Skip to main content

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

Quotes I recently found that speak to me...
and other stuff

(Photo taken in our back yard...sometimes when I'm reading on the patio or swinging this is what I see...and I just have to say, "thank you, Jesus." Am I the only person who sometimes cries at a sunset?)



"Obedience is never a waste:
it is an investment in a future we cannot see."
- Alicia Britt Chole

"The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be.
It may seem to be much worse, but in the end
it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger."
- Elisabeth Elliot

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up
and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.
You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”
- Anne Lamott

And this is one that one of my blog friends (also a PW),
Melissa from over at The Diaper Heads, sent to me.
She e-mailed and said the Lord laid it on her heart
to give me this scripture and to insert my name in it...
and here's what it said:

"Listen to Me, Deanna,
you who I have upheld since you were conceived
and have carried since your birth.
Even in your old age and gray hairs,
I AM He who will sustain you,
I have made you and I will carry you.
I will sustain you and I will rescue you! "
Isaiah 46:3-4

Those of you who know anything about my personal history know exactly why this scripture would mean so much. Thanks, Melissa...words can't express what your obedience to send that scripture means...can't wait to meet you face to face at Unstoppable!!!

On another note I had been reading through I and II Peter this past week in my personal devotions. Usually I stay pretty much on track with where I'm at in the Word in any given week. However yesterday morning when I woke up, as I was turning there -- a bookmark was in Haggai. I stopped there for a moment, started reading and didn't stop til' I finished the book. I never realized the richness of this book before! It's uncanny how much it relates to my life right now. I devoured it and have since been reading all kinds of commentaries on the book. There's too much for one blog post as far as what God is speaking to me from it and quite truthfully I'm just beginning to process it all. But the great thing is, I'm sensing His presence...feeling Him begin to speak to me again. And I can't tell you how much that means to a person like me who is used to just flowing in conversation with God and then...silence. Hearing God's voice is such a comfort.

I BLESS THE LORD AND THANK HIM BECAUSE...

1) I'm starting to hear Him...above the din of the circumstances...little by little.

2) I'm gaining some insight and wisdom I couldn't have gotten in any other way. One scripture I have leaned on in times past is: Isaiah 45:3: "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." One thing I am seeing through this time is that I am getting some treasures in the darkness that couldn't be gained any other way.

3) I feel a re-positioning coming on. (No, that doesn't mean I'm moving, it doesn't mean I'm changing jobs, yada yada...please don't read into that...) To further explain...my favorite quote of the week comes from author Alicia Britt Chole. She says this:

"Sometimes God corners us. Through disappointment, closed doors, conflict or unwanted events, He cuts off routes we were planning on taking so He can reposition us. As we yield to His repositioning, God draws our attention to opportunities we might never have considered."

And what I'm sensing right now is that God is cornering me for a repositioning. More on this later.

4) Last but not least (in fact I almost put it first!) I've found out who my real friends are. :-) Some I was already aware of...others are a new and welcome surprise. It's amazing who God brings into your life, or brings you closer to through struggles. If you are one of those people in my life I want to thank you for being God's hand extended. Some of you have gone through real depression before...not just circumstantial but clinical, and you have been my "understanding" saving grace. You've reached a hand to me, some of you all the way from Africa or the West Coast of the USA, and helped me begin to get out of bed. Things are starting to even out a little bit. Those of you who have been through it (and some who are still there) can understand and appreciate what I mean by that.

I'm headed to church this morning expecting a great service...will try to blog later...

My prayers are with every one of you ...that God would bless and increase you and yours today...may he bless you hundred fold for how you've encouraged me. ((hugs))

Comments

Anonymous said…
I LOVE the Anne Lamott quote!! I've had that written in the front of my journal since I first read it in college..."Bird by Bird" is THE greatest manual for writers...a "must read" as far as I'm concerned!!!!

Still praying for you - I totally understand being depressed and yet somehow getting up and doing what we need to do, even if we don't feel like it. This is what separates the good/okay pastors from the GREAT ones :o).
Melissa said…
You are most welcome my friend! Can't wait to meet you face to face too. ah-ha, I am planning to come with Michele to church on Wed night after I get in from my flight. Does that mean I get to meet you before Unstoppable...lol...looking forward to it! Also looking forward to being back in Florida even if it's only for a few days.
LAURIE said…
"Obedience is never a waste:
it is an investment in a future we cannot see."
- Alicia Britt Chole

Deanna,
love that quote. Thanks for sharing with us today and I pray your services were an awesome encounter with the Holy Spirit. May you continue to INVEST in obedience!

-blessings, Laurie
Anonymous said…
Deanna,
To answer your question, no you are not the only one who cries at sunsets! It's my favorite time of the day. I love to see God's handiwork! The beautiful pictures he paints lets me know that He loves me and cares about me!
Anonymous said…
This was a great post, Deanna... thanks for sharing from your heart... I remember, in the midst of my depression- coming across a verse that I had never noticed before: "Then he went to her, took her hand, and lifted her up" it spoke to me so simply and yet it was exactly what I needed to hear...IN fact I knew that Christ not only lifted me up, but many times had to drag me along when my body wouldn't budge... since that time, I've noticed the verse several times in scripture, but for some reason- God allowed me to notice it for the first time, while drowning under a very dark cloud...
You bless, Deanna! Keep posting! I soke it up!
beloved mama, thanks for your awesome encouragement in this comment and your last one...i appreciate your understanding and care so much.

i do have a question...where exactly is that verse that you just mentioned. it's beautiful and i never noticed it either but i'd like to have the reference if you remember it...

so nice to find people who undertand...

you are loved
Anonymous said…
Mark 1:31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

I blogged about this verse at one time and left out the second part of the verse because the first part was so powerful to me. I imagined my Christ..looking into my eyes, not needing to say a word, but knowing exactly my heart's cry- then, taking my hand and lifting me from my dispair. AFter blogging about it, several blog sisters pointed out the importance of the second part as those parts were equally as important- but at that time, it was part A that spoke to me...at times, he literally had to drag me up- and carry me on. since then, I've noticed similar verses and also noticed that as the disciples went out after Christ left the earth, many of their actions mirrored his...this is fascinating to me. I'll have to search for these verse as well.

Popular posts from this blog

Some people will never understand this...

And that's okay. Just let us be as we lavish love upon the fur-kids of the world. It doesn't mean we don't care about people. We do care. In fact most of the people I know who are great pet lovers are also the greatest philanthropists. If you're not a dog lover, you might not understand the overwhelming intensity that many of us felt about Tank's reunion this past week. You might think we've lost our marbles. That's okay, we think you've lost your heart. ;)  Before I go on with this post, let me say that we were delighted that CBS 10 posted the video and article about Tank and his Celebration Church reunion yesterday. Click here to watch it. (But then come back!) If you haven't realized it, there is a revolution in America about dogs. Dogs have always been loved and known as the most loyal companions ~ "man's best friend". But things have gone way beyond this. Dogs aren't just dogs or friends anymore. They are family me

Fifty Shades of No Way

This weekend, the Fifty Shades of Grey movie will be released and millions of women are expected to flock to the theat er s.  I will not be one of those women.   As a leader of women , some have asked me about this movie. The following is my thoughtful response. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world. The book series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and been translated into 52 languages. It set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time.   Is Fifty Shades of Grey just a harmless book or movie? Although n o one seems to be debating this fact, let’s first establish that it’s pornography.  And not just porn, but a genre that is even more dangerous for women. The book glorifies a female character that is controlled and abused by her partner.   Who is excited about this book and mov ie? Hmmmm….you might be surprised. Many women and girls in our churches have read it. Sadly, I am even aware of

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not