I almost gave up in life. At the age of 27, I face different kinds of trials in life. Words of rejections and negativity are part of my day to day life. Financial hardships and breakthroughs are difficult to overcome. I was never contented in life no matter how hard I plan and work for it in order for me to fulfill happiness in life. I acted like a coward with no future ahead of me. When I face challenges my insecurities spurs up, I’m being controlled by my body telling me my weaknesses as a person. Life wasn’t fun at all because I was entirely lost even though people say that JESUS is the only way and it all boils down to HIM.  I chose to live a life of defeat and mediocrity. I didn’t understand why I cannot have a life of peace and happiness.

It took years and years, cycle after cycle, up and downs, too finally realize one thing. HE LOVES ME SO MUCH and HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH AS WELL. It is so easy to say but It is so hard to grasp. I will tell you one more time! This is so hard to grasp. (READ PSALM 139 Contemporary English Version)

He hears us everyday. He sees everything that we do, He knows our heart desires whether good or bad. He never left me at all.

Thank you God after 28 years I finally realized it. Ngayon, in love na talaga ako sayo LORD.

Psalm 139 (The Lord is always near)

¹You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me. ²You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. ³You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. ⁴Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, ⁵and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. ⁶I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

²¹The LORD sees everything, and he watches us closely.

Every time I faced an opportunity in doing business my heart gets so excited. I make impulsive decision by committing or making promises to invest on the idea that was shared. The desire in the heart sometimes becomes a greed if I cannot control it. Desires in the heart should be acted upon wisdom. So what is wisdom?

Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one’s emotional reactions  so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one’s actions (wikipedia).

When we do business we should not make impulsive decisions without thinking or planning. Here is my typical advice to people who wants to start a business.

1. Get a notebook and a pen (preferably new notebook).

2. Write down your goals in life. How much you want to earn?

3. Set a timeline. How long do you want to achieve it?

4. Write all the ideas that are in your mind.

5. Choose the ideas that seems exciting to you and that you are capable of doing.

6. Do a business plan. if you don’t know how here is a link http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessplan/index.html

7. Get advices from your parents or partners if they support your idea. Get inputs or info about your competitors.

8. Execute your plan.

These are just basic ideas. I did these steps when I started my company. Be strategic, your goals will stir up your passion.

business plan

Every time I sinned I felt so condemned. My heart is so down and I don’t feel like doing anything good or getting so religiously on high for God. The feeling of dwelling how bad I’m as a person and how God will punish me for being disobedient and sinful has totally separated me farther from HIM. I felt like God would do something bad because I did this and that. And that He will punish or give me consequences in life for all these things that I did. I felt that His love has lessen. This cycle has gone year after year. My Christian life was like a roller coaster with ups and downs. It seems that I cannot grow maturely because I kept on back sliding. I thought Christianity was serving and loving God through works and that He would abundantly bless me if I totally obey the Bible. I really didn’t understand Agape and Grace. Every year I sinned and I was really struggling in my walk with God. I didn’t felt his presence or His love like what the pastors and the church people are saying.

In this world, love is very conditional. People loved us because we show kindness and compassion but God’s love is so unconditional. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and reveal His love through me. It was until when I was started to look at my friends and love them for who they are no matter how imperfect they can be and how I accepted and loved my family despite disagreements and fights.

Romans 5:6-8

Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. ⁷No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. ⁸But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

I cannot comprehend this but I just have to trust and believe His word. So no matter How imperfect I’m as a person. He does truly love me.

GOD I love you too for loving my good and bad sides

James 1:5-8

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Emotional moment with Jollibee

What will I do if my daily sales won’t meet the quota or what will happen to me if my monthly sales are below break even. This were my questions when I started doing business. I always pray to the Lord and try not to worry these things but my mind is very limited. Hence I assume that everything that is not good or does not meet my standards is caused by my incapability and negligence. I was very limited as a person and I was so discouraged therefore I worried most of the time.

Here is my top 10 Questions to God (worrying mode)

1. Will I be single for the rest of my life?

2. Will I be able to earn enough to have a decent lifestyle?

3. Will life be boring if decided not to get married?

4. Will my business fail? What do I have to do?

5. I need a wife LORD? WHEN?

6. I want to be a millionaire Lord but How?

7. Lord I’m too fat, make me thin I need your divine intervention, can you help me please I’m so desperate?

8. God, I’m so introvert? I think there is something in me that needs to be change?

9. Lord my nose is too big? Can I go to BELO and make it smaller. I look better if I do that.

10. Lord gwapo ba ako? bakit wala pang naiinlove sa akin?

When I analyzed my questions, I found out that I was so insecure about myself. I was being limited/ boxed by my mind and body. It was my self-confidence telling me that I cannot do this or that and I realize that I needed God more and more. I surrendered to God all my insecurities and I ask HIM to be my confidence. I now have Christ- confidence in me so whenever I speak of good things about my life I know that God was the one who controlled and orchestrated these things in order for me to honor and glorify Him at all times.

  John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

I’m truly amazed to what God has done in my life. I know how limited I’m as a person and I don’t know what I can do to make such a difference. As a christian, we all know that God is BIG, POWERFUL, STRONG, CAPABLE, and our problems our just small to HIM but how come we do not trust Him to overcome all our insecurities in life. God has change my heart- He gave peace, love and joy inside it and I’m a living testimony that God is true to His promises.

This was my thought when I was in China in 2008. I was searching for my direction in life. I really do not know what I was doing. My goal was to learn mandarin but afterwards I was in a black hole. I have dreams in life that I want to become a millionaire “so freaking bad” hehehe and have lots of businesses that would support missionaries and poor people but I didn’t know where to start. I remember my parents telling me almost everyday to strive hard in order for me to succeed but my problem was how will I strive in life if I don’t know what my plans are? I don’t know what I like or my passion is.

nagmuni muni sa china with cherry blossoms

I read a book which quotes,” If you fail to plan then you are planning to fail.” This really struck me, I agree with this one if you are planning to achieve your goals in life, a strategic plan should be laid out.

First thing that I did was planning. I got a notebook and I started to write everything that was in my mind. I got an organizer and I set up appointments and strategic goals and targets to get things done. I went and met with suppliers, government agencies, lawyers, leasing managers and many more to discuss the necessary documents in starting up a business. It took awhile or months for this things to be set up. The concept that I had was backed up with a business plan. I observed my competitors operation’s and pricing, scouted for a good location and planned marketing strategies. Everything was studied and carefully analyzed. As I had this process, the passion starts to build up because my time and my resources are poured out. It also says in the bible, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Passion does come along IF YOU START PURSUING YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS IN LIFE. I have lots of dreams in life and I know a lifetime is not enough to achieve it.

with CHINK POSITIVE

My decision took a lot of risk in my career but it was such a fulfillment in my life. I have decided to push through my plans and I’m harvesting the fruits of my labor.

³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

 ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Pray and ask God to give you dreams and goals in life, He is so willing to give it to you. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

This past few days, there is something in me that is hoping that 2012 would be a fantastic year. I started to write my faith goals and I quietly prayed for each one of them. My heart is very excited and every year, God has been faithful. Having that expectation stirs up the passion inside my heart. As I read this verse in

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

As I remember in January of 2009, I prayed for a business and a personal car. Financially, I cannot afford it. I was jobless and much of my investment was loss during the market crash in 2008. BUT God is awesome, It was during the first day of fasting in 2009 that I got my first car which is a brand new Nissan Navarra. How? My dad paid more than half of it.

On April 2009 SM group called me and wanted to meet with me because I  submitted a concept to them and they wanted it in there malls. That’s when my business started. That year was truly unforgettable for me, that was also when I started to pray and fast.

In 2010, I asked God to enlarge my territory as I was applying the prayer of Jabez. It was on January of 2010 that my 2nd branch of business opened. God has also provided tremendously.

In 2011, I asked God for another branch in business and other provisions financially. My 3rd branch was opened during that year. Every year God has been faithful in His promises.

Not all of my prayers were answered but I know that God is able to provide and fulfill everything.  All this things that He gave me were things that I asked for. I specifically prayed for them. This was the desire of my heart.

Psalm 37: 3-4

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

LORD! You truly amazed me with the works of your hand. I’m nothing without you.