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...
We had a great day all day today. Continuing our series on "When the Church Prays." Today's service was smoother than things have run in a long time. Not that other weeks were bad...it's just that today I thought was exceptionally smooth.
Worship was great, and everything from prayer to video announcements to special music to you name it flowed. I preached on Elijah and changing the atmosphere through prayer. We had a good time of prayer at the close. Bernie held the small group meeting today and had many many more than he expected. In fact he ran out of food because he just hadn't expected so many people to have interest as they did! What a great problem to have. They had a good meeting. Larry stayed for it but I came home to get things in order for vision meeting tonight.
By the way, did I mention that we have some really great friends who love us?
Last night the some church folk asked us over for dinner. Well, we really were pressed for time with getting the house cleaned, clothes ready for Sunday, etc. My heart sunk when they asked us, only because of our tasks that were before us. But I wanted to go. I just dreaded coming home to clean. Larry said, "let's just go and we'll stay a few hours and then come home and blast through the house getting things in order." So we went. Had a great time, sat there for a few hours on their patio eating and talking. And then they said,"we're coming over to help you clean." I was surprised because we had not even discussed with them needing to go home and clean. But they knew we had vision meeting tonight and...this is just what we do to prepare. Leaders who do this kind of thing, and people who know us, just know...this is how we roll. :-)
So I was reluctant. It's very humbling to have people help you like this. I don't like other people cleaning my dirt! Or folding my undies out of the dryer. :-) But they insisted. Both couples came over, blasted through our house with us and in no time it was done! All I had to do was put finishing touches on stuff tonight as far as getting food ready, etc. I even got a 30 minute nap. Did I mention, we really have some people who love us? :-)
Well, you guessed it...vision meeting went well too. After vision meeting closed out, I started my next task which was to clean up, and start cooking and setting things up for Titus Project tomorrow night. You see, I already know my day tomorrow (Mondays are packed with not a moment to spare and tomorrow will be a day that I can't even leave early to get ready for the Titus girls because we have a late afternoon meeting.) So...I've got to organize it all tonight. Larry just went out and commented on how pretty my table looks. I got a new tablecloth and used it for this time. Our youth pastor was a bit surprised after I put all the food away and did the dishes from the vision meeting, he hears me clanking around in the kitchen and says, "Pastor Deanna are you cooking again in there or something?" So I explained. It's extra work, but worth it for "my girls". Did I mention I love ministry?
Worship was great, and everything from prayer to video announcements to special music to you name it flowed. I preached on Elijah and changing the atmosphere through prayer. We had a good time of prayer at the close. Bernie held the small group meeting today and had many many more than he expected. In fact he ran out of food because he just hadn't expected so many people to have interest as they did! What a great problem to have. They had a good meeting. Larry stayed for it but I came home to get things in order for vision meeting tonight.
By the way, did I mention that we have some really great friends who love us?
Last night the some church folk asked us over for dinner. Well, we really were pressed for time with getting the house cleaned, clothes ready for Sunday, etc. My heart sunk when they asked us, only because of our tasks that were before us. But I wanted to go. I just dreaded coming home to clean. Larry said, "let's just go and we'll stay a few hours and then come home and blast through the house getting things in order." So we went. Had a great time, sat there for a few hours on their patio eating and talking. And then they said,"we're coming over to help you clean." I was surprised because we had not even discussed with them needing to go home and clean. But they knew we had vision meeting tonight and...this is just what we do to prepare. Leaders who do this kind of thing, and people who know us, just know...this is how we roll. :-)
So I was reluctant. It's very humbling to have people help you like this. I don't like other people cleaning my dirt! Or folding my undies out of the dryer. :-) But they insisted. Both couples came over, blasted through our house with us and in no time it was done! All I had to do was put finishing touches on stuff tonight as far as getting food ready, etc. I even got a 30 minute nap. Did I mention, we really have some people who love us? :-)
Well, you guessed it...vision meeting went well too. After vision meeting closed out, I started my next task which was to clean up, and start cooking and setting things up for Titus Project tomorrow night. You see, I already know my day tomorrow (Mondays are packed with not a moment to spare and tomorrow will be a day that I can't even leave early to get ready for the Titus girls because we have a late afternoon meeting.) So...I've got to organize it all tonight. Larry just went out and commented on how pretty my table looks. I got a new tablecloth and used it for this time. Our youth pastor was a bit surprised after I put all the food away and did the dishes from the vision meeting, he hears me clanking around in the kitchen and says, "Pastor Deanna are you cooking again in there or something?" So I explained. It's extra work, but worth it for "my girls". Did I mention I love ministry?
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