courage

While our current situation has brought fear to most of us, there are people who are courageously putting their own health on the line to keep the rest of us safe. Here is a story of a mother who braves each day with faith to be of service to others.

Julie has been a food delivery partner for a ride-hailing company since 2017. Despite the risks it poses to her health, she continues to go out and work hard to support her family and her 10-year-old daughter. With her old motorcycle and delivery gear, she braves the streets in the middle of the pandemic to serve and be a blessing.

When the outbreak started and the enhanced community quarantine was imposed, Julie knew that it would be harder for people to get what they needed. So aside from serving booked deliveries, she also decided to voluntarily help her neighbors and friends in getting essential food items and medicines. She knew that her small help of buying groceries for them will go a long way in protecting them from the disease.

Every morning, she wakes up early to go to the market with her long grocery lists for the day. To protect her daughter and all the other people she meets and sees every day, she makes sure to follow all safety and sanitation measures implemented by the government. She does what she can to protect herself, but she also sees God’s hand at work in keeping her safe.

Julie is thankful that even though her motorcycle is old, God is using it so she can serve other people. She is grateful for each day that she manages to get home safe and be a blessing in her own little way. She knows that everything she is able to do comes from God and whatever she has, no matter how small, can be used by Him for a greater purpose.

Though times are different and a lot of things remain uncertain, may we continue to hold on to God and allow His peace to give us strength each day. No matter our situation, God can use people to come to our aid and be a blessing to us. And though it sometimes seems impossible, God can also use us to serve and be a blessing to others.

Julie Tuvera is one of our Victory group members in Victory Katipunan.

Are you willing to put God first in your life? Will you be willing to sacrifice the things that you want for His glory? Be inspired as Dolly shares how God gave her the courage to trust Him with everything she has.

I have been an active member of Victory Cabanatuan for several years now. My family is not rich, but God has blessed us with a small retail business. He has been so faithful to me and my family right from the start.

When I became a Christian, I heard inspiring testimonies from people who—without hesitation—gave their hard-earned money to advance God’s kingdom. Those stories stayed with me; their testimonies spoke to my heart. Though I knew at that time that I had no means to give in that capacity, I promised God that I would do the same one day and believed that He would give me the privilege to honor Him that way.

A few months ago, my business did surprisingly well. I was able to save up a hefty seven-digit amount in my bank account. We had been renting for years and my family had always dreamt of having our own house. I thought of using that money to buy a piece of land where we could build our future home, but for some reason, I didn’t feel at peace with that decision.

While looking for a lot, I heard about the building project of Victory Cabanatuan. I immediately remembered my long-ago promise to God, so I made a 24-month pledge. However, even after doing that, I felt that He wanted me to do something more. I knew He wanted me to trust Him like never before.

As each month passed, I kept failing to fulfill my pledge. And every time I would plan to use the money I earned from our business to buy a new lot, something unexpected would happen. Knowing that God was trying to tell me something, I prayed and asked Him for wisdom and guidance.

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I decided to give the amount I was setting aside for a new lot to our local church’s building project instead. I thought I would feel bad or regret it afterward, but I did not. In fact, I was filled with so much peace. I soon realized that I was at peace with my decision because it was not really my money from the beginning; it was God’s. The message was clear to me: His house first, then my own.

Not long after, God provided me the amount that I needed for my lot. I was able to purchase a land twice the size of what I originally planned to buy—at a price that was also a lot cheaper than what was originally quoted to me. God’s ways are indeed higher than ours!

Currently, I serve God through our local church’s family ministry. I also partner with our missionaries and hope to be used by God in planting a new church in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Wherever God will take me, I know that I can find peace in my heart because He is always faithful and His plans are good. All I have to do is put Him first—in all areas of my life.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

May Dolly’s story give us the courage to put God first in our lives and trust Him with everything that we have. He knows our needs, and He will surely bless us with what we need according to His will and for His glory.

Braving the Streets to Serve

God First