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
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me—The very thing you've been unwilling to do. Isaiah 30:17 (The Message)
It seems that most weeks, the Lord sends people to my husband and I to talk to and encourage who are struggling, many of them in the ministry. We never mind it even when we are struggling ourselves, because first --we do care about people, especially those who are walking this road that we are walking. And second, it helps us in getting our mind off of our own problems for a while!
Recently Larry was encouraging someone who was having many hard times and the frustrating thing for Larry was that no matter what he suggested, this man was not willing to budge in doing anything at all to help his problems. If Larry said, "why don't you try getting up fifteen minutes earlier," the person would respond with, "wow, that would be a real challenge...I really don't want to lose any sleep..." or if he said, "why don't you start studying a few evenings a week?" the person would respond, "well, I wouldn't be able to watch my TV shows," or something to this effect. Frustrating!!!
At times you try to help someone and it seems they are unwilling to do ANYTHING that it takes, let alone WHATEVER it takes! I have little patience for that.
The Bible tells us to avoid all extremes. Just like this man my husband was trying to help was extreme, so I err on the side of being the opposite extreme. My tendency is to try to work myself out of anything. Our friend Randy has often said, "If you want something to get done, just tell Deanna it can't be done and it quickly will be because she'll never let you get away with saying that about her!" Whereas the man who called my husband doesn't want to lift a finger to do anything to help his problem, my struggle is to stop trusting in my own abilities to save me all the time. Even if I lack in skill in an area, I try to make up for it in hard work. This can be an admirable quality, however taken to extreme, it causes a problem. Take it from me, as I've been struggling for 42 years now with it. My issue is learning to trust 100% in God to save the day in the long run, no matter how hard I might be working.
I have always believed that if you work hard and long enough you can accomplish anything. You know, that "American Dream" people talk about. The truth is, over time, God has blessed so many of my endeavors, especially as I have invested myself in the things He cares about most. But sometimes, like now, I have to remember to continue to do my best, but not depend upon what I do as the answer. It's all about complete dependence on His abilities to bring the breakthrough, not mine. 
One reason I am trying to learn this completely and do it quickly is because I don't want a long storm! So c'mon God...my work isn't going to solve this no matter what I do or how well I do it. So just "do your thing" as only you can...and, um...preferably in the next day or two? (SMILE)
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As a newborn wants of nothing more than love, live each day with meaning as you do!
As a child questions the why of life, know that you can fulfill the desires of your heart. As a youth has the first taste of success, strive toward your goals like you do! As an adult sifts through failures to learn from mistakes, listen quietly to the still voice inside. Wisdom propels us toward our destiny! Let us celebrate your life and the pursuits that you have accomplished! My wish for you is to know that everything you do , yesterday, today and tomorrow makes an everlasting impact!
Therefore, my beloved sister, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor 15:58
Love you, 2as1