Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Updates on things other than WV

With all of the excitement of the new camp, I forgot to update you on the new publishing of the book.  When we originally published, we went with Crossbooks Publishing and they have since ceased all publishing services completely to all clients.  But you know God!  When He has plans, He doesn't let a publishing company stand in the way.  I am so thankful for Nat and her knowledge and power with these kinds of things.  She immediately got us going on Amazon, and you can now find the link to the newly published book, Our Faith Renewed, in the upper left column of the new blog (we'll talk about the new blog on another post).  The book is the exact same book that was published  before, but guess what?  It is now listed at $10 instead of $15, thanks to the less-demanding new publisher.  Do you need to buy a Christmas gift for someone?  This would make a great stocking stuffer, and would also bring hope and encouragement through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you are new to our blog or our family, you can read Faith's story on the right side of this post.  Just click the link under her picture.
Tomorrow marks my very last day of college.  This has been quite the ride.  While I can't believe I am finally going to walk across the stage next Saturday to get my diploma, I am sad that I will miss coming to class and spending time with some wonderful people who I have grown to love so much.  Next weeks blogs will be dedicated to things I have learned during this last stint in college, so those should be fun.  Here is a throwback to my very first day at UF, just  16 short months ago with this caption: " First day of class at UF! Representing @snowbirdswo in the Gator Nation! #icandothis#imagatoragain#fycs ."

I'm not a selfie girl, and this one looks rough.  I didn't only gain knowledge and a degree, but I may have gained a few extra pounds to go with it:)  But I made it, y'all!!!  It wasn't in my strength, but through dependence on Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 says "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  When He starts something, He finishes it.  He has started something so very cool, and I have never been more excited to be in the will of my Father that I can hardly stand it. 

If you're waiting for Him to reveal things to you, or if you have been praying that desert of the unknown, hang tight my friends.  He is FAITHFUL!  He promises us this is true.  And I know it personally to be true. 

Much love to you all!
SaraBeth

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Big! Big! News!

The Vaughns are celebrating some pretty big news this week.  I am graduating from UF Saturday, December 19th, and many have asked “So then what?”  So here is the scoop:
God has called our family into full time ministry.  Our family is moving to Chloe, WV after the first of the year to serve as full time missionary camp directors at Eagle Ranch.  This will be a camp ministry built from the ground up.  God has opened so many doors, and literally moved HUGE mountains just this week.  We are so very excited to be able to share Jesus with the people there on a daily basis (which is what we should be doing anyway). 




Matthew 28:19-20 says Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  And that is exactly what we are going to do.
We knew we were being called into ministry several years ago, but I just dug my heels in the sand and refused to leave my mama.  Y’all know I sure do love going to my mom and dad’s house for Sunday lunch or birthday dinners.  But a lot of life has happened and shown me that there is NO greater joy than obeying the Lord and being where HE wants you to be.
Eagle Ranch will be a year round camp and retreat center with programming for everyone.  We will host our first camps this summer, once we complete the construction of our bunk houses and bath house. 
Can you pray for us?  We are going to need it!  Here are some things you can pray about:
  • Pray our house sells quickly.  We are meeting with the realtor tomorrow, and we can go and serve as soon as it is sold.
  • Pray for our children as this will be a big change.
  • Pray for my mama!  She is actually doing pretty well and that does my heart good.  I am sure gonna miss her and my dad….and my sisters, and nieces and nephews, and my friends, and my students, and the list goes on and on.
  • Pray for the people there in WV, that their hearts will be softened to the gospel of Jesus Christ and they will come to have a personal relationship with Him.
  • Pray about how you can support us.  We need prayer warriors, financial support, and mission teams to come help us.  How will you help?
Are we scared?  A little.  But mostly excited! But I find comfort in Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: 25-34:
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Jesus LOVES us!  He is for us.  He will provide for us!  And we have been blown away by the power He has shown these last few weeks.  Thank you for going on yet another journey with the Vaughn family.  It’s sure to be a wild ride!