Bask in God's Light, Shine!

Have you ever felt down? Weary? You feel that something wrong is about to pop-up or a problem might suddenly surface? I have felt that. 

I know the feeling is not healthy.  The feeling of uncertainty brings fear. 

However you want to be protected by God's loving embrace, a time will still come when you will feel down and might let yourself be trapped into negative self talk.  The lies of the enemy will try to find its way to your heart and to your mind.  It becomes even easier for the enemy to succeed when we are far from God, when we are busy with other things and put Him aside.

At a time like this, who else should we turn to but to our Father God.  

Psalm 34:1-8
1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.  7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. 

Arm yourself with verses from the Bible and quickly use one when you feel the enemy is trying its way to you.  It's good to memorize verses that struck you and you'll have lots of weapon to use when you need one. :) 

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. ~Psalm 34:5

Expose yourself to God's light.  Let God's light shine into your life that you may radiate with joy and darkness will find it hard to come to you.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  ~Psalm 34:7

The Lord sends angels into our life.  They are present and real.  You may have encountered them in the form of your officemate, your friend, a bus seatmate, a passersby with a friendly smile.  You always have someone with you.  God has sent an angel to guard you.

God loves you. :)

Let God lead you

Once I had a conversation with my sister.  She has a coworker whom she wanted to treat to a day out.  She knows that the person has been through a lot.  Her coworker is already an elderly and still takes care of her children even if they are already grown up and with a family of their own. The elderly has loans here and there.

My sister felt that her coworker needed a day out. However, she's reluctant to do it because she also thinks that she might get abused if she'll do it.  The other might come to her more frequently for financial help.

The desire to show kindness, love and compassion was there but fear has kept her from doing it.

There's a natural feeling in us to love others, to feel compassion.  It is just that we sometimes stop in our track to loving others because of fear for one's self, fear of ridicule or for other reasons.  The environment that we have grown accustomed to has made us choose to disregard this feeling.  We have grown to neglect it... to set it aside... and let the feeling die.  We have let the reasoning of this world corrupt our good intentions.

Don't let it die in you. Don't let what this world dictates stop you from showing what you feel and what you want to share. For all you know, you are the light that God has sent for someone in need.

Don't let your desire to show kindness, love and compassion die.
Let God's love shine through you.
Be God's love to others.
Don't worry.  God will be your guide.
Allow God's love to lead you.

If you expect blessings, it will come!

What you believe in sets the tone for your life.

Believing that everything is a blessing sets the tone of hoping and expecting for the good things to come.  And indeed blessings will come.  Blessings will come pouring in. Having this perspective is like having an armour to protect you from negativity.  Whichever way you'll  look, you'll see nothing but blessings! And even if you'll get infected by negativity, it will be easy for you to bounce back and look at things on the brighter side again.  Because, as always, God wants nothing but the best for you.  He wants to bless you... and in abundance!

In reverse, if you keep on thinking that nothing good is happening in your life, then that's what will happen.  That's what will come - nothing good.  Everything you'll look at will seem to be nothing but trouble.

And so, don't miss out on those blessings! Expect it to come!  They are everywhere! (Pokemons suddenly popped in my mind! hehehe...)

Please allow me to share with you my experience of blessings last month. (I've been wanting to share this but I couldn't find the time to sit and write.)

BLESSING#1
"If there's nothing to lose but gain if you try, then by all means try!"  This was the thought that came into my mind when I was feeling timid to ask Engr. Enrico Cruz of Urban Institute, our mentor in Real Estate, what the topic is for the coming week for his Build and Sell Mentoring Course.

I was a graduate of the same course the previous year and I've learned a lot from it.  I wanted to sit in the class again. I was starting on a new rehabilitation project for a townhouse and I was struggling whether to get a contractor or be the contractor myself as I have done in my past project.

And so, motivated by the quote from Napoleon Hill, I messaged Engr. Cruz and asked.  He replied "Reports and Construction Details".

Wow! Just what I needed!  #Perks of being an Urbanite

BLESSING#2
And so I sat in the class last August 27, 2016.  When I thought I was late, I was actually early! It was a blessing that the class was scheduled an hour later than during our batch.  And with that, I had a chance to meet and talk with the speaker for the day, Engr. Oscar Cadag and Engr. Cruz prior to the start of the class.  Engr. Cruz was so kind to introduce me to him.  From my conversations with Engr.Cadag and Engr. Cruz, I'm already getting ideas on what to do with my

dilemma.

BLESSING#3
During Engr. Cadag's lecture he mentioned that he works for DIAR'S, the same company that supplies janitorial services for DLSU.  The company I worked for for almost 17 years. :)  During the break, I recognized a familiar face I see at DLSU - Mr. Bimbo Brillo.  He was with Engr. Cadag.  It was my first time to talk to him.  What a coincidence that we all met at the real estate seminar, we were all affiliated with DLSU and Couples for Christ at Mandaluyong City.  We had a good chat. :)

Mr. Bimbo Brillo is on my right while Engr. Oscar Cadag is to my left (wearing pink polo shirt just like me).

BLESSING#4
Wow! Architect Jun Palafox was also a lecturer for the day! What a blessing it was to be inspired again as he shared his vast experience and his mission.

Architect Jun Palafox

Engr. Cruz has his way of bridging newbies like me to the experts.   Engr. Cruz gets to tap high profile and well experienced personalities in real estate development because he himself is also generous with his time and knowledge.  Most of the attendees are also experts in their field and most of the time, also share their expertise in the class.

Engr. Enrico Cruz taking photos of the students with guest speaker architect Palafox (seated)

I remember Architect Palafox saying, "When you know something and you share it, you become an expert...(the knowledge doesn't die with you)."

I was happy that I sat in for the week's class. :)

But wait there's more!  God is not done pouring His blessings yet. :)

BLESSING#5
The following day, I was early to visit my parents at their tailor shop.

My father mentioned that he was expecting a client who will make a bulk purchase.

Guess who came into the doorstep of the shop?  It was sir Bimbo Brillo!  He was there to represent DIAR'S and make a bulk order for the uniform requirement of their janitors deployed at College of St. Benilde.

Who would have guessed? God only knows. :)  Thank you Lord!

Everything is a blessing.  Isn't? :)

Ms. Beth and Mr. Bimbo Brillo of Diar's and me

You are blessed!

You are God's masterpiece.

You were created for a purpose.

You were given everything you need in order to deliver.

You are given a choice to use all the gifts given to you.

God wanted you to receive all His blessings.

You will bring blessings to many.

You will bring love to all.  

Your light will bring new light to others.

Love the Lord.  

He is our shelter.

He is our provider.

He is our friend and our all.

You have what it takes!

If you are thinking about starting something in your life now,  something that causes you to struggle, have faith and muster the courage to move forward and make the first few steps.  If you keep working at it, soon you'll see the fruits of your hard work. 

I made a poster and thought of sharing it with you and hoping that it will help you reach for your goals.

Version 1

I got my inspiration from the words of Brendon Burchard, an excellent motivational speaker and best selling author. Listen to his podcast and other online videos available for free on YouTube such as this video "Start Something That Matters". You'll learn a lot from him. I did! :)

I made two versions. The first version starts with "Please, my friend,".  This version speaks to me like a friend is talking to me,helping me focus on my goals. It is more personal. The second version is more universal, without the words "Please my friend".

Whatever poster you'll choose or even if you will not use any, I am just happy to have shared it with you -its thoughts and the source of the words, Brendon Burchard, whom I hope will also inspire you.

You have what it takes!

God bless your dreams! :)

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family

God has given us Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Through their family we have been saved. We have been blessed. 

God has also given us our family - our mother, father, brothers and sisters. No family is perfect, but God made it perfect for us as we have been made perfect according to His will.

Each member of the family is a blessing to one another. Trust God that He knows what He was doing when He placed you into your family. God loves you.

This coming year 2016, I pray that God's blessings will flow in abundance into your family. May He unite you in His love and grant you the grace to look for what is good in each other rather than what is not. May your household be filled with faith, hope, love and kindness always. 

Everything is truly a blessing!

Everything is a blessing.  Let us trust God that whatever comes our way is a blessing. 

A failure may just be a nudging to lead you to a better direction... 

A heartache may just be a wake-up call to help you see things clearly... or to help you define what you really want in life...

A missed bus may just be a blessing in disguised to keep you safe or to give you a better seat.

A co-worker who often irritates you might just be a God sent gift to exercise your patience and to make a better person out of you. :)

There are more examples to help you see everything as a blessing, but it all boils down to trusting God -in our greatest joy and in our deepest sorrow. 

Be at peace knowing that whatever comes your way, you have a God whom you can count on, a God who has great plans for you, a God who will never leave you and a God who is greater than anything. :)

You may want to listen to the song Sovereign by Chris Tomlin