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

Fun Friday and Comedy Night

Just a quick re-cap on my day...I'm tired and in need of sleep... I just got home from our women's comedy night. Well, actually I'm getting home from going out with Joy after the comedy night. She came over from Lakeland for the event and helped clean up afterwards and then we went out to spend some time together, which was wonderful. We both needed it immensely and both commented about how this kind of thing and taking the time for it absolutely keeps us going.

For those blog readers who don't know who Joy is, she's my friend Joy Conley who is a pastor's wife at Harvest Assembly of God in Lakeland. We are both on the women's leadership team for the district - we are both "reps" and that's how we initially met. These photos here are of us when we were at the All Church Ministries Conference, both as speakers, two years ago...the one is of us actually having coffee together somebody snapped the candid shot of us in the church cafe and the other pic is of us talking in one of the classrooms. Anyhoo...she's become a real special friend here in Florida and I so enjoy meeting her for coffee, going shopping, having double dates with our husbands and long talks about life and ministry. She's someone I feel refreshed being around and through the past few years we've really been able to lean on each other through many things.

Today was a much better day for me. I got up to get Savanna ready for school and let the dog out, which I do every single day, whether it's a day off or not, it's just responsibilities I have regardless. Once Savanna was settled and off to school I went back to bed for 2 and 1/2 glorious hours. Friday is my day to catch up on sleep unless I happen to have a Saturday where I can do so occasionally. Most Saturdays I work in some regard so it doesn't happen all the time but I get it where I can. So anyway I went back to sleep for a few more hours and when I got up I discovered that Larry had cleaned the kitchen. You can't imagine how happy I was about this. I did a few housework chores today but it did not seem so overwhelming as it could have because the work was shared. I was able to do three or four things but otherwise got rest with sleep and some reading before I went to the church.

I had to go several hours earlier than normal because Dustin had to work and I needed to take him there, so we went on our way and while he worked I decided I might as well too since I was there and so I got two projects done and then headed down to get some things done for comedy night that still needed to be done.

Our night went well and I think it was really enjoyed by all. Missy (our speaker) is dealing with ovarian cancer right now and going through treatments. It's a real inspiration how she is continuing on so strongly and fighting the good fight just like she's done with so many other obstacles in her life. The message she brings is very relatable to most people as we have all faced something she talks about in some way or another. I love the "you can not only survive, but thrive" type of messages and it's so encouraging and motivating to hear that despite whatever we face, we can make it through God's help and our the love and support of our friends.

I knew Joy was coming tonight but I didn't realize she would be able to stay and have coffee with me so late. Although we've done that many times I guess I just didn't think about the fact that she was going to do that til' the time got right up on us. And I also didn't stop to think beforehand about how much I needed it. It's AMAZING how much the love and perspective of a friend helps you. I've learned in 20 years of ministry that unless you have a really good ministry friend (besides your spouse) to lean on, things can be unbearable at times. I'm glad we can be that anchor for each other.

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

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

Stuff I Adore That Costs Little to Nothing...

Okay...taking a break today from writing about heavy things...like grief, loss, and bawling. Time to write about random stuff today that nobody may be interested in reading. Nevertheless here it is... Stuff I adore that costs little to nothing... Listening to playlists I make on (free) Spotify Drinking out of canning jars Reading books again that I already have on my shelf. Walking and riding my bike. Admiring crepe myrtle trees. Taking a bath in the daytime with the lights off in the room. (Natural light.) Naps. Snuggling with my husband or one of the kids and watching a movie at home. Having all noise turned off when no one is home. (No TV, no music, just silence.) Prayer.