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My husband, Michael, and I have been married for almost 30 years. We have three grown children - all married - who have blessed us with 8 wonderful grandchildren.

I've always believed that God gave me my family. So my family was my first ministry in life.

I've also always believed in excellence for the Lord. Though I dreamed of singing for him, I knew my first responsibility was to my children. ("Train up a child in the way he shall go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6)

Just as I've experienced God in my life, I needed to learn about the challenges of a needy family before God could use me out in the world to reach the needs of people. He walked the battlefield with me through every trial and every challenge.

I know about being a mother at the age of 16... I know the realities of working the night shift while your husband works the day shift just to make ends meet... I understand sacrificing time with your spouse so the children wouldn't have to be raised by someone else... I've heard the whispers betting on how long our marriage would last... And I know what it's like to pray for my husband for 18 years before he turned his life around completely.

I remember writing to a friend as I was walking through one of the darkest times in my marriage. I asked her what the hardest thing was for her since her divorce. She immediately said, "Sharing my children with another woman." With absolute certainty I knew that I had to just walk more closely with God - I believe he had given us our children. If he wanted someone else to raise them, I reasoned, he would have given them to someone else.

Looking back, I would not have done anything differently. My husband is now in ministry with me. Our time with family is nothing short of a blessing on top of blessings. God's word - our solid rock - is the reason we are still together. It continues to hold us close.

We see so clearly that if Satan attacks the family, the "trickle down effect" of events can destroy people. I decided to absolutely refuse to allow Satan anywhere near our family.

I realized that his attacks all began with us as parents. I determined that selfishness could have no part in our lives if we were to be used of God. In his word, he tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). He also tells us to "delight in the Lord; and he shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). When we learned this lesson, God started opening doors in our ministry.