Financial Challenges Affect Auditors and Accountants Globally

Dear Friends,

I was thinking of writing an article or do a blog on this or sending an entry to Christianity Today.. but I don't quite have the luxury of time these days considering that I just go back from a trip and I have some deadlines and demands from different facets of my life.. . But I'm uploading this anyway...

Nonetheless, I know that you are aware of what's happening to the "industry" as an effect of the global economic and financial challenges. People get laid off without prior notices. Fears and anxieties are being to get the best out of people knowing that anytime they will be called for and sent home. I have already heard real stories of and from friends the scenarios that I only anticipated to happen from last year's reports and they are really beginning to take place as early as this time of the year.

Recently, I had a long discussion with my contemporaries who are now based in different parts of the world. We have covered a lot of things which I believe had a common denominator -- Recession. Some started to curse and blame the countries and the people who were eaten up by greed and pride. Some began sharing their fears and uncertainties about their professional careers. Then I thought of "breaking the pattern" and started sharing God's word with my intellectual and highly talented college classmates. I am the only christian in my group and as I shared with them the assurance that I have in Christ, I remembered one item in my prayer list for this year: start sharing JESUS with my former classmates. Again, I thought it would be a great door of opportunity for God to speak through me. So I gathered all the courage and faith that I have (as I always get some ridiculous responses from them) and wrote my piece. I quoted Jeremiah 29: 11-13 and shared with them the prayer of my heart. For me it was a time for my CHRIST to shine. It was a moment when all eyes are focused on the mountains while mine was looking at my mustard-seed kind of faith trying to figure out how could I plant it in their hearts so that they would also see my GOD who is bigger and greater than all the problems and troubles of the world combined. That in my God they can stand secured, confident and strong knowing that He is in control of everything and that the future is in His hands... That they are not far from His reach and if they can only see through their spiritual eyes, they will find out that He is currently teaching them to put their trust in Him and not on their ability to make things happen.

Some responded quite well. Some thanked me for the encouragement. Some exercised their right to remain silent. But whatever their responses may be, I know that His Words, spoken and declared, will not return to Him empty. I know that in this uncertain and trying times, they will know Who is Lord over all and Who is able to do the impossible.

My encouragement to you is to keep on looking for opportunities to share the Hope and the Future that we all have in Jesus. For if we have so prayed for harvest, now is the time to be ready and make ourselves available as we watch the world in its time of tests and trials... now is the time for us to make His faithfulness to all generations be known...now is the time for us to see the answers to our prayers for our family and friends to know the One who can provide for them (or keep their) jobs, who can carry them through the tought times, and most of all to know and give their lives to the One who is mighty to save............. and for me, now is also the time to seek the Lord for His direction and His will for our lives as we completely put our trust in Him.

To the global family of THY Marketplace, keep standing on solid rock. Know in your heart that God's plans always prevail. And that He is good. Let His light continue to shine in and through you for there you will experience the joy of Christ and the peace that truly surpasses all understanding. We keep you earnestly in our prayers. Keep the faith. Flow in Grace. Remain in His love.

Allow me to remind you what David once wrote in Psalm 34, "...blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." I say, we are indeed blessed...and we ought to be grateful for our Father in Heaven deeply cares for us...

Gazing at God,

Jaja