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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
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Send a prayer someone's way
and keep your good vibes

Do you believe in the power of prayer?   I'm not talking about well wishes or good vibrations.  (I recently saw that a friend had sent another friend who has cancer "good vibrations" on facebook.  What?!)  Um... a vibration might actually make you feel good temporarily but it will not heal you.  But that's another blog post for another day.   When we're sick we need healing, not a buzz.  A good vibration, a dream or a wish never healed anyone but the power of JESUS can and will heal.  Healing DID NOT END with the book of Acts!!  We are living Chapter 29!    I tell you this from experience both past and present.  I often wonder why some people worship a God who they honestly believe stopped doing things once the Bible was complete.  What a boring tragedy to serve a God who you think doesn't do stuff anymore.  I tell you, I wouldn't wake up on Sunday mornings for that.  I'm not worshipping some anemic God.  My God can do ANYTHING.   I tell our people, I love to sleep too much to go to church if I thought God wasn't going to show up and do something!!   Listen to these two incredible testimonies of how God has moved lately in some people at Celebration Church.  We are a group of people who believe in PRAYING UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!!!  (P.U.S.H - ing)

One of our ladies, MaryAnn, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago.  We have been feverently praying for her healing.   She just had her first chemo treatment.  This past week we found out, after the first treatment they went in to look at her tumor to see how much it had shrunk to prepare for the next round of chemo.  Amazingly the doctors found NOTHING!!!  No lump!!!  It's gone.  Praise God!!!  The doctors might have been surprised that her tumor has vanished, but we're not!!  This is what the power of God can do.

Another person with a great need is someone very dear to me, my friend Bonnie Stewart.  All our people in our church are special to me, but Bonnie is especially so.  When you look up the words "supportive church members" in the dictionary Bonnie and her husband Todd's photos come up.  (lol)  I love them so much.  Bonnie does everything in the church from helping me direct the choir, to organizing meals for the sick in our church, to cleaning the church, to singing alto on the frontline, to ANYTHING that needs to be done!!!  It has been difficult to see Bonnie walk through the physical problems she had dealt with for the past year or more.  She was diagnosed with a serious condition ("female" problems here that I won't go into detail on)  almost 6 months ago and told she needed an operation ASAP or it was likely to turn to cancer.  The problem is, she has no insurance and doesn't have the money for the operation. It's gotten worse and worse and she's in so much pain she can hardly stand it sometimes though she NEVER misses a church service or a function of any kind.   She and Todd have been faithful through his time of unemployment which lasted quite a while (he has a job now, praise God!). They are the type of people who even stay faithful in tithing and giving offerings when unemployed.   Some call that crazy,  God calls it obedient.  There are so many facets to this testimony...

Sometimes God heals people divinely when we pray -- other times he uses  medical science to do so through the wisdom and anointing that is upon doctors.  We have prayed for God to heal her body divinely or make a way where there seemed to be no way.   Yesterday  she had a consultation with her doctor and he said, "Bonnie, with the test results that have come back and what I can see, I don't know how you're still standing..." Well, weeping endures for the night but joy comes in the morning!!!  She has now gotten her breakthrough!    Last night at church she announced that the doctors told her yesterday they decided they are are DOING HER OPERATION FOR FREE!!!  THAT'S RIGHT, NO CHARGE!!!

Somebody shout now!!  Let me tell you that's exactly what I did last night.  I was so excited.  We're believing she can have the operation before our life coaching retreat and be recovered before we go.   

Going back to faithfulness in giving let me just say this -- finances are the only issue where God invites you to TEST HIM.  (Malachi 3:8-12)  Bonnie and Todd have put God to the test many times in this, and He proved Himself.   How much would that operation cost if they had to pay for it themselves?  It would be astronomical.  But now they don't have to pay for it.  God has made a way. 

God honors faithfulness.  He answers prayer.  He honors obedience.  He listens to the cries of His people that have gone up in intercession.  History belongs to the people who pray.  

He's not just doing the same stuff He did back in the days of the Bible, He's doing even more amazing things in these days, because He said He would doing GREATER WORKS in these days and times.  I trust Him -- I praise Him no matter what anything looks like on the outside for however long, I know my God!!  I can't wait to see whose breakthrough is around the corner next!!!  A wish is just a dream your heart makes, but a prayer launches the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost to work!  I can't count on a wish, a dream, a vibe, but I can be sure of Jesus everytime!

p.s.  Celebraters, don't forget prayer meeting today at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary.  :) 
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Anonymous said…
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10:27 AM
Cassandra said…
Love these testimonies!!! Especially the free surgery. Thank GOD for doctors who can be moved on by God and human kindness to do the right thing.
9:05 PM
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