Excitement in the Cowperthwaite home

I am so excited as I write this email. We were blessed in our time in McDonough, Georgia a few weeks back, seeing the Scarbrough and John-Baptiste families, to labor in the Gospel, and to be built up and encouraged in the Lord. It was hard to leave when the time came, but we were excited to go to Tampa, so we hit the road. 

Tampa was a blessed time, between conference with the saints at Carrollwood Bible Chapel and many others from many parts of Florida, and even a few from other places. Brother Joe Reese shared all weekend from God's Word concerning evangelism in the light of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Quite challenging messages delivered with love and a spirit of gentleness were the hallmark of the weekend. Meeting new families and experiencing Florida hospitality (including Cuban and Brazilian cuisine) were just a few of the precious moments while there.

Mark's brother and his family live in Tampa and we got to spend time each day with them, catching up on old times, but also encouraging one another in God's Word. We did not get to visit their church home, but hope to next time we come to Tampa area, if the Lord wills us to visit again. We look forward to coming back, that's for sure. We already miss our dear friends and family, but are excited about what the Lord is leading us into in the next few months. 

We also visited with a small group of Christians in Tallahassee for the weekend, and had a great time hearing from Jesse Gentile Sunday morning. Jesse, Mike (his dad) and Dan(Jesse's father in law) all came up for the weekend on other business and to encourage this church body, we got to meet many more of our brothers and sisters in Christ and partake of the Lord's Supper with them. After services, we had lunch and then even got to meet the Christians at Grace Covenant Church just across the way. It seems no matter where we go we meet Christians and are encouraged in the Lord.

That all brings me to the reason why I am excited. We just came home from the third consecutive night back in Georgia studying God's Word at the Scarbrough home. We were blessed to present the Gospel to a couple men today as we went out door to door, then came back for supper and Bible study. We left on cloud nine from the presence of our "Georgia church family", headed for the campground where we are parked for the week. Upon arriving, we saw a group gathered in the recreation hall. Sara put the kids to bed, and I headed out the door with Gospel CDs and Gospel tracts. 

I guess I just about missed the whole group in a few minutes time, but there were two couples still walking toward their motor homes. I approached them, wanting to share the good news of Jesus Christ, and was greeted by brothers and sisters in Christ. Their group will be here all weekend, and plans to hold church services at the campground Sunday morning, and after talking for a while about the Lord, they asked me to speak to their group. This just reminds me that there are always opportunities to speak for the Lord. Sometimes, we will meet Christians and hopefully be an encouragement to them, and other times will meet those who have not yet heard of the greatest gift of all, salvation through Jesus Christ and His reconciling work on the cross for us. 

We plan, Lord willing, to leave McDonough, GA this coming Wednesday, April 28 headed ultimately for Ottowa, KS to help with the final outreach  of GNOM 5 (www.goodnewsnow.info) with stops to visit the saints in Hinton, WV, Richmond, KY, and Belleville, IL along the way. We heard great and mighty ways the Lord is providing for the needs of this "surge" of Gospel work in Kansas. We have also been blessed to hear of news of God's provision and blessing in Brookings, SD, here in McDonough, and many other places this past few weeks. We serve a living God who cares for His sheep. Praise God for His merciful and loving work in our lives. I am just bubbling over tonight, and had to share with you all. 

Thank you for praying for us, you are a critical part of the ministry the Lord allows us to do. All glory to God!

All glory to God- Maine, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and beyond

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

Samuel's Doctor report and other news items

Greetings all,
Samuel went to his checkup today, and what a wonderful blessing it was to hear that he is recovering well. Samuel is eating much better, gaining weight (11 lbs. 5oz.) and his lungs are pretty well cleared, praise God! The doctor said that he is just fine to travel. Praise belongs to God for His healing hand, and for showing us His strength in this trial. We are learning patience and more than anything to trust in the Lord for all things.

Another wonderful blessing was getting to spend time with some brothers and sisters in Christ these last few days. Now that Samuel is feeling better, we are able to have more times of fellowship that we missed so much the last few weeks. We were blessed to meet with the Dodge family and Valerie Lecher yesterday afternoon. Getting to know Valerie and her children was a blessing that proved to show us God's leading power in the lives of His people. After saying goodbye, Valerie returned saying that she felt that God wanted her to give us something. Valerie blessed us with a gift of a pen-and-ink drawing(created by her husband) that has proved to be a blessed reminder of the Holy Spirit's voice speaking to our hearts.

The drawing is beautiful and I could not adequately describe it. The drawing had this passage from Jeremiah under it, and quite impressively put to life these words. "Jeremiah 17: 7,8   "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."


As we were driving home, I was talking to a dear brother about God's provision for those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Our family has seen troubled times. We have had some serious issues with our health, vehicle problems, and sometimes finances get tight. We have learned to put all things before the Lord, trusting His provision and His promises. As I tried to encourage my dear brother, I mentioned the gift of this artistic piece. I had not seen the Scripture yet, but Sara described the picture to me. As Sara read the verses, a renewed sense of awe for the Lord filled my soul with worship for our loving Lord. Jehovah Jireh is not only the provider of our physical and material needs, but our spiritual needs.

Hearing God's Words through Jeremiah, a prophet so many years ago, I saw the timeless truth of the Lord. One does not have to think terribly long and hard to see that this passage was determined by the Lord to prove His faithfulness. "...does not fear when heat comes...is not anxious in the year of drought..." ,these words just jumped off the page, and as I considered them again this morning, I was brought to tears as I recalled all the times God has proven Himself and the promises of this passage. We have no need to doubt or fear, no matter what drought is perceived. God still owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and is not slack concerning His promises.

With examples of men of faith such as Hudson Taylor and George Muller, we have seen the miraculous timing of God's provision, and our own lives bear many testimonies of God's promises fulfilled. Matthew 6:33 and many other verses have been proven true as we trust the Lord to take care of us in all things. What an incredible reminder of the unity we have in Christ. What a testimony to the Holy Spirit's edifying work, and the glory of our great and mighty God.

We had supper with the Stanleys tonight, and were encouraged to hear about God's work in their lives to equip them in His work. We are reminded again that though we don't attend the same church meeting, we are brothers and sisters, unified in allegiance to Christ. As they wait and prepare to serve the Lord overseas, it is plain to see the Lord molding them more to the image of His Son. In the meantime, they continue to serve at a local Baptist church and work with teens in their community. Tonight was a blessing, and of course Crystal's white chicken chili made it that much more enjoyable.

Looking ahead, we know that our plans are not always going to turn out as we think. We know from experience that, as the Lord wills, we must be willing to follow wherever the Spirit leads. So, as always, we make our plans and continue to seek the timing and placement that God gives as the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. That being said, here is "our plan" for travel.

I spoke to John Stultz from Spring Hill Gospel Hall in Westbrook, Maine. We finalized plans to gather with the saints there this Sunday, March 21. I will be sharing during the family Bible hour, and am excited to meet once again with the saints there. March 28 I plan to be teaching at Bluegrass Bible Fellowship in Richmond, Kentucky. Please be praying that we continue to seek the Lord's will in all these plans, and that we learn day by day to rely on ourselves and keep the focus where it belongs, with all glory to God. Thank you for your continued prayers as we travel. We want to be praying for you, too, so please send requests if you would like us to be praying for you.

Grace and peace to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Mark for the Cowperthwaites

Samuel update

It  has been  a few  days since our last post, and  a busy few days it has been. Samuel came home  from  the hospital Saturday around  noon,  praise  the  Lord!  Samuel continues to have labored breathing  at times, and it will probably be weeks before he is back to a full measure  of health. Still,  at this point, our  pediatrician thinks it  will be fine  to continue our  travels on  March  21. We thank those who have  been praying, offering  help, sending  meals, and  just being an encouragement as we have walked through this trial.

Sara is catching up on sleep, though she is more inclined (as am I) to stay up and watch Samuel sleep than to get sleep herself. As parents, I suppose we worry more than we care to admit, but are learning more each day that God is in control and we are better to leave things in His hands. We have been led more and more to pray for our children, in sickness and  in health, in plenty and in want, and  are reminded of Paul's sentiment in Philippians 4:11-13:

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. "

Our friend David Crossman wrote  a song  from this passage that  rings in  my head often  when trying times come. What a  blessing spiritual  songs  are  to  us, singing  and making melody in our hearts to the  Lord.  We have found  strength and comfort in  God's Word so often,  knowing that we are not taking this journey alone, and we have no reason to complain.

We are reminded that there are Christians being persecuted all over the world today. We  know many parents have children that are at death's door, and some that carry the  burden of  raising a child by themselves after losing a spouse. Still worse,  there are men, women, boys and girls around the globe that  have  no  knowledge of the true and living God. These people  will do more than walk through the valley of  the shadow of death, but will experience eternal  death in the lake of fire. When we look at the bigger picture, we consider  ourselves blessed, and we  praise  God  for His  provision in  all things.

Looking at the scheduled departure date on the calendar has reminded us of  a few other  things. We have just  12 days before  we  leave Maine again. In  the meantime, we have meals planned with friend and  family,  trips around the state to visit other Christians in Hancock County and Central  Maine. 

I thought I should send out this update, as  many have called or emailed  asking about Samuel's condition. Thank you again for the prayer and help in so many ways.  We are truly blessed, and thank God for you all every day. 

Update on Samuel and plans for our time in Maine

This week has seemed pretty long, but as it is Saturday, a new week awaits us tomorrow morning. The Lord's Day is always a fresh start, another time to focus our eyes on Christ. As for this past week, with Samuel developing a cold, and his hospitalization since Thursday, the family dynamic has changed a bit. This week, Daddy got to get a little better picture of all that Mommy gets done around the house. We will be very glad to have her home again soon (and Samuel too). Mommy's are highly under-appreciated for sure, but even more I realize that as we are almost never apart, I just miss my wife. The kids have been great, and we are happy that nobody else is sick now.

Samuel's condition as of this writing is improving. He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis Thursday morning, and admitted to Pen Bay Medical Center for observation. Over the last few days, his oxygen saturation level and chest retractions(sign of difficulty breathing) have been the primary concern. Friday night, he had less retractions, but this morning (Saturday) they are back.

The morning struggle with retractions may be an issue that comes and goes at different times of day. Often upon waking, babies will have a harder time breathing until they awaken fully and clear out some of the settled mucous in their lungs. What all this means is that Samuel may come home today, and he may not. We should find out soon, as the Doctor will be making rounds this morning. We have only needed to use oxygen a few times in his hospital stay, which is a good sign. Though he is struggling, his body is still getting the oxygen it needs on its own. This is a virus, and it should go away in time on its own.

We have just 15 days left before our scheduled departure from Maine. So, at this point it is wait-and-see as to our travel plans. We will have to keep Samuel out of public venues for a while so that he can fully recover and build up his immune system. That means that we won't be able to visit with anyone that is the least bit sick (in the middle of cold season) but we will do whatever is needed to protect him. Sara will not be coming to church or prayer meetings until we leave Maine, most likely. This is hard, as we especially love visiting and fellowship times. We will make those decisions and cross those bridges when we get there. It is all in God's very capable hands.

For now, we continue to pray for discernment, for healing, and for the Lord's will in all things. We learned a long time ago that sometimes God closes a door, and then opens a window. Sometimes the Lord closes the door for a time, and we just have to wait for Him to open it again. It all comes down to knowing for sure that God wants us to continue this work He has sent us out to do. We will wait on His leading to see when and where we go from here. For now, no travel plans have changed. We have a few meetings scheduled and ministry opportunities(Lord willing) that I can do without Sara and Samuel. Here are some of our plans.

Tonight, I am scheduled to lead the services at Knox County Jail. This will be my last opportunity to lead the Saturday service, and I have only two more Fridays that I would be able to get to the jail. In the last month, I have only been there twice due to sickness. I really enjoy sharing with the men and women at KCJ, and pray that the Holy Spirit works through the teams that go in so faithfully. Many brothers and sisters are there for the long term, and it has been a privilege to labor with them, even if only for a short time. Thanks to Kevan for prompting me to get involved in this wonderful and very necessary ministry. God is blessing that work, and we are blessed to be a small part.

This week coming, we will be at First Baptist Church of Waldoboro for Wednesday evening Club 56. We were asked to come and tell about our family life and ministry. The audience is 5th and 6th graders, so we plan to have a question and answer session where the kids can answer the who,where, what, why, and how of life traveling the country, meeting new friends, different cultures and churches, and even regional dialects. The kids have a lot to say, and have learned so much about the country, but more about God's provision, in the last 15 months. Their education has been so much more than books could ever teach, and we praise the Lord for giving us these opportunities and experiences.

I was informed last night about a brainstorming session to be held Wednesday. Some folks at FBCW are considering a good old fashioned tent revival at First Baptist Church of Waldoboro this summer. It would be great to see this kind of thing happen in Maine. Often, the "old methods" are thrown out in favor of the newer, cooler outreaches. I am not against the new, but see a great value in the tent meetings.

We see Christians coming together more often during this type of event, and we are brought back to the simple truths of the Gospel that are so vital to remember. We are drawn to think of the lost world around us, our families, neighbors, coworkers, and others that need to hear the good news of salvation from sin and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

We ought to be faithfully witnessing always, and the revival meetings are an extension of the personal testimony. This type of meeting, though, in the public venue, reaches some that we don't see or know personally. I am just bursting with ideas and logistical thoughts of all that needs to be done to make this a time of rejuvenation for Christians and reaching the community with the wonderful words of life in Jesus our Savior. I hope Christians from other area churches lend a hand to unite in the Gospel effort and make known throughout the land the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ our King!!!!!

There are other times of fellowship with friends and family on the schedule for the next 2 weeks, packing and planning to be done, but I am so happy to see people thinking about how to reach the lost for Christ. That is one of the major focuses of our lives, to make the Lord known and to fulfill the commission that we were given in Jesus' last words on earth.

The public revival meeting can never replace the effectual and fervent prayer and witness of His people everywhere we go, but is a GREAT addition to the Gospel arsenal! Paul, Peter, James, Philip, and Jesus Himself all used public venues to proclaim the need for salvation, to preach the justice of God, and share the love and forgiveness that only God can offer that will pay sin's penalty. I pray that the desire for souls to be saved continues to grow in us all and that we act in accordance with that desire. God be praised for His glorious Gospel! Let us continue to be faithful fishers of men (and women and children) until the nets are full!

I will wrap up for now, as my heart races and my mind wanders. I will update when Samuel does come home. Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement, the scriptures shared, and the love of Christ shown to us in these times of trials and hardship. We feel very blessed to have so much family in the Lord. Praise God for His protection and strength day by day. We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.

Until the nets are full,
Mark Cowperthwaite

New family site- everything Cowperthwaite in one place

I know many of you read either the family blog, the "one anothering" blog, or follow us on Facebook.We appreciate all the interest in our lives, and the prayer and support that is such a blessing to us each day. On the average day, we hear both from friends and people we have never met many times. The encouragement and support, prayer and news from Christians all over the world, keeps us connected and allows us to pray for you also. What a blessing it is to get to know new friends and be able to catch up with old friends, too.

With all this in mind, we decided to get all our content in one place, and have recently consolidated everything into this new site(a work in progress). You can still read our blog, check us out on Facebook, etc. None of those addresses have changed. In fact, we have added more content that we hope is a blessing to you in your service to the Lord.

Some additions to the new site include:
Sara's blog- Homemakers in Training
Nathaniel's blog- A Christian walk for kids
Direct links to our pictures on Picasa
Downloads page
Our favorite sites, links to friends sites

We look forward to hearing from you all, and are so blessed to have so many friends all over. God deserves all the glory for all He has done, all He is doing. We hope that we can be an encouragement to you all as you serve the Lord.

Updates- March 5 AM

Good morning all! It seems that Samuel is needing a bit more time to recover. His oxygen saturation is still pretty good most of the time, but he is continuing to have retractions in his chest. This is evidence of difficulty breathing. They put him on oxygen at 545am and are considering an anti-inflammatory to help break up the mucous in his chest. Sara is able to stay in room with him, which makes us all feel better to know she is there.

Here on the home front, the kids just got up and wish Mommy and Samuel were home, but they are doing fine and mostly over their colds. We appreciate your continued prayer for Samuel. We are glad that the hospital is so close (7 minutes away) so that we can continue to visit. While it is not fun to have a baby in the hospital, we are blessed to know that he is getting great care.

We will continue to update as things happen. Until then, I am reminded of James' call to perseverance and finding joy in our struggles. We know God will be glorified in all this, and we continue to look to Him for guidance and opportunities to speak of Him to all those that are in our path today.
 James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Persevering for the Lord,
Mark and Sara Cowperthwaite

Pray for Samuel please

I just wanted to send this out so that folks would be praying. Samuel has bronchiolitis and was having labored breathing, so he was admitted to Pen Bay Medical Center about 11am, March 4. His breathing rate is still within acceptable parameters, and his oxygen level is still good. They just want  to be cautious, and he may only be there overnight. We would just appreciate prayer for discernment, patience, and comfort for Samuel and Sara as they are away from us for this time.

Everyone else in the family had this  same cold, and are getting better day by day. The doctor said that if he was 2 months old or older, they would not keep him in the hospital, and also said that for someone needing to be hospitalized, he is doing incredibly well. He is alert, happy, and should be able to come home in a few days. I will post updates if there are drastic changes, but do not plan to write another update until he is home. Feel free to call Mark's cell at 207-542-8916.

These times are trying, and we know we are not alone in illness. God gives us the strength on the easy days and the hard days. He is God when the sun is shining, and when the rain pours down. In all things, we continue to praise the Lord for His provision and the gift of life we have each day according to His mercy and love.

A new family picture, more travel plans

This past week has been pretty busy, and we have all been battling a cold. So, Saturday we decided to try to get a good picture of the whole family. Many have requested pictures, and we will be printing them out for those who would like a prayer reminder card. We took a couple, and even left it up for a vote on Facebook. So far, the attached picture was voted as the best, but I also uploaded more pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/cowperthwaitefamily/20100220 if you would like to look at more pictures.

Thank you to all who have sent cards, gifts, provided food, and many more things to help us as we adjust to Samuel's arrival. He is sleeping well, eating well, and surpassing weight goals. Sara is also healing well and feeling up for company. We really miss having company and look forward to seeing many of you soon. Just give a call to make sure we are around. We are amazed at the blessings of fellowship and love extended to us all the time. We look forward to our upcoming planned trip and have a few more dates for those who have been asking. You can view our ministry calender online, it is on the left column of this blog.

We have been wanting to visit Mark's brother, Wesley, in Tampa, Florida for some time, and while discussing the Central Florida Bible Conference, noted that the chapel hosting the conference is also in Tampa.. So, our plan is to go to Tampa April 9-12, Lord willing, to visit CBC for the conference and get some family visiting in as well. On the way back to Georgia from there, we want to visit with Isaac and Joanna Hebert in their new home in Candler, Florida.

Updates from Maine- baby, travel plans, etc.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!It surely has been a long, yet immensely blessed, couple  of weeks since we last wrote an update. Our recent travels have taken us to a few area churches, including First Baptist Church in Waldoboro, Morrill Baptist Church, and Rock of Ages Church in Wiscasset just yesterday. We have friends in all these churches, and have been able to get to know many more brothers and sisters in Christ in the recent weeks. Friends in homeschool circles, colaborers in jail ministry, believers who have been in parades and door to door with us in the Gospel work. We were also able to go one Sunday to the meeting in Union to visit the saints there. In all these settings, we are encouraged to see the name of Jesus Christ lifted up, servants in service to their Master, and God.

The biggest news is that which I have already shared, but am happy to share some more. Samuel David Cowperthwaite made his entrance into the world at 835pm Monday, February 8, 2010. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and is quite happy and healthy. Sara is also doing quite well, healing just fine and happy to be home. The older children are all adjusting well to having a baby around, needing to be careful with him, and helping mom and dad out with all the things that got behind with us in the hospital for 3 days.

I won't tell the whole story of the labor and delivery, but do want to share just a bit of the spiritual side of this experience. Our son Joshua died at birth not quite a year ago, March 25, 2009. We had so many plans for our family with a  new baby. We had hopes and dreams about our son, never dreaming that we would lose him so quickly. In the days that followed, we found a peace that we could not explain, but that knowing God's plans were being revealed and that we must trust in Him as we walked through this dark valley. God revealed many things to us by His Word in the following days and months.

When we found out that the Lord had blessed us with another baby on the way, we were overjoyed, but also conflicted. No amount of children born will replace our beloved Joshua. We have no desire to attempt that, but do look forward to having more children as the Lord blesses. We have been drawn closer to the Lord, leaning on His strength through these times, and standing at Sara's side as she prepared to deliver Samuel, it all came rushing back to me. I have found that times of greatest need is when you find out what you really believe.

At just the time that Sara felt a need to push the baby out, I dropped to my knees by that hospital bed. I had been considering something for some time that I had not expressed to Sara, but as we talked the last few days, she felt some of the same things. When we lost Joshua, I asked myself (and God) how I would survive. Would I love Him more than even my own life? Would I still serve God as He has called? The strength to continue did not come from me, or Sara, or anyplace but God's mighty Hand in lifting us up, protecting us through the valley of the shadow of death.

This past Monday in that hospital room, there was no perceived threat to Sara's life or to Samuel's, but still the thought would not leave my mind. What if I lost my wife, my help mate, the one whom I love so much? Would I still serve my Master, is this a test I would pass? What if we lost another child, either during birth or in the days to come? This is what brought me to my knees. I cried out to God at that moment, in praise to Him for giving me a wife, and all my children, even those that have gone to His presence before me. I renewed my promise to go wherever He leads, and trust Him for provision and strength to do whatever task He sends me to do.

I concluded that I will serve the Lord my God no matter the cost. He is more precious to me than my wife, my children, my health, even my own life. I have not yet had to face the loss of my life for the cause of Christ, but I am willing. That is a place I don't think I had ever been before, but this realization has given me peace to know that nothing can come that can take my God from me. He is my rock and my fortress, in Him will I trust. As we look forward to where He leads our family in ministry in the coming months, we know that with God at the wheel, we will never be led down the wrong path. We must learn more and more to seek God's will, listen to His leading, and focus every moment of our lives on the one who deserves all honor and glory, our hearts, and our very lives.

When Samuel was born, alive and healthy, I again dropped to my knees by the bed and praised God. We are blessed to hear from the nurses that our testimony was clearly one of glory to God. We shared the Gospel verbally with many(and CDs for those who had no time to talk), and encouraged others that were professing believers. In it all, I believe that God was given the glory, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed. In the darkest times, and in the brightest parts of our lives, we ought to honor and glorify God, and proclaim mercy and salvation through our Savior. What better time to share, right?

As we look forward, we have prayed long and hard about when to leave, where to go, and such. We plan, Lord willing,  to leave Maine on March 22. We want to visit family in Toledo and Blufton, Ohio. From there, we plan to visit the saints in Richmond, Kentucky for a few days and gather for worship with them on Sunday, March 28. From there, we will head south to McDonough, Georgia to the home of Gerald and Pamela Scarbrough. Our camper has been parked at their home while we are in Maine. They are starting a new  work there, and our friends Oliver and Tisha Leigh John-Baptiste are currently in McDonough helping with door to door witnessing, Bible studies, and whatever else is going on.

We desire to work with these families for a time to reach their community with the Gospel and the encourage believers in studying God's Word.. We also want to do some traveling to Florida and Mississippi to visit some other friends and churches there. As usual, our length of stay is not yet determined, we will be praying about the need there and how best we can be used.

Sara and Samuel are both doing quite well, we are back into our school routine today, and enjoying the book "God's smuggler" and our study in the book of James. This study has been challenging, convicting, educational, and all around a blessing as our family does it together with others from the chapel. Our plans upcoming include sharing the Gospel wherever we go (including the hospital), getting back into the jail this week, visiting a few other area churches, Bible studies, along with meetings with families and whatever else comes our way.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psalm 103:1-4 KJV