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

Today's fun Friday


This morning Teeby and I lingered in bed for a little while (best thing about a Friday morning, especially when Savanna wakes up on her own...) and then we got up and went to Brandon Mall with Dustin to do a little Christmas shopping. I love the Brandon Mall. I hope Larry will still want to go there even after the mall is finished and open, here by our house. It's coming, by the way-- a HUGE one -- in 2008. It's going to have EVERYTHING you can possibly think of. But going to Brandon to go Christmas shopping has been our tradition now for 5 years.

After shopping we came home and I started getting things rolling for an event I'm having here tomorrow at the house. I am hosting my life coaching group here at home for a Christmas luncheon and our meeting. I can't wait! I will tell you all about it tomorrow (don't want to ruin it for any of my life coachers who are reading tonight) but I have been cooking some specialties today and cleaning, and getting both dining tables set with the china, and putting out centerpieces and all those things I find so glorious!!! It's going to be perfecto...do you hear me? PERFECTO, my friends!!! Martha, Paula, and Rachel would be so proud!! (that's Stewart, Deen and Ray, if you didn't figure it out...) (GRIN)

While I did all of this prep work, Larry took Savanna out Christmas shopping tonight while I did all that. They had fun on a little Daddy/daughter date. The boys were at "Friday night live" at the church. By the time Larry got home I was getting rather tired from being on my feet so much. I drew a bath, lit the candles around my big tub, made myself a cup of "Kenya" tea and got in . I sat in there surrounded by the smell of "moonlight path" and just prayed a while and thanked God for all I have. I am so thankful. Yes friends, I'm still living in a "new normal." I'm reminded everyday about Africa. I now say simple things like, "thank you God, for this toilet..." (SMILE)

Today I got an email from Barb Kuert, and also Kevin & Miriam Smith (also missionaries to Kenya). Maybe that's why I'm feeling even more of a "pang" in missing it there. My heart is very heavy today for Barb and I have been in prayer for her. Nothing "devastating" is wrong, she just has a lot on her with some projects she's in the midst of and I understand the pressure she's under. At the same time, realize it's intense spiritual warfare there...

Larry and Savanna are still wrapping presents right now. They came home and started in on the wrapping projects which couldn't make me happier. I hate to wrap. I get out of it whenever I can.

Today I was putting stuff away in my kitchen from the party I had the other night (yes, I'm still putting things back...it was so involved) and realize I need to sort through and get rid of some stuff. It's time for a serious re-sorting, purging, re-organization. I don't like doing that kind of stuff but it's gotta be done. Maybe the week between Christmas and New Year, if I'm up to it. Usually that is my "re-grouping week" to get ready for the new year.

Today I'm sitting here thinking to myself, "what do I want for Christmas?" There are a few things I want such as the book Mosaic by Amy Grant (I'm a huge fan of Amy's), an executive lap desk (that's desk, not dance...ha ha), a new pair of sneakers (mine were basically ruined in the slums in Kenya) but really there's nothing right now that super excites me except going back to Africa. I would trade everything just to go back and forego any Christmas present I have coming. Really Christmas in the commercial sense pales in comparison...

I'm excited for my kids...

But for me...

I just want to go back.

Today I had "faces" coming at me in my mind all day -- Mama Harriet, Mama Joshua, Mama Esther... the Mathare Big Boys (who I just e-mailed yesterday!) Man, I miss them all! There is no distance in prayer and today I prayed for all of them.

Merry Christmas my dear African friends...I hope you know my heart is with you.

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