Victory isn’t always beautiful. Often it is surrounded by a clean up job as in the finishing off of my twins first birthday cakes pictured above! Many times there are casualties, emotions, and wounds that need to heal. What we seek however, may involve a battle to receive it. I’d prefer not to fight, but just let the waves splash over my feet at sunset and go to bed without desire or responsibility. Though that is good for us, it only wins the battle of “stress management” for the moment. I love the Biblical definition of peace- “the annihilation of all your enemies”. That, my friends, will not happen without battle.

This past year our family put on the armor and went in to finish a battle we have been fighting for over 16 years. With a lot of pain, wounds, and sacrifice we have won 2 major victories we believe will be life changing for many people down the road. The victories are significant, but we have a lot of recovery and regrouping to do for what lies ahead. God has been with us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Obedience to our calling is the key. Free will is highly over-rated in America, for the victory we have obtained has been choosing willfully to follow God as He guided us through each battle. In the end we now see what He saw that we couldn’t see before. That is what is beautiful- arriving at the place of destiny He has for us each step of the way! Experiencing victory has given us courage to trust God more than ever to guide us into the next step of HIS GOOD PLANS FOR US (AND FOR YOU!)………….