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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
The Most Amazing Woman…Is Mine!
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.
Paying The Price In Bogota
It’s amazing the things you’ll do for something (or someone) you love!
Today we arrived in Bogotá, which is the capital city of Colombia with a metro population of over around 8,500,000 people. It’s huge. Really huge. This city is very high too, at about 8,600 feet above sea level, and it’s a bit colder too, compared to the other cities we’ve visited.
Well, being a larger city, and being the capital, there are quite a few more american stores and restaurants here. It’s crazy how much you can miss something that’s familiar after not having it available for a couple of weeks.
Well, my wife mentioned going to eat dinner at one of these places. And, since I liked that particular place, and I love my wife, we decided to set out on a grand trek to find it. A map said it was only about 20 blocks away. It would be a nice little walk.
Then it started to rain.
And rain.
And rain.
And rain.
Then it even started hailing.
Then we found an umbrella. Too late, maybe? lol
Needless to say, we were entirely drenched. Completely wet. Soaked to the core. You get the idea….
But when we found it (inside of a mall, of all places) it was oh, so good. Worth every drop of rain dripping from our noses; every sopping step we took; every shiver in the cold and wet breeze.
We found our Taco Bell. Yum. We were willing to pay the price!
Taco Bell has never tasted better!
Sometimes I wonder if we’re willing to pay the price for other things too. A wise man once told me, “Aaron, people always do what they want to do.” How true is that! If somebody really wants something, they’ll find a way.
This is a big city. The need is so great, not only here in Colombia but around the entire world. But are we willing to pay the price? It might be difficult, yes. But we have the power of an almighty God on our side. He has commanded us to go, but we as Christians have not gone.
Has there been anything in your life that’s been easy to pay the price for, yet other things are just so hard?
I know it’s been that way for me. Would to God that we could take a stand, live for the Lord, do what’s right and reach the world. We need His power and strength.
So, people always find a way to do what they want to do. What do you want to do?
Panorama of Bogotá, Colombia
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
Please enjoy this guest post by my lovely bride, Aubrie.
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
I think that I may have asked a nurse that same question 3 years ago in Peru. She said that there is always a part of you missing when your babies are not with you, but sometimes it is safer that way. She recently told me she left them behind again this year when she went to Haiti to help after the earthquake. She knew it would be dangerous, with dirty water, desperate people, disease, and sickness. She was able to help so many people on that trip and many came to know Christ as their Savior…
Another missionary wife took her small child with her on their survey trip and the baby barely made it home. He was about a year old. He became so ill with high fevers and infections. He was limp, lifeless, and almost dead. The doctors were foreign and were known to poison Christians. The mom just couldn’t leave her baby behind and it almost cost them his life.
Dear Amira,
We’re taking this trip to Colombia and leaving you with Mamaw because it’s the best we can do for you. Mommy and Daddy know that there can be dangers in unfamiliar places and they might not have all the things we have in the United States, like different medicine, vitamins, houses, soap, toys and many other things. So we need to find out what we’ll need to bring and where the safest areas to live are in Colombia, so that we can give you the very best life any Princess could ever have. God has called us to tell people about Jesus everywhere in the world, and Colombia has millions of people who have never heard about salvation. God has called our family to tell people in Colombia about Jesus and that is why we are going. We will be back very soon, and WE LOVE YOU! You are our most favorite beautiful princess!
Love,
-Mommy & Daddy-
Bird Behind Bars In Colombia!
Now, this is an odd story.
Strange, but true, police in Colombia have arrested a parrot for telling suspected drug dealers when people are approaching. The parrot is likely to spend life behind bars.
My wife will like this (we have parrots).
🙂
The Vance Family 