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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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Turning your wound into a weapon



This is my "cup of coffee" devotional ezine that went out to my Northside women last week...thought my blog readers might also enjoy it.

The ship in this photo was made from 24 tons of scrap steel that used to be the World Trade Center. This ship is in a new class of warships the Navy is building, designed specifically for missions that will involve special operations against terrorists. It’s crew will include 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines that can be transported ashore by assault craft and helicopters.

"It was a spiritual moment for everybody there" when the molten steel was poured into the molds, according to Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing. "Those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence." The foundry operations manager, Junior Chavers, said that when the Trade Center steel first arrived at the foundry, he touched it with his hand and the hair on his neck stood up. "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back."

This is an example of turning a wound into a weapon. Things happen in our lives that are unfair – things we don’t ask for, or expect. Many of you reading this today had things happen to you as children that were completely out of your control. Someone else made decisions for you that were very painful. You have a choice. You can continue to wallow in that pain or you can turn your wound into a weapon.

Give God your pain and let him heal you and strengthen you to be a mighty tool in his hand – a mighty weapon going forth to destroy the works of the enemy and help many other people.

Imagine having your own family beat you, throw you in a pit and leave you to die. That’s exactly what happened to Joseph – and that was just the beginning of his trials on the way from the pit to the palace! However, as he is famous for doing – God did a turnaround! He restored everything to Joseph – and more, and gave him a mighty platform to help people. The Bible puts it this way: “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

I often tell people that my pain has become my platform. The things that were thrown at me earlier in my life are now something I’ve decided to stand on and declare the power of God! You can do the same! Turn your wound into a weapon!

Comments

LAURIE said…
Great post! Yes the story of Joseph is a great example of how God takes pain from our past and makes good of it. Recently, I was reunited with my birth Father after 40 years. I soooo related to Joseph down in the pit, thrown away by loved ones, but because my Heavenly Father loves me so much, He allowed me to reconcile and forgive the ones that put me in that pit and today I have a new passion and pursuit to help others that may find themselves in their pit. When I was going thru this journey of reconciling with my birth father, I had a saying that I often said, "it is not the choices of other people that define me!" Isn't Gods love and forgiveness awesome! keep up the good work Deanna.
12:19 PM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
Thank you, Laurie! I just read your blog - it's great! I added it to my blog roll. You and I have a lot in common. Although...I do not know my birth father, he does not acknowledge me.

Yes, God uses these things to shape us, not break us. Praise God!

Thank you for stopping by...

Love,
Deanna
6:05 PM
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