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
Post a Comment

My last night


at home here in Tampa. Tonight we had a missionary from Asia Pacific. Normally Larry and I would take him out after service but tonight we made other arrangements so I could come home and spend time with the fam and get my very last minute details in order.

We usually watch Kid Nation on Wednesday nights after church (we Tivo it) and I wanted to do that as usual and see the kids tonight, as Jordan and Savanna will leave for school in the morning and I will not see them again until November 17th. You know what they say about the "best laid plans" and how they often go awry. Well, in spite of having Pastor T take the missionary out so we could go right home it seemed like things came up that kept us from leaving. (This does not include those who stopped to hug me and pray for me and wish me well on my trip - those were very appreciated of course. Besides worshipping God, this WAS the main reason I wanted to be there tonight...to say bye to everyone and get last minute hugs and "love you's" and stuff...) But a bunch of other things besides that held us there and then we couldn't find Jordan when it was time to go and I got home and the phone was ringing like it has been all day.

I wrote an e-mail to anyone I thought might want to know what was happening with my trip, my schedule, etc. and I thought this would be actually more informative but my phone still rang off the hook today/tonight. Everytime somebody called I was either running around my bedroom folding more things to put in the suitcase or I was at my desk trying to print stuff out. Most who called just said, "I just wanted to hear your voice before you left..." and you know what? Yes, it made me busier, and yes I was going a little crazy trying to keep up but at least I feel REALLY LOVED. Some people just want to "hear my voice"...is there any greater joy? I am happy despite the craziness. Some people don't have anyone who just has to hear their voice.

PRAISE REPORT: I started the anti-malaria medication yesterday (a large number of people get sick when they take it - throwing up, etc., in fact they warn you to call and ask for more meds if you are throwing them up. You have to find some way to keep it down because ya gotta take it - no way around it. The pharmacist warned me: "you will more than likely get sick when you take this.") Well, guess what, I have not been sick or even a little nauseated AT ALL! I'm so happy. God is in the details. I do feel a little more tired taking it (which is one side affect) and my mouth did break out a little but the thing is, when I am stressed I also feel tired and my mouth breaks out...so not sure if this is just stress or anti malaria meds.

Larry and I had to go separate ways this morning instead of working together which was a bummer. But it was for a good cause. (At least he followed me from bed into the shower this morning which was nice...every moment counts, you know...especially since we will be without each other for 9 days) After getting ready for work he headed to Lakeland. Dr. George Wood (our A/G General Superintendent) came to Lakeland today to meet with our district superintendent and some pastors in Florida. The district supt asked Larry to come for the meeting. I wouldn't have wanted him to miss that!

I went to work and wrapped up last minute details for the coming days. I have left detailed instructions on anything imaginable however I still get concerned. I usually have my finger right on the pulse of whatever is happening at home and at NS. One of our deacons lovingly calls me "the kidney". In the body, everything has to go through the kidney first. Wanna know what's going on around here? Just ask the kidney! Seriously.

I have left Larry's clothes lined up in order complete with sticky notes on them that say things like, "wear this November 11th". Seriously, I dress him everyday. I'm the "clothes fairy" as he calls me. Come to think of it, I guess I have all sorts of names that go with my roles in life. For such a contemporary woman as I consider myself most would never guess that I do such things as prepare my husband's clothes. When he gets up in the morning he's the one that has to ask me, "what am I wearing?" or "what's the schedule?" I'm the administrative mind of this duo. He always says, God gave him a gift of administration and it's called: Deanna. Tonight Adam came up to me and said, "we've told Pastor we're just a phone call away if he needs help with anything..." That reassured me as well as Sue F. telling me, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BACK HERE..."

So I have left instructions on everything from the church Thanksgiving dinner to a staff reception to orders of service reminders, to WHATEVER! I'm sure it'll go fine, I mean the world won't come crashing down if my instructions are not followed...things will just be a little messy in Tampa, FL. :-)

Today I got my hair done. It was perfect as I needed it desperately before I went to Africa and also it gave me one more chance to see Ada before I left. She did a stupendous job, as usual. Today was highlighting day and we always love that. Ada is an absolute hairstyling super-talent.

Oh how I will miss my family, my church, my friends, my bed. I'm a blessed woman, and I know it.

p.s. something funny from tonight...before the kids went to bed, Jordan came out and gave me about 10 hugs/kisses and then said, "Goodbye Momma...I love you. Watch out for little people with spears..."

Comments

Post a Comment

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
29 comments
Read more

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
12 comments
Read more

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.
Post a Comment
Read more