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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
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Mejor solo que mal acompanado!


Today I had my life coaching meeting at the church. I meet monthly with a group of wonderful women who are interested in mentoring...growth..."the next level." Some are younger, some are older, but all have one thing in common - a thirst to grow and mature.

Recently I was challenged to put the responsibility on the mentee to ask the questions. So rather than prepare a teaching this time I asked all of my ladies to come with one question to ask me. It was one of the best times we've had. After each of them asked a question and I shared answers (with some great input from the group as well) we had a time of prayer for each person's needs.

One thing that emerged from this time together were some "Spanish sayings." We are an international church with many nations represented, and many of our people are Hispanic and in fact our services are interpreted in Spanish. Well, as I was answering questions today a few of the hispanic ladies would laugh as I expressed myself, and would say, "Pastor Deanna, that's just like one of our Spanish expressions..." and then they would proceed to tell me one. I found them to be really insightful and as they said them throughout the morning I would say, "Hey, write that down for me!" It was something that was funny, yet enlightening! Over the next few days I'm going to share some of these "Spanishisms" with you. I hope they resonate with you like they did with us.

The first one is, "Mejor solo que mal acompanado."

It means, "Better alone than with bad company." This is not only a Spanish-ism but the book of Proverbs is filled with practical advice like this.

This came about because one of our ladies asked a question about relationships - she is tempted to go back to a relationship time after time that she knows is not beneficial for her, however she goes back for fear of being alone. Her thought is that it is better to have this person than to be alone. Time after time she patches things up with the person only to get hurt again. I was sharing with her about the relational principles in the book of Proverbs and also the "front row" principle (Everybody can't be in your front row, and unfortunately she's had the wrong person in one of her main seats in the front row. Somehow they keep getting right back in their seat even though she tells herself, "I'm not going to do this again...") I explained as long as they are there in the front row, somebody who is deserving of her love and friendship can't take the seat they are in. All of us only have so much time to devote to relationships and to invest in those who have not proven worthy of our trust is not only a lack of wisdom it is not good stewardship. Like many she was also under the false impression that as Christians we should keep going back no matter how mistreated we are. (70x70 forgiveness does not = 70x70 reconciliation). What a revelation to realize she had the power to arrange the front row of her life in such a way that would benefit her rather than continue to keep her entrapped in this cycle of pain, spinning her wheels. She left determined to make a change and put those who earn a relationship with her in the front row - understanding that it's mejor solo que mal acompanado."

Another Spanish-ism is coming your way tomorrow! Until tomorrow just remember, mejor solo que mal acompanado!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi PD. I miss you. I'm glad the Front Row principle is blessing others like it blessed me when I sent it your way! I think we do need to use discretion when revealing our lives to others. People can be so mean. There's also a series re: safe people that would make a great SS class. I love your big heart! Love you,
2as1
8:47 PM
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