Wrapping up 2023 and welcoming the New Year 2024!

This year 2023 was full of challenges but by His grace we're able to make it through. Despite all those challenges, there's still lot of things to be grateful for...

I'm grateful that up to this day, I can still witness the goodness of God for me and my entire family...

I'm thankful to Him for everything He has done, for all those people He uses as instruments to bless us...

I'm thankful for the gift of life, the gift of family and the gift of friendship...

I'm thankful for the gift of job... For the capability of earning a living, for the wisdom and the skills that He equipped me with to fulfill my job, I'm equally thankful as well to my colleagues for accepting the best and worst in me... 

I'm grateful as well for my supportive family who never gets tired of showing their love and support, may God continue to bless them and protect them at all times wherever they go, whatever they do...

I'm grateful to my BHCCCI  church family whose compassion continue to inspire me to be of help in the ministry, I'm thankful for their love and support  as well to my whole family... I'm so grateful for the kind of friendship that were  built, a friendship that turns into a family. Indeed, Team Padayon, magmalig-on!

I'm thankful as well to my husband and children for allowing me to grow holistically as a wife, as a Mom, and as their friend.

I'm thankful that God slowly mold me into the kind of woman that He wants me to be. I may have lots of shortcomings but by His grace I was able to make it through...

Life may have full of mood swings but as long as we know our identity, we know whom to call to in times of need, we will be okay.

Here comes 2024, I claim for God's more blessings, spiritual maturity, financial breakthrough, prosperous life for my family, best of health, freedom from the things that weigh us down, and all the best for 2024!

Today, a church colleague passed away.

She's not just a colleague, she's a mentor, a friend, and my Godmother on my wedding.

I've known her for more than a decade already. Our first meeting was at the university where I worked as part-time instructor. A very soft-spoken woman, very accommodating and a friendly one.

She died due to severe pneumonia, a complication of being diabetic. She suffered from diabetes for quite a while now to the point that one of her legs was amputated.

She's a survivor, more than conqueror, I would say. For her family, the number of years that she lived since her diagnosis was already a bonus since she's a frequent hospital-goer due to her condition.

In spite of what she went through, she never stopped doing her ministry as if it was among her source of strengths.

Her last days were prolific. She was able to celebrate with us our Family Day, then our Church Christmas Party where she was able to sing- the last song of her life. 

Prior to that, she was complaining about persistent cough, faster heart beats, and even LBM. We thought she could make it like she used to but none of us knows that it was the last day of her existence- her sufferings are finally over.

Now she's home with the Lord. Her life has been made whole upon coming to her eternal rest- her eternal life with God.

So long, Maamy Wendy! Til' we meet again soon!

What we were experiencing these past few years were quite alarming, or should I say, a wake up call for us to set our priorities, our life. The global pandemic taught us that life is indeed very unpredictable. With those mortality rate we've been hearing around the globe, who would have thought that such precious lives were sentenced by a health threat. Yet, such threat was not completely gone but rather evolves into something else that makes people live in anxiety.

Then there are wars going on right now. The war between Russia and Ukraine seems not enough that Israel has to face the same ordeal. And again, many lives were at stake. Before people could even breath a sigh of relief from the global health threats, then there's terrorism, random bombings, killing of innocent lives and similar horrible scenario.

Then there were global news about forest wildfires, hurricane, volcanic eruptions, and series of earthquakes that brings horror to those who were directly affected.

Why are all these things happening?

For me, these are clearly a manifestation that the end is near. Many might not believe about end times, but what else could be the reasons behind all these phenomenon?

For us, believers, these are warning signs for us to do what is right. This is one way of reminding us that we do not know the future, we do not know until when our life would end,  but one thing I know is that I have an assurance of everlasting life when that time comes. I would be confident enough that I will be saved. Why? Because I have Jesus as my Lord and Personal Savior. Nothing will be taken away from us if we just believe, but much will be lost if we take all these signs for granted and continue to sin against God.

It's in His Words, It has been prophesied. All we need is just to simply believe and receive Him. 

In this chaotic world, let there be peace within us. And it is only possible through His presence.

Now is the time to do it. 

Comment if you want to learn more about it. 

Barely eight years ago, I invested in low-cost housing in our area. Back then, the equity is very low since it was on its pre-selling stage. So, what I did, I loaned the equity payment in the bank instead of having it in monthly amortization. But then pandemic came, there was a delay in the turnover. The promised three years goes on four then five and until now the said unit was not yet turned over to us. We were able to sign the supposedly contract between us and the Philippine government agency (PAGIBIG) that offers housing loan but until now, the turnover of the unit was keep on delaying due to some technical concerns.

A friend advised us to have our unit assumed by somebody else. But I was hesitant because I know that the equity by now would be doubled compared to what I have paid. If I have to calculate the take out amount of the unit, it would go as high as almost one million compared to that original price of Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Pesos. Indeed, investing in realty could be a good decision since the value of the house won't depreciate. Though the house wasn't turned over yet but I am patient enough to wait for it until the company could settle the things between them and the government agency  that offers housing loan. I was actually planning of leasing the place since the unit is too small for my growing family so I rather have it leased to couple or individual that would love minimal kind of lifestyle.

In other countries, investing in realty or being a realtor is among the best lucrative business that one could engage on. Personally, I know I still have much to learn about this business, but one thing is for sure, all of my friends who were into this kind of business are indeed prospering and gaining much financial freedom at their own convenient time. Processing papers for prospect clients won't be that easy but it's all worth it. It is also of great advantage that a realtor should be knowledgeable enough to know the basic Math in this kind of business like how to estimate mortgage loan (you can click the link to gain knowledge about it), how does loan repayment works and a whole lot more.

So, why do we need to invest in realty? Because in there, there's a real money!