I am YOURS!

For the past of 8 years of being a Christian I never knew what it truly meant to tell the Lord "I am yours." But now I do! 
8 years ago God put a desire in my heart to be a missionary overseas. There where times when doors where shut and when doors were open. There were times when scars were so deep and wounds that hurt, but the Lord gave me His strength to keep going. First, was keeping my focus on Jesus and never looking back. Never fearing what man would say because nothing was to please man but God. 
After a year of sitting at God's feet at Impact 195 I learned what God's love looks like and what restoration feels like. Those wounds were stitched back up with God's Love. 
The Lord gave me a vision after I came back from India dancing on the rooftops with my teammate (Caitlin) to the song Rooftops from Jesus Culture (hahaha... and as I write this the song comes on my playlist). The song represents why I am going to India because of His perfect grace and because by Him I freely live. So I shout from the rooftops (of India) I AM YOURS! 
Never in my life have I ever wanted to be more with God. To please him with my whole life. All I want is more of Him and nothing else in this world. My whole life is fully devoted to Him and my focus on Him has never been so strong as it is now. When we finally get to this point of complete surrender we experience freedom like no other. I am finally FREE! 
As we continue to run the race never let your eyes swayed by the earthly pleasures because you father in heaven has so much more for you then you could imagine. His word is alive and active and He is a father that keeps His promises we just have to hold on to those promises even when things are being shaken up. We are His and our desire should be that He is ours. As He desires for us to be fully His.  

 

Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truthKnowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this placeBecause of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I giveSo I stand before You, GodI lift my voice cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am Yours
All the good You've done for me, I lift up my hands for all to seeYou're the only one who brings me to my kneesTo share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worthSo I kneel before You, GodI lift my hands cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am YoursAll that I am, I place into Your loving handsAnd I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide openTo the One, the Son, the Everlasting God

There is Freedom

My life... It's hard to imagine my life without God now. I am coming to the 8 year mark where I gave my life to the Lord. It has been the best 8 years of my life! and I know this year will be the best yet as I move to India to do God's work. So here is my story:

My father was a missionary/ pastor in Mexico. He was tender hearted, loved God, amazing teacher of the word, very smart, was amazing at playing the drums, and loved his daughters (myself and sister). He opened drug rehab homes in Mexico which are still going as of now. Thousand of people came to know the Lord because of how the Lord used him. He was my example of what it truly meant to live for the Lord.

Then years down the enemy took him down and he fell into drug addiction and alcoholism. He went to be with the Lord when I was 11 years old. My world seemed to crash down...

However, I had such an amazing mom and grandma that taught me what it meant to follow the Lord. Every weekend and holiday we would be in Mexico with my grandma. We would attend a Pentecostal church every Sunday where I taught Sunday school to the little ones at 12 years old. Moving on, when I turned 13 I started seeking things of the world and I got kicked out of school for having illegal drugs on me. My grandma was the only one for me who was God's hands and feet for me through all of this and she got sick. She went to be with the Lord. I was devastated... I searched for the things of the world even more.

I stated smoking weed everyday and drinking. That is how I would keep myself numb. Then for 2 years I became a meth addict. I OD so many times. There was one day where I completely was dead. My friends said I turned purple and I had no pulse. I remember in that moment where I took my last breath I asked the Lord to give me a second chance. As I woke up and took in a breath of air I knew the Lord had given me that 2nd chance. He had a plan for my life.

From that day my life has been dedicated to serve the Lord. By His grace I've started ministries and I have been able to travel over 35 countries. I have seen the sick healed, blind see, and people coming to know His name. Best of all I have seen His love for each nation. How he cries out for His children. How he cries out for us. I have seen His GRACE. How there is FREEDOM in the name of Jesus! In my life God has set me FREE and I will proclaim from the rooftops of India that he is God!

I am picking up my cross and following Him no matter the cost. I am willing to lose my life in order for those that never heard to hear the name JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!

God's Dream for Me

God has put it my hear to share the dream He has put on my heart. 

 

There couple of days the Lord has been giving me dreams about India. Most of those dreams have been about human trafficking victims. I have felt what it means to be in their place, I have felt the love the Lord has for them, and how there is HOPE when there is none. The dreams that the Lord has given me have been very vivid for me in ways where I wake up crying for the people of India. 

 

 

As I sat in my room praying and asking the Lord what is it that He wanted me to do with these dreams I felt Him say to use my talents. As most of you know my natural abilities are in art. I do photography, draw, make jewelry, and play guitar/ sing.  

 

Then I had a vision of making jewelry/ accessories, paintings, and clothes. This will help human trafficking victims make a living for them and also for ministry to continue to help victims like this. 

 

Here are the three main points:

 

Discipleship Doing daily bible studies, prayer, and mentoring them individually to encourage them in their growth and walk with the Lord. 

Training  Trained in the trade of jewelry-making. They will learn to work with a variety of high-end, semi-precious stones to make beautiful pieces that are sold internationally.

Educating Through teaching English and basic life skills, they will be empowered with a new confidence and competence for a changed life.

Pay: 

Wages & Work Hours  Paid above fair market value and operate on a 40 hour work week.

Loan Payoff After their first year, each of them are  eligible for a loan. They pay it back with a 0% interest rate. This is in response to predatory loan lenders who charge 600% -1000% annually, making repayment impossible for these women.

Paid Training During our 3 month training period, each women receives a salary, that increases with full time employment after this term.

It's so amazing how God has put Human trafficking in my heart for awhile for India but I did not have clarity of how it would look like but now he has given me a clear vision. This is His will! This is His dream that He has put in my heart. 

 

Thank you to those who are part of this dream. Thank you for giving your treasures and time to make this happen. Please keep praying for this ministry. God is going to do something AMAZING and you are part of it. 

 

Today is my deadline to raise $1600 and $500 more in monthly pledges. Please lift that up in your prayers. If you know anyone that would like to be part of this dream and would like give a tax deductible donation send them to: https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/damariscontreras/

 

My savior He can move the mountains and I know He will. Please join me in prayer. 

 

Called to Cast out Demons

MARK 16:15-20 

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons......, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

As a Christian I never thought much about casting demons or of "demons", but that they are actually pretty SCAREY! As I got into the missions field I started to become more aware of the darkness here on earth. Satan is real and demons are too! Through the years of traveling and being on the field I have had opportunities to cast out demons and bring freedom to those who have lived in captivity for so long. 

Leading to India I have never experienced so much attacks from demons... as I slept at night in India during our last trip in April I was choked by demons in my sleep. And even prior to the trip in my dreams I was attacked and I was constantly sick with a fever. At this point I knew I needed to put on the full armor of God everyday (Eph. 6). We are in a battle everyday, but sometimes we are so oblivious to it all, or vise versa... 

Coming back from India into the states was also a time where the enemy was trying to put fear in me. As I was sleeping one night in my bed I was awaken at 2 am with a horrible sound where at first I thought it was some drunk person outside of my window throwing up (it sounded really bad). Then as I tried to figure it out I heard a demon saying my name in a grumbling sound. I started to rebuke it in the name of Jesus and it started to fade away. Somehow I felt the peace of the Lord and fell right back to sleep. The next night I had a dream where I was standing in front of an Indian mirror looking at how beautiful it was and looking at myself standing in such a dark place. Then suddenly the pastor's wife we worked in India came up to me. She said "I am going to teach you how to cast out demons. First, you make sure this is where the Lord wants you to do, then remember you have all authority, and then you tell them to GET OUT in the name of JESUS!" 

(Pastor's Wife Stella)

Then the next day we had a worship leader at our school and he said "someone here is being attacked by demons." I raised my had even though I did not want to and I knew in that moment that the Lord was calling me to lay hands on people who needed to be freed from captivity from the enemies strong holds. He had let me experience these attacks because I use to have fear, but God has let me know that there is no fear because He has given me all authority.

As the enemy keeps attacking me physically with bronchitis and fevers this week I know that there is power in the name of Jesus! Demons will flea at the sound of His name! Our God reigns forever. 

I have 6 weeks left until I move to India. Please keep praying for me and my team as we continue to prepare and raise funds. I am still in need of a huge part of my trip in order to go 

and live there. I pray that you would consider in partnering with me. You can read more Info on this site and give to this ministry through there: https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/damariscontreras/

(Praying for healing)

(Worship with my India sisters)

Give me Faith

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

In this season of my life God is building my faith because it is not unshakable... He wants us to have a faith that does not change with our emotions, but a faith that is only found in having a strong foundation in His truth and who He is. 

As I sit and pounder my life this far I have seen a faith that has been shaken because of my lack of knowing and standing in His truth. Faith should be who we are, not who we think we should be. I want to have a faith the believes the impossible even when things seem impossible. I want to believe even when I am holding onto the last strand and it breaks...and say I still believe! 

However, my faith has been shaken this month... As things never seem to fall into place... I felt my world crashing down like there was a ton of bricks on top of me keeping me from breathing and seeing what was ahead. In that moment I asked myself, " where is your faith?" It says in Hebrews 11:11- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Are we "certain" of what we do not see? 

As I sit here reminiscing of God's faithfulness in my life I have seen His hand of healing, His power, His love, How great He truly is. I have seen His hand upon His children and His LOVE that can never be compared to anything in this world. I have seen His love heal many lives and mine. He truly is faithful to finish the good work He started in us... 

I wanted to share this video of pictures and clips from the past 7 years of my life. Beginning  from starting an orphanage ministry to going out into the missions field... 

https://vimeo.com/52807640



My life His Story from Damaris Contreras on Vimeo.

His burdened Heart

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7

I will rejoice! I said I will rejoice! Even through my trials and what ever the enemy brings my way, I will rejoice! This week has been a week of heavy spiritual warfare for me. There has been points where I have been crawling on the ground trying to find strength to pick myself up. But through it all I will rejoice because I serve a God that cares and no matter what His plans for my life will never change. He is faithful! 

As I came upon the verse Psalm 31:7 it shows God's heart for His children but also how we should react when we are facing hard times in our lives, He cares! As I was thinking of His heart for His children the Lord reminded me of a dream  He gave me a month ago where I was saving children out of slavery. Some of you may not know that children are sold in many 3rd world countries into child labor or sex slavery. India is one of the biggest child slavery countries in the world. Girls at the age of 5 are sold by their parents into sex slavery and boys into beggars. Most of these children don't ever make it to be adults because they are disposed of when they are of no use or some of the children are burned alive. There are 35 million orphaned children in India and most of those children live on the streets. Does that break your heart? because it breaks God's heart! 

As the Lord reminded me of that dream of saving these children he also showed me what it meant to be in their place. It was such darkness that I have never felt before and a hopelessness... However, as the weeks passed by I forgot about that dream. Then today as I go to check my mail I see a book called "No longer a Slumdog." I have no idea who sent me this book. It was about horrible stories of children in India and what they go through everyday. I could not continue to read the book because I was sobbing so bad while reading it. It broke my heart into pieces. Then I heard the Lord say, "it's ok to cry because I am giving you my heart."

My plans for going to India were not to work with the orphaned children there but the Lord is clearly speaking to me and giving me His heart for the children there. He has woken up that passion I once had for orphaned children. The Lord sees his children hurting as it says, ...for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. The Lord cares for His children that are hurting. This little ones do't have a voice, but God has given me a voice to speak for these precious little ones. My heart has been moved to serve the children of India... Furthermore, as some of you know I started an orphanage ministry 7 years ago... It was my passion, but the enemy robbed that passion away and now the Lord has reminded me of it. Oh Lord you are so good to me! So here is to the start of a new journey! 

I pray that you will be encouraged through this blog and that God will reveal more of His heart for His children. Thank you for reading 

His Promises

This week I have spent it in the Grand Canyon with my family and my intentions of coming were to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them, but God has been revealing so much to me about who He has made me to be and where He is leading me.

Going 2 years back while I was in Romania doing missions work for 2 months I shared a room with 3 of my best friends and one day we decided to just have a prayer night in our room and hear Gods voice. As we were still we prayed to the Lord to reveal to us where He wanted us to go. Was it to start an orphanage in Nicaragua together? or serve Him somewhere else? As we were sitting still I did not hear anything which was rare for me. But as we were going to sleep I prayed to the Lord to show me in my dream. So during my sleep God gave me dream. I was in a small broken down old car and the car ended up breaking down so I took it to the shop where they were taking forever to fix it and I knew I had to be somewhere, so it finally was fixed! As I started driving I was going up a hill and place that looked just like the Grand Canyon. As I was going up the hill the car kept taking forever to get up the hill and I was anxious to get up to the top of the hill ASAP. I finally got to the top of the hill and there was an airport and as I ran in to check my bags they told me that I could not take the clothes I was taking, but I asked why? "it's so HOT there." It took me a minute to think it through if I should go but I said, "take it all!" As I got on the plane it landed somewhere where there was tents and thousands of African children eating on mats on the ground eating Ugali and I sat down and I said, "I am finally home!"

God has me on a beautiful journey with Him of romance and adventure. As the dream he gave me when the car broke down He was doing something new in me and equipping me that was IMPACT 195 and going up the hill of the Grand Canyon was the journey He is taking me with Him which India is part of  it. There will be  times in the journey when I want to run but  I just have to enjoy the ride and the view which is my daddy Abba. Then when I got to the top and said I won't take my luggage is when I will be at a point where I truly will die to who I am. Then finally getting to the end of my journey is Africa. I don't know when that end will be but right now I am enjoying the journey he has me on and what He is doing through me. 

Today was a reminder of how He keep His promises. As I looked out to the Canyon I saw this beautiful rainbow and I heard the Lord say I am faithful to finish the work I have started in you. I don't have to strive, I don't need to be anyone else but who God made me, all I need to do is sit back and enjoy the beautiful work He is doing in me. I get to be part of this grand adventure with Him! I get to serve Him! 

As the day ended I looked to the sky and I saw His face in the clouds. He spoke to me you are my beloved and I delight in you. As He reached His hand out to me he said dance with me my beloved. At that moment I felt freedom! I realized that His promises never change and that I am the daughter of the king of kings! I am His and He is mine...