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...
What this basically amounts to is de-toxing your body of sugar,which I've just been informed is extremely addicting and watching your carbs - not eliminating them altogether, just not overdosing on them as most of us do. Ultimately you follow what's in the photo above in the balance of the foods you eat. The first three days is a "detox". I will tell you, it's not easy. Honestly I could not do this without support. Two other friends in ministry, LaDonna Jones and Joy Conley went on this plan last week as a result of Tammy's inspiration. I hear they are doing great! Joy has already dropped 6 pounds. LaDonna's clothes are all loose now after a week's time. I am blessed that in my church environment which I'm in most times, Cathy Garland (our asst) and Candy Rivera are also on the same eating plan. So, I do have excellent support in this for which I am very thankful.
Right now I'm saying, "if I can just get to Thursday..." Tomorrow I will be past the induction phase, the glycemic index will be officially restarted and I will be able to add many more foods to my diet. By the way, there are no shakes or any supplements involved in this -- ever -- it's all real food. Nothing weird or gimmicky. There are no artificial foods, processed foods, etc. on this, it's all 100% food and water and it's very healthy. So there you have it, the new eating plan. If you are interested in it, email me at PastorDeanna@aol.com and I will send you the info. It's free, nothing to buy except for fresh food from the grocery store.
I am really determined to become healthy in 2010. Those who really know me or have been reading the blog a long time know that I went through a lot in 2007 and 2008, which (being an emotional eater) knocked me totally got off the wagon. Many people wonder why so many in ministry are out of shape and the truth is that many are emotional eaters in response to the pressure they are under. I was at a minister's wives retreat last weekend and every single person I talked to shared about physical struggles they have had as a result of ministry stress. I'm talking about serious stuff here, hospitalizations and medications and, you name it. This is not uncommon, unfortunately. Pastor Perry Noble who is a blogger I highly respect had a blog about this recently that really hit home. Read it here.) He talks about all of his pastor friends being hospitalized for serious issues recently and all of them being young! I got to thinking about it the other day and there is not even one pastor or pastor's wife that I know personally that hasn't had a real physical challenge due to stress. This is evidently one thing the devil makes sure of and it's time we expose him for it.
The year 2009 was a great year for me as far as my family, my church, my new career coach job, and other things. Oh how I needed 2009! The devil had to pay back a lot of things he stole. What an idiot the devil is. I hate him with a passion. I'm still making him pay back, by the way. We've got to remember Ephesians 6:12-13: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
As the year came to a close I thanked everyone in my life profusely (especially our wonderful church people) for such a fantastic year. But once you get off of the healthy eating track it's hard to get back on even when things start getting better with life circumstances. Now is the time for me to refocus on this and it seems all my close friends are doing the same. This is a plug, by the way, to pray for your pastors, for everything, but don't forget their health! Pray that nothing would hinder their health and that anything getting in the way of it would be expeditiously taken care of. Pray that people of God would surround them and encourage as Pastor Perry outlined so well in his blog post.
By the way, I still do believe in the Weight Watchers program. I will probably even do it again however I do want to still cut back on sugar and also breads and pastas that are not whole grain. You don't necessarily have to do that on WW, or cut anything out as long as you have the "points" for it. Pretty much anything goes on the WW plan as long as you have points. However I am learning that the older I get, the more careful I have to be about all this stuff. I can't just eat 20 cookies for the day because I have the points for it and expect to get a clean bill of health at my next yearly physical. What worked at 20 doesn't work anymore at 43. As my sister Shari (who is in optimal shape and has been for years) always tells me, getting older does require a change in these things if you are going to be healthy.
The Lord told me some years ago that I would have to be in shape to do what He's called me to do. I listened at that time and got in shape, but then regressed terribly when under the pressure I was under. With the magnitude of things I now have on my plate I need to be in shape more than ever! Onward I go.
My heart is toward all women but particuarly if you are a woman in ministry please know that I am lifting you up in prayer today that God would strengthen you physically to bear up under the weight of that to which you have been called. May the Lord empower you to be whole in every way in this 2010 year.
Much love,
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