Life Lessons in 2022

• Do not fear failure. Failure is not final. How we respond to failure will be one of life’s greatest point/s in life’s learning curves. The greatest failure is not trying.

• Fear (False Expectations Appearing Real). Majority of our fears don’t happen in real life. In other words, most times our fears are just all in the mind. Take that bold and courageous step. Do not allow fear to control your mind. Let your mind control your fear. Watch and see conquer milestones when you take a leap of faith.

• Be independent but dependent on the Lord. Independence develops your ability to care for yourself and help other people with the knowledge and abilities you develop in and through the process. It sets you up for further progress. Made me more mature and responsible in the areas of decision-making, financial responsibility, bills management, etc... It isn’t something that’s easily achieved. It takes hard work, time, money and most importantly, wisdom from God. 

• There is no easy business. The principle of “delayed gratification” never gets old and will bear fruit in its time. Do the dirty work in business (I’m not talking about illegal, immoral or unethical acts when I use the word dirty.) It can also mean doing the most “menial” things like cleaning, mopping your store full of dirt and dust, doing shipments by yourself with heavy shipments, going out of your way to meet a customer’s demand, etc…

• See problems in business as opportunities. Opportunities to learn, to grow, to expand, to be better at what you do. (credits to my mentor. Every time I encounter a problem, this mindset really helps me not to be overly stressed Lol!)

• Location is everything. Be willing to invest more for the best location.

• "How can you worship God when you have a victim mindset?". Forgiveness is a choice and it sets you free.

• Break spiritual strongholds, do not partner with them. Do not allow worldly influences of culture to write messages in our hearts. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

• We never know what’s going on behind open and closed doors or what’s happening on the inside. Don’t allow your experience biases to create a final judgment. Anything can happen. Life is full of surprises, twists and turns.

• Do not avoid difficult conversations. Welcome them. They might be exactly what you need. Whether at work or relationships, clarity helps you know your direction and direction helps you be congruent to your purpose.

• Don’t overthink. Overthinking leads to confusion and stress. “It is what it is” allows you to focus on the present and move forward from there.

• A closed door is not “closed” but an open door to what God has for you. What you think is rejection is actually His redirection for your life. Get excited! 

• Take things one day at a time. We don’t need to know all the details of every single thing. But we need to obey step by step. Step by step obedience allows me to be more dependent on God in every step.

• Stretch that mind. A mind stretched will be more open to new possibilities and will never be the same.

• Growth is never comfortable but always necessary. Discomfort is a catalyst for growth. What a scary thought it is to be in the same place (comfort zone) by choice for years. Give yourself grace and breathe through it.

• I learned to do the things I never thought I could WHILE scaling up my own business (i.e. managing a household, doing house chores, laundry, doing grocery, cleaning). When I learned to do what I used to give attention lightly, I realized that God has a way of making us grow in areas we overlook at so we can mature. God prepares us to increase us for greater capacity (for the next season? 🤣). 

• Anxiety lies. The anxious mind will have you believing things about yourself, your circumstances, and your future that are just not true. 

• The mind is the battleground where our enemy attacks us most. The greatest weapon for lies is God’s TRUTH. Always battle lies with God’s Word. No greater weapon than the Word of Truth.

• I’ve learned to love my Jerusalem and people better when I have accepted them and the situation fully. We cannot change people but we can choose to love them. And when we learn to love unconditionally, before God changes them, He changes us first and this is the greatest blessing.

• Ask for the fruit of the Spirit from the Lord every year. So late this year I asked for the fruit of joy and true enough I have learned to rejoice, pray and give thanks in every situation whether good or bad. (thanks again to my mentor)

• Humility goes a long way. In resolving conflict, do not just keep on pointing out a person's mistake. Learn to ask forgiveness with the intent of listening to understand not to preach which may invalidate a person’s feelings. When you learn to acknowledge and empathize with one’s vulnerability, you will be amazed how humility can deepen and strengthen friendship whether at work or a personal relationship. Doing the opposite won't help. 

• Communicate. Do not shy away from speaking your hurts. Don't pile them up. Do not keep “adjusting” for peace without communicating. Do not be a ticking time bomb waiting for buttons to be pushed until you explode. This is emotionally unhealthy, destructive and unwise. 

• Vulnerability is a sign of HUMILITY. When we admit that we are hurt, it’s actually saying “I am human with feelings and I’m willing to open up so I can do the next right thing."

• We all have childhood wounds. How we responded to hurt, pain and trauma in the past could also be the same today. Learn to unlearn imperfect modeling. Learn from Jesus. Look to Him.

• Developing self-awareness is just so important. It affects every area of our lives. When we are self-aware, we are able to understand our emotions and responses better. From there, we are able to recognize where our thoughts and emotions are leading us, and hence, make the necessary changes we need. Respond, Don't React. 

• Assume responsibility. I am responsible for my own actions and thoughts before God. 

• It’s okay to say no. Do not be a people-pleaser. Always take your shots from God. Not everyone will understand and they are not supposed to. It's okay to build healthy boundaries with the intention of guarding your joy and peace. This can also be how you practice self-love. 

• There is wisdom in choosing your inner circle and who you share it with. You don’t need a lot of voices. You only need God’s voice and a very handpicked Godly counsel. 

• Learning to love yourself without the affirmation of people is where peace and acceptance is found.

• Words of affirmation towards yourself are more powerful than anything someone else can say to you. Know your self. Know your worth. You are valuable because you are God's.

• Exercise and live healthy. Welcome those endorphins. Build healthy habits every year. 

• We don’t always have to speak to prove a point or to defend. There is blessing in silence. Nothing to prove, everything to improve. Learn from your mistakes and grow from there. 

• Guard your heart but don’t build walls. It’s about knowing your weakness and guarding from there. We all have different weaknesses and it’s different for everyone. Don't be afraid to love and be vulnerable as long as it's within God's boundaries, it's okay. 

• Let your actions speak louder than your words. Actions show real attitudes, rather than what we say.

• Inflation is real. Build hard assets. “Cash is King” yes but cash may only last up to one-two generations. But hard assets can save a generation up to the third or even fourth. (Just a personal learning. Not from a business book. I could be wrong in this.) 

• As women, sometimes we need to step back so someone can step up. Be an encourager and celebrate someone’s wins. You’ll be amazed at how the men in your life can reach his true potential when we focus on being an encourager and supporter. Rejoice with and for them.

• Hold everything loosely. People come and go. Things fade away and seasons change. The only one who stays is Jesus. Learn to be so content and joyful in the Lord that whatever happens in your life, in the highs and lows, your greatest delight is found in Him. 

• Be willing to try new things. Do not be closed-minded. What didn't work yesterday does not mean it won't forever. Have an open-mind.  Welcome unconventional ways. Set aside your own judgment. Put it on "suspense file" and see for yourself how we cannot put God's ways in a box. 

• Be more available and open. Be a Ruth. 

• Comparison is a thief of joy. Don't compare yourself with others. 

• There is joy in the present. Appreciate what you have. Focusing on what you don't have will end up in despair. 

• The greatest battles are won in surrender and through prayer. 

• "Pray for God's will". It's not always about what worked and what didn't, when we walk with the Lord there is the reality of God's sovereign will. Pray for it. Walk in it. (credits again to my mentor) 

Guard Your Heart Out of Faith, Not Out of Fear

Realized that I have been doing it wrong. I have been guarding my heart out of fear and not out of faith. I guard my heart because I am afraid to “fail” again. Because I no longer want to experience the same pain in the past. But I also realized that I should be guarding my heart not out of fear but out of faith.Now don’t get me wrong in this principle. There is a kind of fear that is beautiful, one that reveres God or being in awe of who God is. That is the kind of fear that we should apply and embrace in our lives because the fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom. 

But there is also a different kind of fear that we so often use in our daily lives. From the book I am currently reading “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek, the author explains how fear is a good motivator and a powerful manipulator. When fear is employed, facts are incidental. Parents use fear to raise kids. We often use fear to motivate people to obey a code of ethics. But all too often, it is not the systems that fail but the ability to maintain them.

Now if that kind of fear motivates us to move away from something horrible, faith lets us move toward something desirable. And this is what God has just revealed to me today with regards to matters of the heart specifically in relationships. I should guard my heart not out of fear but out of faith, believing that God knows and wants what is best for me. Fully trusting that His plans and His ways are always greater and higher. To guard my heart means giving room for God to truly give me His best, in His own terms and not mine.

I am a person of conviction. I stand firm in them believing that convictions help us focus on where we should be heading. A person without conviction will be led astray. Because if you don’t stand for anything, you will fall for everything.

But we need to have the right perspective on the Why. And one of the greatest convictions that I made ever since I followed God is the conviction of Guarding My Emotions. I realized that I failed several times in in this area because it was out of fear. My normal tendency is to “stay away” or “distance” myself because I did not want unnecessary emotions. Now it makes sense to me why I found myself either too distant or too open. Not finding the right balance. But now I learned (and still learning) that it is not just about the external (physical boundaries are healthy and necessary) but what is more important is the position of the heart.  And guarding your heart out of faith will enable you to find the right balance. 

It is important to have the right perspective so I can stand firm and sustain the boundaries I have set before God. Not too close, not too far. Just right especially before Him. Guarding my heart out of faith will enable me to see God’s goodness and His loving character. It will also make me hope in Him for the best and be truly expectant that He never gives less to His children but always the best.

Few nights ago, I had so much thoughts on my head. My emotions were all over the place as I lay my head to sleep. I had to intentionally stand up and kneel before God to speak to me loud and clear through His Word. I wanted to focus on Him, what He had to say and where He wanted me to be. And when God speaks, there is so much peace. 

It’s crazy how our desires can control our emotions and when this happens, it will cloud us from His goodness and His better plans for our lives. If you are going through something similar, do not be discouraged. It’s never too late to have a change of perspective. Guard your heart not out of fear but out of faith.Learn to process your emotions before God, acknowledge them but also submit yourself to the Lord and most importantly surrender to His will.

So today, I promise to you God that I  will no longer guard my heart out of fear but out of faith. Thank you Jesus for your never ending patience and Your faithfulness. Give me the grace to be faithful in this season, in this calling. Only You can satisfy my whole being. In You there is hope, peace and fulness of joy. I love you Lord. I am fully known and fully loved by You.

Sharing this verse from my quiet time today: 

“Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning (tricky).

But God himself will shoot them down with his arrows,

Suddenly striking them down.

They will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does.

The godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

Will praise him.” Psalms 64 (rephrased)

Right here, right now with You Lord is where I need to be. I can only move forward with so much excitement and hope in You, Lord! What is my desire compared to the SALVATION that you have oh so freely given?

Guard Your Heart Out of Faith, Not Out of Fear ! 

God bless, everyone!

March 5, 2019

Lessons in 2018

Can't remember the last time I've posted here. (Just checked and it was back in 2013!). Not into blogging and I can't sustain writing but finally decided to share my learnings  here! Also because I want to look back on these lessons and remember. 😊

• Just because it is good, it doesn’t mean it is good FOR ME. Not every open door and not every opportunity is from the Lord. Discernment is what sets leaders apart.  (Discernment is from the Lord! Pray and ask for wisdom).

• With regards to the matters of the heart (or my non-existent love life 😂), if it is God’s will, then God truly will. There is no need for me to “help” God or manipulate to make things happen. He allows everything to happen according to His plan and purpose.

• God doesn't give us everything that we want or look for in a man because God knows our hearts are idolatrous. The person will become our god more than God being our God. 

• God cares about the little details of my life such as the friendships, the people He sends in for me to look up to and learn from, the leaders and Godly counsel in my life... If He cares about these things what more with the big ones? such as ... my future life-partner 🤣 

• The enemy of GOD’s BEST is my own definition or standard of “GOD’s Best” or what’s good. I can easily discern what is right or wrong, good or bad. But it takes God’s grace for me to discern what is Good vs. Best. When I hold on to anything or anyone that is not bad but good. When my thoughts are there. When it clouds me from trusting that He knows the WHAT, WHEN, WHO is Best for me! Let go and let God be God! 

• Process every emotion with God! Don’t conceal! Come to God as RAW as you are. A woman’s weakness is her emotions. But the good news is that when I process and give my emotions to the Him, I experience Him more in a very personal way as my Father and as the Lover of my soul  

• As I grow in my Christian walk, I realized that God values my emotion and it is part of my worship. Don’t be so quick to brush it off just because it is the easier way. Acknowledge your emotion, be real with God but don’t submit to your emotion. Acknowledge your emotion, surrender then SUBMIT to GOD. 

• There is a difference between learning by head or heart. God doesn’t want me to be “robotic” nor self-sufficient. God allows me to be in places or situations wherein I will be at or be confronted by my weakness so that I will learn to turn this weakness into His strength. 

• God is so INTENTIONAL in everything! He knows the condition of my heart and where I really am not physically but spiritually. He knows EXACTLY where to get my full attention (the heart area). He tests me in unknown and undiscovered places so He can override my weakness and let me experience the fullness of His amazing grace. 

• Broken things become BLESSED things in the hands of the Lord! Never be afraid to share your brokenness. There is a kind of broken that is beautiful, one that is with God! 

• God did most of His marvelous work and miracles in the seemingly impossible situations in my life (heart, family business, family's health, finances, etc...) during my brokenness and in my weakness. So that when I look back, I one-hundred percent know it was God and for me to never take the credit. But to really experience G R A C E in weakness.  It is easy or casual to say "glory to God" when you're a Christian but it's another thing to experience Him in your weakness. Glory to God becomes so authentic and real.

• GOD HEALS and RESTORES! I will not always understand why I will go through pain. But one of the things God has revealed to me is that sometimes He allows it so that I will grow in my EMPATHY for others. This is how I can shine His light in their lives! When I learn to listen not with the intent to reply but to understand. 

• Stewardship is important. Everything I own and everything I have is from the Lord! WE GIVE SO WE CAN GIVE MORE - a financial principle I have learned from a book I’ve read this year. I should give not because I want more blessing but because I acknowledge that God is the Ultimate Blesser and Source! I give so I can give to others more knowing that the giver of everything good is God!

• Always go back to the WHY. It is not the how or what that sustains. A much more important question and  firm foundation is the WHY. When we know the WHY (why do we do things that we do), the WHY sustains everything including our walk with Him!  The what and how will just follow! (Not about what I can do but what He has already done for me! )

• Family is my greatest ministry next to God. Grateful that this season has really allowed me to spend more time with my family. Family can be challenging and messy in many ways but they are what’s permanent in this life. We can choose our friends but we can never choose our family. Be faithful in this area because God chose your family. You are not a good leader if you miss out on this area! Spend time, be available and value the gift of family.

• Saved by grace means not only being saved on the day I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior but saved from myself each and every single day, moment by moment. I realized that even if I am already a Christian, there are areas in my life that I am still struggling. Unspirit-filled responses, distracted mind, worldliness, etc... These areas SAVE and PROTECT me from spiritual pride if I use them to POINT ME back to God- I believe this is God’s saving grace for me! For me never to be self-sufficient but to always be dependent on Him! God knows we are prone to rely on our own strength when everything is okay! So if you have trials today, it's God grace for you and me. 

• The more I serve God, the more I should have an attitude of seeing my sinfulness so I can see His Holiness. We can never see His Holiness if we are so full of ourselves or full of the ''good'' things we do for Him. 

• I handle and lead our family business, I lead a group of women in church, I lead our employees and other areas that need my attention. To be honest, there were a few times that I would come to God in vulnerability and admit that the more I lead, the more I realize how I want to be led. I desire to be led by a man because of my life's responsibilities and be affirmed by someone. Someone to comfort and encourage me at the end of the day after pouring so much of me to other people. But the LORD never fails. When I surrendered this desire late this year (in B1G Catch), He spoke to me in a very personal way "EV, why do you want to be led by someone else when I am the one leading you? Why do you want to be affirmed when I see everything that you do. I love you and I have already chosen you and in spite of who you are,  I choose you. There is no greater affirmation than my love for you every single day."  

and a lot more lessons from the Greatest Teacher but closing this post with the verse I read during my quiet time on December 25 in the mountain.  This proverb really spoke to me from Proverbs 25:2. 

“It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.” 

How this spoke to me is that looking back in the past few years especially when I followed and obeyed God to be outside of my comfort zone, being in the family business and being not in Cebu majority of the time...I NEVER knew everything and I WILL NOT KNOW EVERYTHING.

Our minds are finite compared to an infinite God! 

But you know what the greatest blessing is? Next to His presence, is the PRIVILEGE to discover WHO God is in different seasons! To DISCOVER His attributes and character not by head but by heart. Because how will I know that He is a Healer when there is no need for healing? How will I know that He is a Restorer when there is nothing to be restored? How will I know that He is Sovereign if I had everything in control? How will I know that He is a Giver and Rewarder when there is no need for me to receive. How will I know that He is the Lover of my Soul if there is no need to be loved? How will I know that I am never alone if I have never felt lonely?

Thank you Lord for making me experience all these attributes of you this year! 

What a joy and privilege to discover more of WHO YOU in this journey, to see and experience as you unfold your plans and will for me step by step. 

To God be the Greatest Glory! My heart is filled with Your gladness! Thank you Jesus for 2018!

Not So Long, Good Bye, Summer.

     just woke up from a nap....again. The thought of school ebbs both my physical and mental energy. :( I'm really not ready to let go of this summer. </3 There's just so much to keep. Earth-shaking revelations, days well-spent with people closest to my heart, once in a life time experience, tests of faith and character and all the roller coaster circumstances that continue to lead me closer to Jesus, etc...

      Thank You so much for my TRANSCENDENT summer, Lord. It's beyond the limits of an ordinary experience.You never fail me to show me how awesome and interesting life is with You. It's about time I go back to reality of being a ......student. I may not like it and I don't know what's in store for me this upcoming school year, but remind me that You are with me everywhere. 

     Give me the strength and courage to walk in faith and remind me of your Majesty even when life gets so busy. I am already expectant that there'll be more adventures and tests that will test my true character. I pray for patience. Patience to endure whatever hardships I am yet to experience. I also pray for protection. Protection from spiritual attacks and that I may acknowledge You in all that I do in my daily life, because Your Word says :  “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  (Proverbs 3:6). 

I lift up everything to You, Father. 

 MARCH 2013:

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Food Trip with Cousins

Sleep over with Auntie Susie and cousins

 

Kinect Nights 

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Joy ride w/ Cousins

Trip to the North and Southside 

APRIL: 

Lunch with the Four.

Daily view at our place in the province.

 

Sunset bonding w/ cousins. 

 THE TREE!!! ...

where I spent most of my quiet

 time for the month of April.

View at my uncle's place.

MAY:

 Beach with Achi & Myles.

(Thank You so much guys for visting me by water

all the way to the province!!). 

Appreciate it very much.

Paolo Avelino at the Larena Fiesta

PBA Legends Showdown at Larena

 Ogie Alcasid, Rachel Alejandro,

Jessa Zaragosa and Dingdong Avanzado for LP

 The campaign bus.

 Uncles with other LP Candidates

 & Celebrity Guests

 LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE. UNFORGETTABLE!! :)

GDC HIGHLIGHTS (Video) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PdzZiQRudQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4X8d53jU4w

 Roomies in Manila <3

With the Singles Ministry :)
(c) Ate Cicil 

With some of the CCF-Cebu friends.

Grandpa's Death Anniversary

Almost-complete Villa family photo :)

Grandpa's Death Anniversary Night.

Country Club with the Sheeps! :)

we got to pray for each other as we enjoyed this view.

Basically, spent most days for the month of May with ya guys.. :))

(Forever blessed and thankful for this friendship.

I wouldn't be where I am today w/o you, guys! 

Love you so much, sheeps!!)  

JUNE:

FOUR Reunion 

Sorry for the unorganized photos and thoughts... Hahahaha I'm not so sure what i'm doing here. Honestly too lazy for blogs but yeah.. :) Trying this one out. We'll see how "far" I can survive posting. :)

#LoveYouJesus