Deanna Doss Shrodes

when I saw this American Idol audition last night. Too funny. Enjoy! I want to work this into a sermon series somehow as a video clip.

I've read several blogs lately written by Christian women who have quit their blog and given a huge "funeral like" farewell on their final post. The final "eulogy" post speaks of priorities, and God telling them not to blog anymore and making it sound like they had some "come to Jesus meeting" where the Spirit of God spoke in some way and told them it was imperative for them to stop posting. I really have to wonder about this. Either they are extremely slow writers or God has a serious thing against blogs. If it was just with one or two people, I'd say it was isolated but I've read this on quite a number of blogs lately - written in the same type of Christianese. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a fad. These were blogs that had a decent readership as evidenced by all the comments, and the writers basically state that their blog was "taking them away from time with God" or "away from their family time" and that God sov...

I got this Meme from somebody and thought it was fun. It's not even Friday but I'm goin' for it... especially since I love true confessions of the womanly kind, although I think these are really tame compared to what my friends and I talk about when there are no guys around. Just about anything is fair game then. 1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead? Only one kisses me on the forehead now, but absolutely . I'm all for kissing anywhere, anytime. Yum. Yum. 2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress? Since the poofy dress only makes me look poofier, definitely the party dress especially since I've been told (by more people than just my husband - by women - who are usually the hardest critics - that I have great legs.) 3. What would you do if you received a long love letter? I'd definitely save it and read it again . 4. Group dates or single dates? Both are fun. 5. Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends? Well, sometimes but not alw...

Just gotta share with you a phone call I had at the church office today. Those of you who are in pastoral ministry are gonna loooove this! Every week I take it upon myself to call the first time guests. Although I personally meet them in the hospitality room, I also like making follow up calls and connecting with them again personally. Today I was making the usual calls, as I do it first thing Monday morning. One of the calls was quite entertaining. One of the families who visited Sunday live near our church but they've been driving to another A/G about 45 minutes away for years now. They are getting tired of it and wanted to look for something closer so Sunday they visited Northside. I spoke with the Mom of the family and asked her what their intentions were and how they felt about the service Sunday. She said, "Well, I can tell you love the Lord a whole lot, and your church has a lot to offer and is very friendly...but...well, how can I say this nicely?.........." and s...

Just thought I would share our new Sunday morning service opener. We began with this new one today. Basically after our five minute "countdown" on the big screen, this comes on and plays and then the first praise/worship song starts. Here you go...enjoy!

I was so blessed by prayer, all night long and this morning. Last night before Larry and I went to sleep we just agreed together in prayer for a while over things we are believing for. I had a peaceful night of sleep - one of the first in a long time. Not that I haven't been at peace - just haven't had sleep! The church did 24 hour prayer shifts I personally had a shift early this morning and one right before Sunday School. I got up earlier than I normally do so I could be ready before my shift started, and I did my first shift outside on my patio. Joan called me to pray with me - she was the person before me and we prayed and I took over, and then when I was done I called Debra and we prayed together. Always such an incredible blessing to pray with her. I feel like she's going to come through the phone, it's so powerful when she prays. That woman is a serious intercessor! God really moved in a mighty way in our service. We got out an hour later than normal. Most everyo...

I have often heard people speak of protecting the anointing upon their life. Most times what they mean by this is to focus on pure and holy living, staying in prayer and fasting and being able to withstand and overcome the temptations of this world. I agree with all that. But I also believe there is more to it. When my friend Pastor Andrea sent me the writing this week about the front row of one’s life it got me to thinking about this whole issue especially in light of a few decisions I made this week. This week I was faced with the possibility of being around someone who is not good for the anointing upon my life. Many people would hear that and wonder what sins the person is involved in that would make them not good for the "anointing on my life." The answer to that question is that it’s not so much an issue of sin but the fact that in their presence I am not lifted up, rather they make me uncomfortable and just sort of longing to get out of the room. When that happens, my ...