Aug 2
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I know, I know… She’s the cutest girl you’ve ever seen. 🙂 It’s amazing how much Amira is growing every day. Aubrie and I are honored to be her parents and constantly pray that God gives us the wisdom to train her up in the way she should go.
Now I’m not eloquent, nor do I say or write correctly, but I need to decrease and Christ needs to increase in my life, so I’m writing…
The Christian life can be boggled with all of the ‘To do’s’ of life. If I want to be a ‘good person’ or ‘good Christian’ I will try to be nice to others, go to church here and there, try not to curse that much, try to quite smoking, try to do good things.
Did you know life is not about that? It’s not really about ‘us’ at all. Though we are to live rightly –
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5: 16
This is not the 1st commandment. The 1st is found here:
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38
God wants us to love Him, just like we want others to love us. Well maybe not exactly like we want others to love us because our minds are not holy like His. You can imagine though how you want to be loved. I can speak for myself when I say that I want my husband to love me.
Though I am not perfect at doing all these things, I desire to love my husband in every good way. Imagine a relationship where you are able to love God in these ways.
Tell Him good morning. He’s real. It’s not goofy, it’s nice. Thank Him for being with you, for your blessings (bed, friends, kids, pets, breath, life, family, freedom, love, money, no money lol), thank Him for your safety, and the safety of your loved ones.
Read His Word before Facebook, email, and breakfast. Talk to Him. Ask Him to help you see what He wants you to see and learn. It doesn’t have to be long, but its interesting and meaningful.
If you have never ‘felt’ God, I would dare to think you might not be saved. If God is living in you and you never feel Him, he must be further from you than you realize. Find a quite spot and ask God to be with you, beg Him to touch you, to hold you, feel Him. I’ve got two parrots eating through the shoulders of my shirt right now, there is noise knocking against the wall of children playing, the mail man just threw a package against my door, and I’m still able to ‘feel God’. lol. Sometimes the place doesn’t have to be perfectly quiet as long as you’re able to recognize and focus. Those two words, recognize and focus, might not be the best words to use. Maybe I can describe how He feels.
Its like this wonderful urge to cry. You are so thankful that God would ever want to spend time with you. You usually get goosebumps right away, inexplicably. You feel comforted, the most you can ever feel. You don’t always have to beg Him for you to feel Him. Just pay attention because He is always with you. Times I feel Him the most are when I am overwhelmed with something, a loss, a fear, an incapacity of mine. He’s our strength in our weakness
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Now, I could go through the rest of the ways I like to be loved and turn it around on loving God, but maybe its time for you to make a list and try to think of ways to love God in your life. This is not exactly a challenge but more of a blessing, an opportunity to grow closer to our mighty creator.
-Aubrie
Click Image To See Our Prayer Letter Full Size (With Pictures!)
June, 2011
Dear Pastor, Partners and Praying Friends,
We sure have been blessed by the Lord’s goodness! The past couple months have been amazing and busy as we have started full-time deputation. My last day of secular work was May 6th, and he has continued to provide for us over and over. Our travels have taken us around GA, OH, TN and SC. We’ve met many new friends and were encouraged by the desire of several of them to partner with us financially. I have been doing my best to work at least 8-10 hours per day calling pastors to fill up the rest of our calendar for deputation. We know God has the meetings we need. Please pray that He opens the right doors for us.
I was recently able to preach a Spanish church fellowship hosted at the church I started in Dawsonville, GA. It was great to see our good friends and see that the work there has even grown! They’ve seen several saved and baptized, and had more families join the church. It’s great to know that Christ is still building His church.
Amira (who is 14 months old) was sitting with Aubrie the other day while I was calling pastors downstairs, and she kept saying and signing “more dad, more dad, more dad.” Now, if that doesn’t make you want to take a 10-minute daddy-daughter break, I don’t know what will! ☺ She’s growing well, talking to anybody who will listen, and even starting to potty train! (That tidbit is for all the ladies out there).
Colombia, just like many cultures, has quite a few sayings and idioms. One of these is “¡Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho!” (Translation: From what’s said to what’s done, there’s a big gap. Basically, it’s the same as our saying: “Easier said than done”). How true!
1. For more meetings to open up for deputation
2. For safety on the road as we travel to many different states this summer
3. For financial support to start coming in (now at around 10%)
4. For God to start preparing hearts in Colombia to receive the Gospel when we arrive.
5. For more people to surrender their lives to take the Gospel to the world. How about you?
For Christ and His Glory,
Aaron Aubrie and Amira Vance
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:20-21
Aubrie, I love you. It’s hard to believe two whole years have gone by since we were married that gorgeous day up in Ashland, Ohio. The past two years have been phenomenal, yet it seems like we’ve always been together. I actually can’t imagine my life without you. It’s like we’ve always been one.
You’ve changed my life. Literally. I’m a different person because of you. You encourage me, help me, support me, respect me, and melt my heart with each loving gaze you throw my way with those big brown eyes of yours. I know I sure don’t deserve you but thank God he saw it fit to put us together. And he’s the one that will keep us together!
It has been such an honor getting to know you more each day, enjoying your company, serving alongside of you and seeing you grow into the godly woman you are. You really are the most amazing person I know. You fascinate me. I see how you respond to situations that aren’t ideal, love the unloveable, forgive, express patience, and give of yourself, and it really baffles me. You really do show Jesus to those around you. I have learned from you.
Wow, and talk about a good mother. Amira is so blessed to have you as a mom. You do such a great job loving her and giving her all the little things she needs. I know life get pretty hectic at times, especially with us on the road a lot, but you take it all in stride, and glorify God in it all. How do you do it? Amazing. I hope our daughter turns out like you!
And, of course, you’re my best friend. There’s nobody I’d rather live with and spend time with. I know I can be myself with you and that you’ll still love me. Now that sure takes somebody special!! 🙂 All joking aside, I honestly never knew how much of a friend my wife would be. I had prayed for you for years before I even saw your face, but I had no idea that your face would mean so much to me. That your company would light up my day. That your words would brighten my soul. We’ve shared many laughs, tears and shining moments. And Lord willing, there will be much more to come!
So, now, on our Second anniversary, allow me to say, I love you. I loved you on our wedding day, and I love you more now. If God gives us the time, I will love you for years and years and years to come. I honestly believe we’re together for God’s namesake and his glory. He put us together and we will live for him!! Here’s the song I wrote for us on our wedding day. It still stands true today 🙂
For His Name
For many years I prayed to God That he would give to me
A girl who loves him with all her heart And serves him faithfully.
And although at times I was dismayed Thinking you weren’t there,
Now I’ve seen God’s glorious strength portrayed,
Our two lives—one to share…
________
For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.
We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.
And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;
So that all the world that see us, They will know…
We’re together for His name.
________
As we start this journey new, Following Christ’s lead,
There are some things I promise To you faithfully;
To love you, to lead you, To be your best friend,
To live my life with integrity, Stay with you ‘til the end…
________
For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.
We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.
And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;
So that all the world that see us, They will know…
We’re together for His name.
________
So let come what may, I’m here to stay,
Forever I’ll be true.
On every mountain, every valley, I’m staying with you.
As a living testimony of Christ’s love and devotion,
I’ll give my all, follow his call
Because, I love you…
________
For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.
We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.
And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;
So that all the world that see us, They will know…
We’re together for His name.
We’re together for His name.
Today Amira is one year old! It’s so hard to believe that an entire year has flown by since we were entrusted with this precious little princess.
Amira, you are loved so much. You are a special creation of God! You momma and I are so proud of how you’ve grown, how much you’ve learned and how you’re developing into a sweet little lady every day. We pray that God gives us the strength to be the parents we ought to be, leading you in the footsteps of Jesus, and we hope that some day he will use you in huge ways for His glory!
You’ll always be Daddy’s Princess, Amira… I love you.
Here are a few (ok maybe 20) pictures of our angel. 🙂
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The Vance Family 