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 i...
Although I'm an intercessor I've often said that I resist announcing that or talking about it too much because the label/title causes many people to associate it with the strange things that often go on that have very little to do with God. A lot of things get blamed on God that He really has little association with. There are times I have sat in a meeting and thought to myself, "Am I the only one who thinks some absolutely crazy/unbiblical stuff is going on and somebody needs to say something?" If it's in my own church, I do of course. Being a pastor we have that responsibility. However if I'm somewhere that I'm not in charge and this is going on it tends to give me a tension headache and I usually just get out of the room as quick as I can and hope to God that some leader steps up to the plate to bring guidance to those involved.
Yesterday a great article came out in Charisma Online entitled, "Help! My prayer group has gone flaky!" I have dealt with quite a number in "intercessors" in the church in the past whose behavior is much like this article described. Just last night I referred to this in our Fusion service and I shared about a book written by the husband of the woman, Alice Smith, who wrote this article. I had no idea this gem of an article was sitting in my email box waiting for when I would get home to read it. I wish I would have had it prior to Fusion -- I would have read it or aloud or copied it and passed it out, dependent upon copyright rules.
Last night I shared in Fusion that we need to realize that the Holy Ghost doesn't fill us for our enjoyment but for our employment. Some people will fool around with the Holy Ghost all day but never actually get out there and DO anything. He doesn't fill us just so we can feel good, but so that we will be witnesses. (Acts 1:8) We are employed by God to do His work and His Spirit empowers us as we do.
Read this timely article from Alice Smith, coordinator for the U.S. Prayer Track of the A.D. 2000 & Beyond Movement, here.
Yesterday a great article came out in Charisma Online entitled, "Help! My prayer group has gone flaky!" I have dealt with quite a number in "intercessors" in the church in the past whose behavior is much like this article described. Just last night I referred to this in our Fusion service and I shared about a book written by the husband of the woman, Alice Smith, who wrote this article. I had no idea this gem of an article was sitting in my email box waiting for when I would get home to read it. I wish I would have had it prior to Fusion -- I would have read it or aloud or copied it and passed it out, dependent upon copyright rules.
Last night I shared in Fusion that we need to realize that the Holy Ghost doesn't fill us for our enjoyment but for our employment. Some people will fool around with the Holy Ghost all day but never actually get out there and DO anything. He doesn't fill us just so we can feel good, but so that we will be witnesses. (Acts 1:8) We are employed by God to do His work and His Spirit empowers us as we do.
Read this timely article from Alice Smith, coordinator for the U.S. Prayer Track of the A.D. 2000 & Beyond Movement, here.
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