Allowing God to Work on Your Behalf

As I was having my quiet moments after a day’s work, I recalled that it was exactly today a year ago, I posted this thought for the day on my FB wall:

“What is success? A big salary…an impressive title…a corner office?

True success goes beyond the trappings of wealth, power, and prestige – it’s honoring God in the workplace, whether you’re the CEO or the summer intern.

And when honoring God, your work has greater meaning and satisfaction.”

I am so grateful to God that He’s been always there for us in season and out of season, in good and bad times, when we are happy or sad, when we have distractions at times about anything that happens unexpectedly…And when you know your stand, you can still smile your troubles away…For with God on your side, and you take your strength from Him, it’s easier than you think to turn bad energy into good ones! Just learn to give everything to the Lord and you will be blessed to see that in whatever endeavor you’ll have, you will find greater meaning and satisfaction.

So if you’re looking for a productive way to spend your day, stop for some time. Allow yourself  to let your life unfold before you. Boring or exciting, happy or sad, the day is going to be whatever it’s going to be, and you can’t change it. Life has an important lesson to teach man: Every once in a while, you need to be able to give up a little bit of your control and allow the Lord to surprise you for whatever plan He has for you. Allow God to work on your behalf.

Let us be then inspired to do our best in whatever situations we are in as we stand in the promises of God in Jeremiah 29:11-14 that says:

“…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 future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and i will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. i will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity or will restore your fortunes. i will gather you from all the nations and places where i have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which i carried you into exile.”

A blessed day everyone… 🙂 SMILE Jesus cares for you!!!

SIMPLY ME

A Test of Character

After my training in the Special Course on Dairy Production and Management, I anticipated a life of success and prestige. I had plans of going to New Zealand or UK and never thought that God could have a different plan. I had never expected of any future trips to Thailand…

When I get to Bangkok, I was confident to get a promising career. I wasn’t prepared for any disappointment. But in my disappointment, it was God’s appointment… I went for a teacher training course in one of the universities in Thailand to prepare myself for a teaching job appointment, only to find out that there were “farangs” who did not undergo the training but were given priorities just because they are native speakers of the English language and not to mention some were just the so-called backpackers who got hired. Much to my surprise, there were those who didn’t even have any education units but were hired and yet, here I am, with the qualifications they required; from a BS degree in Education, a teacher’s license and an almost perfect TOEIC Thailand exam result is here without a job! What a racial discrimination! Asian teachers rank only second when it comes to job hiring priorities.

Tears rolled down my cheeks for the fate I had, with so much frustrations and humiliation. God was not finished with me yet. A friend offered me a job back home to have as much as I would be getting in Bangkok. I love the idea of being at home, and be with my family. However, my heart was against the thought of going home without money. How would I face my family and friends, admitting to them my inadequacies? What about my status quo? What about my ego? Am I not really worthy to work in Thailand? I was battling with the pride of my life. It’s humbling me in the process!!! It was at this point of my life, that in my quiet time I submitted to God’s will and He spoke to my heart through a verse in Isaiah that says, ”I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

Despite the hurts, I knew I needed to humble myself before God and man. I realized that I have to live in Bangkok for a time to allow Him to deal with my life especially my pride. A time of character molding and preparing me for something great in the future. My character was more important to Him than anything He would want me to achieve. I learned to cast all my cares, my anxieties, my worries, my disappointments, my EVERYTHING in God’s hands.

Amidst the excitement of going home, I was met with another surprise. I was called to report to the school and was asked to sign a contract that very same day without even being interviewed. God’s timing is always perfect! A promising career was right there waiting for me just at the right time when I have given in my will to God’s will.

From then on, the Lord allowed me to feel compassion for my students. I couldn’t imagine myself managing a group of students with different cultures, different problems to deal with, struggling with language barriers… It was really a tough time for me at first. But God was there for me, my ever help in trouble, my joy and my strength. Somehow, the Lord reminded me why I had to undergo all those pains before getting the job. It was a matter of testing my character…teaching me to lean on Him in all circumstances. I learned to trust in the Lord from day to day.

It didn’t take me too long, I could see changes in the attitudes of the students, I gained the respect of a teacher that I had been praying for. One step at a time, God changes lives. Every day is a challenge…but with God all things are possible.

From EFL, I was moved to teach 2nd Grade up to the present. My 3-5 months probationary period was shortened to a month-long and I got a permanent work status. Wow! What an awesome God I have! I was not only blessed with smart, lovable kids to work with but I was placed in a workplace where I felt I belong. Where we are matters, the Lord simply reminds us of our purpose wherever we are…we may wonder why we are in such a place in a certain time…it’s because where we are matters. It’s God’s appointed time and place… 😀

There’s So Much to Be Thankful For

A colleague sent me a message in lantalk asking: “If you knew that today is the last day of your life, what will you do differently?”

Without a doubt and hesitation I replied, “Praise and thank God for my life….” I smiled while sending back my reply because I knew I made my answer right.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says “Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life….”

Each one of us may have different levels of experiences at different times. If I am to ask you now, how would you react to this? Of course, when we are happy, it’s so easy for us to say “Thank you Lord.” Maybe for some, by expressing through singing, dancing or prancing around and tell everyone you meet how happy you are.

But what if it’s on a different level? When you are in tough situation, can you still say “Thank you Lord for all my troubles?”The Bible says, “Be thankful in season or out of season.”

As my son Justin was in the hospital emergency room during his accident, the doctor said he needed a surgery. Before I talked to the doctor I told my son to pray with me. And part of my prayer was “Lord thank you that everything will be fine with him because you are in full control of this situation.” And indeed God made a way for him and no surgery ever happened.

Just recently, the Immigration Officer withheld him at the Nong Khai border. But in less than 10 minutes after we prayed for him, the officer allowed him to leave with the group he was traveling with. Not only that, he was given a note for the officer at the Thai Embassy in Laos to grant him a 90 days visa when others had only 15 days visa. Isn’t it something to be thankful for?

Some days we forget to look around us. Some days we can’t see the joy that surrounds us. Why? It’s because we are so caught up inside ourselves… Indeed, it’s up to us to be the change. Even though we all can still do more, yet there’s so much to be thankful for.

As we look beyond ourselves, let us try to see the many instances, when God gave us such abundant blessings we need to be thankful for…blessings of love, life, family and friends, our career, our plans and dreams. If we do, we certainly can say there are not enough right words to express how thankful we are for each day, hour, minute or second that we live.

P.S. Thanks to Ms. Joanne Rose for asking me a thought provoking question because you inspired me to write this article. 🙂

<a href=”http://“>

Be Still

The past days was quite tough for me. A not-so-good health, a lot of activities like paper works, class works and the changing climate that makes it worse. I only wanted to stay in bed but when I was lying down my brain won’t let me sleep. So many plans, so many things to ponder upon. Then last night I woke up and sat by the study table, not knowing what to do. I just keep quiet for some time staring blank at the laptop but when I grabbed a hold of my cellphone, my fingers quickly browsed the Bible apps and there I found the verse that says “Be still, and know that I am God…” Another chapter of Psalm says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” What an uplifting word from the Lord!
Instead of playing my favorite popcap game as I always do when I don’t feel like sleeping, I just bent my knees beside my bed and started praising the Lord until I felt his presence all over me. I felt all my worries, my fears, my anxieties concerning myself, my family, my career and everything and anything that bothered me for some time had left without saying goodbyes. Now I knew I won’t have to fret for what tomorrow will be for the Lord is always there for me. All I need is to seek him and give my utmost for his highest, my great and mighty Lord. He deserves our praises and all he wanted is for us to praise him in good and bad times, in everything, in season or out of season and surely he will never leave nor forsake us. He has all the best of the blessings in store for us and all we need is to unlock the storeroom through prayers and praises to him. Try it yourself and see what God can do for you too!!!