The musings of a wandergeselle about faith, literature, music, dancing, culture, food, travels, art, fashion, photography, life experiences, and everything in-between from journée to journée.
Before I begin this essay, please allow me to break my own rule of posting articles every Friday only – #everyFridayblogpost advocacy. I just need to get this off my head and I believe the thoughts are also worth sharing. 😉
This is my first time to view a wide-scale construction site a la bird’s eye view from where we’re staying now. When the construction was just starting a few months back and all we saw are lots of digging and excavating here and there, it wasn’t interesting at all. But now that they are starting to lay down the foundations, it fascinates me to see how they all work.
When my Dad (who’s a retired civil engineer) visited last summer, I’ve had this great opportunity to ask him a lot of questions I’ve been brewing being the inquisitive me. And of course, he was able to answer all of them because he’s an engineer. 😉
I got to know what that grinding equipment with a long metal rod (it’s just so hard to explain. lol) is called and the pillar-like structures are called pylons, then why the workers have color-coded shirts and a whole lot more of interesting facts for me.
I wish my Dad is still here to explain more interesting structures evolving from the construction because I still have a lot of questions. lol It really fascinates me to look at the progress, from a vacant land to a now almost finished foundation and the nearby newly constructed buildings are being painted. It’s like a beautiful project that is slowly coming to life.
Just imagine an idea or a concept created on a piece of paper and now becoming real. I really admire engineers especially when it comes to projects like this – turning something as small as a piece of paper into something as big as 3 hectares perhaps. Of course, with the help of a big team of architects, project managers, and all.
Going back to my questions, here they are:
– Do they ever make a mistake with their calculations? (Now I get it why engineering students should be very excellent in Math. Which, sadly, I can never do.) *sigh*
– How many engineers on-site (and off-site?) are required to pull off this project?
– How can you make cement harden inside a pit that’s filled with rainwater?
– How would you know how deep is how deep?
– Did engineers study every single construction material used (which I know are quite a lot) to test which will work in certain structures i.e. type of buildings, land type, etc.?
– Is there a team leader for every color-coded team or only one for the rest of the workers on site?
– How would you know the very exact spot where to start constructing the building? (I am guessing for this one it is through the land measurement which is in square meters. Which means you have to painstakingly measure every single corner of soil and dirt. Whew! Hard work, it is.)
These are just some of the questions I have for now based on what I am seeing from afar. For sure, if you’ll bring me inside the site, these questions will triple. 😀
I once told my husband while watching them how patient every one involved in these projects is. It is a delayed gratification thing and it all requires intense hard labor.
When I look at the construction workers, they seem like teeny weeny tiny ants doing easy peasy work and the construction equipment looks like matchbox cars. And yet I know what they do is no joke and when I see the construction equipment up close, they are sooooo huge. They are overwhelmingly scary to look at. But I am dreaming of operating one of them “Transformers trucks.” (Transformers is my fave movie of all time. Yep!)
And then I see female engineers going in and out and I’m like, “All hail to you alpha females. How to be you?” 😉
It made me contemplate about life. When you’re looking at things through a bird’s eye view, you get to see how every process works and each process is involved in the totality of one goal and completion of the project. And yet if you’re gonna be placed on site and up close to where everything is happening, everything may also seem overwhelming. You can be lost if you have no blueprint, your guide.
Also, you’ll never appreciate the beauty of the going ins and going outs of the process if you’re in the middle of it. It’s like asking why you’re doing the things that you’re doing. But when you see the bigger picture, ah yes, now you know why this structure needs to be here and why it has to look that way and why others are different from it.
Just like you, me, us, life, God…. 😉
Always contemplating about everything under the sun, the stars, and the moon,
P.S.
The construction noise albeit muffled because of the excellent soundproofing of the windows and doors made me do this article out of a deeper contemplation. lol 😀
I don’t like Math and yet it’s a weird situation I’m in that I’m making calculations now. Though I am happy and relieved every time my bro’s father-in-law brings in the finished output. He’s such a genius craftsman. He can translate your ideas very well and will add something more to make it even better, if not, the best of the best.
Blueprint
Finished output awesomely crafted by Papa Boyet.
I know how miscalculations can be such a disaster when building a solid project. That is why I take every effort to measure and design everything well otherwise my siblings will kill me if the finished output is bad. lol I’m tasked to oversee the creation and installation of the cabinets and fixtures for my sister’s new condominium since she and her husband are in Norway.
Btw, this is a skill I learned from my parents. If Mom is not a teacher, she’ll be an architect, a fashion designer, a singer and guitarist, and a whole lot more of super mom qualities. Yup, the first ever jack-of-all-trades person in the family. 😀 I always see her and Dad laying out blueprints like this on a table when they’re on to a project outside their professional careers. They both designed our ancestral home in the province with the help of an architect friend and for the recent developments, with my architect cousin.
My 3rd sister is the one who’s gifted with superior interior designing skills. Her ideas will just leave you wondering why they never, ever crossed your mind. 😀 I am just grateful to God though that the skills we’ve been gifted with are being used towards collective efforts to achieve one common goal where many will benefit from.
I guess I’ll cut this short because it’s supposed to be a postscript. haha Sorry, my bad. Storytelling for me is always, always a long trail of words. 😀 Btw, if you’re an engineer and you read this, would you mind answering the questions I posted above? Thanks! 😊
Disclaimer: This is about the history and it’s a long read but still worth reading. 😉
Oyango is read as /oh-YAh-ngo/. It is where my grandparents spent most of their lives. You only need to travel for 10 minutes from our place to get to the farm. This is the community where my grandparents have built a legacy with their children, with us, and with the neighbors.
The Legacy Behind Oyango Ridge
My grandpa was popularly known as a selfless giver. He shared most of what he could harvest from wild fruit-bearing trees with his friends and neighbors and sold some of the high-value crops. My parents do the same now with whatever we can harvest in our garden. I also intend to do the same.
How Did It Start?
This piece of land was owned by my great-grandfather, Julian Bertumen. He was my Mom’s granddad. It was passed on to my grandparents, then to our parents. We’ve known this place as a special farm back when we were kids.
I can still remember how our grandpa would recount stories during the Japanese occupation and why there were Japanese tunnels inside. I was around 6 years old at that time and I can only recall snippets of the entire experience.
Who is Beato Gerolao?
CIRCA 1980s in Oyango: (Front L-R): Mom, Grandma, our late Grandpa, Mom’s sister | (Back L-R): Mom’s youngest brother, our late Grandpa’s brother, Mom’s 3rd brother, and his late wife
My grandpa was a good storyteller. This is probably because he loved reading history books. I believe this is why as kids, we developed this attachment towards the place. It’s always a happy moment for us every time my Mom will say, “Okay, tomorrow we are going to the farm.”
To us, it speaks of so many great stories that we can only retell to the younger generations. And yet, I know, no one can share those stories like how our grandpa did. But one thing is for sure: that’s the legacy he passed on to us.
Our love for the farm was rekindled when our 94-year-old grandma reminded us about it during our Christmas vacation last December 2017. She told us that the property that our late grandpa acquired and utilized through his own efforts is all for us, the younger generations.
World War II
I admire my grandparents in so many ways. My grandma is a housewife, and my grandpa was a true-blue farmer. But they were able to send all 4 of their kids to school with the help of some relatives, and yet were also able to acquire other land possessions in other parts of the town during their time. They are now the properties that my parents, my aunts, uncles, and cousins are utilizing.
It was during the generation of my grandparents when World War II broke out. My grandparents didn’t have any formal education back then and they were a part of history where struggles were everywhere. I can imagine how harsh life must have been back then – all the post-war trauma and the economic, social, and political instability. But I believe those events forged something deeper in the early generations – resiliency.
Oyango Ridge History
The land is surrounded by mountain ridges. That’s why the Japanese chose it as their perfect hideout, thus, the tunnels. Some of these tunnels are short, and some were carved deep into the mountains, having entry and exit points at each side of the mountain. There were some that our grandpa said were used to hide an aircraft. There’s also one part of the farm where there’s a crater for another aircraft hideout. He assured us that there’s no need to worry if there might still be bombs dug deep in any part of the land. But honestly, we really can’t be too sure if it is free from land mines.
After World War II ended, scavengers scourged the land for scraps of metal to sell. Some were gold diggers (literally) who were looking for hidden treasures a la “Yamashita Treasure.” The Japanese were in a hurry to leave the country when they lost the war, so some were hoping they might have left anything valuable during the commotion.
Some asked permission to search our property. Since it’s already private property, my grandpa declined and warned them that they would be trespassing if they pushed through. Besides, my grandpa said it’s impossible they’ll find a treasure there because the land was basically used as a military artillery and as an air raid shelter.
It’s a wide but secluded place where they can perfectly and secretly hide any bulky military equipment, such as an aircraft, in case of an air surveillance or an air raid. Even before my great-grandpa bought the farm, and some gold diggers were successful enough to scour the place, they found no treasure.
The barracks of the Japanese are actually located miles away from the farm situated inside the grounds of my grade school alma mater. That is why our place is popularly called “Barracks”, if you plan to go there, and not by the street name itself.
There is one historic landmark inside the school grounds, which is also another air raid shelter or Japanese shelter made from stone and concrete. But nobody knows where it leads to since eroded soil blocked some parts of the tunnel already. Treasure hunters also tried their luck on this tunnel, but to no avail.
Also, to be able to dig on a piece of property, one must secure a treasure hunting permit from the National Museum of the Philippines. Otherwise, it will be considered an illegal activity. What bothered us really is the idea that there could still be land mines on the property since our grandpa said it’s used as a military artillery range.
You must be wondering why the Japanese chose our town during their brief occupation. If you’re going to look at the map, it is a strategic location for military operations. We are a coastal area so there are several options when it comes to escape routes – by land, by sea, and by air. Near the Oyango Ridge, there is now an auxiliary airport but I believe this was built after the war already. However, it never became operational.
Bulan Auxiliary Airport
Objectives: Mission and Vision
Why utilize the property? My siblings and I have already discussed the project’s mission and vision:
MISSION: “Greenery Towards Greater Sustainability”
VISION:
We are a privately-held company and a not-for-profit organization. Our goals include the promotion of sustainable agriculture through organic farming and supporting the local food movement. With this advocacy, we hope to provide more livelihood opportunities locally and increase agricultural appreciation.
As a social enterprise, we are targeting the inclusion of a training camp for the students and the young generation who will venture into the agribusiness industry. We are also looking into expanding our agribusiness projects to agritourism. This will enable us to promote local tourism by building a recreation and leisure community through the farm resort, vacation home, campsite, hospice, and retreat center for holistic wellness.
It is a not-for-profit organization because a majority of the profits will be used to fund the project’s operations. We are targeting the project to be self-sustaining. Self-sustaining means the initial invested capital will remain intact, and the ROI generated will be entirely used to fund the operations of the project. The higher the ROI, the more opportunities to expand the project’s objectives – the campsite, the retreat area, training facilities for young entrepreneurs/interns, etc.
So if we are to picture it in a graph, it can’t be a succession of extreme highs and lows similar to stock investments, which are volatile by nature. It cannot be a flat line, because a flat line means your business is dead. 😀
Instead, there has to be a steady increase in the ROI or, at the very least, consistently earn. The challenge now lies in how we can make this happen – insert marketing strategies. This is the point where I find it daunting and a bit overwhelming. But I have observed lately that when business start-ups are too focused on generating money asap and how much they will profit, it sometimes derails the company’s mission, objectives, and its values along the way. I believe it is best to leave the “money” part to God. Besides, He is the sole provider. I know He will supply according to our needs.
Creating a business model is far more complicated and way more intricate than we imagined, even after studying all the theories. How to keep the business running is where some businesses get stuck, and I am praying God will give us the grace and wisdom so it won’t happen to us. Because this is not for us, but helping others have better lives. And also, I would like God to be the center of it, a.k.a. our “chiefest” CEO. 😉
Sources of Livelihood
There are limited livelihood options in our town because it is a “sleepy” town. I call it that way because it has a small population, and the town’s revenues only come from small-scale businesses. There is only an influx in the population(revenues, too) during the holidays, i.e., Christmas vacation, Holy Week, town fiesta, etc., where relatives from abroad or from the city visit the town. During this season, businesses are flourishing. But when vacationers leave, the businesses go back to catering to the town’s small clientele.
This is the sad part: there is a lack of business opportunities, which also means a scarcity when it comes to livelihood options or jobs. Fishing and farming are the town’s primary sources of livelihood. However, due to climate change, there are now fewer and fewer catches every year, making it even harder for a regular fisherman to earn a living and feed his family. When it comes to palay production, it is also seasonal. Climate change also had drastic effects on the farming calendar.
In one of my freelance jobs, I encountered this documentary by Kara David entitled “Paraisong Salat.” Some families in our town experience the same struggles. My Mom had so many of these stories of former students back when she was a grade school teacher. They were the ones who were consistently absent in class because, at the tender age of 10 years old, they were already helping their dads fish at night. Some fell asleep during class hours because they hadn’t slept all night. Some weren’t responding well during class interactions because they hadn’t had breakfast yet – their dads came home without a catch.
More Opportunities, A Better Community
Imagine the expanse of the opportunities we can provide to these families. When we utilize the farm on a wider scale, we will need lots of farm workers and more people to help us manage the farm. We also plan to help small-time farmers by selling seedlings to them and educating them on how to grow selected crops properly and maximize their yield.
The farm will be running on a regular basis, which means they will have regular jobs, and they need not worry about getting a consistent income to feed and raise their families. Children won’t have to help their parents earn a living, but instead, focus on school. They will go to school well-fed, well-slept, and well-clothed. And that foundation I’ve been dreaming of putting up someday, I can see it happening here.
There is one bit of a challenge that I am looking into, though. When we utilize the property on a wider scale, we will need bigger farming equipment. This will trim down our production expenses. But it can also mean fewer farm workers because the farming equipment will do most of their tasks. And yet, looking at it again, it isn’t much of a big problem. We can always delegate other farm tasks to them since there’s a need to up the manpower to make the property fully operational.
To be honest, I have never regarded this piece of property as our own because I believe it belongs to God and will always belong to God. He only entrusted this land to us because it is attached to His plans that involve us. I believe, too, that this land will fulfill a greater purpose later on, where many will benefit.
It’s just like the Garden of Eden. It was never Adam and Eve’s in the first place. They were only placed there by God to cultivate it. The same goes for each and every one of us here. We are all tenants, even if the title of a property bears our name. For this organization, I have felt that this verse will speak its purpose:
“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” – Genesis 2:15
I can only pray that I’ll live long enough to witness that promise being fulfilled in this land. 😀
Before you get the impression that I had a bargaining moment with the Lord, it is not what you think it is. But do read ahead and find out. 😀
A Bargain, Not
Before anything else, let’s settle this thought – God can never be bargained. How He decides things to happen in our lives requires only a small percentage of our free will. That is, if we are more of His follower and would like to obey His will more than following our plans.
Action-Based But More on Faith
It’s been written in the Scriptures that “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:14-26). Yes, this is true but it can also be tricky depending on how we will receive it. If you are more of a solution-based or output-based planner (like me), the danger here is knowing when to stop doing what you’re doing and allowing God to take control.
Overdoing things by sheer free will can lead to self-sufficiency which, as we all know, is not what faith is all about. It is actually the opposite – God-dependency. Our pastors have stressed this idea well enough in their lectures and messages that depending on our own strength and capabilities can lead us further away from God. It might even lead us to totally forget God thinking where and what do we need Him for.
What the Deal is All About
Now, let’s go back to the deal. The deal I was referring to is more of an agreement – me agreeing to God’s terms and me laying down specific terms for His approval (discerning whether they are part of His instructions or not).
If you’ve been constantly reading through my blog posts for some time now, I did mention about shifting seasons again and again. They all started right when I became a Christian. Maybe next time I’ll make a sort of a timeline in table form to better showcase the highlights of each year. They will prove that a Christian’s journey starting from the day he was born again until today is never like a plateau but a series of valleys.
I cannot tell if this is God’s way of making sure my faith will never remain lukewarm (considered a sin, btw). But I can tell that these seasons requested my full dependency on Him. I’m just amazed when I look back from everything that happened and where I am now. They were mere surprises that I never even imagined.
I have never felt so fulfilled, so content, and so assured of doing things for God as I do now. I guess this is the by-product of constantly seeking God’s purpose in my life and obeying Him completely. And spiritually, I can attest that I have grown so much since 2013. 🙂
Here are more examples of personal experiences that will showcase how I made a deal with the Lord:
1. Be Ready to Make Sacrifices
This is all about God slowly removing anything that is worldly in you and around you. I sacrificed a lot of things that I know would’ve made me “great” in the eyes of the world satisfying its demands and standards. It was difficult to “not conform to the patterns of this world” (Romans 12:12) but believe me, once you have made your stand, saying “no” to ALL worldly desires and temptations is now waaaaay easier.
What sacrifices can God be calling you out to do? Is it worldly success? Is it worldly achievement? Is it acquiring great wealth? Are they material possessions? Is it addiction or idolatry? Are they extramarital affairs? Is it workaholism?
2. Be Guided in Your Endeavors
This will come in the form of a family project that is not-for-profit. When Pastor Patrick shared last Sunday about us not being able to see some of the promises of the Lord come to fruition, I felt as if the message just hit something straight in my heart. He went on by mentioning about the generations before Joseph (Abraham-Isaac-Jacob) and how God used each generation until Joseph to complete the promise (the promised land) which none of them ever witnessed in their lifetime.
So this family project is about utilizing a land that’s been passed on to us from our ancestors. It was acquired first by my great grandpa who was also one of the pioneers and first pastor of the Protestant church in our town. Next, it was inherited by my grandfather who exemplified nothing but a man who’s all fired up in faith. The land has now been handed to our parents, then, we are next in line.
In all 3 generations, only a teeny weeny tiny portion of the land was being utilized for productive use. But now, all 5 of us siblings have this desire in our hearts to utilize it on a wider scale. I know that this desire did not come out of our own selfish ambitions to earn great wealth. We don’t need it, but we’re not rich. Having God, alone, is enough to satisfy us.
Instead, it is something that our forefathers have passed on to us that ties us to this land. It may not be similar to the Bible’s promised land, but then again, only God knows how He intended to use it to fulfill His plans.
All we know is we need to work on this. BUT here’s the part where I can relate to Pastor’s preaching – we may not be able to see how God’s promise over this land come to fruition. It is only in our generation wherein we have decided to utilize it on full throttle. We don’t even know what will happen to it after my siblings and I die or will our (future) kids or nieces and nephews and grandkids will have the same desire as we and our forefathers have.
BUT then again, as Pastor Patrick continued, all the generations before Joseph including himself claimed God’s promise BY FAITH even if they don’t know what is that promise and what will exactly happen. Yes, on behalf of my siblings, I am claiming BY FAITH that God did not place this desire in our hearts to work on this project out of nothing. We believe it will serve God’s purpose in the end whether it’s next year, after a decade, or after a century – only God knows when.
3. Be Specific with Career Choices
Now, this brings us to my career choices. This is the part where I became specific with my prayers to the Lord. Why? Let’s admit it. When you are planning projects, it will require time. Also, a career for me is not just about earning money. But more importantly, it’s about using my abilities, skills, and talents to serve and help others. Thus, I became specific with the Lord in my prayer over career opportunities. It went on like this:
“Lord, I want to have a career that will support me and my husband’s basic needs. And yet, with this desire to do all these things in my heart, I can only pray that I will be able to fulfill them all through Your guidance and Your grace. I am seeking for Your will in all the tasks I am set out to do, discernment on how I should do all of them, until when I should do them, or if these tasks are part of Your will.
I pray for opportunities that will help me accomplish all of the following:
maximize my gift in writing (either as a career or as a ministry)
use my license as an English teacher (I still love to help students in whatever way it may be)
how to plan the project so it will materialize
show me ways how can this project help others
my priorities will not be compromised (hubby time, family time, quiet time, etc.)”
4. Be Constant in Realigning Priorities
Speaking of priorities, I made a conscious effort to keep the top 3 in my list of priorities as constant – God, spouse, and family. They cannot be interchanged no matter what. All three should be in that order in everything. Why God should be on top? Let’s just say God is our CEO. He decides on everything and He instructs what should be done. Without a CEO in the company, the company won’t run. Or it may run, but it will be in complete chaos. Accomplishing tasks will be impossible in this state. In fact, we won’t accomplish anything at all.
5. Be Available 24/7 in Connecting with God
Connecting with God, therefore, is IMPORTANT – this is how we deal with Him and find out if our terms are aligned with His. How would we know what God requires of us if we’re so busy and don’t have the time to listen to what He says? Connecting with Him every single moment of our every day lives is the key. Always be in tune with the Spirit as we do day-to-day activities. Watch out for the signs but always carry a discerning heart. As much as we would like to take the enemy out of the picture, he’s always lurking around in the form of temptations and weaknesses.
Getting into a deal with God is never about the word “me” but the word “Him.” We don’t get to choose what’s in it for us but more about what God can get out of it. But do not be dismayed, God is a loving God. He will not put us through a task or a mission, how difficult or easy it may be, without preparing us. May we rest ourselves in His assurance that:
“…in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
And also this,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
Are you also in the habit of making a deal with the Lord always? If you are, I’d love to hear how it turned out.
Always in agreement with the Lord,
P.S. (I’d rather call this a “Praise Script”) 😀
I now am convinced that the tasks that God had set in my heart came from Him and Him alone. He answered almost all of my prayers! 😀
So, here I am writing this, submitted an article for Daily PS (community of Christian writers), helped junior and senior high school students with their school work, did my workout (God requires we have not just a healthy soul but a healthy body, too), cooked a sumptuous dinner for hubby, did other chores, watched a movie together, then researched more for the project. As for the project, all the pertinent info needed is ready. We are only waiting for God’s perfect time when to execute them.
Ah, yes. God is the only One who can give me the GRACE to do all of these, fueled by my life verse, and of course, strict adherence to the schedule a.k.a. DISCIPLINE (holistically). 😉
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
When it comes to writing tips, you’ll encounter a lot of them on the web. The more results you can gather online through your research, the better. They will help you become more rounded as a writer. Here are some writing hacks I’d like to share with you which you can add to your roster.
7 Writing Tips: Why Writing Often is Better
1. Writing often builds your vocabulary.
Have you ever had that moment when you were trying to grasp that particular word and you can tell that it’s already at the tip of your tongue? But unfortunately, it just seems to be stuck in there. Ugh. I know that feeling. I oftentimes have that moment and it’s not comforting in any way most especially when you have the best ideas but you can’t put them into words. Tragic, isn’t it?
I have discovered that the remedy to that is to write and write and write so you’ll build your vocabulary. Maximize the use of your Merriam Webster dictionary, Google search, your synonyms, antonyms, anything that can be building blocks for your vocabulary. In no time, you’ll find it easier to share your thoughts because words just come as fluid as they can be.
2. Writing often will help you build a decent portfolio.
This is one of the writing tips I have gathered from my own experience. Did you know that employers also take a look at your blogs when you apply to them as a writer? Your blog articles don’t just come handy when it comes to writing careers, you can also use it to jumpstart your web or graphic designing career. Or why not have both?
The more skilled you are, the higher the chances an employer will hire you. In some cases, your employer might request you create a new sample of your writing but having your blog around can be a good backup.
3. Writing often helps you research more.
When you write, you need ideas. Though writers are very much capable of coming up with their own creative and brilliant ideas, those ideas can be ignited by another idea you read or saw somewhere on the internet. I believe this is what the world wide web and social networking are all about. You learn from what other people post out there.
But take this as a word of caution: not all of what’s on the internet can be classified as true, factual, and reliable. Conducting due diligence accompanied with discernment will help you come up with reliable information.
4. Writing often makes you explore different writing styles.
If you are a budding writer, this will be a common scenario for you. You’re still in the period of testing the waters so to speak. But always remember that another writer’s writing style might not be the same as your own. The best way to find out which style fits you is through your interests and your personality. I’ll delve deeper into this in my future articles.
Ever since I was a kid, I have always loved persuasive writing. It just comes naturally for me and I am more at home with this kind of write-up. But you can always try other writing styles and incorporate them into what you already knew. This is how you learn. And learning is always essential to your growth as a writer.
5. Writing often exercises your critical thinking skills.
Writing requires deep analytics. It is not just about putting words into “paper” but more about how beautifully can you craft a story that after reading your text, a reader ends up refreshed and informed.
In writing, there is a sequence that you need to follow from choosing your topic, writing it, composing the entire piece, to ending the story (with a bang if you can). What separates a good write up from not-so-good ones is delivery. After writing your article, ask yourself with this question: does your article have a solid thought from beginning to end?
6. Writing often means better connectivity with fellow writers.
With all the writing platforms available freely nowadays such as WordPress, connecting with a community of writers isn’t impossible. In fact, it is the best platform to connect with other writers. The good part about this is that you get to learn from what others are posting online, too. You can collaborate with them also, share ideas, or relate with one another.
The past generations predicted that writers will no longer have jobs come year 2000s. Technology made this prediction false, unfortunately. With the rise of everything becoming digital come endless possibilities for the writing industry, too.
7. Writing often helps you advance in your craft.
This last part is more like “practice makes perfect.” The more you enhance what you’re good at and passionate about, you’ll see that the results are getting better, too. Your writing will never be perfect the first time around. It will have a lot of flaws. You’ll need to edit and re-edit your work a hundred times until it’s polished free of errors.
If you want to improve your work, it is a rule of thumb to always compare your previous write-ups with the current ones you wrote. Then from your review, analyze which area you need to improve on. Is it grammar? Is it creativity? Is it delivery?
I can come up with a long list of writing tips but I’ll just share the salient points for now. I hope you picked a nugget or nuggets of wisdom from this piece. But if you have more ideas to share or you need to ask for clarifications, you’re most welcome to do so. Just always remember that if you feel it in your heart that writing is what you’re passionate about, follow your heart. Then, use your mind to come up with masterpieces. 😉
With all these writing tips I’ve shared, are you now ready to advance your way up as a writer? If you’re still hesitant to use your gift in writing, then this bible verse might help boost your confidence:
“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3
I was invited to be a guest speaker for this year’s graduation in my grade school alma mater. Our batch is the host and as a former valedictorian of the school, I felt inclined to say “yes.” Unfortunately, this is also the time when we are scheduled to move out and move in to 3 houses. No kidding. 🙂
My other reason for being hesitant to accept even if it’s considered as a privilege and an honor, I need to reveal all my accomplishments. Nope, don’t get me wrong. It is not that I haven’t accomplished anything. If I can list them all down, I have a long list. But then again, as a born-again Christian, I have learned to never give light on your achievements if they will never shed light on God.
Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:31
I am not sure my alma mater will like it if my speech will be more of a faith-based testimonial pointing everything to God. 😀 Ah yes, I have learned to say “no” to a lot of things at this point including a promotion which are the standards of this world. But I also believe there will come a time wherein God will say “yes” and instruct me where I go, what to choose, and what to do.
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
– 1 John 2:15-16
Yes, God also appointed leaders through promotions and yet those leaders He appointed all have greater tasks assigned to them all for God’s glory and not ours. It is all between you and God and all about things happening in His perfect time if you’re tasked to lead. Just keep in your heart that it’s God as the motivation always and nothing else.
Another reason is that my parents requested that all 5 of us, siblings, keep a low profile. In fact, I am the only one in the family who is very active on social media. 😀 So I am sure my Mom will kill me now if she reads everything here. lol Love you, Mom. 😀
Anyway, when it comes to waiting, sometimes it can be grueling. I guess patience and endurance are indeed among the characters God would like us to develop aside from having this attitude to serve. While you wait, you serve God. But for the record, my husband and I can attest to this when it comes to God’s provisions: “God is always on time. Never late but always on time.” Delays are a part of this though and knowing when to act on something.
Right now I am waiting for His instructions because decision-wise, I have so many on my plate right now. Deciding is easier if I am in complete control of everything. Unfortunately, there is God whom we need to consult first and foremost. 🙂
One thing that I am constantly asking God is His wisdom and discernment whether my husband and I will stay in my hometown for good. I can see a lot of reasons now including taking care of my parents (ages 78 and 72) and my 94-year-old grandma. Another reason associated with their old age is that they need a helping hand in managing the farm. Dad manages all the farm work while my 3rd sister helps around at home together with my Mom.
My 4 other siblings, meanwhile, are all here in Manila. My eldest sister is the directress of a SpEd school, her husband is an international law professor in UP Diliman, and they have 2 kids. My second sister is in Norway working as a head nurse in a nursing home and her husband is also working as a head nurse of another department in the same facility. My brother is currently serving in the military as a pilot in the Philippine Naval Air Group and gets deployed every now and then to different places and the same goes with his wife who is a flight attendant team leader in Cebu Pacific. My husband also has supervisory roles at work which leaves the spotlight on me.
My siblings will also kill me, btw, for mentioning all that stuff about them. lol Love you all too, siblings. 😀 But I just need to share it for the sake of making my message go through and never about bragging their credentials. My work’s nature as a brand journalist is remote work meaning I can work anywhere. Though it entails heavy writing, extensive research, and editing tasks as well, I get to arrange my schedule depending on the priorities of my tasks. This is the very reason why I pursued a writing career.
My siblings here have greater responsibilities at work and with their families. But if I am the one who will go home for good, I have to make sure my husband can go with me. When I consulted with my husband, he is all good with it and said that wherever I am, there he will be. 😀 Ah yes, one of the things I thank God for is having a husband who just supports you all the way in everything you do. 😉
But we need to think of an alternative when it comes to hubby’s employment there. In the province, the opportunities are limited. But I know if this is part of God’s will and plans for me and hubby dear and for the rest of the family, I believe He will provide and equip us with everything we need lacking nothing along the way.
But for now, it is all just a matter of waiting and waiting what He wants us to do next while serving Him in other ways. And so we wait. Let the waiting game begins. 😉
In this season of waiting, here are my guiding verses:
Ecclesiastes 13: “A Time for Everything”
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work?
I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.
What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.”
– Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15
Always waiting on God,
P.S.
When I texted Dad a few days back, he told me this and nostalgia hit me:
And when my 3rd sister sent us these photos of them harvesting mangoes, so much of my childhood memories came flooding in:
Ah, yes. If it is God’s will too, I’d like my future kids to experience the same thing I did back when I was a kid. But for now, I guess I’ll just wait what God’s plans are. 😉
This article is in response to the latest news regarding a student from a certain university (I’ll be discreet with the names as a respect to the student and the school) who bashed her professor online after receiving negative remarks on her research paper. Though it earned multiple varying responses, I believe there is a purpose why it needed to happen.
Some pointed it out as the professor’s fault. They say it’s a sort of projection wherein you place your insecurities on others and make them take the blame. As critics, there is this danger of falling into the same trap that you, yourself, tried so hard to avoid. You also have to meet the standards you try to implement so you’ll be credible enough to criticize others based on those standards. If you correct someone because of faulty grammar, for example, make sure you’re also grammatically correct all the time.
As this bible verse goes,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” – Matthew 7:1
This is difficult to follow especially if you’re in a situation where it is part of your job to criticize other people’s work just like a teacher. I believe any position in any profession requires that you give a critical feedback.
I guess this is the part where I will be giving my advice to students in any academe that every teacher’s feedback is not for the purpose of shaming or belittling you but to teach and prepare you to what you will encounter when you graduate from the academe and start living in the real world.
You’ll face a lot of those criticisms every single day of your life when you go out there.
Image Copyright: Huffington Post
Here’s one way to deal with criticism in light of outputs and deliverables. Put yourself in your critic’s shoes first, understand where the person is coming from, and don’t take the comments personally.
Instead, review your work and ask yourself these questions:
1. What did I do wrong?
2. How can I do what my professor/boss asked me to do?
3. How can I improve my output so it’ll meet the standards of the teacher/school or boss/company?
Always think of criticism as a way to make yourself better, not just academically or professionally, but holistically.
For the latter, this is the question to ask yourself: how did I respond in those moments?
This is where I will come in as a Christian and why I wrote this article: Sentimental: Who Am I? back in 2016.
Think of it this way. Let’s say we have this rat experiment and we’re going to study how it behaves given a stimulus. The stimulus is a piece of cheese. If we put poison on the cheese, most likely the rat can’t discern it. Instead of avoiding it, he will react otherwise. He’ll eat it because vermins lack what humans have – the ability to rationally think and discern. So if the rat eats the poisoned cheese, most likely he’ll die – because he lacks discernment. This is the consequence.
If we are to apply it to humans and let’s assume criticism is the stimulus, how do you think a human should react? When you react to criticism negatively, it’s literally poison to your body. How? Being angry, distraught, depressed and all release so much cortisol (stress hormone) in your body which can actually kill you in the long run. The only way to avoid that poison is to use discernment. How? By discerning how you will react to the stimulus – criticism. You cannot avoid criticism, that’s a given. But you can avoid feeling negatively when you receive them.
Well, you might say, “Tin, that is so hard and impossible to do.” Yes, it takes a lot of discipline to change your perspective on criticism but you have to do it. How can you start?
First, you have to be very receptive and always carry that teachable heart. I used to have this very stubborn and adamant attitude which can be traced back to my having an ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) and God changed that in a pretty painful way wherein I still suffer the consequences of it now. But it’s also one critical moment that made me to who I am now. I’ll share more of this in my next article.
In my work now, I receive a lot of critical feedback having 4 to 5 people who edit my output to the point that I even got to hear our CEO’s feedback (jitters! lol). How did I receive it? I consider it a privilege to receive a feedback from our CEO regardless if her feedback re my work is all negative or on red marks or she’d reject my entire output altogether as junk.
I may not know her personally, but I look up to her (I admire girl bosses) because I know she won’t be a CEO if she isn’t qualified and if she doesn’t have all the experience in the industry. God placed her there for a good reason and I actually would love to know what she has to say and what I can learn from her regardless of her background, age, etc.
Next, when receiving criticism or any kind of feedback, have an open mind. Don’t let your emotions intervene right away. If you’re in the middle of work when you got that feedback and you know what you’re going to read isn’t good, take a break first. Get a breather for like a minute or two, get water or coffee, go to the comfort room, wash your hands, do something else to clear your head, then come back and read the feedback.
If you’re going to read it and you know you’re not emotionally prepared i.e. you’re tense, you’re in a hurry, you’re in the middle of a task, most likely you will respond negatively. Why? Because you’re not in the right state to process your emotions while reading. When you don’t process your emotions right, always, you’ll mishandle the situation.
For the students, before letting any negative thought about your teacher and the feedback fill your mind, re-read your work and the feedback multiple times. Don’t react right away like how can she say this, how can she do this to me, this is too harsh for me, etc.
Honestly, when the same incident happened to me back in college along with all the red ballpen marks on my research paper, I felt like my whole life was shattered. I felt miserable. I vented it all out to my Mom and she comforted me by giving me other options to choose from. I wasn’t a Christian yet back then but I believe I was silently praying for God’s help from a distant heart. 😀
But no, those criticisms are not the end of your dreams or your life. It will break you but you have to be firm. You need it for more of those disappointments and failures you’ll encounter later on in life. Resiliency is the key. Nobody is perfect and everyone goes through that. You’re not the only one and you’re not among the selected few who gets to experience it. Nobody is exempted.
Take it as a CHALLENGE. Prove to your critics you can be better, you can improve, and you can meet those standards. But even after trying you still failed, then look for other options just like what we did back in college. Maybe God doesn’t want you to be there and He has other better plans for you. Now, in this case, it is all between you and God already. You need to ask Him what He wants you to do.
In my case, my previous research adviser came from a different department and they have a different approach when writing their dissertations. The way we did it obviously did not meet not just her standards, but the criteria set by the department as a whole.
We presented our dilemma with our department chair at that time because there’s no way we can pass the course since it’s not from our concentration. It’s as if we’re trying to learn everything from scratch. It’s a good thing she gave us an option which was our window of opportunity and yes, our hope to graduate and have that bachelor’s degree. That option though required we have to wait another year before we can work on our thesis because the thesis adviser from our concentration is on sabbatical leave.
In our university, you can only extend 2 years (undergraduate programs) to finish all your academic requirements. We already used up 2nd sem of our 4th year for that thesis course and got a conditional grade which means we have to retake the subject. Waiting for a year means letting two semesters pass by (5th year, 1st semester and 5th year, 2nd semester).
Again, we were only given 2 years as an extension under the MRR (maximum residency rule). This left me with one very critical situation, the last year (6th year) is my make or break moment. I only have a year to complete my thesis otherwise the college/university has no other choice but to kick us out, be college dropouts or transfer schools.
That very last sem was a very trying but life-changing moment. An office staff from the college secretary’s office sat down with me, discussed my predicament, and laid out the college’s terms and if I am in agreement with it.
I can only thank God for giving me the right adviser this time, the right resources for my research topic, and the courage to fight it all out no matter how difficult it is. It’s like you dread every day that passes by because it means your lifeline in the university is also decreasing and your chances of being kicked out are getting higher.
God loves you and He is always with you.
Yes, I have proven this from that crucial moment of my life as an undergraduate student because all the rest of us who were in that difficult ordeal made it through and got our diplomas. ❤
If I did have hangups over this before, I no longer have them now. I already let this all out when I had my water and Holy Spirit baptism back in 2013 when I got saved and became a born-again Christian. It’s enough to change my perspective on everything in my past, let go of the guilt, and forgive everyone including myself. I know you can do it too. 🙂
If you’re going through a similar situation like what I went through, I hope these verses will encourage you and help you understand how it is to obey God and trust Him with humility in everything:
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.” – Romans 13:1
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
If you’re also a critic, then these verses might also help you deal with a situation like this:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.” – Ephesians 4:15
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” – Ephesians 4:29
Always remember that we can never change or prevent the awful circumstances that will come along nor choose the persons we will meet. But we were given the freedom to choose how we will respond in those circumstances.
Did you go through the same ordeal? How did you manage all the criticisms you received? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories how you overcame them.
With much love and always fighting for faith,
P.S.
Here’s a screenshot of our CEO’s response just in case you’re wondering how it went:
I can only thank God for the grace in helping me come up with an output that more or less meets my boss’ standards. I am actually doing it for God because this is my key verse when doing something as an act of service:
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 7:12
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40
But whether I get a negative or a positive feedback, I’d still be grateful. Why? I already went through the same ordeal back in college and I came out alive. All future circumstances similar to that one will no longer break me, I know how to deal with it better this time. Yes, I owe it all to that college experience for giving me this resilient and humble attitude. And of course, faith. Also, we all need a rebuke every now and then. The bible has this to say when it comes to that,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.”
Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?… – Hebrews 12:5-7
This is an excerpt from my previous article but I added this part a bit later after the article was published. I thought it would be best if I share it separately in another blog post. 🙂
“I cannot do all those if I lack in finances. Volunteering, for me, can only do so much. I want to help in a way that I can see these people slowly reach their dreams and see them aim towards better opportunities in life.
The recent killings of juvenile delinquents here in the Philippines are very alarming. Not only that. These juveniles are rising by the number and are becoming more aggressive. If only the spiritual family can reach out to them before another young life becomes a collateral damage again, the better opportunities for these kids to have another chance in life. Poverty is not reason enough why these kids should resort to crime, robbery, and drugs and vice versa.
Poverty has an end. Education can be a tool for that – financial education, family planning education, livelihood education, and regular schooling. Faith makes it all happen.
If money is the problem, there are foundations willing to provide scholarships to students as long as students meet a certain criteria and fulfill a set of obligations. Just to mention a few, we have in church the Real Life Foundation. World Vision and Operation Blessing also provide that. These kids don’t actually need a one-time outreach event. What they need is serious mentoring making sure they’ve been given the right opportunities toward a better life through empowerment.
I am never a fan of spoon-feeding when it comes to succeeding in life in general. Just the way my parents have taught me, it is all about personal effort which contains persistence, patience, and resilience. And yet faith has taught me too that it is only God who provides EVERYTHING we need and that we should trust in Him alone.”
These kids need faith. They don’t need money per se but who they really need is God in their lives. I know more opportunities will arise in the following years – game changers, radicals, advocates, catalysts of social change, the academe, and businesses will unite toward one common goal with God at the center.
I am believing there is nothing impossible with God. That’s why I am claiming it as early as now and doing the best I can in my own little way to fulfill God’s will not just for my life but for the rest of the world.
Because this is what it really means to be the salt and light in the world and that is our mission here in this world as sons and daughters of God – preach the Gospel and share the love of God.
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” – James 2:17
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33
And so I’m back. ☺ Hi there beloved reader of this post!
As promised, my next article will be about my “remote working feels.” God gave me the grace to have just a few hours to squeeze this in.
To those who will be reading this for the first time, this is a “sequel article” to my previous articles about remote working, freelancing, telecommuting, and the likes. It was a total career shift for me from the field of education to my first love which is writing. If you will ask me why the shift from being a teacher to a writer, let’s just say classroom management is my waterloo. But I do love teaching. Yet, I love writing more. It was actually one of my prayers to God to give me a career opportunity where I can pursue both my passion for teaching and writing.
The answer?GOD MADE IT POSSIBLE. (Yay!)
How did it happen? I’ll explain later. 😀
This will be my first-hand experience on remote working and if you are already a remote worker like me, maybe you can relate. But if you’re still considering the option to work remotely, this might give you a heads up.
When I wake up, I do my devo first, do household chores, take a bath, then have my breakfast. I sometimes start working on my articles while eating breakfast. Or sometimes, I don’t eat breakfast and start working right away.
2. Weigh your tasks.
This will mean prioritizing what you are going to do for the day. If I need to do errands on that day, for example, I have to assess if that errand will consume more time. If yes, I would need to finish my pending articles first. But if the errand has a time deadline too i.e. banks, bills payments, etc., then I would prepare everything I needed for the article the night before so I wouldn’t have to cram in finishing it the next day.
3. Create a deadline for yourself.
This is, by far, the most difficult. Because if there’s one challenge that any remote worker faces every day, it would be this – procrastination. So yes, beat yourself to that deadline and practice discipline at all times. Even if that bed looks so comfy and the weather is all gloomy and pretty much a bed weather, never forsake work over comfort. 😉
4. Check your productivity.
This will make it possible for you to keep track of your work’s progress. Always make sure you’re getting towards your goals and not falling behind.
5. Always look for online crash courses which could help you advance your skills in your area of expertise.
Ah yes, this, I totally love. And I just discovered this with LinkedIn. Yup! They offer a “free” trial period of their online courses and I haven’t used mine yet. 😀 Let’s just say I am still waiting for that right online course.
6. Continue to challenge yourself to do not just the given tasks but be proactive in what else can you do to help in the betterment of your team’s performance.
Let’s admit it. Your team leader and the rest of your teammates are balancing priorities left and right too. So, it’s not just about getting things done but making sure you are also contributing to your team’s progress.
#1 and #2 are interchangeable depending upon your current needs. For example, in my case, I am currently juggling two jobs as a remote worker. Yes, the answer to my prayers. ☺
But before I get on with the how, the when, and the what, I just want to mention that before I finally got what I prayed for, it required me to seek first and foremost God’s wisdom over my plans. Honestly, I went through several job rejections too. I had a hard time balancing my priorities. I also had to give up my master’s degree. And a whole lot more of struggles left and right.
There were also things which I insisted I will do and I so wanted to have for as long as I put my 100% effort and will-power and yet, God closed those doors a thousand times too. So I finally got it that that door is not the one that God intended for me no matter how much effort and sacrifices I make just to have it. This verse reminded me of that:
“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6
So I came to those moments of placidity – a moment of idleness. Those moments where I had my “serious” heart-to-heart talk with my Father.
“What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?”
Answers did not come as fast as I’d expected. The enemy played a part in it too by deceiving and tempting me with other opportunities. Sometimes the temptation comes in the form of my own motives.
But it’s a good thing the Scripture is around and the Spirit is greater than he who is in this world. So, God won, of course. 😉
I waited patiently. Always keep in mind that when you seek God’s will in your life, it requires patience. Why patience? Because patience is required for you to have faith. And faith is believing in the things that you do not see. If you aren’t “seeing” any outcome and you don’t have patience, your prayers, sad to say, are useless. Because most likely, you’ll easily give up and move on to your next prayer request.
As they say, believe in the power of your prayers, seek for God’s wisdom and His will over your plans, and lastly, be patient. This, I guess, is the formula in making sure in everything you do, you are assured that you are honoring God with everything.
So let’s now proceed to the job opportunities and I will lay them down one by one according to how each one has played a role in my decision-making.
First, I have a high tolerance for traffic congestion, long lines in the jeepney and taxi stands or walking far just to get to work and to get home. For me, they all require will power. As they say, “if there’s a will, then, there’s a way.” Unfortunately, my body can’t keep up. 😦
The first time I tried going back to the corporate world, my first week at work welcomed me with a cough and flu which went on for about several weeks and I had to take antibiotics for a week because it became severe and it just won’t go away. Another thing, I am a possible candidate for breast cancer. Yup, you can read more about that here in this link: https://thejourneymansmoments.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/the-borrowed-life/.
Last Friday, my husband and I went to this mall in Makati’s business district to buy birthday gifts. When we were about to go home, heavy rains poured, and as expected, the traffic jam was a killer. It was also around rush hour so our usual 15-minute travel coming home was extended to an hour and a half. Pretty saddening, right? Oh, and so exhausting too. While inside the jeepney, I was staring at all the corporate employees and all their haggard, tired, and sullen faces and I was praying silently to God for more options to us working and commuting people.
Better options.
I cannot speak for all as we all have our own reasons why we work, why we chose that kind of work as well as our goals and dreams. We’re all different but for me, my decision to be a writer and work remotely certainly falls for only one reason: health.
I am not really the pro-promotion kind of employee as I am aware that promotions are most often equated to heavier responsibilities which require more of your time and more of your effort. It requires you make your career as your #1 priority. However, there are those who were really called to be in higher positions at work. But personally, I do not see myself as one of them. It is not even my main reason why I pursued a master’s degree.
My goal as to why I work is to earn money to provide for our needs and to use the extra money to help those in need also. Now, the latter is part of the reason why I can say that one of my jobs right now answers this. I am a content writer for the Emerging Business team of an e-commerce company. I have never thought about writing business articles or anything related to business.
But I am very eager to learn some business concepts even before I started this job. I have this feeling God is leading me towards this field from opportunities to interests. I cannot see clearly now what His plans are for me in this area, and yet I trust Him that I am right where He wanted me to be. 🙂
I have one guess why it has to be in the field of business. When we say “business,” oftentimes it has something to do with money. Yes, money is the root of all evil, as they say. And yet, it will only be regarded as such if you have the wrong reasons for having it. But if you are using the money to honor, glorify, and expand God’s kingdom, then money, in that sense, cannot be regarded as something evil.
I want to sponsor one or even more scholars in the Real Life Foundation in our church; I want to help send missionaries all over the world; I want to take part in every community outreach/medical mission event; I want to put up my own SpEd school which will cater the needs of Special Education students here in the Philippines; I want to put up a foundation for all the children with special needs who cannot afford to have the therapies; and a whole lot more of other advocacy.
I cannot do all those if I lack in finances. Volunteering, for me, can only do so much. I want to help in a way that I can see these people slowly reach their dreams and see them aim towards better opportunities in life.
The recent killings of juvenile delinquents here in the Philippines are very alarming. If only the spiritual family can reach out to them before another young life becomes a collateral damage again, the better opportunities for these kids to have another chance in life. Poverty is not reason enough why these kids should resort to crime, robbery, and drugs and vice versa. Poverty has an end. Education can be a tool for that – financial education, family planning education, livelihood education, and regular schooling. Faith makes it all happen.
If money is the problem, there are foundations willing to provide scholarships to students as long as students meet a certain criteria and fulfill a set of obligations. Just to mention a few, we have in church the Real Life Foundation. World Vision and Operation Blessing also provide that. These kids don’t actually need a one-time volunteering outreach event. What they need is serious mentoring making sure they’ve been given the right opportunities towards a better life through empowerment.
I am never a fan of spoon-feeding when it comes to succeeding in life in general. Just the way my parents have taught me, it is all about personal effort which consists of persistence, patience, and resilience. And yet faith has taught me too that it is only God who provides EVERYTHING we need and to trust in God alone.
So this, I am guessing, is one of the reasons why I am learning a lot from all my research in business, finances, and entrepreneurship. As much as I hate money when it becomes the root of all evil, I also know I needed it that much to help others. I did tell my husband a few months back that I wanted to take up a business management course. He told me that we are not financially capable for that. So he asked me why. I told him that one day I might have to take over our family business in Bicol along with my other siblings.
My guess again is that this job sort of hit two birds with one stone: I get to do what I love and I get to learn all about business and finances for free from all my research.
So I did mention that I love teaching. I love literature. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in this field and I have the passion to share knowledge or pass it on to anyone who is willing to learn. The next job opportunity came in the form of an English content specialist for an e-learning platform. This job is project-based and it gives me the opportunity to impart what I learned from the academe to the younger generations and help them achieve their goals as a student through additional learning supplements in the form of lesson plans. Teachers also get to benefit from these lesson plans (calling fellow teachers out there to check it out). 🙂
Now isn’t God amazing? All it took was persistence in prayers, more personal time with Him, more immersion in the Scripture, and complete trust in His leading alongside disappointments, failures, and sacrifices.
As this verse goes on to say:
“Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3
Those were the good opportunities. The not-so-good ones came, for example, in the form of a teaching opportunity abroad. I am not saying that working abroad is a bad opportunity. But let’s just say that it isn’t for everyone. I, for one, can’t see myself working abroad if my husband will be left here all alone. I will be going against my marriage oath and commitment to God to be with my spouse AT ALL TIMES. The compensation is far greater than what I’d be earning here but I am also thinking about the collateral damages and the consequences.
This now brings us to priorities. As a wife, the mandate from God when it comes to priorities is God first, second is the spouse, third is family, fourth is the career, and last is the ministry. One of my prayers to God during the whole decision-making process is to help me align my priorities right and balance everything making sure each priority is getting its intended attention, time, and effort. The article below is a favorite of mine as it shares how women can both be successful in their careers and their family lives.
That is now my current prayer – to be able to balance all my priorities well as a wife, as a content writer, as a content specialist, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a sister-in-Christ, including weighing of tasks and managing of time. I know God has brought me in this certain season for a purpose which includes serving Him and others and though I may have a few doubts and worries, He will lead the way for sure. 🙂
As God has promised:
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
And as my life verse says:
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4: 13
P.S.
My special thanks to my family for all the support and to my sisters in Christ for all the prayers. ❤
Ha! I’m the first one to do the goofy pose this time (for a change). lol 😀
I am squeezing in this article despite my pending tasks for today as part of our 2nd year wedding anniversary celebration. Yes, 2 years down the marriage lane and by God’s grace, I can thankfully say we are getting better, stronger, and deeper with our relationship with God and with one another. (Awww Tin, sniff, sniff.) 😀
Seriously though, I am also sharing two awesome articles which I found over Fb news feed shared by a friend and the other was advertised. One is about grace and the other one is about how to keep your marriage intact. These articles are a huge help to all those who are married and even to those who are single but are planning to enter the married couples department.
In contrast to the article I have written for our first year wedding anniversary, I won’t delve into nitty gritty details about our year as a married couple for 2017. The start of this year has been more like the ‘calm after the storm.’ If you’ve been reading my blog posts since the start of this year, you’ll know why. 🙂
I told hubby dear that I don’t want to celebrate this year’s wedding anniversary with lavish dates and extravagant gifts because first, receiving gifts is not my love language and second, we are saving financially (I can be very kuripot too fyi. lol). The fact that we’re still together after all that we’ve been through is enough gift for me. In fact, it is the best gift that I always thank God for every single day. ❤
Ah yes, to the single sisters and brothers in Christ reading this, you’ll understand when you get married and go through yourself the chapters of the married life. But for the married couples, I know they all agree (including me) to what our pastors in church would always reiterate – “marriage is hard work.”
I told hubby that our first year wedding anniversary deserves that much of an emphasis because it’s the most crucial year for any newlyweds. It’s that year when you’re starting to get to know each other in an extremely deeper level like what ticks him off when he’s at home, what are my routines, etc., and adjusting to living together under one roof.
For the first few months after our first year wedding anniversary, we’re still experiencing ripples of that adjustment period and honestly, even now, we are still adjusting to one another. My Mom actually advised me that it indeed takes a lifetime to know your spouse. She added that she and my Dad (both in their 70s now) are still making those adjustments even after 44 years of being married.
But don’t interpret this in a way that the married life is far too burdensome. Although I might have to add that at some point in your married life you would feel that way, I assure you that for the greater part, it is an awesome journey holistically. It will nourish every aspect of your life and every aspect of who you are.
Personally, being married made us grow deeper in our walk with God. I must admit that our faith was extremely challenged to the point wherein we felt like we’re too exhausted to fight it out, and yet, by the grace of God, you will “indeed soar with wings like an eagle” and fly like never before.
To put it in another way, this article has no meaning if I won’t say that it was all God who made our marriage the way it is now. Our own efforts are useless – if and only if they are the only things that we hold on to every time challenges of all sort come our way. It was all about God, all about our prayers every single night, all about finding ways to attend and listen to the Sunday preaching, all about hearing out from spiritual mentors, and all about our trust in Him every single day, in every decision, in every thought, in every action, just literally everything.
Everything is about God and that is the bottom line of it all. Remove God in the husband and wife equation and it sure will fail. No amount of human effort can save a failing marriage except by the loving grace of God.
Believe me, I have been through very tough circumstances but I never gave up on my husband because I know God will never give up on us for as long as we keep the commitment – our marriage vows. I know that my husband is not perfect and neither am I that’s why it is a given that we will both fail each other through the entire course of our marriage. But it is not in ourselves that we rely on for hope, instead, we put it in God.
Well honestly, I can’t help but cry a tear or two (yes, I counted them. lol) while typing this and I looked back at every single moment that my husband and I went through. Through the good and the bad times, God was always there. I felt Him, I heard Him but it took me my COMPLETE trust in Him as well.
There were moments wherein imagining now, I know my husband and I wouldn’t be able to make it through, and you may indeed call it as the worst of the worst. But I held on to my faith. I trusted blindly to the point that I just surrendered everything to God.
Yes, our human frailties will require we REALLY let go of some things. Instead, let God take over, let God fix what needs to be fixed, ask God to give you wisdom, clarity, and instructions – HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.
If I cry now while I type this, that’s because I am overwhelmed by the fact that all three of us made it all through – God, Brian, and me. If you are reading this and you’re going through the toughest times in your marriage, I encourage you to NEVER GIVE UP. Never give up on your spouse and most definitely, never give up on God. HOLD ON TO HIS BEAUTIFUL PROMISES.
Pray that God will soften hearts; pray that God will heal gaping wounds; pray for restoration; pray for reconciliation; pray for forgiveness; pray for a change in you and a change in your spouse; and most of all, LISTEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY.
Never let your emotions drown the voice of God. Calm yourself and calm your spirit by immersing in the BIBLE day and night. Your bible will be your guide, it will be your weapon when the enemy starts to fill in your thoughts and your heart with lies.
What are these lies? Let me just share a couple of them and they are the usual thoughts:
your husband/wife doesn’t love you anymore
you are not worthy of love
you will not change
your spouse will not change
there is no hope for both of us
the damage has already been done
the damage is far too great
he/she will be happy with someone else
he/she is not the right one for me
I am a failure
Counterattack these lies with these TRUTHS instead:
my husband/wife will always love me no matter what
I am worthy of the greatest love Jesus died for me on the Cross
I will change by God’s grace in God’s time according to His plans
my spouse will change by God’s grace in God’s time according to His plans
there is ALWAYS HOPE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR SAVIOR
we all make mistakes BUT we are also given CHANCES
NOTHING is too damaged or too broken for God to heal and restore
I can make my spouse happy
my spouse is God’s best for me (claim it in Jesus’ Name)
I am a work in progress and God will see to it that “whatever work He’s started in me will be brought to completion in His perfect time”
Lastly, claim God’s beautiful promises for you and your spouse and fight for your marriage. Look at the bigger picture and don’t be too absorbed by the small things or the stumbling blocks in front of you.
Instead, THANK GOD EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY.
And always look at your end goal as a married couple by keeping these vows you made in front of God latched in your heart safe and secure:
“Through thick and thin, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part…” ❤
P.S.
I’d like to thank my spouse for keeping the faith, for not giving up, for redirecting me to God during the times that I felt so weak, for praying with me always, for the many chances to change, and last but not the least, for loving me beyond my imperfections. ❤
Oh and also, for being so patient with me like in the photo above during one of our photo stints last Sunday for a project. 😀
I love God and I love my husband. Nope, it’s an understatement – I LOVE BOTH OF THEM SO MUCH – God first, my husband next. 🙂
To cap off this cheesiness, do watch this awesome cover of “Say You Won’t Let Go” by Moira dela Torre. 😉
Indeed, August is understanding – understanding the will of God, understanding yourself and others. 🙂
At my age of 31, I can say I have been through all seasons when it comes to job opportunities in search for the one that God says as “the right one.” These decisions aren’t easy to make because I also need to value what my spouse thinks on what is best for us both.
These seasons brought me to short term employments, some even lasted for just a week, some brought me to a standstill for a long while and some lasted for a couple of years. I always seek God’s counsel on these matters because let’s admit it, giving up a job and hopping on to the next is crucial.
We all need money to survive. Getting rich, however, is a different story and something I do not fully support. Money is the root of all evil if it becomes your god and your life revolves around it. This includes anything that makes you “great” as well. It will destroy this hierarchy of priorities mandated by God:
GOD
Spouse
Children/Family
Career
Ministry
How? When we don’t find the right answers to these questions:
When was the last time you opened and read your bible consistently?
When was the last time you took a quiet time, prayed, and made it a habit?
Do you have enough time for your spouse on a regular basis?
How about for your children?
When did you last visit your parents or talked to them?
How about your siblings? When did you last check up on them?
When was the last time you attended church?
We’ve always been reminded to never place any idols before God and that anyone who disobeys will face the consequences:
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,…” – Exodus 20:3-5
Are our possessions our god? Are our finances our god? Are our careers our god? Are our achievements our god? Are our children our god? Is our ministry our god?
If we fail in even one of the things I have mentioned above, we know that we are guilty. We always have to be on our guard because the enemy is always in the corner prowling around looking for that next victim to deceive. Everything may seem to be smooth sailing but little did we know that we are already heading towards destruction. If everything is going smoothly in our lives, we should already wonder.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
There may not be any external atrocities happening on the outside but the enemy is already going for the most vulnerable spot inside you – your heart and your soul.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23
As the adage goes, “A river that is quiet usually has looming falls at the end of it.”
Your heart and your soul may have remained placid but they were not given the opportunity to build a shield which is the armor of God and strengthen your faith.
The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” – Ephesians 6:10-18
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5
Don’t be tempted to get that next promotion or for that next “big thing” to add to your resume or attach at the end of your name right away. Don’t be tempted to sign that 6-digit salary or the millions that you’re being asked to take without confirming the responsibilities attached to it. Don’t be tempted to say “yes” to any promise of a better life other than the gift of salvation.
No, don’t be tempted with these things. That next promotion might be a temptation to spend less time with your spouse and family or a temptation to sacrifice your own health and wellness. That 6-digit salary might tempt you to drown yourself in the physical pleasures of this world which equate to even more worldly temptation.That promise of a better life might be masked in the form of easy money and the black market.
Review your priorities instead (single or married), ask for God’s leading, seek His counsel, and pray for discernment towards the right path.
If you will ask me why, then consider the following:
Why is quality time with God important?The Scripture will guard your heart against any temptation. This will prepare you for any trial you’ll go through. Thus, it is the #1 priority.
Why is quality time with the spouse important? Marriage is a holy matrimony, it is also a room for the enemy to attack you or your spouse with temptations. Communication is important between a married couple. If you are too tired to even ask what went on in your spouse’s day, it might be too late when you realize your spouse is drifting away from you and eventually leads to a divorce.
Why is it important to spend time with your kids? Your kids will only be young once. They will appreciate the time you’ve spent with them more than the toys or gadgets you gifted them when they grow older. The percentage of depressed teens are getting higher every year. You don’t want them to end up growing up a teenage rebel or being with the wrong group of friends just because their parents are always “absent.” It is as important to your child that you become his/her first best friend other than just being a parent.
Why should you not place money as the top priority?Money is the root of all evil. It sparks jealousy, greed, selfishness, death, among all other negative things.
I am not a licensed counselor but I have learned these nuggets of wisdom from mentors who went through the same thing and shared their experiences, combined with my own personal experience as well as knowledge lifted from my graduate study which is special education.
You might add that they are all a case-to-case basis but consider this verse:
“What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.” -Ecclesiastes 3:15
If you are to ask me why, this might suffice as an answer:
“And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear Him.” – Ecclesiastes 3:14
Going back to all those career shifts, I can say that I have met wonderful people who have touched my life. I’ve learned a great deal of wisdom from them and formed a special bond through the memories and experiences we’ve shared which I am forever grateful.
On the one hand, I have touched their lives as well one way or the other and continue to influence as they add me on social media, check out my profiles or read my blog articles (oh, it’s you). 😀
I never viewed it as a waste of time, this shifting of careers, though it brought me to a slight and temporary instability in my priorities, marriage, finances, etc. as seasons change.
But no, I remained steadfast because I am clinging to a Rock and I know I have a God who is forever faithful. I viewed these instead as a time of GREAT TESTING.
How? It is only in times of drought and famine that your faith in God is truly tested. It will answer the question “how far are you willing to trust God with your whole life?”
So much of this testing didn’t test my character alone but it also built the foundations of my marriage and refined the characters of the people around me too. They, too, have learned to rely on God along the way.
I have always relied in the TRUTH that God is the ONLY ONE who provides for all our needs from finances to material things; who gives us a career; who provides our salaries; who closes one door of opportunity and opens another; who keeps things steady though everything may be shaky; who keeps my marriage intact; who binds the relationships I have with others; and who reminds me of my priorities.
What matters is we stayed obedient to His instructions, obeyed His laws, and pursued His will and plans for our lives all throughout.
As I write this journal entry, all I can ever see are the lives of those great people recounted in the bible who withstood all trials because of their unwavering faith even to the point of death: Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; David; Joseph; Job; among many others.
They say it takes fire to yield a beautiful sword ready for battle. Without fire, the sword will be blunt – ineffective and of no use. Yet it also takes the time to forge a sword. It takes effort and a great force to yield it. On the other hand, too much heat will cause it to melt.
As a young professional, you’ll receive so much of this fire which could either destroy you or mold you. Choose, however, to consult God’s plans over your life more than being dissuaded by what this world expects and wants from you.
Do not break away from the vine, cling to it. Let God use the fire to mold you for a better purpose. But never let the enemy use it to consume you and head for destruction.
In the end, it is important to keep in mind that even when you have to close a hundred doors and open a thousand, it still is God who decides what is the best door to keep open. You’ll never really know in which seasons will God forge you to become one of His mightiest swords. But, learn to trust Him instead. 🙂
Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
As my spiritual mentor and Victory group leader said with her life verse and God’s promise:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
❤
For this article, here’s a video from Hillsong that’s one of my all-time favorite Christian songs:
The Journeyman's Moments 