Deanna Doss Shrodes

Landing on someone else's blog last night as I was reading before bedtime, I was delighted by what I found. "Oh my gosh, who IS this chick? We think exactly a like! Seriously. I think I found my new best friend..." I was all excited. I had found my literary clone. I wondered if she also liked bike riding and dark roast coffee. I was about to announce myself to her via the comment section with a link to one of my recent posts. I was ready to co-write a post with her and let the wonder-twin power activate, when I scrolled down, only to be devastated... The blogger was quoting ME in her post. It was me I found. Darn. Then I realized it may be a confirmation. My therapist recently told me that I need to be content in my own company -- to finally be my own best friend. So there you go. Just as quick as I lost my new best friend last night, I found her.

Happy Sunday!! Anyone enjoying the cinnamon banana oatmeal recipe I posted yesterday ? Yummo!   Today I'm blogging at a place dear to my heart ~ Lost Daughters , where I'm the Spiritual Columnist. The topic is: The Beauty of Coming Out of the Fog and Finally Being True to Ourselves. If you'd like to follow me there, c'mon over! Either way, have a FAB-ulous day! Mine will be super busy with church and a newcomers gathering at our home. I always enjoy these nights of welcoming people into our home and the church family.  This is day 28 of the church 40-day fast. God has been breaking through in some areas we've long prayed for. I can hardly wait to see what He's going to do today!  

Many of the people who read my writing each day do so at my other blog and I'm new to them. I've only been out of the adoption closet since August 13, 2012 -- sharing at Lost Daughters , and blogging at my own adoptee site since January 1, 2013 . So many people who read my adoption writings think I'm a brand new blogger. I hear, "Wow Deanna, you're doing pretty well for being brand new at this." Well, actually, I'm an old blogger. In more ways than one. Peri-menopause bites. I've been blogging here every day for over six years and before that I blogged on MySpace. (Yes, seriously...lol)  Along the way people have noticed how much I love blogging and asked me to write a few articles about it, as well as teach a workshop or two. This past week I answered some mail about blogging and I thought I'd offer a few helps here today on the blog for those who may have interest.

Writing unhindered! Oh yes! This week while we've been in the Berkshires, and even while in travel, I've enjoyed writing. It's been so nice to do my favorite thing (aside from family) without distractions. Usually I have to fit writing around the rest of my work life. If I don't get up early or stay up late, it wouldn't happen. It's been amazing to have a week where I didn't have to fight to do it. One day I have a dream of taking a writing trip. This would be something I'd do by myself, otherwise I wouldn't end up writing. It would turn into something else no matter how well intentioned or valuable. (There is great value in marriage or family activities.) So yesterday was a one month celebration for me, of my new blog, Adoptee Restoration . In just 31 days it exceeded all the dreams I had for the beginning. I am so grateful to everyone who has read there, and been part of the conversation. I've been blogging here for almost 7 years, most...

"You don't write because you want to say something; You write because you have something to say."                                           ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald So, you have something to say. Are you saying it? If not, why? What makes you afraid about saying it? Identifying what makes you afraid is really important. When you identify your fears you can deal with them, and move on with the call to share what God has placed in your heart. Sometimes fears are realistic, other times not. Whether or not, God never intended fear to stop us because fear is not of Him. Just because fear is not of Him doesn't mean that some things we feared may never happen as we fulfill the call. Sometimes we will face giants and mountains but God never intended a giant or a mountain to stop us....

When you take a risk and share your heart you run just that, a risk. Sometimes when you share your heart you lose everything. Who knows but that such an unsettling event might be the catalyst that moves us to make the mark we are called to make on the world? Yesterday a friend in ministry said to me, "Deanna, you are a voice, not an echo." That put some things in perspective for me.  I'm really excited right now about a few things I've written that are getting ready to be published that for me are revolutionary. One is an article that I was requested to write and it's very edgy. It's pushing the limits for sure. Perhaps even disconcerting, but a message that is desperately needed. I can hardly wait to see it in print but more than that I can hardly wait to see what changes it may bring about in some people's lives. The other is the current book I'm working on. With every day I become more impassioned about the message. Yesterday I shared with ...

I said I'm giving something away...for FREE. All you have to do is leave a comment on any post this week including this one  in order to have your name in the drawing which happens at midnight on Thursday.  I will announce the winner Friday morning. Every blog has "lurkers".  I have hundreds on this site!  The majority of people who read here everyday don't comment, you just keep coming back, reading and either silently going, "wow, she's profound," or, "Gosh, that woman is a train wreck.  It's like a bad accident we can't help but watch."  I know you either love me or hate me.  Either way you're thinking one of those two things because if you didn't care either way you'd never click here every day and spend your valuable time reading what I write. I see you, Birmingham!  I see you, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Lakeland, and Beverly Hills!  I see you Brazil, Pompano Beach, Canada, Canton, Columbus, Belgium and all you others w...

Earth has bid farewell to an amazing man - a stellar husband, father, pastor, college professor, district official, community leader, writer, musician and more -- and heaven has said, "welcome home."  Yesterday morning I woke up at 5:30 am to go bike riding in the well fields with my friends.  Because I was up so early I never checked my e-mail before I left the house.  When I came home and settled in with a cup of coffee and started glancing through my mail I saw that there was a private facebook message sent to me personally at 4 AM from Arline Grabill, wife of Pastor Paul Grabill, who is a treasured friend.  He had passed away the previous night, going home to his heavenly reward.  I stand in awe of the fact that his wife was so kind as to get on facebook and write me a personal note hours before they were making it public at 7 am.   My friend  Pastor Walt Smith also sent me a personal note so that I wouldn't have to read the news first o...

I find that people in this life who aren't writers have a terrible time understanding people who are. I've also found it a moot point to try to explain to others the call, the importance, the disciplines, the passion or pretty much anything else about the life of one who writes. Some people write for fun, and with others it is a holy calling. There are writers and then there are writers. By this I mean, there are those who tinker, or those who say, "Someday I should write a book" and then there are those whose life is writing. Many people comment that I'm a monster blogger, the most dedicated blogger that they know.   Maybe not the best blogger they know, the most famous blogger they know, however I've won many awards for dedication.  :)  Writing is not a hobby to me, it is a divine work.  I do not say this in any judgmental fashion, simply making the point that for some people writing is akin to breathing and to stop writing would be to stop life. ...

So I wrote two fantastic posts last night.  And when finished with both I said to myself, "you're going to be sorry you posted that..." So they're sitting there in the edit box and probably only two pastor friends will be the beneficiary of them.  Blogging friends, does that ever happen to you?  It does to me a lot.  If nothing else it's cathartic to write about whatever it was at the time. I hate when that happens. And at the same time I feel a victory. Choosing wisdom IS victory.  The Bible says  "Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!  And whatever else you do, develop good judgment."  Proverbs 4:7 I feel a victory of wisdom right now. I blogged last night and can still respect myself in the morning. All victories aren't accompanied by loud fanfare...some are just quiet victories yet powerful nonetheless. Have an awesome day at church, everybody!

I blog each day without fail and today's will be short for good reason.  We had a day that was a slice of heaven at Celebration!  Quite honestly too busy of a day to blog but to put it in a nutshell, God showed up and showed off mightily in our service this morning.  His presence just blew into the place, particularly when we sang two songs, "I Lift Up My Hands," (Tomlin) and "Your Great Name" (Natalie Grant)...salvation was in the house, healing was in the house, words of knowledge, and more............... it was just a tremendous day. Newcomer's Night was at our house tonight -- we had dinner with 24 and rejoiced over the wonderful new folks that  God has sent our way. I always love these nights! I'm exhausted!  But it's a good exhausted and SALVATION NEVER GETS OLD!! This week I have a BA-zillion things to do, special projects and I'm preaching elsewhere over the weekend  AGAIN (will be back  at CC Sunday though) but I am going to bring ...

Something happened  yesterday that made me giggle and also blessed my heart, incredibly!!! We had a first time visitor who is here for baseball camp -- he is trying to get into major league baseball and currently here for that purpose.  He is from Charlotte, NC and after the service he met me in the hospitality room where we greet visitors and share refreshments and conversation. He loved the service and was very eager to talk to me.  Several Celebrators were also there with me to hear this conversation and they found it a blessing as well.  He said... "You know Pastor Deanna, this was an amazing service and it reminds me so much of my church back home in Charlotte, only on a smaller scale but I'm telling you, you guys remind me SO much of my church it's uncanny." I said, " what's the name of your church?"  And he said, "Elevation Church."   He said, " You guys are Celebration, and we're Elevation.  You call your people, ...

I know...I didn't blog yesterday.  That never happens.  I mean it literally NEVER happens -- at least since I have been blogging publicly.  I blog everyday rain or shine, good or bad, happy or sad.  The truth is I tried repeatedly to blog yesterday but something was up with blogger.  Although I restarted my computer several times and tried to get into my account , I couldn't post.  Finally at about 1:00 am, I gave up and decided it wasn't worth losing any more sleep over.  Sorry to miss a day...I sorely missed it more than anyone may have missed reading it.  Blogging is a huge part of my life, so the absence meant more to me than anybody.  But here I am, back again -- with something to say as usual.  When do I not have something to say? Everyday I snuggle with my dog Max and sing a song to him.  I've written a song for him (one of many I've written for him and Maddie) and the lyrics begin with, "You are my Max...my only Max..." a...

I wanted to point out some great recent posts by some blogger friends. It's been a while since I've done a shout out like this and it's long overdue... Has God sold you?  It can happen, you know!  Really.  Read this excellent post here by my friend, Ruth Kaup. My friend Pastor Leanne Weber will give you a lot to think about in her current series she's writing, "My Story:  Beginnings" which is a chronicle of the spiritual abuse she and her husband went through years ago, and her healing process.  I've known her for years and loved her writing, and known the situation she's sharing about, in fact I prayed for her while she was going through it.   But, reading it now is a whole new experience that has me on the edge of my seat each day as I'm reading!  Start here at the beginning and catch up... "I think they're in the Hoover..."  Only you, Pastor Lisa, only you....lol    I love it!!!  By the way, I have never worn faux e...

I'll never let a friend get away with asking for a "special unspoken" prayer request again.  Some life lessons are much harder to learn than others. Years ago, through Pastoring Partners Network , I became friends with a wonderful pastor's wife named Deborah.   She hails from South Africa and we quickly became kindred spirits, loving many of the same things including high heels, leopard prints, the color pink and most of all, a love for Jesus and serving His people.  This past February I came home from the church office one day to find a package in the mailbox and seeing that it was from South Africa, could hardly wait to tear it open!  Inside were earrings, a necklace, some african tea, and an animal print scarf she said, "had my name all over it".  I blogged about that day here. She planned on meeting up with me on my preaching trip to East Africa in June.  When I declared on facebook that I had my final sermon ready for the Kenya conference, s...

""And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.  Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field."  ~ Deuteronomy 28:2,3 Yesterday my blessings bubbled over.   First, I love my work -- and yesterday I did plenty of it.  I don't "have" to work -- I GET to work!!!   After working at the church office til' 6 pm, our pastor friends Keith and Joy met us at the church and took a tour of our facilities to see all that was done for the launch of Celebratio n.   They were so excited for us about all God is doing.  Then we went from there to dinner with them and over some fabulous Japanese food, caught up on each other's lives.  They are such a support to Larry and I, and we treasure their love and  friendship. I came home from our evening out and found a package waiting for me.   It came all the wa...

So  Wednesday I wrote about what keywords people were Googling and then ending up here at deannashrodes.com as a result of and it was rather interesting , at least I thought it was.  I have often mentioned about those of you regularly reading out there from "Seattle to Singapore".  Yesterday happened to be a day nobody was reading from either place, which is rare!   But I decided to track where our visitors were from yesterday.  I thought I would share where folks were reading from yesterday and I, for one, never cease to be amazed .  Thank you for coming here.  I realize you can read whatever you want and there are a million things grabbing for your time and attention but some of you still come here. The vast majority of you never say anything, you just read.  And that's cool.  I'm perfectly fine (and honored) by those of you who silently check out what I have to say.  By the way, this list does not include those who a...

So, on the heels of yesterday's Google search whereby I searched, "Deanna wants "  for humorous value, I thought I'd go to my stat counter and pull up the data on the keywords or phrases that people have searched in the past week to find my blog.  ARE YOU READY?   Seriously.. are you people ready for this?   Get ready to crack up. From Seattle to Singapore -- this, my peeps -- is how you find me when you forget that I'm right here at DeannaShrodes.com.  Or, search engines direct you here to the blog when you are looking for a blog post on the following subjects.   The following are the actual keywords, phrases and sentences people searched with to arrive here in the past seven days: God  Jesus Amazing artist Deanna Doss Deanna Doss-Shrodes Madea (Yep, she's right up there with Deanna Doss Shrodes, LOL) What does it take to be a person after God's own heart? Use your resources You are blessed The Steelers Sex (You kn...

I have a friend who was repeatedly molested by her grandfather as a child. She now gives her testimony about healing from her abuse, speaks on a national level, and has written a book. However, all of this has to be kept quiet whenever her mother or other members of the family are around. It's not that they don't believe her about the abuse. They know it's true, however, they believe that her testimony isn't appropriate to share. She hears things like: "What would your grandmother think if she heard you say that?" "You are causing more pain in the family by sharing your testimony." "You just need to move on and stop talking about it." "You've got to think of someone besides yourself..." Some things are better left unsaid..." "Some things are meant to be kept within the family..." "Cant you just tell people God healed you without sharing any details of what happened to you? Why are the details so important? ...

I would like to dedicate this picture post to my friend, Pastor Paul Grabill , senior pastor of State College Assembly of God and Assistant Superintendent of the Penn-Del District of the AG. After lunch yesterday, we were walking through a party store to get some supplies for a church event and Larry found a huge display that they had set up for July 4th parties and excitedly called over to me and said, "Deanna, you've got to come take a photo with this stuff, just for Paul Grabill!!!" So, I happily obliged while the staff members with us were in stitches laughing and setting up this impromptu little photo shoot that Larry was convinced would be such a blessing (?) for Paul. Anyone who has read his blog for more than a few posts knows that we spar often on issues such as patriotism, the flag, the military, capital punishment, war etc. however for all the debating we do on these many sensitive subjects, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He is an integ...