Deanna Doss Shrodes

H. Jackson Brown Jr. said, "People who accomplish big things did small things well." I have a passion for doing all things well. Today I had to do a lot of mundane catching up from being away on my trip. Lots of computer work, just every week stuff - from orders of service to calendar planning for 2007, to preparing teachings, to doing laundry, unpacking my bags, doing dishes, and getting ready to have Trinity and Misty over tonight. Although I am tired, I am committed to doing whatever I do well, and to the glory of God. It's incredible but in a week, Pastor Trinity has lost 20 pounds, sticking to the points system exactly. (He's not undereating, he is doing everything according to what he is supposed to) Meanwhile Larry has lost 9 pounds in a week. They are both doing great.  I got loads of candy to pass out to all the trick or treaters and Pastor T made invitations for Jam Kids Church that I will put in all of the bags with the candy. I personally feel tha...

It was a wonderful thing to come home to Larry last night. I had a great time in Maryland with his parents, and my sister, her new husband Dave, and Lexi and Cody), but I did miss my husband. I had envisioned him getting out of the car at the airport and embracing me with a strong hug, with me smelling the Curve cologne on his neck, then backing up to give him a kiss. But it didn't happen that way at all. Unfortunately somebody rang his cell phone just as he was pulling into the airport...and you know Larry, he always answers it unless I tell him not to. Oh well... there was plenty of time to kiss him later. But I was dreaming about our reunion. I missed him so much. Darn that phone.

Alright, so I had the scare of my life today. I took our new video camera, and still digital camera with me to my sister's wedding this weekend. On the way there I brilliantly tell my son, "make sure you don't let the cameras out of your sight this weekend. Famous last words. When I get to Kim's wedding, I discover I'm the only one there with a video camera. I couldn't believe it. I took the only video footage of the whole thing. And I had a zillion digital pictures of the whole thing. So it was time to fly home today and 16 minutes before the plane takes off, while we're boarding, I stand up from my chair in the waiting area, reach down to get my purse and the cameras, and I realize...I don't have the cameras. "Oh my God!" I scream to the top of my lungs, "WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS?????????!!! I had everyone's attention, trust me. Dustin looked at me like I was a martian. I truly had gone into another world. Seriously, I th...

Okay, so here is a view of my neighborhood that I grew up in...literally a few feet out my front (or back) door...I was surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. This is the view from Bayfront Rd., one street over from our house. My sister's reception was right on Bayfront Rd., so Dustin took these pictures... while at my sister's wedding reception. When I was a kid I had my windows open at night many times while I slept and I could hear the sounds of the bay, and of Bethlehem Steel (pictured here) across the bay. Wow, this brought up a lot of memories while I was at my sister's wedding reception, being that my old house was just one street over. Well, we're back now! After getting up and spending some time with my in laws this morning, we flew back. It was sad to say goodbye again but here we are.  On the way home I was just reading and studying the Word some more and right now I'm reading Galatians in my devotions. I came across a passage that describes PERFECTLY ...

An old yiddish proverb says that "only Adam had no mother-in-law. That's how we know he lived in paradise..." Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful mother in law, and I don't have to cringe every time I think about my MIL. Some people live in dread or fear of theirs, but I appreciate mine and love her...and she feels the same way about me. I am truly blessed. This past weekend was my sister's wedding so I was focused on that a lot, but this morning I got to have breakfast with my MIL before flying back. We went to Bob Evans and had a nice time. We both wished I could have stayed for longer but it was time to come back to Florida. Dad took Dustin on a few hour driving lesson this morning before we had to come home. I think he's ready now for the test. I missed home in Florida, but going back Maryland during the fall season...wow, I haven't experienced that for four years. Dustin and I couldn't stop looking at the trees. And we really miss our fami...

It's official! Kim and Dave are now married! Yeah! My sister had her day just like she wanted it ~ perfect ~ and I'm so glad. She deserves it. She and Dave are truly so happy and I could not be more happy for them. Mine and Dustin's sole purpose in coming was to show our love and support for Kim and Dave and Lexi and Cody. Dustin and I did our songs and they went well. I was so proud of him and everyone could not believe how much he has grown up. ..."  Kim and Dave are now on their way to Niagra Falls. I'm so happy for them!!! What a wonderful trip they will have. And, Dustin and I will get a good night's sleep and head back to Florida. Today I was so cold. Larry thinks I'm hysterical the way I react to cold weather. I wore heels to the wedding, with no hose (stopped wearing hose a few years ago - never want to wear them again.) I wanted to wear my pink heels for the wedding, but as soon as it was over and we went to the reception I put my boots on. When...

John Piper says: "I have always felt that the works of the famous British New Testament scholar, F. F. Bruce, are unnecessarily dry. In reading his memoirs, In retrospect, I discovered one of the reasons why. He said, "I do not care to speak much-especially in public-about thethings that mean most to me." When you eliminate what means most to you from your writing and speaking, they will be dry. For myself, I would say just the opposite: "I do not care to speak much-especially in public-about the things that don't mean most to me." Many pastors are not known for expressing deep emotions. This seems to me especially true in relation to the profoundest theological realities. This is not good, because we ought to experience the deepest emotions about the deepest things. And we ought to speak often, and publicly, about what means most to us, in a way that shows its value."  I am convinced, if we can't be real, we can't truly disciple someone. B...

Tonight Dustin and I went to the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Everything went smoothly, except we did get lost on the way there and on the way back. Thankfully we have free cell phone usage on the weekends, and Larry talked us both there and back and got us to where we needed to be. I'm so bad with directions -- you would think with living in Baltimore all my life I'd be okay with this, but since I'm going back and forth from Bowie to Baltimore every day...I'm just not used to it. I was so proud of Dustin - he did a good job on our song and well...he just makes me proud as my son just in general. He is still off the chain excited about his PSP and I took him to Walmart after the rehearsal dinner to get a game to go with it since he got more b'day money tonight. We also stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way home to get donuts for in the morning. I was going to try and be good and not eat any tonight but when we got lost and I was frustrated, I screamed, "GIV...

Oh how long it's been since I have seen the autumn leaves in all their glory. But I am getting a great taste of it this weekend, and we're on the road a lot back and forth for things so I really am getting a wonderful dose of the kaleidscope of color that fall brings in the north east. Do I miss it? Yes, at times. But I would not trade my life in Florida for the world. That is home now. Not just in my geographical surroundings, but my heart is with the people there who are not only my missionfield, but those I love as family. Sleep, glorious sleep. That is what I had last night. Count it, all 11 hours of it! That's what happens when I come here. I know I am away from work - away from my normal routine - and there's nothing I can really do about anything back there so I might as well REST. One thing I love about coming here is that when I do, I catch up on sleep. My inlaws take good care of me and allow me to rejuvenate. They know the busy life I lead and they always...

Today, I I heard a preacher say..."are we guilty of having Christianity without Christ?" Hmm. That's good. How well I relate to that, not only in what I often experienced growing up but what I often see today, even from other ministers. I told someone today, I am weary of politics. I used to not mind it and sometimes even enjoyed that aspect of the ministry as I am a good networker. But I have lost my zeal for anything political. I have seen too much. And it hurts. When getting into much of what goes on in "Christianity", I see how things happen that hurt God's people, God's church, and those who are honestly trying to do something to make a difference. And I realize, Jesus is coming back. This thing is real. There's no time for Christianity without Christ. No time for religion without relationship. No time for having church without God. No time for Christian leaders who are more possessed with pursuing their image than possessed with Him and...

Today My Utmost for His Highest says: "Jesus Christ did not say, "Go and save souls" (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, "Go . . . make disciples of all the nations . . . ." Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, "Don’t rejoice in successful service— the great secret of joy is that you have the right relationship with Me" (see Luke 10:17-20 ). The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus." This is the cry of my heart ~ to be a true discipler of people. I feel like so much gets in the way of that. So much stuff that I never ask for but feel powerless over. I do not mean just tactical work, but I speak of distractions that ca...

Well, Dustin and I made it to Maryland safe and sound. It was a 2 hour direct flight and everything went perfectly smooth this morning. We arrived and his grandparents took him to the store and got him a PSP for his birthday, which is today. And he wants to go to Golden Corral for his birthday dinner with everyone here. Which...on his birthday I'm happy to oblige...since it's his day, not mine! I will try and only eat one piece of fried chicken. :-) Still hard to believe he's 17 today. When we were at the store, I got the book Night by Elie Fiesel. I have been wanting to read it for some time, just haven't. I am finishing it tonight and hoping Dustin will read it on the plane home. It's fascinating and I'm only on the second chapter. It's still very difficult for me to fathom that any of this happened in the 1940's. That wasn't so long ago, for such an atrosity to happen. And, for people to get away with...while the world was silent. Makes me...

Well, my wonderful first born is growing up...he's now officially 17. I can't believe it...I have a 17 year old. 17 years ago now I had just been out of recovery for about an hour and a half, and was being taken to my hospital room. Dustin was sleeping. Not much has changed. I'm still recovering from everything on a regular basis, and he's still sleeping. :-) After doing my plethora of initiatives, evening came and we went out for Dustin's family birthday dinner, to Kobe...one of our family favorites. We started it when the kids were little because it was one of the places the always behaved because they would be so intrigued by the chef. It made for a very peaceful dinner. And it's still a great night out now, and one that always promises to entertain them. We took Steven with us. He hadn't been to Japanese since he was a little kid. He loved it. We had them come out and sing and bring a cake. Dustin was a little sheepish when they came out but I could ...

Well, he said it would work out, and it did, because...he made it work out.  He came home at lunch and put a new battery in my car so I could go everywhere I needed to go and do everything that had to be done before I leave in the morning. Now maybe this has something to do with the fact that I e-mailed him my initiative list for the day and said, "it's going to work out? Tell me how...here's my list!!!" An hour later he was home with the battery. You know, there's not many times I want him to drop everything and help me...and I didn't ask him to. But wow, I'm so glad he did. Because now I'm ready - and confident - to go on my trip. And all because my darling cared enough to come and rescue me.

So we've had an awesome four days of Campmeeting services, and now...it's over. (The services that is, not the fire of the Holy Ghost...) Wow, it was really good. So many great things took place. Tonight the youth band led and they did such a fantastic job. I just love their song, "The Enemy Has Been Defeated." So good, especially when praying for people for breakthroughs. It was such a great time for our staff this past week. We went out with Victor and Keila Vega  tonight after service and had wonderful fellowship though it is so late right now. So tired, but I just need to wind down. Savanna asked me if she could please stay home, she's so tired. She got her report card today and it was excellent and she has only missed one day of school so I will probably just let her stay although that will slow me down tomorrow. Sometimes a Mom just has to be flexible. I am so tired...wish I could just rest for a few days but Dustin and I are getting ready for our trip. ...

Today, Oswald Chambers devo says: "A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, "If only I were somewhere else!" All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them...God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, "This is My man, and this is My woman." We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us. Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you "turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . ." ( Deuteronomy 28:14 ). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. ...

Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Well I started the weight watcher journey two years ago and have kept the weight off but not without incredible struggle many days. So today was Larry's officially start date on the program, and I'm answering a million questions about point values and everything else. Anything is easier when you are doing it with people you love. So now I won't be the lone voice saying, "uuuhhhhh...do we HAVE to go to Golden Corral?" (I hate that place now that I'm weight conscious...) Yeah! Lunch is about to get a whole lot better. Today we ate at Subway. 7 points baby! 7 points! I think I'm going to be able to get my bikini out again in a few weeks now that I have some help to stay on track.

Today is my day off for the most part. I am coming to the One Conference tonight, our youth group (Oasis) worship night... because first of all, I want to see my boys as they lead in worship, and second because I want to support the youth ministry. Of course I want to worship the Lord too, but honestly if it wasn't our youth group and our boys, I'd be taking my day off fully until midnight tonight. And, I'd probably worship the Lord by sitting in my jacuzzi tonight and looking up at the stars - talking to the Lord. :-) There will be time for that later, when I get home tonight. For now, I'm glad I'm here, getting ready to go in to the service and enjoy the evening watching these incredible young people and experiencing God's presence  Can't wait to see what is around the corner next ~ one thing is for sure, we are growing...this family is growing! I had grandiose plans of all the things I'd do earlier today with my day off...places to go and things t...

Yesterday I was cleaning in preparation for a leadership meeting at our home. When I came to clean behind the sofa, I found a box of Fruity Pebbles hidden there. Why would Fruity Pebbles be behind the sofa? Being a Mom and knowing my children as I do, I instantly realized, they were there for a purpose. Those Fruity Pebbles were not just there by happenstance. They were there so that hopefully...only the one that put them there would know they were there! The hider of the Fruity Pebbles wanted them all to themselves and was undoubtedly tired of sharing them with others. I have my thoughts on who hid them, but I found the whole thing too humorous to even go there. I just put them back up in the pantry and will let them find out when they go behind the couch, that someone found them. I got to thinking that many Christians have a Fruity Pebbles behind the couch mentality. Some people think the more they hoard the more they will have...the more they keep the more they will prosper,...

Here I am with the love of my life at Sunday night's pastor appreciation reception.  Don't we look happy? We are.

"Don't let an arrow pierce your heart unless it first passes through the filter of Scripture." Erwin McManus, Pastor of Mosaic Church. So the bottom line is this. If someone says something negative, don't ever let it enter your heart until it first goes through a Biblical test. Is it true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report? If not why are you concerning yourself with it? Ignore it. If God through His Word speaks something to you that resonates with what the person said - take it before the Lord and make it right. But if it doesn't, let the filter handle it. I have a filter on my jacuzzi and it keeps all the scum from taking over and makes it a continually enjoyable environment that I like to be in. So the scripture is a filter for our lives. Why do we take in so many things that people say, but God doesn't?  Let God's filter handle things for you so you can keep your environment a pleasant one. That's how Jesus lived...everything was...

If you learn only methods, you'll be tied to your methods, but if you learn principles you can devise your own methods. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Okay, so I'm thinking tonight...what exactly are the principles of Deanna Shrodes? What are my values that shape my methods? Just a few that come to mind  (I'm writing these myself, by the way -- not copying these from somewhere else.  They are what I have formed in thinking hard about life and leadership and what it's about.) : Anything worth doing is worth doing with enthusiasm. There is nothing more important than the foundation of one's character. When you are a person of character, truth always comes to the surface eventually, even when people attack you - so stay the course. Invest an incredible amount of time into your marriage. It's the one relationship that will (or at least should) transcend your life when friends and kids come and go, so nurture it. There are three important keys you can't do...

Today is the first day I've ever disagreed with something Oswald Chambers says. In his devo today he says... I respectfully disagree. "Is your response, "Oh, but I have a special work to do!" No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, "a servant [who] is not greater than his master" ( John 13:16 ), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work— He calls us to Himself. "Pray the Lord of the harvest," and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer." I believe we are called to the person of Jesus Christ. Of course! But after being called to Him in an intimate personal relationship, I believe He speaks to us and shows us his specific and perfect will for us. I believe God is a detailed God who orchestrates the details of our life from the very foundation world. I believe he knew I would be here in 2006 and He ...

Today was the pastor appreciation day/reception at our church. We have the best church in the world. That's all I can say. We are so blessed and we thank God for our precious people every day. I can go on and say so many other things and perhaps I will blog all about it later, but right now I'm just winding down for the night...we have just read the last of the cards from the people, I've tied up loose ends at home, and I need to get to sleep...(it's 1 am) But I'll just say...it must be hard for other pastors when they come to the realization that the best church in the world is already...taken!  Thank you Jesus, for giving it to me.

Well, yesterday was my day off and thank God for it because today actually ended up to be a lot of work --- more than I bargained for. I did sleep in but then it took off like a rocket with so much to get done for tomorrow. It was kind of stressful for me because I did a lot more on my own than I wanted to. (Larry did do some things, just not as much as me...I was desperately longing for help. Somehow admist it all I did take time to cook and healthy meal and exercise. I determined...being upset w/people, nor busyness will ever make me fat again.) I had to pick up the slack of a few things that were done wrong this past week at the church...re-fix all that stuff...pick Savanna up...make it to an appt...go to the store and pick up cups for class tomorrow (they ran out and no one took the initiative to replace them or even tell me, so thank God I checked)...bake some goodies for my class...return some phone calls that had been waiting since Thursday...finish cleaning, ironing, prepping...

Today Oswald Chambers devo says: "Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them" ( Matthew 28:16 ). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, "Come to Me . . ."— that is the place to meet Jesus— "all you who labor and are heavy laden . . ." ( Matthew 11:28 )— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now. I am taking time in the last 24 hours to come away...take time to rest...take time with Larry...take time to talk with the Lord. Yesterday I slept in as long as I wanted to, (my voice came back!), and then relaxed. Went to get my nails done. They had Click playing and I had already seen it. I read a fitness magazine and talked to Mai. For the first time she asked ...

Well, back on September 19 I blogged about a potential health situation in my family that had me upset although I didn't go into details. I'm happy to blog today with the results. Praise the Lord, Larry DOES NOT have cancer. To say I'm relieved?? Last year Larry had skin cancer. It took me forever to convince him in the first place that something was wrong. I saw some spots and talked to him about it. He didn't want to do anything about it. He's so stubborn about his health but friends have since told me, most men are this way. I have to drag him to the doctors for anything. He always says, "people are fine, then they go to the doctors and find out they're sick." We know that's not true - they were not fine in the first place! But whatever. Sometimes a woman just knows things. Intuition. He kept putting things off. Finally one day I went to the library to get a book and it had nothing to do with health...it was a leadership book. I brought it...

Someone once said that the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. I would agree with that. I usually regret the things I didn't do more than the things I have done that caused me shame. Of course I didn't relish feeling shame! Certainly not. But what I am saying is sometimes, things that I did not act upon were more upsetting. As for me, I want to wake up every day "fully alive" (not just going through the motions) but eeeking every drop of wonderfulness out of each day and enjoying the moments. Last night I worked for a while on the computer and thought I would probably just drift off to sleep because it was so pitifully late...my family had been asleep for hours, but lo and behold, my prince had been waiting for me the whole time, patiently...and I found him as I tiptoed in and slid into bed. It was a delightful surprise but I said ..."uh...can you get the baby ready for school?" This morning I slept a h...

Today, Oswald Chamber's devo said: "The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30 )." So we got all the copying done today on my bookorders to ship out . There is no bike ride in the morning because I have Zumba tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it. I am so ready for my day off. It'll be a bit different this week because the kids are off, but I'm still claiming some time to myself. Because they are off, I will definitely sleep in. Chambers is right, you do find God in the ordinary. I find out how my relationship is with him when I am not in the spotlight and just doing tactical work. Many times doing that type of work I truly feel His p...

Today's My Utmost for His Highest devo says: "You could read volumes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of total, uncompromising obedience would make things as clear as sunlight. Don’t say, "I suppose I will understand these things someday!" You can understand them now. And it is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience. Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming one of the "wise and prudent." "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . ."  John 7:17 Wow, that is power packed! It's so true. I've said for a long time that I have notice how many Christian self help books women read without ever changing their lives. They just read and read. I have always tried to guard myself from doing that. How true that we ...

What a whirlwind few days. First, cramming all of my work into 3 days before retreat. I'm still catching up on the laptop as we travel. But I'm getting ahead of myself...  After cramming as much as possible due to missing Thursday as an office day, I took off for women's retreat. It was awesome. Our ladies loved it. Two were filled with the Holy Spirit. We took our biggest group ever! My speaking went awesome, and we sold out of all the products, with 27 orders to mail. I never lose the wonder that people want to hear what I say and read what I write. It was just a delightful thing most of all to be away with our ladies. God has brought us so many wonderful people to the church and I love being with them. So much of what Larry and I have prayed for is coming to fruition. The DNA of the congregation has changed so much and the "winners" we have prayed in are ever evident! I'm enjoying seeing the changes more each day. So much of what I have hung on and bel...

I'm getting ready to leave for a women's retreat in a few moments...I might not blog for a few days unless I get internet access from my laptop...so all of you who read my blogs might get a rest these next few days...I know you'll miss me! :-) Writing this is a real labor of love this morning. Last night Savanna Rose decided it would be fun to paint all of the computer keys with white out...not realizing first of all it was incredibly stupid but second, some of the keys are stuck. And don't work. Fortunately, Dustin is a computer whiz and figured out how to rig some of the stucks keys for me so that when you press control and another key, that key works. It's pretty crazy. My son can do everything from jimmy up a stuck computer key to even trace e-mails for me from people who think I can't track them down. (look out...!) ha ha! I'm serious, people wouldn't believe what this boy can do. The C.I.A. should hire him. Anyhoo, Larry will get a new key...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain There are so many things I want to do. So many things I have yet to do. So many more things on my "blue leaf" I created. The blue leaf is ever beckoning...ever calling me to finish the blue leaf list in the next decade. I had a list of things to accomplish by the time I was 30. I accomplished them all, with a few years to spare. I pushed on through some more goals to 40...and now with the next decade in front of me, I have many things yet to do. I am feeling more adventurous than I have ever felt in my life. I have no fear of venturing, only thought as to how whatever I do may affect others. I'm not wanting to do anything unGodly nor irresponsible, but even things that still fall within what I see as safe bo...

"We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed." ~ Oswald Chambers God shows me time and again how the difficult places mold me into who He wants me to be. Reading this devotional today reminded me again of why it is so important to stay ever close to Him. Being in ministry is an up and down rollercoaster all in one day, all the time. You hit a snag of wonderfulness and two seconds later you can deal with a serious problem. Last night at the Women's Ministries About Face night of ministry, one of my leaders asked me, "How do you handle the people's problems? How do you shoulder all these burdens?" I told her that it is not knowing or hearing people's problems that is difficult. Although I hurt for and sympathize for people (because we are family), I do not feel "taxed", upset or overwhelmed that they ...