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From My Heart Dear Readers, Welcome to the new look of Moms—building the best families! We have added some new features and we hope they will inspire and delight you. This quarter’s articles are all about mothers venturing out into business. I was inspired to compile this issue while
reading Proverbs 31:10-
31. I remember when the mothers’ only role in our country was to stay at home, take care of their husband and children, and be the housekeeper. The men were always the breadwinners. I don’t know where this trend came from, but in Proverbs 31, another facet of a mother is mentioned – she can also be a businesswoman.
Chicka-Chicka
Ready to Become a MOMpreneur?
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Business Ethics--in One Word
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Money-money
Preparing for Business
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Setting Our Financial Boundaries
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
More Than Enough
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In this issue, we have written to encourage moms who want to be innovative and earn additional income. We have articles on business ethics, preparation for setting up a business and the beautiful story of a woman who worked hard, prayed hard and got her prayer answered. Enjoy reading! God bless you.
Evelyn Damian, Editor
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FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
Maintaining a Healthy Balance Between Job & Family
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Cool Summer Treats
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Answers TO YOUR QUESTIONS
Just Asking
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To Start a Relationship with Christ Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
MOMS Editorial Staff (L-R): Patrick, Alvin, Evelyn, Kim & Johnson.
MOMS EDITORIAL STAFF Chief Editor Kimberly Snider Editor, MOMS Evelyn Damian Editor, MIP Alvin Tud Distribution Johnson Li Cover & Layout Patrick Tan ASIA PACIFIC
MEDIA Thank you for your financial help! •
UEC—General Santos City
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Rev. Andres Kho, Quezon City
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Thank you also to those who did not want their names mentioned.
Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish; but have eternal life.” John 3:16b Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop sinning. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray!
We need a little help from our friends... MOMS has no subscription price; it is supported completely through contributions. We distribute 58,000 copies each quarter for free. To help support this publication, send cash or check made payable to: Asia Pacific Media Ministries FAO MOMS. To make a direct deposit, use our BPI, C/A #2431-0042-27. All contributions are used entirely for the outreach of this publication. Thank you!
MOMS/MIP Creative Team 2014: Top row (L-R): Nathan, Joshua, Jesse, Revo. Second row: Jeanne, A.M., Rikka, Grace, Baby. Not in the picture: Hazel and Gem.
Published quarterly by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. Unit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Philippines. Telephone: 914-9767. E-mail: moms@apmedia.org. Reproduction of photos and articles is prohibited without permission.
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C HI C KA - C HI C KA
Ready to Become a Mompreneur? by Hazel Angela Javier
M
ompreneur is a term that has been coined recently – a combination of mom and entrepreneur. There’s even a website (www.mompreneurmanila.com) and a summit was held in Manila that featured successful businesswomen. The summit aimed to create a network and community for mompreneurs. Here are some websites and tips that are helpful if you are considering being a mompreneurs. 1.
You need an entrepreneurial mindset. An article from www. sme.com.ph explains that “would be business people” need to be creative and also logical to find opportunities and to consider how to make the business sustainable. Another good resource to look on creating a feasibility study can be found at this site: http://homebusiness.about.com
2. Business Opportunities. A 2012 Smart Parenting article shared that 3 industries can be explored as one moves into business: food, internet and retail. It has been said, “One can never go wrong with food.” The trick with the food business is creating the balance of using the ingredients that are not costly but will make your food memorably different. Retail as well has always been there. Re-sell your target market’s favorite brands and consider how to deliver these products to them. 3. Franchising is also another business opportunity with relatively low capital, depending on the food item that you’re going to sell. The cheapest food carts start at P 30,000 but this usually only covers the cooking equipment, the cart and a product sampler. There are many websites on available franchises that you can check out if interested. 4. Finances. For micro, small medium enterprises (MSME), the government agency Department of Trade and Industry (www.dti.gov.ph) posts several options for financing programs. In a recent article from the online portal of Entrepreneur magazine (www.entrepreneur.com.ph), the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also gives financial assistance to families in rural areas. Usually these families can start with Continued on page 15
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Business Ethics—in One Word by Johnson Li
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usiness is about being happy, fulfilled, satisfied and doing the right thing with pride through business. Value is the base word. Internal values are the personal things that direct how you behave yourself. External values are how you want people to treat you. 1.
Value yourself. Clients will see your worth, your principles, ideals and outlook in life. Many clients will return and give you business depending on how you connect with them. You might not sell your item cheaper than your competitor, but they come back. This is because you value yourself and that reflects on your business.
2. Value your responsibilities. The boss is the inspiration of the staff. His responsibilities include how he manages his family, clients and staff. It is leading by example. Keep your promises. 3. Value your staff. Respect individuality. To have a strong business is to have a strong staff, full of inspiration and ambition. Aside from fringe benefits, consider
outings, retreats, team building and even dining with their family. 4. Value your products. Control the quality controller! Your products are precious. Handle products carefully especially in front of your clients. Treat the products carefully and maintain product standards, there is no excuse for “pwede na.” Don’t forget to train your clients how to handle the products. 5. Value your Clients. Every person that enters your store or office is a potential client. Being courteous, respectful, and having a childfriendly atmosphere will make your store and office homey. Customeroriented and service are priorities. 6. Value your neighbors. Treat everyone nicely. Having a good relationship with other people will increase the success of business. They are your free advertisers. Don’t forget to meet your responsibilities such as loans, fees, and taxes. 7. Value your God. Offers, perks, proposals and shortcuts are the usual things that come up in business. Remember God who is watching over your shoulder.
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M O N EY - M O NE Y
Preparing for Business by Revodem Avarientos
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owadays anyone who has desire, discipline and enough free time can venture into a small business to earn extra income. Maybe you are that person and you are wondering how to have a business of your own. Where to begin? To start, you need to have capital. Try to review your monthly budget and your monthly expenses. I suggest you identify your family needs and wants, then categorize the list according to importance. Needs like food, transportation and utilities should be priorities. You need to set aside an amount for your tithes as well. If you can let go of the “wants” temporarily and put that money into your business savings, that will give you a good start in building your capital. Now go back to your need list and decide if there is a way to minimize the cost of your needs expenses to add more to your savings. If you do not have enough money, is there a way for you to venture out in business? One quick way is to enter into microfinance. There are many organizations who offer small loans to “would be” entrepreneurs which offer less interest than traditional loaning sources.
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What considerations should you take when starting a business? •
Your business should be covered by your capital.
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Venture into a type of business wherein you are interested and knowledgeable. You cannot sell what you don’t know.
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You must have enough free time to manage your business.
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You must consider your immediate target market and the “sell-ability” of your product or service.
What personal characteristics should you have to start a business? •
You must be willing to learn new things, especially about your product and customers.
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Be willing to socialize - to mingle with your customers and business partners.
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You must be disciplined.
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You must be committed to the end.
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You must be honest with your customers and with God.
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Setting Our Financial Boundaries by Jeanne Ching
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rthur used to be involved in their family business. As sales increased, business prospered. He decided it was time to invest in a good education for his children. He bought some educational funds, insurance and property via installment. These are good investments. But not long after, Arthur lost all of them. Why? He failed to segregate his business funds from his personal funds. If Arthur had separated his business funds from his personal funds, he could have avoided this problem. When his business prospered, Arthur bought goods from his suppliers on credit. While a lot of cash seem to be pouring in, he forgot to consider that his payables also increased. So, when it was time to pay for the items he purchased on credit, and the instalment payments of his investments likewise became due, he could no longer catch up. That’s how he lost everything. To prevent something like this, we should assess our financial capabilities before entering
into a contract. Allocate a certain fixed amount as an investment to the business. Make sure the capital stays in the business. Only use the net earnings from business. Keep a separate account for business and personal use. Do you know how some of our successful ancestors used to handle their finances? The men handled the family finances. They allocated a certain amount to their wife for household expenses. Men concentrated on investments and making their money grow, while the women concentrated on not over spending. Personal funds were distinct from business funds. Today, most men and women share equal rights and are all entitled to their own money. However, it is still wise to set a limit to our disposable income, to allocate a certain portion of money to regular expenses, a portion for investment and a portion for emergencies. The future will always be uncertain, but, strictly segregating our funds will help keep us going.
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M AK E
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The story of Edna Dolor Gramaje by Evelyn Damian
“L
ord, is that really You telling me to give that big amount of money?” Edna wanted to make sure she heard correctly from God. It was a huge amount that their church needed and she was reluctant to give. Then she heard the Lord telling her, “You have money in the bank. Give it. You said you want to be the one giving and not the one in need. Now is the time to do that.” Edna felt like it was a test. She was being asked to give up something that was precious and that she had waited a long time to have. Nevertheless, when Edna was sure that God was speaking to her, she obeyed. She learned that no matter how big the amount she gave, she never lacked. There was always more than enough. Now, Edna Gramaje is the
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Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of the International School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, a school she and her husband Dr. Alexander Gramaje own. Years ago, the couple’s situation was very different. Edna’s life had been hard while growing up in Roxas City. She is the 9th of 11 children. Her mother worked hard to help augment their income. She remembers waking up at 3 am and going with her mother to buy and sell ukay-ukay when she was 7 years old. She had to help her mother so she could have an education. Edna worked her way through college, trying all kinds of work until she graduated in 1986 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Filamer Christian College. Edna was always a prayerful woman. She became born again in
MOMS
Edna in her office.
college. After graduation, she took a job in a bank in Roxas City. Eventually, Edna joined her sister in Manila. She helped her with her business and later found a job in a review center in Recto Avenue. Edna’s husband, Alex, also learned the value of work while he was young. He is the 4th of 8 children; his father passed away when he was only 10. His mother was a teacher. During his growing up years, Alex and his
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siblings attended regular Bible studies and prayer meetings. Alex accepted painting and “lettering” jobs to earn money. At 17, while a sophomore in college, he worked as a cashier in the Westen International Philippine Plaza Hotel (which later became The Philippine Plaza). He had training under an American supervisor. Because of his consistent good attitude, diligence and discipline, he was promoted to higher positions in different departments. This developed his passion for the hotel industry. In 1986, he left the Philippines for a job at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain. Alone and far from his family, Alex read the Bible that his mother gave him before he left home. He prayed and trusted God to take care of him and the family he left behind. It was in Bahrain that Alex had a fresh encounter with God. After a few years, Alex felt led to go back to the Philippines. Back in Manila, Alex got sick. He promised the Lord that if He would heal him, he would serve Him. God answered his prayer and Alex life changed as he recognized Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Alex studied in a Bible School and worked full time in the church. It was in church that he met Edna. It was love at first sight for both Continued on the next page
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DI F F E R EN CE
of them; their courtship was short, and they got married in 1991. Even though they had no money, they knew that God would take care of them. After their wedding, they were sent to start a church in Tanay, Rizal where they ministered for 2 years. Eventually, Edna and Alex had 3 sons. In 1992, Edna and Alex managed Edna’s sister’s small business. Their income from it helped them with their daily expenses. When Edna’s sister returned in 1996, she got her business back. Edna was challenged financially again but she prayed a lot and continued to trust God. A friend who was a fruit dealer helped them. Without any capital, she gave Edna fruits to sell in the market. Everyday, Edna would take her youngest son along because she was breastfeeding him. Her two older sons were sickly and were always at the hospital. Money was hard to find. One day, Edna got really tired. She was worried about her children’s future. She couldn’t buy stuff for them. These thoughts made her so sad. She cried and told God, “Lord, I don’t want to be like this anymore. From the time I was born until now that I have kids, I’m still poor. I’m so tired, Lord. Help me. If you will bless me, I will bless others. I don’t want to be the one asking anymore, I want to be the one giving.” Edna Gramaje cried as she prayed and made a deal with the Lord that afternoon. Her husband tried to console her. She urged him to work again. Alex told her, “Huwag kang mag-alala. Once na magsimula ako, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan, huwag kang umiyak, malapit na basta magtiwala ka lang sa Panginoon.” When Alex said that, Edna felt it was the Lord
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and not Alex who spoke. She held on to that word. In 1997, Alex took a job as a General Manager in a hotel in Malate. Alex trained the workers of the hotel. A year after the hotel opened, Alex met a Christian visionary who had a school in Dasmariñas. Soon afterwards, he asked Alex if he would like to partner with him and open a school. Alex was surprised but gave it a careful thought. He was not an educator although he was experienced in training people. Alex prayed about the proposal. One day, he had a vision that he should leave his job and open the school so Alex accepted his offer. In 1999, Hotel and Restaurant Management was not yet popular. Edna recalls, “My husband rented a room in a commercial building in Bacoor (Cavite) and processed all the documents necessary to get a license while his partner took care of finances. We registered the school as International School of Christian Education.”
“ Sometimes when
God moves, we don’t understand it, it’s all miracles.
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M AK E
Edna supported her husband and worked as Alex’s personal secretary, registrar, cashier and custodian without a salary. They didn’t see Alex’s partner anymore. They were 3 months delayed in paying the rent. The owner was about to padlock their room. Edna asked God if her husband made the
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Edna with Evelyn.
wrong decision about leaving his job. Edna asked the Lord for a sign. She said, “Lord, if You want this school to continue, You will pay the rent. We don’t know where our partner is but I know You put this school up.” Edna continued, “After that, we got a call from the building administrator that Alex’ partner already paid for our 3 months rental. And that was the last we heard of him. We recognized that the Lord used him so that we could start the school. We had 5 students in our first year of operation. We only had a table and 36 chairs. After one semester, we offered a 2-year formal education program and some short modular courses. By this time, we were already on our own. Words about the quality education that we were giving our students spread. Enrolment went up. Alex told me, “See, I told you, just wait. But this is not yet what I’m telling you about. Wait and see.” Eventually the 2-year course of Hotel and Restaurant Management became a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. It was recognized by the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED). From 5, 36, 86 students, it multiplied until it reached 2000 students.” In 2003, the school’s name was changed to International School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (ISHRM). Edna says, “Sometimes when God moves, we don’t understand it, it’s all miracles. ISHRM is in its 10th year now!” In April 24, 2006, former President Gloria Arroyo awarded ISHRM a Certificate of Recognition for pioneering the “Ladderized Curriculum Program in Hotel and Restaurant Management.” The ISHRM’s main campus in Bacoor is now the largest HRM school in Cavite, with branches in Las Pinas, Dasmarinas, Cebu and Davao. Although they keep a busy schedule, Edna and Alex did not abandon their work at the church. They manage their time for personal devotion, family, church ministry, business and social activities. For Edna, number 1 on her list Continued on page 15
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F I G U RA TI V E L Y
S P E AKI N G
Maintaining a Healthy Balance between Job and Family by Maria Rikka M. Ocena ven high sales and promising business ventures are of little use if your family life suffers. As the demands of business grow, you may sometimes feel that there’s just not enough time. The risk is that you put so much effort into your bread and butter that you fail to attend to your family. There is no “one-size-fits-all” formula for balancing business and family. However, I have found available resources and gained insights from conversations with business women. It seems like juggling these two things are difficult but still possible. Prioritize. “God first, family second, and career third.” Mary Kay Ash, founder of famous Mary Kay cosmetics followed this principle. Prioritizing will help keep your life in perspective. Jotting down a list of items that are most important allows you to accomplish meaningful activities each day. Be Disciplined. It is important to be disciplined. For instance, Baby Hermosa wakes up at 3:30AM everyday to get to the market, purchase commodities for her store and cook for her canteen. Missing her schedule would mean rushing to prepare her 6 year-old twins for school. She meets her goals by sticking to her plan.
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Ask for Help. Mothers are prone to becoming “general managers of the universe.” Edlaine Chan, RTW store owner admitted that she can’t do everything. She hired nannies for her 3 kids and trained sales persons to assist her. Don’t outstretch yourself. It takes wisdom and humility to receive help to become more productive.
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Today, most men and women share equal rights and are all entitled to their own money.
Be “All-In.”
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When at work, give everything that you have each hour of the day to lead your business to success. At the same time, try to be all-in when spending time with your family. They deserve your undivided attention. A happy life at home is about dedicated time. Design your business and your goals around what’s important to you – your family. It is essential to consider how to take care of your domestic responsibilities while keeping up with the variable requirements of your business.
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Cool Summer Treats by Lourdes Sitjar
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ou may sell ice candy this summer. A friend adds 70%-100% to the total cost then divide the total by the number of ice candy she made. That covers the electricity as well. Buko Ice Candy •
1 can condensed milk
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1 ½ cups grated young buko
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1 cup white sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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2 cups coconut water
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½ gallon drinking water.
Mocha Ice Candy
Mix all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Pour into ice candy bags and freeze.
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1 can condensed milk
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½ gallon drinking water
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1 cup white sugar
Pineapple Ice Candy
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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4 cups sweetened pineapple juice
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4 tablespoons sweetened cocoa
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½ gallon drinking water
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1 tablespoon instant coffee
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¾ cups white sugar
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1 teaspoon pineapple extract
2 cans (use the condensed milk can) warm water
Thoroughly dissolve sugar in water, then add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Pour into ice candy bags and freeze.
Dissolve cocoa and coffee in warm water. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour into ice candy bags and freeze.
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A N S W E R S
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Q U ESTIO N S
Just Asking with Peter Banzon Dear Pastor, “I am a mother of school age children. I opened a sari-sari store on a borrowed money to help augment our income. I want to pay my loan on time so that it won’t incur interest but it’s hard to do that. My children are always hungry and get food from the store. It’s also hard for me as a mother to see them go hungry so I let them do that. What will I do?”
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ou should be commended for your initiative to augment your family’s income. Establishing priorities can help deal with your situation. The prompt repayment of your debt is important because if your debt accumulates interest, it will drain your finances. This is good financial management. The Bible says “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 I assume that your kids often get merienda items. School-age children have good appetite which is necessary to sustain their high energy level. However food items from the sari-sari store are not for the family’s consumption. When your children get food from the store, you are depriving the business of saleable items that can earn profits for you. This is a good time to teach your children sound financial and business principles. The profits from the store are set aside to pay back the debt and the family’s expenditures. So, the alternative is to provide food that is set aside for
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them. Teach your kids that they cannot eat whenever they want. Set times for meals and snacks. This helps develop discipline in your children.
What the Bible says about being a guarantor? “There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.” Proverbs 11:15 (NLT) “It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.” Proverbs 17:18 (NLT) “Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.” Proverbs 22:26 (NLT)
Mompreneur, continued.
handicraft-making or running a sari-sari store. 5. Advertising. There are several ways to market your product. With the rise of social media, a mompreneur can connect with a potential customer through postings in sites like Facebook! Of course, word-of-mouth marketing still works wonders. It just takes one satisfied client letting her friends know. You can also participate in bazaars. 6. Permits and licenses. Depending on the type of product offered, permits are required from regulatory bodies such as National Food Authority (NFA) if dealing with rice, corn or flour; or Garments and Textile Industry Development Office (GTIDO) if manufacturing or exporting garments. The full list of government agencies involved can be viewed at the DTI website. Remember that registering with DTI will ensure that your business name can’t be copied by another and that you’ve met certain standards and have complied with documentary requirements. Those are just some things to consider but of course, the first thing to consult is to ask the Lord if this is the way He would prosper you. Let Proverbs 19:12 guide you always: “Many plans are in a person’s mind, but the LORD’s purpose will succeed.”
More Than Enough, continued.
is her time with the Lord. “Everytime na unahin ko ang Panginoon, nagiging maayos lahat ‘yan. I go to the office and meet all the concerns calmly. I spend half day at the main Campus. We have a schedule for each branch.” As the school grew, so did the temptations about her promise to be a channel of blessing. She said, “People from left and right, family, friends, they come to me for help. Ang dami, sobra! When I start to complain, the Lord reminds me, “’Di ba ang prayer mo sa akin, maging pagpapala ka sa iba, iyan na.’ Even though you know that you are walking along God’s path for you, still there are battles to be won, it’s not smooth sailing, and you make mistakes and learn lessons along the way. When I read Proverbs 31, I thank God because by His grace, I am able to fulfill my purpose. Sometimes I ask God why He entrusted me with these things. The work is overwhelming and it’s only by the grace of God that I can do it. At a young age, the Lord prepared me and Alex for the big task. It’s only now that I am amazed at what’s happening in my life. I asked God, “Why me, Lord? There’s a reason why God blesses us and it is so that we can be a blessing to others.”
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