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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

Woman of the cloth


Time for Wonder Woman to rise and shine...literally! This morning as I wake up at the crack of dawn as is my custom on Sunday mornings, it's not just time for me to wake up, but to save the day. Anyone in ministry knows what I'm talking about, as we all have to do this on many Sundays. On days like this, circumstances dictate that I must not only fulfill my role but a few others that I didn't expect at the last minute.

What ministers accomplish most weeks is nothing short of amazing. I have found that the quote, "your procrastination does not become my emergency" does apply in the business world, but doesn't apply when it comes to ministry. Unforseen things become our emergency in the pastorate unless we want to look like an idiot or lose a few first time visitors. I had at least a few hours notice last night that this morning will be a challenge, so now is my time to rise to the occasion.

Challenges like this typically put me in a tizzy. But I am now looking at these kinds of things as opportunities instead of obstacles...a time to rise above rather than to rail against. For so long I've gotten so depressed when unforseen things have happened that threaten the effectiveness of a service, but lately I'm taking the point of view that I can use these kinds of things to shine and show just what I'm capable of. If I'm not cut out of the same cloth so as to drop the ball, then I also have to be cut out of a different cloth so as to be able to solve things when it drops for some reason. (Maybe that's the real meaning of being a person "of the cloth", ha!) As Mike Murdock says, our value is determined by the problems we solve, not the ones we create.

To be extraordinary you have to do just that...something extraordinary. In ministry we have opportunities each week to do something extraordinary because the unforseen is always happening.

Don't lose your cool, just get out there and shine and show them you're indeed a person of the cloth...a completely different kind of cloth .

p.s. Um, i'll let you know how I do on this first experiment of rising and shining rather than railing and ranting when I do my weekend wrap up blog tonight or in the morning. :-)

Comments

Anonymous said…
I'm leading Kidz Church today. We have around 50 kids, most children are from the projects. They are the BEST. Full of energy and a great love for the Lord! I can't wait!
Ruth, PA
Michele said…
I know you will rise and shine-:)

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