Do Your Best

I got this from a friend, it's actually a forwarded e-mail. I just want to share this with everyone who wasn't able to receive this typical forwarded e-mail.

Do Your Best by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
Esther 6:2-3

"And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Then the king said, 'What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?' And the king's servants who attended him said, 'Nothing has been done for him.'"

Do Your Best

Several years ago, a crew of men was working on the road bed of a railroad when they were interrupted by a slow-moving train. The train stopped and a window in the last car--which was custom-made and air-conditioned--was raised. A friendly voice called out, "Dave, is that you?" Dave Anderson, the crew chief, called back, "Sure is, Jim. It's good to see you." With that pleasant exchange, Dave was invited to join Jim Murphy, the president of the railroad, for a visit.

After the train pulled out, Dave's crew surrounded him and expressed astonishment that he knew Mr. Murphy as a personal friend. Dave then explained that many years earlier he and Jim had started to work for the railroad on the same day. One man half jokingly asked Dave why he was still working out in the hot sun and Jim Murphy was now president. Wistfully Dave explained, "Twenty-three years ago I went to work for $1.75 an hour and Jim Murphy went to work for the railroad."

In the same way, when Mordecai became a court official, he went to work for the king, not just to draw a salary. His goal was not financial gain but to do the best job he possibly could. It was only natural, then, that when he discovered a plot on the king's life, he immediately reported it. He was loyal to the king and was only doing his job well.

Is your commitment to the paycheck or to the job? Are you fulfilling your duties to the best of your ability, or are you simply concerned about what you receive in return? Take your cue from Mordecai. Ask God to show you how you can honor Him through your employment.

When you take care of your job, God will take care of the paycheck.

This devotional is used with permission by the authors. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.

This is really true. You just have to have patience, positive outlook and hard-work combined also with perseverance, dedication and strong-will. And one more thing, faith in God :)

Changes & Birthday Plans

As the famous axiom goes, change is the only constant thing in this world. It’s undeniably true. And I as a sensitive human being should learn how to adapt with changes. I've been trying to but I oftentimes tend to forget. I should not mind the changes in others, I should mind my own self. Selfish? Sometimes minding others business causes pain in my heart. I guess I just need to mind my own business. Just focus on my goal to become a better person each day. Better than each day that passes by.

On the other hand, 60 days from now, I will be celebrating my 24^th year of existence. And just like last year, I’m planning to throw a mini-birthday bash for the children at the San Pedro Drop-In Center for Street Children. I would love to share my blessings with these poor kids. My birthday treat for them last year would not be possible without the financial support from my friends back at home and also from those outside the country and within the different islands in the Philippines. One of my high school batchmate, now a Registered Nurse working at Texas (yeah US baby! Haha!), promised again to send me some $$ to add up to my birthday budget. He would love to do kawang gawa with me =) Anybody there with a kind heart who would love to donate for my birthday treats for the unfortunate kids? Just drop me message on how to get in touch with you. I would be very happy if you could help. It would be a very nice feeling to see the smile on these kids' faces. Below are some of the pictures taken with the children during my birthday feeding program.

This is Roldan, I really can't forget this little guy. When I asked for someone to volunteer to lead the prayer before meals, he actively raised his hand. Isn't it nice that these children knows how to pray? :)

Prayer before meals :)

Eating time. Yummy spaghetti and waffles! :)

Chika² with the kids :)

Roldan enjoying his spaghetti :)

They gave me this lovely bouquet of red roses with the message below:

This really made me cry. Tears of JOY =)

Fruits fruits and more fruits...

As if marami talaga, lanzones lang naman tsaka rambotan ang nakain ko.. :)

Because it's Kadayawan Festival, fruits are very affordable, from the famous durian to the sweet lanzones. Our Inventory Control Officer went out to buy Ube for our ube fillings, and when he went back from the market, he was carrying two plastic bags full of lanzones and rambotan! yummy! :)

Want some?

lanzones for only Php25.00 per kilo

rambotan for only Php20.00 per kilo ;)

Saturday is fast approaching. It's actually payday! wehehe :) I'm gonna shop for more fruits! hahaha :)

Happy Employee :)

This morning, each one of us in here in the office received an e-mail from our big boss. It was actually a survey. Here are the questions:

1. How do you assess your performance this past year? Tell me why.
2. Quantify your contributions.
3. What do you think you are particularly good at?
4. What are your weakest points in performing task at hand, if any?
5. What are the key success factors?
6. What are the problems, if any?
7. Confidentially, whom do you find it difficult to work with, if there's anyone?
8. Is there any system that you consider to be in need of immediate change?
9. Which part of your job interests you the most?
10. How about the uninteresting portion, if any?
11. How do you see yourself in the company in both short- and long-term period?
12. Is there anything or anyone you need to help you become more effective?
13. Is there anything in your current job that has become redundant or would you wish to change?
14. Are you happy?
15. What do you think of my management style?

Upon reading the questions, I can't help but smile. Smile because I'm so happy! It has been my desire to reach out to our big boss. To let him know what I feel and to share with him some of my ideas that I think would be beneficial to the company. After reading the last line of the e-mail, I quickly clicked on the REPLY button and answered the questions with a big smile on my face! :)

I feel happy knowing that our concerns, ideas and suggestions are also being given proper attention. It makes me feel important and it gives me the motivation to work harder. :)

Prayer for my stressed mind & soul

It's just Monday, but it feels like I've been working for how many days already. All my energy were used up and I haven't even accomplished all the tasks I listed in my MONDAY TO-DO LIST. =( And tomorrow, will also be another busy day. It's the last day of the month and I have to finish the payroll. Poor me.

I've been trying to memorize the Serenity Prayer. It's like an encouragement to my stressed mind, body and soul. It's a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.

I want to share this to all of you.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Yeah I’m Fat.. but I’m beautiful :p

Yesterday, I decided to change my hair style. I’m sick and tired of my long hair. I’ve been having second thoughts since last month because I know that if I cut my hair short, I’d look fat. No no.. I’m not slim either, but having a short hair would make me look like a siopao. Hahaha =)

July 14, 2007

July 22, 2007

But I really wanted to have a new look. And it’s so expensive to maintain a long hair. As what I’ve expected, almost everybody in the office commented that I look fat with my new hair style. So? Mataba naman talaga ako ah? But I’m still beautiful. FAT IS BEAUTIFUL ;) Hahahaha :p

I’m planning to go back to the gym next month. I’m still trying to fix my budget. I really want to get back in shape, not too slim, just the average type of body that I used to have last year before I arrived here in Davao City. And by the way, this day marks my 1st year here in Durian Republic. And tomorrow, I will be celebrating my 1st year anniversary of hard work & patience in Waffle Time, Inc. Yahooo!! At last, I’ve succeeded in one of my long term goals. Another goal to pursue is my savings plan. Short term goal, before my birthday this coming October, my savings account should have atleast five thousand bucks in it. And it should double by the end of the year. I know I can make it. Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. And patience too. I need to have both. Wish me luck friends ;)

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Last July 21 is my beautiful grandma's 77th birthday. My mama prepared a little celebration for her since we're really on tight budget right now. I enjoyed talking with my Papa Gil (my Lola's youngest brother) and also with his wife, Mama Aida last Saturday. Mama invited just a few guests, all of them are actually our relatives. I've talked to Lola and I'm very sure she was happy and contented with that little celebration though I'm not home. It's my phone calls and the present that I've sent her that made her happier I think. :) Syempre... the only grand daughter, spoiled pa! hehehe :) I love you Lola! May you have more birthdays to come. :)

B-R-E-A-K

Yeah! I need a break, as in B-R-E-A-K! Everyday seems to be a busy day. After doing the payroll, there are still a lot of reports to finish and then it's clearing period again. I feel like dying :( But on the positive side, I've been monitoring our sales everyday and I really want to thank God for the super duper blessing! :) Our area is doing good compared to last year's sales and compared to other area also, we're really doing well this past two months. I salute all our outlet crews, OICs and Supervisors for the job well done. I hope and I pray that this will continue until the end of the year. (Lord please... it's the only thing that makes our big boss smile! :) hahaha...)

I still haven't watched Transformers, even Fantastic Four! :( I'm gonna watch Transformers this Saturday afternoon after work. I need a big break and I've got to treat myself :) I need to be good to myself. Hehehe :)

Still have a lot of things to do. Ciao! :)