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

What is Real Intimacy with God?


Sunset tonight in Kitengala, Kenya
I learn more about intimacy with God, every day.

It's not formal, fancy-schmantzy or mystical.
Intimacy with God isn't about the most theological-sounding prayer or something outwardly impressive. Sometimes it's crying in the shower and telling Him what's wrong. Other times it's pouring out how thankful I am that everything is going so right. 

It's plain, every day walking and talking with God.

Me in the Kiambethu tea fields, on Saturday
Intimacy with God, is being in communication with Him from the time my eyes open in the morning. Or it's lying in bed in the middle of the night listening to the rain pour down as it did in Africa the other night and having a long conversation.

I was feeling so poorly, having very uneasy and even outright scary feelings after getting so sick on Saturday.  We had gone up into the mountains and apparently I got altitude sickness.  Eight thousand miles from home, weak and sick and not sure what's wrong or when it will be better is kind of daunting. Having to preach two services on Sunday morning was on my mind as well. I didn't even know how I would stand up much less preach. But I did, by the grace of God. I am still not totally better and my missionary friends considered taking me to the hospital . I have been getting rest to receive strength to preach again. (Please keep praying for me, if you have been. Thank you.)

Being in conversations with God where He comforts me in His love and care for me is what spiritual intimacy is all about for me. It's being in that quiet place where I receive His instruction, His reassurance, His concern for me. Intimacy with God is at-ease conversation that naturally pours out from my heart. Even more important is when He shares His thoughts with me.

Wherever I am, there He is. And vice versa.
He's my constant. Whether home or 8,000 miles away.
He's the one I'm never without.
I am so thankful for the prayer and care from God's people, but even more thankful for what only comes from God.

People say He's "as close as the mention of His name" but really He's much closer. Because even when I'm asleep or unaware, He is always there waiting on me.

Before I utter a word, He's at my side.

He's my advisor and helper, with every move I make.

I don't want to take a step without Him.
Don't want to make a decision without His guidance.

It's such a comfort that I do nothing without my best friend.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Have you chosen a word of the year?

Selecting a personal word of the year has been my custom for many years. The word is my theme of the year and something for me to focus on, to build my faith and to grow. Each year I look for ways to remind myself of the theme…everything from a decorative sign with the word, to a piece of jewelry. This year my word is resilient.  All my life I have had to be resilient, and some years more than others.   I know it is this way with everyone to a degree. No one is immune to pain or problems. But frankly, some people are more resilient than others.   I have been studying those who are most resilient and trying to learn from them. With 2017 coming to a close,I have things to bounce back from. There are parts of my life I’m absolutely slaying and other parts that are out of my control. If I could control it, I would have already given everything I have to slaying it.   The challenges remaining are out of the realm of me being able to change them asid...
1 comment
Read more

Book giveaway starts TODAY!

Today begins a book giveaway here on the blog!  The more times you comment, the greater chance you have to win! A friend at Charisma House asked if I'd like to review some books and give some away.  What a delightful idea!  We will be giving away several books over the next few weeks.  I do need to let you know that these books have been provided to me free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So here's how it's gonna work...for every time a reader leaves a comment on any of this week's blog posts today through Thursday, November 3 at midnight, or on the facebook comment thread when the same post publishes there, I will enter your name in the drawing one time.  You can comment more than once a day!  You get your name entered every single time you post.  So, comment away!  Let your voice be heard!    We will draw the winner's name at midnight on Thursday and announce it Friday...
19 comments
Read more

Can we please talk about what we're FOR, not what we're AGAINST?

I have developed a habit of listening to preaching podcasts while I’m getting ready in the mornings. Every day I listen to a sermon on line. I listen to people preach who are famous, some not so famous, some who are personal friends. Some challenge me, some bring change to my life, some refresh me, and some flat out irritate me. Although I like to look at the positive, today I do want to mention what irritates me. Because truly, it’s the fact that some preachers do not focus on the positive! Negativity is my complaint. Lately I’ve been listening to a preacher-acquaintance who has planted a church. He’s a great preacher and I enjoy listening to what he has to say, except for one thing. Each time he preaches, he casts a little vision for the church in each sermon. Now, I think that’s great. But the problem is the way in which he does that. Instead of talking about the positives of his church, he bashes everyone else “in comparison” to his new church. This is typically a paragraph out...
2 comments
Read more