We are in Dallas today finishing the last MRI which Brandon’s doctors will use to create a treatment plan for 6 weeks of radiation to his upper spine. We have been holding this information very close to our hearts and minds over the last two weeks as God has given us wisdom and direction and discernment in navigating this season of medical maintenance! It’s never easy to make these decisions. When it comes to the spine there are always risks involved but it is clear that this disease is attempting to take over more of Brandon’s body and that is something we take seriously. Eight years ago, we couldn’t have dreamed that we would still be in this fight. If you had asked us it would have already been over in one way or another. But here we are……We are ready for this next battle and look forward to all the “spoils” that God will deliver as we stand firm and give him space to do what He does…..fight for us.

Suit up. Show up. Take your positions. Stand firm. See the deliverance of the Lord.

These are the phrases God has been setting our faith upon over the last couple of weeks. In 2 Chronicles 20 God answers the prayers of Jehoshaphat very clearly when he inquires about the “enemies surrounding them”……the Lord says…….

“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them…….. You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

Almost eight years into this journey our faith is not blind. It doesn’t just cause us to say to the masses….”hey, let’s all just have faith that this will turn out good”. Our faith has been built upon understanding the word of God, asking Him to show us what His word means, and then watching as He, in all His lovingkindness and in a very real way has proved to us that His word is trustworthy and that He is faithful.

So we silence the spirit of grief that would seek to steal our joy and our hope right now as it tries to whisper to us that this battle cannot be won, that the enemy is too great……we listen to the ONE leading us and take our positions……and in obedience we stand firm. This may get worse before it gets better but we are CONFIDENT that our HOPE will never be wasted.

We are still unsure of when the treatments will begin but we are hoping by the week of January 22nd. What an amazing strength each of you gives to us. We invite you to take your positions as well. We ask you to pray (as we know you always vow to do). We look forward to seeing all the Lord will do again in and through our obedience and faith. Thank you for loving us deeply….

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;

who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?……

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” #presson #onefightatatime