Tag: character

Faith Goals

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Do you still make New Year’s resolutions? I know some people have stopped making those because they are never accomplished or probably because other things happen along the way. I mean, there is no right or wrong when you make it or not. As for me, I always set new goals every year. I carry over my previous year’s goals and then just add new goals for the new year. I call them my FAITH GOALS. I call them faith goals not because I leave everything to just my faith. I call them faith goals because I know that it is not just by my own effort but also with God’s provision, wisdom and guidance that I will be able to attain those.

But I tell you, not all of my goals are achieved by every end of the year. Mostly only 1 or 2. I just continue keeping them in my list until slowly all of them will happen. Or, I take out some from my list if God leads me to a different direction.

Setting goals is never too late for anyone. It doesn’t even have to be done just every start of the year. And goals don’t have to be tangible all the time. Character building can also be a faith goal. Like, being more forgiving, being more kind, being more tactful or being more disciplined in reading God’s Word and in prayer.

Whatever our goals may be – be it being able to buy a new home, get a Master’s degree or to spend more time with family, less time on internet, more time for ministry – we can really know if it will happen if we take a leap of faith. Trust that God cares about your goals and He will not let you pursue something that is not what is best for you. Have faith and always be patient!

amandajoaquim

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Work, Walk With Conviction

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Nobody likes difficulties, failure or disappointments in life especially when it comes to our work.  As we spend most of our day in our workplace, we only can wish that each day gets smoother and better. But then, reality is, sometimes, it gets worse than the previous day.

I can’t say that I have fully maximized my experience working in corporate. I might have not tasted yet the much deeper hardships others have been through especially those who have worked for how many decades in different fields and companies.

However, one thing that will always be common for everyone regardless of the years of experience is principle. As much as we don’t like a stressful, challenging, difficult work, these are times that we can choose to be grateful because we get reminded of what we truly value, what we truly stand for. These are the times that our convictions are re-affirmed or formed, our principles are re-aligned, our character molded to be better.

In one of the leadership programs I had attended two years ago, we were asked to create our own Teachable Point of Views (TPOVs). These are the things that you stand by no matter what circumstance you are in, not just in work but in life as a whole. As I formulated my own TPOVs, I realized they were the values I have formed and lived by because of my own disappointments, frustrations and failures. These values are aligned to the principles in the Bible that God has asked us to follow and obey.

My Teachable Point of Views –  The 5 S

Stewardship

If you can’t be trusted with little, how can you be trusted with more? Trust.

“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied.  “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” (Luke 19:17)

“I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Luke 19:26)

Submit to Authority

If you don’t feel like doing it, do it as long as it won’t compromise your values. Respect.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. (Ephesians 5:5-8)

Show willingness

Don’t be a difficult person to work with. Show some care.  Relationship.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  (Philippians 2:3-4)

Secure one’s self

Don’t let position, title, wealth or your physical appearance define you. Character. 

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Let God define who you truly are.

Servant leadership

Go out of your way if you have to.  A true leader serves. Humility.

 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

I hope this could also help you think about the things that you truly value. If you have compromised and failed at some point, just press on and re-align yourself again to what you believe in. I have failed for so many times but God has been very gracious to me. God helps me pull myself back again and make sure I will strongly stand for what I believe in. I’m a work in progress, still learning a lot but grateful that I am kept grounded by my convictions.

The Response

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God has been using people or events to speak to me. But more than that, He speaks through His Words from the Bible. My desire to go full time has been an on and off thing since I started my serious walk with the Lord. God would put it in my heart, then, He would remove it.  On those times that I would desire for it, I would always ask God – how. And I really didn’t get any answers during those times. He would just slowly remove the desire from my heart.

Looking back, it was only last year that I understood the heart of God on His will for me. We can never serve God fully when there is a non-repented sin in our lives. I wish I can talk about it everything here but this is not about me. I want to talk how God has changed me.  God is slow to anger. He does not look at us according to our own iniquities but according to His love and compassion. He does not keep a record of our wrongdoings. He forgives. He restores. He heals. He delivers. He gives us a new heart. He makes us a new creation. What God always wanted from me was a broken and contrite heart. Something that I thought I could never give to Him. I was scared because it would be very painful. But what I learned about God, He will never let go of you until you return to Him with your whole heart – doesn’t matter how broken it may be. At the time of brokenness, God changed me. His forgiveness and grace became my strength. His Word became alive, pierced me to the deepest. God set me free.

The joy and freedom of serving God with a repented life is truly incomparable. Now, I understand why God didn’t answer me before.

Going back to my desperate prayer, on that same day, God who is so full of grace and abounding in love used Miss Jane, a CCF fulltime worker to speak to me. She asked me if I already applied in CCF. I was surprised, well, because I didn’t know that Rhodes mentioned it to her. What I was really amazed was the wisdom that she imparted to me. She didn’t push me to apply to CCF, but instead, she told me that if it is really my calling, then maybe I should start first in going to a seminary. God doesn’t just drop things at your doorstep without any reason. It was a reminder for me that I have to prepare, just as He asked me to. I’m praying about IGSL. I feel intimidated. I feel incapable. I feel lacking. I still worry – the ongoing thing. Now that I’m praying about IGSL, I have new concerns with God. And you know what? God will always respond.

Written on Jan. 20, 2013