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...
This is what my life feels like this upcoming week and it's not even started yet. Not complaining! Just sayin'.
Thought I'd share and ask for your prayers. I can always use them, but I could REALLY use them in a super-duper way over the coming 11 days. Pray my strength! I just got home from Idaho, and caught my breath and now...
When Wendy Hargrove, the operations pastor and women's director at First Assembly called and asked me to come speak for the event, I let her know it was also our Prayer and Pancakes night at Celebration Church, starting at 11 PM. I wanted to be back to Tampa in time for sound check and our event. Wendy graciously agreed to start the mother-daughter event half an hour earlier than she originally planned, to accommodate my request and make both events possible. So, I'll have two amazing events in one night. Right after the mother-daughter event I'll hit the road to get back to our church event in Tampa...
Celebration Church has done Prayer and Pancakes for a few years now, usually in conjunction with one of our church-wide 40 days fasts. We've been on a fast as a church since April 1. God has been moving so mightily!! Tomorrow night we begin worship in the sanctuary at 11 PM. (Yes, you read that right...PM!!) We worship and pray until 1 AM, and then we go take over the local IHOP. They bring in extra staff every time to serve us. It's amazing! Most of all, as a church we go to new levels spiritually.
On the heels of that, I'll probably get home around 4 AM, sleep a few hours. My plans are to get up and clean house and work in the yard a few hours, as well as wash clothes and pack my suitcase. (More on that later.) And then that night we'll go to Savanna Rose's dance recital. We're so proud of her!!
Our daughter rocks, in case you didn't know...
After lunch we're heading to Orlando. It's our Pen-Florida District Council and we'll be there for a few days. I'm also the women's ministries rep for the Tampa Bay area, and we have meetings at the council as well as a luncheon and I have some responsibilities in that regard that I've been preparing for.
We normally stay over Wednesday night at the council but we won't be able to this time. We will be racing home to Tampa early, so I can wash my clothes and get my suitcase repacked...to leave again...
This time for one of my favorite places to be...North Carolina.
I'm the keynote speaker for the Generations Conference in Fuquay-Varina. Now...is this heaven, or what...the person leading worship for all the services will be...Rita Springer. Yes. I. Am. Serious.
Who couldn't preach after THAT? I think a cat could get up and preach after Rita leads worship.
Really.
Suffice it to say, really excited about it. Pastor Laura Lee (one of my favorite people!), co-pastor of Church Alive, is the conference hostess, and I'm going to share with the leadership team on Thursday night, then I'll share a message at the Pre-conference session Friday morning (she asked me to share a message about marriage in the pre-conference) and then I'll share the keynote message Friday night. Saturday I'm going to do a session for teen girls, and then close out the conference by preaching the last message Saturday afternoon.
Then I'm flying home to Tampa that night and will arrive at 1 am.
Yes, one AM. Like, in the morning. :)
I will be tired, but I will love on Larry Shrodes anyway, because I will have not seen him for three days and will have missed him terribly.
My alarm will go off to get up for church at 6 AM. I leave for church by 7:30 AM for worship rehearsal.
I'll expect a great service at Celebration that morning. Can't wait to be part of it, and...the icing on the cake is that two first mothers (most people would know them as "birth mothers" but most prefer to be called first mothers or original mothers) are traveling a long ways to come to Celebration that morning. One all the way from Kansas! Yes. I. Am. Serious.
These two ladies are coming to visit that day and I can't wait to hang out with them. How did I meet them? Through my other blog, Adoptee Restoration. They have become very special to me. I think I'm kind of special to them too.
Adoptees read my other blog but they aren't the only ones. First moms read it, as well as adoptive parents. And people who aren't in the triad at all, but are just folks who care. And I love them all and am so honored that they read. And, even more blessed that they reach out to me and write.
The rollercoaster will not end on Sunday...after that we're gearing up for a big event at Celebration Monday night, May 20. We're hosting a women's event -- a "Self Defense Demonstration" for ladies.
After Monday night, May 20, here's what I'm looking forward to:
Writing quietly at home with the dogs beside me.
Being home. Eating at home. Laying in my bed at home.
Taking baths in my tub.
Drinking coffee on the patio.
Laying in the hammock.
Being at Celebration and not having to race to get there or coming on a few hours sleep.
A date with my husband, in Tampa.
Watching movies at home with the kids.
Taking phone calls from friends and not saying, "Yes, I'm on my way to _____ right now, but I've got a sec..."
Riding my bike each night at sunset. (Which I do when I'm home.)
Eating home cooked meals every night.
Getting together with friends in Tampa for conversation, meals, coffee, etc.
Really grateful for all the blessings and opportunities over the next week, but also looking forward to everyday life back at home, which is what I love best.
There's nothing like home sweet home, family, and the church.
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