Before You Even Ask

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

But how can this be true? There are things I've prayer about for years without receiving a response. I believe that as we grow in intimacy with God, aligning our hearts with His, we can learn to trust in His timing and care. We can begin to desire what God desires. When we pray, we ask for - among other things -  the things that are part of God's kingdom - an end to sorrow, safe homes & full bellies and meaningful work for all people. Peace in the natural world. When God's kingdom comes in its fullness, God will answer these prayers completely.

God, thank You for always hearing my prayers. I trust that You love me and are working all things together for good for those You've called. 

Amazing Skill

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

King David expressed an even greater sense of wonder when he wrote - Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it. Whether in people's abilities or nature's marvels, the wonders of creation point us to the majesty of our Creator.

One day, when we're in God's presence, people from every generation will worship Him with the words - You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being. The amazing skills God gives us and the great beauty God has created are ample reason to worship Him.

How wonderful You are God! I see Your fingerprints everywhere. Thank You for all that You've made. 

Better Than Life

 

Perhaps you've found yourself in a place of difficulty, without clear direction or adequate resources. Uncomfortable situations can confuse us, but they need not derails us when we cling to the One who loves us, satisfies us, help us and whose right hand upholds us. Because God's love is better than life, we can express our satisfaction with lips that praise and honor God.

Jesus, I'm so grateful that I can praise You in the dry, desperate times of my life because Your love is better than life!

RULE 28: Set Objectives

An objective is a simple one-sentence mission statement that you can use to get you through your day. It is almost impossible to be successful or to get promoted if you don’t set objectives.

An objective outlines the key important ingredients in your work recipe. Suppose you have a meeting to go to. Now we all hate meetings—they are interminable, boring, unproductive, counter-productive—and an endless source of irritation and argument. You know that Stephen from accounts is going to be there and will endeavor—usually successfully—to wind you up. You know you’ll get sidetracked and end up discussing the relocation to Swindon when it doesn’t even affect your department. You know you’ll end up discussing budgets for the exhibition stand when that’s six months away and it hasn’t even been decided that you’re going to take a stand at the NEC this year. 

So, set an objective: “I will speak only on matters I know about and understand and are relevant to me at this meeting, and no matter what Stephen does, I shall not rise to the bait.” Good. Now stick to it.

Suppose you have to present a report to the Finance Committee about the new costs of the wildflower meadow to go in front of head office’s new buildings. You know the Finance Committee can waffle on for hours about irrelevant topics such as whether it is better to have oxeye daises or marsh buttercups, and all you need to do is present them with the cost of seeds, mowing equipment, and haymaking provisions without getting caught up in the minutiae of which flower is most attractive in spring. 

So, set an objective: “I will present my report and, once comments have been made, will make my excuses and leave. If the committee insist on discussing matters that are irrelevant to my being there I shall assertively point this out and leave.” Good. Now stick to it.

Use an objective for every area of your working life. Objectives take but seconds, but they do help highlight 

• What is wrong 

• Solutions to what is wrong 

• Action to be taken to correct what is wrong 

• Ways to prevent the problem recurring

IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL OR TO GET PROMOTED IF YOU DON’T SET OBJECTIVES.

Kicky Perry

 

I have not look at this angle in such a way before...I don't like Miss Chew...just a mirror image of Alice. Nonetheless, I will pray for Miss Chew. Maybe I should have done this earlier when I was under Alice...hahaha...

God, I pray for Miss Chew - I pray that she will change, I pray that God you will move her to be more approachable, more kind, more supportive to the team. She is damn rude, fickle minded, jump on the gun easily...I hope that she will change and peace will reign over the Marketing Department. There is just too many negative energy lingering around. No matter how much she back stab me behind my back, or talk bad about me in front of everyone, or condemn me, or spoil my image...I will not fight fire with fire...God, you will deal with her, and I will be still because God will clear everything up in due time. As long as my intention is clear, I go to the office to work every day for the betterment of everyone, be of value to everyone, it is good enough.

God, I also pray for the Mayor, may You lead him well so he can lead the team well, so he knows on how to drive the ship.

Amen.

Daisy Dove

 

Wah, this Mayor - is very keterlaluan leh...this coming Monday is Merdeka Day, so Malaysia cuti mah...ask me to do the report leh...ask me to work on a public holiday...I lantak...I told a white lie that I am away over the weekend...hello, this report is previously done by Lord Alfonso leh...now hand it over to me to do...doing a director level work somemore...this Mayor is a bit too much...last time, Lord Alfonso do everything by himself. I find this Mayor, presentation bukan-nya canggih sangat pun...Lord Alfonso is way much better...the Mayor's number reading; I see so - so only thus far...but I don't denied that the Mayor have a damn convincing voice and influencing personality...but how long can the Mayor last? Hahaha...

Whack-A-Mole

 

God, You are good and all You do is good.

Whack-A-Mole - where plastic moles pop up from their holes and the players hits them wildly with a mallet.

Life comes at us like that at times. The apostle Paul certainly could relate. He said - I know what it is to be in need yet he'd learned the secret of being content in any & every situation. His secret? I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

When I was going through a particularly discontented time, I read this on a greeting card: If it isn't here, where is it?. That was a powerful reminder that if i'm not content here and now, what makes me think I'd be if only I were in another situation?

How do we learn to rest in Jesus? Maybe it's a matter of focus.
Of enjoying and being thankful for the good.
Of learning more about a faithful Father.
Of growing in trust and patience.
Of recognizing that life is about God and not me.
Of asking Him to teach me contentment in Him.

He Knows All About It

 

His understanding has no limit.

I agreed that God knows everything, yet wondered - how will that be comforting?

Then it occurred to me that God isn't simply aware of the events in our lives - He compassionately sees into our souls and knows how they affect us. He understands that Little Things can feel like Big Things depending on our age, past wounds, circumstances or lack of resources.

Broken To Be Shared

 

Sometimes it's when we don't feel like we have anything to offer that God takes our Not Enough and makes it More Than Enough.

Christ will do the miraculous, but He often chooses to involve us.

Jesus says to us - Place who you are and what you have in My Hands. Your broken life. Your story. Your frailty and your failure, your pain and your suffering. Put it in My Hands. You'll be surprised what I can do with it.

Jesus knows that out of our Emptiness, He can bring Fullness. Out of our weakness, He can reveal strength.

Dear Jesus, take my Not Enough and make it More Than Enough. Take my pain, my failure and my frailty and make it something more.

Watched By God

 

Our Heavenly Father is constantly watching over each of us, His precious children.

Psalm 121 says - The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm, He will watch over your life. Likewise, as we climb our life's road, sometimes facing spiritual threat or harm - the Lord will watch over our coming and going. Why? His Love. When? Now & Forevermore.

Our loving Father, as we travel the road of life, thank You for watching over us, keeping us safe.

RULE 27: Develop A Game Plan

Developing a game plan is a bit like an actor choosing a part and learning their script. Your game plan has to be who you are going to be. Not many people choose consciously to be a loser, but that’s where they end up. Don’t let it happen to you. And it doesn’t happen, once you seize the initiative and develop a game plan.

Your game plan is a sort of personal mission statement. It is different from setting objectives, which is how to be the person your game plan decides you are.

So who are you going to be? Successful? A failure? Someone who gives up? Someone who picks themselves up, dusts themselves off, and starts all over again? A brilliant career strategist? A loser? None of these?

Obviously, you could decide to be ruthless, unpleasant, cruel, vindictive, but we assume you won’t—a Rules Player is never any of these. Your game plan should include your qualities as well as what sort of game you want to plan—“I will be successful and still be a thoroughly nice person.”

Not many people sit down and consciously carry out this exercise. It may seem simple, but it is an essential tool to get you to where you want to be. If more people did this, they wouldn’t end up as idiots, or the office bore, or a gossip, or frighteningly callous in their dealings with their colleagues. If we all had to sit down and write our game plan—and then live by it—we might all end up as nicer people. There is no bad karma in trying your hardest to be pleasant, cooperative, helpful, friendly, kind, and honest in your dealings with others around you. Who would sit down and write, “I am going to be a complete and utter bastard and harm as many people as I can, be disliked by everyone, and generally make myself as unpopular as possible”? Yes, no one would write it, but I’ve worked with quite a few who live by it as a game plan. Yes, they may be successful, but how do they sleep at night? How do they live with themselves? 

I once worked with a fairly senior manager whose technique was to arrive, walk through the department, bawl out as many people as he could, go to his office, put his feet up with a coffee for half an hour and then walk back again being as nice as pie to everyone. When I questioned him about this, he said, “It keeps them on their toes. They never know where they are with me.” He was genuinely disliked by everyone, feared by most, and commanded zero respect from his peers. Good game plan. Not.

NOT MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE CONSCIOUSLY TO BE A LOSER, BUT THAT’S WHERE THEY END UP.

Plans Disrupted

 

He had a bigger plan for me.

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

It's sensible to make plans. A well-known adage goes - fail to plan and you plan to fail. But God may disrupt our plans with His own. Our challenge is to listen and obey, knowing we can trust God. If we submit to His will, we'll find ourselves fitting into His purpose for our lives. As we continue to make plans, we can add a new twist - Plan to listen. Listen to God's plan.

All-knowing God, give me the faith to listen to You when my plans are disrupted, knowing that You have a greater purpose for my life.

Two Are Better

 

There's no shame in admitting we require assistance in life especially since we can't honestly deny our needs or hide them from our all-knowing God. At one time or another, we'll all fall, whether physically or emotionally. Knowing we're not alone can comfort us as we preserve. As our loving Father helps us, He empowers us to reach out to others in need, affirming they too aren't alone.

At Home Superhero Tri

 

I had a private chat session with Lord Alfonso on his last day...

Lord Alfonso tole me to believe in myself and don't underestimate myself.

I don't know is it because I am lazy to use my brain or I have become very complacent...it's very hard to start the engine; both body & mind when things or work have come to a stand still or routine for the past 3 years after I have left the Merchandising portfolio. But somehow, I kind of enjoy the slower pace and non-pressure environment.

I do not know what the future holds but I know that if God brings me to it, I will go through it. God will breaks down those walls and parted the ocean for me.

To my surprise; Lord Alfonso proposed my name, Miss Chew & YC (another colleague from Singapore). But my Singaporean counterpart name tak ada submit kat atas wor...my Singaporean counterpart is very good leh, an expert in the Marketing portfolio, articulate, calm, vocal, multi-tasking & a fast learner on Trade Planning. But Lord Alfonso said its not her time yet...I pula ask Lord Alfonso, please re-submit her name...hahaha...in these excitements, Lord Alfonso clasps my hands...we like bro & sis...Lord Alfonso is such a good boss, unfortunately his times is up...

Burnham Market, North Norfolk

 

This Miss Chew pun satu problem or trouble maker.

Miss Chew already worn out Samuel. Miss Chew is so fickle-minded, always changing things around, already put down in black & white, pun dia bleh tukar 360 degrees.

Miss Chew haven't attack Mr. Horton's Secretary yet lah...I am suspecting that the both of them are besties...hahaha...

But I already go and ber-perang with Miss Chew already, dia like to jump on the gun, do not want to listen, do not want to seek clarity & understanding...always condemn what I am doing as unproductive & unnecessary...but when the times come, those work comes in handy ok...

But Miss Chew also have her strength as well, but not most of the time...hahaha, Miss Chew is really like Alice. Pening kepala satu dunia...

Mabel's Paint Pot

 

With that confidence; I brought the matter up to our new Mayor. Yes, Lord Alfonso have been asked to leave; as he is not the favorite son.

So, I proposed to the Mayor to combine Trade Planning with A&P. With that, Trade Plan is to plan & direct all trades, A&P to produce those medias and to create a Promo Court that ensures implementation, execution, compliance & quality are in check. This way all contents are in control and the availability of the forecast numbers. With that, this new portfolio can really orchestrate and align with all of the cross-functional team.

However, the Mayor pula have other ideas. Different than mine. Still want to stick back with Retail Marketing, Banner Marketing and Customer & Trade Planning office. Suddenly so glamour pula...

West Coast of Scotland

 

Hahaha...I did not jot down the date...but it was a very significant date...

THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

It was a day where both Samuel & Mr. Horton's Secretary acknowledge me...hahaha...but then again, I think is because that they rather be under me, than working under Miss Chew...but just like any other moments where God have given me the assurance picture - this was one of the moments that signifies to me that God is watching over me...

Mr. Horton's Secretary did not directly implied but just mention that I should be recognize as I have deputize for Marcus for so long.

The genuine gesture is of course from Samuel; who ask me to step up and just go for it.

Nonetheless, I am a piece of work in progress - all in God's good time, plan & seasons.

The Hardest Places

 
God has ways of bringing unexpected good out of situations where hope seems lost. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt and falsely accused and sent to prison, where he was forgotten for years. But God restored him and placed him in a position of authority directly under Pharoah, where he was able to save many lives; including the lives of his brothers who'd abandon him. There in Egypt, Joseph married and had children. He named the second Ephraim (drawn from the Hebrew term for Twice Fruitful) and gave this reason - It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.

Even the hardest places in our lives can become fertile ground for God to help and bless many. Our Savior's love and power never change and He's always faithful to those who trust in Him.

All powerful Father, I praise You that nothing is too hard for You! Thank You for Your perfect faithfulness, today and forever.

A Place Of Belonging

 

Although we'll go through painful times, He can use even those to bring good purposes in our lives.

The Faith To Endure

 

When disaster strikes, we tend to want God to immediately make everything better. But God gives us faith to endure and grow. As Paul wrote to the Romans - Suffering produces endurance. Knowing that, we can encourage each other to keep trusting God in hard times.

Heavenly Father, I need Your help to keep going, even when it's tough.

When Life Is Hard

Physically, mentally & emotionally exhausted.

How was I supposed to have unshakable faith while travelling on a bumpy road of hardships?

As I prayed, God reminded me of the Psalmist whose praise didn't depend on circumstances. David poured out his emotions, often with great vulnerability and sought refuge in the presence of God. Acknowledging God as provider and protector, he praised Him and followed His counsel. David affirmed that he would not be shaken because he kept his eyes always on the Lord. So, he rejoiced and rested secure in the joy of God's presence.

We too can delight in knowing our peace doesn't depend on our present situation. As we thank our unchanging God for who He is and always will be, His presence will fuel our steadfast faith.

Ancient Promises

If you feel far from God today, hold tightly to the Promise in these ancient words - The Lord Bless You And Keep You; The Lord Make His Face Shine On You...

Father God, I give thanks for the many blessings You give to me.
Help me to notice the ways You bring me joy and peace, that I might praise You.

Life To The Full

Here is a full life, one lived in gratitude, one you and I can experience as well regardless of our circumstances.
Jesus announces the good news in John 10: Life...To The full.
We do a grave disservice to such good news when we equate full with many things.
The fullness Jesus speaks of isn't measured in worldly categories like riches or real estate, but rather a heart, mind, soul and strength brimming in gratitude that the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep and cares for us and our daily needs.
This is a full life - enjoying relationship with God - that's possible for every one of us.

Good Shepherd, thank You for laying down Your life for me, one of the sheep. And thank You for Your promise to provide nothing less than the daily bread I need, both literally and figuratively.

Going, Going, Gone

Few things are less secure than money.
We work hard to earn it, yet there are many ways to lose it.
Investments go sour, inflation erodes, bills come, thieves steal, and fire & flood destroy.
Even if we manage to keep our money, the time we have to spend it continually flies.
Blink, and your life is going, going, gone.

What to do? God tells us a few verses later:
Always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
There is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.
Invest your life in Jesus; He alone will keep you forever.

God, help me to give my insecurities to You and to trust in Your Goodness & Faithfulness.

Does What We Do Matter?

What we do matters, but how we do it, why, and who we do it for matters more. Each day we can choose to work in a stressed-out way or in a way that honors God and seeks out the meaning Jesus adds to our work. When we pursue the latter, we find satisfaction.