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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...
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Dropping my pride and a conglomeration of other stuff like pooping on the ground...

It's been a busy few days which is nothing new for me, but always varied.  This is one great thing about the roles I juggle...you really never know what the next week is going to bring.  This can be good, or bad.  One week someone may be asking me to join them for coffee and a wonderful conversation and the next moment something bizarre might happen, like seeing someone poop in our flower beds at church.  You think I'm kidding?  I wish I was.  That really happened.  Some guy, yes a grown man --  just squatted down on the sidewalk, dropped his drawers and went.  This is the stuff other pastors might not tell you, but you have me to expose you to this stuff, pardon the pun.

One day maybe I'll write a book compiling all these vast experiences.  Over the years I have learned to laugh a lot and roll with whatever comes my way each day.  If you don't do this in my line of work you will end up owning stock in Xanax.   Especially if you are going to combine marriage, parenting, ministry and another career, you better LAUGH or you will not LAST.   Some people get their panties in a bunch...I just laugh.  Yes, I did just put the words panties and poop in the same blog post.  I just lost some readers, and gained some others.  I have discovered that the most amazing thing in life aside from the power of God is human behavior!  People aren't always predictable but they are always interesting!  Speaking of flower beds, how about the photo, above?  Saw this picture somebody had posted of their yard and it just arrested my attention and had to share it!  Now that's what you call a true flower bed!

So, I'm happy to report there was no doo doo in the flower beds yessterday at the church but  a video crew came to do an interview with Larry and I.  Next week is our district council for Pen-Florida AG, and Celebration Church is being featured there for our recent re-launch.  Our assistant superintendent, Ed Russo will be doing a presentation at the Wisdom Conference, and wanted to include an interview with us to share.  He wanted Larry and I to do this together and up til the last minute yesterday I wasn't sure I was going to do it.  I have had an eye infection for a month.  It got worse as the days went on and so to clear it up I need to go without contacts or makeup for a while and wear my glasses.  Anyone who knows me well knows I just don't do that!   Ever!   Most people don't even know I wear glasses because I wear my contacts early morning to late night each day.  And I can hardly see anything a foot in front of me without them.   And as far as makeup I don't even go to 7-Eleven to get a gallon of milk at midnight without wearing make up.  I'm just thank kinda gal.  I have really  hated looking like this this especially going to church like this, preaching like this, ughhh...it's just not something in my comfort zone at all.   Amazingly despite feeling so uncomfortable a few people have actually come up to me and told me, "you look beautiful" and actually sounded like they are sincere.  I am not sure whether they are just trying to make me feel better, feel sorry for me, or whether they are just the typical complimentary and grace filled people who make up Celebration Church, but hey, I'll take it!!!

 So amidst going sans contacts and make up the last week, Ed called Monday about this video.  I cringed, because I want to do a video with no make up and glasses like I want a hole in the head!!  Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!  But I know if I put my makeup on any progress I've made in trying to heal the past week is going to go down the drain.  In fact I have to buy all new makeup because my old stuff is now contaminated.  I was just going to have Larry explain to Ed and apologize and do the interview by himself. 

Then I got up this morning to get dressed and go to the office with him (just to do my work, not the video) and I really felt convicted in my heart about this.  I started thinking about it and realized this isn't what the ministry is about.  Why have things gotten so screwed up in the past few decades with many ministries?  We have seen a lot of the glitz and glamour folks come crashing down and maybe it's because they thought it was all about looks, show, being "camera ready" and perfect and all that jazz, and it's so not about that.  In fact it has nothing at all to do with that.  I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and say, "it's not about that Deanna...humble yourself, go on there with your pale self and do that video!"  So I did.  [gulp]   I believe part of maturing in life and ministry is realizing it's not about us -- our looks, our talents, our abilities -- but only what God can do through us.  So we need to strip down but not go so far as to squat and poop in a flower bed to the essential, and just be flexible and go with whatever God asks of us at the time.  Something is really wrong with me when I can humble myself to poop in dirt holes in the ground  in Africa when I have to but not go without make up in America.  Speaking of Africa I'm leaving June 1st!!!  Maybe to prepare Becca for the experience,  I need to take her to the church flower beds to practice?  lol

Back to the video...late last night we met Candy and Eddie for ice cream and I said, "hey guess what, I ended up doing the video this morning with Pastor Larry..." and Candy smiles and says, "yes  yes yes!  I am so glad you made that choice.  I was hoping you would make that choice although I didn't say anything to you about it."  I said, "why?"  And she said, "you are co-pastor and have worked too hard on this launch to not go on there with your husband...and I hate when the enemy steals anything from you."  (Yeah, yeah, now you know why I absolutely love her...)

So today is "Fun Friday" and normally my day off however I have things to do to get ready for our "All God's Daughters" tea at church tomorrow, which is going to be amazing!   I also have engagement calls to make, as I do in my role as a career coach with NextJob.  After doing all that stuff and cleaning my house today (a woman's work is never done) we have a show at Savanna's school tonight.  She is performing in the drama showcase tonight.  She is so excited and we are excited for her!   I really do believe an amazing weekend is getting ready to unfold...stay tuned. 

  One thing's for sure -- after this post you will never think of flower beds the same again...
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