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...
Tired to the bone is how I
feel after I have spent a week or more preaching in Africa.
Most times, the trip
involves preaching more than once a day and there's nothing more I absolutely
love. But it is also exhausting -- pouring out physically, spiritually and
emotionally.
At the end of the
trip I'm soooo ready for a little bit of R & R, and my friends, missionaries Bill and
Barb Kuert, never fail to disappoint. We have the most amazing adventures! This last time was no
exception and our son Jordan was there, which was extra special.
On our last morning
there, we were out on safari a few hours before breakfast, which was scheduled to end at 9 AM. Jordan, Barb and
I had been up for several hours and riding around on the African plains, working up an appetite and pulled up in front of the lodge with about five minutes to spare before we could get in on breakfast.
Walking up to
the restaurant, one of the staff members spotted us and said, "Mrs. Kuert, before
you eat breakfast there's something we'd like you all to see."
"Okaaaaaaaaaay,"
Barb reluctantly answered.
She realized we were
five minutes away from missing breakfast and all of us were so hungry. We began
to walk along a trail with the staff member and I found myself kind of
irritated by it.
This detour was not what we expected!
In low tones I whispered to Jordan, "Where in the world is she taking us along this trail? And why do we have to do it now, of all times?" He didn't seem phased by it.
This detour was not what we expected!
In low tones I whispered to Jordan, "Where in the world is she taking us along this trail? And why do we have to do it now, of all times?" He didn't seem phased by it.
We kept walking for a
few minutes, and finally ended upon this scene...
Much to our shock,
the hotel staff had created a special private breakfast just for the three of us! We would dine on a
balcony overlooking the salt lick, where many animals would come to. What a
breathtaking view! There were linens and china, and even champagne. Yes, we
passed on it. The meal began with a buffet of fresh fruits and fresh squeezed juices and cereals. And our own
private chef who cooked up individual orders of omelets, meats, potatoes and all the trimmings! We were absolutely astounded by this blessing. They attended to our every need throughout the meal, treating us as kings and queens.
To what did we owe
this blessing? The favor of God, and the manager said that because
Bill and Barb had given them so much business, they wanted to provide something special and chose that day to do it. How amazing!
The unexpected gave way to amazing exhilaration! What we thought may be the loss of our breakfast ended up being the provision of
an extravagant blessing.
How often do we
become irritated by the unexpected only to realize, God had
something better for us?
I am starting to
realize this principle more, every day in every way. A few months ago, a hotel
contract fell through that my assistant Erika and I had been working on for
months. I was really down about it for a few days and went to sleep and woke up
repeating to myself, "I can't believe we lost the contract". Nothing irritates me more than hard work down
the drain. I couldn't imagine what good would come of the loss of that many
months work. But then, when we least expected it, a much better offer came
along -- so much better that we secured the next contract for two years! It was
so more than anything we previously hoped or dreamed. It wouldn't have been
possible had we been locked into the former contract.
I haven't always gotten what I expected -- and can now see how many times that has been an indescribable blessing.
God has something better up His sleeve than I know about at the time. My place is to trust Him.
I haven't always gotten what I expected -- and can now see how many times that has been an indescribable blessing.
God has something better up His sleeve than I know about at the time. My place is to trust Him.
What are you angry
about that didn't work out as you expected?
Is it possible that
something better is around the corner?
Trust.
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