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...
So yesterday morning my husband and I were getting ready to go to the church office and a call came from our bank asking us to come in. Evidently we were the victims of something called skimming, and upon checking our personal account we saw that someone had stolen money from our personal checking account. Neither of us has been to New York in quite some time so we were absolutely sure that all the withdrawals from our account in the middle of the night from New York were not us...lol.
My husband and I didn't panic, no heart racing, anger or anything really. Either we're both just numb or we're at a whole new level of faith in our lives...not sure which and maybe a combo of both!! We've been through too much else for this to even phase us, quite honestly. Larry just patiently talked to the people at the bank, went through all the paperwork and got things straightened out. He's good that way. :) By the end of business today things should be back to normal. We will not lose anything.
This is exactly what happened to us, when we bought gas at a gas station and swiped our debit card through the machine to pay for it and unbeknownst to us someone stole the card number and our pin.
It's not just that we've been through so much in our lives especially the past year, but that we're at a whole new level of relying on the Lord for EVERYTHING. I'm at a new level of trust, of "leaning on the everlasting arms." I know what it is to trust my Father at a level I never imagined I'd have to. I am learning what it really means to be a believing believer.
Speaking of trust, I am trusting with all my heart for some good test results tomorrow. I meet with my doctor at 9 am, for her to talk with me and give me the results of recent tests. I so desire for this to be a good meeting. I know God can do anything, even if I don't hear what I want to hear -- God is still on the throne and He is a miracle working God. But I'd sooooooooooooooooooo like for God to have an easier problem to solve that a harder one. (Wouldn't we all?) I've stopped asking God "why" when bad things happen and instead ask him, "what". But still. Who enjoys bad things? Not me. Will you please join me in praying for a good report - God's report, tomorrow morning at 9 am? My friend Candy is going with me to the appointment. (Thank you, Candy.) For all of you praying for me...if you were here in person I'd make you something delightfully scrumptious (chocolate?) and have coffee with you to thank you, but most of you are miles and miles away from Seattle to Singapore. So please accept this ((((((cyber hug))))))) and join me in prayer for good results at 9 am.
Let's count it all joy and look on the bright side...now that I will have the money back in my bank account by the end of today I can pay my co-pay at the doctors in the morning!
I choose to look on the bright side!
I choose to walk in the light!
I choose to respond and not react!
I choose to ask Him how I can glorify Him when going through inconveniences and irritations!
I choose to ask Him how to respond when people do stupid things or evil things!
I choose to be angry sometimes, BUT not sin!
I choose to trust my Father even when some things don't go like I wanted them to!
I choose to believe Him for brighter days ahead, for ANSWERED PRAYER!
I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I choose to RESPOND TO ADVERSITY AS A BELIEVER!!!!
My husband and I didn't panic, no heart racing, anger or anything really. Either we're both just numb or we're at a whole new level of faith in our lives...not sure which and maybe a combo of both!! We've been through too much else for this to even phase us, quite honestly. Larry just patiently talked to the people at the bank, went through all the paperwork and got things straightened out. He's good that way. :) By the end of business today things should be back to normal. We will not lose anything.
This is exactly what happened to us, when we bought gas at a gas station and swiped our debit card through the machine to pay for it and unbeknownst to us someone stole the card number and our pin.
It's not just that we've been through so much in our lives especially the past year, but that we're at a whole new level of relying on the Lord for EVERYTHING. I'm at a new level of trust, of "leaning on the everlasting arms." I know what it is to trust my Father at a level I never imagined I'd have to. I am learning what it really means to be a believing believer.
Speaking of trust, I am trusting with all my heart for some good test results tomorrow. I meet with my doctor at 9 am, for her to talk with me and give me the results of recent tests. I so desire for this to be a good meeting. I know God can do anything, even if I don't hear what I want to hear -- God is still on the throne and He is a miracle working God. But I'd sooooooooooooooooooo like for God to have an easier problem to solve that a harder one. (Wouldn't we all?) I've stopped asking God "why" when bad things happen and instead ask him, "what". But still. Who enjoys bad things? Not me. Will you please join me in praying for a good report - God's report, tomorrow morning at 9 am? My friend Candy is going with me to the appointment. (Thank you, Candy.) For all of you praying for me...if you were here in person I'd make you something delightfully scrumptious (chocolate?) and have coffee with you to thank you, but most of you are miles and miles away from Seattle to Singapore. So please accept this ((((((cyber hug))))))) and join me in prayer for good results at 9 am.
Let's count it all joy and look on the bright side...now that I will have the money back in my bank account by the end of today I can pay my co-pay at the doctors in the morning!
I choose to look on the bright side!
I choose to walk in the light!
I choose to respond and not react!
I choose to ask Him how I can glorify Him when going through inconveniences and irritations!
I choose to ask Him how to respond when people do stupid things or evil things!
I choose to be angry sometimes, BUT not sin!
I choose to trust my Father even when some things don't go like I wanted them to!
I choose to believe Him for brighter days ahead, for ANSWERED PRAYER!
I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I choose to RESPOND TO ADVERSITY AS A BELIEVER!!!!
Comments
May God bless you today. I am writing to remind you [and me] that "...by whose [Jesus] stripes you were healed!"
Also in Psalm 103:1-5:
1) Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;
4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.
A friend of mine who is believing for her healing sent these scriptures to me yesterday!
I'm passing it to you too!
Love,
LaDonna
As for finances, I LOVE Phil. 4:13.Trusting Him for you! XO Ruth