Today is a new day and a new year, Happy New Year!

Many of us reflect on what the Lord has done throughout the years in our lives. I can truly say that the Lord has been faithful. This is our declaration…Always giving glory and praise to the Lord for all the days of our lives. 

Psalm 146:2
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

As the year came to an end, my husband and I reflected on what the Lord has done in our lives. About fourteen years ago, during the end of the year, my husband attended a prayer meeting and while he was driving to the meeting the Lord gave him Matthew 6:33. While at the meeting he was asked what his resolution for the upcoming year. His answer was Matthew 6:33. Our family has stood on that verse since then. We have taken it to heart and have lived by this principal. Everything our family needed was in that very verse if you would ask us. Our lives belong to Him and our number one priority is to serve the Lord and others.
    
During that time, for various reasons, we chose to move our family to a hotel that was just down the street where we were pastoring. At that time, only two of our close friends knew what we were facing. Other than that, no one else knew, not even the people we served. Even though we had been going through this circumstance in life, our joy was intact, and we were full of passion and fire because our trust was in the Lord. We never complained to anyone or made it look like we were going through something difficult. For our children it was kind of cool that we lived in a hotel. They were little, and they didn’t understand a clue of what was happening.

What I want to say is that even when God calls you and you are serving Him, you may encounter trials and tribulation, resistance, or even persecution. During difficult circumstances, you must be assured that God is with you and for you. We have heard many say, “if bad things happen to you, you’re not in the will of God”. However, this is not so. When you read the gospel, even Jesus and the disciples encountered many oppositions just because they were right in the will of God for their lives. You may encounter opposition, but if your trust is in the Lord, you will overcome every one of them. John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

It is important to have a good attitude when we are facing any kind of situation. You cannot murmur or complain, you must put your praise on in the middle of your challenges. When you choose to put your Praise ON, this is your Victory! You must count it all joy when you fall into various trials. (James 1)  

If Jesus overcame, you will overcome as well. 1 John 4:4 who is in you is greater than he who is in the world! The Lord empowers us to overcome any situation in our lives our trust must be in Him only.     

My husband and I have chosen to praise the Lord despise of the circumstances and opposition. This was and is our attitude! 

Oh boy, I was so naive when it came to resistance and opposition. There were so many things that came against us, I didn’t understand that it was because we had chosen a life to follow the Lord. All we wanted to do was serve the Lord and serve others. But throughout the years I grew because of what I saw and experienced. You read all these things in the word of God, but when you see it and experience it for yourself, it’s a different story.  

While you are going through diverse trials and answering the call of God for your lives, do not allow the circumstances to stop you from fulfilling your call. I encourage you to stand and stand!!!   

Many around you will not understand what God has asked from you, because He is asking you. Everyone’s calling is different. That is why we are called the body of Christ, a body with different functions to fulfill the work of the ministry.  

When you allow others to define your calling or tell you what your calling is, you make the mistake of compromising your calling. Believers compromise for many reasons. Others want to be God for you, but they cannot! You are capable and able of hearing from God for yourself if you have a personal intimate fellowship with the Lord. He will surely tell you what you’re calling is. Don’t allow anyone to tell you what God is calling you to do, you must have that personal conviction.

Our position as leaders in the front line is to lead those that the Lord has placed in our path, and to lead them to fulfilling their calling.

We must come to the maturity as believers to not care what others say or think of us. This is freedom!

For us, we had to stand against all opposition from every side. Our hearts never blamed God for what was happening in our lives. In your path many things will happen, but you must guard your heart. 

There were a few of those that spoke things that didn’t even know why we were going through what we were going through. But we stood firm in what Lord was calling us to do. You cannot give your ear to hear anything contrary from what the Lord is saying to you.

We know for sure who is behind every opposition that may arise. Be confident in the Lord and the power of His might. 

When God gives you a word, there are things that will take time to come to fruition, but you must continue believing until it is manifested in your lives- you will see the Lord on your behalf. Because when the Lord has promised something, He will bring it to pass.

Don’t allow the enemy to kill, steal, and destroy the very word that you have received from the Lord. The work of the devil is to try to stop the God given word for your life, but you must stand in His word!!! Never doubt the Lord’s words and promises for you.  

We have seen the Lord’s hand on our behalf in many ways. He has held us with His right hand because our trust has been only in Him.  

When the Lord said that we were going to Colombia, seven years passed before we went. He was working in us before it was time for us to go. Imagine if we had gone before time, I believe many things could have happened. We overcame many obstacles, but His Grace for us was sufficient!!!

When it was time to come back, he worked everything in place. We went and came back, just as the Lord said!   

Before when we returned from the mission field the Lord said that He had a home for our family in Houston. While I came before my husband to find a home for our family, I did all I was supposed to do. I would search for a home, and doors would not open. It was because the Lord was already working everything on our behalf. Two months after I had arrived in Houston my husband came back from the mission field, and we still didn’t have a home. On the plane my husband was speaking to the Lord saying, “my wife is going to ask about our home and you gave us a word that you had a home for us in Houston”. The Lord answered to him and said to my husband, “I already have everything taken care of”. He rested in that word. The day of my husband’s arrival, we found out that the Lord already had a home for our family. We saw God’s faithfulness in our lives. Even when you don’t see things right away like He said, He is working on your behalf.  Never doubt the Lord when He speaks to you, even when you don’t understand, or it might take a little longer than what you were expecting. He is working things in place for you even if you don’t see the manifestation of what you are expecting Him to do for you. Our family saw the promise of the word of the Lord with our very own eyes. He blessed our family with a paid off home. We are forever grateful!  Our faith was always in the Lord, there was nothing in our ability that could have made this happen in the natural.

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
 
The Lord owns everything. He uses anyway or anyone He pleases to bless you. He works through His people only if we choose to be that vessel to be used by him. He desires to use us all.

When you choose to seek the Kingdom of GOD first and His RIGHTEOUSNESS, He will take care of you and supply all you need. 

Did we have needs in our path? Yes, we did. But we trusted in the Lord with all our hearts!  

You must learn to walk in peace in whatever state you are in.

Paul’s stated in Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Because Christ is in you and lives in you, you can do all things through Christ – He will strengthen you.  

Even though we have been through different seasons in our lives, we continue to go forward in our mission that the Lord has called us to do. Seasons come and go, we stand firm as we continue to do our part for the Kingdom. Pressing forward!
 
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 
There are promises that we have not seen come to pass, but we choose to stand and stand in His Word. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I encourage you today to not give up on what God has called you to do for the kingdom.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Cali, Colombia

This Christmas, 150 children were blessed. In addition to the children of El Retiro being blessed, the leaders, church members and children from another congregation in the North East part of Cali were blessed with gifts as well. Children’s clothing and shoes were also sent.

During the celebration, the children were exhorted about the birth of Jesus. Additionally, they had fun games, food, candy and much more.  (Click here to view pictures).

Our hearts were to travel to take the gifts to Colombia during Christmas, but we have postponed our trip for a later time. We will keep you updated on our mission trip travel dates. 

If you would like to make a donation towards the mission trip, please send your contribution to our mailing address.
Light of Victory Ministries
P.O. Box 842658
Houston, Texas 77284-2658

or you can make an online donation at www.lightofvictoryministries.org.

Furthermore, please pray and consider partnering with us on a monthly basis or as the Lord leads you to support the mission of this ministry.
We thank you again for your prayers and support during the year of 2018. Vimarie and I appreciate your continued prayers as we continue to share the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Love and Blessings,

Enrique & Vimarie
Light of Victory Ministries
 
PS. Your family is in our hearts and prayers!