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...
Deanna-rant again here.
Two days in a row.I'm safe. I know that the diehards who realllllllly love me read the blog on the weekend.
I'm tired of my pastor-friends being shot down one by one by the devil.
I know a lot of factors are involved when things happen, but the fact is -- the church needs to pray more! Prayer is not supposed to be an afterthought.
I've heard it said that you can tell how popular the pastor is by how many people attend church on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the church is by how many attend on Wednesday night. And you can tell how popular Jesus is by how many attend the church prayer meeting!
How long will we be content with a prayerless church?
Many people wonder why pastors or churches (or both) have meltdowns. More than one factor, but a huge one is a prayerless church or an almost prayerless church. (Definition of almost prayerless = churches that have a prayer during the service at some point but are devoid of most prayer otherwise.)
There is nothing more important than prayer.
Don't criticize.
Pray.
It makes all the difference.
I'll go a step further. If you have not been on your knees in prayer for your pastors for hours each week, then don't even open your mouth to speak a word about them or share what you think should happen in the church. If you have not travailed in prayer -- if your eyes have not wept tears over your pastors, your church, your city, and souls, then be quiet. You have no credibility or real authority if you have not been on your knees in prayer.
If you have not prayed and talked to Jesus about whatever you are concerned about first, why should anyone else have to listen to you?
Two days in a row.
I'm tired of my pastor-friends being shot down one by one by the devil.
I know a lot of factors are involved when things happen, but the fact is -- the church needs to pray more! Prayer is not supposed to be an afterthought.
I've heard it said that you can tell how popular the pastor is by how many people attend church on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the church is by how many attend on Wednesday night. And you can tell how popular Jesus is by how many attend the church prayer meeting!
Matthew 26:40-41 says: "When he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
He instructed them that prayer was necessary so that they would not succumb to temptation. We need individual prayer and we need corporate prayer.
There is nothing more important than prayer.
Don't criticize.
Pray.
It makes all the difference.
I'll go a step further. If you have not been on your knees in prayer for your pastors for hours each week, then don't even open your mouth to speak a word about them or share what you think should happen in the church. If you have not travailed in prayer -- if your eyes have not wept tears over your pastors, your church, your city, and souls, then be quiet. You have no credibility or real authority if you have not been on your knees in prayer.
If you have not prayed and talked to Jesus about whatever you are concerned about first, why should anyone else have to listen to you?
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