Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve

Ebb and flow



Times like this week are what make the ebb and flow of mine and Larry's relationship. I'm so glad I spent the time with him in Miami that I did. I knew as soon as I got home things were going to go full speed ahead with a crazy schedule. We have everything from regular services and work days to preparing for Dustin's graduation, his party (this Thursday night), Princess Luncheon outreach and so much more. Basically my days are packed and in between that I'm trying to keep the house clean. What happens in these times is that sometimes we feel a disconnect in our relationship for a little bit (not an "I'm mad at you" type thing, just sort of an exhaustion...instead of talking to him for a long time before bed, I just...fall into bed, and go to sleep.) Then we come back together again and say, "I've missed you so much..." I don't like that but it's part of the rollercoaster of a week or two like this.


One thing I'm not doing is shortchanging time with God - because I sure do need His anointing to do anything well that I'm doing in the upcoming weeks.


I didn't blog yesterday because I had a severe headache. I took what I thought were a few Excedrin Migraine tablets...and it didn't even touch my aching head. I did my little heating pad that I put in the microwave and put it on my head last night when I went to sleep, then got up and put it on there again early this morning. I wondered what in the world went wrong (Excedrin usually knocks it out) and then I realized that in my exhaustion of yesterday I grabbed two of the wrong pills - prescription pills - out of my pill case -- ughhhh!!! I could have REALLY hurt myself doing that, and it kinda freaked me out, but thankfully everything was ok. Larry said, "just drink a lot and pee it out." :-) That's the kind of advice he usually gives me. Anyway, so I've just had a nagging headache and I know it's just from the weird sleep schedule and Miami and a lot on my mind/body these last few days. But it's all good.

Went out in North Tampa all day today with Pastor Lindsay and we canvassed for the upcoming outreach. Last year we got so sick of the lack of people pounding the pavement to do it. We had a lot of church gifts, but that's not my vision. It never has been. I want the community businesses. That is my vision. We need as many community and corporate sponsorships as possible. And it can be done by those who have a gift to talk to people. And...well, she and I know a little about that. :-) So off we went, and we got very few "no's" and came back with quite a bit of loot for one day! And lots of call backs and pick ups. We were so excited about the stuff we got we're thinking of adding another day. Both of us need that like a hole in the head but here is the thing...we can do it and do it well and we know it's making for a much more spectacular day. Today I suggested to her that we do a DVD for training next year on how to do this. I'm excited that we are back on course with the vision of this outreach.


I came home, ate dinner and went back out to get all the food for Dustin's party. I'm making a whole meal. Plus he wants a homemade cake not a storebought one. I don't want to blog about what I got for it because he might read this but it's so cute. I'll take a pic of it and put it on here if it turns out like I envision. This Thurs night is his party and Saturday is his graduation, at the Sun Dome here in Tampa. Yippee!!! That's my boy. Such a wonderful young man.

Came home from the grocery store and watched me on TV. Tonight my Freshope interview aired. I thought it was pretty good. Larry liked it. I will watch it again at some point and be a little more analytical of it without my family around.

I came out on the patio for a little "zone" time with the Lord and decided to read through Colossions this week. Nothing earthshattering from it tonight, just reading along and also some passages from the other books I'm reading.

Come Away My Beloved said this that got my attention:

"I am calling my spirit filled believers to concentrated labor in this, the vineyard of prayer. Hidden from human eyes it is wide open to heaven and the saints in heaven join with you in this operation of God's love. Other ministries you must carry on alone, but in this you have a mutual fellowship, for those in heaven have also an intercessory ministry for their brothers and sisters here on earth."

Pretty awesome to think about.

I won't be planning a princess luncheon outreach in heaven...

I won't be teaching Real Life class...

I won't be preparing a leadership workshop...

I won't be doing laundry...

but I will be interceding. Okay, that tells me something about God's priorities.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not

Excellent teaching on Criticism

My friend Pastor Leanne posted this today on her Myspace blog and I thought it was excellent and so timely. It's a blog post from Pastor Perry Noble , about criticism. I think it's perfect for the pastors at Relevant Church right now, as well as any other person going through this. I would like to note that when he says, "when God begins to move" it wouldn't necessarily just pertain to your church but to your life, your family, your marriage, anything that concerns you. I have found that the greater God does things in my life and the more He blessed me the more I should expect it. This teaching is good, so good I was almost wavin' a hanky in my office. Okay, here we go... You Will Be Criticized When God Begins To Move–Expect It And Get Over It. (Pastor Perry Noble at http://www.perrynoble.com/ ) I've never met a devil worshiper–to my knowledge that is. When I first became a Christian I was convinced that I needed to do all that I could to be ready to comba

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we