One year, One year ago today

One year ago today...

A Reflection of God's Faithfulness

My Cup Runneth Over

I recall pulling out of Brewers Glynn neighborhood the night before moving saying one last goodbye. With a broken voice in between sniffling saying  "Lord this has got to be a big work you have ahead, this is going to be big....just got to be, its just got to be" clenching my steering wheel trying to drive with tears filling up in my eyes.

pouring out, filling up, pouring out, filling up

 the cup remains full

reading scripture, praying, serving...... 

Today,  I am celebrating at least 7 lives that have been changed for eternity and many special friendships that have begun.  God is faithful and I am in awe of His plan as my cup runneth over with His goodness. It is a privilege to be part of God's work in PA.  Too much even to sum up, however it certainly has been and continues to be much pruning & growing, many heartaches, and many celebrations.

pouring out, filling up, pouring out, filling up

My cup runneth over

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine,

  according to his power that is at

 work within us, Ephesians 3:20

Here is the link to the post the week we moved to PA one year ago here

all within a week post # 4- NC Visits and the Shaw Move

Forrest and Micheal came for a few days to visit, we had a great time talking, singing and hanging out. We enjoyed having the guys join us on Sunday night for bible study. Also, they provided some nice company in the kitchen while working on Maddy's cake. I fully expect them to know how to make fondant and butter-cream icing now. hehe

 Laura stayed with us a few nights to sign and finalize closing on their house. Olivia kept Sandy busy playing games. The big move is quickly approaching in a few days for the Shaws, our new neighbors.  

 On Friday night the Huffman's, Micheal and his son joined us for the weekend. We worked on planning and handing out information/flyer's in the community for the Tae Kwon Do Sports Camp they will be doing here July 9-13th.
We are so thankful to have them as partners in the ministry here in PA



We discovered we can comfortably fit at least 10 extra people in the basement (they said so themselves) and Cindy and I fed 20 people on Friday night as some neighbors/friends joined in on our activity.
(My camera exposed many pictures including the group picture rrrrrr!)

 The girls hanging out

It was so sweet to look through the camera and see how in less than a year, there are people eager to serve and welcome the Shaws into the body of Redeeming Grace Church.  The Shaws had many from FBC help with moving and it was nice to see and share the moment with them. It's difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that the Shaws live on the same street just a block up from our house and only a few blocks from the Shays.  As the truck was being unloaded one of our neighbors passed by and we talked for a few minutes. They were baffled at the sight of all the busy bodies and how the RGC family is growing. Folks...our neighborhood is changing, changing for eternity.  The connections have already begun with neighbors. 

 Sunday morning we gathered together as Billy spoke a challenging and encouraging Word.  (Romans 12:9-13) . Many people, for many reasons gathered together, but one purpose - to advance the gospel.

 We spent a few minutes gathering around the Shaws praying for them...

We pray and continue to pray for more workers in PA:  Luke 10:2  He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ^"

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

It seems like yesterday this van pulled out from our move. Seeing it three times within a year in the same neighborhood moving in...well, we serve a big God for sure.  We had some personal reflection time as this Saturday last year we closed the door to our home in Wake Forest. As I look back at the post

Empty but so full 

I can't describe how full our home is here in Harrisburg PA.

To God be the Glory for the great things He has done.

Celebration of a Life That is Changed!

On Palm Sunday we had a fantastic celebration service at Redeeming Grace Church. I am excited for my friend who was baptized along with a neighbor and Elijah, the Shay's son.  There is no way to adequately explain God's faithfulness in the details with how these lives were changed. 
To see God's faithfulness in our lives is overwhelming to me.  It was only a few short weeks ago that my friend and I met and began conversations about life.  She began coming to Bible Study on Sunday nights and soon after professed Jesus as her Savior and Lord.  She has quickly become a dear friend and I am so excited to walk along this journey with her.  Isaac, our neighbor who was baptized has been a faithful attender of our weekly bible study since the very beginning.  He has become a fixture at our house and has adopted us as his second home even though all the boys bounce back and forth from his house and ours.  He asked Jesus to be his savior a few weeks ago after a bible study one Sunday and immediately wanted to get baptized.  So here are  a few clips and pictures from the baptism service.

We are so thankful for our new brothers and sister in Christ. The first step of obedience for a person who accepts Jesus as Savior is Baptism.  Baptism is a rich symbol, publicly proclaiming the decision made to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.  The water is not what saves the person, but is a symbol of what has been done in the heart and an important way of professing one's faith in Christ.   Romans 6:3-4 says, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
Salvation is a gift of God, not something we can achieve on our own. (Romans 12:3). Baptism is a gift to the Church to allow the faithful a means of expressing their faith and gratitude for God's redemptive work.  Baptism is a walk of obedience to Christ after accepting the free gift of Salvation. As Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, we follow Jesus' example when we accept the Lord as our Savior.
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Cross references:

1. Romans 6:3 : Matt 28:19
2. Romans 6:3 : Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5; Gal 3:27
3. Romans 6:4 : Col 2:12
4. Romans 6:4 : Acts 2:24; Rom 6:9
5. Romans 6:4 : John 11:40; 2 Cor 13:4
6. Romans 6:4 : Rom 7:6; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 4:23f; Col 3:10

Running the water hose for the baptistery

All hands on deck getting set up!

The Camp Curtin YMCA gym being transformed into church.

Here is a shot of the friends and family who showed up to celebrate along with us. As I look at all the precious people the Lord has woven in our lives I just don't have words to express the depth of joy it brings. We pray our bible study groups will continue to grow so we can soon gather together for worship each week. God is faithful.

Billy is introducing the gang and explaining Baptism. God is faithful.

These two young ladies blessed our time of worship with song.  Their hearts are so tender and are pursuing the Lord. God is faithful.

Pizza and hanging out after the service. God is faithful.

It is privilege to have all these ladies as neighbors. God is faithful.

The crew with the pastors. God is faithful.

While the lives being changed are personal and the connections are deep for both us and the Shays, we are excited about how God is building His church here in Harrisburg.  It is impossible for both our our families to separate life and ministry and for that we are all thankful.  God is faithful in the lives of all the people we have met and we are excited to watch His faithfulness continue as lives are changed for His glory.

Video of the RGC Playground Restoration at Camp Curtin School

Yes, it has been very busy the past few weeks however I wanted to make sure I posted this video of the Camp Curtin Playground Project in case you missed it on Facebook or the RGC website.

The write up and video are on the Redeeming Grace web page under the "Serve HBG" tab or click here.

We had a great time serving along side the group from Faith as well as friends and neighbors who joined us.  Here is the video that was put together after the event.

Camp Curtin Playground Project from Redeeming Grace Church on Vimeo.

You can certainly see a small glimpse of the fun we all had over the weekend. We have watched this video several times, and it cracks me up every time! 

Faith & RGC Camp Curtin Outtakes from Redeeming Grace Church on Vimeo.

¹ Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
³ Know that the LORD ^[b]Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and ^[c]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter His gates with ^[d]thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

.

Redeeming Grace Coat Distribution

We had the privilege of distributing coats to the homeless/poor Saturday.  It was more than distributing coats, blankets, bags, and bibles. It was pouring out the love of Jesus in every way possible. It was to listen to the life stories, to care, and to look in the eyes of hurting people and share the hope of Jesus Christ.  We were able to grip a hand and pray for that person by name for Almighty God to draw their hearts and to thank God for meeting needs today.   No matter the story, Jesus loves them and the Lord allowed our paths to cross with each person.  The Lord knows their pain, their past, their needs, He forgives, He redeems and He restores.

So as tears streamed down a few faces and welded up in our own eyes, the Lord was present in that dirty, breezy alleyway.  It was not neat and tidy, it was real.  My heart aches for the faces I flip through in my mind and the stories we heard.  I pray each person will feel the Lord's comfort every time they put on their coat or cover up with a new blanket. I pray it's not our faces they remember, but they remember words spoken about Jesus and perhaps even an encounter with the Lord in the alley. An alley that some call their home tucked under the stairwell that appeared so dark, scary, and dirty was bright with smiles, laughter & tears of happiness.

Thank you to Blanket America Ministries & Appalachian Outreach for your resources to love on the people of Harrisburg, PA. Thank you to all the wonderful folks that came to help serve and brought their time and resources to love on people in the name of Jesus. We are overwhelmed seeing pieces of the puzzle come together that God continues to assemble for the work in Harrisburg.  May God receive ALL the Glory for ALL He is doing in His church.

119  people served

Over 200 coats and blankets

Nearly 20 Bibles

80 gift bags

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Redeeming Grace and YMCA partner for a family fun night

Prayer team setting out to prayer walk in preparation for the Community Event at the YMCA

Sharing stories of the people we talked with, even familiar faces in the neighborhood that we were able to snag a hug and catch up on life.

As soon as chairs hit the floor during set up, we had people to hang out with around the tables.

Kids filled up the basketball court during set up

The kids "warmed up" the games during set up. Nothing like bashing people for Jesus!

preparing (lots of) popcorn

Playing street hockey with the kids

The art tables stayed very busy throughout the night.

We were so thankful to have Debbie and Tom (Billy's parents here)

By the end of the evening the tree was filled with handmade ornaments

Sack races were a hit! plenty of laughter, plenty of falls and thankfully everybody got up!

Do you hear the laughter? OH wait, my ears are still ringing! 

Shawn organized the kids with a few competitions.

Ready, set......GO!

hula hoop contest!

Family picture time! pictures were taken, printed and handed out

We had a great time talking to folks one on one, and seeing lots of smiling faces.

Two of our volunteer helpers for the night.  So glad to have some friends stop by to participate. 

What a fun family this is, so enjoyed getting to know them and looking forward in hanging out more soon!

Some of the kids are sporting their new stocking caps donated through Appalachain Regional Ministries.  Great friends and partners in the Gospel.

We made some new friends tonight and the cool thing is we don't have to say goodbyes....

We are thankful for the partnership with the Camp Curtin YMCA. We have enjoyed working together to have this community family outreach party. We are also thankful for the Baptist Resource Center where we rented the block party trailer for the event. All in all the night was great, the Lord provided enough hands (could always use more) for the people that came. At times it is overwhelming when you have a warm, talkative crowd and you just wish you had more people around to love on them. However even in the midst of it God has a way of reminding me this is His gig. God has been so faithful in placing us in the middle of the culture here, we learn more everyday.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:37-40

A weekend packed with fun

Breanna had a friend over to make some cookies, good time for sure. Having a kitchen full of laughter is a sweet sound.

We had some guys from Faith join us for a few days. They explored the city, spent time with us and the Shays and hung out around Harrisburg.

We headed out Saturday to the Harrisburg Christmas Parade. The parade was originally canceled due to the city of Harrisburg running out of money but the local businesses pulled together to organize the parade.  

It was a bit chilly when the sun went behind the clouds but overall it was a very nice day for a parade.

We went to Midtown Harrisburg for lunch and to get a few things at the Broad Street Market.

We stopped at the Midtown Scholar bookstore (the best coffee around). The kids enjoy this bookstore and I do believe they would sit for hours...tucked away reading books. (see Maddy's pink boots peeking out of the chair, this chair is great...would love to find one or three for the kids to hide out and have quiet time)

Billy and I spent a lot of time raking leaves and the kids spent a lot of time spreading the leaves.

ohh the joys of rolling, tossing and spreading the piles of leaves everywhere....until your itchy with leaves in your hair and stuck in your clothes.

Here are some of the football boys. We finished off the season with a banquet.  A nice dinner and time to hang out with the team once again.

 

 Here is Logan's buddy from football and our friend Coach Archie.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:37-40