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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

A breath of fresh air


Some people are just like that...

A breath of fresh air into your day...into your life.

Today, a pastor's wife friend of mine, Cassandra Stafford, wrote me a quick e-mail that just made my day. She gave me permission to share it here. I've known Cassandra for many years on-line - though never yet "in person" -we have become soul sisters on the web. (I hope to meet her maybe at this year's Unstoppable Conference?) We have corresponded for a long time through my pastoring partners ministry and in fact she designed the first ever "pastoring partners" shirts a few years ago, which I proudly wear, often!

Anyway, Cassandra stopped by today and wrote me this precious nugget (which she gave me permission to share here) which she called, "a writing nugget just for you!"

Deanna...

I was pondering some things this morning as I washed dishes and it hit me like a ton of bricks...what was the biggest ministry...with the longest living impact that the disciples had? It was what they wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Yes, they did miracles and they pastored churches and they raised up future ministers. But, they live on everyday in innumerable ways because they wrote. Wow. Thought you would appreciate that.


I have never met you. I have never heard you speak. Just what you write and share with me ministers to me and helps me. Its amazing. Write on sister. Write on.


Love, Cassandra

Thank you, Cassandra. I've already told you this but just want to reiterate to everyone out there the power of the written word and how thankful I am that God sometimes uses an ordinary person like me to speak something into others lives. One of my favorite quotes is by Martin Luther who said, "if you want to change the world - pick up your pen." I augment that a little now - as times have changed to - "if you want to change the world - write a blog!" :-) LOL


Another person who stopped by today and rocked my world a bit (which I won't share here cause it was some stuff just between us) but I want to give her credit for encouraging me is Sharon, another pastor's wife, who writes at A Hoosier Family. I've grown to appreciate Sharon so much (and also hope to meet her in person...maybe at Unstoppable?) Sharon heads up the Assembly of God blogring, and she's also one of my faithful readers - and vice versa. Sharon, YOU ARE GIFTED and you are a blessing!

I love you ladies, and thank you for taking time out of your day to write me a note, "for such a time as this." I am so thankful for people in my life who are the "balcony people" - the encouragers. There are many, many women who are pastor's wives who serve as special encouragers to me (and I hope I am to them too!) but these are just two I wanted to tell you about today. You know the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4: 9 & 10: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Thank you, ladies, for helping me up. I want to do the same for you, too.

Comments

Tara Sloan said…
These things are all so true about you PD.. you are a tremendous blessing to the kingdom!!

BTW... I tagged you today :)

http://tarasloan.blogspot.com/2008/03/im-it-7-things-meme.html
Melissa Davis said…
I agree with Cassandra, it was through your writing that drew me. You are truly a awesome woman of God and yes you are an asset to the Kingdom of God.

Love you lots

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