Skip to main content

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 i...
Post a Comment

We're celebrating mean Moms!!!


It takes a lot of work to be a real Momma.  I don't think you've crossed over into real Mom status unless your kids have hated you at least once. While plenty of people can produce a child physically it takes more to actually raise a child, and particularly to do it in a God honoring way.  We have a plethora of "pals" today and a shortage of real PARENTS. Our children have tons of friends but only two parents (and in some cases only a single parent) so it's vitally important that we take up our role and not abdicate it.  It takes guts to set boundaries and expectations, and do the hard work of parenting.  My admiration and gratitude goes out to all of the women who are truly setting the standard and investing in the lives of their children by being willing to make the hard decisions and do the not-so-fun parts of Mommyhood.

I serve as a Mom to three natural children (and one in heaven) and also a spiritual Momma to many.  There is a teenage young man in our church who attends without his parents.  For confidentiality purposes I will call him Alex -- not his real name.  There are times I've taken Alex aside and spoken to him about things I believe he needs to hear for his own good.  Sometimes it's an encouraging word, other times a warning, and a few times a correction.  It really doesn't matter whether I'm building him up or correcting him, he sometimes gets emotional either way.  One day after I spoke with him he said, "PD, you're the only one who has ever told me these things."  I was reading his facebook page one day and I noticed that a girl from his work was saying very inappropriate things to him.  I gently took him aside and said, "I'm giving you a motherly warning to stay away from that girl.  She wants all the wrong things from you and I'm concerned and taking you aside to talk about it just as I would Dustin or Jordan if the same happened."  Alex reached out to hug me and with TEARS said, "PD, THANK YOU! SO MUCH!!  My own mother would not have the courage to tell me something like that and it's what I've needed for YEARS and would have kept me out of a lot of trouble in the past!!!"  (I'm happy to say he has stayed away from that girl...lol)

Anyway why am I saying all of this?  Because it's not easy to raise your kids in God's ways and this weekend at Celebration we're celebrating women who do the hard work of wiping runny noses...

We're celebrating women who hold teenage kids to curfews even when they rebel, and say "No you can't do that even if your friends are..."...

We're celebrating ladies who stick to their principles even when their kids hate them for a while...

We're celebrating Moms who are perfectly okay with their kids thinking they are mean when they are doing things for their own good and particularly when they are just following what the bible says!! 

We're giving kudos to moms who understand this isn't a popularity contest, it's a CALLING!!!
 
Saturday we have our "All God's Daughters Tea".  This isn't just for moms -- it's for all women and girls ages 6th grade and up.  I want all of our women and girls to be blessed as this day unfolds...all of God's daughters will gather as Jinny Force joins us as as our guest speaker.  She and her husband Al are our Pen-Florida Youth Directors.  Jinny is a popular speaker at girls conferences and has wisdom to share with ladies too.   

Sunday we're having some special gift giveaways and I'm bringing a word the God has put in my spirit.  Right now Larry and I are doing a series called, "A-May-Zing" and Sunday will be entitled "A-May-Zing Moms of the spirit!!!"  I am so excited to unleash this word, I can hardly wait.

Celebration Moms, get ready for an EMPOWERING Sunday!!!

Labels:

Comments

Melissa said…
I am in total agreement with this :) I was just telling someone it's not our job to be friends right now with our children, it's our job to be in the trenches, get dirty, be the mean mom and show our kids what God's word says, means and applies to their lives. I truly believe there is a scripture for every situation they face whether they like it or not. So if being the mean mommy means saying no a lot, disciplining when society says talk it out and watching out for my babies to protect them from satan's snares then I will gladly accept that title!
11:09 AM
Anonymous said…
Motherhood - The toughest job you'll ever love! Happy Mother's Day!
6:59 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sisterhood Rises Up To Change Lives Forever

God is in the business of preserving families. It is His heart. It's my heart too. And, I'll unabashedly say here that I believe it should be everyone's heart. Everyone likes good news and I've got some for you today. If you are in doubt that God still speaks today and that He uses people to accomplish His work, I pray this will speak to you. Last night I was sitting in service at Celebration Church where we are pastors, and my husband was preaching. His message was about what we want to be remembered for in life, and he made the statement that we can't change our past but we can change the future.  In that moment, God spoke to me. He began to give me my next post for Lost Daughters, where I'm also a blogger. To be honest it's more than just another place where I blog. It's a sisterhood. A lifeline. A place that has come to mean a great deal to me, because of the amazing women who are there. During the service I basically had this entire post...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lost Daughters & Me

Last month I wrote my very first adoption related post here on my blog, and said it would probably be my first and last. I was aware of the controversy it would probably bring, as well as the hurtful feelings that would result if those who are not adoptees rose up to disagree.  Although everyone wasn't totally happy, the positive response was overwhelming. I received a lot of private mail that was encouraging, and it outweighed the negative reactions. A few people literally begged me to write more. I wrote a follow up post here , about what I planned to do next. After prayer and consideration, I know I am supposed to start a separate blog about adoption, in addition to writing here at deannashrodes.net.  I am working on this new blog (though it is not live yet), as well as launching a Tampa support group for adult adoptees. However, I believe the best way for me to get my feet wet as I start the blog and support group is to begin by joining others. I need to learn, gr...
Post a Comment
Read more