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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

Breakthrough in Orlando!

Last night Marsha preached and it was a blockbuster. The greatest thing happened at the close of the service. Marsha asked me months ago to head up the altar workers for the conference. We had our game on and the team was right in place to do whatever was needed.

At one moment Marsha had called a woman out of the crowd and started ministering to her and Missy ran up behind her because it was very probable the woman was going to fall right out in the spirit and she ran up to her and so did I.  As Marsha prophesied over her and laid hands on her she went down and then I was ready to move on with Marsha, supporting her as she prayed for the next person but in that moment she didn't go on to the next person. Instead she shouted and pointed right at me, "THE TIDE IS TURNING, DEANNA! IT'S TURNING NOW!! IT'S TURNING!" And I started praising God (I knew she was prophesying directly to my situation) and I was jumping up and down praising God and then she started speaking some other things within that powerful word and as she touched my head I was like a lightning bolt down on the floor...and "bammmm!" As I was going down on the floor I heard her shout, "DEANNA, THE LORD SAYS YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THESE ATTACKS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE POWER THAT IS GOING TO FLOW THROUGH YOU NEXT MONTH WHEN YOU PREACH IN AFRICA! THIS WAS ALL AN ATTACK TO STOP IT! BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE THE TIDE IS TURNING! YOU ARE ONLY STRENGTHENING! YOUR SITUATION IS CHANGING! THIS IS THE TIME OF BREAKTHROUGH!"

Oh my. I was down on the floor for a while just powerfully being ministered to by God and then when one of the ladies helped me up off the floor and my dear friend Joy Conley, pastor's wife of Harvest AG was sitting there on the front row just crying because of what had just happened to me. She knows what I've been through. I came and sat with her and we just sobbed and sobbed and held each other and she just kept saying, "Deanna it's absolutely the word of the Lord what Marsha just prophesied! God has such great things in store!" And of course it was sprinkled with lots of "I love you's" and I thanked her for standing by me as she has being such a loyal friend. I don't know where I'd be without Joy, Tara, and some of you reading this who have absolutely been my lifeline during these dark months.

After service we hosted a special reception for Senior Pastors' Wives. What a fun time we had! It was a night called "Life by Chocolate." They had some of the finest chocolate desserts and beverages and massages!! So awesome. I spent a lot of time talking with my friends just having an awesome time.
Time to head to our next service after we just had a wonderful reps breakfast and meeting with Marsha...I'll blog later as I have time. By the way, I just blogged this morning at my other blog here for those of you who want to read something the Lord spoke into my heart yesterday. Yes, this is the time of my breakthrough. I have faced the lion and the bear, and perhaps my giant on the way to my destiny. It's time!

Love to all from Orlando...

Comments

Melissa said…
woohooo! Hallelujah! SO AWESOME! WOW! YES! YES! YES! Praising God for the word He spoke to you last night! That is just so awesome! Will keep praying! Love ya girl!
Aaron said…
WOW!!! So awesome!!! Africa seems important to God. I know of many trials from different people that went or were going there. I am so glad to hear that breakthrough is so near:-)
'Life by chocolate' is such a cool name! My wife makes angel eggs. I really don't like glorifying the enemy or his ways through a food name.
Make sure you don't over do it. Busyness and not getting enough sleep can take you back a few steps. Use the wisdom you've gained to determine what is important. You might need to turn down/cancel things or just take a long weekend.
Tara Sloan said…
My heart is soaring for you right now! Oh how you needed that and deserve it! PTL!!!!
Michele said…
I am so glad God touched you so. You deserve it so much
Anonymous said…
Praise God Deanna! I rejoice with you for this word that came forth. God is faithful! You've been faithful. Wish I was there with you.

Much love.
Anonymous said…
Saturday, October 4, 2008
"Don't Miss Your Moment!!!" This was the most AWESOME conference ever. Marsha W was fantastic as usual. Judy Jacobs was GREAT!! What a combo!!! Those ladies can preach!!!!!
What a time of revival….renewal….recognition of God’s plan!!! God is sooooo AWESOME!!!!! I KNOW that I have been “picked out” by God….I AM in HIS favor!!!!! He has given me His instructions and I KNOW I can follow through, because He is with me!!!!! I have finally come to a place in my life where I KNOW what God wants from me.
On Thursday evening around 9:45pm, I was tired and starting to feel bored. Blah!!! Blah!!! Blah!!! I just wasn’t absorbing. Marsha W was doing a great job, but I couldn't get “into” it. She started talking about God’s instructions for your life….knowing what they were….acting on it.
If you didn’t know what your instructions from God were….she said to stay in your seat….sit alone and quiet….pray and ask God for His instructions....nobody could lay hands on you....this was YOUR time alone with Him.
If you knew what God’s instructions for you were and you were acting upon them….go to the back of the ballroom and praise Him….sing halleluiah to Him!!!!
However, if you finally recognized God’s instructions and knew what you had to do….come down to the altar now….Glory to God!!!!! All of a sudden I became ALIVE….I ran down to that altar….I fell to my knees….I started crying, praising and thanking Him. I felt somebody’s precious hand on my shoulder and she started praying with me. I recognized my "sister" Judy C from Palmetto AG. She is so SPECIAL to me!!!!! I was so comforted. I had my face on the floor. I had to take my glasses off, I was crying so much. Judy C and I stayed there for about 15 minutes just praying, crying and holding each other up. When we got up, you asked us to pray with the ladies at the altar that had not been prayed for yet. Deanna, I was so honored that you asked me. Me????!!!! In the past I have always felt so small and lost at the district events. This time I felt especially lost because LaDonna was not with me. I didn't feel that I was worthy enough to pray for these ladies. Why has God “picked me out”? Who am I? Then I realized I am His daughter…. a child of God. He HAS chosen me for specific instruction…. a specific job….spreading His word.
I know now that I will lift up my sisters and be there for them in their times of trouble….times of sorrow….times of joy….times of celebration.
I KNOW where I belong and why. I have your back and nobody will mess with you, my sister!!! "Not with my sister you don't!!!!"
Thank you Deanna for being there. You are an inspiration. I know you will go far with your new endeavor. Be blessed!!!!
Love from, Marcia E @ Gulf Coast AG

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