Deanna Doss Shrodes

Are you experiencing: Headaches Neck and Shoulder Aches Skin Breakouts Menstrual Irregularities and Infertility Weight Gain Fatigue (More than normal) Bloating Many times when these occur in women we just write these symptoms off as part of womanhood. Men can experience all of these except for the menstrual irregularities, of course. Did you know all of these symptoms are very common in someone who is dealing with a high level of stress in the workplace? If you're experiencing some of these issues, when left unchecked and unaddressed they tend to lead to much more serious health issues. If a change within your workplace is impossible, perhaps it's time for a change altogether. What do you think?  If you're experiencing these and haven't explored a change, why not? What do you think typically keeps people from making a change until more serious health issues arise?

I've weathered staff relationships that were so out of sync it took more than prayer to manage the working relationship.  I needed a prescription from the doctor to deal with them until they resigned or were fired. Just keepin' it real. Who you work with is just as important as what you're working on. If you aren't in unity with who you work with, it wears on you. Horribly. It affects your work so much, it can become unrecognizable. Ineffective. Bland. Being out of alignment with those you work with causes you to lose your creative edge like nothing else. I'm not saying you have to think alike on everything, or be carbon copies of one another. That's really boring in itself to think about. You know in your heart of hearts exactly what I'm talking about. There are times you just gel with people in a working relationship or you don't. Money doesn't always define what brings happiness in a work situation. There are times I've be...

I'm on creative overload! I love it, but I'm just sayin'....................... Just thought I'd share tonight on my blog for any readers who are interested about my weekend. Friday I worked most of the entire day on writing projects. It's my day off and that's the time, when I am not spending time with my family, that I really hone in on writing projects. Right now I'm getting a book proposal completed to submit by Wednesday. I have been putting my heart and soul into this, countless hours...15 minutes here and there that I have to spare on regular days and then large chunks of time on my days off. Fingers crossed and prayers circled. Please, believe with me. This particular project will touch countless lives. I am believing for a breakthrough, that just the right publisher will respond. Maybe this will be the one. If not, don't ever think for a second that I'm giving up. I've ripped the words defeat and quit out of my dictionary! S...

Two high students may take math class for the same amount of time per week, however one takes a class that is more difficult. A weighted GPA is based on the idea that some classes are much harder than others, and these hard classes should carry more weight. In other words, an 'A' in calculus represents a greater accomplishment than an 'A' in remedial basic math. I am also of the belief that our work hours are weighted. This may explain why you may work less hours than you used to, but be under more stress. It may also explain why you might have the same job title in the same location, and be under greater stress this year than last year, depending on your current portfolio. I have served as a pastor for 25 years, the last 18 of which have been with the same exact job title/position. During various seasons I have worked anywhere from 30-90 hours a week on church ministry alone, depending upon current needs. At one point my husband questioned me about why I ...

Today I'm blogging over at the Pastoring Partners Network with a post I've written called, "Pastors' Wives Dealin' With the Holy Ghost Paparazzi!"  If you're a pastors' wife, I hope this is an encouragement to you. Happy Friday, everyone!  

So you had a bad day yesterday, or you're already having one today? I get it. Yesterday it seemed like whatever could go wrong went wrong.  I won't bore you with the details --  it's not important. What is important is me telling you how you can have a better day today if it's been yukky so far. I'm taking my own advice, by the way... 1) Focus on really basic things for a few moments. Things like breathing. Say out loud: "thank you God, for life, thank you for breath." Take that in for a moment. Realize how blessed you are to be sucking air for another day! 2) Focus on one thing that's working . Okay so a bunch of other things don't, like the lame people in your office who didn't show up or are dragging their blessed assurances getting anything done. Forget about them for a second and focus on something that does WORK, like this . Yes, my friends, this little concoction works as crazy as it sounds. I tried it myself yesterday and it...

Exhale... What a day. You?  

Today I'm sharing a video that's real special to me...it's from one of my trips to Africa and includes some favorite preaching and altar clips. (Special thanks to Gary Boggess for doing the edit and making it possible!) This makes a great addition to my speaking page which was just updated. Most of my day was spent lying on my back in a dark room trying to get rid of a migraine with nausea. (Ugh!) So...no deep insights today here on the blog -- just sharing a video and I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts. Much love,

If you would have ever told me that I'd one day be serving as a relationship advice columnist in a city newspaper I'd have said that you were  crazy! But here I am, writing for Insight . To be honest, some of the covers or contents are a bit saucy.  I'm kinda like a fish out of water, writing for this paper. But what an open door for me to be a light! I'm so grateful.  Dustin read my column from last month but he said, "Mom, please keep it with you...don't leave that paper laying around in my room..."   (This month's cover is a little more risque than the one you see at left.) Wow!  That says two things to me: first of all, we've raised a young man of character and godly morals. Second, writing for this paper is an amazing opportunity for me to make relationships with a whole new group of people, have opportunity to speak into their lives, and hopefully make a difference. I thought I would re-print last month's column here and let my blog...

I'll begin by saying I'm so proud of the youth of our church.They dominated in the competition this week at church camp and won the distinction of "Camp Champs." More important they were changed by God at the altars! This morning all of them (but a few who were on vacation, etc.) came onto the platform and testified about what God did in their lives. It was just wonderful to hear the good things of God. My family is home and we have enjoyed some wonderful times this weekend. Scott and Erica Warner from our previous church in Maryland were here for a visit and we went with them to Texas Cattle Company in St. Pete for dinner last night. What a time reminiscing and catching up! Now that everybody is home I'm enjoying having my husband and kids back and getting in the routine of family again. This is good. At the same time, I don't ask for prayer very often but today I am. I haven't been feeling well and have just kept marching on. I could really use ...

Are you struggling to find people who understand? That might be your reality right now. And if so, no pun intended, but I understand! Something that helps me a little bit when I am feeling a lack of understanding is to do a check up on myself and try to give understanding in greater measure to others who are hurting. Greater understanding might not come your way for a while. (Just keepin' it real!) But giving it away to others is such a great feeling knowing you are making a real difference in the world.

Are you a pastor's wife who feels that you just might burst with everything that's inside you that you're not supposed to tell anybody?  I understand. Today I'm blogging about that subject with a post, "Pastors' Wives: No Quiet Required" on the Pastoring Partners Network. Follow me there today if you're interested in reading on this subject. You can read the post here .  

  You're sad. Frustrated. Maybe a little angry. Someone has deleted you from Facebook. Unfollowed you on Twitter. Unsubscribed from your blog. Written you a letter saying how disappointed they are in you. Left your church. Distanced themselves from you. Gotten quiet. This hurts even though you might act like it doesn't matter. Your crime? Doing what you were born to do. What God made you to do.  What you're supposed to be doing. What you were born to do upsets their apple cart in some way. Makes them uneasy. Threatens their comfort level or their status quo. They rant or shut you out. Sometimes they do both in rapid succession. Either way, you feel the pain. The root of the problem is not the fact that you're doing what you were born to do, it's that they are insecure about it for some reason. Mind if I share three things with you that might help if you're facing this? Take a deep breath. Literally. For m...

"...doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it." I Timothy 2:10 (MSG) You have something really important to do on this earth. The first purpose of your life is a personal relationship with God. That means a real everyday connection to Him. After that, He's given you something to do, something to say, something to impact the people around you. It's a beautiful thing when you discover this and move in it -- this doing exactly what God wants you to do. Sadly, everyone will not think it's beautiful. And some will hate you for it. I'm talking about all out, ugly hate. Some may talk behind your back,while others face off with you boldly.  I'm called to write. Specifically I know I'm called to write transparent things that others may not have the courage to. Not for shock value. Not for notoriety as nice as that is. (Just being honest!) The true reason I am called to write what I feel compelled to write is to let peop...

To write well, one must also read well.  R eaders lead and leaders read.  As busy as I am I find time to read everyday because it's just that important. I thought today I'd share some of what I'm reading lately that's been super good. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson I'm into prayer - big time, as anybody who knows me knows! And just when you've thought you've heard it all on prayer...well, you haven't. And Mark Batterson is here to prove it. You need this book. You really, really need this book. Get it. Now. Thin Places by Mary DeMuth I'm a huge Mary DeMuth fan. I recommend anything she writes. This is her memoir and boy is it good. Makes me appreciate everything else she writes so much more! Thank you Jesus, for healing Mary DeMuth of all the stuff she's been through so she can write and change all the lives she's changing including mine! You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins Jeff Goins is such a nice g...

You need to change. I need to change. Big time! The sooner we realize this, the better off we'll both be. I'm amazed at the people, especially leaders, who don't seem interested in examining what in them or about them needs to change. They are, unfortunately, plentiful.  I understand not wanting to examine oneself or wanting to change - it's not always pleasant. But for those who grow, it's essential. I met a good friend of mine for breakfast this morning before work, and we spoke of leadership health and the reluctance people have to look within and see truth. Healthy leaders all do this as well as healthy organizations. Ironically enough where I'm at in reading the word today is I John 1 and it says, "If we claim to be without sin. we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us...if we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (vs. 8 and 10) The longer we dig our heels in and refu...

So the weekend is coming to a close...my sunset bike ride is over and I'm ready to take a bath and get in my jammies and snuggle with the man. Now that's the life! Aside from church ministry and coaching, I've been spending large amounts of time putting the finishing touches on my upcoming e-book (to be released on Kindle), and a book proposal that's getting ready to go out. We had a great service at church today -- the worship team/frontline/choir was absolutely rockin' the place. For a moment there I thought we were gonna be raptured! I just couldn't be more proud of our amazing team. Larry and Dustin are prepping to take a huge chartered busload full of our Celebration Church teens to camp tomorrow.   Our youth group has absolutely exploded. This is what our youth are traveling to and from camp in this year: God has been so good to us! I can hardly wait for them to get back. If we thought we were gonna be raptured this week in service what in t...

This blog is a place to share my thoughts, and at the same time it's not all about me. I try to make it about whoever reads here and how I can help them in some way. And usually it's an outflow of whatever I'm reading, thinking about, or talking about with friends. Today in the spirit of that I'd like to share with you three posts by other people that have really stopped me in my tracks the past week. Enjoy. Why Your Idea Isn't Spreading  Every leader, business owner, pastor, or person who seeks to be an influencer in ANY way seriously needs to read this!!! This post has become my new checklist of things to personally watch out for, so that I don't become off track/irrelevant/or just flat out ungodly in my leadership style. How I Went to Prison  The story of Jeremy Myers, a former pastor who was fired from a Christian non-profit in Dallas, and lost everything but his wife and kids in the aftermath.  His crime???  READING BOOKS. Seriously. This is an...

Most of what I do in my role as a career coach is over the phone and online. Inevitably during resume work, I have to tell a client, "okay, I'm just letting you know, when I get quiet, I'm very much still here. I am working hard on your behalf, as you'll see in a moment..." After a few minutes they'll say, "Are you still there?" "Yep, sure am..." I reply. "I'm sending something to your e-mail right now..." And in a few moments they read something I just wrote based upon what we've been talking about and they respond with something like, "Wow. Um, just wow...that's really good. You've just truthfully stated my experience and accomplishments in a way that makes me sound like I should be running for president or something..."  Mission accomplished! There are so many thoughts running in my head right now, so much I'm processing, much of which I am writing. I'm putting the finishing touches...