Living Above Difficulty

Living Above Difficulty 

Part 1: Suffering 

Upon further contemplation, I came to know about Precept from an interview I watched from Real Lives a couple of weeks back with Nigel Watts who was being interviewed by Roger Carswell, who mentioned about Precept Bible studies. After watching the interview, I then Googled Precept and saw their website and looked into the books available. I emailed Precept that I wanted to order some books but would prefer ebooks as I want to carry them along while travelling. The admin, Sharon Goldie, was kind enough to inform me that they only have physical books but there are ebooks on Amazon. So I quickly bought my books on Kindle so I can start reading. It just so happened that they have an upcoming Bible Study online on one of the books that I happen to be interested in so she then passed along my details to Melanie and one thing lead to another. So, I am now part of an online Bible study group and we are now studying the book on Living Victoriously in Difficult Times by Precept Ministries, UK. So we have just started our first of the six weeks of online Bible study. 

On this and in future blog posts, I will share my thoughts, personal reflections and introspections on what we are studying.

So what are my reasons for taking this online studies? Why am I doing this? I have always believed in life long learning. I fully believe that the Bible is not only a list of rules, do’s and don’ts and laws to follow- but a manual for living life as a prelude to the next life. I am re-visiting the Bible, to attempt (with all my weaknesses and ignorance), to know and understand the God who made the heavens and the Earth and what He requires from me. To rekindle my understanding of who He really is in my life. Even if I know from the start, that I will  never know Him perfectly enough as He ought to. We all can’t conceive His greatness  and majesty with our limited understanding and theology but that doesn’t mean that we can’t experience intimacy with Him. We can't limit how God speaks (He even used a donkey to speak for Him) and how He treats every person individually. I need to know what it really means in the practical sense and day to day living, to abide in Him. I don’t want to waste anymore of my time pursuing matters that doesn’t have any eternal value. I am giving up temporal interests and pursue what really matters. Drop my social media flicking including TikTok, shorts, (although I am not against these) but because it takes quite a chunk of my time. I would rather say NO and drop them like a cold turkey. I want to stop chasing what isn’t important in God’s eyes. I don’t want to be better or feel better in my own eyes but to be what God intends me to be. I want to stop appearing religious but to really know what it means to walk with God. Because I know deep inside that, I am the person who is described in Romans 1: 21 that although I know there is a God, I didn’t honour Him. I honoured Him with my lips. That needs to change.

So let's go to my thoughts on our Week 1 study. Week 1 is about suffering. We read 2 Thessalonians 1: 4-8. There are many causes and forms of suffering. Suffering can be caused by ourselves, other people or circumstances. Suffering maybe in the form of a physical ailment, emotional distress, relational conflicts, etc. 

When I experience any difficulty, any set backs, any suffering and any negative thing in my life, I would immediately ask myself the question, “is this a test (or a trial) or a chastisement? Is this a result of my negligence, my ignorance, a bad choice? my own mistake or even my forgetfulness?”  

 

In contrast, week 1 focuses on (life’s) suffering due to persecution.

All of us will experience suffering at some point in our lives. Nobody is immune from it. The Thessalonians suffered because they embraced the Gospel just as the Apostle Paul suffered because he was the one who delivered the Gospel to them. They were considered worthy of the Kingdom of God because they endured their affliction with steadfast faith and trust in God.

So what is the Gospel and why are they being persecuted because of it? and what does it mean to trust God? what is so “bad” about the Gospel that people are so angry with it?

First, I am thankful that, we (still) live in a world where freedom of speech is still enforced by most of modern society and free countries. However, there are a lot of countries today where you can’t say, write or do anything that pertains on topics about faith, religion and spirituality. Throughout history we know that there were many people who suffered terribly including being imprisoned (that includes Apostle Paul and the disciples) and even died heinous deaths because of what they believed in. I can’t compare my sacrifices with them because it’s like comparing a giant and a dwarf. Them being the giants of faith albeit, how can I be like them in this modern age and times?

As 2 Timothy 3: 12 says, Indeed all who desire to live Godly lives will be persecuted. That’s the cost of being with Christ.

We are a privileged generation. There are a lot of avenues to get to know God with liberty and freedom but we have to be picky and wise in spending our time and attention to God. We might not be experiencing persecution to the point of imprisonment or death however, we need to use whatever resources we have, to do what God wants us to do.

We may not suffer like the Thessalonians but they are a good role model to follow. 

Personally, there are many sacrifices that I have to make. One of them is (and not limited to), re-prioritising my time and schedule. I have to be careful because I suffer from workaholism. It’s not something I am proud of. Nowadays, God gets to be my number 1 priority. Before I spend time at work and at sleep, I make sure that my first hour and last hour of the day should be to spend time with Him. How? by verbally thanking Him (a thank you is not a thank you if not done through words or in writing), by confessing my sins, opening my thoughts to Him, submitting my day to Him, things that I want to accomplish during that day, telling God that I am at His disposal that day, He also reminds me of people that I need to intercede for, asking Him what He thinks of my plans like plans for the day, for my vacation, where would I go and what would I do. I regret not doing this a long time ago simply because I didn’t really enjoy it. I remember all those vacations I spent my time and days on, not even consulting God. Money that I spend on without asking God where would you like me to spend my salary, my bonus, my 13th month pay, my profit? Where would I put my extra money to advance His Kingdom? will this investment glorify God? will this shoes, dress and beauty products take care of this temple that He gave me? Will this choice of dress glorify God? what would you want me to do? what would you want me to say? what would you want me to say to this and that person? how would you like me to spend my day? and on and on….oh well....

So to answer my previous question about what is the Gospel and why do people hate it and they persecute people who believe in it?

I am not a Bible scholar, so I will explain the simplest way to explain the Gospel…. You and I, everyone on this planet Earth who is living and who has ever lived, were born with an original sin inherited from Adam and Eve. Because of sin we all are spiritually dead. One way to look at it is,  everyone broke the moral laws of God (yes, the Ten commandments) and in order to restore that broken relationship, God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). In that respect, we have to accept and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ died for our sins. We have to repent from our sins and turn from our wicked ways. We have to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). He is not a way, a truth or a life. Jesus Christ is THE (specific pronoun) only way, the only Truth and the only Life- Giver. He is not one of the ways to the Father. He is not one of the many ways (including religion). Not by our good works, not by giving donations and alms, not by joining a church, not by being religious, not by giving tithes, not by doing ministry and many other good things- although all of these are physical manifestations of a regenerated heart, it is not the way to heaven, not the way to earn salvation and certainly not the way to God. The only way is through grace (which means unmerited favour) by the blood sacrifice of God’s only Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the sacrifice made for the atonement of my (and everybody else’s sins of the past, present and future). He rose from the dead to prove that He defeated death. Jesus Christ is not only a prophet, a teacher, or a man. He is 100% man and 100% God. He is the Messiah. As John the Baptist pointed out, Jesus Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Now, that is the Gospel in it’s very naive (albeit incomplete) explanation. Now you see, why the people who believes the Gospel (before) were being persecuted. We live in a generation of cultural sensitivity so to say all these things in it’s raw and plain form will also generate a lot of controversy. 

I will touch on my view about repentance some other time. But suffice to say for now, that it is turning away from sin and dying to self. Start living for God. However, it doesn’t mean being perfect, far from it. It means that we are being renewed daily. 

Secondly, another topic I would like to write about is the proliferation of people, especially in the community of so-called "Christians" or "believers" as they call themselves, who propagate the doctrine that if you would become a follower of Christ, all of your problems will be gone, you are already perfect and that you are immune to sin or all your suffering will be done away with, all the things you want will be given as long as you have enough faith, enough words and photos to confess blessings including that mansion, that yacht, this Bugatti, that Rolls-Royce or that Hermes bag. That is not Biblical, there are people who will be blessed materially but there are people who will not. It also doesn’t mean that if you become a follower of God, that life will go on as planned or life will be a bed of roses. It also doesn’t mean  that life will be free from pain, problems and sickness. Far from it! As in Exodus 33: 19 - God will have mercy to whom He pleases and compassion to whom He wants to. Everything is at God’s discretion. My point is, if God’s Kingdom and His righteousness will be shown greater through our suffering, then be it... but if God’s Kingdom and His righteousness will be shown greater by blessing us with material wealth, then it is up to God too. So I think the “prosperity Gospel” is amiss in that respect.

Last but not the least, how will I deal with the fact that so many people would hate me when they read this blog? That I might have pivoted from my health and wellness blog to something spiritual. Sorry to say folks, TRUE health and wellness is only found in Christ and in an intimate relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. When people would say bad things about me, I get hurt. But if they say bad things about me because of what I wrote here, I would remember that they persecuted Christ first. Per contra, there’s a gigantic difference because nobody ever had a reason to persecute Christ. Christ lived a perfect life that I can never ever live. There is not a single iota of wrongdoing with Christ but there’s a lot of wrong in me. So if someone doesn’t like what I wrote. I have to suffer the consequences of what I believe in.

So much for this week, I will write more about my thoughts next time….

————

If you want to know more about Precept, here’s their website: 

https://www.precept.org

They have locations in the UK, US, etc. There are also online Bible studies available.

To get the book on Living Victoriously Through Difficult Times, you can go to Amazon to buy any or both physical or digital copies.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Shalom!

Why I believe there is a God (in the midst of everything that is happening) and He is alive!

 Why I believe there is a God (in the midst of everything that is happening) and He is alive!

Quite a few months ago, a Canadian-Filipina friend of mine shared her concern regarding a disturbing video that she'd come across online because someone forwarded it to her. 

Here's a clip of that video:

So, for people out there who are asking why I, someone who, has a health and medical background believe what I believe, here's my take on it...

First, I feel pity for people like the guy on that video because they don't know what they are talking about. If there is no God then why do they hate God so much? They won't even dare to do that to the Islam religion or to Mohammad. Let alone mock someone they don't believe in. Why do they mock something or someone who does not exist (according to them)? If He is not real why do they disrespect Him that much? Not even Hitler is hated that way. Think about it.

Second, let us be pragmatic. For example, if we see a car, we know that there is someone who manufactured a car. Who? the car manufacturers of course. If we see a painting, we know that behind that beautiful painting is a painter. Of course, a painting doesn't just appear by itself. And if we see a house, we know that someone constructed it. We know that there's an architect, a contractor, a carpenter, a plumber, etc. to eventually build the house. The house, together with the painting and the car, can't just appear out of nowhere. Logically someone has built and made it. So when we see nature: the birds, the trees, the oceans, the seas, everything that surrounds us- they are all creations....which means there is a Creator. Painting was painted by a painter. Creation made by the Creator. The whole of creation "shouts" of God's glory. But of course, it doesn't literally shout but the evidence is there.

Third, Scientifically, if the Earth tilted just one mile towards the sun, we would all fry. If the Earth tilted a mile away from the sun, we would all freeze to death. Every step of the galaxy was perfectly formed. Balance of matter and anti-matter has to be accurate to 1 part in 10 billion to sustain life and the chances that we could live in such an environment is 1 in 1 billion and 1 in 1 trillion that we can think. The chances that we (humans) would be able to have a CONSCIENCE and discern the right from wrong, the odds are 1 in 1 nonillion. When you have protein, the amino acids have to be perfectly arranged, the laws of modern Science cannot fathom the probability of protein forming by chance. 10 to the 64th power by 1. The DNA in every single human is so astronomically complex that no amount of computation can ever bring it together so perfectly....The work of God is in everything especially our human body.

Fourth, there is a theory on Punctuated Equilibrium and Irreducible Complexity. According to Evolutionary biology, Punctuated Equilibrium proposes that once a specie appears in the fossil record, the population will become stable showing little to no evolutionary change for most of its geological history. Irreducible complexity is a term used to describe a characteristic of certain complex systems whereby they need all of their individual component parts in place in order to function. In  other words, it is impossible to reduce the complexity (or simplify) an irreducibly complex system by removing any of its component parts and still maintain its functionality.

Fifth, people who don't believe in God, at one time or another believed in God or some form of God because we are humans, Beneath all our facades, money, mask, careers and accomplishments, there is a deep longing that only God can fill. They see the harm, the wars, the sickness and the world's dilemma. However, they don't know that all these hardships are caused by man's sin and his disobedience. Not by God. But, God is being blamed for it. 

Sixth, I don't believe in religion, per se. Religion has been used to manipulate, abuse and even annihilate people. But a relationship with God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth is the answer. Religion divides, relationship with and faith in God doesn't. A lot of us professing to be Christians are NOT at all real "Christians" or followers of Christ. We talk like the world, we speak like the world, we look like the world, we love the world, we go into our own lives without even consulting God, we are unkind to people who are hurting, we say things at the back of a person we don't like, we secretly take joy in the pain of another person, we take pride in being self-righteous, we are unforgiving when someone has done something wrong, we don't know God in a personal, deep and intimate way. I can go on and on but having said those, that's a whole other topic which I won't touch today with a ten foot pole. Maybe another time perhaps? However, right now let's stay on course.... 

Seventh, Remember, a person only learns what his heart desires. Whatever a person seeks, he finds, If you seek atheism. You will find it. If you seek a broken world. You will only find the problems of this world and not the solutions. If you seek, you will find. If you read and watch videos like the one above, all of which and who are antithetical to God, they will instil many unhealthy ideas in your mind. Inwardly, you will be crumbling, You will turn to drugs, cocaine, booze and many forms of addiction- because your life is not important anyway. A person will turn to worldly answers. I don't have all the answers. No religion have all the answers. Nobody does. But we don't have to have all the answers to believe. Just like I don't have to learn all the things about electricity in order to turn on the electric switch on the wall and enjoy this light in my room. I also don't have to know all the things I need to know about electronics, I just use my laptop. I don't have to know the capacity of this chair that I am sitting on. I just sit on it and have faith that it will hold my weight. I may not see air but I know and I believe that there is air and that it contains, oxygen and hydrogen. I just breath. That's what FAITH is all about. 

Eighth, we have conSCIENCE. In it's Archaic definition, CON- meaning "with" and Science which means "knowledge". We all have a conscience and people who doesn't believe in God, even they themselves know what is right and what is wrong. They will not murder. They will not rape. They will not take drugs. All these things they know to be "not right". Deep inside us, we have this compass. Nobody is perfect. Everyone falls and fails short. That's why, we need someone who could help us. That someone is Jesus Christ alone.

Ninth, last but not the least, Pascal's wager. Pascal's wager is a philosophical argument presented by the seventeenth-century French philosopher, theologian, mathematician, and physicist, Blaise Pascal. It says that human beings "wager" with their lives that God either exists or does not. Since God’s existence is a matter of faith, (and to some extent people believe that there's no scientific proof) how should you live? Let’s say you gamble and bet that, God exists, so you lead a Godly and virtuous life —but it turns out that there is no God. You miss enjoying a few sins while you are alive, but that’s all your risk costs you. Now let’s say you gamble and bet that there is no God and commit all the sins you would like to commit through life without a qualm— and it turns out that God does exist. The payoff on this risk is a few decades of cheap thrills (at the most 80 to 90 years of worldly existence) — then afterwards, an eternity burning in hell. So the risk is greater....

So, in essence, Pascal’s wager shows that whether you should take a risk depends not just on the probability that you are right but also on the consequences if you are wrong. To make reliably good decisions, we must always weigh how right we think we are against or how sorry we will be if we turn out to be mistaken.

Pascal's wager applies not only to belief in the existence of God but in life, in investing, in relationships, in making any major decisions in life, etc. You have to weigh what are the risks and rewards for this decision, this investment, this relationship? If the risks far outweigh the rewards, you should be saying NO. If the rewards far outweigh the risks, you should be saying YES!

But I will end with a story

There were twins: Juan and Pedro. Juan is a good Christian guy, very responsible, respected his parents, never got into trouble but his twin brother Pedro, is his exact opposite: always having trouble with authority, do not study, disrespects his parents. Now one day, Pedro got into an argument and a brawl with another man inside a pub and they exchanged punches he punched the man so hard that the man fell, hit a hard table and when a doctor came to check his vital signs, he was found dead. So Pedro, because he became afraid, ran outside and away from the pub and rushed into a place where he knows he is safe. He went to the house of his brother Juan. Upon hearing his dilemma, Juan told him, not to worry but to take off his bloody shirt, go upstairs and take a shower. He told his bother Pedro not to worry. When the police came, Juan, who was now wearing Pedro’s shirt, was arrested and was brought to prison. In the same way, Jesus Christ was like that to us. 

So, I will end it with this, I will let Science, life, circumstances, History, Biology, Physiology, Anatomy and all the ologies and otomies in the world- point to the Source of it all because as far as I know, when you look for something with an open heart and mind for learning- without prejudice and preconceived ideas, you will eventually find the answer that you have been looking for.

With that, I rest my case. Thank you for reading.

Lessons I learned from the Recent Sickness and Near Death of a Family Friend from Corona Virus:

Lessons I learned from the Recent Sickness and Near Death of a Family Friend from Corona Virus: 

What has prompted me to write this musing? This year has been particularly challenging for all of us around the globe because of this nuisance virus called Covid19. Short for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. A Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the novel coronavirus which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in 2019. 

It has affected me personally because a very close family friend was infected and it nearly cost her, her life. This made me re-think things that matter most in life. God has taught us hard lessons through this experience. But all in all, it’s a journey that I will never forget. And in no particular order here are the lessons I learned from the near death experience of my beloved friend: 

1.     Material Things Don’t Matter. 

        There are many, many occasions that I wonder what to give to a person; especially during birthdays and at Christmas time. The number of shoes, bags, mugs, pens and material gifts given to us are forgotten. The most relevant gifts that you can give are those that can be used over and over again or cheerfully used; these are the ones that form happy memories. I think fondly of a few hours spent with loved ones over a good meal and think that this is far more valuable than any Rolex watch or Gucci dress. So now, I have resolved myself to give more of either cash gifts, or experiences like eating out, a spa time, travel and tours like cooking tours, a walking and food tour, etc. It is the gifts that are given in love with a personal touch, that are the most treasured. 

2.      A Godly man leaves an Inheritance. (Proverbs 13:22) 

        Aside from preparing spiritually, one of the things that has crossed my mind during this unfortunate event was that death is inevitable so we should prepare for it. Especially preparing to pass on generational wealth to our children. We should prepare our family, our spouse, our children and ourselves for our demise. We should ensure that we have life, health and retirement insurance. We should try to have savings that will last us for 3-6 months without having to work physically for it. We should not only work hard but work smart. We should invest in stable investment ventures not “get rich quick schemes”. We should leave not only a spiritual inheritance but should educate our children on financial intelligence and wellbeing. Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30? We should set a time to study and be literate with investing, business, finances and money. We should use our time, talents and treasures: the 3 T’s for the Kingdom of God, while we have time. Don’t delay! 

3.      Death is not the end. It’s only the beginning of another                Chapter in Life. 

         We are a triune being. We are like eggs. We are composed of a shell, an egg white and a yolk. Our shell is our body, the egg white is the soul and the yolk is our spirit. Sometimes, these three are divisive and death is where the soul and spirit leaves the body. At the end of our Earthly life, we are to be judged by our Maker. The friend who nearly died, was in a coma and I am sure that her soul was floating somewhere. I think our soul experiences somewhat of a dream if this happens. I haven’t spoken to her at length about it but I am thinking of interviewing her regarding this. However, I am sure of this, we are all just passing through in this life, we need to make the most out of it to be of service to God and to others by finding our God-given mission in life. 

4.     Stress affects our immunity.

        Of the whole congregation who attended that fateful Sunday service, only a select few were not infected with the virus. Everyone was exposed and yet, I know of only one person who wasn’t infected. Everyone had a range of different symptoms but generally, all of them except my beloved sister in Christ, were back on their feet after a week or so. I think that the length of time of exposure as well as the amount of stress she was experiencing at that time, exacerbated the disease. There are many sources of stress such as work; especially if you do not enjoy the job. At times, the people around us can cause stress. Some people have a more anxious nature which is unhealthy. Even our lifestyle; our diet, sleep patterns, and leisure activities greatly affect our stress levels. We should, as much as is possible, find how to decrease, or better yet; eliminate causes of stress, remembering that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should take care of it. 

        Some Stress contributors: 

        Comparing ourselves with others 

        Complaining 

        Rumour mongering 

        Being over-fatigued 

        Being in a hurry all the time 

        Being argumentative 

        Being mean 

       Shouting 

      All activities that affect us negatively 

      Some Ways to Reduce Stress: 

     Hugging a tree 

     Smiling 

     Forgiving 

     Praying 

     Sunshine exposure for 15 minutes everyday 

     Being in the middle of a garden with trees and flowers 

     Being kind 

     Gratitude 

     Sleeping on time and enough

     Enjoying things that you love 

     Spending time with people you love 

     Relaxing Music 

     Going to a spa 

     Talking to People who inspires you

    Gardening 

5.     God is everywhere. 

        In Hebrews 10: 25 it tells us to not give up meeting with one another and I whole heartedly agree with the Apostle Paul. However, there is a caveat. We should consider our safety and the safety of others especially in the light of current events and the signs of the times. We should remember that a single mistake may be fatal. While it is our responsibility to forgive others, and in turn hope to be forgiven by others, we should not (knowingly) put others at risk. In the same way as I wouldn’t drink and drive, I should be careful to protect people from Covid. I thank God that my dear friend was completely in His hands and even had she passed away she would have been in paradise. However, I am overjoyed that He spared her and gave her back to us. I hope that the church will remember the love of Christ and prayerfully learned lessons from this event that nearly cost somebody their life. We are blessed at this time with so many online platforms like Facebook, Skype, Youtube, Zoom, etc. that we should consider online services if there is ever a flareup of Covid (or its variants) again. I remember the woman at the well when Jesus told her in John 4: 21, 23 and 24, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” With the spread of the virus through personal contacts, Christians should be able to adjust and adapt during lockdowns, social distancing, etc. As the saying goes, have faith but lock your door. True worshippers should start to worship in spirit and in truth. We should explore other ways of meaningful praise and worship. 

6.      Life is fragile. 

         There she is lying in the hospital bed, with life support. Many memories of the past came across my mind: The meals we had together. The many special occasions we enjoyed together as a family even though they are not blood relatives of mine. The laughter and jokes we shared. I realised that no matter how holy a person is, we still get tired, sick and despondent. As Matthew 5:45 says, the sun rises on the evil and the good. The rain falls for the just and the unjust. It doesn’t matter if you believe in God or not, you will still fall if you jump out of a building. Gravity isn’t a respecter of person. Just like any other virus, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian or not, you will get this virus if you had enough exposure and your immune system gives way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity or not, this virus could kill you. It doesn’t matter if you’re popular or not, you can get affected by this virus. We are still on Earth and therefore, we should abide by the laws of nature. Be extra careful, please. Don’t be complacent. 

7.     Dreams are sometimes messages from God. A dream might be coming from the Mexican tortilla you ate last night, from the day’s events, from our past memories and I believe (with no reservations), that a dream might be an intervention or a message from God. Spiritual dreams can come from people in all walks of life but God also uses dreams to talk to His people and sometimes they come from very unexpected people. For instance, Nebucchadnezzar and Pharaoh had dreams which greatly affected Abraham’s children. And of course, Mary and Joseph had dreams which provided essential guidance with the birth of Jesus. Unbeknownst to me, I had a warning dream about COVID decimating our church, and unfortunately it only because clear in hindsight. I dreamt about a gunman trying to shoot me down in a crowd of people. Many people were hit and wounded. Some were hit on the shoulders, arms or legs but I kept running fast and hiding while he was shooting. In the last scene of the dream, I hid behind a pillar and I was surrounded by people who were panicking and cowering for their lives. Then I woke up. Was this dream a form of warning that the congregation in church would be attacked with the virus? This dream prompted me to research about dream interpretation from a Biblical perspective. And I now feel sure that my dream meant that somebody in the spiritual realm was trying to harm me and those around me. Whilst I certainly feel that we should keep a level head, I also feel that we should never ignore what God is trying to tell us through dreams like these. 

8.     Time and chance happen to all. 

        Ecclesiastes 9: 11 says “I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.” And so it is with getting this virus, you have to be at the wrong place at the wrong time to get it. I pray for Isaiah 30: 21 for your life … “And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” We must remember that it is God who gives life and preserves our life and that we should always listen to His wisdom in all things and in all ways. 

9.     Many things in life are personal and individual and one’s salvation especially so. 

        COVID is particularly monstrous; when this sister in Christ lapsed into a coma, no one was able to visit her or be with her physically. No visitors allowed, not even her family members. No one can send flowers or even give her a reassuring touch on her forearm to say that everything would be alright because of the high risk of being contaminated yourself. No one can be there for her physically. And so she is left there alone, isolated. Only the doctors, nurses and hospital staff were there for her. They became her temporary family. Although we were all praying for her; the physical isolation, took a toll on her. Of course, she might have questioned God and thought that she might not come back home. And so it is with this sickness. The virus isolates us from everyone and everything we are accustomed to and hold dear. COVID has demanded so much from us all and tested many of us to beyond breaking point even in our faith. And so it will be at the end of our lives, our salvation is personal, not corporate. We will stand before God, the Almighty and be judged upon our relationship with His Son. It will not matter if our brother or sister is a saint, that will not save us, only the blood of Christ will save us. 

10.      Be grateful for every "normal" day. 

          Did you know that there is a thing called akathesia? This is the inability to sit still and the sufferer constantly moves and fidgets. Many people moan or complain about their colleagues at work, their bosses, their job, their spouse or the government, etc. and they forget that the ability to sit still and hear the birds singing is a miracle. Everyday we are alive is a miracle. We should be thankful that we are not in a hospital. We should be thankful that we are not in the emergency room. We should be thankful that we are not in a morgue. We should be thankful that we are not in a police station. We should be thankful that we can breathe. We should be thankful for this seemingly “normal” day. We should never take things things for granted. We should be more appreciative of what we have. 

         We should give thanks, in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5: 18).

Zen Spa Review

For this blog post I am grateful to have two of my good friends who will be reviewing and writing with me regarding our Zen Spa experience. Both of whom are Licensed Massage Therapists and Massage Therapy professionals in the Philippines. Let me present their spa reviews in two different formats.

Rommel D. Martinez, LMT, is a former scriptwriter who came from a Political Science background at San Sebastian College, founded Greenbay Therapeutic and Rejuvenation Services and also partnered with our good friend (Hadjii Crespo) in Transition Body Wellness Center. He developed (and in the process of writing the books/manuals for) his signature and most requested Graeco-Swedish Fusion, Hagobao (Coconut Massage), Greenbay Body Scrub, Greenbay Pediatric Massage (for 8-16 year olds), Greenbay Athletics, Meridian Therapy (a sort of acupuncture without needles) and some more.

As a timely birthday gift from me, Rommel went for a massage experience in Zen Institute Medical Spa in Scout Rallos in Quezon city on Sept. 7, 2011. Let me relate below Rommel's account of his Zen spa experience.

This branch offers Swedish Massage and Shiatsu for their massage services and also offers skin whitening (whole body or localized… underarm, bikini line), body sculpting for clients who have undergone liposuction or sagging skin/cellulite, body scrub (with salt glow, seaweed mask or whitening mask), facial contouring (sagging skin, double chin, BOTOX, biochemical facelift, fillers, lip sculpting, microcellular facelift by RF technology, facial spa with microcellular serum, facial toning and autologous cell rejuvenation). They also have anti-ageing therapy, acne treatment, laser hair removal, glycolic peel, electrocautery, and collagen induction. Their massage costs P1,500.00 (for basic).

I had my appointment at 3pm, but the usual me arrived early and I was there around 2:15. I thought I will have to wait until 3pm for my massage, but after only 15 minutes I was called in to have my massage. Oooh, I don’t have to wait long after all. It is not that hard to set an appointment, basta it is not on the following day unless they still have a free slot by then.

Since the place is inside Fanny Serrano´s salon, the space is not that big or spacious, in fact a bit crampy. Well their name is Zen so the set is quite minimalist (but not Japanese-ish). The reception area is not really roomy, off-white color with chocolate brown highlights. The light blue color of the shelf is, I think, out of place (perhaps to match the light blue panel in the a/c across it). The massage room is likewise small (like the cubicles in massage clinics of the visually impaired), but there is a shower room inside (because I only had the basic service, I did not take the shower). The water closet (toilet bowl) is in the CR at the end of the hall, so you better make your weewee (peee) first before you have your massage (and shower). The massage bed is immaculate white with built-in face hole, the metal frame is covered by the white sheet. The towels are also laundry-fresh and comfortably warm. There is a bath robe for use of those who take a shower first. Because the name includes “Medical”, I thought my vitals (B/P, temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate) will be taken first, but none of it was checked. I was not also asked to sign a client intake form. The receptionists are wearing medical coat which gives out a clinical air. Some of the cubicles have only dark and heavy curtain for door, some have sliding door.

The staff are friendly and accommodating. My therapist, Joanne, is very nice and friendly. I told her before my massage that I have an allergy flare-up, but it is drying up na, so she asked where it was and avoided the area during the session.

I had the Swedish Massage, but the massage felt like it was just a light and deep effleurage with just a bit of petrissage, and a lot of tapotement. I guess they are also joining in the anti-dengue drive because I counted a number of claps like swatting mosquitoes (there is no mosquito ha, hehehe). I wonder whoever started that “palakpak” move which is quite prevalent in many spas. I guess, aside from swatting mosquitoes, its other purpose is to wake you up in case you get too relaxed if you are feeling sleepy na. But if not for that “palakpak” moves, the massage is relaxing. Joanne also did very well in squeezing out those nodules or what people usually call “lamig” out of my trapezius, rhomboids and scapulae.

I guess what they need to improve on, for a start, they can look for a more spacious place, and change the piped-in music to a more oriental sound (or nature sound) instead of new-age, anyway their name is oriental. But their location is good, very near major roads but not that busy and noisy. If they stick to the “Medical” nature in their name, they might just as well take the vitals and have the clients fill up an in-take form. Over-all I can give the spa a grade of 80-85%. I can recommend the spa, but tell the others not to expect too much. If you prefer a Shiatsu massage, it is advisable to tell the receptionist when you book for your appointment, otherwise you might be automatically booked for Swedish. If you are looking for other types of massage (yung legit lang ha), you must scout around for other establishment because, as I said, they only offer Swedish or Shiatsu for their massage.

For the second spa review of Zen spa at Scout Rallos in Quezon city. I am presenting it in an interview format. Our next reviewer is Maria Fe M. Rapio, a DOH Licensed Massage Therapy Private Practitioner, an Occupational Therapist by education, have also a Physical Therapy background and a TESDA Assessor for Massage Therapy and Hilot Wellness Massage for Manila District. Clinical Trainer for MEDSSAN Training Institute, had been a Massage Trainer for several foundation such as Caritas Foundation, PAGA(Philippine American Guardian Association), AAP(American Association of the Philippines) CHILDHOPE.

What services do they offer? and how much are the range of prices?
They offer facial and diamond peel and spa treatment such as body scrubs and massage as well

What time did you arrived? Did you wait long? Was it easy to schedule an appointment with them?
I arrived 11:45 am 15 minutes before my scheduled time...Ii waited not that long because there is a therapist who is about to end a session with one of their clients 11:50am they started my massage ... I called over the phone and they prioritize ahead booking or ahead schedule clients rather than walk in ... I called on the 24th of august i was schedule the following day

How was the ambiance? Is it relaxing?
The ambiance is really relaxing coz the entire scent of aromatherapy fills the air.

What about the cleanliness of the place, linen, etc
The area is well maintained and the linens were arranged well.

How are the staff manners and behavior? Do they seem eager to serve you? Are they busy at the time of your arrival?
All the staff are friendly and they attend to me eagerly... even if they have clients who stay there they still prioritize scheduled clients.

How was the massage session? What type of massage did you have?
The massage was great I had a Swedish with Shiatsu massage ..
The therapst knows all the areas of my stress .. I asked the therapist what type of oil will she be using for me when I find out its a mineral oil I asked her to use the one I brought with me and I gave it to her.

What do you think is the uniqueness of the place?
They have state of the art facial equipment and they have wide range of derma products

What do you like and don't like about the place, the massage session you had, the therapist and/or the session? what do you think needs improvement?
The therapist should have at least 10 minutes rest before engaging to another service to prevent them to have tiring hands ...

Would you recommend this place to your friends and family?
If you are person who values time and schedule to follow I will definitely recommend this place coz they follow schedule and value clients time

If you were to rate the massage experience how would you rate it from a scale of 1-100?
80-85 will have be a as good as what i can sense or maybe they dont allow me to have shower becoz its a gift certificate only hehehehe

Is there anything you need we should know about your visit to this spa? and any tips for spa goers out there who would like to try out their services?
If they want to experience massage in the city setting Zen Institute will be a nice place to stay and a smiling personnel that will assisst them on having their massage.


Guidelines in the writing of this spa/massage clinic review were observed, click on the link below to read about my guidelines:


http://yunesa.blogspot.com/2009/07/consumer-and-spa-enthusiasts-review.html

The most comprehensive resource and information guide on the list of training centers, magazines, publications, books and literatures both local and international are all available in the book, “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource Guide and Career Book”. The First Book on Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource Book and Career Guide
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6425282/About-the-Book-Spa-Massage-and-Wellness-Resource-Guide-and-Career-Book
(this has the most comprehensive list of training centers in the Philippines and abroad with tips from professionals and employment opportunities, legal laws and regulations, list of employment agencies, how to choose a trainer, and information that you need in order to succeed in this industry and before you shell out money for your tuition or training, there are a lot of ways you can grab a copy of this valuable information para hindi ka mag sayang ng time and money enrolling in trainings you do not even need. This book will give you the information to start right in the industry with secrets you should know and being able to find your rainbow in the wonderful world of massage, spa and wellness.

1. You can order it online via http://www.amazon.com/ at 34.95$

2. You can order it via a Kindle device at $7.99

3. You can order an e-book copy through my blog at http://www.yunesa.blogspot.com/ at $19.95

4. You can also get a copy from National Bookstores nationwide at P799Pesos

5. For locals only, you can order it from me at local discounted rates with free delivery at 900Pesos (via LBC or FEDEX Air 21. Anywhere in the Philippines. Please allow 1-5 working days

If you are looking for a career opportunity, not just a job in the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry, this book is a must read.



This review was written by: Eunice Estipona a spa consultant, mentor, advisor, speaker and lecturer. One of her advocacies is to make healing and information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness accessible and affordable to everyone. If you are serious about turning your business or practice around, making the right decisions, getting an unbiased opinion and knowing where to get help, for lectures and other concerns she can be contacted at yunesa@yahoo.com or +639184745685. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.meetup.com/philippinemassagetherapy

These along with hundreds of resources found locally and abroad are contained in “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource and Career Book”, the first book of resource information to know more about the Spa, Massage and Wellness Industry in the Philippines and other countries including the United States, Australia and other Asian countries. You can view, read, download and print for FREE the book’s summary at this link http://www.scribd.com/doc/6425282/About-the-Book-Spa-Massage-and-Wellness-Resource-Guide-and-Career-Book

If you are a spa, massage therapy and wellness information seeker the resources contained in the book for you. This book is a collection of data and valuable information regarding the spa and massage industry in a global perspective with a focus on the Philippines. Her advocacy in writing the book is to make “unbiased” information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness resources and career, accessible and affordable for everyone. If you are considering a career in the massage, spa and wellness industry, this book will prepare you and give you a glimpse of what it is like, the preparation you need to take: emotionally, intellectually and financially. In this book, you will learn more details in the spa and massage field and the possible paths you can take. You will also learn about local and international training programs offered and numerous employment possibilities. Giving you much needed information at your fingertips. You can order it from http://www.amazon.com/ or for local Philippine residents, you can email and get in touch with Eunice at yunesa@yahoo.com.



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The Spa, Massage Therapy, Beauty and Wellness Professional's Prayer Collection

The Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness Professionals Prayer Collection
By
Eunice Estipona
yunesa(at)yahoo.com

Here is a collection of prayers of adoration, acknowledgement, thanksgiving and petition for the spa, massage, beauty and wellness industry stake holders. I encourage you, whatever your position in the spa, massage clinic or wellness center, to pray everyday with a spirit of expectation. Expect for the best, expect that God will make a way, God answers prayers and that God will provide- because He will.

Please share this collection of prayers with anybody in the spa, massage and wellness industry: your friends, staff and colleagues and find a prayer that suits you best.

Prayer of a Spa Concierge/ Receptionist/ Front Desk Staff

Lord thank you for hearing my prayers that even before I ask you, you already know what I need better than I know what I need. Thank you Lord because whenever I ask, I receive, whenever I seek, I find and whenever I knock, doors open to me. You make your angels go before me to work to clear my path. You make my day of work both enjoyable and filled with love. Bestow upon me the wisdom and wit to create the right impression for the establishment that I am working for. Give me the knowledge to know and suggest the specific treatments and therapies for each client that enters the door. I pray that I will make the right reservations, be able to organize treatment sessions and be very patient in handling people. Give me the ability to communicate effectively and tactfully. Let me enjoy my work to entertain questions and queries by guests over the phone or face to face. May I assign the right client to the right therapist, acknowledge and greet guests in a courteous manner. Making them feel as if they have entered their own complete sanctuary and a different environment than their usual. May I assist all of our team members such as the massage therapists, spa therapists, facial therapists and even the spa owners in making the establishment a profitable place for us all. May I fulfill your divine purpose in my life and make me do everything with gladness of heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.


Prayer of a Reflexologist

I rejoice that you have given me the skill and the knowledge in reflexology. Your power is in me whenever I perform reflexology. You are my strength and my power without you I can do nothing. I exercise the gifts and virtues that you have given to me. You empower me to do what is right, to say the right things and to follow your will in my work as a reflexologist. Lord God, grant me the professional skill to perform hand, foot and ear massage. Let my professional experience be shared with others through my hands. Let me see the progress of good health and stamina that each session is giving my client. May I be able to establish good rapport with my clients, a peaceful working relationship with my co-workers and a concerned attitude toward my superiors. May I be able to identify the concerns of the client and be able to use the right techniques for their health and well-being. Make my heart genuinely interested in working with people and be comfortable in touching their hands, feet and ears. May I exceed the professionalism and sense of care required from most professionals, in Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.


Prayer of a Massage Therapist or Bodyworker

I praise you and adore you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I know and I feel that you are blessing me right now dear Lord. You are pouring your anointing oil upon my hands as I pour the oil to my client’s body. You are blessing my oily hands with a double portion of your Spirit, your gifts, your virtues, and your healing. Make my skill, profession, and knowledge a positive force to affect the health and well-being of my client. Use my thumbs, hands, elbows, palms, knuckles and fingers to relieve the pain or tension in the muscles of my clients. May each technique provide relaxation and relief from all body, muscle and joint pains. Give me the strength to perform massage therapy that alleviates painful ailments, decompresses tired and overworked muscles of the body. May I always support other service providers in giving the best positive experience for the clients and be consistent with what the client needs according to massage and spa protocols and accepted professional practices. May I be able to assess the condition of the client, maintain proper body mechanics, proper decorum and be able to develop loyal clients under my care. Use my hands and physical capability to meet my client’s expectations in knowing how to knead, rub, rock, tap or apply pressure to client’s sore muscles and limbs. Use them to induce relaxation, assist in rehabilitation and contribute to their overall physical and emotional well-being. Let something good come out of this massage therapy session because I know that your abundance is above and beyond what I can comprehend. Through my massage therapy skill, a mountain of blessing awaits my life and through this skill, will I give glory to you Oh God. In Jesus’ marvelous name, Amen.


Prayer of an Esthetician, Facial Therapist, Skin Care Technician or Beauty Therapist

I praise you Lamb of God, King of kings and Lord of lords. You are my fortress and my delight. I am safe in the center of your perfect will, so lead me in your path for my work today. I trust you completely for my work and my future as an esthetician, facial therapist or beauty therapist. Today, I ask you Lord to let me begin in the inward beauty of a person and of myself. Let my work help alleviate skin disorders and help others improve and beautify their skin. Give me enthusiasm, team spirit and the knowledge fit for a professional with this skill so that the aesthetic treatments that I will perform will promote a feeling of well-being, care, tactfulness and a radiant looking skin. I pray that I will be able to execute services to accommodate the needs of my clients without compromising service, standards and sanitation. May I be able to recommend home care routines to each client serviced, so that each may have a clear skin. May I always be pleasant, caring and have a genuine interest in what I do. May I be able to adapt to change, calmly and efficiently multi-task, with an emphasis on cooperation and courtesy to my colleagues including the management. Let me use the right skin care product, the right techniques to the right client and be able to perform aesthetic procedures. May I be able to recognize skin problems that I must refer to dermatologists, podiatrist, plastic surgeons and other medical practitioners. Give me a heart to desire what you want from my life, to walk in confidence as I follow you daily, and be able to share my ability to others, in Jesus’ most powerful name, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa Therapist, Spa Technician or Spa Attendant

You are my delight, you guard over my heart and my soul. You mold me into your Son’s image through my work as a spa therapist, spa technician or spa attendant. Let my skill of providing treatments be evident in the work of my hands to improve the general appearance and the client’s well-being suit different client objectives. Give me competency, dear God with the variety of spa therapies and utilize what I know to satisfy and empower guests on the spot without hassle. Give me the knowledge, wisdom and discerning spirit to assess what products and services will be most beneficial for the client, perform body treatments on clients with care, professionalism and attentiveness to each client’s needs. May I always find it enjoyable to maintain treatment rooms to the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and presentation ensuring that all products and treatments delivered to every individual client are appropriate to the guests’ needs and condition. Let me shine His light through what I do and through the work that I do, in Jesus’ name, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness Instructor, Trainer or Teacher

God in Heaven, Maker of Earth, thank you for renewing me everyday. You revive my spirit and give rest to my soul. You turn every problem into a spring of blessing. Dear Lord, I submit my students to you today to the level that I want them to be better in what they do, even if it means being better than me. Grant me the dedication to positively teach what I know, the guts to face a knowledge hungry crowd, and the ability to communicate effectively. Bless the information and the teaching that I will share today that my students will be able to use it to bless others and develop their skills and competencies. Let me be a knowledgeable guide and be able to provide an environment where my students can develop their understanding and cooperation with each other. May I always speak passionately in my subject matter. May I always be committed in imparting knowledge and developing my student’s potential instead of just letting them memorize facts and techniques. May I always inspire my students to open themselves up for more learning and acceptance of others and be able to use what they have learned to benefit others. I know that everything I need and ask for will come to me through the right opportunities, learning, circumstances, events and people. Nothing is ever impossible for those who believe, and so I claim the fulfillment of my hopes and dreams. In the Mighty name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness Speaker or Lecturer

I adore you. I praise you. I worship you with my heart, mind, body and soul. Let my mouth be your mouthpiece. Let the words that will be uttered in my lips be your words. Let me bless my audience and provide expert support in the spa, massage therapy and wellness field. Let me be a force for good, be able to motivate and carefully plan my speech so that my audience will be able to learn and apply them in their lives. Let this event of speaking be a memorable experience both to my audience and to myself- so that I may speak the truth with love and understanding, and that I myself will be able to apply them in my own personal life. Let me have an insatiable appetite to learn and hone my speaking skills, know my audience, and be able to provide information relevant to this industry. Let the content of my lecture and speech be delivered with love and blessings to all those who hear. I trust in you Lord with all my heart and lean not in my own understanding. In all my ways, I acknowledge You. In You I stand secure and know that my past, present and future is in His hands. I face my audience with confidence and inspiration from above, Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa Supervisor

You are causing my life to overflow. You Oh Lord have made me glad. I will shout for joy and sing praises to you my God. Dear God, today I submit to you my responsibilities to aid the spa manager in his/her tasks. Help me in the back end operations of the spa. Make me a team leader in the absence of our spa manager and a responsible overseer when needed. Let me focus on the frontline nuts and bolts of running a spa, act on behalf of a spa manager when one is not available, and provide leadership for spa attendants and spa reservation staff. Let me recognize every lack and be able to make-up for it. Let your protective arms surround me. Thank you for the miracles that come my way and thank you for granting my prayers in the best possible ways that my mind cannot not even comprehend. Every living thing conspires to bless me and my work. Thank you God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa Director or Operations Director

You are glorious, You are wonderful, You are ever present and All-knowing. Your goodness and kindness follow me. You are awesome in my life and in my workplace, Mighty God. You are blessing me beyond measure and overflowing for others to be blessed as well. Use me as a channel of your love in overseeing the spa, fitness and leisure area. Let me set fair and workable policies that create the daily routine of all spa staff under me. Bless me in keeping the spa running smoothly to make sure that the staff operates with peak efficiency through coordination, communication and cooperation. Provide me with the knowledge to be responsible with financial budgets and outcomes, for growing new business opportunities, developing the market, and overseeing the staff around me. Let me have a sincere desire to help other people, to have excellent and first-rate communication and interpersonal skills, and to have the determination and persistence to achieve success. Let me be a spa director who is driven and passionate about understanding the client and exceeding their expectations and commit to develop my staff who works on these clients. Give me wisdom to look for solutions and problems that arise instantly. Make me organized, able to act on my initiative and be a reliable team leader. Give me the striving attitude to deliver financial goals with sound business acumen, high level of empathy towards those below my position, be emotionally mature, level-headed and can deal with different situations from different people at the same time. Let me have on my sleeves effective marketing strategies, negotiating skills, an eye for detail and a mentor for the professional growth of my staff. Let not the clients and other people see the stress that I am under in order to be truly present for guests and employees so that the spa can be financially successful. Make every move I make bring peace, love and joy unto others. Let me serve you by serving others, through Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.


Prayer of a Spa, Massage Clinic and Wellness Business and Operations Consultant

You are Lord that completes me and in your presence am I made whole. You root out any negative emotions in my heart, in my soul and in my mind. You set me free. God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, give me the wisdom to address the issues and concerns of my client and to be able to solve the specific issue at hand. Give me the knowledge and wisdom to handle all aspects of spa start-up including market assessments, financial feasibility and overall marketing plan. I pray that every problem, concern and circumstances that bother my client be cast away. I will grow deeper in love with you Lord through serving the needs of my clients and their businesses with each passing day. Let your abundance in supplying our needs be made open unto us as you prosper the work of our hands. As I use my strength, my knowledge and my gift to serve my clients and be richly rewarded. I praise you for the generosity and for giving us the steps to improve the business and lead my clients to abundance. Bless this professional relationship together as we grow and serve you deeper and deeper everyday. In the Mighty name of Jehovah God, Amen


Prayer of a Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness Book Author, Writer, Blogger

Father God through your mighty son Jesus Christ, I submit to you my ability in writing. I ask you to bless the words that I type and write. I commit myself to enrich others through my writings, articles, blogs and books. I am truly wealthy with the knowledge that you have given me and since I am in a position to influence others through my writings, let this blessing flow through other people’s lives. You have given me a heart to serve others through what I write so let my hands be your hands and let me go the extra mile to serve others through whatever I write. Let my readers experience the words that I write change and transform others to be better persons and individuals to be able to fulfill your purpose in their lives. Let me serve you and others with humility, expecting others in return-not even acknowledgement or praise because your praise and acknowledgement is what I deeply aspire for. In Jesus mighty name this I pray. Amen.


Prayer of a Spa, Massage Clinic and Wellness Owner or Entrepreneur

You are with me Lord in this business endeavor. You are transforming us to be better citizens and better entrepreneurs for our own country, the people that work for us and the people that we serve. You are our model and to you, and only you, will we trust and obey. May those who seek physical health and well-being find our place a haven of rest and relaxation. May our staff who serves them, serve them with care and sympathy. You Lord are ordering the events that lead to the establishment of this business so that people I need to help will cross my path. You are sending your angels to protect our premises, the equipment and my staff and to aid me in our daily operations. You cause the right people to be favorable to me. Thank you. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

What is a prayer? Commonly, it’s an uttering of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, and requests to a higher being- some call Him Allah, some call Him Jehovah, some Jesus Christ, some God the Father, I call Him God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. But mere prayer is not a prayer until we actually say it, believe in it and/or do it. A prayer is more than words. Did you know that what we think, say and do are also forms of prayers? God answers prayers: not the prayers that we merely say- the prayers that we think and do weigh much more than verbal prayers. You might be verbally praying to pass your licensure examination, but if on the other hand, you are not studying your lessons then what you are praying for is really to fail. If you are verbally praying for financial abundance but you do not save a portion of your income, then you are really praying for poverty. If you are praying for the downfall of another person then you are also cursing yourself because whatever you sow you reap. If you are praying to become one of the best massage and spa therapist in town but you do not want to learn different techniques and you are not interested in studying about them- then you are praying to be a mediocre spa and massage therapist. If you wanted to write a book on spa, massage therapy and wellness but you do not like writing your thoughts and compiling what you know then you are praying not to become an author. If you are praying for a successful spa, massage clinic business and yet you do not want to read numbers or you do not want to make a business plan then you are really praying for failure. If you are praying for the right opportunity but you are ignoring your core gifts and positions that only offer a small salary then you are not really praying for the right opportunity because with these small opportunities lies greater abundance. Remember Joseph started as a slave in Egypt, David started as a sheep caretaker. Its not only the words that we speak during prayer time. Because what you think, say and do- is actually your prayer.

May all your prayers give you love, joy, peace and prosperity!

God bless you more!


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If you are an owner or would be entering the field, profession or business of massage clinics, spa and wellness establishments offering massage therapy- you need to comply with the recent rules and regulations of massage therapy licensure in the Philippines- here is the link to the recent changes:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5028198/HOW-TO-BE-A-LICENSED-MASSAGE-THERAPIST-IN-THE-PHILIPPINES


I would also like to share the five things that I have learned in massage school, in the spa and wellness industry- which I also learned from a pencil. This is the transcribed thoughts and speech I delivered as a guest speaker during the oath taking of newly licensed massage therapists last June 17, 2011. Click on the link below:
http://yunesa.blogspot.com/2011/07/five-things-i-learned-in-massage-school.html


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A list of training centers, magazines, publications, books and literatures both local and international are all available in the book, “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource Guide and Career Book”. You can order it online via http://www.amazon.com/ or for local Philippine orders, email yunesa@yahoo.com. If you are looking for a career opportunity, not just a job in the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry, this book is a must read.

This article is written by: Eunice Estipona a spa consultant, mentor, advisor, speaker and lecturer. One of her advocacies is to make healing and information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness accessible and affordable to everyone. If you are serious about turning your business or practice around, making the right decisions, getting an unbiased opinion and knowing where to get help, for lectures and other concerns she can be contacted at yunesa@yahoo.com or +639184745685. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.meetup.com/philippinemassagetherapy
These along with hundreds of resources found locally and abroad are contained in “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource and Career Book”, the first book of resource information to know more about the Spa, Massage and Wellness Industry in the Philippines and other countries including the United States, Australia and other Asian countries. You can view, read, download and print for FREE the book’s summary at this link http://www.scribd.com/doc/6425282/About-the-Book-Spa-Massage-and-Wellness-Resource-Guide-and-Career-Book

If you are a spa, massage therapy and wellness information seeker the resources contained in the book for you. This book is a collection of data and valuable information regarding the spa and massage industry in a global perspective with a focus on the Philippines. Her advocacy in writing the book is to make “unbiased” information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness resources and career, accessible and affordable for everyone. If you are considering a career in the massage, spa and wellness industry, this book will prepare you and give you a glimpse of what it is like, the preparation you need to take: emotionally, intellectually and financially. In this book, you will learn more details in the spa and massage field and the possible paths you can take. You will also learn about local and international training programs offered and numerous employment possibilities. Giving you much needed information at your fingertips. You can order it from http://www.amazon.com/ or for local Philippine residents, you can email and get in touch with Eunice at yunesa@yahoo.com.

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Five Things I Learned in Massage School, I Learned from a Pencil

Five Things I Have Learned in the Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness Industry,
I learned from a Pencil
(Text and Thoughts during the Oath Taking and Induction
of
Newly Licensed Massage Therapists
June 17, 2011)
By Eunice Estipona

The original version (author unknown) of what I will share with you was forwarded to my email last May 24, 2011 by my good friend Rommel Martinez. He is a great massage therapist and was a top-notched student in the previous licensure exams. However I decided to add my own thoughts and experiences to this wonderful story. So today, I am sharing this with you as I shared it (but more articulate and profound than) during the June 17, 2011- Oath Taking and Induction of the Newly Licensed Massage Therapist at the Grand Opera Hotel in Manila, Philippines.

Nearly a decade ago, I was at our oath taking held at the Department of Health in Sta. Cruz, Manila, at the time of this writing, the newly inducted 2011 LMT oath takers have been held at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel- a great leap in boosting the morale of new massage therapists. Thanks to people who paved the way for this to happen and that includes the Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy and his team headed by the Chairperson, Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo and Ms. Josephine H. Hipolito CEMT Secretariat, both are great pillars in the massage industry) with the collaboration of the Philippine Association of Licensed Massage Therapists headed by its President, Mr. Jevren Sibug and Vice-President Mr. Pedro Vasquez II (or Sir Pete as we fondly call him) both of whom are enthusiastic encouragers and inspiring people in the field of massage therapy in the Philippines and the Continuing Massage Therapy Education Council (CMTEC), Massage Therapy Assessors, together with all the Training instructors nationwide, for sharing your knowledge and wisdom to the industry, the amazing lives that you have touched are the inspiration for the next generation to come, all of whom I dearly admire- indeed the massage profession has gone a long way. All your efforts made a difference because you took the time to organize and volunteer. Thank you for being the models of vision, passion and purpose that this industry so desperately needs. Know that you are all represented in these pages.

Last June 17, 2011, during their oath taking and induction, as a guest speaker, I cannot help but reminisce about the past and how the profession has evolved and it helped me find my rainbow in the industry. Indeed massage therapy is a viable career as the year’s current theme states. Kudos to all of you who makes a difference in the world of massage therapy, hats off to all of you and God bless you in your endeavor to be an instrument in the progress of massage therapy profession in the Philippines. Your example is a wonderful lesson to us all. Please accept my sincere thanks.

The first lesson I have learned from a pencil and from the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry is that, everything you do will always leave a mark. An area to look into is to leave a mark or to leave a legacy, although a good ambition- it’s a short sighted one. You are not placed here on Earth to be remembered or to just leave a mark, you are here to prepare for eternity. In preparing for that, you have to use your career, your work, your license, your profession- but you might be asking, how? You have to make sure that your stepping stone with all the gifts that has been given you is spent not only on yourself but for others. This means everything you do, even simple chores or words as saying “God bless you”, “Thank you”, “I love you”, “Forgive me”- has eternal implications. I believe that one of the foundations of truly leaving a mark in another person’s life is to feel happy for the success of others. Sometimes, people aren’t happy for the success of others because they feel threatened. If you think badly of the success of others, you won’t be successful because you will also be thinking badly of your own success- you will eventually put yourself down too. So it’s very important to bless those whom you admire- so that their blessings will rub off on you. If you see a classmate, a colleague, a neighbor, a seatmate, a fellow massage therapist, a massage instructor or anyone who gets successful, who gets promoted, who gets the position, who gets an award – be happy for that person, bless them, admire them and learn from them. You need to wish blessing on others and train yourself to celebrate the success of others because what goes around comes around. That is why it is very important to say “God bless you” because with the blessing you give unto others, that is also the blessing that will be given to you.

The second lesson I have learned from a pencil and from the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry is that, you can always correct the mistakes you make. We will always fall short out of others expectations or even our very own expectations. We are not perfect but there is no reason not to strive for correcting our mistakes or giving ourselves a second chance. Your past doesn’t matter, your mistakes doesn’t matter- what matters is what you will be doing after your mistake. After we have fallen. If a pencil makes mistakes, it doesn’t worry, it doesn’t whine, it doesn’t blame- not because the pencil does not care- but because the pencil knows that it can always correct the mistakes it has made. The pencil can always depend on its eraser (or its correction fluid- whatever..). When we make a mistake- erase. Erase. Erase. Erase. How do we erase? by forgiving ourselves, by forgiving others, by starting all over again, by saying “sorry”, by learning from our mistakes and by doing it right the next time around. How many times do we need to forgive? In Matthew 18:21, 22 said we must forgive seventy times seven. Jesus is saying we should forgive other people abundantly more than we could ever forgive. Madaling sabihin pero mahirap gawin so what do we do now? We should train ourselves and practice it daily to get the muscles of forgiveness strong- na madali tayong makapagpatawad. Make it a part of our habit to get less and less angry, less and less resentful everyday. Another angle to look at it is with our mistakes and our weaknesses- these are God’s way for us to work with and look for others who are strong in areas where we are weak. Why do we have weaknesses? In order for us to form teams, help each other and cooperate with each other. Our strengths maybe the weakness of others and our weaknesses maybe the strengths of others this is why we need each other. That is precisely why we have different systems of the body because each of our systems serves different function but every cell, tissue, organ and system works together to make our body alive. Each has its own function even though we make mistakes. So, believe that even if we are imperfect, together with others, you can still achieve what God has placed in your heart. As a pencil, we always have an eraser with us. Erase. Erase. Erase.

The third lesson I have learned from a pencil and from the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry is that, what is important is what is inside of you. No matter what appearance we have. No matter where we graduated. No matter what we have achieved what is important is what is inside of us. What is your purpose for living? What is your unique role in the world? Just like a pencil, the outer doesn’t really matter as long as the pencil writes. Kahit maganda at mamahalin ang pencil kung hindi naman makasulat – wala ring function. Yun naman talaga ang function ng pencil – magsulat, for drawing, for marking, etc. Pencils are not meant for display, to be thrown away or to be a weapon. As a pencil we have to look at what is inside of us- what we have to offer, what we have to give and what we have to contribute. Do not be trapped by other’s expectations and other people’s opinion- drowning your dreams and your inner convictions. Have the courage to follow your heart and your gut. A large percentage of our lives will be spent on work and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you truly believe is great work. The only way to do that is by loving what you do, loving your clients, loving your profession and loving what you are contributing to others. If you haven’t found your one true love (whether this be at work or matters of the heart) then keep looking and never settle anything less than what you really love and have passion for. And when you find it, take care of it, nurture it and cultivate it so it will get better and better as the years go by. Discover what is inside of you by discovering your passion, discovering your core gift, discovering your true purpose, discovering your mission, discovering what you are excellent at, discover your core competency and discovering your hunger. You need to work at that gift and spend your entire time to develop your gift, your talents and your skills. When you try to answer: why do you want to be successful? Why do you want to be wealthy? Why do you want a license? Is it for our own selfish gain? Is it because you mother or aunt told you so? Is it to prove your self? Your reasons, your why, your purpose will always direct you. Because if your “why” is big enough you will always succeed in achieving your goals. The reasons must always come from the heart and not just from the brain. Establish your mission and the driving force in you life. Keep looking inside of you and get to know yourself deeply until you find what moves you and don’t settle for anything less than what you truly love to do. After this, move on into different avenues of career development. Never stop learning. Continue to hone your skills, your strengths and your talents, huwag magsawa sa pag attend ng mga seminars and trainings and do not be tired of learning. Learning is an investment on yourself, do not look at learning as a burden or as “gastos lang yan”- continue to learn and be hungry for things that will make you a better person- inside and outside. One way of learning is to be able to read a lot and if you can afford it- travel and learn from other culture. If you can afford it or your family supports you, start planning to travel. My travels both locally and abroad also gave me the privilege of appreciating and understanding that every tribe and culture worldwide should embrace diversity and converge on a common goal of being a flowing well for others to benefit from. We learn from history and the practice of other cultures. Its been an amazing experience. Because you cannot give what you do not have. Look for people who will inspire you, the insights and the wisdom to advance your career. Focus on what is inside of you: your character and your attitude because what is inside of you will be shared to others.

The fourth lesson I have learned from a pencil and from the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry is that, in life you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will only make you better. Sometimes, you will feel that life is awful, that there is nobody there for you, that there is no hope and that life gets to hit you in the head with a brick- yeah… BIG TIME- but these bitter pills will ultimately make you better. These are learning curves which will tilt you either to become bitter or better. In every problem- dapat nagiging mas mabuti tayong tao at nagiging mas mature. Never lose faith. We will never know what tests will come your way: you might not be earning enough, you might be in a difficult situation, you might be in the cross roads of your life, you might start with a daily wage of just fifty pesos a day (I was earning only 50 pesos a day), you might receive a harsh remark, an undeserved criticism, friends turned enemies, money concerns or seemingly impossible problems. But in all these please remember that how you react is how God looks closely at you. Everything will soon pass. Everything is for your character development. These are opportunities to either demonstrate love or hate. Every year, every month, every day and every minute is an important moment to bless others. Just like a pencil, in order to be used- we need to be sharpened.

The last but not the least, the fifth lesson I have learned from a pencil and from the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry is that, to be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be guided by the hand that holds you. Our lives are like an empty canvass and in order to make the best of who you are, we are to submit everything to Him. Remember that life is a trust, being a massage therapist is a trust, being a massage instructor is a trust, being a spa therapist is a trust, having a license is a trust- Everything is a trust. A pencil will not be able to write no matter how expensive or how beautiful your pencil is- if the Hand that holds it will not use it- it will not be able to serve its function. That pencil is us. The hand that holds us is our Creator. Our time on Earth and our energy, our money, our intelligence, our resources, our friends, our colleagues in the industry, our family, relationships, our talents, our abilities, our skills, our instructors, our license and our profession and everything we have now are a gift from God that He has entrusted to our care. We never really own anything during our brief stay on Earth. God is temporarily assigning it on our care while we are here. Two years ago, I have been diagnosed with myoma- a non-life threatening disease (in most cases) and that time, even if it’s not a case of life and death, I have come to realize that I have to focus on things that matters most. Remembering that everyday we are closer to our graves and we’ll be dead soon is the most important tool to help us make the big decisions in life. Because almost everything- success and even failures, sama ng loob, our titles, our diplomas, our certificates, our position, the wealth that we accumulated, the education we reached, the Earthly accomplishments- everything we cherish or enjoy- are all temporary- it will all fade away in the face of death. What is truly important is our relationship with the Creator and relationships with our fellowmen. You will not face death with your awards or diplomas or money – if that is the case then focus on what is really important and nothing is more important than relationships. If relationships are most important then decide now to grow old with each other- grow old with your colleagues, your classmates, your friends and instructors. Grow old with the one you truly love. Just prepare your heart and the Hand that guides you will give you the right opportunities, the resources and the right people that will prepare you for success. So keep preparing, keep sowing- the Hand that holds you will always have a right timing for you to give birth to your great aspirations.

In conclusion, your first job after this oath taking and induction is to take care of everything you have been given. Your time is limited so do not waste it living someone else’s dream for you or waste it with petty things and disagreements. Follow your rainbow, follow your heart and follow the hand that holds your future. Everything else is secondary.

God bless you more and more!


This is a prepared text and thoughts of Eunice Estipona on the recently concluded 2011 oath taking and induction of newly licensed massage therapists in Manila, Philippines. To download a copy on your computer, click on the link below:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/60833737/Five-Things-I-Have-Learned-in-Massage-School-PDF-File