, and a pottery pitcher from Keith Stewart’s studio in Taylor, Mississippi. I can imagine that as some of you read this you are a bit UNDERwhelmed. Based on my level of excitement, you where expecting more bang for the brag. Right about now your response is “well I guess it’s the thought that counts” which, by the way, is my point exactly. I was excited about giving the gifts and Kathy was excited when she received them because they reveal THOUGHTFULNESS. I was confident she would love them because I know what she loves. On top of that, they were items that she had seen and commented on in passing throughout the year. They were not things she had hinted that I should buy her, but rather things I knew she loved, so I worked hard at finding a way to surprise her on Christmas Day. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what the people you care about would love for Christmas. Just start listening. You will be glad you did next December 25.

Santa’s helper,

Bro. James

What a blessing it has been to spend another year with the DeSoto Hills family. As a staff we do not take this privilege for granted. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your love and support. We all look forward to a new year of ministry possibilities. Together we can make a difference as we spread the good news of this season to the uttermost.

Merry Christmas

Many of your have asked about the narration at the end of this year’s Carols By Candlelight. Due to space we will have to give it to you in two segments. You can look for the second half in the “nook” space on December 28.

In Genesis Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar.

In Exodus He’s the Passover Lamb.

In Leviticus He’s the High Priest.

In Numbers He’s the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

In Deuteronomy He’s the City of our refuge.

In Joshua He’s the Scarlet Thread out Rahab’s window.

In Judges He is our Judge.

In Ruth He is our Kinsman redeemer.

In 1st & 2nd Samuel He’s our Trusted Prophet.

And in Kings and Chronicles He’s our Reigning King.

In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.

In Nehemiah He’s the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.

And in Esther He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate.

In Job He’s our redeemer that ever liveth.

In Psalms He is my Shepherd and I shall not want.

In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He’s our Wisdom.

And in the Song of Solomon He’s the Beautiful Bridegroom.

In Isaiah He’s the Suffering Servant.

In Jeremiah and Lamentations it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet.

In Ezekiel He’s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.

And in Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace.

In Hosea He is my Love that is forever faithful.

In Joel He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

In Amos He’s our Burden Bearer.

In Obadiah, our Savior.

And in Jonah He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all of the world.

You go on and you see in Micah He is the Messenger with beautiful feet.

In Nahum He is the Avenger.

In Habakkuk He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival.

In Zephaniah He is the Lord mighty to save.

In Haggai He is the Restorer of our lost heritage.

In Zechariah He is our Fountain.

And in Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings.

May these words continue to be a blessing to you.

The band is placing the final touches on the new worship album. We are so excited to be able to have a means of sharing our music with all you guys and gals. The album will be loaded with new material and a few tracks that you will be familiar with as well. In the coming weeks we’ll begin to share some of the music with you live on Wednesday nights. The tentative release date will be  January we’ll let you know as soon as our producer gives us the final mixes and masters. We will be taking pre-orders soon, see Marc Lewis for details, cost will be ten dollars. More to come soon…

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A big thanks you to all of who took the time to have your photograph taken for our new pictorial directory.  I know it was not easy to dress up, wait, smile, smile some more, wait some more, and then narrow down all those wonderful shots to just one that you wanted for the directory.  I trust the whole experience was not too strenuous and I’m certain we are going to love the final outcome.  It will become a cherished tool as we seek to get to know one another better.  Some of you were forced to cancel appointments due to illness or other circumstances that could not be avoided.  We hope to offer a make up session after the first of the year for those of you who might be interested.  Please call the church office and let us know your willingness to be involved in this.  You can also fill out a visitor tab, mark it “photo shoot”, and place it in the offering plate.  If we have enough families willing to participate, we will get back to you with a date.  I also want to thank all of you who volunteered your time to set appointments, make phone calls, man the check in station, and lay out the directory (a process that is still going on).  We literally could not have done this without you. See you in the directory, Bro. James