tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-342442812024-03-12T21:51:31.336-04:00Deanna Doss ShrodesThis blog focuses on life at the intersection of family, leadership and faith. On my day off, I live in my pajamas or ride my bicycle, though usually not at the same time. Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.comBlogger2823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-25837472348944093522018-05-24T09:13:00.006-04:002020-09-05T15:36:30.119-04:00What To Do First to Make a Profit<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj5FuOaFqC7XZi6Vx7vdNYo5u3fMUvOQqFcFvkgEWqtSJoFtaWlYYI4gD6wFleHemF3M5fXXPdZkFQY5Vq_A1HlfczKfSrUc6f6O9k6UtHdSJ5pYjkys8syMPtEBfwZOdQcjw7w/s1600/Team+Retreat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="960" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj5FuOaFqC7XZi6Vx7vdNYo5u3fMUvOQqFcFvkgEWqtSJoFtaWlYYI4gD6wFleHemF3M5fXXPdZkFQY5Vq_A1HlfczKfSrUc6f6O9k6UtHdSJ5pYjkys8syMPtEBfwZOdQcjw7w/s640/Team+Retreat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018</td></tr>
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<br />
Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>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.</i></blockquote>
<div class="entry-body">
<br />
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!<br />
<br />
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 investing and training and all of that, seeking God for his blessing and direction was and still is -- and always will be, first.<br />
<br />
With the team I'm honored to lead, we've followed this method. And I can tell you, it works. We have sought God and then invested in our team and in people, trained, promoted, been committed to excellent customer service and doing the important work we do with excellence, BEFORE we expected to turn a profit.<br />
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If you want to read about our team values (which were created by our entire team as a collaborative effort) <a href="https://women.penflorida.org/about/"><b>you can do so here.</b> </a>Many people ask how we get the results that we get. I believe reading our values will give insight into how it happens.<br />
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By the way, Seth is one leader and thinker I follow. I'm not saying I agree 100% with what he (or any leader/thinker) says, but he's someone I've gleaned good insights from. People often ask me what books and blogs I read and what podcasts I listen to, so there's one. <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/"><b>Read Seth's blog here.</b> </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-27964346215796743102018-05-20T09:55:00.001-04:002018-05-20T09:59:14.717-04:00I'm Just Being Transparent...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4G-uFMyHOloyLLss4JQBU2131aFu1fLDubUea64GWvdHNcPtmjkJBOBMc-8VM0MfD0agaMn0W_WQMMtXuZcwvosoDJ9cfZcBIwusuOe1XxlekUblnq0xZsSSXfB4M4T2hVcsWA/s1600/Be+Yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="504" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4G-uFMyHOloyLLss4JQBU2131aFu1fLDubUea64GWvdHNcPtmjkJBOBMc-8VM0MfD0agaMn0W_WQMMtXuZcwvosoDJ9cfZcBIwusuOe1XxlekUblnq0xZsSSXfB4M4T2hVcsWA/s320/Be+Yourself.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This year at the Stronger Conference, a young minister stopped me as I was walking out of the room at the conclusion of a workshop and she said, "I want to tell you something..." (I was all ears.) She said, "Do you notice how many of the speakers this weekend are saying, "Now, I'm just being transparent when I tell you..." or "I'm just keepin' it real..." I nodded yes. In fact, I mentioned that I was one of those speakers. I think I probably said a few times in both my keynote message and my workshop that I was just "keepin' it real."<br />
<br />
After I affirmed that yes, I had noticed that -- she said, "Do you know <i>why</i> they have to do that? They do it...and you do it, because so many people don't keep it real. So many in leadership aren't transparent, Deanna. That's why all these people speaking here feel an urge to declare their transparency.." I let her know that usually when I say, "I'm just keeping it real" it's because I have just shared something that I believe some people may think is inappropriate because they aren't used to hearing it publicly. So they are shocked. And I'm trying to soften the blow to their sensitivities in some way.<br />
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She thanked me for leading a conference that featured such openness from the speakers.<br />
<br />
<br />
The conversation with this millennial really left me thinking. Here are some things that rolled around in my mind...<br />
<br />
Should we stop saying, "I'm just keepin' it real" or "I'm just being transparent..." or "Can I be transparent with you?" in our messages? Is it getting old? Overrated? It is really in vogue to make these statements, and maybe it's become overkill, a worn out cliche that has lost it's luster.<br />
<br />
Maybe we all need to train ourselves to stop saying things like, "I'm just keeping it real" and just <i><b>live</b></i> real and let people notice that without announcing it. And if their sensitivities are shocked, well, just let that be their issue to process.<br />
<br />
Thoughts?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-55375993420587653442018-05-19T06:12:00.000-04:002018-05-19T06:13:52.186-04:00Leader: Put your blinders on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrex-7t6QTBVMjiQ7kIdzrf6B8wP3whYEvAay1u77tJwvAfhd7Pxzm4K2L0ufjqJ9h3RY2lzCnliHYUKiq2eJjlEmZKrQoQCwWoon8zS5tsKBh_9oGH1CRo8AYq9vEHXQ1j8SqA/s1600/Focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrex-7t6QTBVMjiQ7kIdzrf6B8wP3whYEvAay1u77tJwvAfhd7Pxzm4K2L0ufjqJ9h3RY2lzCnliHYUKiq2eJjlEmZKrQoQCwWoon8zS5tsKBh_9oGH1CRo8AYq9vEHXQ1j8SqA/s320/Focus.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes in leadership, we've gotta put proverbial blinders on. It is so easy to get off track by looking around us. This will almost always slow us down. I'm a detail person and I can get distracted super easy. Before I know
it, I'm behind in my goals because I'm looking at something other than the objective. I often have to remind myself to snap out of
looking around and run full steam ahead for the win.<br />
<br />
It's going to take every ounce of energy you have as a leader to accomplish big things. We can lose the race by broken focus. Remember <a href="https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/02/20/chad-le-clos-michael-phelps/">when Chad le Clos lost to Michael Phelps after famously turning his head to look in the middle of the race?</a> Oh my lands, what an awful mistake. I think of that a lot in regard to leadership. What are we stopping to look at that we really don't have time to look at if we want to stay on our game?<br />
<br />
Leader friend...put those blinders on and run toward your goal with all your might! Run like you are on fire! Run like you are the third monkey trying to get on the ark!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-5480885833298769312018-05-18T11:00:00.002-04:002018-05-18T11:00:34.264-04:00Leadership: This Changes Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I46avf0NroCdTv8rfH_A8sP1M6KiBy_WVrzW5cZ07GTzKrIkAQ54pCe8sCRPiDU7gL1gWTunkMU7hPy7RofDFP06F3CtRUGKLshBMm2GFZfu7DwxqlmrEouYs5yinELdPgZ4Ng/s1600/Step+Outside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="720" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I46avf0NroCdTv8rfH_A8sP1M6KiBy_WVrzW5cZ07GTzKrIkAQ54pCe8sCRPiDU7gL1gWTunkMU7hPy7RofDFP06F3CtRUGKLshBMm2GFZfu7DwxqlmrEouYs5yinELdPgZ4Ng/s320/Step+Outside.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Are you a leader in need of a lift in your spirit, fresh ideas or a change of pace? Get up and walk outside! This is so powerful, it's no joke. Getting outdoors changes everything for me. I'm a homebody, which few would guess because I'm on the road so often. My favorite thing is curling up with a book in total silence or perhaps with a bit of light classical or monk music in the background. (Yes, I am serious. I often work or relax to monk music...stuff like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYPFkjrkdno">this</a>.) But, as happy as the indoors can make me, there is absolutely nothing that brings a boost like going outside.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fresh air impacts our lives in such a great way. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494409000838">Research shows</a> that spending time in fresh air increases energy in 90% of people. Whenever I'm lacking energy, this is one of my main go-to's. I'm at a place right now where I'm reminding myself that it mustn't be a go-to just in times of severe stress, but it needs to be an every day thing, as regular as brushing my teeth. I am endeavoring to lead myself better in this way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtAPadIEIoq_UuVf_Naua9p_-gXrI3b5qga-BCElDkKLpddyK4bgRCe1Ro8yeePpAG4mlbQtIxKre5slJgG_ovf2vB8KqhbxPGlU4e_snj-3burXd8xMpwAuHze8rnKFqbYmSnw/s1600/Walking+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtAPadIEIoq_UuVf_Naua9p_-gXrI3b5qga-BCElDkKLpddyK4bgRCe1Ro8yeePpAG4mlbQtIxKre5slJgG_ovf2vB8KqhbxPGlU4e_snj-3burXd8xMpwAuHze8rnKFqbYmSnw/s400/Walking+Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene from my walk this morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of my favorite thing is the scent of outdoors. It's a proven fact that outdoor smells help to remove stress in our lives and promote relaxation. Some of the ones that are my favorites are the smell of rain, freshly cut grass, and pine. One of the wax melts I use all the time in my house is pine, but there is absolutely nothing like the real thing. Walking outside boosts our immune system and helps fight off depression. Oxygen energizes our bodies and minds. What's not to love about it?<br />
<br />
Going outside is something every leader can do, no matter their situation. It doesn't cost anything to step outside. You can take five minutes or five hours. Maybe the best thing you can do today is go outdoors for a little while. I have to preach tonight, but I began my morning outside on a 3 mile walk. So much of what happens for me and for others will be impacted by my time outdoors today.<br />
<br />
More than ever, people seem to be creatures of indoors. How do you break out of that? What do you most like to do outdoors and how does it affect you? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-34573611478277930672018-05-07T11:20:00.001-04:002018-05-07T11:20:14.485-04:00This Could Have Ruined Everything... (But It Didn't!) No one would ever guess what happened to me this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida...so I'm going to tell you. :) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zdJc9-qVI9FsfTwRmxWK8RzUHQJFijDBPACrye7exAt4S_5ATzYhCHVbNSvsFYqAX6DXxe6Cu9curY2yUMxeTcR2ZMsqWY-CKn-WrP8V4u_tbK8DxWdfF1tsyA9JqFCGQKSyqQ/s1600/Jacksonville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zdJc9-qVI9FsfTwRmxWK8RzUHQJFijDBPACrye7exAt4S_5ATzYhCHVbNSvsFYqAX6DXxe6Cu9curY2yUMxeTcR2ZMsqWY-CKn-WrP8V4u_tbK8DxWdfF1tsyA9JqFCGQKSyqQ/s640/Jacksonville.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As I was preaching at the Fearless Tour at New Hope Assembly of God this weekend, I got choked up, literally. For probably 2-3 minutes I coughed profusely and greatly struggled. Then I drank some water and kept preaching. Everyone was gracious to give me a few moments to get my bearings. If you were there, you'll remember it!<br />
<br />
What no one realized at the time was that I swallowed a bug that flew right in while I was preaching! So disgusting! I said nothing because I was at a point in the sermon where I was really connecting and I knew if I said, "I swallowed a bug," everyone would either laugh profusely or be really concerned, or start feeling sorry for me. And at that point whey wouldn't be thinking about the message anymore, but the fact that I had just swallowed a bug. They would then imagine what it would be like, and feel grossed out which is understandable. I was pretty repulsed myself. It was quite literally "stuck in my throat" and I was hacking and finally decided to drown the thing and be done with it. (I'm on Keto right now, so thankfully it was just protein.)<br />
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We went on and it was a great response around the altars. I think of people like Jasmine who had a life-changing encounter with God. We couldn't afford to let a bug get us off track!!! <br />
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It's important to stay focused no matter what. All kinds of things come along to steal our focus. And they are legit. Things like financial issues, family problems, health problems, criticism and more. We can let these things determine the day or we can stop letting the tail wag the dog.<br />
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A bug could have ruined everything on Saturday, but it didn't. <br />
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Stay focused, friend!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-31832388704177645762017-12-14T14:55:00.001-05:002017-12-14T14:55:26.155-05:00Hurry up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_4q_tEfW0bthvsoTZsIDQmFY0zsoB23xXhxkmOBVkE4IQK1_UdpMbJvLoB7K9IBin_tQcxPK6-IxAvIhTFElPTqr1KA8jdBpEoMOAyQYcTnY7kG83KpQe9tumyhXnx-QrNa_7g/s1600/Cruise+Buffet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_4q_tEfW0bthvsoTZsIDQmFY0zsoB23xXhxkmOBVkE4IQK1_UdpMbJvLoB7K9IBin_tQcxPK6-IxAvIhTFElPTqr1KA8jdBpEoMOAyQYcTnY7kG83KpQe9tumyhXnx-QrNa_7g/s400/Cruise+Buffet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently on our family cruise my husband and I were waiting
in a long line for the breakfast buffet. I began to get rather frustrated with
the people in line. They were moving as slow as molasses.<strike> I’ve never tested how
fast molasses really moves, but you know…. </strike><br />
<br />
What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>irked me was that this line as long as an anaconda did not have to stay
that way! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People moved in slow motion as
they reached for a grapefruit or selected a box of cereal. They seemed to be
giving serious thought to selecting a sausage. I wanted to scream, “What’s
wrong with you people? It’s sausage. This doesn’t require an executive
decision. Grab and move! Grab and move!”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I quipped to my husband, “For a person who is on the move,
this line that is not on the move but could very easily be is rather
frustrating.” He gently said back to me, “Babe, you’re not supposed to be on
the move this week. This isn’t the week to rush anywhere. Just relax.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I will admit that was hard advice although I knew he was
right. And, I will also admit I could not just stand there and “waste my time.”
<strike>In my previous life I was World Director of Productivity. </strike>So as people in front
of me took their sweet time, I took it upon myself to rearrange and straighten
items in front of me like small cereal boxes and butter pats that were not in
perfectly straight lines. <strike>I thought my husband would die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </strike></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the same day, I decided to stay on the ship while my
family all went on excursions. I was sorely in need of a day of rest. My
testiness at the breakfast bar proved that if nothing else. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </div>
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<br /></div>
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Especially with some things I have faced in this season, I need to be
intentional about taking some time to breathe. Breathe again. Not have to think
so quickly on my feet. Not be the answer person. Not make any decisions. Not
solve a problem. Take some moments to just be. Make a “stop doing” list.<br />
<br />
Leaders need to be relentlessly intentional about moving
slower on some days so we can keep moving faster on others. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b></b></span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>
Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-18119876952870122502017-12-04T19:45:00.001-05:002017-12-04T19:47:23.663-05:00Have you chosen a word of the year?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuuLfwUgi_5t3z5MfuWUybCOdiYXedKgSukopofas4s1ZPxOmoypV6lyZLYNr_a91La6uIRgXql-C1Pg7tItJMDF7EDnQXHq9HZWVoMldCn1f82jNeClTQRibo5CjBqHCoYzd5A/s1600/resilient.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuuLfwUgi_5t3z5MfuWUybCOdiYXedKgSukopofas4s1ZPxOmoypV6lyZLYNr_a91La6uIRgXql-C1Pg7tItJMDF7EDnQXHq9HZWVoMldCn1f82jNeClTQRibo5CjBqHCoYzd5A/s320/resilient.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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Selecting a personal word of the year <a href="http://www.deannashrodes.net/2009/01/my-word-for-year.html">has been my custom for many years. </a>The word is my theme of the year and something for me to focus on,
to build my faith and to grow. Each year I look for ways to remind myself of
the theme…everything from a decorative sign with the word, to a piece of
jewelry.</div>
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This year my word is <b>resilient. </b></div>
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All my life I have had to be resilient, and some years more
than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it is this way with
everyone to a degree. No one is immune to pain or problems. But frankly, some
people are more resilient than others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have been studying those who are most resilient and trying to learn from them.</div>
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With 2017 coming to a close,I have things to bounce back from. There
are parts of my life I’m absolutely slaying and other parts that are out of my
control. If I could control
it, I would have already given everything I have to slaying it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenges remaining are out of the realm
of me being able to change them aside from prayer. Thankfully, prayer is our
most powerful recourse. Prayer changes things. In the meantime though, (it’s called the
MEAN-time for a reason!) I have to find a way to flourish
through things I never dreamed I would be facing.</div>
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I am thankful for a heavenly father who knows what we need
when we need it. In the course of my master’s work, I was assigned two books
this semester that prepared me for my current season. They are <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Strong-Ability-Transforms-Parent-ebook/dp/B00P5557G2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512434364&sr=8-1&keywords=Rising+Strong">Rising Strong by Brene Brown,</a> </b>and <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Pain-Classroom-Samuel-Chand-ebook/dp/B00PWOH3MM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1512434413&sr=1-1&keywords=Leadership+Pain+Sam+Chand">Leadership Pain by Sam Chand</a>.</b> I would recommend these two
books to everyone, particularly leaders. </div>
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At some point you are going to face
some things you never asked for, never expected, can’t control, and cry a river
of tears over. My advice as a fellow traveler is to surround yourself with the
right people. Find those who have walked through whatever it is that you’re
going through successfully, and get their wisdom. Read wisdom from those you
more than likely won’t have opportunity to meet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray your guts out, and ask other people who
know how to pray and fast to join you. While prayer is a hand grenade, fasting is a bomb.</div>
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Prior to reading the book Leadership Pain, I saw almost
nothing good about pain. I’ve changed my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Dr. </span>Sam Chand says, “You’ll only grow
to the threshold of your pain.” The greatest leaders are the best pain
processors. The leaders who are entrusted with the most pain produce the
greatest work. So, if these things are an indication, and I believe they are
-- get ready. The biggest and best things are yet to come!</div>
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What is your word of the year? <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-17245636649839814382017-10-10T11:30:00.000-04:002017-10-10T11:30:55.577-04:00The Day I Almost Suffocated at a Women's ConferenceYears ago I was in a place of deep depression. I was reading my Bible, maybe more than ever, because I was in such a desperately low place. I was praying daily. I was seeking God. I was not only seeking Him, I was <b>begging Him</b> to help me, to speak to me, to do something that only He could do.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNW375rg5j3akNYqHa8KSOVdOk9qFeN_aQprjfWY4ioYRojYn_8si9vPa1eOnYqK0h_-XWst-gjXRac5XaVz0HoO-BhOENWqtnVWJJsbWCm2PDYzWS1-DsGgNcbDtbckB44swCQ/s1600/women+conf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNW375rg5j3akNYqHa8KSOVdOk9qFeN_aQprjfWY4ioYRojYn_8si9vPa1eOnYqK0h_-XWst-gjXRac5XaVz0HoO-BhOENWqtnVWJJsbWCm2PDYzWS1-DsGgNcbDtbckB44swCQ/s320/women+conf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the midst of this, I was the speaker at a women's conference. I've never stopped working or serving for the past thirty years, even when I've been in a low place. Some people might say, "Well, that's your problem, right there!" I guess one could look at it that way. I just see it that even on my worst days I get up, dress up and show up. And believe me there were plenty of days I didn't feel like doing any one of those three things.<br />
<br />
On this particular occasion I was the keynote speaker, but the host of the conference was also speaking in one of the sessions. As I sat there, I experienced something that was common for a women's conference or church service. So common that I share this story with no concern that people will figure out where I was, or that I will point anyone out specifically.<br />
<br />
As speakers go, the host of the conference was popular and passionate and everything most people are looking for in a conference host or leader. I don't remember what the text of her message was or even the main points. All I recall is that the majority of the message was her telling the women gathered what they <b>should</b> be doing that she assumed they were not doing. And the message was that if they just did what they <b>should</b> be doing, life would be so much different. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Ladies, you need to be in the Word more! If you were in the Word as you should be, the things you are experiencing would not be happening as they are!"<br />
<br />
"Ladies, you need to pray more! If you just had a prayer life like Anna, if you would just tarry with Him for one more hour...if you would just press in like the woman with the issue of blood...if you would just seek Him more...your problems would seem small!!!"<br />
<br />
"Ladies, you need to praise God more! If you would just praise Him, he would set you free as He did Paul and Silas when they were in a prison!"</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Do we need to be in the Word? Yes. Do we need to pray? Yes. Do we need to praise God? Yes. And I was doing all those things, yet as she shouted all these things we should be doing, I felt like I was going to suffocate. It took everything I had not to run out of the room. I was talking to myself in my head saying, "Stay here, just stay here. It's going to be okay..."Some may say that I was only responding this way because of being in a depressed state. But in retrospect, not being in that place of depression anymore, I can tell you that while being depressed impacted the way I perceived things, it wasn't the entire cause. And actually, that moment changed me as a leader...forever. After I got through feeling like I would suffocate, I had an wake up call that changed the course of how I communicate.<br />
<br />
It was an epiphany for me that people don't respond to a steady diet of just hearing what they <b>should</b> be doing. Life is much more complex than that. You can do everything you <b>should </b>be doing and still deal with the current problem you have. I have prayed, I have fasted, I have wept on the altar, I have renounced every sin, I have served my guts out - and people I love have still died. I have read my Bible until the wee hours of the morning, and yet, people I have trusted have deeply wounded me. I have praised God, and still have loved ones who are horribly sick and in need of a miracle. I have experienced some of the most painful things in my life and witnessed them in the lives of others when I was doing all the things I <b>should </b>be doing. Hearing a message on all I should do when I'm doing all I can do makes me feel a lot of guilt that is not from God. The fact is, doing all the right things doesn't zap your problems away. If that was the case, things the apostles went through and the outcome in their lives would have been vastly different.(Do he research on how most if not all of these guys died.) <br />
<br />
Recently I was in one of my classes for my masters at Southeastern University and our guest instructor for the day was <a href="http://www.samchand.com/">Dr. Sam Chand.</a> One of the main things he taught us was, "Don't let anyone 'should' on you." It seldom produces long term results to rag on people about what they should be doing. They hear what they should do from everyone from their mother-in-law to their doctor. But pastors/speakers do this week after week. (Insert shouting preacher here) "YOU <b>SHOULD</b> BE EXCITED ABOUT JESUS!!!!" Meanwhile the congregation sits there and thinks, "Okay...tell us WHY."<br />
<br />
That day at the women's conference was a turning point for me. I have been guilty of a lot of "shouldy messages" in the course of my ministry. How many people had I emotionally suffocated with a list of do's and don'ts without telling them about the person who can change their lives? I realized that my mandate as a preacher was to open the Word of God and share WHO He is and WHY He came and WHAT He could to do in their lives. My job was to study the Word of God and find a way again and again to share all of that in a fresh new way that the Holy Spirit would inspire me to do.<br />
<br />
Part of the struggle is, it's easier to preach a shouldy message. You don't have to dig in to the Word of God to study and explain anything. All you have to do is get up and shout at people about what they <b>should</b> be doing. <b>Studying</b> the Word of God in depth takes work. And, it's a lost art in the ministry. That's not my opinion, it's a fact. I sensed this in the past but didn't really have any hard evidence about it. Recently, I read a book for school that I was assigned called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pastor-Theologian-Resurrecting-Ancient-Vision-ebook/dp/B00L0SPQHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506686346&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Pastor+Theologian">The Pastor Theologian by Gerald Heistand and Todd Wilson</a>. At face value I assumed it was going to be the boring book this semester. Truth be told I was kind of dreading reading it even as I paid for it and put it on my Kindle. But I was wrong. It was life changing! Reading it fired me up even more to delve into God's Word and prepare messages that would reveal the character of God to people and result in transformation in hearts and lives through the power of God.<br />
<br />
As an imperfect vessel, I slip now and again and should on somebody in one of my messages, but I make a conscious choice to not do that as much as possible. Am I resisting the work of the conviction of the Holy Spirit in a person's life? Absolutely not. But the point is, it's His job to convict, not mine.<br />
<br />
My job is to share the Who, what, when, where and why. The why is only secondary to the WHO. And, the Holy Spirit draws them to change...not me.<br />
<br />
What has your experience been when you hear all that you "should" be doing in a message? Has it brought about life transformation in you? What kind of messages have brought about life change through Christ in your life?<br />
<br />
Photo: <a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/">Freedigitalphotos.net </a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-84825517408681108132017-08-04T01:02:00.000-04:002017-08-04T01:11:49.049-04:00Sometimes It Pays to Say Nothing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofrMCdhX-zhBhFtXQbdxqK7qsr57GcVrBASvOuERlKAfGZJACYvdwEKhk9DpOfpjFn8zEON0f_ceth3vB0Cv0p5JZucdaSDTqpNGnQEJPu01AnrMUeDxXnr4irf13UfvniM3MRw/s1600/Sherman+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofrMCdhX-zhBhFtXQbdxqK7qsr57GcVrBASvOuERlKAfGZJACYvdwEKhk9DpOfpjFn8zEON0f_ceth3vB0Cv0p5JZucdaSDTqpNGnQEJPu01AnrMUeDxXnr4irf13UfvniM3MRw/s400/Sherman+10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sightseeing for two days led to a craving to do nothing and everything at the same time, yesterday.<br />
<br />
Sleeping in.<br />
Staying in jammies.<br />
Reading.<br />
Watching movies.<br />
Cuddling. <br />
And all that's great about spending a quiet day together. <br />
<br />
When evening came, Larry said he wanted to try a spot that was<a href="http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/people/2017/05/11/guy-fieris-food-network-show-feature-shermans-deli-and-other-desert-eateries/316165001/"> featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives</a>. It's a place called <a href="http://shermansdeli.com/">Sherman's</a> with locations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert.<br />
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Something hilarious happened soon after we arrived. The server overheard Larry and I having a conversation about the selections on <a href="http://shermansdeli.com/menus/">the menu</a>. We were just talking in the same manner that we always do, but she took something more from the conversation. Something we never said! Larry overheard her tell her co-workers, "These people are food critics!" She thought we were there to scope it out and write a story about the place. We decided to say nothing and let them think what they wanted to. <strike>You know what they say about assuming.</strike> Staying quiet was a great decision because after the server told this to her co-workers, they were practically falling over themselves to make us happy! Little samples came to our table. Was this so terrible that we didn't correct their assumption? <strike>I decided to let it go and ask for forgiveness in my bedtime prayers</strike>.<br />
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Although the service was over-the-top because they assumed we were professional food critics, the food really did speak for itself. <br />
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Take this pie for instance. See those little crunchy things on the outside? Those are crushed up cookie crumbs. It's "Marion Berry Pie." The bottom and sides are a cookie crumb crust, then cheesecake, then mixed berries on top. Divine! Sherman's makes all their own desserts. I was impressed. <br />
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The most difficult thing was knowing what to select...<br />
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I could clearly understand why <a href="http://www.guyfieri.com/">Guy Fieri</a> decided to feature this place. Larry chose the Coconut Cake for dessert. He wasn't disappointed.<br />
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During my time here I've been working out with Revelation Wellness but dear sweet Lord, it can only do so much when it's up against this!<br />
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Would I recommend Shermans or dine there again? Absolutely. Although I'm not a professional food critic I'll gladly spread the word and leave a review on Yelp.<br />
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I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner but by far my favorite part of the day was our time together with nothing to focus on but rest and each other. And, I know if I'm ever out of a job, I can probably train to be a food critic fairly quickly. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>
Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-60385733661297669112017-08-03T05:12:00.001-04:002017-08-04T00:46:38.769-04:003 Things I Learned in the Desert"You learn something new every day!" I wish I would have coined that phrase but of course I didn't -- it's an old one. Each day I look for opportunities to learn and usually learn more than three things. Yesterday was no exception as Larry and I spent the day at Joshua Tree National Park, taking in the sights.<br />
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I had no idea what I was in for. I mean, I knew it was a desert, but oh my lands, it's the mother of all deserts! It's a desert on steroids. The first thing anyone needs to do is get yourself a Big Gulp before you go, because it will take you a minimum of two hours to drive through it. <strike>Don't let the word PARK fool you. This thing is the size of the state of Rhode Island. No, I'm not kidding. </strike>And it will take you two hours only if you don't stop at any of the exhibits along the way, which of course, we did. Speaking of a big gulp, the first thing I learned is this:<br />
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<b>1) If you want to know where you should eat or drink, just watch where the old people are headed.</b><br />
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I talked a bit about this <a href="http://www.deannashrodes.net/2017/08/3-things-i-learned-today-on-my-birthday.html">in my last blog post </a>but it bears repeating. You won't find anything to eat or drink inside Joshua Tree Park. But, outside one of the entrances to the park there's a gas station that has everything from slushies to hamburgers. I went in to use the restroom one more time before our journey and wanted an unsweet tea as well. This place had everything BUT the tea. And honestly, it didn't look very clean. I couldn't believe the chaos down to the backed up line at the register and little kids running around begging their parents for candy. <strike>I sound ancient now, I know.</strike><br />
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In the midst of this commotion what do I spy? There were a bunch of elder folk across the street. Why, pray tell? There is a lovely little coffee shop with freshly brewed tea as well as crafts for sale. And, it was clean as a whistle!. <strike>Why does anyone say clean as a whistle? Somebody's mouth was on it. And for all we know, it was not clean.</strike> So regarding the old folk, watch this and see if I'm not right! Older folk, they like good quality food made from scratch in an extremely clean environment. You could do a white glove test where the seniors eat. <strike>Despite the fact that nobody wears white gloves anymore.</strike> And it's quiet. Old people like peace. You will not be disappointed when it comes to food and drink, as well as the environment. Old folk were the first ones to say, for heaven's sake, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!<br />
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I acquired a mammoth iced tea and we headed for our jaunt through the wonderland that is Joshua Tree Park.<br />
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This is a Joshua tree. It got it's name because the first people who discovered the tree -- the Mormons <strike>bless their hearts</strike> said it reminded them of the biblical account of Joshua lifting his hands to the sky in prayer. It's interesting that all through our time of driving through the park, applications to the Bible were coming to my mind. Everything from the fact that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, to God being our rock. I also thought of Proverbs which says that it's better to live in a desert than with a nagging woman. (Proverbs 21:19) Honestly, the desert is beautiful. OF COURSE it's better than a nagging woman. <strike>It doesn't take a king to tell us that.</strike> Which brings me to #2...<br />
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<b>2) The desert gets a bad rap at times.</b><br />
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It's awesome. Stop and get a drink before you go into it, and everything will be fabulous. <strike>Don't bring a nagging woman with you.</strike><br />
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The gigantic rocks were my favorite part. It's off season here so there is hardly anyone around. Plenty of times Larry and I came to an exhibit and there was no one around. <strike>We could have gotten away with a lot.</strike> I was awestruck about how loud the silence was. I mean it was deafening. But in those moments, God spoke many things to my heart. I understand over and over how people hear Him so clearly in nature. <br />
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Larry and I are in the photo above but you can barely see us. Look at the size of that rock. <strike>The first person in history to see this had to shriek, "Oh my lands!" </strike><br />
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We took our time going through the park, stopping at most of the exhibits and getting out to take pictures. On the first day we arrived in California Larry and I made a California playlist on Spotify. We listen to it in the car every time we go to another place here. It's all songs about California. Everything from "California Girls" to "Hotel California." For yesterday we made a desert playlist. It had everything from "Desert Song" to U2's "The Joshua Tree" album. Which brings me to #3<br />
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<b>3) If you want a great marriage, you have to plan for it.</b><br />
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And if you don't have a marriage and want one, put this on your #relationshipgoals list. I knew the importance of this before I went on this trip, but yesterday was a refresher course in why it's important.<br />
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As we were driving through the park listening to our desert songs, sipping our gargantuan drinks, I thought to myself, "I never imagined it would <i>still</i> be this good 30 years later..." I was reminded that a huge part of it is that we <i>plan</i> for it to be. None of this just happened on it's own. When it comes to memories Larry is as big a planner as I am, and many times even more. He always says, "making memories" is our family theme. I'm so glad I married someone who keeps this a priority.<br />
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Maybe things aren't the same in your life and family, and you want them to be. George Eliot once said, "It's never too late to be what you might have been." I believe this applies to marriages and families too. It's not even about vacations or spending money - it's about getting a thought and following through with action to do something as simple as making a free playlist of songs for the one you love...listening to music together, or going on an evening walk together.<br />
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I learned all this and more in my experience at Joshua Tree. I hope all my friends get to see it at least once in their lifetime.<br />
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Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-58935181745279836222017-08-01T23:59:00.000-04:002017-08-02T12:37:03.013-04:003 Things I Learned Today on my Birthday<br />
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For sentiment sake, I'm writing a post about my birthday because I'll read it in a few months or years and look back on it fondly. Bloggers love reading our own stuff whether other people do or not. <strike>We're actually obsessed with our own words. We love seeing ourselves write as much as some people love hearing themselves talk. </strike> It's the thrill of the post.<br />
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I woke up and got a cup of coffee and read some of Isaiah as well as I Samuel, and some teaching on leadership by John Maxwell. <strike>(In my house I have a painting of Jesus on one wall and John Maxwell on the other.) </strike>While I was reading my husband brought me breakfast in bed. He's awesome like that. I try to reciprocate in ways that make him happy.<br />
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After savoring the breakfast I didn't have to cook, I began checking out the information from the first day of <a href="http://www.revelationwellness.org/">Revelation Wellness</a>. It's a new program I'm trying at the invitation of my friend, Jodi Garvin. I started doing this partly because I believed if Jodi is doing it, it had to be legit. Jodi doesn't do anything "weird". She's a really stable person. The other reason is, if it had to do with physical wellness, weeeelllllll, I've tried everything else so why not this? (Don't believe me? Ask my niece Lexi. It's a running joke with her about how many diets and programs I've been on. If there was a Teen Challenge for eating, I would have already signed up for the program. For some people it's heroin, others are on crack, yet others of us are on Dunkin Donuts Chocolate Frosted.) <br />
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As soon as I signed up for this Revelation Wellness, I realized the first day was August 1, my birthday and it starts with a 7-day detox. I was like, NOPE...not having that revelation! No, no, no. August 1 is NOT the day of revelation or detox for me. But then I realized that it's <i>not</i> a 7-day detox that is food oriented. At least today it wasn't. Who knows what's down the pike on this thing but at least on my birthday, I was safe...<br />
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So, I woke up, and did everything we were instructed to do including the workout video. I don't mind working out on my birthday. Cutting out coffee with cream, now that's another story. Back up, jack! You might as well ask me to quit breathing. I was once talking to someone who said something about giving up coffee and living more years. And I was like, "If I give up coffee, I really don't want to live anyway." To which my husband says, "You have a problem." Well yeah, who doesn't have at least one problem?<br />
<strike><br /></strike>So, after the Revelation Wellnes workout video it was time to shower and get ready to go to the Palm Springs Tramway. The tramway is the world's largest rotating tram car. It travels over two and a half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon to the wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park. While we were riding in the tram car, it rotated slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular views of the valley below. Yes, it really was like that...it almost sounds like a professional brochure. <strike>Well it is, I stole that from the Tramway website.</strike><br />
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While the weather where we are staying in Palm Desert has been about
110 degrees everyday, up on top of the mountain it was about 65. <strike>Are you a man? Do you want to know what the change of life feels like for a woman? Just go to Palm Desert and stay outside for a few minutes. Yep, that's it You have now been baptized into menopause.</strike><br />
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It was absolutely breathtaking! We did have to watch out for a few things along the way...<br />
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I was definitely watching with every step I took. Snakes are <i>not</i> my thing. <strike>Even though I'm Pentecostal.</strike><br />
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My husband enjoyed being King of the mountain! <br />
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We enjoyed walking along together...<br />
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We let it be known we had been there...<br />
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Some nice passersby took our picture for us...and we returned the favor.<br />
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Stopping along the way for a photo here and there was a welcome thing, as we had a few mile journey. (All my fitbit steps for the day!)<br />
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After a few hours our journey came to an end and it was time to take the tram back down the mountain.<br />
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It was time to go back to Palm Desert, take a shower and get ready for dinner. <br />
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I forgot to take a photo of my dinner. (I was more interested in eating it. It was a fabulous piece of prime rib! I didn't feel a bit guilty having just hiked for several hours plus that little Revelation Wellness workout.)<br />
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I did take a photo of my iced tea, however. No sugar at all, real or fake. I know that's a sacrilege being that I live in the south. But bear with me, it's one of the only sacrilegious things I do in life. <strike>That and preaching from the Message Bible occasionally. </strike>So, the reason I loved this and took a photo was the server brought me a carafe of tea to refill my glass as well as another lime, when she brought the first glass of tea. Yep, little details like this amuse me. I'm all about details. <strike>This has driven a lot of people who have worked with me to the nuthouse, or the altar or both. </strike> <br />
<br />
Throughout the day went through about 500 posts on Facebook of friends and
family wishing me a great birthday. I read every single one of them and
thanked God for all the people who posted who make my life so filled with love. <br />
<br />
<br />
After dinner it was time to come back to our home-away-from-home in Palm Desert, to get in our jammies and snuggle and watch a movie.<br />
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And oh yeah -- I forgot that along with all this, we fit a stop to Jack in the Box in for lunch. <strike>Don't judge.</strike> Now Jack in the Box would be another addiction if I lived out west. Apparently God knew he could not put me out west possibly for that reason. <strike>That and the fact that Larry and I don't drink. Alcohol that is. </strike><br />
<strike><br /></strike>
Each and every day I try to learn something new or have a takeaway. So here are mine for today...<br />
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<b>1) It does a person a world of good to be outdoors! </b>I am seriously considering doing something outdoors for every one of my birthdays from now on. A walk outdoors cures a lot of what ails you.<br />
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<b>2) Older people give some fabulous advice.</b> They aren't always right (who is?) but many times they are. After church on Sunday here in Palm Desert, Larry and I met a retired couple who live here. Larry asked their advice on where to go while we're here this week. They recommended the Palm Springs Tramway and the restaurant we went to tonight. They said, "Their prime rib is out of this world!" They were right. Listen to old people. They know about great things like the best places to eat, and other things that will save you a lot of time and trouble.<br />
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<b>3) Revelation Wellness doesn't make you give up coffee.</b> So far so good. Maybe you'll wanna try this? It's a program that doesn't make you drink your coffee black or cut it out. So far I'm liking it. (Lexi, stop laughing!!!) <br />
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On to another year of savoring as much coffee and life as possible.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-47019960289549401052017-01-09T07:30:00.000-05:002017-01-09T07:30:48.725-05:00What is Your Word of the Year?<br />
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<a href="http://www.deannashrodes.net/2009/01/my-word-for-year.html">For a number of years now</a>, I have selected a word for the year as a theme. This year, I was delayed in settling on a word. Evidently I'm not alone. I have talked to several friends who said they didn't have their word of the year by January 1.<br />
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After much deliberation, my word for 2017 is <b>grace.</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9</i></blockquote>
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Pastor James McDonald says:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You never really experience the grace unless you see the need for it—and
even that realization comes by grace. The power of Jesus' grace is not
fully seen until weakness is fully acknowledged. The moment you are
overwhelmed with your absolute helplessness is the moment you are ready
to hear Jesus say, <i>I’m all the grace you need."</i></blockquote>
<br />
Without God we'd all be sunk, in general. But there are times in your life where you desperately need something from God in increasing measure. I desperately need more grace for the days ahead and I know there is more for me.<br />
<br />
One of my grandmother's favorite songs was, "A Very Special Grace." She listened to a recording of Pastor Dan Betzer singing it over and over again. I learned the song through being in her home and hearing it so many times.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A very special grace in times of trouble.</i><br />
<i>A very special grace, to see me through.</i><br />
<i>A very special grace, to heal my heartaches.</i><br />
<i>Now Jesus wants to give, that special grace to you.</i></blockquote>
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I am thankful for His grace and have a lot of it on special order for 2017.<br />
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Grace, grace, grace, Lord.<br />
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Now, what is your word for the year? It's not too late to choose one. <i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-40135790210144032132017-01-03T09:35:00.000-05:002017-01-03T13:27:36.819-05:00When You Write Something and Experience Loss as a Result<br />
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Writing about some things can cause you to lose everything, or nearly everything.<br />
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I've written a lot, and I've lost a lot.<br />
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I've also gained.<br />
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But the losses tend to stick in your mind more with anything. So we avoid loss if possible. <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-loss-aversion/">It's called "loss aversion" and it's real. </a><br />
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Reading about some issues is rare simply because people are scared out of their mind about what will happen if they write openly about it. If you dare to write about some challenges in a public setting, the consequences can include loss of relationships, job, income, and a lot more. <br />
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I'm going through a challenge at this time in my life that is quite common. Although it is normal, I hear it is one of life's greatest challenges. Due to not wanting to experience further loss that what I'm already experiencing, I'm not going to share what the issue is. But I will say this. I've combed through Amazon to find even one book about it. I have surfed the internet. And there is not one book about it. Not ONE! At least that I can find, and I'm a pretty good searcher. Meanwhile, millions of people are trying to navigate the same thing I am.<br />
<br />
How could this be? How can millions of people struggle with something that not one person is writing about? And so I asked my wonderful assistant Erika who is also a friend I confide in, "Why is nobody writing on this? Is it not a need? Am I alone?" She responded that it's a huge need but nobody wants to write about it because they don't want to lose more than they are already losing. And she said I could probably write a bang up book about it and get a ton of readers, but also agreed -- I'd lose big time. Neither of us felt the loss was a good idea. So...<br />
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On some subjects I've written about I've "taken one for the team" so to speak and been the person who braved the inevitable loss enough to help other people. I gained a lot in catharsis and readers, and yet the losses were so painful.<br />
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I don't believe any writer is called to lose everything over and over and over again. You have to choose carefully what you risk everything for. I've taken risks to write and I'll do it again. Just not about every subject that comes along. But here's what I want to say about this today... <br />
<br />
When writers take a leap of courage to write on any sensitive subject, we need to appreciate them. When a writer takes one for the team, those whose lives are changed by their writing are one of the main rewards for all the loss they inevitably face. Not the only one - but one of the biggest. So when someone writes about something that requires tremendous bravery, let them know what a difference it has made for you.<br />
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Somewhere, there is a woman at her computer right now daring to write her story about going through and overcoming the current struggle I am also facing.<br />
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She is weighing the consequences.<br />
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She desperately wants to help people.<br />
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And yet she fears the aftermath.<br />
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She is in the process of making the choice to press forward to write about it.<br />
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I can't wait to read her book.<br />
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And, I am eager to write my letter of thanks.<br />
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I hope my note of appreciation for her taking the hit for all of us who need her words will be just one reason she smiles and says, "it was worth it."<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none;" /></a><br />
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Photo credit: Deanna Shrodes, taken at the Hemingway House in Key West. In Hemingway's writing studio.Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-33219335746184670122016-10-25T13:19:00.004-04:002016-10-25T13:23:40.600-04:005 Things to Do After a Big Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNfXzuFJjKNrfxOsE6klY1zsoA9J7wMap8aPomj6EZvi5HUDaH61N0wHA4Co_5MmKqm3hME5vhdY8mWW5Hj_anshBIfDXF0HP0JToySiWwYvDeefsMRltOHnPZN6YtQ0HuiMfYw/s1600/thrive+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNfXzuFJjKNrfxOsE6klY1zsoA9J7wMap8aPomj6EZvi5HUDaH61N0wHA4Co_5MmKqm3hME5vhdY8mWW5Hj_anshBIfDXF0HP0JToySiWwYvDeefsMRltOHnPZN6YtQ0HuiMfYw/s400/thrive+lights.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
THRIVE 2016 is now over and what a time it was! I am trying to be a better leader in the area of what to do AFTER an event that I lead. For most of my years in leadership and ministry, I would scarcely celebrate or focus at all on what just happened and would go bolting head first into the next event at 500 miles an hour. A few years ago I asked myself why. There was an urgency to get things done and get busy on the next thing. BUT, I realized I was doing myself and my team a disservice by racing into the next thing without celebrating the last thing.<br />
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<br />
This season is particularly challenging because I am leaving in two weeks with members of our team for Africa for 16 days. I feel an urgency to race ahead but I am holding myself back from doing that.<br />
<br />
Here are five things I've found it's important to do:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1) Celebrate </b></span><br />
<br />
I have observed that Pentecostals in particular seem to be not-so-good at this. I think part of it is the admonition that is banged into all of our heads to "give all the glory to God." Do we need to give God all the glory? Yes. We do. At the same time, God's people need to celebrate what He has done. And that includes celebrating what He has done through His people. We need to say, "Yay God!" and "Yay team!" and revel in the amazingness of what just happened. Don't rush the celebration. We were meant to enjoy God. To enjoy leading. To enjoy our team. To enjoy the results. It's okay to get excited and go a little crazy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2) Take time to thank people </b></span><br />
<br />
The larger the event the more time it will take. You won't thank everyone appropriately on the last day of the event or even the day after. Take time to write notes over the week or two following the event. Post on some Facebook walls and give kudos. Text and make phone calls. Nothing outstanding happens without teamwork, so appreciate your team.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BMKbK5j-Gy5EpQXU2XhMl9w9b13oa5MQ41pr9hcX4TQbKqBJTCEukAlWLfmJVeva8Z5oT3rGsGNP10tA3Y8IFOzNgi1Cnwt4M49pcnDnFmgPIudeRKhcW1N1rpDsaKmGV57Xtg/s1600/thrive+worship+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BMKbK5j-Gy5EpQXU2XhMl9w9b13oa5MQ41pr9hcX4TQbKqBJTCEukAlWLfmJVeva8Z5oT3rGsGNP10tA3Y8IFOzNgi1Cnwt4M49pcnDnFmgPIudeRKhcW1N1rpDsaKmGV57Xtg/s400/thrive+worship+16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3) Rest </b></span><br />
<br />
In years past, I got up at the crack of dawn the day after and showed up to church or the office the next day at regular time. It's getting harder and harder to do that at the speed I'm running and quite frankly it's a bad idea. So this time I made a change. Aside from two debriefings, I slept most of the time for the next 48 hours. That was necessary to gear up for the season I'm getting ready to walk through. If you want your leadership to be for the long haul and not a sprint, this is essential.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4) Solicit feedback </b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You won't sort through it all right away but start asking for it and prepare to listen and make appropriate changes. People who are afraid of feedback won’t reach their destiny.
Can they be successful? Yes. But they will not reach the potential for which
they were destined. If you aren't afraid of feedback and you will take it seriously, you are unstoppable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5) Know what's normal for this time</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you feel a little depressed? That's normal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you feel like you want to get away from people for a while? That's normal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you feel a little "snappy" or irritated when people ask you for things before you've had rest? That's normal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take care of you, so you can gear up for the next big thing. </div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-88446514050352650122016-10-18T06:00:00.000-04:002017-10-10T11:44:11.911-04:00I Will Not Be Surprised if a Bear, A Lion or an Uncircumcised Philistine Show Up At My Office Today! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
God knows my name.<br />
<br />
And on strategic weeks like this one - the week of the THRIVE Conference, I feel like every demon in hell knows my name too. <br />
<br />
Every year at this time, things come seemingly out of left field and pelt me until I feel like a wrung out dishrag. Souls are in the balance. The enemy is fighting hard. Last year at THRIVE over 50 women made decisions for Christ, several hundred women were filled with the Holy Spirit and there were too many healings to count. Believe me, satan (I refuse to capitalize the loser's name) is not happy about this. Our team has fasted for 30 days this year just as we did last year. I am not surprised that the hordes of hell seem to know where to find me. <br />
<br />
Fortunately I have some prayer warriors on speed dial. There is none greater than my Dad.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo-cbZT6F1Tagw9A8b2D9hUpmglzJRRLjkcpaXjeM3s4D1RVB9a4azKG99sj6qoMGHVhROu8uv-C-RuKM-OXTP1ktC2AStVTuQpj_N8pUO7R6wcTmipAcbpfKW6v6G30mfk2J0A/s1600/Dad+and+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo-cbZT6F1Tagw9A8b2D9hUpmglzJRRLjkcpaXjeM3s4D1RVB9a4azKG99sj6qoMGHVhROu8uv-C-RuKM-OXTP1ktC2AStVTuQpj_N8pUO7R6wcTmipAcbpfKW6v6G30mfk2J0A/s200/Dad+and+Me.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad and Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My father is a person who gets up really early every morning and goes into his "prayer room." (When the movie WAR ROOM came out, I told him, <i>"Dad there's a movie that just came out where the lead character is just like you, only she's a woman named Miss Clara..."</i>) This past year for Father's Day I got him a little "Armor of God" soldier to go in his prayer room. He loved it. He begins every day 365 days a year with bible study and prayer. I'm really glad especially on weeks like this one that I know my Dad is diligently praying for me. <br />
<br />
Yesterday after his early morning prayer time he sent me this message:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="null"><i>Deanna, <br /><br />In warfare preparation is 90 % of the battle.
We must think like the enemy... where is he going to hit? Where might he attack? How do I prepare for the attack? </i><br />
<br />
<i>Elisha, David, and Joshua are three examples of the importance of preparation.
When David was a lad he killed an attacking bear and lion to protect the flock. Then he heard of a 13 foot tall giant. He must have been thinking,"God helped me kill a bear and lion and he will help me kill the old uncircumcised philistine!"
We have to understand new levels new devils! David was anointed three times.. a prophet, a priest, and a king!
(1 Samuel 16:13,
2Samuel 2:4,
2 Samuel 5:3)</i><br />
<br />
<i>Elisha was a farmer who gave up all to follow Elijah.
He was Elijah's servant.
He was fully prepared and received a double portion of Elijah's anointing.
Although we find ourselves in a long war, we can get stronger while at the same time, the enemy gets weaker. 1 Thessalonians 1:8
Stand fast in the Lord!
We can stand because of His grace Romans 5:2.
1Corinthians 16:13 </i><br />
<br />
<i>Standing in the battle includes watching, being courageous, and being strong. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Know God has this and YOU! </i><br />
<br />
<i>Love Dad</i></span></blockquote>
<span class="null"></span><br />
<br />
No matter what lands on my doorstep at home or work today , I know God has it and He has me.<br />
<br />
God has you too. I asked my Dad to pray this morning for anyone reading this who may be facing a battle today. He said he would be glad to pray last night and this morning for all of you.<br />
<br />
Know that someone cares, and you are covered. <br />
<br />
<div class="_1yr">
<span class="_2oy"></span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-4747694322410390242016-10-17T07:54:00.000-04:002016-10-17T07:54:58.257-04:00Everybody is Losing Something<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpJHMKZx-tuHmlZHimxdWeO8tYp8U4dtsy8zO9xzNz7jhRGvm39X4MTatyrBverNhe3Yk7Dm_2ei-aie7tllZVkr6sIZQeaeHGpgjZdmf1JGtUUE3cXffOurvVVv8zMjASdcYNg/s1600/Maddie+and+Momma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpJHMKZx-tuHmlZHimxdWeO8tYp8U4dtsy8zO9xzNz7jhRGvm39X4MTatyrBverNhe3Yk7Dm_2ei-aie7tllZVkr6sIZQeaeHGpgjZdmf1JGtUUE3cXffOurvVVv8zMjASdcYNg/s320/Maddie+and+Momma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with our dog, Maddie. We lost her last year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pick a person. Any person.<br />
<br />
Have their name in mind?<br />
<br />
Now, consider what they recently lost. It could be a job, a family member, a pet or a home. They may have experienced a miscarriage. Perhaps they are staring the empty nest in the face. Their beloved co-worker may have retired or transferred. The office will never be the same. It could be something as simple as their daily routine being lost. There
is the loss of the familiar and comforting rhythm of the day. Perhaps the worst losses are sudden ones.<br />
<br />
Everybody is facing a loss of some kind. And it's hard. Life is filled with loss after loss.<br />
<br />
I know there are gains.<br />
<br />
And yet there are still losses.<br />
<br />
You say..."Well, don't focus on the losses...be positive." We need to be positive and at the same time losses still have to be processed. If we don't handle them right we can actually get sick in more ways than one.<br />
<br />
Be kind. Everybody out there is losing something and it hurts.<br />
<br />
<br />
Proceed today with the understanding that the whole world needs hugs and lots of them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-73978717829469456972016-10-16T17:30:00.003-04:002016-10-16T17:30:27.295-04:00Apparently "It's going to be okay" is code for "You're Not Going to Die" (Unless you do and then there's a response for that as well...)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLAF16BD-_hCE8r1RsEZm2j47ykAy5PLccKvJv4VFiVRzuwa1J09GV-XLPZ84CKxjw15QmSkt3UMOZQXARWton-5eNm9WfAaPwLr2G9lTj2dJISHtYskEM67u40kytWqjRiy4pA/s1600/Good+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLAF16BD-_hCE8r1RsEZm2j47ykAy5PLccKvJv4VFiVRzuwa1J09GV-XLPZ84CKxjw15QmSkt3UMOZQXARWton-5eNm9WfAaPwLr2G9lTj2dJISHtYskEM67u40kytWqjRiy4pA/s400/Good+friends.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>"It's going to be okay..."</i><br />
<br />
This phrase has been said to all of us.<br />
<br />
But what is "okay"? <br />
<br />
I've come to believe it means, "You're not going to die."<br />
<br />
Other challenging things may take place. Your body or your (emotional) heart may be crushed into a million pieces...BUT...at least you're not going to die.<br />
<br />
Except when you die. And then people change directions. "It's okay! He/she still wins because they are with Jesus." And, "They are actually MORE than okay because now they are walking on the streets of gold," etc.<br />
<br />
I understand why people say this. For the Christian, it's true. And at the same time, it's hard when people tell you that it's going to be okay and it doesn't feel okay, at least for a while. Maybe a long while.<br />
<br />
That is the reality for some people at this very moment. Their pain cannot be explained away by a Hallmark card ("Everything happens for a reason...") or some Christianese. ("God never puts any more on us than we can bear...") Did you know that <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200207/when-depression-hurts">people actually feel the pain of depression in their body?</a><br />
<br />
What would it be like if, when it's not going to be okay, people would put an arm around you, hold your hand and say, "You're right, this is going to be hard, but I'll be right here with you."<br />
<br />
What would it be like to have someone simply hold you through the storm?<br />
<br />
What would it be like to have someone tell you the truth no matter how painful it is, and then walk through it with you?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-70984425683650183042016-10-15T13:54:00.002-04:002016-10-15T13:56:22.307-04:00When Your Problem Doesn't Budge No Matter How Hard You Work <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gAg92fDetoYLwCMWiwsA1fFFsXnRWaxKT_p5nM8RFino4A2-oJQmoJkDXX5uRnXwun-_uyBPh-sKNu871hCKH2Tcsd2D0lfKEY2XcmLZ_CZ6soDhgEgQimrxHHhu-n2D5_52Dg/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gAg92fDetoYLwCMWiwsA1fFFsXnRWaxKT_p5nM8RFino4A2-oJQmoJkDXX5uRnXwun-_uyBPh-sKNu871hCKH2Tcsd2D0lfKEY2XcmLZ_CZ6soDhgEgQimrxHHhu-n2D5_52Dg/s320/IMG_2871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometimes we face a situation that doesn't move forward not matter how hard we work. This is frustrating for a leader. (Everything can be solved by working hard, right? lol ) There are some things we can't work out - we just need to walk them out and wait them out. <br />
<br />
This week, I came upon this quote about waiting:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work." ~ Peter Marshall </i></blockquote>
<br />
It's so true! It's much harder for me to wait than work. I don't mind work - in fact I love it. I could work all the day long and if all my problems could have been solved by working they would have been solved long ago.<br />
<br />
So...regarding the problems that appear stuck in the mud of life, I have to ask, "What is to be gained in all this?" God must be accomplishing something in me during the wait. It is the Word of God, so I believe it and...for my own sanity I believe it.<br />
<br />
Whatever it is that I'm supposed to learn - may I learn it as quickly as possible.<br />
<br />
I come into agreement with the psalmist who said, <i>"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:13-14</i><br />
<br />
My heart goes out today to anyone reading this who has worked tirelessly on a problem that will not budge. I pray that God does His work quickly, that you learn what you must, and that the problems are opportunities that open marvelous doors. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-88923082521123894052016-09-12T06:00:00.000-04:002016-09-12T09:37:50.666-04:00Leaders: These Two Things Matter a Lot!<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvtE3s4rJwAbWIhWzN3nJo4TvLcw4jJkKbQSiNxIqQITqb0kA9_0BrfvekeJvv1G7eWZ5lDC2WS7tgEADM7tqOo818MPBs1hdMHEly5HVW2376VQtZR9NKDMBSJtH5WlB9op2yA/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvtE3s4rJwAbWIhWzN3nJo4TvLcw4jJkKbQSiNxIqQITqb0kA9_0BrfvekeJvv1G7eWZ5lDC2WS7tgEADM7tqOo818MPBs1hdMHEly5HVW2376VQtZR9NKDMBSJtH5WlB9op2yA/s400/IMG_3387.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) People are<b> the way they are</b> for a reason.</div>
<div>
2) People are <b>where they are</b> for a reason.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These are two principles you can count on. <br />
<br />
Some people may
disagree with me and say, "But what about grace and mercy? Doesn't that have an affect on the way people are or where they are?" I've taken that
into account with these two principles. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Regarding
#1............<br />
<br />
Watch others closely and you will discover
<b>why</b> people are the way they are. Particularly if you observe their
passion, you will find out. For instance, I'm really passionate about
leadership health. Anyone who talks to me for more than about five
minutes about leadership will find that out. Dig deeper and you'll
discover that my parents were/are both leaders in the church whose
marriage crumbled in dysfunction. That affected me in a big way and now
leadership health is something I'm relentless about. I want leaders to be healthy personally, behind closed doors so that they can have a God-honoring family and make the biggest impact on the world.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Observe people and you'll see...there's an underlying reason <b>why they are the way they are</b>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Regarding
#2............<br />
<br />
People <b>are where they are</b> <b>for a reason.</b> Because of the amazing grace and mercy of God, we don't always get what we deserve for the choices we have made. There are times we don't bear the <i>full</i> ramifications for what we do. However -
<b>what we repeatedly choose to do matters</b>. Daily habits matter. (Everything from punctuality to reliability to using wisdom with our finances.) Small daily decisions make a big impact.<br />
<br />
If you have made wrong choices, no
matter how far you have veered off from God's plan the moment you make
the right choice, He starts orchestrating things on your behalf to bring
you to where you are supposed to be.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">However -- it is undeniable that daily choices matter. What we choose to repeatedly do or
not do has an effect on where we end up. </span></i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keeping
these two principles in mind, we would all do well to ask ourselves what we are <b>repeatedly</b> doing.<br />
<br />
The opportunities that will come our way in
life and responsibility and trust we are given is greatly determined by <b>what
we repeat.</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-3826195728586906172016-09-08T08:00:00.000-04:002016-09-08T08:00:30.482-04:00What Do You Think You Don't Need?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQegcllquR7dedQF-34eyTmhGFy0iXmB340UAd9MHLv7blqvrKAtk9nlEMCXDqShZ9FC4HII2DJuC8kCvg3oIp0yms1RLK0H4gMcYeZ9_oJD7mNPxvloLp20Ci6dxEBvJJmVrA/s1600/cruise+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQegcllquR7dedQF-34eyTmhGFy0iXmB340UAd9MHLv7blqvrKAtk9nlEMCXDqShZ9FC4HII2DJuC8kCvg3oIp0yms1RLK0H4gMcYeZ9_oJD7mNPxvloLp20Ci6dxEBvJJmVrA/s320/cruise+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Before we left for our recent vacation I was perusing Amazon, purchasing
a few books to put on to my Kindle. I came across a book that lots of friends had recommended and my immediate thought was,
"that's not for me." For some reason I was convinced that all the
advice this author gives couldn't possibly apply to me in my current
season.<br />
<br />
It's a good thing I had second thoughts and bought the book
anyway. Here's something to think about. Whatever it is that you think
you don't need in many cases is EXACTLY what you need. Whatever you
think couldn't possibly apply to you is EXACTLY what applies to you many
times. Whatever you think you don't need to talk about is EXACTLY what
you need to talk about.<br />
<br />
Whatever it is that you are resisting so
hard...it's probably long overdue for you to do something about.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-12559229480269952632016-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:002016-08-22T08:08:57.769-04:00Are You Open or Closed? (Your Future Depends On It!)"I'm about to say something..." my assistant Erika said apprehensively, as if to warn me of something I didn't want to hear. What followed was something she thought I needed to hear for my own good. She was right, but I would have been fine with her telling me long before this conversation we had last week.<br />
<br />
"You could have already told me that! Why didn't you speak up sooner?" I said.<br />
<br />
She was relieved.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nRta_nJemNldyb8HPi4rgyiTehGIRE7YRknsQNou9WNDR2eSqyeVp4z7yJIwNoATkMfhj2llfYX30a_2zuuujpv0fHaU6H37GR4YqgrIePFIqnRkd-ggDXKIm3MMq098lVlwg/s1600/Deanna+Erika+Celebration+FL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nRta_nJemNldyb8HPi4rgyiTehGIRE7YRknsQNou9WNDR2eSqyeVp4z7yJIwNoATkMfhj2llfYX30a_2zuuujpv0fHaU6H37GR4YqgrIePFIqnRkd-ggDXKIm3MMq098lVlwg/s400/Deanna+Erika+Celebration+FL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After letting her know I was grateful for the input and was going to change things, I became concerned that maybe there was a deeper issue. I thought maybe Erika thought she couldn't tell me the things I need to hear. So I brought it up again later saying, "Did you not think you could tell me that?" She said she did feel that she could tell me things like this without a problem, but she appreciated the conversation.<br />
<br />
Andy Stanley says that leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. I believe that's true.<br />
<br />
An important point to make is that it isn't wise to listen to just anyone. Wrong voices lead to wrong choices. It is prudent to choose well and then listen to those who surround us. If we are wise we will listen not only the people who lead us or those with authority -- but those who work with us and for us.<br />
<br />
Erika and I have had some deep conversations about what various people's lives would look like if they were truly open to hearing what about them needs to change. What would a person's potential be if they were willing to hear about any weakness or blind spot without offense? What could their future look like if they stripped themselves of insecurity and pride and allowed someone to speak into their life and then made a change? <br />
<br />
I made some significant changes last week due to Erika and another leader in my inner circle speaking into my life. I'm better for it today. My only hope is that next time they tell me sooner so I can listen sooner! What about you?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-39427998373860038362016-08-15T06:00:00.000-04:002016-08-15T08:34:21.858-04:00Talent Is Never Enough<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkawti_LqEO2Yazb6Ykp-9HLs_FbQqRJs0UlDVZrPTwJQoMj8PvfGoBdecvhoRzVWWTCnqsLtzb3lWrvQjR4JMVtYheHyXuEhsRmmFfRY4l2CmgFwcW7eydMq7FcU_jC6cxOoFg/s1600/Little+piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkawti_LqEO2Yazb6Ykp-9HLs_FbQqRJs0UlDVZrPTwJQoMj8PvfGoBdecvhoRzVWWTCnqsLtzb3lWrvQjR4JMVtYheHyXuEhsRmmFfRY4l2CmgFwcW7eydMq7FcU_jC6cxOoFg/s1600/Little+piano.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, this is me. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I was in Bible College music students were required to do juries where we would perform for two or three music professors and receive a grade. I love playing and singing and have done it
since I was four years old. But I but dreaded juries. The reason for my
disdain was my lack of skill with music theory. Theory doesn't come naturally to me, but playing by ear is something as natural to me as breathing. Although I've taken
lessons over the course of my life, the majority of what I know was
learned by ear and watching other musicians and gleaning from them. My earliest experience with
learning to play the piano consisted of listening to 33 records of
groups like the Happy Goodman Family. Soon I could go up and down the
keyboard with ease, but not by looking at a piece of music. This isn't
exactly the skill set needed to do a music jury in college. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I
will never forget what happened to me during one of those dreaded juries. I came into the room and played for three professors and
realized I was woefully inadequate for the task assigned, although I
gave it my best. Moments later, Professor Betty Palma asked me to play
something that I would do for church. I did so and was in my sweet spot. But, I knew it wasn't what they were looking for. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At
the end of the song, Professor Palma said to me, "Deanna, you're going
to do well in church music. And here's why. You have the skill set to
play, particularly in a Pentecostal church service. You are a very talented by ear player. But more than that
-- you never fail to be where you are supposed to be when you are
supposed to be there, and on time. You are always properly dressed for the occasion.
And, you give your all to whatever you do. You are not the greatest at
music theory or classical styles, but all of these other things will make up for what you
don't have and you will succeed."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She was right.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know a plethora of talented people but they aren't going where they want to go with that talent. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It could be any number of things...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They are rarely if ever on time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They make a lot of excuses.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
They don't realize there is a proper time and place for everything. (i.e. what to wear for the occasion)<br />
<br />
They don't understand authority.<br />
<br />
They are not teachable.<br />
<br />
They are not a team player. <br />
<br />
They don't respect the culture of the place where they work/minister.<br />
<br />
They lack common sense.<br />
<br />
They lack manners. <br />
<br />
They don't give their best to every endeavor. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You might be really talented, but talent is not enough. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What, if anything is holding you back? (Hint: It's probably not someone else.) </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none; border: 0pt currentColor;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-24880972018043313852016-08-08T06:00:00.000-04:002017-10-10T11:44:51.714-04:00Leading From a Deep Well<div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
My assistant
Erika was talking to me one day and said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I've
learned something about you. You lead from a very deep well." </i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Her
comment gave me pause for thought and I recognized a few things I do
on a regular basis regarding this that might help someone.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stay Thirsty</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Effective
leaders have a thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and improvement. Not a day
goes by when I'm not pursuing these three things. It comes in the form
of books, podcasts, classes and personal conversation. It's not by
happenstance, but by a relentless pursuit. Each day I
receive various insights that fill me, however my favorite times are
those when I receive so much that it's like a Big Gulp. Those times
would be occasions like spending a few hours or a day with a trusted
mentor, or attending a leadership conference.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Resist the Urge to Rest in What You Know and What You Do</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A
leader can become so knowledgeable on a subject they think they know
everything there is to know about it. Particularly when you are
experiencing extraordinary success in an area, you can start to think
it's alright to settle down right where you're at and rest on your
laurels. Even if you become the greatest in the world at something, there's still
something to learn. (There's a reason Tiger Woods practices as much as he
does.) <br />
<br />
Last week I was in the Louisville airport and stopped by one of the stores
on the way to the gate. There was a book on leadership on one of the
shelves, and I spontaneously bought it and read it on the flight home.
There are entire shelves of books on leadership in my home and two
offices. There are many more than most people would ever think
necessary. But many more books will join those in the future. I'm not
settled in what I know about leadership or about anything. There's so
much more to explore. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I read books I make it a habit to
underline, write in the margins and compile lists of takeaways I want to
put into practice. One time a very sincere Christian man said something
to me at church that I never forgot. "Pastor Deanna," he said, "My wife
loves self-improvement books. She has so many of these Christian
self-improvement books by all the popular authors, we don't even have a
place to put them all. She devours them and can't wait to go out and buy
more. But for all those books that she has read over all the many years
of our marriage, I can't say that I've ever seen a change in her
related to any one of those books. Is that normal?" This man's question
caused me to think critically, not about his wife, but about myself! I
sincerely asked myself if I was a woman addicted to reading Christian
self-improvement or leadership books - but never applied any of the knowledge from
them. Information without application brings no transformation. Reading books doesn't accomplish anything unless you follow up
with steps of action.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Drink From the Right Places</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Multiple people have offered to provide me with resources, coach or
mentor me. But everyone who makes that offer doesn't exemplify who or what I
want to follow. I'm not looking to end up where they're at, so receiving from their well isn't the best idea. There are a plethora of
resources and people to receive from. Make sure what you're filling up
on is going to lead you to where you want to end up. Take advice from
people who have actually accomplished what you're trying to do. There
are an awful lot of people trying to take people to places they've never
been. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are only so many people you can
realistically be in a relationship with. Choose carefully to end up with a
deep well that contains exactly what you want it to be full of to pour
out to those around you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net</span>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-38592525333595336682016-08-02T06:00:00.000-04:002016-08-02T06:43:16.969-04:00Five Thoughts I Have at 50 <div>
These aren't my only thoughts of course, but a few random ones I had yesterday while on a flight and took time to jot down.<br />
<br />
1) I'm really glad I made it to this point. Some people despise growing older but these days my prevailing thought is, "I've made it to this point!!!" From a young age, I had a sense that time was running out. Even as a child I felt an urgency that there was a small window of time to make a difference in the world. On my Grandma's porch, she had a sign that said, "Only one life twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." I try to live every year like it's my last. I make a big deal over my goals (I call them 'Investments') every year. If some people knew they had a year to live, they would quit their job, take all their money and travel the world and relax. Not me. I'll be working hard on many things until the day I go to heaven, whenever that is.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
2) I've stopped having anxiety over how long I'm going to be here. I used to be so worried about it. I would get heart palpitations or break out in a sweat thinking about it. Then one day my dad said to me, "You will be here as long as God wants you here" and backed it up with a scripture. That was it. I stopped worrying. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3) The longer I live the more I realize there is that I don't know and the more I try to keep an open mind. Not to a crazy point where I am believing that O.J. is innocent or that wrestling is real. But yes, an open mind.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4) Compassion grows the older I get. And I have discovered "compassion fatigue" is a real thing. But God is more real.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5) Bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, and all those type of things have no place in the life of a Christian, and they will kill the productiveness of someone trying to do things for God. I need ALL my energy to get done what God has asked me to do. Those sins can sap my strength more than anything. They are so heavy. It really is okay to LET GO and let God decide the outcome. You know what I find out, the more I live life? When I let go, and the other person never makes things right - it seems they eventually go through things that are unexpected and sad. And because I surrendered to God on the matter and prayed for the person -- I find myself actually feeling sorry for them. It surprises me when I begin to feel love and compassion. Try it, I think you'll see I'm right.</div>
</div>
Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34244281.post-14624856401150118912016-07-19T06:00:00.000-04:002016-07-19T09:01:00.850-04:00When The Walls Speak To You <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b-U6_H9KGDGqSKCT8LOnc0nLuJBz_N74XY0ay7SL0KNxQDZcGG_vYZ0v5Glfz55Aoch3Li9eajsRJ6Mj81AIInoOlYjA2TQpNpklejuk5jfgahtuIU-Mc-uQJP631Ropke247A/s1600/Fight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b-U6_H9KGDGqSKCT8LOnc0nLuJBz_N74XY0ay7SL0KNxQDZcGG_vYZ0v5Glfz55Aoch3Li9eajsRJ6Mj81AIInoOlYjA2TQpNpklejuk5jfgahtuIU-Mc-uQJP631Ropke247A/s640/Fight.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Dustin moved out on Sunday night.<br />
<br />
I always expected I would break down and sob when this happened.<br />
Instead, I was too preoccupied with the tasks at hand, to have a meltdown.<br />
I'm sure Dustin was grateful. <br />
<br />
Since there was only a day to get the room ready for Lexi and Brody to move in, I had to get busy. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2e6sMWgbt-2j8uPWoUGdtaA8_JYs5ogLfzTsmozT-Jph9LlzLA1f0LDB594Yd8n8rKQaMugbm4oltsxgoBtbNcGNxkMIZuYgwDuyC1aK7DKTKjUi5TCpjoWiAPtFriA4IevU1Q/s1600/reborn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2e6sMWgbt-2j8uPWoUGdtaA8_JYs5ogLfzTsmozT-Jph9LlzLA1f0LDB594Yd8n8rKQaMugbm4oltsxgoBtbNcGNxkMIZuYgwDuyC1aK7DKTKjUi5TCpjoWiAPtFriA4IevU1Q/s320/reborn.JPG" width="240" /></a>Everyone knows how much I adore Dustin. Not that I don't adore all my kids, for I do! However, everyone remarks about how much Dustin and I are alike and it's true. <br />
<br />
We are both INFJ's.<br />
Musicians.<br />
Poets. <br />
Preachers.<br />
Writers.<br />
<br />
We both crave quiet spaces and places.<br />
Being away from noise.<br />
Out in the woods.<br />
Books.<br />
We are hard working people. (Neither of us can stand laziness.) <br />
<br />
We both go to the wall for what we believe.<br />
We'd die for it. <br />
<br />
We're both deeply introspective introverts.<br />
We interact with people when we need to in order to lead.<br />
<br />
Because we can't help but lead.<br />
It's in our blood.<br />
In our bones. <br />
<br />
We came out of the womb a few decades apart, ready to change the world.<br />
<br />
The list goes on and on of the similarities.<br />
<br />
I'll miss him so much on a daily basis, coming in the door and feeling his fuzzy cheek as he brushes mine with a kiss while he's heading for the fridge to get a drink at the end of the day. But it's not like he's gone. He just moved into a staff apartment right down the road. (And, he answered my phone call even quicker than he normally does, when I called yesterday. So I take this as a good sign. I think he'll come home sometimes, especially when he really wants chicken casserole.)<br />
<br />
While I was cleaning his room in preparation for Lexi and Brody to arrive, I couldn't help but read what was on the walls while I wiped them down.<br />
<br />
A prolific writer, he chose to put favorite quotes or important reminders - scriptural and otherwise - to himself on the walls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfR5d2OTi15ZRUcScGGxDC7NQbOjEtYkVOm-7VszeaP1LhD_k5cb-IgFHP70RcMT8H3FsiU9PhhpaC4DQUo2isN2EOE9MK8UFu53wspIKHfFvNZPUdwqmlUWTTyg-3FZ8tycfaQ/s1600/Dustin+Scip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfR5d2OTi15ZRUcScGGxDC7NQbOjEtYkVOm-7VszeaP1LhD_k5cb-IgFHP70RcMT8H3FsiU9PhhpaC4DQUo2isN2EOE9MK8UFu53wspIKHfFvNZPUdwqmlUWTTyg-3FZ8tycfaQ/s640/Dustin+Scip.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I could see where he had times of inspiration and just pulled out a marker and wrote something to encourage himself. I love that.<br />
<br />
He truly is a man after God's own heart.<strike></strike><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVifymVS9s4ylpz5v1BIchfcmyRor7b1-DDlrFrEPMyk0XTL5vODVu3HSI5GNtI-a4aisc7HKl0mRbXnFj1LPQYg3PJwWbITYUY7Yj2SChtY_57-tZ74QbvHaKNHO5tMBrZlEFQ/s1600/better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVifymVS9s4ylpz5v1BIchfcmyRor7b1-DDlrFrEPMyk0XTL5vODVu3HSI5GNtI-a4aisc7HKl0mRbXnFj1LPQYg3PJwWbITYUY7Yj2SChtY_57-tZ74QbvHaKNHO5tMBrZlEFQ/s640/better.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've read the walls countless times before but it was different this time, reading them after he was gone. I was reminded again of what an amazing young man he is.<br />
<br />
I'm so proud of him, and I know the best is yet to come, for him...for Lexi and the children and for all of us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vHso1luvWhS8j29TRN0zGbvfdtDUA4ePUwjx9rd8WY27Zvk8jkPQtHtTxolKRj42qQHp0igo5kM4Pe36pW7K42d3raX9zoCiGDzivsF4GbLwlkeuGVPl4HTOtlGrP-o8bxOxA/s1600/fly+higher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vHso1luvWhS8j29TRN0zGbvfdtDUA4ePUwjx9rd8WY27Zvk8jkPQtHtTxolKRj42qQHp0igo5kM4Pe36pW7K42d3raX9zoCiGDzivsF4GbLwlkeuGVPl4HTOtlGrP-o8bxOxA/s640/fly+higher.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
What an incredible man occupied this room.<br />
<br />
He left a legacy for those coming after him.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/370/840F5D741F3D3B678D6BDB05F2AFEC32.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Dr. Deanna DossShrodeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651422170585497480noreply@blogger.com0