Work is worship
I was never a performer. I was the rebellious type obsessed in defying authority. But my spiritual life transformed how I work.
First, God changed my mindset towards work. That work is worship. Every work is a calling. Suddenly blinders were shattered. I no longer work for a lousy boss, I work for God. I’m no longer paid by a world-renowned bank; God gives me stewardship on every amount that enters my ATM. I’m no longer watched by CCTV cameras; God’s eyes are on me as I do my job. I no longer have to make an appointment to speak to our HR or Compliance Officer each time I have a complaint; I can call on my Chairman 24/7. I no longer feel afraid that one day these outsourcing companies will take our jobs away and bring them back to their own country, God is my ultimate CEO. And when I have urges to slack off, to be late a little, to have a little bit of overbreak, I remember the generosity of my God and how He rightfully deserves to be honored in everything that I do.
It’s quite a mindset blowup!
In 2011, I asked my small groups to pray that I will have good stats. Good stats meant incentives. Unfortunately, I stayed not far from rank 50 out of 50 employees because I just didn't like what I do.
So we prayed for my stats. But I mistakenly assumed that just because I’m a child of God, my stats would work for me…without really doing anything. I prayed and prayed and nothing happened.
I came running back to God asking what went wrong.
He lovingly showed me that He was trying to give me opportunity to:
add another skill set,
exert effort,
be creative,
be persevering.
I came running back to God asking what went wrong.
He lovingly showed me that He was trying to give me opportunity to:
add another skill set,
exert effort,
be creative,
be persevering.
To make long story short, I rose from top 50 to top 10 towards the beginning of 2012.
When I shared this testimony to those people who prayed for me, I began with, if I ask God for extra money at work and He uses Chase to give me bonus, it’s so easy to think Chase as the Giver.
But God did more than that.
He made sure I know at the deepest part of my heart that what happened to me is beyond any human’s doing. He transformed my heart towards work. Chase can’t do it for me. I can’t do it for myself. My small group can’t do it for me. He gave me joy in what I do. He strengthened me. He encouraged me. He didn't stop reminding me lovingly of my dreams and encouraged me to be patient where I’m at.
But God did more than that.
He made sure I know at the deepest part of my heart that what happened to me is beyond any human’s doing. He transformed my heart towards work. Chase can’t do it for me. I can’t do it for myself. My small group can’t do it for me. He gave me joy in what I do. He strengthened me. He encouraged me. He didn't stop reminding me lovingly of my dreams and encouraged me to be patient where I’m at.
The result? The numbers and the blessings paled in comparison to how He completely changed my work life.
God gradually averted my focus on getting incentives. He did not take away the money, He simply destroyed the motivation I am getting from it. So now I am motivated to work because I want to make God proud, to please Him. And blessings poured and it’s always more than enough. I enjoyed it but not as much as the joy I find IN him alone. I am enjoying Him in everything I do.
God gradually averted my focus on getting incentives. He did not take away the money, He simply destroyed the motivation I am getting from it. So now I am motivated to work because I want to make God proud, to please Him. And blessings poured and it’s always more than enough. I enjoyed it but not as much as the joy I find IN him alone. I am enjoying Him in everything I do.
I can’t disclose details of my job but my work has a lot to do with numbers that we can’t control. Too many times we gave our best efforts but the customers simply said no.
Except that I know that it’s not in their hands. It’s in my God’s hands. So instead of trying to please these customers and the demands of stats that are out of my control, I work to please the One who is in control. You don't pursue excellence in order to please God. That's backwards. You please God by honoring Him in every thing you do and excellence follows.
Looking back, one of the fatal misconceptions I had was that God doesn't give a rat about my career. As long as you're a good Christian, you do not need to bother God about your career, plans and dreams.
How wrong, how wrong!
I don't know about you but that speaks a whole lot about God caring about us!
I wouldn't be foolish to go to anyone or anywhere else but that one Person, the only One, who deeply wants me to soar and flourish. Not to mention that He's the only One able to do it.
Philippines
As much as bulok and a laggard of Asia the
Philippines has been, I'm a Christian first, Filipino second.
So it's easy to doubt that the president now can do what the others didn't.
But it's much easier to believe that change can happen because I have a great God who can redeem and restore a nation.
Bestseller--fifty shades of grey
Girl 1: Fifty Shades of Grey. I'm going to get a copy soon.
Girl 2: Don't. You deserve to treat yourself better than getting that book.
Girl 1: What's wrong with that? It's just a pocketbook. (Rolled eyes)
Girl 2: Here's what you should do before you buy that book.
Get a compilation of the old tabloid *Xerex. Keep it in your closet.
Read it when you're alone.
And if you can look at other people in the eye knowing you keep and read that copy, if you can maintain your dignity and can pray to God who commands us to be pure, knowing you keep clippings of Xerex, then by all means, buy Fifty Shades.
Xerex is a sex advice column in a Filipino tabloid. It became popular because of how it lewdly (and unmitigatedly) illustrated any sexual act featured in a story, totally with zero censorship.
A friend of mine bought a copy of the book “50 Shades of Grey” because it was on the bestseller list. It didn’t take her long to realize that it was a pornographic material and was compelled to dispose of it.
“Best-selling” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best for us to read.
1 Thes 4:3-6 says ”3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.”
It doesn’t matter how this book has topped the bestseller lists around the world. It is classified as an erotic novel, with graphic sexual scenes. It’s called “mommy porn” in the U.S. Anything that distorts God’s beautiful design for sex and any attempt on our part to experience sexual pleasure outside the boundaries of marriage is sexual immorality. God’s will is clear. We need to stay away from sexual sin. Impurity and sensuality are the works of the flesh and God’s word tells us to live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh.
I won’t even delve anymore on the ill effects of pornography on ourselves, on relationships and on society. Let me make it simple for you: Who is your Lord? Can you read the book and honestly say that God was pleased with your choice?
On a practical level, from the angle of of parenting, I wonder how effective I will be to my children as I constantly teach them to “guard their hearts and minds” if they see me reading such a material.
I pray that I will be like David who said in the Psalms “ I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”
Not Manolo Blahnik shoes or a Birkin Bag..
...but this is my treasure. My dreams. The second thing I live for.
Early this Sunday morning, I asked ate to be online on Skype. We spoke in soft voices because everyone was still asleep, or so she thought.
Then I shifted the webcam to my left, and everybody sang, "Happy Birthday!"
Instead of birthday wishes that vanish in the air, we all bowed down and offered our birthday dreams for my ate to the Lord who we enthrone in our family.
Beautiful Sunday. Beautiful Birthday. Owing to the great truth that everything we enjoy is blood-bought.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
- Psalm 34:3
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ATE!!!
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| jen making ate laugh |
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| taking their positions while I distract ate in Skype |
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| Offering our birthday wishes for ate to the Lord |
What makes me busy
Today, as I relish my day off, I realize that my facebook and internet activities are ABOUT the things that I value in my life.
God
Family
Relatives
Small group
Girlfriends
Kids Church
Education
These are where my time and energy and resources mostly go. Not via facebook literally, hehe.
So when there's an invitation that's not part of this list, they go to the bottom of my priorities. If an office mate would invite me to watch movies after work on a Saturday, I remember my nephew Nate who stays with us during the weekends and how I only have four opportunities in one month to build a relationship with him.
Or if cliques from high school would meet up for a drink on a night when I don't have to go anywhere, I imagine the expenses that can buy dinner for the family instead or that can buy something for a lonely tita that I care about.
See, there are things that I don't do in order to do well what I need to do.
We only have one life, 16 waking hours, two day off's a week and two paydays in a month.
And we would want to make the most of it.
What, get a life?
I am.
This is my life: God, my loved-ones, my dreams. These make me happy. To live a life dedicated to building relationships within my ability and magnify Jesus' Name in stewardship and relationships. And until He tells me to come and jump off the boat to a greater territory and greater responsibility, this is where I'm staying.
- For where your treasure is there your heart will be -
Luke 12:34
