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 inve
Post a Comment

Two Reasons Why People Grow (Or They Don't!)


I was recently in a regional leaders meeting where we discussed the fact that today's people want events, seminars, workshops, mentorship and coaching. More than anything they seem to crave a leader's personal investment of time and interest. However, it was also noted that when any of that hits home and puts the finger of truth on areas of their life that need change, they back off.  Scores of leaders affirm that people want them to pour into their lives but only to the degree that it doesn't mess with their desires, habits, goals and plans.

  

I've noticed two things about people who grow. 

1) They recognize/honor the gift of God.

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…" Ephesians 4:11,12

Christ Himself gave these people to us to speak into our lives. Christ is not confused about what He sent.

The gift of God isn't God, however the gift does speak wisdom from God and has been appointed by him. Many will honor and receive the gift of God until they tell them something they don't want to hear.  People love to have their leader's affirmation and encouragement, but rare is the person who craves truth-speaking, even in love. Because truth hits us where we live and it brings us to the crossroads of uncomfortable decisions. Those who honor and receive from the gift of God even when it touches sore points in their lives are the ones who will grow.

2) They don't just tolerate truth, they ask for it.  


They crave it. They beg for it. 


God gives a guarantee for growth in His Word. Don't you like guarantees? I love them!! A sure thing makes me super happy.

Referring to the gift of God and speaking truth (in Ephesians 4) it says,“speaking the truth in love, we will grow…”
 
Not we might grow.
Not “it’s a possibility that we’ll grow.”
We will grow.

So first we know, this is the key to real growth -- guaranteed growth.

If the truth is spoken and if you hear it, and act on it, you will grow.

Do you want to be a whole package deal? Do you want to be all that and a bag of chips? I don't.

I want to be all that, a bag of chips AND dip, AND a Coke!
The Bible tells us how we can do that.

Verse 15 says: “To become in every respect the mature body…”  

Not just some respects.

Every respect.

Because the Word knows that there are some who can be respected in some ways but not in others.

And that’s not good enough for the mature believer.

God wants well rounded believers. No, that doesn’t mean you gain a shirt size each year. 

This means well rounded spiritually. 

The whole package!

Nothing’s missing!!!

You can have real growth in your life right now. You can move forward more than ever before. The choice is up to you, and starting with these two things gives you the winning edge. It's God's plan. That's why it works!

*This post today was taken from my message last night that I preached at the Fusion service at Celebration Church. It seemed to resonate with a lot of people so I'm posting a highlight from it here. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not
29 comments
Read more

Excellent teaching on Criticism

My friend Pastor Leanne posted this today on her Myspace blog and I thought it was excellent and so timely. It's a blog post from Pastor Perry Noble , about criticism. I think it's perfect for the pastors at Relevant Church right now, as well as any other person going through this. I would like to note that when he says, "when God begins to move" it wouldn't necessarily just pertain to your church but to your life, your family, your marriage, anything that concerns you. I have found that the greater God does things in my life and the more He blessed me the more I should expect it. This teaching is good, so good I was almost wavin' a hanky in my office. Okay, here we go... You Will Be Criticized When God Begins To Move–Expect It And Get Over It. (Pastor Perry Noble at http://www.perrynoble.com/ ) I've never met a devil worshiper–to my knowledge that is. When I first became a Christian I was convinced that I needed to do all that I could to be ready to comba
3 comments
Read more

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we
12 comments
Read more