Forget Not All Of His Benefits

Before going to bed one night, I picked up the Bible and randomly flipped the pages. Psalm 103 was the scripture I read. 

It was a reminder to bless the Lord. It was a reminder to not forget all His benefits. 

He forgives. He heals. He redeems. He extends mercy. He satisfies us with good things. 

While at work the next day, I tried to reflect on the good things that God has brought into my life. My journey here in Japan. My husband. Being able to help others. 

It helps to make a day less 'miserable' when one can reflect on past blessings. It's easy to forget them, especially in seemingly dark moments. But even dark moments seem not so dark when you can recall good things. 

This reflection was particularly good for me because I reflected on how I even got to Japan. I know it was of the Lord's doing. He made the way available and provided the finances through the generosity of family and friends. It was good for me to remember this because I have been feeling like I don't want to be here anymore. It can be overwhelmingly lonely. 

Remembering that it was God who took me here, gives me the confidence to know that He will keep me. It is an empowering feeling knowing that He is on your side and He is your sustainer. 

I was glad therefore, for the reminder to not forget all His benefits. 

Getting Unstuck

I think the process of getting unstuck has begun for me. I've moved to a new apartment and I'm so grateful and excited. 

My husband and I had been living in an old Japanese house. Yes, I can say that I've lived in a Japanese house! Through a very good Japanese friend of ours, who sadly is now deceased, we were able to meet the lady who was to become our friend and landlord. 

Throughout our time living in the house, however, I've seen some of the most hideous insects ever! I don't know how I managed for so long but it got to the point where I was terrified to be alone at home. 

And you know what's strange, I was afraid to move. When I decided that I was going to love myself enough to move away from something that was making me so uncomfortable, I was scared. 

Change and the unknown become scary when we've become so comfortable where we are. 

I wondered how we'd commute, I thought about the extra rent we'd have to pay (our rent was really, really cheap!), I thought about how our living space would be smaller and so on. 

But you know, now that we've moved, I look back at the experience and I'm able to see how we can get stuck in life. And we usually end up in a place where we stop growing because we get accustomed to our everyday routine. We fear interrupting this routine. We want to try something else, but we are afraid of the new things that'll be required. 

But guess what! Don't be afraid! Or better yet, go and do it afraid! Change is good and can help to refresh us. I am glad that I went ahead and did what I had to do although I was so scared. Even when I was supposed to make payment, I almost didn't. I stood outside the bank for a few minutes, afraid to go in. And even after all was said and done, I still felt afraid. Being inside our new place however, makes me so pleased. Everything is new and fresh.

Can you think of a change you can make in your life? A little something (or big one) to get you unstuck? I'm happy with the decision I've taken to make a change. I'm sure you'll be blessed too. 

Anxiety

You never really come to understand what other people are going through until you've dealt with it yourself. 

I've had problems with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I don't know why I'm only just trying to figure out what's going on with me. My internet searches have revealed to me just how 'common' a problem it is. I'm surprised at how many people struggle with anxiety daily. 

I'm hopeful that I can be set free from it. I don't like to be dependent on medications but I realize that of I need to take them I'll just have to. I'm also trying to accept me as I am, weaknesses and all. I've got lots of strengths too! So I'll celebrate those even as I accept those things I can't control. 

Who knows what my experience with anxiety can lead to. All things ultimately work together for good. 

Free E-Book and Apps That Pay You

Hello again, friends.

My friend just provided me with the link to a free ebook entitled, "Midas Touch. Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich and Others Don't", by Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki. The offer expires on September 28, so you need to act now. You may find it here: http://www.richdad.com/promotions/midas-touch-2014

I'm learning so much about the fact that there are so many ways to make money on the internet. I hope for the day that I'll be able to work from home! I'm doing my research and I'll share my finds with you.

Here are 15 apps that pay you, as found on the website, Bit Rebels. I have never tried any of these, but perhaps you have. If so, please share your experiences in the comments below. Thanks!

Meet Dean Jackson: A Jamaican Entrepreneur in Japan

Hi, friends!

As I stated in my most recent post, I'll be adding new things to my blog. I've had the idea for a little while now to chat with a few persons who are here in Japan and have launched a business here. Well, I've stopped procrastinating, and here's our first guest.

Welcome, Dean! Please tell us about yourself. My name is Dean Jackson. I'm 32 years old and I graduated from the University of Technology Jamaica with a major in Marketing and a minor in Human Resource Management. 

I've been living in Japan for the past 7 1/2 years teaching English and doing various endeavors from selling Jamaican T-shirts, Dj-ing, event promotion, phone case distribution and on the odd side,  wedding ministering ( don't ask , won't tell). I've always been involved in business. As a teenager, I can safely say my friends and I were the first to put sound system cassettes from parties and mix tapes  onto CDs in Jamaica and distribute them to cassette vendors in the Kingston area. Other things  I've sold include cell phones, cars , wrist bands, earrings, belly rings, candies and some things I can't even remember.

My problem was that I was too focused on making money and not doing what I liked and what had meaning to me.  My latest projects , Irie876.com® ( a Jamaican goods website, based in Japan, selling: seasonings, pepper sauces, ackee, soup mixes, snacks,  art, crafts, accessories etc  ) and IRIE iDRIN© ( a digital patois sticker collection now available for Line messenger)  have filled that void. 

How was your business idea birthed? - Irie876.com® all started from a painting I received from a friend just about two years ago. She was going to throw it out but decided to give it to me. The painting was one of those Ocho Rios craft market paintings with Rastafarians playing drums and singing. Another friend came to my house and saw the  painting and said "oh nice, you started selling Jamaican paintings" ( people who know me always know I'm selling something). I laughed and said "no , but that's a good idea". So I thought about it , wrote plans, discussed it with the same friend and decided that I'm going to start a website that sells Jamaican arts and craft. At that same time my job was going through a period of down time (contract rest /break time, one of those Japanese things) which entailed 3 months no work. So during the months before the down time I contacted a web and graphic designer and got the site built. During the down time, I planned a trip to Jamaica, went around to all these artiste and bought some of their work. While in Jamaica I got an inspired thought to buy a few Jamaican food products and accessories to sell on the site. Well, up to this day I haven't sold one painting ( except some smaller desk paintings) but the food and accessories are doing great. I have faith the right opportunity will appear for the crafts and paintings.

So you have LINE stickers out. Tell us about them. iRIE iDRIN© basically branched out from irie876.com®, I had made my designer create a few logos for 876 and decided to keep 2 of them (one is the logo on the site now and the other, a rasta character I named "iDrin". iDRIN was actually the sales rep for 876 for some time and was featured in various digital posters and adverts, I even got my brother (nivek productions) to animate him.  

One day I was looking at a message on "Line messenger" and the stickers I received and thought "wouldn't it be cool to have a Jamaican patois sticker set?" but I didn't think much of it. Then the idea kept on coming back to me now and then. One day I looked at the  iDRIN character on irie876's site  and thought,  "wow you are the perfect character for a Line sticker". So right then and there I started to think of the illustrations I wanted and wrote them down and drew a few. At this time there was no creators market where  individuals could sell stickers but I thought I'd just contact "Line" with my idea once it was finished and see if they would go into a contract or buy the illustrations from me.  A week after I got my ideas down on paper the creators market was announced. It was destiny. iRIE iDRIN©  was launched on September 2nd,  2014, and has gotten 1000 plus downloads in the three weeks since it's been up.

Interesting stuff! Any advice for others who'd like to start their own business? My advice to individuals that want to start a business (or are in business already) is to be open to ideas and opportunities by  being grateful about your situation now, because if you're not feeling grateful you can't see the opportunities around you.  Also take the first step in faith and every step after that, don't worry about not having enough money, time or know how. Do what you can do now to the best of your ability, and find people who can help you do the things you can't. Never doubt your abilities or the outcome. Use the power of visualization to create the outcomes you want in your mind first, have faith and prepare for the manifestation of that outcome and have fun. I  also recommend  having a group you can brain storm ideas with (mastermind) even if it's just one other person. The ideas and the support you will get through masterminding is priceless.

Thanks, Dean! All the best to you!

You may contact Dean from his website, or you may give him a call at +81-908-072-2409.

7 Ways to Make Money From Home

Hey!

I'm adding new things to my blog. Things that reflect my interests. :)

One of the things I'd like to do is to someday work from home. As I come across articles on the internet that talk about this, I'll share them here on my blog.

The article below from the Huffington Post website gives 6 ways that you can work from home.

I have a 7th one to add which you can find out more about here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/myglobcoffeebus/

Happy reading!

"These days more and more people are finding that they aren't limited to a single source of income. With all the unique money-making opportunities available, many people are finding that they can earn a few extra hundred dollars a month by thinking a little outside the box.

While all of the opportunities listed below are legitimate ways to make some money, it would probably be unrealistic to expect to make a full-time income from any of them individually.

So check them out and let us know in the comments which ones you like best and earn the most for you!

1. Get paid using your iPhone (or Android)

There seem to be many apps popping up that pay you to do simple tasks like taking a picture of a menu, or taking a picture of yourself drinking a Starbucks, or verifying that a road is closed -- you get the picture. Here are a few that I found:

• Juno Wallet
• Gigwalk
• CheckPoints
• WeReward "

Continue reading here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-lotich/6-legit-ways-to-make-mone_b_4638907.html

Please Don't Take Anything With You

Before takeoff on an airplane, there's usually a demonstration about some things, which include what to do in the event that there is a problem and you have to leave the aircraft. 

One of the things that you will be told is if you need to evacuate, please don't take anything with you. 

Isn't that interesting? All the things we treasure somehow, we are told to leave them behind. Why then do we trouble ourselves so with acquiring things? See, you can't take them with you when you die. And in the case of an emergency, you are being told to leave them behind. 

We are told in the Word of God that we shouldn't set our minds on the things that are on the earth, but rather on the things that are above. We are also told that while everything else will pass away, only the Word of God will remain. 

Please don't take anything with you. Perhaps you can think about this statement as you reflect on the fact that the things you have do not compare to the life you have. Things can and do improve your quality of life but they are not your life. 

Rhi-Keytta