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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...

Job Description for a Pastor's Wife

One of the hardest things for a pastor's wife is knowing her assignment. There is no job description for a pastor's wife outlined in scripture. Confusion often comes when people in the church think they know the God-ordained role of the pastor's wife. This is based upon the church member's background, stereotypes and personal expectations and of course these widely vary from person to person.  To add to the challenge, many will outright tell their pastor's wife what they expect. Or, they will refrain from telling the pastor's wife personally and instead spread the word to others about what she should be doing. (And are more than likely not doing, and therefore, displeasing them.) Here is truth that we know... The pastor's wife is the wife of the pastor. That's the definitive truth on this subject. So how does it get so mangled and misconstrued? Through people's preferences, and false expectations.  Beyond the pastor's wife...

10 Songs That Will Get You Through!!

A go-to list of songs to help get me through whatever I’m going through is a must have. Some are new songs, and some are old stand-by’s.  Listening as I travel in the car... As I pace the floor in my home, the office or church sanctuary and pray... Face down on the floor and crying out to God... The following are ten of my favorites.  I encourage you to try Spotify. You can get it for free if you don't mind a commercial here and there. I subscribe as it's something that's a priority for me to have without interruptions. If you need to press through on something, make a playlist of these songs. Play them incessantly.    Believe what you are hearing. It works. ***** I Am by Eddie James I Have to Believe by Rita Springer As It Is in Heaven by David and Nicole Binion Heaven on Earth by David and Nicole Binion God I Look to You by Jenn Johnson/Bethel Shoulders by For King and Country I Am...

10 Things To Say to Encourage a Friend

With my friend Joanne Greer ~ 1985 You are not alone My heart is with you. I understand. This makes me sad on your behalf. Would you like to talk about it? What can I do to help? Call me anytime, day or night. (Make sure you answer!) I’m praying. How can I specifically pray for you? Just want you to know you are totally awesome because ______________.   Joanne and Me ~ 2014

How Much Do You Really Think About Your Spouse?

Larry and Me ~ Vacation in Boston, two years ago   Memorial Day is a day when our family typically stays at home. It's a day to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom in America.  I do remember and honor. Just saying, on this day of remembering our heroes, Larry and I choose to stay home rather than fight the crowds, trying to find a spot for a towel or chair on an overly-crowded beach.  Most people would not guess it but other than the context of work, I'm an introverted, stay-at-home type person at heart. I don't even like to go away for vacation, but make it a priority to do so because it's important to my husband. Larry asked me last week what I wanted to do for Memorial Day. It was no shock to him when I said, "Stay home." "What do you want to do at home?" was his response. I'm surprised he asked because I give the same response every time for 28 years: "Relax."  "What does relaxing look like...

Getting What You Don't Even Pray For
(How Incredible Is That?!)

We don't have some things, because we don't ask God for them. James 4 tells us that. I also believe that as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) Sometimes God answers when we don't even ask for the desires of our heart. Perhaps it's because we don't see how God would do it within our current structure. Translation: our current box.   We forget that His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55) He can give us our desires even when it doesn't seem feasible at all. He is truly omniscient. I love that, and so much more about Him.    I'm a homebody at heart. Most would never guess it, but at the core I'm an introvert who could live in my pajamas, with a dog by my side, writing books until Jesus comes back. But  I was convinced   that one day upon retirement I was going spend my days in between pj's and book writing, taking road trips. These jaunts would be for purpose of encouraging le...

Women in Ministry and Mothers Day Issues:
It's Complicated!

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Emotionally, the pull is intense to stay home, reflect and practice self-care. She is sad because she tried to become a mom, and still isn't one. She's grieving over the child she lost. Or the mother she lost.  Or the mother who abandoned or abused her, making this day such a painful reminder of all she never had .   Or she has a toxic mom and responded by drawing healthy boundaries that led to them hardly speaking, or maybe never speaking again.   Whatever the case, the spirit wins out when it comes to this lady. No matter how daunting the situation, she doesn’t give in to the overwhelming urge to hide out until Monday.  She wakes up. She shows up. She makes a difference. Who is she? She's a woman in ministry for whom Mother's Day brings painful reminders or complications. Regardless of her own circumstance, she reaches out in genuine love to minister to God’s people. Notwithst...

Do Things Happily Or Don't Do Them
(And other lessons learned in therapy...)

Larry and me, on one of our trips to Savannah, GA. I do this, happily. In 2013, my therapist Melissa suggested something radical: stop doing anything you can't agree to do happily.  "Okaaaaaaay... " I retorted," to her suggestion, not even mildly shocked. "Who can afford to exclusively do things that make them happy? Probably not even Donald Trump. I mean, there's just stuff you have to do in life. You gotta do these things to survive. Or you have to do them so the house won't be condemned. Who gets all happy clappy when cleaning the bathroom... except maybe my friend Joanne? What about the things that beg be done? The things that, without my doing them, may literally cause everything to fall apart?” “Only agree to it if you can do it happily,” she maintained. I seriously thought my therapist was whack for a moment.  My world was about to fall apart...I just knew it! I envisioned myself running back to Melissa to fix other proble...