Saved, Heroes and Nervous Drivers!
Saved!
The Lord really blessed in our meetings this past weekend! I was able to present our burden for Colombia then preach in Iglesia Bautista Trinidad in Jacksonville, Florida and in Iglesia Bautista La Gracia in Moultrie, Georgia. Both of these churches were such a blessing to us, and there was at least one saved after each service. Praise the Lord!! One of the coolest things while on deputation is being able to preach in so many places and see how God has been working in people’s hearts through us.
Hero
About 7 years ago, while living in Peru studying missions and Spanish, God crossed my paths with a great man of God. There have been quite a few men that have invested in my life and have been personal mentors to me, but there is one that God used momentarily to make a big impact on my life. His name is Alberto Gomez. At the time, he was pastoring a very successful church in Colombia, and had already started several others. In the 3 or 4 days I was around him, God used this man to start burdening my heart about Colombia. I was already committed to missions, but it was this man who first challenged me to pray about going to the country we’re now headed to as full-time missionaries. I never had a chance to tell him thanks until recently. And I preached in his church on Sunday. It was an honor, to say the least.
Nervous Drivers
Ever since I’ve gotten my driver’s license, I have never not wanted to drive. I love driving. Good thing, I guess, since we’re travelling around the country now on deputation. Well, this past weekend, my wife decided to help out some with the driving so I could get some work done. I never thought I could make her so nervous! Role reversal, maybe? lol… We’re still trying to figure out a good system, but it sure is nice spending hours upon hours with my family as we travel. I can’t say that I mind being stuck in a car with my favorite people in the world!
Ready to Go Daddy!
I think Amira takes the term “living out of suitcase” a little too literally! lol
Pray for us today as we have meetings in Florida and south Georgia.
Love God – A Guest Post By Aubrie
What Is Our Purpose?
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.
- I want to be noticed.
- I want attention.
- I want to feel his warmth.
- I want to laugh with him.
- I want to see him and him to see me.
- I want his companionship.
- I want him to speak to me and I want him to hear me.
- I want his intimacy.
- I long for him when he is not around.
- I try to think of ways to show him my love.
- I try to cook things that are edible for him.
- I tell others about his greatness.
- I only want to build him up.
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.
Wake up in the morning and notice God!
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.
Give him your first attention!
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.
Feel His warmth and let Him feel yours!
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
June Prayer Letter Update
Click Image To See Our Prayer Letter Full Size (With Pictures!)
June, 2011
Dear Pastor, Partners and Praying Friends,
Deputation Update
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.
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
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).
Colombian Culture Corner
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!
Prayer Requests
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
Isn’t She Cute?
Amira is growing up too fast! (We didn’t tell her that Easter was almost 2 months ago.) lol
The Vance Family 