Love with the Sound of Victory

February 18, 2025

Chaplain LaVina “Viny” Burns

As a young couple, Jim and I were trying to get through Bible School so to get into the ministry and have a family. Sure enough, life took on some different turns, but we ended up in Wyoming and began our missions with a Children’s Ministry. Jim did an excellent job traveling the state as I stayed home with our 2-year-old son, Jeremiah, and our 1-year-old, Nicole. Very rarely did I travel because I believed it was my job to be at home raising my children.

However, an assignment came up where we were to work with youth in the ministry. We were to go to a 10-day camp to train those that would work with us for the summer. Our children were not allowed to come. After the tough decision of leaving our two precious babies, we left them with a gal that had offered to take care of them, and we felt we knew. She appeared to want to watch them out of love for our family and our ministry.

At the end of the 10 days, we came back. Our little darlings were so happy to see us. While unpacking their suitcase, a letter was laying amongst their clothes. It was a 10-page letter shredding my parenting skills, discussing what an awful mother I was, on and on. I was in tears. Then, we received some money from her. My heart was crushed as I realized, we were paid to be chewed out by someone who did not even like us, let alone love us and our ministry.

My children have always been the #1 center of my life (after my husband), but before our ministry. I have always believed our families are our ministry and the salvation of our children is to be top and foremost. That is how it was in our family. Our kids were raised with 1 hr of Bible teaching each day during home schooling so they would know how to live for Christ after they gave their lives to Him.

I Corinthians 9:16-18a, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17) For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18a) What is my reward then?...”

Oh, how I pray my children know it was done because I loved them enough to show them Jesus and lead them to Him so they will have everlasting life when God calls them home. However, Satan is always trying to fight against us and our families. I dare say, all Christian parents have experienced tough days interacting with their children. What is our reward as we continue to love and show Jesus in their lives? The crown of faithfulness. Eternity is long, my friend, and our families need to be loved into an eternity with life! Life with Jesus!

They say life is like a bed of roses and that is true. The roses are our lives filled with love, but the thorns are what Satan puts in our pathway to often put our family relationships in turmoil. I Corinthians 9: 25-26, “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26) Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.”

Yes, I will run with love for my family; run with certainty that my God will work in the lives of my family; run with a fight that God will be in control and VICTORY will be flowing throughout my family! Let us love with the sound of VICTORY, not paying off those you think you can control and call it love. God is on the throne, and He does not need me to control those around. Instead, he wants me to share, live and give Jesus to my family first. Oh, how I love Jesus, because He first loved me! I am His Child – His family!