Touch people’s lives

As we go our daily lives, we should long for God to touch us. In

Mark 1: 40-41

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

God wants to touch us…all we have to do is to ask for that touch. If Jesus touches us, our life will never be the same again. He wants to touch our family, our well-being, our health, our finances, our problems, our pain, our heart – soul – mind – and SPIRIT.

Let Jesus touch you, He is able and willing. And when you are touched by God, He pours out that anointing to you to touch other people’s lives.

Leaders Camp

It’s that time again to recharge and recalibrate. We’re off to a three-day (But I can only attend for two days) Leader’s camp for our church in Victory Greenhills.

This is a good time for anyone to be with church family and seek God together. It’s also a good time to redirect your course if you are leaning on your limited understanding rather than trusting and depending on God that He will supply all your needs according to His vast riches.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. -Abraham Lincoln

The Bible says,

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

We remain sharp if we allow God and His people to sharpen us so that we can cut any challenge, obstacle, or adversity along the way.

Psalm 28:7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

We celebrate God in our life by making Him the source of our joy and strength. You can only find your identity in God alone. Taking time out of your busy schedule to rest in God can make you strong in Him. I’m excited and expectant that God will reveal Himself more in the next few days!!!

My second book YOUnique YOUth

I Need your help! I’m about to launch my second book: YOUnique YOUth (No tagline yet). 

Instructions: 
1) Choose between Gray cover or Red Cover
1) Why you chose it.
3) Your age bracket. Put Youth (upto 22 years old) or Adult (23 yrs old and up) No lying!!!

Ex: Gray, Looks good, Adult.

Your comments are much appreciated. Thank You

Don’t let what happened to you change the value of your life

Zig Ziglar gave this illustration on your value as a person:

Rate yourself in 5 categories from 1-10. (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest):

1) In your Family. (As a son, father, mother, sibling, etc).

2) In your work/studies/business.

3) As a friend.

4) As a Citizen (Filipino).

5) As a Human Being.

He says that our rating can differ but there are two things that should remain the same; two things that should never change. The last category, as a human being should be the highest. And it should never be less than a 10.

As a human being, we are a 10…Always!!! It is your self-worth, it is how you should put value on yourself. No matter how much money you have in the bank account, no matter how many friends you have, no matter who you are…you are a 10!

The flipside is that you should also look at everyone as a 10…no matter who they are. Everyone is important in the eyes on God, what makes you feel that we have a better view of people than Him?

What happened to you is the past. But your value is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Here’s one last tip: If your goal is to add value in the lives of people, you will always be valuable!”

Love Work

There is an ancient proverb that says ”Work done with a cheerful attitude is like rain falling on the desert.” The opposite is also true ”Work done with a critical attitude is like a sandstorm blowing through the desert.”

In the Bible, God commands us to take a day off every week called the Sabbath Day. One day of rest out of seven days. In retrospect, He commands us to work the other six days. Work is meant to be enjoyed.

“Value your work then your work will be valued.” No matter who you are or what you do, loving your work will take you a notch higher than everyone else because if you love your work, work becomes easy.

Some of you may not like where you are working now, but consider it as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block towards success. Remember, you may not love your work but you can love working. As your love for work emanates from within you, people will start noticing it, then opportunities will come knocking at your door. One day, you will be surprised that your love for working caused you to stumble on the work you love.

AHA! Moment

Aha moments are those instances that helped us better see things as they truly are. A good friend said, “We need to cry once in a while because tears washes our eyes for us to see clearly.”

An aha moment is not just an idea; it can also be a positive or negative experience that gave you a temporary or lasting impression. I was recently hospitalized for 11 days. In those 11 days of inaction, there was so much action happening in my mind because aha moments are popping up everywhere.

I suddenly started caring more about my health. I suddenly felt so blessed with my wife who took care of me and was there all the time. I suddenly realized that even the mere act of just standing up and walking is a gift from God (I couldn’t walk for almost a month).

Keep your Aha moments in a journal so you won’t forget. Writing it down helps you reflect on them longer so that it gives you a deeper understanding and appreciation of that Aha moment. They say that one idea can change your life. I believe the same can be said of having one AHA! Moment.

May Pera Ka Ba?

I am a businessman and I made my first million at the age of 22. Akala ko noon, ang pinaka-importante sa buhay ay ang maging successful sa career o sa negosyo kaya naman ginawa ko ang lahat upang umangat ako. Marami na akong nasubukang iba’t ibang negosyo, mula sa trading, manufacturing, kiosks, at direct selling. Hanggang sa pinasok ko ang restaurant business at doon nga nawala ang lahat… Sa edad na 30, naubos lahat ang ipon naming mag-asawa at nagka utang-utang pa nga. Kasama ang ilang business partners, nawalan kami ng ten million pesos at nagkaroon pa ng utang na 2.5 million pesos. Ngunit noong December 2010, through God’s grace, nabayaran namin ang aming pagkakautang.

 Ang nangyari sa amin ay nakatulong upang maging mas mapagkumbaba ako at mapagtantong mayroon akong mga limitasyon; at ngayon ngang alam ko na ang aking mga limitasyon, nakabuo ako ng mas makatotohanang strategy para sa aking personal at financial growth. Tandaan na ang personal finance ay 80% Behavior at 20% Knowledge.

Naranasan ko na ang mga ups and downs sa buhay. Ang isang sign ng taong marunong sa pera ay iyon ngang taong marunong mag-adjust sa sitwasyon; iyong marunong magtipid sa oras na nag-uumpaw ang biyaya at marunong magsikip ng sinturon kapag oras ng kagipitan. Hayaan mong bigyan ko kayo ng tips kung ano ang maaari ninyong gawin para matuto at unti-unti kayong makapag-adjust at nang ang inyong pera ay hindi lang maging sakto o sapat – hayaan itong maging siksik, liglig at umaapaw!

1) Gumawa ng Budget

Magplano at isulat mo ito. Kapag hindi mo ‘yan isinulat, para ka lamang nagsulat sa tubig. Kung ang mga kumpanya nga ay mayroong financial statement, maaari tayong matuto sa kanilang gawi.

Gumawa ka ng budget at mas maigi kung kasama si mister. Sa totoo lang, kailangan ninyong pag-awayan ang budget niyo. Alamin kung ano ba talaga ang inyong needs and wants; baka kay mister, ang pakikipag-inuman sa barkada is a need and kay misis, ang shopping naman ay need. Pag-awayan niyo na ang budget niyo dahil mas maganda na mag-away ng isang beses imbes na mag-away kayo araw-araw kapag kinapos na sa pera.

Ang paggawa ng budget ay hindi natatapos sa isang upuan.  Maaaring abutin nga ng ilang buwan bago niyo talagang magawa o mabuo ang tamang budget para sa inyong pamilya; kaya naman maiging pag-usapan ninyo itong mag-asawa at least once a week sa loob ng dalawang buwan at matapos nito, maaaring pag-usapan niyo ito kada buwan kung magkakaroon ba ng adjustments o kung ano pa man.

Ang budget nga ay maituturing natin bilang isang mapa at kailangan ngang isulat mo muna kung saan ba dapat mapunta ang iyong pera bago mo pa ito makuha. Isama mo ang perang itatabi mo at ang perang ilalabas kahit na ba ang mga binabayaran mo kada taon tulad na lamang ng insurance kung mayroon ka man. Tandaan, isulat mo iyan!

2) Maghanap ng Extrang Pagkakakitaan

Maghanap ng maaaring maging sideline na business. Magsimula lamang sa maliit para hindi ka mabigla. Pwedeng magtinda ka ng mga pagkain o di kaya mag-buy and sell. Lalo na nga kung Pasko, maaari kang magbenta ng mga gift items, imitation perfume, slippers at iba pang bagay na in ngayon.

 O di kaya, tumungo ka sa iyong silid at tingnan mo ano nga ba ang mga bagay na hindi mo na ginagamit baka naman maaari mo pa itong ibenta! Ang tawag nga diyan sa corporate world ay liquidation. Magbenta kayo ng magbenta ng mga gamit na hindi niyo kailangan hanggang matakot na ang mga anak niyo na sila na ang susunod.

3) Bawasan ang Gastos

 Ito nga ang sinasabing formula kung nais mong maging financially free: “Spend less than you earn, and do it for a long time, then you can be financially free.” (Gumastos ng mababa pa sa iyong kinikita at gawin ito ng matagal at ikaw nga ay magiging financially free)

Ang mga tunay na milyonaryo na walang utang ay hindi magarbo kagaya ng ating iniisip.

Bihira nga silang bumili ng bagong sasakyan at mas gugustuhin pa ang mga second hand na sasakyan. Bakit ‘ka mo? Dahil ang bagong sasakyan, sa oras na ilabas mo ito sa casa, babagsak na agad ang halaga nito ng halos 20% dahil nagamit mo na. Ang tawag diyan ay depreciation.

Kagaya ng magagarang sasakyan ay huwag ka ring magpadala sa mga latest gadgets na inilalabas. Lahat nga ng mga bagong gadgets na iyan ay bababa ang value sa loob lamang ng ilang buwan. Naalala ko nga nang unang lumabas ang iPad ay nagkakahalaga ito ng P45,000; pero makalipas lamang ang ilang buwan ay bumaba na ang presyo nito sa P26,000. Kung ilalagay mo sa banko ang P26,000 mo ng 10 taon ng may 1% rate per annum, hindi ito aabot ng P45,000. Be patient! Huwag magpadalos-dalos sa mga desisyon!

4) Ipunin ang Pera

Sabi nga sa Bibliya, “He who gathers little by little makes it grow.” Kaya naman mabuting ipunin mo ang, at least, 10% ng iyong kinikita.

Mahalagang magkaroon ka ng emergency fund. Ang emergency fund ay dapat katumbas ng 6-8 buwan ng iyong living expenses at nakatabi lamang ito sa bangko. Kapag ang living expenses mo ay P25, 000 a month, sa loob nga ng 6 na buwan ay kakailanganin mo ng P150,000  na emergency fund.

Bakit nga ba natin kailangan ng emergency fund? Hango nga sa salitang emergency, ito ay makatutulong upang hindi kayo mabigla sa mga gastusin, halimbawa na lamang na magkasakit at ma-ospital ang inyong anak. Hindi ba’t medyo malaki ang gastos? Ano ang gagawin natin? Ang madalas na ginagawa natin ay mangungutang tayo sa kaibigan o kamag-anak pero kung may emergency fund ka, doon mo na kukunin ang gagastusin sa ospital.

O di kaya kapag nawalan ng trabaho si mister ng ilang buwan, saan kayo kukuha ng pera? Tama, sa emergency fund. May 6 months ka pa bago maubusan ng pondo at sapat na itong panahon upang makapaghanap muli ng trabaho si mister. Buuin muna ang inyong emergency fund bago niyo bilhin ang anumang luho niyo para sa oras ng kagipitan, mayroong maayos na makakapitan.

5) Kumawala sa Utang

Sinasabi ngang getting out of debt is a test of character. At kung mapapasa mo nga ang test na ito, mas mapagkakatiwalaan mo ang iyong sarili at gayun din naman, mas madali mong makukuha ang tiwala ng iba; at syempre, kapag pinagkakatiwalaan ka na ng tao, madali nang mag-negosyo. 

Nagawa nga namin ng asawa ko na bayaran ang aming P2.5 million na utang sa loob ng dalawang taon. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung paano namin ito nagawa. Tuwing magkakaroon kami ng additional income, nagbabayad kami para sa aming utang maging malaki o maliit man ang aming hulog. Mayroon nga kaming walong credit cards noon at lahat nga iyon ay may utang. Nang nagbigay nga ako ng speech sa harap ng 300 katao noong December 2010, itinaas ko ang huli kong unpaid credit card at sinabi ko ngang, “this is plastic surgery.” Ginupit ko ito sa harapan at sumigaw ako ng FREEDOM. Ang makawala sa pagkakautang ang isa sa pinakamasarap na maaari mong maramdaman.

Hindi ko na sinama ang tungkol sa investing dahil iba na ang paksang ito. Pero sa oras na matapos o masunod mo na ang mga nasasaad dito, ay maaaring mag-simula ka na sa pag-iinvest.

Ang huling maipapayo ko sa inyo ay maiging ibahagi ninyo ang inyong pera. Itabi na ang 10% ng inyong income para sa tithes. Magbigay sa simbahan o di kaya sa isang organisasyon na maaaring nangangailangan nito. Tandaan mo na “It is more blessed to give than to receive”)

2013 Yearbook Message for the graduating students of PSBA

We have two choices in LIFE — either we choose to Exist or we choose to Live.

People who exist just go with the flow…

Wake up.

Brush teeth.

Take a bath.

Get dressed.

Go to work.

Eat lunch.

Continue work.

Go home.

Get clean.

Eat dinner.

Watch TV.

Go to sleep.

Then Next day, you start the same routine all over again.

Ordinary is a word that best describes people who “exist.” They breathe the air of mediocrity and other people dictate their possibilities. Their world revolves around scarcity.

On the other hand, the ones who “live” are living life to the fullest! They take calculated risks. They’re not afraid to look foolish while chasing their dreams. Their world revolves around abundance.

But life is not about doing something great, because most of us will never reach this lofty goal. We might not be featured on TV or win the Nobel Peace Prize, but what really matters is making a difference in our own “YOUnique” way.

The danger of merely existing does not depend on whether our life ends without lofty accomplishments; it lies on whether our years end in waste. Small or big, we must make a difference now!

The 21st century is filled with opportunities. Remember that opportunities come to those who are prepared, so preparation is key. Preparation is more important than giving it your best because in preparing for the best, your best follows.

In conclusion, two words I leave with you today: “Live Life!”

Your past doesn’t define you,

your present circumstances should not limit you,

your future will only be determined by you.

Live or Exist—the choice is yours. Choose wisely.

Someone wise once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” 

To the 2013 graduates of PSBA, congratulations! I salute you!

Your number one fan,

Jayson Lo