What a blessed and beautiful sunny day here in McDonough, Georgia! We had a great trip and praise God for His safe keeping and guiding hand along the way these last 11 days since we left Maine.
Sunday, March 21 we left early in the morning and met at Spring Hill Gospel Hall in Westbrook, Maine. It was great to meet with the folks there, and they provided a lovely meal afterward. Mark spoke during the Bible hour about enduring suffering for the cause of Christ. We looked at Daniel 3, 1 Peter 2, and the account of Stephen from the book of Acts. That afternoon, we met with some old friends and were blessed as we discussed all the Lord is showing us and doing in our lives. What a blessing to share God's love and leading, to pray and encourage one another.
We left Maine late Sunday afternoon, traveling toward Toledo, Ohio to visit with Sara's family on her father's side. After a nice meal, we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking about the Lord with Sara's aunt, uncle, and cousins. It is a blessing to see our family, and even more so to spend our time pouring over God's Word and building each other up in our walk with God. The next morning, after a visit with Sara's paternal grandmother, we headed south about an hour on I-75 to Bluffton, Ohio.
In Bluffton, we stayed with Sara's maternal grandmother, and visited with other family members, including the Bixel family. We had a great time there, staying from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning. We attended a show choir and band performance, and spent our time visiting, working on puzzles, and trying to catch up on sleep. It is always a blessing to spend time with our family, and we miss them when we are gone. This year we have been privileged to be able to spend quite a bit of time in Ohio with our family and friends.
Saturday morning, it was 250 miles south on I-75 to Richmond, Kentucky. We arrived at the Harmon farm early in the afternoon and enjoyed some time working on the farm and soaking up the spring sun. Sunday morning, Mark spoke at Bluegrass Bible Fellowship and shared about the blessed hope of Christians, and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We then had lunch with the brothers and sisters at the chapel, and then back to the Harmons for a time of encouragement, studying God's Word, praying together, and got to visit the Everling family Sunday evening.
Monday morning, we said good-bye to the Harmon clan(plus a Morrison here and there) and our new found friend Ethan Jones. Heading for Georgia, again we headed south on I-75, arriving at 415 PM in McDonough, Georgia. We were greeted by the John-Baptiste and Scarbrough families. The John-Baptiste's have been working in spreading the Gospel, follow up, and discipleship here since December, alongside Gerald and Pamela Scarbrough. What a blessing to find our camper, freshly cleaned and ready for us to move back in to. We realized that Samuel was 7 weeks old and this was his first time seeing our "home".
Since arriving, we have talked much about the love of God for His people, about how we ought to show the love of God unselfishly, and the great need to invest in people's lives in discipleship. The Christians here, meeting Sunday afternoons, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings each week are seeing the great benefit of gathering often. I am encouraged to see the love of Christ shown, and the desire to be together so often. Truly, this is the family of God.
This group is a greatly enthusiastic collection of Christians from different areas of the country, different social constructs, and different economic backgrounds, yet they come together and leave the differences at the door and love one another. Gathering for a meal before each meeting, and then around the table for Bible study and prayer. The children play outside, with some of the youngest sitting in with the adults as we meet. I am happy to see that God is blessing the labor here, and look forward to what God will do in this new local meeting for His glory.
Here with this group of brothers and sisters, we talk often about what it means to be a disciple of Christ, about dying to ourselves, and living for Christ. Only when our eyes are focused on the Lord, without selfish desires in the way, will we truly walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For me, this has been a new, fresh look at the local church. There are many things yet to learn, but with the Lord's help, trusting and looking to Him for our guidance, our sustenance, and all that we are and have, God will be glorified. I pray that all we do and say is never in pride or the work of the flesh, but that God will get the glory for all He is doing here in McDonough, Georgia.
As we look forward, we plan to be in Florida in the next few weeks, praying about how long we will visit, and what God will prepare for us to do in His service. We come again today, humbled that God would ever use such weak vessels for His work. We are amazed and the grace and mercy that God has shown us, and the blessings that He has poured down on our lives. We do not deserve them, but we will be careful to give honor and praise to He who is worthy.
In the love of Christ,
Mark, for the Cowperthwaite family
