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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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Sunday Reflections


Well it was a rough morning for me with music/worship. Things just didn't jell. Quite frankly it made me wish I was on drugs. (Legal ones of course - LOL.) But I'm not on any drugs. So I do things like walk 3 or more miles a day to deal with my anxiety when a day like today happens. It takes the edge off. Thankfully Teeb came up and redeemed everything by preaching a great sermon and it was a good day. I realize God CAN move and do something even when the worship doesn't click or connect. Believe me I know He doesn't even need a band or vocalists to accomplish anything. He's God. However, I often wonder...if things went in the natural - in the human sense - like they were supposed to every time - how much more WOULD God move? It's a question that I'm constantly wondering about.

Vito and Pat walked through the doors just as SS was ending. (They are friends of ours from our church in MD.) How awesome to see them. It instantly made my day. We miss them so much. This is probably their fifth or sixth time here to see us, at least. They surprised us today and we went to Olive Garden after the service. It was so good to be with them, to talk to them, laugh, share together, catch up. Vito and Cherie were just here back in February.

We have leadership meeting tonight at our house, and we just finished cleaning up things at the house. I'm tired, wanting to catch a power nap before everyone comes but first I'll list some takeaways from Larry's sermon this morning, which was about fear:

Quote from him - my favorite of the day: "When you soar like an eagle, there will always be a chicken waiting to talk smack about you!"

We must replace fear with faith.

Some of Satan's methods to use fear against us:

1) Past sins, mistakes and failures.
2) The possibility of the future -- "what if's"
3) The potential of failure
4) The certainty of criticism. (insert quote about eagles/chickens here!)

82% of the things we worry about never happen. (Statistics tell us...)

The more we analyze the less we are apt to have God do something big.

It's better to try something and make a mistake than just remain idle.

The enemy will use your fears and keep you from becoming effective. We can be so afraid of losing our money, our marriage or our job that we never enter into all that God wants for us.

When this happens we don't...
Serve...
Develop deep relationships

Comments

Anonymous said…
Okay, I am SO using the eagle/chicken comment as my latest Myspace quote...I will give Larry credit, of course!!

Great stuff :o).
4:54 PM
Unknown said…
Deanna,
I am sitting here reading this at 1:55am. I cannot thank you enough for your timely words, and how I needed to read them at this time.

I was awakened at 11:40 by my Dad, in Ohio calling. He was rushing my Mom to the ER. They are transporting her by ambulance to a bigger hospital is the latest I've heard. My sister (in MO) and I (in IN) cannot quickly make it to be by their sides.

Tim preached on faith this morning, and now you have replacing fear with faith. It's always good to hear it from a friend, and to be reminded.

Thank you.
1:57 AM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
Sharon,

My prayers are with you and your family today. Please update us on how your Mom is doing.

I'm glad the blog spoke to you at a much needed time.

Love you,
Deanna

Pastor L - Larry will be honored that you used his quote. :-)
10:38 AM
Michele said…
PD-
only you would have known that worship did not gel. God was right in the middle of it all and for me it was a wonderful time in God's presence- I think I have a new favorite worship song - Hear us from Heaven that song for me is so powerful.
Love ya
Michele
6:07 PM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
Thanks Michele,you are always so uplifting. And I guess many don't realize when something doesn't go as planned or what not - it doesn't show other than to those who are on the team...but THANK YOU you are so encouraging!

Sharon - prayed for your Mom this morning...hope things are better now.
6:18 PM
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