Tag Archives: work

Do You Think Creatives Are Night Owls?

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To answer the question, I think we have to ask every creative in the entire universe if this is a truth or a fallacy. 😃

But if true, I will most likely be a creative night owl. My creative hours usually start from 10 PM until the wee hours of the morning. That’s why working on a night shift isn’t much of an adjustment for me.

This is me making sure I don’t wake up the cats at 2 AM when I have my lunch break. lol

The Life of the Night Owl

I must say though that I still have to prepare my body to stay awake during these hours because if my mind is still very active past my bedtime (12 NN), I can go on without proper sleep for how many consecutive days even without help from caffeine and still function like a normal being.

Most of us in the family are light sleepers. I did my research on this and the medical term for it is “Short Sleeper.” I do feel a bit sleepy, especially around 4 or 5 AM or when I am having my monthly PMS. I just feel a little light-headed, but I still have the same energy to do things at work and around the house.

Can Melatonin Help?

I’m just concerned about the long-term effects on my body if I don’t get enough sleep, so I thought taking melatonin pills might help. I did a little bit of research on melatonin because I am turning 40 this year, so I am watching out for perimenopausal symptoms (I have none so far) and anything that could alter my hormones and activate the sleeping cancer cells in my body (breast cancer genes are dominant on both sides of my parents).

I read that taking melatonin pills is relatively safe although I’d still have to ask my doctor when I have my yearly executive checkup to make sure it is okay for me to take them. They do help me get my uninterrupted 8-hour slumber during the day though, especially when everyone’s up and about, and the ‘normal universe’ is all wide awake.

Prepping The Bedroom

Preparing the bedroom so your circadian rhythm won’t be interrupted is very beneficial, too. Blackout window curtains are a big help, and also make sure that your room is cool enough and soundproof. I bought a pair of earplugs from Shopee, and they really do the job of blocking all the noise, even the loudest ones. A white noise inside your room (like an electric fan running) can also drown out the noise outside.

This small room, by the way, used to be the maids’ quarters back when we were kids and when we had two stay-in yayas. 😀 I just converted it into my WFH office/sleeping area (thanks to my Ate and our stay-out yaya for helping me) because this is the only room in the house that is soundproof and stays cool throughout the day even when the midday sun is blazing hot. I don’t want to use an air conditioning unit because I have allergic rhinitis, and the cold, dry air aggravates the symptoms.

The After-Work Routine

It took about 2 weeks for me to fully adjust to being awake for the entire night until 7 AM. After the end of my shift at work, I go out of the house and get a dose of Vitamin D from the sun, walk around the house and the garden, feed our pets, pick Blue Ternate flowers for my morning tea, eat breakfast, and do some errands and other household chores.

By the way, speaking of strolling in the garden, remember this Gumamela plant I talked about in this post? Well, here’s the bud I mentioned in that article. It bloomed exactly during Dad’s 85th birthday 2 weeks ago. 🙏😍

I teased Dad that I thought it was Mom greeting him with a “Happy birthday.” Because true enough, the day after Dad’s birthday, the flower wilted already.

Is this you, Mom? 🌻🥰
It’s always a pretty sight to see the morning dew on Mom’s flowers and plants. ❤️

This Is How I Exercise At Home As An Introvert

Waking up Her Royal Fluffyness. 😹
Feeding Them Pets: Say “Hi” to the new members of the Ginete Pet Tribe – Whitey and Ten-Ten from the avian family. 🐥🐓 Torti is their new neighbor because I had to transfer him temporarily in the poultry cage while I find the time to make his prototype turtle cage because vermins just love stealing his food.
Checking the fence of the chicken’s forage area for any damage from the rats. The madre de cacao fence posts have new leaves already – no need to replace them later on as they become new trees.
Helping my sister and our stay-out yaya monitor the growth of our plants in Mom’s garden. This is the root crop area – a new garden project of me and my sister. 🙏 And that’s my white shadow right beside me. 😹
And then your yaya will just tell you that you have a bleeding arm because you’ve been too busy doing stuff around the house and you barely noticed the scratches. 😅

This is what I love about working at night – I get to enjoy the night sky full of stars and the crisp, cool evening air during my break time and while quietly strolling in our garden, but still get to witness the break of dawn and see the rays of sun slowly creeping through the windows.

🎶 ‘Cause you’re a sky full of stars. 🎶
A quiet, evening walk – just me and my shadow. 😃
Timmy, The Black Sentinel: This is my shadow, actually. Because when I’m out in the garden at night, he would follow me around on alert mode sort of like wondering what must be wrong for my Fur Mom to be up and about when everyone’s asleep. lol
Why is the sun called “Mr. Sun?” Why not “Mrs. Sun?” lol 🌞

The only downside about working at night is scheduling your errands because some shops and offices won’t open until 9 AM, and I should be asleep by 11 AM. I’d have to thank my favorite delivery service here in our town because I get to delegate some tasks to them such as going to the market, buying prescription medicines, and ordering from our restos if I am already too tired to do these errands myself. Thank you, Moonride Delivery – I give you five stars for your awesome service. ⭐️

By the way, as an introvert, I enjoy working from home and being at home all the time. Today is my rest day, but I am still here at home writing and doing something “creative.” lol So yes, you’ll see me in my pambahay clothes often. And they are usually tattered and stained most of the time. Not because I am too stressed to care, but because I love wearing  pambahay clothes like that.

I guess I will never be the embodiment of pasosyal and I have nothing against those who are because it’s a matter of personal preferences and choices. 🙂 But of course, if I have to dress up for the sake of looking decent, you can count on me to play the part. Just inform me ahead of time because it will take me about a week to plan my wardrobe for the occasion. lol

Because we need to look human in our meetings. 😁

It’s 5:50 AM as of writing, and it’s Sunday, so it’s my turn to cook our breakfast and then watch the online church service afterwards before heading on to Slumberland. Until my next post, beloved readers. ❤️

My Sunday Prayer

“But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” – Psalms 59: 15-17

Making A Move: BOLDER Steps = BIGGER Faith

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Today’s longer article will be more like a photo journal because I’ll be sharing more photos than narrating my experiences. But the running theme will be about making a move or moving.

And it’s not just any move, it’s a bold one. One that takes you away from your comfort zone to a foreign place surrounded by strangers. One that entails a major life change more like making a fresh start.

And if it’s a bold move, then it’ll require bigger faith. Thus, your life mantra must be in big, bold letters, too, just like mine. And I meant it literally. 😉

Philippians 4:13 in every season.
These are the essentials when you are making a big move in your life literally and figuratively – a devotional, the Bible, and God at the center. Just to make sure you are making the right move. 🙏

And as a continuation of my “firsts” here in Sorsogon City, I’ll start with the first event that I attended – the Kasanggayahan Festival. Check out the calendar of events in this article to know more about the activities lined up until October 28.

The Kasanggayahan Spirit Is On

Bago pa mahulas ang makeup. lol
Always my fave concert OOTN when going solo.
First fireworks display of the Kasanggayahan Festival.
I attended the event just to get a feel of Sarah G. and Matteo Guidicelli’s concert vibe in Sor Ci – I think it’s better to watch the Facebook live coverage of it. 😃
This is the main reason why I attend concerts – street food. 😅

Agri-Trade, Travel, Tourism, & Food EXPO

Bago ulit mahulas ang makeup sa tindi ng init. 😃
I prefer to visit places like this when there are fewer people. Fewer people means fewer photo bombers.
The perfect place to hang out at night w/ your barkadas during the festival.
Fiesta feels.
There are so many shops to choose from representing the different LGUs all around the Sorsogon Province.
“Dagos Tabi” means “Welcome.”
I’m not sure if there are performances held here at night because there’s a stage in the middle.
I found the perfect spot to dine in for lunch.
I highly recommend the Native Tinutungan of Barcelogan Sizzling House. Super sarap to the bones. 👌
And I wasn’t informed that they take photos of their customers. It’s a good thing I dressed up a little bit kaso hindi nakapag-retouch ng makeup. lol 📷: Barcelogan Sizzling House
Dairy Box for cold drinks.
And it REALLY was ice cold – much like the slurpees of 7/11.
This Beautiful Sorsogon tarp reminded me that as a Bicolana, I still haven’t visited most of these tourist destinations in Sorsogon.
I was supposed to visit the museum, too. But it was closed during that day because of a private tour.

Other Must-Try Restos And Shops In The Poblacion

This will be my favorite carinderia in the area because it’s located in the block across our street. 😃
They also serve delish lutong bahay viands.
They have an airconditioned room for diners, too.
This meal costs 120php only.
Seoul-Meat Korean Grill House – Tugos is my favorite Korean resto here in Sor Ci. Their bento box is super sulit and very tasty, too.
If you’re looking for pasalubongs, Yema Buko Pie NONO Bakery has the yummiest buko pies. 👍👍
My Dad and sister loved these creamy buko pies. I bought the Ube and Yema flavors. It was love at first taste for me with the Yema Buko Pie. 😋
When craving for maki, SUSHI SOR is my go-to Japanese resto. Their maki platters can also be a perfect pasalubong since it is located in SM City Sorsogon.

Back To Home Base

My failed attempt to have a decent selfie photo with Peekah, our Senior cat. lol
I was lucky enough to get a good shot with Polly. And then a few selfies later…
Polly: “Gaaaaah, Muuuuum!!! Stop harassing me with your cheesy and corny selfie photos! Enough alreadyyyyyyyyy.” 😂 E sorry, na-miss ko kayo eh. 😄
But they never say “no” to playtime using a feather.
And then plakda sa aking bilbil. lol

Food For The Fam

When I’m alone, I always skip breakfast because I wake up late.
But Dad’s an early riser so I cook them breakfast whenever I am in Bulan. ‘Di rin ako makaluto ng danggit dito sa apt. 😄
Breakfast of Champions
This is Atsarang Ubod or pickled heart of the coconut tree. Tia Naty, one of my titas, is an expert when making this. Atsarang Ubod is the perfect pair for any fried viand.

Green, Green Grass Of Home

I’d like to thank my 3rd sister for replanting Mom’s Caladiums/Heart of Jesus, and they are growing pretty well. Aren’t they gorgeous? 😍
A very huge Heart of Jesus. ♥️
While I was checking out this pine tree, which is one of Dad and Mom’s favorite plants in the garden, there was this one butterfly that hovered around me quite too close I can almost touch it.
I have a strong feeling that this is Mom, and she’s still watching her garden. 😊 I miss our gardening convos, Mom. ♥️
Sadly, one of the chimckens was already eaten by our neighbor. 😞
If you see me with scratches and bruises, the garden’s to blame – taking photos of ze plants with all their thorns and protruding branches is not easy peasy. 😩
Thank God for Netflix, watching movies now has no limits when I’m in Bulan – I miss binge-watching with Mom, too. ♥️
Because mirror selfies can mirror your self. Vain then? lol

And now I’m back in the city. It’s a good thing Dad’s scheduled follow-up checkup falls on a Saturday. Hopefully, I’ll be done with work by then. 🙏

If you’re also being called by God to make a big move in your life, I hope this reminder from my women’s devotional book will give you the encouragement that you need. ♥️

Moving Part 1
Moving Part 2

“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

A Positive Future Up Ahead

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After my “huhuhu waaah-ing 😭” last night because I remembered and missed Mom when I requested a copy of her death certificate online, I didn’t expect God would comfort me right away. And it was something that I can never ever dismiss – the comfort was tangible. 🙂

My husband came home to my puffy eyes last night and gave me a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead. And when I told him I missed my Mom, he told me he received a token from a coworker because he was one of the godfathers of his coworker’s kid. He urged me to open it. But he was more excited, so he opened it himself. lol And tadaaaa, we found these inside the pouch – a box of uplifting quotations with Bible verses and hand cream. 😍

Thanks, Rod and wifey!

Oh my dear Father, what did I do to deserve this kind of love from You? Even if I failed You so many times, Your faithful love remained. 😭🙏 God already knows I will be crying over Mom last night. To pacify me, here came His surprise. Indeed, there is just no coincidence when it comes to faith.

“…for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him.” – Matthew 6:9

These are very simple gifts. And yet to me, they spoke volumes. They were exactly what I needed at the right time. I mean, out of all the million items that could be given away as a token, why exactly them, right?

My husband told me it looked like these gifts were all intended for me. Now, I have a new hand cream because I’m about to use up the hand and body lotion I’m using now. I’ve been doing some cleaning and washing here at home lately (please refer to my previous articles) and once again, God already knew what I needed beforehand – some pampering for ze hands. This is actually how God’s character as a Father is displayed revealing His never-ending care and provisions for His children.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:26-27

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.” – Matthew 7:11

I never asked for these gifts. And yet God knows how to cheer me up and gave me exactly what I needed – materially and spiritually. He has always been like this to me ever since I became a born-again Christian. Maybe because God also knows how I feel deeply about everything – depression is another generational curse in the family.

This was how God saved me and how I was born again 11 years ago in the same month (you may read my testimony here and also here). Yes, I’m celebrating my 11th year this month as a born-again Christian. God’s timing and reminder are just so perfect, aren’t they?

It’s as if He was reminding me that “I sacrificed My Son for you on the Cross so you can be saved 11 years ago. So now Tin, stop moping around and stay focused on the task I laid out for you.” 😀 Ah yes, being born again is still the best milestone by far – nothing compares. ♥️

But wait, there’s more. When I opened the box, this was the message I saw – again, this was exactly the reminder that I needed last night. 😭

God is our Great Comforter, indeed. I can post a lot of Bible verses here that will show how He is close to the brokenhearted and how those who mourn will be comforted when they seek His Name.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” – Psalms 34:18-19

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

And yet the one I will post below speaks most to me and on what He wanted me to do:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

As they say, you will never feel what other people are feeling if you’ve never been in their shoes. When God allows us to experience pain and loss, it’s not to punish us or make us miserable. It is so that we can share His greatness with others and how in the midst of our pain God moved in amazing ways. This is how we testify to the world that He is real and that those who believe in Him may die but will never perish (eternal inheritance).

Every single time, God never failed to remind me that He is always with us and will always be with us because He is the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end. Everything may seem bleak and dark to most of us now, but as what God has promised, there is a “positive future” ahead of us, and He is already leading us there. We need not be afraid because we are not alone. ❤️🙏

A preparation for the Great Work up ahead. 🙏

P.S. What happened last night wasn’t a coincidence, and I know I am not writing this article a few days before Holy Week for no reason. When God moves, we can expect that it will be miraculous and marvelous. What God requires from us though in return is our authentic faith – one that honors Him in our highs and in our lows just like what this blog of mine is all about. 🙏

From My YouVersion Bible App Daily Prayer & Devotion

Working Behind The Scenes

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How am I as a worker? I thrive well as a supporter because it’s not in my personality to lead given my introverted personality. I prefer to work in the background and away from the limelight, so I tend to gravitate towards people who are born leaders and have the natural ability to lead diverse groups of people.

As long as they are receptive to suggestions and new ideas (because I have a lot of them) and can execute them well, I would love to work with them even if they get all the credit in the end. 😀 My mind works nonstop, so I need to share these ideas. Otherwise, I’ll go cray cray. lol And when I say “leader,” I don’t mean a boss because there’s a huge difference between the two. You may read more about it here.

To God Be The Glory Always

I am not after the praise of men, but it is my intent to please God and give Him the glory. He, alone, gets to decide if it’s a job well done on my end come Judgment Day. So, what I do in this world will always be between me and Him. To see that my idea worked and a lot of people are benefiting from it – that, to me, is rewarding enough.

Let me just share with you this experience of mine when it comes to my artwork. I’ve received invitations in the past to do commissioned work on portrait sketches. I just said that I’ll try if I have the time because I can’t actually say “no” because I really want to do it. When I see people happy with my work, it makes me happy, too. It’s just that I wanted to give the sketches to them for free because I feel like I am no professional sketch artist. I’m still an apprentice. 😀

And yes, sketching for me is only a hobby. I will end up broke if that is what I will do all the time because I want people to have my sketches as gifts from me. lol Nothing in this world makes a person happier than to receive something special for free. Just like the gift of salvation. ❤️

How We Use Our Gifts Matter To God

The same goes for my talent in writing. During one job interview, I remember the HR manager asking me if I had plans to become an international best-selling author. I told him that no, that was not my dream. Because I want to share my ideas and my talents for free and for the benefit of all just like this blog.

I have plenty of opportunities to monetize this blog ever since I created it back in 2012. But I thought that if I wrote all of these ideas in a book and sold the book, then only a few people would be able to read my ideas. The opportunity will be given only to those who are privileged enough to purchase the book. My personal goal as a writer is to inform as many people as I can in every part of the world as long as they have access to this blog.

For me, a talent or a skill that God has entrusted to us should be used for the greater good of many. While there’s nothing wrong with using this skill or talent to earn a living, our ultimate goal when utilizing these skills should go beyond monetary rewards. And yes, it should also not be for popularity or being famous and being the best. There were some who were called to serve in the limelight, and there were some who were called to serve in the background. This is how the body of Christ functions. And yet if one part is missing, the job cannot be completed.

Working For The One And Only CEO Named GOD

I hope this article will encourage those who feel like they are not getting enough credit for all the efforts they’ve put on at work. I, myself, struggled with this when I was a young professional. But God will always remind me that I am not really working for my bosses, I am working for Him. All of us are actually. In the end, what one does as a loved one or as a professional doesn’t really matter. It’s all about whether what we’re doing pleases God or not. And we all know that God has the highest standards because well, He is God. This means that we have to give our best all the time. No sloppy work in other words.

May our motivation when doing something always be centered on God alone asking Him if what we did was enough or if we can still do more and do so excellently. 🙏

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24

P.S. For those who are asking, “What if I already did my best but my best still wasn’t good enough?” Only God can answer this question, so this might mean doing plenty of quiet time with Him. Some would say that God is sometimes silent. I don’t think God is ever silent. Maybe it is our inability to hear Him clearly because of a lot of distractions around us that are hindering us from receiving His instructions. 🙂

P.P.S. I am praying that God will send a “leader” who can help me and my family oversee our agribusiness and other endeavors in the future. 🙏 Applications might have to be reviewed by the board though a.k.a. ze siblings. 😉

Oppression Of The Enemy: Standing Firm With Faith Intact

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While writing this, I have a full-blown skin allergy attack. I woke up 2 days ago with red, itchy patches on my skin without any clue what might have triggered them. Nothing was new in my routine nor in my diet, and neither am I too stressed to have another episode.

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Though the swelling subsided after I took an antihistamine and applied topical medication, a few red patches would come out in other parts of my body every now and then. Some of them are big enough to cover a specific area i.e. entire legs, entire arms, and entire neck.

This isn’t new.

I have been diagnosed with eczema or atopic dermatitis since I was in college. Exposure to allergens such as dust, pollens, poultry, and certain types of seafood are among the triggers. Stress is also another factor.

We have a history of asthma in the family. So it was no longer a surprise when during the most stressful point of my college life (finishing the thesis), I had a major eczema breakout. Let’s just say this is one of the “thorns in my flesh” – a form of oppression.

This isn’t new either.

Every day we face oppression. Some might feel they are being oppressed by the government and by certain organizations. Others experience oppression at home through relational conflicts with parents, siblings, children, relatives, friends, coworkers, or a spouse.

There are those who have financial constraints as oppression, while others are oppressed because of depression, anxiety disorder, fear, guilt, shame, addiction, and other illnesses. Calamities and tragedies are also other forms of oppression wherein all human efforts tend to be futile in terms of being saved (literally and figuratively).

What Really Is Oppression?

I work from home, and I socialize during the weekends i.e. go to church, date my husband, meet friends, etc. Because of the nCoV breakout and my skin allergy attack, I had to stay at home to limit the chances of me acquiring the virus. This, in itself, is oppression.

As much as I’d like to worship God along with fellow believers in church, I had to seek comfort in the confines of our home. Thank God though our church has live streaming of its services.

We all know that being cut off and out of sync with fellow believers will make you more prone to the attacks of the enemy. One of my Bible study group leaders compare it to that of burning coal. Once you remove one from the rest, its fire will die out.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

The same goes for us. Once we have remained lukewarm in our faith, the enemy’s oppression will get stronger and weaken our spirits making us vulnerable to temptations and sinning. Also, the testing of our faith will be even more challenging.

Learning From Job

Do you still remember what happened to Job? He went through severe testing and trials and was reduced to a mere mortal deemed powerless against the forces of the enemy. And yet, God proved the enemy wrong. In the end, the faithful servant was rewarded for his unflinching faith in God and God alone.

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2

“I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!” – Job 19:27

It is my prayer that in every trial and in every season of our lives, we will continue to rise above every oppression of the enemy. As long as we are breathing, we never back down trusting that God is greater than he who is in this world.

We have been called to fight the good fight of faith. That has always been our mission. Thus, we declare and we fight for it.

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Having said that, we can expect persecution at its worst, all types of it – emotionally, physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. The bigger the purpose and work God has for us, the stronger the opposition. Because satan doesn’t like us preaching the Word of God at all. He will send out his army to prevent us from doing so as God’s servants.

We have to keep in mind that prior to Judgement Day, there will be great persecution among the followers of Christ. So we need to be READY and EQUIPPED.

How To Fight Wearing The Armor Of God

  1. Ask God what are the battles you need to fight for, what are the battles you need to let go and let God fight them for you, and what are the battles you need to fight together with Him.
  2. Seek for His protection and His wisdom DAILY through prayers.
  3. Claim the victory of salvation through the Cross.
  4. And lastly, wear God’s armor as you fight the evil forces of this world.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE.

16 In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD. 

18 And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

– Ephesians 6:10-18

For God can be trusted to keep this promise:

“But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!” – Isaiah 54:17

Always fighting the good fight of FAITH,

 

 Read more: Jesus Speaks About The Future

 

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”

Paano Nga Ba Maging Isang Remote Worker Sa Pilipinas? | A Guide

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Handa ka na ba maging isang remote worker? Bago ang lahat, alamin muna kung ano ang sakop ng salitang remote worker o remote working.

Mayroong tatlong klase ng working from home or working remotely. Ito ay ang remote work, telework, at freelancing. Kadalasan, napaghahalo ang ibig sabihin ng bawat isa sa mga ito.

Narito ang mga articles para sa karagdagang kaalaman hinggil sa remote work, telework, at freelance:

“The Digital Age: Remote Work And Telework Defined”

“Be Protected As A Freelancer”

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A remote worker working from home. 😉

6 Tips Sa Pagtatrabaho Bilang Isang Remote Worker

1. Magsagawa ng financial assessment o budgeting.

Ito ang pinakaunang bagay na kailangang gawin bago ka mag-desisyon na maging isang remote worker o freelancer. Sa pamamagitan ng iyong financial analysis, alamin kung sapat ba ang iyong kikitain para pantustos sa iyong monthly expenses.

Kinakailangan din na mayroon kang emergency funds na nakalaan para sa mga panahon na magkaroon ng problema sa iyong client at employer pagdating sa payment. Ang freelancing o remote working ay pwedeng maging isang regular job. Maaari mong bitawan ang iyong day job or office job kung ang iyong kikitain sa pagiging remote worker ay pareho lang o higit pa.

Kung ikaw ay isang bread winner o may sinusuportahang anak, magulang, o relative on a consistent basis, mas maiging gawin ang freelancing bilang isang side hustle or job on the side. Ngunit kung hinihingi ng pagkakataon na ikaw ay maging isang remote worker gaya halimbawa sa mga full-time Moms, magandang opportunity ang remote working. Pero sa mga married couples, it’s best to consult with your spouse kung okay lang din sa kanya ang ganitong set-up.

2. Alamin ang iba’t ibang uri ng remote working or freelancing.

Ito ay depende sa magiging usapan ninyo ng iyong employer o client. Mayroong ibang employer na sila ang nagso-shoulder sa pagbayad ng iyong mga government-mandated benefits kagaya ng SSS, Pag-ibig, at Phil Health at saiyong BIR tax. Maaari ding makakuha ka ng company incentives at 13th-month pay na nakukuha ng isang regular employee pero may option ka na mag-work sa bahay o kung saan pa man.

May ibang clients din na pumapayag na sila ang sasagot sa mga bayarin mo sa kuryente at magpo-provide ng gagamitin mong laptop kung magwo-work from home ka. Pero mayroon ding clients na ang babayaran lang nila ay ang output or deliverables mo lang. Sa case na ito, ikaw ang magbabayad ng iyong mga contributions para sa SSS, Phil Health, at Pag-ibig kasama na ang BIR tax na 3% para sa mga freelance professionals or self-employed individuals. Ito ang kadalasan na setup para sa mga freelancers.

3. Ihanda ang iyong mga kakailanganing gamit sa remote working.

Kapag handa ka na maging isang remote worker, narito ang mga kakailanganin mo para sa iyong freelance or remote work:

  • reliable internet connection (mas mataas na mbps at DSL connection, mas maganda)
  • reliable laptop (mas malaki ang RAM, mas maganda; the client or employer will sometimes provide this)
  • backup internet connection (pocket wifi)
  • sariling private work space (para sa work-from-home)

4. Ayusin ang iyong status sa BIR, SSS, Phil Health, at Pag-ibig.

Ito ay kadalasang applicable sa mga freelancers kung saan sila ang babayad ng mga contributions para sa SSS, Phil Health, at Pag-ibig at ng BIR tax. Para sa BIR tax, kailangan mong baguhin ang iyong status from employed to self-employed.

Para sa BIR:

Kailangan mo mag-register bilang certified freelancer or self-employed sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng Certificate of Registration sa BIR. Maaari mong basahin itong mga articles para malaman ang step-by-step process:

https://www.kalibrr.com/advice/2016/01/freelancers-guide-bir-registration

http://www.freelancing.ph/bir-requirements-every-filipino-freelancer-should-know/

https://blog.staff.com/a-taxation-guide-for-filipino-freelance-workers-finding-projects-online/

*Kung ikaw mismo ang magko-compute ng iyong taxes, maaari kang maghanap ng mga reliable na tax calculator applications kagaya nito:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tax.app.cavalli.com.taxapp&hl=en

Para sa SSS:

Magbabago din ang iyong status ng pagbayad to voluntary member kung ikaw na ang magbabayad ng iyong SSS contributions. Narito ang mga instructions kung paano ito gawin:

https://theultimatevaresource.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/how-to-pay-sss-contributions-as-a-voluntary-member-a-guide-for-filipino-freelancers/

Para sa Phil Health at Pag-ibig:

Phil Health: http://rakethub.com/how-to-change-philhealth-registration-from-employee-to-voluntary/

Pag-ibig: http://www.pagibigfinancing.com/articles/2010/voluntary-membership-to-pag-ibig-fund-the-self-employed-freelancers-and-non-employees/

5. Mag-open ng bank account o PayPal account.

Kung ang client mo ay based abroad, mainam na gawing payment mode ang PayPal dahil ito ay secure. Pero bago makapag-open ng PayPal account, kinakailangan muna na mayroon kang bank account na nakapangalan sa’yo.

PayPal New Account

http://www.freelancing.ph/freelancers-guide-getting-know-paypal/

PayPal Withdrawal

https://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/paypal-withdraw-philippine-banks/

6. Gumawa ng sariling work routine.

Ito ay napakahalaga bilang isang remote worker dahil kahit na hawak mo ang iyong oras, how you finish an output will still depend kung paano mo hinahati ang iyong oras para matapos ang iyong mga tasks. Nariyan na ang mga usual na kalaban ng mga remote at freelance workers – procrastination at lack of self-discipline.

Dahil ang supervision ay remote din, malaki ang chance na ma-tempt ka mag-browse sa Facebook o matulog muna saiyong kama hanggang sa hindi mo namalayan na ilang oras na ang nawala sa araw mo.

Being a freelance professional or a remote worker still requires professionalism at a certain degree. Isa na rito ang pag-deliver ng output on time o according sa napagusapan nyo ng client mo na deadline. Hindi rin maaaring maging buzzer beater sa pag-submit ng deliverables dahil ang mako-compromise ay ang kalidad ng iyong output.

Take remote working or freelancing as if it is your own business. Technically, your freelance or remote work is your business. If you want it to flourish, kailangan may sarili ka ding work ethics to make sure na it will sustain you in the long run.

 

Ako ay nagsimulang magtrabaho bilang isang remote worker noong 2017. Ang transition ay hindi mahirap if you already know what to expect based sa mga nakalap mong impormasyon through your research. Also, kinakailangan ding masigasig ka sa paghahanap ng mga bagong opportunities. But I can assure you na there are a lot of opportunities out there to those who plan to venture in this kind of work setup.

Mahalaga lang talaga na ready ka din to make the sacrifices and exert every effort that you can dahil gaya din ng pagiging isang office employee, hindi rin madali maging isang remote worker. In my case, napaka-suitable ng set up na ito because I can make my own schedule. Mainam ito sa sitwasyon ko ngayon kung saan marami akong kailangang gawing extra tasks kasama na ang pagtulong para sa isang family project.

Lahat tayo may kanya-kanyang priorities but in the end, it is up to us how we are going to manage them. Kung ikaw ay matagal nang nagiisip kung ang remote working ba ay para sa’yo o hindi, I hope this article helped you decide one way or the other. 🙂

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” – Colossians 3:23

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” – Psalm 90:17

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” – Psalm 128:2

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” – Proverbs 12:11

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” – Deuteronomy 15:10

Praying all the best for you as a remote worker,

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Understanding a Young Professional

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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:

  1. GOD
  2. Spouse
  3. Children/Family
  4. Career
  5. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

freelancer

Be Protected as a Freelancer

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(Photo credit: StockSnap)

Since I have given you opportunities about doing remote work, teleworking, telecommuting including freelancing, I believe it is also my responsibility to provide a list of websites from my research on how to protect yourself should you decide to be a freelancer aside from having your full-time job.

I found these articles very helpful. But just in case I encounter similar problems in one of my (future) freelancing stints, I believe I would need to sit-in in one of the Torts and Damages classes of my brother-in-law who is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines (Diliman) College of Law. 😀 He used to work as a company lawyer for Baker and Mckenzie, a multi-national law firm, and it would indeed be a privilege to learn from him given the opportunity. 🙂

The following are the articles which you could read if you are a freelancer or just planning to become one:

However, if you’ve already experienced any drawback from your freelancing stint though you did the right thing, took the necessary steps, and followed the agreement, don’t be discouraged but take this verse by heart:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” – Hebrews 4:13

Just pray, let go, and let God take the lead from there. The battle is not yours anymore but His to take. Be fearful of God and not of men – let God be the judge and be the one to give justice. 🙂

Day 3: FREEDOM

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Today is July 2.

Today marks the last day of our Mid-Year Prayer and Fasting.

Today I declare FREEDOM. 🙂

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I am claiming to be free from the stronghold of the enemy and I declare living a spirit free from condemnation, guilt and impurities.

When you are saved, you will always go back to that moment where you felt free and at peace. No place here on Earth can give you that except the Cross. With all the pain, the agony and the trauma, it is sometimes difficult to stand up and yet you know deep within yourself that you can never ever go back to who you were and into the darkness.

Eat, Pray, Love: A Woman’s Search For Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia is one of my favorite movies and books about faith, hope and love. I can totally relate to Julia Robert‘s character in the movie (Liz) and yes, I also came to this point:

There’s a crack (or cracks) in everyone…that’s how the light of God gets in.”  

– Elizabeth Gilbert; EAT, PRAY, LOVE

Calling out to God in prayer is the best way to be saved – to have a new life, a new start, a new spirit. Faith in God by trusting Him with all that you are and all that you have will lead you closer to Him and He will assure you and protect you with His presence and majestic power. Yes, some call them “miracles,” others “magic,” some “wonders,” but as for me I call them as God – the living God. 🙂

My Paulo Coehlo planner that my brother and my sister-in-law gave me last year as a Christmas gift played a huge role in my day to day spiritual journey for this year. And sometimes I just smile for yes, the quotes exactly describe what I am going through and/or what I needed to do.

Tin Ginete

July: Magic Moments

The month of July is an art work of blue, my favorite color. Blue signifies peace. And the phrase for this month is “MAGIC MOMENTS.”

This is also the quotation for this month:

“Anyone who pays close enough attention to each day will discover its magical moment.” 

– Paulo Coehlo, BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT

My devotion of the day in Our Daily Bread  shares a similar thought – it is about “A Flying Miracle.”

“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.”

– Psalm 104:24

Tin Ginete

Our Daily Bread/July 2: A Flying Miracle

And I just came across this music video by Big Daddy Weave entitled Overwhelmed which will speak so much of what God has made me see over the past days, weeks, months and years.

Yes, my July will be magical. Magical in the sense that I am believing for God’s miracles to take place. He already started it last night which I can refer to as my “revelations day.”  And I believe it is not the last that He will perform. I know I am in for a really “magical” ride for this month. One of the verses for today’s prayer and fasting devotion assures me of that:

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.””

– Psalm 37:4-5

It was Grace that brought me to my knees, it was Grace that lifted me up and it was Grace that taught me who is GREATER.

I can only proclaim my freedom knowing deep inside me that no other god is like my GOD – the One who redeems and the One who saves. I am just excited for what God has in store for me. Yes, that’s how much I LOVE MY GOD. 😉

The following is the main verse for our mid-year prayer and fasting and while browsing through Eat, Pray, Love movie clips, I stumbled upon a music video by Mercy Me.

Please read the verse with your heart and watch the video – a perfect way to end this article and our mid-year prayer and fasting. To God be the GLORY! 😀

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’…”

– Isaiah 58:8,9