Category Archives: Advocacy

5 Wrong Attitudes When Writing | The Journeyman’s Moments

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“To err is human; to forgive, divine.” – Alexander Pope

We all make mistakes every single day, big and small. That’s the norm. If we don’t make mistakes, then I suppose that makes us an extraterrestrial with exceptional IQ and perfect capabilities. 😉

Seriously, there are mistakes that can be corrected right away, there are those that take time or practice to do them right, there are those that can be avoided, and there are those that will forever remain irreparable.

It’s a good thing that writing falls in the first and second categories. Yes, practicing always is the key to honing your writing skills close to perfect and eliminate mistakes. But it usually takes time so patience is necessary.

It is also a rule of thumb to make room for mistakes when writing because this is where improvements come in. So far, I haven’t committed a writing mistake that’s difficult to correct.

Some of the writing mistakes though were made by having the wrong mindset when it comes to writing. In the succeeding paragraphs, I’ll be giving a rundown of the wrong attitudes to avoid if you want to be a better writer.

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Photo credit: Unsplash

Mistakes Make You Write Better, But The Right Attitude Makes You Write Excellently

1. “Never mind the grammar as long as I can submit it on time.”

This has to be avoided first and foremost. Why? We cannot sacrifice quality over quantity just because we’re on a tight deadline or we still have to finish other tasks. Grammatical errors usually happen on my end when I change a particular sentence, edit the latter or first part, and skip rereading the entire sentence because of time constraints.

This habit of mine is “okay” if I write here on my blog where I do multiple revisions before and after publishing my articles (I still overlook some errors though). But for work-related write-ups, this is critical.

Again, never sacrifice quality over quantity. I’ve read some formal write-ups with multiple grammatical errors and when I checked out the profile, the writer has a Ph.D. It somehow made me doubt about the credibility of the write-up. No offense here though, but I believe having a good grasp of grammar also speaks so much about professionalism.

If we’re going to say that it’s just grammar and committing grammar errors is okay as long as the idea is there, unfortunately, it is not. Grammatical errors oftentimes confuse or mislead readers. They make the text difficult for the audience to understand because the ideas are in shambles.

2. “Memorizing new words is hard so I’ll stick with what I already know.”

This is not a proper mindset if you want to improve your writing skills. Better yet, make it a habit to learn new words every day. Every time I learn an unfamiliar term, I use it in context by including it in my writing asap, thus, retaining the word in my vocabulary bank. I’ve been exposed to different writing disciplines which require I learn and adopt a certain lingo/jargon in my writing, so this comes as a necessity for me.

Your vocabulary bank will enable you to deliver high-quality output and allow your writing style to be on par with the company/client’s brand voice. If it is about real estate, read up on all real estate-related terms. If it is about technology, you also have to be familiar with technical terms. If it is news writing, choose strong words that will have an impact on your readers and so on and so forth.

The same goes even for personal blogging. There are specific terms which best describe your thoughts and portray the emotions that you want your reader to feel. If your vocabulary is limited, it’ll be difficult to choose the appropriate words in conveying your ideas.

3. “I don’t see how my area of expertise can benefit from other disciplines.”

It’s best to read across several disciplines and not just in your area of expertise or topics you’re interested in. I also derive other interesting ideas from non-literary discourses (I have a bachelor’s degree in Literature), which can sometimes be the next topic of my story or become a useful piece of information for my future articles.

LinkedIn is one of my go-to reading platforms for technical learning. For more on personal experiences and journals, I usually browse WordPress. You may also include online news publications to stay updated with the current trends and issues happening locally and globally.

The more informed you are, the more ideas you have which will be relevant in your profession as a writer. As they say, you cannot write about something you do not know. So all the more that your knowledge bank has to be interdisciplinary. In a sense, it is like studying a new course but on your own pacing and the facilitator is yourself.

The lack of pertinent details is sometimes what causes a writer’s block. Unless you also space out easily, like me, which is why I prefer working at home where I can eliminate all distractions and avoid “the blockage.”

4. “I know better than them.”

Thanks to my former and current editors for some of these nuggets of wisdom and thank God for mentors in the writing industry. I’ve only been in this industry for 2 years after a career shift. But I felt like I already learned a whole 4-year-course-worth of knowledge that I can only acquire not in the academe, but by infiltrating the mainstream of writers, editors, and the digital publishing arena.

I am grateful I was given opportunities to explore several writing industries from business writing, technical writing, news writing, to feature writing. Because for every industry, there is a myriad of takeaways that I now apply in my writing in general.

Mentors are essential. Don’t take it personally when they review or criticize your work. You need their valuable insights so you can improve the quality of your output.

I always see it as a favor to make me better. When working with clients, it also allows transparency for clearer communications and well-met expectations resulting in a satisfying deliverable and performance.

5. “I have poor writing skills, thus, I should refrain from writing.”

There’s no better way to apply what you’ve learned than to keep on writing. The more you make writing as an integral part of your lifestyle, the more that it’ll become more flawless, more fun, and more fulfilling.

In writing, I don’t believe that you get stuck with where you first started. With each passing year, with every writing opportunity presented to you, and with each writing experience you’ve had, you’re now better than the writer you once were.

How would I know if I really improved?

I have here a couple of points to share with you, a checklist I came up with to monitor my progress:

– How long did it take me to finish this write-up compared to my previous articles?

– After writing the first draft, how many times did I revise it?

– How many words, sentences, and ideas require a major overhaul?

– Do I love to read my article again and again or I got bored in the middle of it and just wanted to stop (this is basically what your reader will feel, too)?

– Will my reader learn something from my write-up? If yes, what is it and if no, what can I include to make it useful and informative?

– Am I satisfied with my work? If yes, it means a job well done. If you’re half-satisfied, then something is lacking and you need to tweak the article a little bit (your writer gut feeling is always right, trust it always).

– Does the article contain one solid thought from the beginning until the end or it has too many misplaced ideas?

The last point is my waterloo which is what I am currently working on. I can write a 2,000-word article and when I reread it, it’s as if I am literally talking about “everything under the sun.”

This is a bad habit when it comes to writing. You’ll bore your readers after just a few paragraphs. I address this by cutting the article in chunks and classifying them according to the main idea. I list them either as new topics for my next articles or I find a way to relate it to my current topic.

So that’s it, my beloved readers. I hope I encouraged the writer in you and to be good (if not, the best) in what you’re passionate about. Always remember that we are all a work in progress. But keep in mind, too, that improvements do come with consistency, diligence, and lots of prayers.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

I’d love to hear your thoughts and learn from you, too. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. ☺

Have a blessed writing day, everyone! ❤

Your every Friday writer (I’m back to my Friday stint),

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P.S.

Do revisit this page for my last-minute changes. 😉

The Role of Climate Change and Rice Tarrification Law in Rice Production: Agri Talk

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Before I begin the actual article, I’d like to share an update to those of you who have been following my blog posts lately. And let me begin by saying, thank you to all those who prayed for my checkup – the doctor’s initial assessment turned out negative. BUT, she suggested I still undergo the 2D and 3D mammography tomorrow. We will get my other test results tomorrow, too, but it will be assessed by my doctor on Saturday. The battle is not over yet, not yet.

But life must go on – I am still breathing and I am still walking. So, let’s keep the ball rolling. 😉

What Do Experts Have to Say About the Rice Tarrification Law?

For today’s article, I will be sharing about the Rice Tarrification Law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Since a majority of our family’s agribusiness revolves around rice farming, I had to do a lot of research on what this law entails and what are the different opinions of industry experts on the matter.

Here are some of the articles I was able to dig up:

“Rice Tarrification Bill Enacted Into Law”

“Rice Tarrification Law Good for Farmers, Agri Group Says”

“Rice Tarrification Law: Farmers Worry; Lawmakers Wary”

“CARD MRI Holds Forum on Rice Tarrification; Vows to Launch Related Module for Its 6.2M Clients”

The Rice Tarrification Law basically proposes a better alternative to consumers by lowering the market price of rice through minimal import restrictions, and importers pay a 40 percent tariff only. Tariffs collected will be distributed to farmers as incentives and financial assistance which the government will provide through programs irrigation, new grains, fertilizers, etc.

This law also aims to eliminate rice traders and middlemen since the tariffs will go directly to the rice industry, experts said. But along with the elimination of rice traders in the agri system sprouts two new challenges – rice cartels and rice smuggling.

The latter poses a new threat since there will be those who will try to evade paying the tariffs imposed by the Bureau of Customs. The challenge to the government is this – will there be other security agencies who can monitor the imported rice that comes in? For one, we don’t have enough border patrols.

The emergence of rice cartels would also mean an even stronger market group to compete with. The challenge here is this – will small-time local rice farmers, who cannot pay enough for the tariffs, get the chance to buy imported rice or still have a chance to sell their produce locally and earn a decent profit?

Yet another challenge is this – with the unresolved cases and ongoing graft and corruption in the country, what is the assurance that the farmers will receive their due share of the tariff proceeds?

When I called my Dad and Mom last Saturday to check up on them and talk about this matter, as expected, the conversation lasted for 2 hours. 😀 That’s one thing about our family, it is like a debate team. We love to discuss, analyze, and assess matters with little oppositions and contradictions here and there but can honestly escalate to an actual debate later on. lol Just kidding. 😀

My parents advised us to let this year pass since this will be the adjustment period, so to speak, for registrations and all. Next year will be the time to assess whether this new law will indeed benefit the local farmers or not. I suggested to my parents that if this means producing rice for personal consumption only, maybe it is about time we explore other crop ventures – the initial proposal of my siblings and I for the new family project.

The Toll of Climate Change on Rice Industries

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Local rice farmers are facing yet another challenge brought about by the extreme heat wave. Dad told me we are experiencing El Nino this summer – severe drought. The last time this happened was back in 2008. My Mom said time will come when intervals between seasons of El Nino will be shorter with the ever-worsening climate change and heat wave.

Extreme drought for farmers means lacking sufficient ricefield irrigation which will then result in lower crop yields a.k.a. less or no profit at all. According to Dad, farmers right now are in dire need of sufficient water supply since rivers are almost dried up. He shared how two farmers started to drill on their ricefields hoping to tap into a good water source such as a spring, but to no avail.

Every drilling activity costs 15k. This means that if you attempted to drill twice, you shelled out 30k already. It’s a big waste of money unless you were able to find a water source asap so you won’t have to spend more. If you’re unable to get the water supply that you need for your crops, they will all dry up with huge losses on your end than gains.

An Outpour of Blessings

God, in all these circumstances, was good to my Dad. Maybe it’s because I pray about the farm every night? 😀 Nah, I won’t take the credit because I know it is all God and God alone.

Dad shared how he “luckily” drilled through a major source with overflowing water and not just a trickle. It was more than enough to irrigate all his ricefields. I told Dad it was indeed a wonderful blessing and maybe he can share the water supply to nearby ricefields and ask the owners to pay for it since the water will be coming from our land.

I know they will take the offer than to let their crops completely dry out and earn nothing. Dad will be able to help other farmers irrigate their crops and save on drilling costs and he can also recover the amount he spent for drilling and pumping for water – a win-win situation.

By the way, the average pumping cost for ricefield irrigation is 150php per hour. So I asked Dad how long does it take to completely fill up one ricefield, he said it’s overnight and sometimes it takes days depending on the size of the ricefield. Indeed, there really is more to farming than planting the crops, letting them grow, and harvesting them without doing anything. Yes, it is nowhere close to gardening. I was totally wrong. 😀

What better alternatives do rice farmers have?

I browsed the internet for better options not just for our business but for other local rice farmers, too. I found online groups and websites where they share information and discuss different agricultural practices that are on par with the drastic climate changes – how farmers can adapt to these changes.

These organizations are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (UNIFAD), and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD). You may check them out through their social media channels if you’re also in the agribusiness industry.

One topic that requires urgent attention now is about how climate change can affect biodiversity and how biodiversity, in turn, affects food production. I realized that my Dad and other rice farmers were just worried about water supply. And yet what I’ve found out was something more catastrophic than that given the alarming depletion rate of earth’s natural resources. This is where the imbalance comes in, which, in turn, can affect how we produce our food.

One scary thought, or rather, challenging question I had after my research is this – will our children or the future generation still have enough decent food to consume in the next decades or centuries, perhaps? I am promoting two advocacies now in agribusiness and they are sustainable agriculture and local food movement. These two encapsulate the mission of the new family project that my siblings and I are working on.

In our own little ways, what can we do to support these advocacies?

I’ll have to discuss this in the next article because this post’s too long already. 😀 But here’s one to motivate us to do something and this is also one of my core beliefs when it comes to creativity: “Where there are seasons of drought, there is ingenuity.” The geniuses of our time and the times before made a lot of discoveries and inventions out of a lack of something.

How to Be Good Stewards of God-Given Resources

But let us not forget that God owns everything that we have and we are only stewards of what He has entrusted us. He will be the one to provide us everything that we need so we can continue the work that He has tasked us to do.

I am praying for summer rain in Bicol and all other rice-producing regions. Rain during the summer season is a miracle. But I have a God who makes things possible and I believe in miracles because I have faith. So, I say, it will happen. 😉

And yes, I pray for a healthy body, too. Because there are a lot of things that I still need to do and my body’s the vessel to move around. But then again, not my will but His will and not my plans but His plans always. ❤

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains. The world, and those who dwell in it.” – Psalm 24:1

P.S.

Is there any pill cuter and girlier than this? The bright pink got stuck in my head it helps me remember when I should take them. 😉

I’m also squeezing this article in real quick because I still have other articles to do at work until the end of this week. I just want to get this off my head – like lice. Off with your head! Errr, off with the lice! I mean, off with the thoughts. 😀

Dying Young, Dying Old: A Lenten Season Special

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February this year was full of mourning and grief from deaths of loved ones of people I know. It made me think about life’s brevity and longevity – the reason why Science never stopped in discovering how life can be preserved. In fact, a lot of movies have been inspired by it – how to attain immortality. But, as we all know, only One conquered death and it’s for the purpose of giving everyone immortality – eternal life.

What is Death?

One story is about someone from our church. I don’t know her personally but we have common friends. When I checked out her profile, three words came into my mind – young, devoted, and vibrant. Her life, albeit short, was full of colors – she lived life to the fullest in adoration and service to the Lord. She was diagnosed with lupus and it was through her testimony that I discovered that lupus is also the same as cancer – incurable. What struck me after reading her testimony was this statement: “Sometimes pain can make you forget God.”

It is true. Any form of extreme pain, may it be physical or emotional, can sometimes make you question your existence, your purpose, and finally your faith. But, if you have been saved prior to the pain, or even during the pain, none of everything you will go through, what you have done, and what you have will matter.

“We, therefore, were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.” -Romans 6:4

The same goes to those who died old. It reminded me of my maternal grandma who will be celebrating her 95th birthday this year if God wills it. She would always ask me and my siblings when will God take her. Our only answer is that only God knows and maybe God has a purpose for her that is still yet to be fulfilled.

I see her suffer now from the ailments of old age. I feel her pain. I ask God the same questions, too. And one of those questions is this, “Lord, is there ever a way for us to die a painless death a.k.a. the easy death?”

I guess we all have that moment wherein we ask God how we will die. Will we ever grow old? Will we die of cancer? Will we die in an accident? Will I die in my sleep? Will I die with a mangled body? Will I die writhing in pain?

Is Your Heart Ready?

Through all these questions, one stood out: “Are our hearts ready?”

Can we live life just like my churchmate? Though she went through so much pain, she had the assurance of life in eternity. It’s the same with my grandma. Though there is a restlessness in her heart, peace also comes within her brought about by the same assurance.

There’s just one form of death that makes me deeply sad – suicide. One of my friends on Facebook shared about a niece, a high school student, who committed suicide by hanging herself. I checked out her profile and I have seen how depression overtook the better part of her.

If only someone reached out to her and shared the Good News. A shared conversation could’ve changed her fate. A shared story would’ve made all the difference. A fellowship perhaps about how we all go through painful and difficult moments in life and yet by God’s grace and because of the assurance of life in eternity, we endure them all, we strive forward and carry our own “crosses” no matter how heavy they are. Yes, carry them until we have fulfilled what God has tasked us to do as a follower of Christ.

I grieved for her soul – that which can never be resurrected, one that will forever be lost.

I Am Ready

Death, sickness, lost lives…they all dawned on me and my current situation. I lost one good career opportunity because my health demanded it. I am facing my own fears, too – dying young, dying old, and going through extreme pain.

But instead of living life in fear dreading what sad or bad news the future might bring, I celebrate life. Not through YOLO or FOMO but through a heart that is ready.

God has been postponing my visit to the doctor for a whole lot of different reasons – the doctor canceled, hubby’s loa wasn’t approved, etc. But this coming Saturday is our “hope” day. And as with everything, I will wait what and where God will bring me. So as my prayer goes, LET HIS WILL BE DONE. 🙂

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” – Revelation 21: 5

Peacefully waiting,

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Summer In My Hometown

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Just a couple more days and summer will officially start. Who’s ready? 😀

This is the season, next to Christmas, that people in any part of the world are excited about. Who wouldn’t?

Summer is beach.

The vast seas with its crystal clear blue-green waters and gentle splash of waves; the bright sun and the soft tickle of sand on your toes; the seafood fiesta…ah yes, I can just go on and on.

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My childhood memories were filled with unforgettable summer moments with my family. It would start with the birthday celebration of my Dad, beach getaways (our province is home to virgin beaches), and the usual busy farm work.

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Back in college, one of our sem breaks was scheduled during the summer. I’ll never forget how our Mom would ask us when will be our last day in school. She will then ask us to come home and help with the farm work since it’s harvest time, we need more farm workers than usual, and we’re in-charge of their lunch and snack – more helping hands to do household chores. Being the youngest, I was tasked as the dishwasher. Hmm, why is it that the youngest in the family always wash the dishes? Can anyone tell me whose law was it and where did it first start? I’d like to rally against and abolish it. Seriously – with a smile. 😃

But anyway, I loved the training. It became a part of the memorable experiences I’ve had back when I was a kid. Piles of dishes can give you that extreme frustration but a lasting fulfillment when done – an accomplishment. It kind of made me proud to see them shiny, clean plates stacked up high in our dish rack. Oh and let’s not forget the huge pots and pans. Yes, that’s quite an achievement for a kid. 😀

Summer is always there.

Now, things have changed. There are some summer days when I wish to visit our home because “home is just where the heart is.” But my brother told me just a few days back that circumstances will always pull us far from our comfort zones. Yes, it’s always a part of adulting. But always, we will always go back to where we came from.

And yes, we always move forward wherever life takes us because that is just how things go. It’s been years since I last visited our hometown during the summer. Circumstances will not allow me at this point but I am just glad our family business project there is finally rolling. I am still praying though for God’s guidance, protection, and sustenance to be upon our parents and other siblings who will help monitor the developments.

But one thing I am forever grateful for is that I have sunkissed-filled memories that are worth reminiscing over and over again. I may have a “pile of dishes” to do now, but I’ll finish them somehow.

Did I just hear someone say “grit”? 😀

Forever Grateful for Sun-kissed Memories

And when I’m done, I know the fulfillment is everything after the endurance, patience, perseverance, and discipline. Summer will always be there, anyway.

Well, unless something will blot out the sun and we’ll have a solar eclipse for all eternity. It is impossible but maybe we should ask Science if there are chances of it happening in the near or far future. 😀

Again, for now, let me just reminisce the memories of the not-so-distant past about flying kites in open fields, climbing trees to gather the fruits of summer, attending town fiestas, swimming in hot and cold springs…all during summer.

Last but not least, I pray that my future kids will get to enjoy these moments, too. They are, by far, one of the best memories any parent can give their child. 🙂

“It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.” – Psalm 74:17

Praising God for summers,

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P.S.

If you plan to visit our province, check out some of these cool places. These are not sponsored posts, by the way. Happy summer, everyone! 🙂

I Love Bicol (Part 1): Masacrot Spring

I Love Bicol (Part 2): Siama Hotel

How Startup Companies Began

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I am back in the corporate world in my other job (I am juggling two) for a whole lot of different reasons and I appreciated the shift but I am still praying about this new season. I know I won’t be staying long in this setup, but I just felt that God brought me here for a certain reason. I cannot tell if I needed to learn more skills which I can only get through a corporate setting or something else. 🙂

The Diary of the Commuter and Employee

This means I’m also back to the daily grind beating the rush hour and the traffic and keeping up with the usual hustle and bustle of corporate employees. I usually commute via public transportation – the waiting time during traffic is bearable this way. 😉

I set aside 15 minutes of my workday walking because it syncs my mindset to the challenges I’ll encounter throughout the day. It is during these times, too, that I get to have a deeper contemplation and appreciation of things around me.

I adore structures but not as much as I love nature. And it is during one of my walks that I had a different perspective on skyscrapers. I never thought they can be beautiful, too, if you look at them from a different standpoint. For one, it reminded me about companies and startups and their value in our society.

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What is a startup company and how did it begin?

I’ve been working as a professional since 2008 although not consistently. I have been on and off the workforce because God brought me to different seasons and different places locally. I was able to try different working environments and industries and worked with different bosses and colleagues.

Some of my colleagues now are running their own start-up companies and most of them ventured into the digital marketing industry. Their number one reason for leaving the corporate world is that they got tired with the 8-5 work shift and the stressful environment considering all the demands and expectations they have to meet. And yet if you will ask them if being a boss is easy, they will tell you that it is doubly hard. The only difference is that they have the freedom to do what they love to do.

Startup companies usually come about because of someone’s passion.

The geniuses of our time and those before us all pursued what they loved. And doing what you love spurs creativity. Creativity very seldom happens in a boxed environment. The latter stifles the learning growth of an individual. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and other famous entrepreneurs and game-changers today were college dropouts. They never finished college because they pursued their passion outside the four corners of the academe.

Learning in the Academy

A university or any academe is somehow a boxed environment. Learning is limited to a certain degree. This is why I took a graduate study in Special Education because I’d like to explore what are the learner’s options and how can the academe address his or her specific needs. Everyone has a different learning style and there are schools now who are adopting the progressive approach to teaching where the learning of a student isn’t just limited inside the classroom. There are several studies that showed how a special branch of education which is student-centered and not teacher-centered can help tap the multiple intelligences of a child and be a well-rounded individual when they grow up.

How is this related to a startup? Let’s assume every workplace is also a learning environment. An employee learns skills that he will use to do the work he is being paid for. The nature of a specific job isn’t taught in school and only the companies can teach an employee the skills needed to accomplish what needs to be done and how it will be done.

Creativity in the Workplace

A startup company owner takes the risks to leave his corporate job and puts up his own company because he wants to pursue his passion, maximize his creativity, do what he loves, and earn money from it at the same time. It’s hitting multiple birds with one stone, so to speak. It is possible that creativity will never be present in a corporate setting as an employee given the tense and fast-paced environment. Creativity is hard to attain in those conditions because the mind can only come up with brilliant ideas when it is not subjected to extreme pressure.

I can relate to this based on my own experience as an artist and as a writer. When I write like this where I follow no very specific guidelines, ideas just flow. But when I need to meet certain criteria and writing standards, I oftentimes get a writer’s block and come up with a “chaotic” write-up because ideas were forced.

It is because of this that I appreciate editors who go the extra mile in knowing their writers personally so when they assign topics, they are more or less related to the writer’s personal interests and preferences. As they say, you can never write about what you do not know and you can’t write best if it is something you hate.

So, are these startups successful? Yes, there are those who are thriving, there are those who are getting by, but there were also those who never made it. And yet, if you ask them all, they have no regrets because they used their freedom to pursue what they love and given the opportunity to do it again, they won’t hesitate to take on the challenge. Not all corporate employees though have the option i.e. lack of resources, lack of appropriate skills, etc. to put up their own startup companies as their fallback.

The Corporate World

I have seen so much of what a corporate employee is like at work. When I see them, I would like to give them all a big hug for working so hard. Because I, too, went through the rigors of being one.

And if I am given the opportunity, I’d like to give them at the beginning of every workday some stick notes with words of encouragement and how much they are of value to the company and commend them for a job well done regardless of their performance. Because more or less they have contributed something for the benefit of the company.

This article from Harvard Business Review is a very good read when it comes to people management and I believe everyone (we are all going to be mentors sooner or later in whichever area it may be) will benefit from this:

“Mentoring Someone With Imposter Syndrome”

Employees are like engines. They are the heart of a machine. Without them, the machine won’t run. A business is nothing without its employees. I believe companies should owe it all to their dedicated employees and make sure their efforts never go unappreciated. Earning a huge profit is as important as managing people well and make sure they get what they deserve and not the other way around – exploited.

The Family Project Remains

My family and I are planning on a project. It is technically not a startup but a business expansion since our parents are into the agribusiness sector for decades already. However, what my siblings and I plan to pursue is a different type of agribusiness (organic farming), and if it is God’s will, we intend to expand to other enterprises (retreat house, vacation home, agri training center, etc.) that will allow more people to benefit from these ventures. Yes, it’s easier said than done always because the real deal involves a lot of planning, setting up, and financing.

I have been doing my research since last year about business developments and I found a lot of reliable resources on the net. If God wills it in the future, one of those skyscrapers might be our office. *wink* It might not happen today but it can be with our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Only God knows. 🙂

When my parents finally give us a go signal that they can no longer manage everything, we need to take over. Dad is 78 and Mom is 72 – they really need our help. Only God can tell the specific time when it will happen. But right now, as I’ve mentioned in my previous articles, this is a season of preparation. This is also the reason why I never see myself as a corporate employee for long.

One of the key research topics I have been trying to learn is about people management. Because I know we will be handling employees, too, since the new project is going to be on a bigger scale. My previous working experiences allowed me to view a company based on their company culture, the employer-and-employee relationship, employee retention, salary grades, and skills needed.

All of these led me to ask questions such as, how much does the company lose if there is a fast employee transition? Is the company willing to risk hiring someone with skills that are sub-par with the company’s standards because the high demand is already there? And a whole lot more of them questions that I never seem to run out of. 😀

Venture Capitalism and Micro-Capitalism

I also encountered in one of my tasks one term about startups that is new to me – venture capitalism. I did extra research if the Philippines has the same type of financing and based on what I’ve read, the country hasn’t tapped in this market type yet but more on microcapitalism. Both are important when it comes to helping out startup companies and small businesses in their financial needs.

I’d like to touch more on these topics but I’ll cut my article here for now because I only limit my blog post to 2,000 words max. 😀 I’ll discuss them in my future write-ups as I continue to give updates about the developments on the project this summer. I am praying the dredging equipment will be available this time and God will help me make the right decision when our parents say they need one of us to go home sooner or later to help out. But in everything, let His will be done. 🙂

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you.” – Psalm 37:5

Always working for God and for God only,

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P.S.

If you’ll ask me what I’ll be if I’m not a writer, I’d like to be a farm girl. *wink* It’s just that our parents never pushed us to take college courses on agribusiness because they want us to pursue what we’re passionate about and learn all other skills first. If we do feel the inclination, the interest, and the dedication later on to manage and develop the business, then that’s the time they will show us how it’s all done.

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December 2018 farm visit.

I would just like to appreciate our parents for this freedom and for respecting our individual capabilities and particular interests. In the same way that all five of us, siblings, were given the freedom to choose the church where we will grow spiritually in respect to all the different religions. Because faith, to them, is not about a religious organization but more about having fellowship with other believers. 🙂

Back to the project, if you also plan on putting up a business or you already have one and you want to turn them over to your kids one day or let them be involved in it, here’s a great article from Harvard Business Review:

“How Family Business Owners Should Bring The Next Generation Into The Company”

Practicing Humility: Start Early

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Practicing humility has never been a hard task or rule for us in the family, to begin with. Our parents taught us life through humble beginnings. They never brought up the value of money, titles, and possessions until we were old enough to understand the power it can yield, good or bad, depending on how and where we will use it.

Thus, my repentance and salvation when I became a born-again Christian back in 2013 weren’t much of a struggle. Though I am strong-willed by nature, I surrendered willingly and made a conscious effort to pursue God.

Why is humility very important?

We need it in every single day of our lives – at work, in school, at home, basically everywhere. What, you might ask, will happen if there is no humility?

The very obvious answer is this: pride. And with pride comes arrogance. With arrogance comes self-sufficiency. And self-sufficiency denies the truth that God exists.

So what if we believe there is no God?

Where there is no God, then everyone will try to reign as the greatest – all superlatives you can think of. Like the love of money, where there is power, there is all sort of sin – greed, envy, discontentment, murder, etc. Everyone is trying to outplay everyone. Everyone is clamoring to the top.

Now that becomes the problem. Where there is no Supreme Being that governs all, no human being will consider himself below another human being. It is man’s very instinct and nature to survive. That is, if the flesh is allowed to rule. But what separates us from other living creatures is this – the soul.

(Side topic: Do other living creatures have a soul? Next article topic, perhaps? 😉 )

Do you believe humans have a soul? Who created it? So what is a soul?

If your answer to the first question is a “yes” then I presume you have an answer to the next question and can thus define the meaning of a soul.

If you answered there is “someone” who created it, then you acknowledge there is a higher being who has the ability to do things that are beyond the control of man.

Now this is humility – the acceptance of the fact that we are not the strongest creatures in this planet. Nor the smartest in this universe because we haven’t even discovered the vastness of space beyond our solar system.

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Do you have questions such as:

– How vast is the space beyond our solar system?

– What is still out there?

– Are there more to be discovered out there?

Yes, I love Sci-fi movies. I love Science. I love how our imagination can spark brilliant ideas, questions, possibilities, and opportunities that are endless.

If you asked those questions, too, then perhaps you know by now that they will remain as questions. Because no one can give us the answers. It is these never-ending questions and my quest for answers that brought me to God.

I asked and He answered – the Scripture says it all. They may not be specific answers to my questions but I got a deeper understanding of life. A deeper appreciation which led me to ultimately knowing who is that Someone behind everything – the Source.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

Science, with all its complexities, can’t explain it all. But the Bible can. Again, not the specific answers we are looking for and yet they pacified us in other ways.

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9

The more you know God, the more that humility sinks in. The more you become immersed in going through His blueprint day by day, the more that your curiosity fades. Then the more that peace comes in, the more your restlessness slows down, and the more content you become.

We all need humility. It will keep us grounded and steady. It will bring peace and not chaos. It will earn you respect and not disdain. It will give you honor, maybe not in the sight of man, but in the sight of God.

Can you practice humility today? Start early – this generation and the coming generations need it. Be that change in your school, in your workplace, in your home, and in your community. ❤

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Copyright: Reyner G.

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Copyright: Mimi A.

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“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” – Ephesians 3:18

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,…” – Philippians 2:3

We need not look further – Christ’s humility is example enough. 🙂

In awe of God’s works always through humility,

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Farmers & Traders: What Really Goes On In The Rice Farming Industry

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How the agribusiness industry fared throughout the years can be attributed from the bargaining that takes place between the farmer and the trader even before the products leave the farm gate. My family and I have been in the agribusiness, palay production in particular, for decades already. But it was only just recently that I ran a thorough analysis of the business processes involved in farming from the particulars in expenses to the actual farm tasks done.

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I asked Dad to give us a rundown of all the marketing processes involved but he told us we’ll learn along the way. I guess this is his way of saying that we conduct due diligence as far as agribusiness is concerned. 😉

From the data I gathered on Dad’s documents, what caught my attention is the market price of palay listed in one of the receipts (16.50php/kg). I asked Dad who dictates the market price and how did it arrive at that figure. He only smiled and said, “The traders dictate the market price.” My follow-up question was, “Based on what?” He answered, “Based on the market trends.”

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So, this is just like stock trading on a certain level. But here, if you’re a trader, you have the market power to set the price you desire. Depending on how you conduct your dealings as a businessman, this can either be a good thing or a bad thing as far as fair agricultural trade is concerned. Are traders really fair in dictating the market price for a particular agri product in the region? Does it follow regional market rates or the national market rates?

I haven’t taken any business education courses but I really would love to and if God wills it, I plan to take up a short course on Market Research. For the meantime, I’ve been doing my homework on farmers and middlemen and how the theory of bargaining works in the farming industry. These are the questions I came up with:

  • Are farmers actually getting the profit they should earn from the entire production?
  • Can a digital economy change the agricultural landscape in the coming years and provide better marketing opportunities both for the farmers and traders?
  • Will agricultural innovations and agritech industries promote a brighter future for the farming sector i.e. lower transportation costs, high-yield production, etc.?
  • How can a government-mandated price ceiling affect the overall trading setup between the middlemen and farmers?
  • Can contract farming and direct selling be viable marketing alternatives?
  • How can we prevent the exercise of “monopsony” in marketing rice/palay?

If you’re in the agribusiness industry and are interested to venture in palay/rice production or any crop production, these articles can provide some insights on the current market setup of farming and agriculture in the country:

https://business.mb.com.ph/2017/10/30/pinol-wants-to-liberate-farmers-from-middlemen/

https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/174795/2/agec1999v020i002a001.pdf

https://businessmirror.com.ph/government-needs-to-increase-its-palay-support-price-but-by-how-much/

https://www.untvweb.com/news/dti-da-to-impose-price-ceiling-for-traders-middle-men/

https://psa.gov.ph/content/costs-and-returns-palay-production-0

I’ll be sharing more information as I go along with my market research/business analytics during my free time. Please bear with me if I’ll confuse you a bit with some of my questions since I am also on “tabula rasa” mode when it comes to business developments and the likes. 😀

But if you have any insights to share, please don’t hesitate to drop me a message. I’d love to hear your feedback/suggestion. Thanks in advance and for reading this article. ❤

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Is The Church Ready For A Bigger Harvest?

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This came to me as a vision last year when my siblings and I have decided to utilize a piece of property previously owned by our great-grandparents and grandparents. While I was writing down our targeted goals, it included the retreat house. Or that was what it seems to me at that time – unclear and yet the idea was there.

God’s Mission Remains The Same

Until the first Sunday of January when I attended the church service at our mother Protestant church. We have this church tradition to celebrate the first Sunday of the month as “everybody’s birthday.” This is a way for the congregation to consecrate to God the new year asking for guidance, wisdom, and provisions. This tradition is celebrated by going to the church pew kneelers in front of the pulpit and kneel or stand while the pastor says a prayer of benediction when your birth month is called.

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For this particular year, I had a hair-raising thought while our pastor was laying his hands to say his prayers and blessings upon us. I know this wasn’t just a passing thought because any thought during a pastor’s laying of hands accompanied by the raising of hair all over me literally isn’t just a regular calling by the Spirit.

This time the image was vivid – build a church like this one, a big one. Build it in the “land the Lord, Your God, is giving you.” If you have been reading some of my previous articles such as this and this, you may already have an idea which land I am referring to. This land was acquired by our great-grandpa during the pre-World War II and now being handed down from generations to generations.

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The passing thought was too vivid for me I couldn’t keep it to myself that I shared it with my sister who’s also with me on that Sunday. It was also a communion Sunday on that day so that afternoon, we went to my grandma’s place so she can still partake in the communion officiated by our pastor.

My grandma is already bedridden and her place is close to our farm – the farm where I got the vision to put up the church. So my sister, Dad, and I took the opportunity to check on the current developments at the farm – laying down of the boundary markers which we call as “mohon” to specify the delineations of the property. For the particular vision of the farm agribusiness-wise, I’ll share it in another article.

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After sharing my vision to my sister, she told me that we can donate a portion of the land to the church. I told her that I thought about building a bigger church since the farm is strategically located to cater most of the members of our church’s congregation who came from the barrios. Then the current location of the church now will serve as the building for the administrative functions of the church and also as a guest house for visiting pastors and seminarians.

A Promise from Generation to Generation

Our pastor now is also a descendant of one of the first ministers of the church – a great-grandson. I see him as having the gift to make more disciples being able to encourage the youth in our church to study at the seminary and raise future leaders of the church. One close family friend and also an elder of the church told my sister way back that the bloodline of our pastor now still continued in retaining the mission that God has for them – serving the church. She encouraged us that maybe we should also have one representative (a family member to become a pastor also) to represent the line of our great-grandpa who’s also one of the first ministers in the church a hundred years ago.

This year, our mother Protestant church will be celebrating its 110th founding anniversary. I told my sister and my brother that the mission of God for the descendants of our great-grandpa never changed though nobody in our generation pursued being a pastor. Well, if I am not a writer or a teacher, I’d love to be a Bible woman or a pastora. 😉 But here we are, still fulfilling God’s calling that has been started by our ancestors. That is, being gifted with an abundance of property which will be our contribution to the body of Christ and in expanding God’s Kingdom.

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I shared with my brother that this foresight/vision was already revealed by God to our forefathers, our great-grandpa and grandpa who were both active members of the church, through the acquisition of properties. And some may think of it as a means to become richer, but no, I actually see it as God’s way to prepare us in the fulfillment of a promise to His people in the coming days. Our great-grandpa and grandpa obeyed God, just like Moses, to fulfill their tasks with great faith even if they don’t know what were they intended for later on.

Now, in the generation of my siblings and I, the vision is clear. Although I still need to consult with my other two sisters since they are also my coheirs to the property (and God’s Kingdom), but I know they, too, will agree to my proposal since they are also devoted Christians. Ah yes, the benefits of having an entire family who is devoted to serving the Lord – truly a wonderful blessing.

As everything else dawned on me now, I told my brother, this is the reason why the enemy’s attacks are getting stronger in every coming season. Bishop Juray Mora shared the same thing during the last prayer meeting that I was able to attend for this year’s start-of-the-year prayer and fasting. This is in the other church where I attend services here in Manila. He said, “The bigger the vision, the bigger the enemy’s attacks. The bigger the task, the bigger the challenge.”

Why? Because God is preparing for a big harvest. Is the church ready?

And yet,

“You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21

So let Your will be done, Lord. ❤

Remaining true to the calling,

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P.S.

It isn’t also a coincidence that I invited my Norwegian brother-in-law and sister to attend worship night with me during their stay here last December. We got to pray for each other and I wasn’t prepared to see them shed tears while it was my turn praying for them. And then another vision came through me, Every Nation – Norway. 😉

My brother-in-law and sister can be used by God to expand His kingdom there. They can welcome missionaries to their home when the time is ripe for planting an Every Nation church there. And yes, 2019 is all about preparations for expanding the Kingdom of God.

On the side note, the New People’s Army is becoming more active in our place engaging in gunfights with our local policemen. Our home is near the police station and everyone else is just scared for their lives. And we also noticed that calamities such as floods are getting higher every year in our town. I thought, just like in Israel, these circumstances happen as God’s attempts to win His people back. Because it is in times of peril that the people will look for a Savior, a higher, all-knowing, powerful God, a Rock whom they can cling to.

Thus, when this happens, people will be flocking the church as they start to look for the Source of Hope. But then again, is the church ready when that happens? I believe God has already prepared and is preparing us for it. 🙂

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I am targeting to earn a Guinness World Records title as having the longest postscript. lol Please bear with me. 😀

The 3 Not-So-Ordinary Kids I Met

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Last night, I had the urge to eat out at one of the popular fast food chains in our place. When I arrived, all the seats downstairs were taken so I went up and was glad to see lots of available seats. I took a look around and chose the perfect spot for me to eat and stay for a while. It’s a seat which overlooks an intersection and where most of the traffic activity in the place converge. There’s also a glass window which gave me the opportunity to observe people behind me through the reflection.

I never really had an idea why I chose that spot but something in me told me about this word – story. Yes, the reason why I love observing people and activities is that I can get a lot of stories from them. As a writer, these scenes are an opportunity to come up with new and fresh ideas and concepts. They also propose a different take on a lot of things.

I believe God placed me in that seat to write this story.

Being seated at the end of the room, I can see from the reflection in the glass window if someone is approaching me. This night, there were 3 scenarios that came into play featuring 3-not-so-ordinary kids.

Scenario 1

The first kid who approached me was a street kid in rugged and dirty clothes carrying 5 pesos with him and drinking a soda from that fast-food chain which I believe was given by someone who also ate there or he could’ve bought it from the money he was able to gather from begging. The first thing he asked was if I can give him coins enough to buy him a meal for that night. I looked at him and though I normally don’t give out money to beggars, something in his appeal made me do so. I gave him a couple of coins but told him to buy it dinner. He then thanked me and went towards the next table.

Scenario 2

Another kid came by but this one’s different. He’s carrying a basket of packed marinated milkfish. The boy sounded like a young salesman with his bubbly sales pitch that almost sounded like an advertisement you hear on television. I thought it was entertaining and true enough, I wasn’t the only one who was entertained. He approached a couple eating at a table with his bubbly pitch and also joked around with the guy. He was able to hook his client – the guy took his offer to buy 3 pieces (1 set) for 120 pesos. Then the guy started asking him like who prepared the milkfish to which he answered that it’s his aunt. The guy actually tried to haggle saying he wants to buy 1 piece only. But the boy didn’t give in and smilingly told the guy that he only sells a 3-piece set and that he needs to be home soon because he will be going to school early the next day. He didn’t approach me although I was tempted to buy, too.

Scenario 3

Then, a few minutes later, another boy came in carrying a basket, too. But this time, the contents of his basket are polvoron. The boy approached me with a very sad introduction and offered his products almost to the point of begging. He already had around 60 pesos placed on top of the items. I looked at the boy and I declined his offer. He still wouldn’t budge until a high school student seated behind me called his attention saying he wanted to buy one.

God Calls For His Children

Most likely you will think of my actions as unfair. So why didn’t I buy from the last boy? I am unsure how the polvoron was prepared and I couldn’t cook it to make it safe to eat compared with the marinated milkfish. Although honestly, I feel sorry that I didn’t buy some because I really felt that I should. So I am praying to God I’d still have another opportunity to see this kid and I’ll buy what he has to offer.

Some will agree that it’s better to buy from kids than to give money to those who just beg. I also agree with this and that we need to empower them to strive instead of encouraging them to depend on other people for their needs by begging for money. I believe this will help solve the poverty mentality – that everyone has the opportunity to make a living as long as you have the discipline, perseverance, patience, and will power.

But this is not always the case. And this is why I gave coins to the first boy who begged me to give him some. Why? When I looked at the boy, the first thing I thought was, where are his parents? He looked as if no one’s taking care of him. So this means, he’s alone fending for himself trying to get by with whatever he has and what he can get from begging. But what I also thought is that he’s in need of a mentor, someone who can usher him towards the right opportunities to make a living like working in a car wash shop for example as a washer boy, etc.

Compared to the other two boys, they sure have parents or relatives who care for them because they have items to sell in the first place. They already have the means to make it out of poverty and there are people who are guiding them what to do and how to earn a living.

The Other Side of the Coin

Looking at all 3, it can give us the different facets of human life and the different kinds of people:

1.) Trying to live life with no support system – living by grace.

2.) Trying to earn a living with the help of relatives and enjoying it – a positive disposition.

3.) Trying to earn a living with the help of relatives but with a disgruntled heart – discontentment.

These are all hasty generalizations based on the different scenarios I have witnessed and I have no idea what really goes on in their lives or what they went through on that day. And yet each one of them carries a hope that all of us try to live out each day trying to make meaning out of what we do and why we do things.

I am praying for these kids and other kids like them. May God continue to guide them as they go about with life’s atrocities. All may come from different backgrounds and may be given different opportunities, and yet the gift of God is free for all and that is all that matters. I pray that is what they will experience and hold on to wherever fate would bring them as they get older. ❤

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.’ – Numbers 6:24‭-‬26

How God Fills Up Your Love Tank

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This article is a summary of the events that transpired a few weeks back. Thank God for the Grace to be able to write this down despite a hectic schedule but only for the last couple of weeks. Yes, everything is all about His Grace every day. 😉

Only God Can Refill Your Love Tank Again and Again

“Farm For Profit” Seminar

Last weekend, my brother and I attended Sir Dodong Cacanando’s “Farm For Profit” seminar held at Harbest’s building in Taytay, Rizal. It was a very insightful seminar which focused on traditional and conventional ways of farming to achieve greater sustainability in agriculture. What makes this seminar very different from other agribusiness seminars is how the business processes are guided by Biblical principles.

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Sir Dodong reinforced the traditional farming method, a concept that my grandpa also lived out. They both shared similar stories about butchering a pig during special occasions, for example, or harvesting of vegetables straight from the farm for daily consumption.

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Indeed, we can only agree that the natural way of farming will still remain as the best process towards sustainable agriculture – how to maintain balance in the ecosystem and at the same time benefit from the resources that are readily available.

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In my next article, I’d like to explore deeper on sustainable agriculture and local food movement – two advocacies that I’d like to promote through the proposed family project. I also had the privilege to attend a previous online finance seminar hosted by Bro. Bo Sanchez and he also shared the same guiding principles when it comes to being good stewards of God-given provisions. Here are some of my takeaways from the said seminar:

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Daisy Reyes Salon

Last week, I also had my self-care routine and pampering time which happens once a year. 😀 Yep, that’s how seldom I visit the salon. Quite extraordinary for a woman, you might say. But yes, it’s so definitely true. That’s why I make sure, too, that it’s all worth it.

Since we recently transferred homes, I only got to explore what the neighborhood can offer just now. I found one salon near our place and it’s owned by actress Daisy Reyes. I was able to check out her salon but I was still undecided so I kept on looking for other salons.

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It was my husband who urged me to try it and I also agreed. The day before I went to the salon, I checked out the flyer they gave me previously. Voila! I saw a very familiar Bible verse stamped at the back which was what I needed for the current situation I’m in. A sign and reminder, perhaps? 😀

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Very, very timely. ❤

When I got inside the place the following day, the music being played in the background was a line-up of Christian songs and the staff was singing along with it (including me). One very memorable experience too was when they offered to share their snacks with me during their break time. I kindly refused the offer, however, they insisted so I humbly accepted it accompanied by words of gratitude. ❤

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Food and water nourishment from the awesome staff: empty plate and water bottle after. 😉

New and Great Things Up Ahead

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Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer! ❤

New Spiritual Family

This last one was sort of a miracle for me and not a coincidence. For the last couple of weeks, I was going through extreme times of testing that I was sure at one point I’ll lose it all to the enemy. But, God intervened.

I felt the urge to attend Worship Night in a nearby church close to where we live. I have been trying to connect with a Bible study group for almost 2 months now but to no avail.

Until that Worship Night where I ended up seating beside a pretty lady (Hi, Reign!) who asked me out of the blue if I’m interested in volunteering for the music ministry as an acoustic guitarist. She went on by sharing that she normally doesn’t talk to strangers but something compelled her to do so at that time.

I was just overwhelmed when I heard her say it. Because I think she has a gift of prophecy asking me if I want to volunteer for the music ministry when I never even mentioned that I do sing and play an acoustic guitar at home. Goosebumps, anyone? 😀

I also mentioned that I was looking for a VG or Bible study group. She excitedly shared that she has a mentor who’s also married. She is also a soon-to-be bride, by the way.

So last Sunday they texted me to join their Bible study group but I could not attend unfortunately. I was all smiles, though, when I told them I’ll be joining this coming Sunday. Ah yes, God and His ways never ever fail to amaze me. 🙂

New Masterpieces

I also would like to honor in this article my brother’s father-in-law for being one of the most talented artisans I know. I understood now why we’ve all been gifted with special skills and talents that we incorporate in our professions to serve God and others as a unified body of Christ.

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A refurbished 20-year old cabinet.

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A new cabinet was installed to match an old black dresser and achieve a one whole set design.

This is the new set of additional furniture for my sister’s place and each one is a by-product of Papa Boyet’s ideas which we normally can’t imagine, thus, makes every masterpiece anw extra special work of art. I was able to witness how he crafted some of these projects and I can attest that it was indeed all done with a labor of love. 🙂

Love Tank: Replenished and Overflowing

With all these testimonies, we can surmise that they’re all God’s work which refilled my love tank in the process. I believe wecan admit that we arrive at that point where we are sucked dry by life’s never-ending demands. But God always finds a way to reassure us that His love is overflowing – He is our only source of it. How?

1. He will bring you to the right people at just the right time.

2. Those prayers you have silently prayed in between your tears, sadness, sorrow, and despair, God hears them all.

3. God brings healing through things that He knows will nourish you spiritually first and foremost.

4. He will let you see that your world doesn’t revolve on your problems alone, there is more out there in the world to explore.

5. He will remind you of His purpose why He called you (altar call) and gave you a task to fulfill.

6. He will show you that no one and nothing can separate you from His love come what may.

7. The complete trust you have given Him through the tough circumstances you’re in, He will return it in full and even more.

Sometimes sticking with our end of the deal when we got saved can be very heart-wrenching. Our still worldly selves will rely on our human efforts and human knowledge about how to endure the sacrifices we need to make. But then, with God-sent mentors, they will help us to once again walk the path that God called us to walk no matter how difficult that road is.

So that afterward, we can proclaim with conviction the following verses (they came right on time during my devotion):

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. – Psalms 9:1 NLT

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. – Psalms 100:4 NLT

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. – Psalms 32:8 NLT

P.S.

I am not sure if this photo will have any bearing at all in this article. 😀 But I just want to share it to say that these filters sometimes (I seldom take selfies) do come pretty handy when you’re looking stressed and all and you want to come up with a decent photo without all the hassle of making up your face.

But with all honesty, this photo has the following false details: eyelashes, pupils, poreless skin, and eyeglasses. And no, I am not a teenager just in case this photo deceived you. I’m already near the mid-30s bracket. 😀

Ciao! ❤

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