My Unseen Blessings-A Reflection

As I am waiting for my boarding time, I cannot wait to tell you about my experience on how I was blessed.
There were so many of them that I don't know how to start this.


My Fist Blessing


This is the first Christmas that I did not do some Christmas shopping.  I don't have enough budget to buy gifts for my family.  But I wished and was hoping that I would have something to give even just to my small pamangkins.  They might be expecting something from their tita.  But I could not afford it.

On the morning of my departure, one of my friends texted me asking when would we meet again. Then I told her that we would be celebrating our Christmas party by January when I return to Manila.
She told me that we need to meet because she had to give me her gifts to my pamangkins! Wow! She have gifts for my pamangkins! They  would really be very happy.  Although it's not from me, that would not matter to them. So, I hurriedly went to our meeting place (at Jollibee).


Finally we met, and she gave a bag of gifts. I was very much grateful to her. She even treated me for a free meriyenda at Jolibee.  Wow! Double blessing! We chatted and exchanged a few laughs.  I had a most heartwarming meryenda with her.


"God is truly a great God. He is full of surprises."


My Second Blessing


It was a bit late when I went back to our house to finish up packing.  Finally, I was finished at around 2pm.  My flight was 4:35pm.  So I need to be there by 3pm.  I went out to get a cab, but it was difficult to get one.  I prayed to God for the right cab.   I just relaxed myself - in full trust to God that He will give me one. I was thankful that my prayer was answered at once. And He gave me a really kind driver.

There was light traffic, so I arrived early at the airport. The line was not too long, but the service was slow, due to the overbaggage of the other passengers. So, when it was my turn, I was a bit exhausted and nearing to getting irritated.  Finally, it was already my turn. I'm glad that the transaction for my boarding pass was not that complicated since I had only 1 check-in baggage and it was really light.  I finished quick and I went to the final checking of the baggage.  Suddenly the lady checking our things asked me to remove the umbrella inside my bag.  So, I removed it, and she snatched it from me.  She told me that umbrellas are not allowed and that it was already confiscated! She dropped my umbrella inside a container below the table.  I was really shocked and angry at the same time at that very instance. I asked her if I could get my umbrella, and that I would be checking it in.  She agreed, so, I took it from the container and went back to the check-in counter.  I told the teller that I did not know that umbrellas are not allowed to be hand carried.  He confirmed and told me that it was prohibited to hand carry any umbrella.  So, I told him to check-in this.  He told me that I need to place it inside a bag.  I said, "what????!!!?? I don't have any extra bag!"  He asked me to use my other bag that I was carrying with me.  I said that I don't want to check in that bag.  Fortunately, I recalled that I still have the bag of gifts.  So, finally, I agreed to check-in my other bag. But I was able to remove the stuff first inside this bag and transfer it to the bags with the gifts inside.  The bag of gifts was a double blessing to me.

My Third Blessing


As I was finally finished and was starting to leave the counter, I noticed an ID and a paper on the counter table.  When I looked at it, it was my ID and my printed ticket!  I did not know that I forgot to take back my ID after my initial check in! That means that if my umbrella was not confiscated, I would have lost my ID plus my printed ticket! Wow! That means that God used that incident for me to go back to the counter.


"Our trials are God's way to lead us to the right path."


My Reflection


Whatever happens to us, whether trials or blessing, let's not miss the point.  In doing so we won't miss the blessing after the trial.  I thank God that His message to me is still clear.  Although I still have the compulsion of complaining. But after that, I still get His message.  God's love for me still reigns in me.
I know these things that I told you are just petty things.  But it gave me clear messages of God in action in me.  That even on small things, God never left me. God was, is, and will always be with me.

My Prayer


Dear Lord,  I praise You Oh Lord for all the wonderful things that you are doing in my life.
Thank you, for giving me a clearer vision amidst the clouds of trials that I am going through right now.  Thank you Lord for clarity and peace in my heart and my soul.  You truly are worthy of all praises. You truly are my Lord.  Though unworthy of your Love, you still Love me anyway. And I thank you for that.

People Changes When Tipped

"I don't need money." My friend blurted that out to me one day as we were out eating our diner.  She was telling me that she wanted to try out new things.  So, I suggested to her if she would want to earn extra income.  I told her she can start her own business. 


My Past


I recalled that those were somewhat the same words that I was uttering during my employment period.  I had a very "stable" job at that time.  And my salary was more than enough for me. I was able to travel to different places. I was able to take my vacation. Sometimes I would treat my friends. I also have some savings, but it was not really increasing that much. I have some investments too. I also practiced living (as much as possible) a simple life. Living below my means. I would say, I had a really comfortable life. When I saw people having difficulty in their finances, I would always have that idea that they just don't know how to manage their finances.  Or maybe they were not blessed because they did are not good people. Or I would say, they don't have enough faith. 


Having my own business didn't came across my mind during my employment years.  I didn't know what kind of business was for me during that time.  And I was thinking that business was not for me.  I just would like to sulk in my computer chair in front of my computer the whole day.  As long as I am comfortable and safe in my office.  Not minding of other people's business.  Not minding at all wether people needs my help or not. I was very indifferent at that time.  "As long as I am doing my job, and am not inflicting pain on other people." That was my motto before.  I don't have the heart of helping others. I was just minding my own business.  Maybe the reason for this was that I could not empathize on other people's in needs. As long as I was doing my job, I believed that I was safe at least financially. Anyway, I don't know how to help the people that are financially drained.  I don't want to give them my financial help because I did not want them to depend on me. 


That was how I lived my life and that was how I saw life, until my big fall came.  


My Change of Perspective


I received a retrenchment notice the very first day of the year (January) that I reported in the office.  It was a shocking news. But I was able to accept this sad news really quick.  That was the day that I realized that my job was really a temporary one.  And that this job would have an end.  That "stability" is not real in terms of "job". 
It taught me that there is a need for us to build the right financial foundation while we still can.  Since I was out of job, we tried out doing business. We received our separation pay, so my friends and I were able put up a new business venture. But we are very new in doing business. We were not able to do it right in the first time.  It is really difficult to start a business with a very limitted resources.  I also had to weigh this business if this was in line with my core gift.


Doing the very first business was really tough one.  We were immersed in the world of the small time vendors.  It is a very tedious and very physical work.  We became part of this society and environment.  I thought that this was an easy thing to do.  But I was wrong.  It is a very hard work and requires very straineous activities.  From ordering stocks, to lifting these stocks to the store.  From physical inventory to computation of actual sales.
I saw with my very own eyes, how small time vendors strive to survive with their daily needs.  With their not so big income.


My Wake Up Call


I think this was a way of God telling me to wake up.  To wake up and see the reality surrounding me. So many people in need, yet very few people care enough to help.  While I was having struggles, I could see people also having struggles.  And I saw many people too indifferent to help.  Too engrossed with their own lives.  Too engrossed with their own small problems. These people just don't stop to help.  They don't even look at the people in distress.  I would often times hear people say, "I work hard to be able to meet my family's needs.  Why don't these poor people work also?" Instead of saying, "How can I extend my help to them? How can I love these people?" Instead of thinking of a way to help the people in distress, they would rather spend their energy complaining at these people.


I believe that most of these poor people once strived to work in order to live and just gave up.  They gave up because they no longer did not know what to do.  They just gave up because people refuse to help them. 
A visous cycle.  Because people won't help them, that's why they give up.  People won't help them because they now refused help. If people will try to help them, they no longer want that kind of help.  Instead they would prefer to beg. Only a few people would take time to really help them.  To sit down with them.  To love them.


A Big Hope 


After all these financial difficulties, I was lead to different seminars.  These seminars nourished my knowledge about life and how to live it.  Seminars on how to be successful in all areas of my life.  I digested every word that I've heard. I found a passion on sharing these new knowledge to others. But I was not contented with this.
I was looking for more. 


And then finally, I was able to attend one particular seminar.  This seminar gave me another big hope in truly helping mankind - financially distressed or not.  Helping people to be out of financial problems.  Helping people to be equipped with the knowledge on how to build a stable financial foundation while they still have the means to produce income.  This seminar taught me the value of money.  What is the most stable financial foundation.  And how to achieve this stability.  I found out that there are still establishments that truly helps people who are in need.  That there are still very dedicated people out there who spends their time educating us on financial literacy. 


Here are some things to ponder about.
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Do we need to experience these things for us to help people?
Do we need to experience these things for us to change?
Do we need to experience these things for us to empathize on the people in need?


Why can't we learn from people that have experienced these things?
Whe do we need to have a tipping point in order for us to have a change of heart?
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Don't wait for things to happen to you.  Make a decision to make things happen- improve your financial literacy.


If you are interested on learning on what should be the basic and stable financial foundation, and how to achieve this, there are free seminars conducted on this.


To know more of these free seminars, send me a message now. My email address is yzero8_norm@yahoo.com.


Share this story to your friends if you think your friends can benefit on this.


You can also read this.
Why Business Fails
The Seminar That Changed Everything

Why A Business Fails - MOP

So why does a business fails? "My Own Opinion"


One day, a woman named Nene decided to place an ice cream stand in one of the malls located near her home.  She thought it was a great business. She saw lots of kids going inside the mall.  And the location was a great spot. There were no other ice cream stand yet. So for a few months, she had a good sales. She borrowed some more money and bought 2 more ice cream stands. She placed them on other strategic locations - in a school and outside a playground. Nene was really happy for a while. 

Six months later, someone placed an ice scramble stand near Nene's ice cream stand. Several months after, there were already 2 ice scramble stand, and another ice scream stand. Nene could no longer meet her sales.  She could hardly pay her rent and salary for her crew.  She could not even pay the supplier of her ice cream.  A few months after, she decided to close her 3 ice cream stand.  She has now a big debt.


If we want to be successful in a business, we need mentors or people who are also successful in that area. But for some small scale businesses, specially for starters, people tend to do the same concept as the concept of the successful business.  And worst is, they would do this business within the location of the original concept.  This would divide the earning of the original concept with the second same concept.   


Learn From Success and Failures


People just don't get it.  I'm actually confused as to why they tend to do this.  This kind of setup would 
eventually lead not just to loss of sales but to chaos.  Despite the result, they still do it anyway. Why?  What 
is the psychology behind this? What's the logic behind this behavior?  Is there any way we can avoid this kind of scenario?  

One of the best reason I can think of


Most of us don't see or appreciate our very own uniqueness.  If we see other people succeed, we would copy them. We are in constant lookout on what is the trend and not on what we are capable of doing.  We would try to imitate. Then when things does not go the way we wanted it to happen, we tend to get depressed.  We tend to tell ourselves that we are no good. 


We are created differently from each other.  That is the beauty of an individual. But we don't see it.  We are 
blinded by the fact that others are successful and we are not.  We don't pause and reflect.  What is my purpose?  

What should I be doing?  Instead, we are busy thinking on why we fail. We tell ourselves that we already did what the successful person did, but yet we still failed.  We ask ourselves the question, "What's wrong with me?  Why am I not good enough? Am I really that dumb?"


People would label you as "Slow" or "dumb" if you don't get what they teach you.  Or they would label you as 
"tamad" or "lazy" if you don't do anything. I myself have experienced being "tamad" and "slow" in my work.  I 
usually get really sleepy when I am doing things  I don't want to do or am not interested in.  Some "lazy" people 
fail to explore what they really are built to do.  The reason is, we are focused on the things that others do 
great.  We don't see what we are capable of doing the best. And because of this, we miss our true joy.


Another blinding factor is our financial status.  And guess what? I am in this situation right now.  It has been 
10 months that I am out of job. This is causing me great panic.  My finances is depleting as time goes by, and I still don't see any glimmer of hope as to when would this episode of my life end. I told myself - I need a job! 
I started applying for a job, for this month, And I was able to apply to 3 companies. All 3 job offers rejected me within 1 month.  I felt like a total loser.  


The next question would be, how then would you know what's in store for you?  How would you find your core gift?  Your life's purpose? My answer is this. If you have not discovered it yet, discover it.  Look for opportunities. Or you can say yes to every opportunity that comes.  Try it out.  If it doesn't work for you, try another.  And another. Don't stop searching.  Don't stop trying. Until you find your heart's desire. And if you have found it, stop doing the insignificant things, and stay focused on this one thing. Develop this, and you will see great things happen in your life.  This is so, because you are doing your life's purpose. 


Here are some things to ponder. I forgot from whom I got these quotes :
--------------------------------------------------------
There's still hope for me today  
Rejection or failure is redirection.
Don't miss what your life should be all about.
Still searching for your right path? Enjoy every moment :)
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Here's another question.  Are you the person who have not found your core gift yet?  Your very purpose or mission yet? If so, then I have some recommendations for you. 


For more information on this, you can email me @ 
yzero8_norm@yahoo.com.


Have a meaningful and joyful life!


You can also read
People Changes When Tipped
The Seminar That Changed My Life

Prayer and Life Workshop (PLW) - My Very Own Testimony

It has been 10 months now since my retrenchment.  I haven't updated this blog for several months now, since I was too preoccupied with lots activities.  I felt so blessed during those months since I learned a lot of new things.  I believe that in order to become truly successful, I have to be successful in all areas of life - physically, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and financially.  With God's grace, I was able to meet new mentors in my life.  I now have a mentor in  all areas of my life.  I have a mentor for my health, another mentor for my spiritual growth, another one for my finances,  another for my emotional growth, and one for my intellectual growth. Just like our very own Manny Pacquiao, he also has a mentor.  If we want to become a champion, we must also be mentored by mentors.  By the way, he just won in today's fight with Antonio Margarito.  Another reason for us Filipinos to be proud on our country.  But what about the rest of us?  Are we contented in watching others win?  Don't we want to become champions ourselves?  Right now, I am  planting seeds in all areas of my life, with the aid of my mentors.  I believe that these seeds, with proper care and nourishment, would grow and bear many fruits.  

PLW (Prayer and Life Workshop)


One seed that I planted was the PLW.  This -  Prayer and Life Workshop - changed my life.  I haven't submitted a testimony on this (as requested), so I'll just write my very personal testimony during this whole workshop here. Though I've shared some of these verbally during our graduation rites.


This was a 15-day workshop and was held every Wednesday 7pm behind St. Francis Parish along Shaw Boulevard.  We started this last September and we just had our graduation today at Holy Spirit, BF Homes, QC.  I felt a bit sad that the workshop is over.  I would be missing this activity tremendously.


Desert Day

Our "graduation rites" is called Desert Day.  It was held just this morning.  It started 7am and ended around 4pm.  The night before our graduation, I set my alarm to 4:30am, so that I could start really early to prepare everything.  Unfortunately, I did not hear the alarm.  Good thing, my friend sent me a message in my mobile but it was already 6:30 am!  I heard the message tone, and suddenly rose up from my sleep.  I hurriedly took a bath (still very dizzy), dressed up, and went off.  It was good that traffic was very light since it was still early.  We arrived at the site around 7:30 am.  

We rang the doorbell outside the gate, but no one was answering.  We waited for a little while since there was a message posted at the gate to wait a little while for the gate to be opened.  We just read our assignments while waiting.  After a few minutes, there was still no answer.  My friend excused herself and went across the street to blow her nose (she had a cold at that time).  She saw that there was another gate.  

Thanks to her colds, we were able to go inside the correct gate.  My reaction?  I thank God that He made a way for us to be in the right gate.

If you ask me what would be my reaction on that situation if I haven't had the PLW, I would have had been pissed off, or would not have felt good.  PLW changed my life tremendously, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be in that workshop.  It gave me a different perspective in life.  It gave me reasons to thank God amidst my trials and adversities. 

 It made me more reflective, and calm.  My prayers are now making sense and are interconnected with my life.  Yes, I still experience trials and pains. I still experience downfalls and still submits sometimes to temptations.  But with God's grace, I am now stronger.  With God within me and I in Him, I know that everything will just fall into its right place.  

The workshop made me love God, love God's words through the bible, love the people around me.  There is more love in me than before I had the PLW.


I believe that God has a big plan for all of us, and PLW is a great instrument that would lead us to the right path where the big plan is being prepared.

I do hope PLW will be spread all over the Philippines, specially in the provinces, and all over the world as well.  God gives tools and instruments to be closer to Him.  And I thank Him for giving PLW to me.
So if you happen to read this, and there is an opportunity for you to join this workshop, I encourage you to join.  I'm very much certain that it will greatly affect your life, as well as it did in mine.  If you are interested on this, I found a facebook fan page on this.  You can click here
There is also another site you can visit:
About The Prayer And Life Workshops
Prayer And Life Workshops Philippines



To God Be The Glory!

Awaken The Healer In You - Part IV - Nourishment (Video)

One big message for this part of the series Awaken The Healer in You is YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

Daniel 1:11-15 "Test us for 10 days," he said. "Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare us with the young men who are eating the food of the royal court..."  He agreed to let them try it for 10 days.  When the time was up, thy looked healthier and stronger than all those who had been eating the royal food."

Our physical body needs nourishment which includes eating proper nutritious food.  We seldom forget this particular message.  We just remember eating nutritious food when we finally get really sick.  Should we wait for this to happen to us?  

Watch Bo Sanchez as he explains what proper food should we eat so we could remain truly healthy.

Once again, thank you to the kerygma family for sharing this wonderful message.

Enjoy and be blessed!

Awaken The Healer In You - Part III - Relationships (Video)

This part of the Awaken The Healer in You has one big message:  ONLY LOVE HEALS.
Love is food for our soul.


Proverbs 12:18 - "Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal." 


Through experience, I usually get sick whenever I have a problem with my relationship with my friends or my family.  My stomach easily gets upset and finally I end up having hyper acidity or endless coughs. 


We need to strengthen in all aspects of our relationship (in our physical world as well as spiritual world) if we want to attain a really healthy body and a sound mind.


Watch Bo Sanchez as he explains this in detail.  Enjoy and get refreshed in God's words through Bo Sanchez.

Again, I would like to thank Kerygma Family for sharing this in the Youtube.

Watch out for the next episode of this series, Awaken The Healer In You!

T3 The Secret Of Big Returns - Invite This AUGUST

I'm really excited on  Bo Sanchez's  next talk series - T3 - The Secret of Big Returns.  The series will start this August of 2010.  Again, another wonderful nourishment for our body and our soul.  There are 14 local feasts that would be sharing this series.  So, if you are residing near the following area, you are one lucky person!

Why do I say lucky?

The First Reason - you will be attending The Feast! The Happiest Place On Earth!

The Second Reason - This is ABSOLUTELY FREE!

The Third Reason - You can gain MORE FRIENDS.

The Fourth Reason - You can gain MORE KNOWLEDGE.

The Fifth Reason - You will be blessed in all aspect of your life - Physically, Emotionally, Spiritually, Financially, Intellectually..

The Sixth Reason - You'll get to know our Good Lord in our daily lives.

The Seventh Reason - You'll have FUN!

AND THE GREATEST REASON: YOU'LL LEARN THE SECRET OF BIG RETURNS!

So come, join us, and bring your family and friends with you!

RECEIVE BIG RETURNS AT A FEAST NEAR YOU!

PICC
Series Starts August 1, 2010
When     : Every Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 a.m.
Where    : PICC, Pasay City
Contact  : 726-8951 / 726-3929
                feastmail@gmail.com

PASIG
Series Starts August 8, 2010

When     : Every Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 nn or 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where    : Valle Verde Country Club (Beside ULTRA)

Contact  : 726-8951 / 726-3929

                feastmail@gmail.com

ORTIGAS

Series Starts August 9, 2010

When     : Every Monday 7:30 p.m. - 900 p.m.

Where    : Roofdeck, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Ave.

Contact  : 920-1282 / 0917-7949552

                

MAKATI

Series Starts August 5, 2010

When     : Every Thursday 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Where    : AIM Conference Center,  Benavidez cor Paseo de Roxas, Makati City

                (in front of Greenbelt 1)

Contact  : 0915-3333924

                loj.makatifeast@gmail.com

MANILA

Series Starts August 6, 2010

When     : Every Friday 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Where    : Cinema 4 SM Manila (near City Hall)

Contact  : 0917-8045630 / 216-7719

                feastmanila@gmail.com

QUEZON CITY

Series Starts August 7, 2010

When     : Every Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 nn

Where    : Convention Hall, Bureau of Soils, Visayas Ave, Q.C.                

Contact  : 0918-9062791

                feastqc@gmail.com

SOUTH

Series Starts August 8, 2010

When     : Every Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Where    : Cinema 10, Festival Mall, Alabang                

Contact  : feastsouth@gmail.com

           

BINAN

Series Starts August 7, 2010

When     : Every Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where    : 2/F Activity Center, Pavillion Mall, Binan, Laguna                

Contact  :  0918-9901811 / /0918-9489454 

lagunafeast@gmail.com

MARILAO

Series Starts August 7, 2010

When     : Every Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Healing Services : 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 

Where    : Cinema 2, SM Marilao, Bulacan                

Contact  :  0917-8398830 

loj.marilaofeast@gmail.com

BUSTOS

Series Starts August 7, 2010

When     : Every Last Sunday 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where    : San Isidro Labrador Parish, Liciada, Bustos, Bulacan                 

Contact  :  0917-4358746 / 0922-8190198 

feastbustos@gmail.com

BALIUAG

Series Starts August 7, 2010

When     : Every Saturday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Where    : Cinema 1, SM Baliuag, Bulacan                 

Contact  :  0917-4358746 / 0922-8190198 

RIZAL

Series Starts August 8, 2010

When     : Every Sunday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Where    : Valley Fair, Taytay, Rizal                 

Contact  :  0918-9859229 

VALENZUELA

Series Starts August 15, 2010

When     : Every Sunday 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where    : Cinema 1, SM Valenzuela, Valenzuela                 

Contact  :  0917-5789554 

ANGELES

Series Starts August 15, 2010

When     : Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the Month 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Where    : Professional Bldg., Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City                 

Contact  :  0917-5332756 

SEE YOU THERE!  

For More Information, call (02)725-9999.

Or you can POST A QUESTION/COMMENT for more information.