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...
Did you ever wonder if God was fully aware of your circumstance or was really busy doing anything about it?
In addition to being a pastor full time and a writer/speaker, I am also a certified career coach and give about ten hours a week in fulfilling this important role. This week I was working with a job seeker on a resume.
When I help a client construct a resume from the ground up it's pretty intense. I ask a lot of questions and type as we go. Although they are on the phone with me the entire time (while I work at my computer with a headset), I am sometimes quiet during the process. Throughout our time together I tell them, "If I'm quiet at points during this process, I just want to let you know, I'm still here. The reason I'm quiet is that writing is intense work and when I'm thinking of just the right word, you may not hear anything for about 30 seconds, maybe even a little longer..."
Most clients fully understand and they are absolutely amazed when a minute or two later, I share a new sentence or paragraph I've constructed on their behalf.
So I was working with this client on a resume and the most hilarious thing happened. Although I warned him that I would get quiet at times, he thought we were disconnected. So when I was quiet, he hung up on me! I called him back and said, "Are you okay? Why did you hang up?" He said, "I don't know, I just thought you were gone..."
Well, that's not the funniest part. He did it two more times after that! Each time I'd get quiet, he'd hang up. By the time we were done with his resume, the guy hung up on me THREE times! No kidding. Each time I called him back and said, "I told you I was still here, I am just taking a few moments to re-construct this sentence and find just the right word."
"Oh. Sorry..." he would say.
I could barely contain myself, it was so funny.
When we were done he was overwhelmed by the results and said, "this is incredible. You really were coming up with some great stuff during that time you were quiet."
Yep.
What's the point here?
This is just like our trials in life. We are often in the waiting room wondering what in the world God is doing or wondering if He's not just there, but active on our behalf.
Remember this, my friend...when God is quiet He is always actively working on your behalf. Trust Him to do His work. You will be astounded with the great stuff He comes up with during the time He's silent!
*photo credit: creative commons
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