Deanna Doss Shrodes

"Depression hung over me like a black cloud...and it was hard to find my way out at the time..." These were my words during a sermon a few years ago and afterwards a lady rushed up to me and said, "you mean YOU were actually depressed? Because I can't even imagine that. You seem so...together... " Truth be told, all of us go through hard times. And all of us have rotten days. Me included. I happen to be having a good day today. But a while back I was having an absolutely horrible day. And because so many people seem to think people like me never have bad days like they do, I got the brilliant idea, "I'm going to video record my bad day!!!" Yes, I know that's kind of bizarre but I have a passion to share transparently with people.That's why this blog is about transparently leading and relating from a faith perspective. So I did what was for me, a courageous thing. I recorded scenes during 24 hours...even waking up in the morni...

Are you waiting for something to be restored? I understand. I'm waiting too. I heard the story of a preacher who was awakened one night by the enemy. Evidently a few demons were trying to mess with him and they started shaking the bed and actually moved it across the room. He commanded them to stop in the name of Jesus and they did. But after thinking about it a moment he said, "Hold on...first, PUT IT BACK in the name of Jesus!!" The demons put the bed back in it's original position, and left. Then satisfied that things were restored to their rightful place, the preacher went to sleep. For a while now I've been saying to the enemy PUT IT BACK IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Permission to be perfectly honest here? Sometimes I struggle between saying put it back, and the fact that some people say it may be time to accept a new normal. There are people who would counsel people in this situation to grieve the past, accept the loss, and move on. If moving on...

This is Ernest Hemingway's kitchen. I took this photo when I was there touring the house in Key West a few months ago. Next to his writing studio, it's my favorite room in the house. It sort of reminded me of my grandmother's kitchen. The appliances and cabinets looked like the ones she had back in the day. With all the amazing things at Hemingway's estate, from the beautiful pool to the gardens, one might wonder why I was in love with the kitchen. Well, it just looks so normal.  Because of that normalcy, I could picture myself in it. I could imagine writing a book and taking a break to come down to this quaint little kitchen to make a sandwich.  Do you visualize your dream like I do mine? What about taking it another step from visualizing to realizing? Hemingway was just a man.  He put his pants on one leg at a time, just like I do. Well, I wear dresses most of the time, but you know... At some point he just had to get to work doing what ...

The life of a writer can be really rollercoasterish (I'm aware that's not a word) and if you let it get to you, it could put you permanently between a case of Prozac and a dozen donuts. Lucky for me Dunkin Donuts is less than a mile away. Remember yesterday when I talked about there always being a next? Well, I know what I'm talking about, from experience. They say a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. I think that works for a woman too.  I'm sure there's always a next. As sure as Chick-fil-A has the best iced tea... As sure as this presidential election has shaped up to be the lamest ever... I'm confident, absolutely sure , 100% positively certain there is a next. Are you breathing? Then there's something for you to do next.  You're never, ever through. Even when you die, you're not through. No, that wasn't a typo. You aren't through when you're physically dead, because you will live forev...

My daughter and I had a special evening to ourselves last night. I took her to a Chinese restaurant, at her request. At the end of the meal we got our fortune cookies and both of us noted that we never eat the cookies and instead simply enjoy the message inside. As soon as I opened my message (above), Savanna wanted to take a picture of it. This holds meaning for everyone -- for Savanna, for me and for you. And best of all it's biblical. "A man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men." Proverbs 18:16 Faithfulness is where it's at. Promotion comes as we stay true in being a good steward of our time, talent, and treasure. It may seem like nothing is happening. But as you stay faithful, realize that everything is happening. You can't see what's taking place but rest assured, a divine shift is occurring. Be faithful in the times where you feel like things are at a standstill. Eventually a time comes when you realize all that God...

Without His strength, I'd be done. It would be game over...

 "Definition of overnight success---Endless nights, early morning, long weekends, books, mentors, working when no else tells you to or watching, failing more times than you succeed, wanting to quit over and over, yet not doing it and working toward continuous improvement.   I am an overnight success."  ~  Keith Frein  

People have weird ideas about success.  Most people who have achieved anything worthwhile pretty much have to go through hell and back to get there.   And, ever notice that some people think they should be able to achieve in two weeks or even a few years what it took those who have gone before them a reaaaaaaallly long time to accomplish? Crazy.  As the famous opera singer Beverly Sills once said, "There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going."

I'm about to share with you the number one key to having a fantastic weekend each and every weekend. Without fail. Really!  But first...I want to share some things that are going to put this weekend over the top for me. This weekend Celebration Church concludes our "First Forty." We have been on a 40 day fast plus much more (scripture memorization, intensified prayer, etc.) and we are ending it in a huge way -- kicking it off with one of our Prayer and Pancakes events. Then we have Evangelist Martha Tennison with us on Sunday. She's one of THE best preachers who have ever walked the face of the earth. If you have never heard her preach, click here . Two things are for sure, you will never be bored nor fall asleep when you sit in a service where Martha Tennison is preaching! I can't hardly wait for Sunday. On the heels of our sure-to-be-amazing-celebration with the church on Sunday, Larry and I will head to New Smyrna Beach to tag team preach on Sunday night. ...

Do you wish you would have had the confidence in middle school that you have now? Maybe you don't have as much confidence as you would like to have right now as an adult, but you probably have more than you had as a pre-teen or a teen. Are you ready to face your fears? Each week I'm confronted with this question as my walking partner Liz and I are out on our journey in the neighborhood. On our walk we stop at "Bold Venture Dr." and turn around and go back home. We didn't pick this street because of the name. We simply chose it as our turnaround point because of the timing of our walk. But each time we see the sign, it reminds me of what most people do. Most people get to the edge of a bold venture and turn around and go home. They go home because thinking big is scary. Bold ventures aren't anything you are totally prepared for, have figured out completely, or have the power to do all on your own. When Liz and I go on walks, I reach Bold Venture and...

Yesterday someone asked me the same question I've been asked so many times..."how do you do it all?" There are many answers to this question however to begin this post today I'll say two things: 1) I don't do it all. 2) What I do manage to get done consistently begins the same way. I get started. It's not always easy to get started for an abundance of reasons. Many people don't like to get started because starting means you might do something and fail. Other people realize the great amount of work something significant will take and they dread it. It comes down to ~ do you want to do something or not? You can't do it all, but you can do something. So what are you going to do? "All glory comes from daring to begin." ~ Eugene F. Ware

Surrendering your schedule to God is so important for two reasons. First, the most important thing we do in all of the roles we carry is to point people to Him.  Second, seeing the hand of God move in hearts and lives makes the mundane or difficult things we go through worth it all. Tuesdays are very busy days for me and my working day doesn't typically end until late as I'm doing a full day of ministry stuff and coaching.  On Tuesday nights I always have a meeting with my boss Kathryn to give a report on all my job seekers and assignments. Last night I called and she  said she was still on the phone with a client, and asked if I had the flexibility in my schedule to give her 30 minutes grace. I was thrilled because I realized I could squeeze in time to ride my bike at sunset. I said, "Can I have 35 minutes because my bike route takes exactly that long..." She said, " take all the time you need, you're doing me a favor..."  I was pedaling along...

This is Steve Martin's business card. It's different. I really love it.  I've been considering what's going to go on my new business cards that I use exclusively for writing. This post yesterday was really timely in helping me to develop my ideas. Different is good. The world has so much of the same. God didn't create you to just blend in. Stop blending in and embrace different.

 If you think something and it has the power to increase someone in any way, say it now. Say it today. Say it to them. Don't wait a second longer. You never know how that word may affect them. It may bring healing to their soul. It may change the trajectory of their career. It may convince them to keep going with a worthy goal they considered giving up on. It may just save their life. Say it, and say it now.  Text them. Tweet them. Facebook them. E-mail them. Stop by their house. Do what it takes, and do it now. Lately when the Lord has brought a friend to my mind and impressed upon me to pray for them, I communicate with them right then while I'm praying. Sometimes it's at 3 am. I don't call and wake them up of course, but I send a message for them to find when they wake up. Many of them have told me it's one of the best thing that's ever happened to them. Others have said, "you have no idea how this changed the course of my week." Don...