Issue 1 | 2024

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Build An Unshakable Foundation THE STORY OF LAUREN EVERETT “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:7 NIV). I had such a bubbling in my spirit that day; joy and anticipation were simmering deep inside me. “God, I’m ready for whatever You have next,” I said confidently. I didn’t know what the next day held, but I knew it would be lifechanging, and I felt it had to do with my marriage. My husband, Dave, and I were in a tough season. We loved each other deeply, but something dark had entered our lives. He was being tormented mentally, and new, destructive behaviors were emerging. Being the fighter that he was, Dave kept pushing through the pain. He put on a smile and met the world head-on. Only a very few of our closest friends and family knew the depths of our struggle. I met Dave Mirra in my sophomore year at East Carolina University. He had moved to Greenville, NC, to be closer to his brother and ride BMX at a local park. Dave was a legend in the sport. I was clueless about who he was and what he did when we met. Until then, I hadn’t been a fan or a follower, but I was intrigued. Dave’s smile and kind, down-to-earth nature quickly won my heart, and a year and a half later, we were married. Life in Dave’s world was different from anything I’d ever experienced. It was packed, fast-paced, and adventurous. Dave rode hard on his bike and in life, keeping me on my toes. Especially his unplanned, often late night or early morning “Hey, babe, let’s go to Syracuse” drives. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE FLETCHER 14 Issue 01 / 2024 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Syracuse, New York, was home, and he liked to visit often. So off we’d go on another spontaneous adventure. Living in a realm of constant activity and the public eye came with challenges, and like every couple, Dave and I experienced highs and lows. I often felt insecure and unsure of my role and worth. Sometimes I felt unworthy, which led to seeking great, but they came with controlling and manipulative actions. In His wisdom, God sent me some godly friends to help me find balance and encourage me to back off and trust the Lord to work in Dave’s life. I tried, but keeping my hands and mouth off the situation wasn’t easy. God seemed to be taking too long to get my husband on board; surely He needed my help. PHOTO BY MARK LOSEY PHOTO PURCHASED ON ALAMY approval from other people. By this time, we had two girls, and the enemy loved to convince me that being a wife and mother was insufficient. This internal struggle lasted for years and often caused conflict in our relationship. The Lord gently reminded me to focus on my relationship with Him, not Dave’s. A few years into our marriage, I realized that unless Jesus became the center of our relationship, we wouldn’t survive. This longing only intensified as our girls grew. I wanted to raise them in a Christian home as I had been. I knew firsthand how the Lord helped my family through difficulties. Like many young people, however, I’d strayed from my faith roots in college, and Dave hadn’t seen that side of me, so to him, my desire to follow the Lord seemed sudden. Learning to trust God was a journey we both had to set out on. I began to push Dave to be a spiritual leader in our home. My intentions were The Lord gently reminded me to focus on my relationship with Him, not Dave’s. Eventually, I learned to trust His process, order, and timing, understanding that God doesn’t shove people into a relationship with Himself; He draws them (John 6:44). And that’s what He did with us both, just in different ways. Many people don’t know this, but it was Dave who led our family to church. One day, browsing a local magazine, we came across information for a church and agreed to give it a go. Eventually, Dave led us to Opendoor Church, where our family still attends. Watching how the Lord faithfully sent people to answer Dave’s questions and soften his heart was humbling. God also used circumstances to reveal His love and draw Dave close. On many occasions, He saved Dave’s life from accidents, bike Lauren and Dave, pictured here at their home a year before his death. Few people knew the depths of their struggles during this time. Dave’s BMX skills led him to be inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame on June 11, 2016. crashes, and life-threatening illnesses like bacterial meningitis. I’ll never forget when I learned the despairing odds of Dave’s survival from that illness. God had other plans, though, and a few days later, Dave and I walked out of the hospital hand in hand with the sun shining brightly on us. We both knew God had undeniably rested His mercy and grace upon us. God used this near-death experience to teach me about the power of prayer and the gift of Christian fellowship. Strangers got on their knees in prayer for us and served and supported us. We couldn’t believe the outpouring of undeserved kindness; their actions mirrored the heart of God. As soon as possible after the meningitis scare, Dave returned to competing. He even expanded into rally racing, boxing, and triathlons. I continued to draw close to the Lord (James 4:8) and could sense Him speaking to me, both through His Word and through other people. I remember a woman from church who spoke into my life. We prayed together, and VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM Issue 01 / 2024 15
Page 1 and 2: REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL H
Page 3 and 4: ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2024 “But in you
Page 5 and 6: ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2024 CONTENTS 8 9
Page 7 and 8: Through the stories of Victorious L
Page 9 and 10: STEPPING FORWARD When God’s Will
Page 11 and 12: impaired, blacked out, and hit a te
Page 13: STEPPING FORWARD Give God Your Grie
Page 17 and 18: The Lord redeemed Lauren’s loss a
Page 19 and 20: TRANSFORMED LIVES Jesus spent the n
Page 21 and 22: sought His heart in the matter, and
Page 23 and 24: PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MOERKE FAMIL
Page 25 and 26: STEPPING FORWARD SIT WITH JESUS May
Page 27 and 28: “I DODGED TRAINS, BULLIES, AND CO
Page 29 and 30: TRANSFORMED LIVES Three Cs That Can
Page 31 and 32: PHOTO BY ANNE SAY PHOTOGRAPHY ing u
Page 33 and 34: WANT TO KNOW JESUS? “Come to me,

Issue 1 | 2024

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