How Much Are You Worth?

Want to know your worth?
Then check it out at JobStreet Salary Report.

My Reflection:

I happen to come across the above report. If our worth is measured by the amount of pay we collect each month, then I am doing fine. However, we are worth more than just $. Many people who are rich financially are actually poor spiritually or emotionally.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25,26,33:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Again God said in Isaiah 43:4,5:

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

Our true worth is how God looks at us, not how people look at us.

Career Check Up

This test is something new and interesting. It makes me ponder over my current career. You may like to try it and share with me your result. Mine is below:

Thank you, Bee, for completing the Career Check up test. The analysis of your response is as follows:

Statements

89 out of 100

Career Check up

See below to see what your score might imply.

25-60: Your job brings you very little job satisfaction and may even be causing you a sense of emotional, psychological and/or physical pain. You may find that it affects your self-esteem, your relationships and your spiritual life. Your health and general sense of well-being could well depend on your making some changes in your work situation!

61-70: Your feelings about your job may fluctuate between dissatisfaction and toleration, but you do not feel deeply excited or enthusiastic about your job. For the most part, your work does not bring you a sense of enjoyment or fulfilment.

71-89: Right now work may be satisfying, overall. There may be, however, one or more key components that you rated low that are motivating you to consider other job or career options.

90-100: If work "feels good," you are most likely in a job that is a good match. If, however, your job doesn't feel quite right for you, there may be some key satisfaction factors that are not being met and would be worthwhile to explore. Perhaps God has something better in store for you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what does it mean?

Perhaps if your score indicates a level of uncertainty and dissatisfaction it would be good to spend time reflecting on why this is the case. Sometimes God does allow unsettling experiences to give us a gentle 'nudge' into something new. At other times the root may simply be in our attitude to the job rather than the job itself.

God wants us to be fulfilled in living out our lives in line with his plans and utilising the gifts we have. If you are unsure that you are in the place of God's choice, or he may be 'nudging' you towards some area of Christian service, why not consider the designate programme offered by CV. Examine your gifts. Reflect on what the bible has to say about vocation, gifts and service.

What Job Suits Me?

My career is taking a different form ever since I left my previous job last month. I have been doing lots of research, reading up lots of info from books and internet, and also seek godly counsels from people who are familiar with what I am about to embark into. When God closed one door, He opened so many that I don't know which one to choose. *eyes rolling* I need to prayerfully bring them to God to guide me to the right one.

While surfing the net I came across a site Releasing God's People Into God's Work. I did my first test and got my result below. Maybe God is preparing for mission work? You may like to try the test yourself and share with me your result.



Questionnaire results:

Thank you for completing the questionnaire. Below will find the top 3 category matches to your answers. In addition, there may also be a selection of keywords that help to define the type of position you may be suited for.

ACTIVITY CATEGORIES
Education	Primary, Secondary and Higher Education, Houseparents, TEFL / TESOL Teaching, Theological and Vocational Education.
Support Ministries	Including: Administration, Computers, Finance, Logistics, Management, Personnel, Secretarial, Conference Centre Management, Tentmaking Professionals, etc.
Engineering	This will include: Aviation, Construction Trades, Engineering, Maintenance and Practical roles.
KEYWORDS
	Administration (which will include Secretary, Manager, etc as unseen synonymous words) Children / Youth Disciple (which will include Pastor, Counsellor, Minister, Youth Worker as unseen synonymous words) Tentmaker (Business, Professionals, Enterprising, TEFL, etc.) Accountant (Bookkeeper, Finance) Leadership (Management, Director) Evangelism

My 2006

Time passes extremely fast this year and tomorrow will be another new year. As I read my post, My 2005, I could see some similarities to my life in 2006.

For me, 2005 is the worst year in my life as an adult... I lost many things dear to me...
my career
my study
my loved ones
my self-esteem
my confidence

In 2006,
I have a good career... I enjoyed my work though I have to work very long hours and had discouragements at times;
I discontinued my doctorate study... see no purpose to add another degree to my Masters;
I lost my mum... but it's a blessing in disguise;
I found love... but lost it again, feeling I am a terrible person.

In 2006, I also have the most memorable or the most embarrassing moment of my life... I broke my own record of not meeting my online friends. I finally met my online best friend... or I must say that I had been 'ambushed' and got 'hijacked' when I was shopping in KL about 2 weeks ago. I wished I could dig a hole and bury my head in it then and I felt so retarded. *blushing*

It took me one whole day and night to get over it. I told myself that's going to be the first and last time I'll be caught by surprise. I actually felt so sorry for my reaction, which must be quite shocking to my best friend. However, we had a good laugh and a good time together.

So is my 2006 any better than the one before? Maybe slightly. For that I should be grateful to God and be thankful.


So now what about my 2007? What do I hope to achieve?

Erm... I still hope God will bring me 'home' soon in a peaceful way. If not, I pray that God will use me to make someone's life more meaningful. Only then will I find the reason for me to live.

My Calling

I was somewhat disappointed with the unfair/unethical practices in the education industry by many 'players' and decided that it's time for a change. I left a few months ago, after being in it for about 10 years, for a totally different career I felt would be more meaningful and challenging. I went into headhunting... making many new contacts/friends while catching up with many old ones. I enjoyed my work very much though its reward may be slow... like growing a tree.

I never expect myself to go back to the education industry again, at least not so soon. But I guess God still wants me to be in it after all my years of trainings and experience in the education line. There are many things I can do to affect lives in this industry... it seems to be my calling. I could see it happening from my first day of work last week in my new capacity.

What one of my colleagues said to me has deeply carved on my mind. He said, "We are here for a season. God puts us here to fulfill a purpose. When we have finished our task it would be time to move on."

Yes, God has put me in this new job for a purpose. I will touch lives, I will change systems and policies, I will bring order and stability, and then move on when the time comes. I will do all these by God's strength and wisdom, not mine own.

I am beginning to see changes and is feeling very excited about them. Yet I know there will be many challenges and many resistance to change. But if this work is of God, He will sees to it that all resistance will fall.

As I ponder on my colleague's statement, I suddenly felt it could also apply to my relationship with people. God has allowed me to come into close contact with certain people... some just touch and go, some stay for a longer time, perhaps one or two may stay till we leave this earth. These are no coincidence. God has a purpose for me to be in their lives and they in mine. When that purpose has been fulfilled, it may be time for me to move on.

Ah, am I being too philosophical or introspective now? I have some time to myself today... so there I go again. :) Oh, my devotion tonight is also linked to my thoughts.

My 2005

The year 2005 is coming to an end tomorrow. Some people might have been thinking about the resolutions they wish to make for 2006. What about a reflection on what they have achieved or missed in 2005 first?

For me, 2005 is the worst year in my life as an adult... I lost many things dear to me...
my career
my study
my loved ones
my self-esteem
my confidence

All these make me see how vulnerable and helpless I can be, though I might have been considered a very successful person before. I went through some darkest moments in my life marked by tears. The only thing that kept me going was my faith in Jesus Christ, my Lord. It was like a 'stripping process' to remove what's natural to me so I may know that my trust and hope shouldn't be in these things, but in God.

For the last two months, I have been spending time doing my devotion with God daily w/o fail... something I wasn't that consistent with in the past. I am learning to trust in God's unfailing love and care for me, and to know His plan in my life. It might be something totally different from what my natural mind could think of.

Now for the rest, my friends and readers, perhaps the following article might encourage you to reflect about your own life just as it has prompted me to reflect mine above....


Don't wait until I'm dead to bring me flowers
by Connie Ard

There is a cemetery on our way to church. I began to notice every Sunday a man visiting a grave. There is a bench near the grave that he visits and that's most often where I see him. Sometimes, he's picking weeds or laying flowers on the grave. One Sunday, my mind began to wander after I saw the man sitting there.

Who's buried there?
His wife perhaps?
Did she know while she was alive how much he loved her?
Did he spend so much time with her when she was alive?
Was he as devoted a husband then as he is now?
Did he bring her flowers to show he cared while she could enjoy them?

I had to resist the urge to tell my husband,"Don't wait until I'm dead to bring me flowers!" Dead people can't enjoy flowers.

They can't look at the beautiful colors or touch the soft petals.
They can't study the intricate way a rose folds together or the delicate curling of a lily.
They can't smell the wondrous smell of one of God's creations.
They can't enjoy the emotions of love with which the flowers were given or the joy with which they are received.

Have you told someone who means the world to you "I love you" recently?
Have you given them a hug or a kiss to remind them how much they are loved?
It doesn't take much to let someone know you love them. Let them know before it's too late.