Doing all things well - making the most of opportunity

H. Jackson Brown Jr. said, "People who accomplish big things did small things well."

I have a passion for doing all things well. Today I had to do a lot of mundane catching up from being away on my trip. Lots of computer work, just every week stuff - from orders of service to calendar planning for 2007, to preparing teachings, to doing laundry, unpacking my bags, doing dishes, and getting ready to have T & Misty over tonight. Although I am tired, I am committed to doing whatever I do well, and to the glory of God.

It's incredible but in a week, Pastor T has lost 20 pounds, sticking to the points system exactly. (He's not undereating, he is doing everything according to what he is supposed to) Meanwhile Larry has lost 9 pounds in a week. They are both doing great. The whole office except for Pastor Aaron is on WW. We've got 'em hooked. Tonight we're making a yummy WW meal for us & Mackley's...tilapia and shrimp on the grill, my WW teacher's (Ginger's) new recipe for roasted red potatoes, Ginger's asparagus recipe, and angel food cake.

I got loads of candy to pass out to all the trick or treaters and Pastor T made invitations for Jam Kids Church that I will put in all of the bags with the candy. I personally feel that every Christian SHOULD give candy to the kids who come to the door. What other time during the year do a bunch of unsaved kids come to YOUR DOOR? I will have hundreds of unsaved kids coming to my door tonight and each and every one of them will be invited to my church to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ!!! I have decided to maximize this opportunity to reach people. I don't believe Christians should be shutting our lights out and hiding from people. Instead, we should be turning our lights on and inviting people in and then invite them to church! What a concept! I can't wait! The bible says to MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, especially in these last days. So let's get out there and do it!

Reunited and it feels so good...

It was a wonderful thing to come home to Larry last night. I had a great time in Maryland with his parents, and my sister, her new husband Dave, and my niece and nephew (Lexi & Cody), but I did miss my darling Larry.

I had envisioned him getting out of the car at the airport and embracing me with a strong hug, with me smelling the Curve cologne on his neck, then backing up to give him a kiss. But it didn't happen that way at all. Unfortunately somebody rang his cell phone just as he was pulling into the airport...and you know Larry, he always answers it unless I tell him not to. Oh well... there was plenty of time to kiss him after we got home.

I missed him so much.

OMG WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS??!!!

Alright, so I had the scare of my life today.

I took our new video camera, and still digital camera with me to my sister's wedding this weekend. On the way there I brilliantly tell my son, "make sure you don't let the cameras out of your sight this weekend. Famous last words.

When I get to Kim's wedding, I discover I'm the only one there with a video camera. I couldn't believe it. I took the only video footage of the whole thing. And I had a zillion digital pictures of the whole thing.
So it was time to fly home today and 16 minutes before the plane takes off, while we're boarding, I stand up from my chair in the waiting area, reach down to get my purse and the cameras, and I realize...I don't have the cameras.

"Oh my God!" I scream to the top of my lungs, "WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS?????????!!!

I had everyone's attention, trust me. Dustin looked at me like I was a martian.

I truly had gone into another world. Seriously, I thought my world had ended. My mind was racing...where did I leave them? Was it at the ticket counter when I checked our bags? Was it at Auntie Anne's when I got Dustin a pretzel? Was it at Roy Rogers when I got soda? Was it at the security gate? I was officially NUTSO. I said to the guy who was boarding the plane, "PLEASE HELP ME!" He called the ticket counter. No cameras. I said, "how soon does this plane leave?" He said, "16 minutes...RUN!!!" So, off we went. Dustin runs over to Auntie Anne's..."uh, did my Mom leave her cameras here?" (He was rather calm in his presentation.) I on the other hand run to Roy Rogers and through tears implore the people to please tell me if someone turned in a camera. No...no camera. So I run down to the security check in. It's packed as BWI always is. The people are busy, but I yell, "PLEASE HELP ME!" (I was on the cell phone with Larry telling him, to please pray and asking..."do you want me to stay here at BWI if I have to miss this plane and find these cameras?) A kind security guard (rare thing, they all always seem so gruff) ran right over to see what was wrong. I tearfully told him, "HELP ME, HELP ME, MY PLANE IS LEAVING AND I DON'T HAVE MY CAMERAS!!!" A woman said, "come with me..." Taking me back to what was her office there at security, she pointed to the floor behind her desk. There was my camera bag with the two cameras!

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" I cried. And with that, I said, "Dustin, let's go" and we took off out of there running down Concourse D as fast as we could. All the way there I am still shaking from all this, and meanwhile he's laughing at me saying, "MOM............YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOO CRAZY!!!" And then we get on the plane and all these kind people say, "oh, did you find your cameras?" I said yes and then went into the explanation of why it was so important to me, to the great embarrassment of my son of course... I explained, this was all of my sister's wedding pictures and video, and plus that...my husband would have a fit if I didn't bring home these cameras.

I was so busy checking in and getting my shoes back on and all our stuff, I left the bag still running through the x-ray machine as they were checking it. Dustin said, "And to think Mom, you were lecturing ME about not losing sight of the cameras. Yep, I was.

Somebody else is taking care of the cameras on every trip from now on. My heart just CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE.

By the way, Dustin is STILL laughing over this, saying, "Mom, you were so hysterical. When you didn't find the cameras under the airport chair, you screamed, "OMG, WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS" and I thought, "my Mom has officially gone psycho. Well, I guess I did there for a moment.

Thank you Jesus that my cameras were still there. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

All you ask of me

Okay, so here is a view of my neighborhood that I grew up in...literally a few feet out my front (or back) door...I was surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. This is the view from Bayfront Rd., one street over from our house. My sister's reception was right on Bayfront Rd., so Dustin took these pictures... while at my sister's wedding reception. When I was a kid I had my windows open at night many times while I slept and I could hear the sounds of the bay, and of Bethlehem Steel (pictured here) across the bay. Wow, this brought up a lot of memories while I was at my sister's wedding reception, being that my old house was just one street over.

Well, we're back now! After getting up and spending some time with my in laws this morning, we flew back. It was sad to say goodbye again but here we are. 

On the way home I was just reading and studying the Word some more and right now I'm reading Galatians in my devotions. I came across a passage that describes PERFECTLY what I've been mulling over about Christianity without Christ. 

Galatians 1:6-7 "You are already following a different way that pretends to be the good news but it is not the good news at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ." I was mulling all of this kind of thing over before I went on my trip, but being there just brought it all more to the forefront with dealing with some of the people I grew up with. You know, in many ways I have good memories of growing up, but much of it was steeped in legalism and many things in the name of Christ but actually having little to do with Christ. All that comes rushing back whenever I spend time with certain people because unfortunately they are still steeped in it, while I have been set free. It's difficult to be around it and I can only be in small doses quite honestly. One minute there is strict legalism, the next something crazy like racism or...immorality, without repentence or process of discipline or restoration. I have seen that my whole life so it's something I'm used to, yet never truly "used to." How can one whose heart is tender toward God truly ever get "used to" seeing this? 

Paul goes on to say in verse 8: "Let God's curse fall on anyone including myself who preaches any other message than the one we told you about." Well, I guess that is self explanatory and God will have to judge and deal with things. I only ask Him to help me handle it while I'm around it, and have wisdom on what to say, what to do. 

Recently I read a quote by James Kent that said, "Nothing is so potent as the silent influence of a good example." I can only hope that is what I am. I try my best in the face of things like this to hold my head up, remember who I am in Christ, be confident and represent Jesus to the best of my ability. I believe that's all He asks of me.

I love my mother in law

An old yiddish proverb says that "only Adam had no mother-in-law. That's how we know he lived in paradise..."

Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful mother in law, and I don't have to cringe every time I think about my MIL. Some people live in dread or fear of theirs, but I appreciate mine and love her...and she feels the same way about me. I am truly blessed.

This past weekend was my sister's wedding so I was focused on that a lot, but this morning I got to have breakfast with my MIL before flying back. We went to Bob Evans and had a nice time. We both wished I could have stayed for longer but it was time to come back to Florida. Dad took Dustin on a few hour driving lesson this morning before we had to come home. I think he's ready now for the test. I missed home in Florida, but going back Maryland during the fall season...wow, I haven't experienced that for four years. Dustin and I couldn't stop looking at the trees. And we really miss our family, on days like today.

A beautiful day

It's official! Kim and Dave are now married! Yeah! My sister had her day just like she wanted it ~ perfect ~ and I'm so glad. She deserves it. She and Dave are truly so happy and I could not be more happy for them. Mine and Dustin's sole purpose in coming was to show our love and support for Kim and Dave and Lexi and Cody. Dustin and I did our songs and they went well. I was so proud of him and everyone could not believe how much he has grown up.

It was difficult for me to not have Larry there with me, especially with being around certain individuals. But I did great if I do say so myself. I just held my head up, did the right thing, and told myself over and over again, "just remember, there is no substitute for being classy..."

I remember one such occasion (another wedding) where I was also faced with the challenge of spending a day with some people I did not relish being around. I was there for the bride and groom - period. I think it's important to support those you love even if you have to go through some pain to do it. Usually I pray in the spirit for a while before going. And last night was no exception. My friends at the other wedding who were in attendance knew in my spirit I wasn't comfortable. But they said, "never have we seen anyone handle a situation with such class." And really, that's when I know I'm a winner! When I conduct myself in a manner that I know Jesus smiles at me, Larry and the kids are proud of me, my friends believe in me...well, that is really all that matters when you get right down to it. And I know I handled today with total class. With those who choose to continue to lead small lives, I just look at them and go, "how sad for you..." while I go right back to my beautiful life.

On the way home, Dustin says to me, "Mom, you know it's strange that Aunt Kim and Dave act more like Christians than some of those people there who have supposedly been saved and filled with the Holy Ghost for years..." Hmmmmm...out of the mouth of babes. Kim and Dave have been rededicated to the Lord for how long? A few months now? And their attitudes are far beyond some of those who have been in this thing for decades. Dustin says, "Okay Mom, so why is that lady who just said the "N" word a few minutes ago now over there saying praise the Lord this and praise the Lord that..." Well, good question Dustin. I have asked myself that many times. Why is that the way so often? That's what I mean in a sense by saying that many try to have Christianity without Christ. It's just amazing to me. What a blind spot. My sister and Dave are really pure hearted I believe, and I just pray that the Lord would protect them.

Some of the people I expected to be difficult were not. They were actually gems. And some were just as I expected them to be. I wish I would have had Larry's arm to lean on...his hand to squeeze when I just needed a reassuring pat. And his knowing look that says, "Deanna, you're so far beyond all that", when something happened that lacked tact or was just plain unChristlike. It's all so much easier to deal with when he is beside me. But I was a big girl and handled it all quite well, and most of the time my adoring first born was at my side anyway, so I did alright. I almost forgot what it was like before I had Larry to help me with things like this.

Kim and Dave are now on their way to Niagra Falls. I'm so happy for them!!! What a wonderful trip they will have. And, Dustin and I will get a good night's sleep and head back to Florida. Today I was so cold. Larry thinks I'm hysterical the way I react to cold weather. I wore heels to the wedding, with no hose (stopped wearing hose a few years ago - never want to wear them again.) I wanted to wear my pink heels for the wedding, but as soon as it was over and we went to the reception I put my boots on. When I walked up to Kim at the reception she said, "your shoes are different!" I said, yes but I waited til now to change them because I didn't think it was appropriate for the ceremony. She just laughed. She calls me "Julia" when I wear my boots. Dear Lord, it's 48 degrees. Standing outside on the deck at the reception I had my coat buttoned up to the neck all the way. Some people thought it was funny...they said, "look at Deanna all bundled up!" I must say I'm not used to this anymore.

Dustin and I navigated our way around today just fine. I only got on the wrong street three times. Wow, that's a record for me. It's not Sparrows Point/Edgemere/Jones Creek that I get lost in - I'm just fine with all that although some who came to the reception got lost - if you don't know the area, you definitely will. It's the major highways I have a problem with. Who knew that 151 was related somehow to 695? Not me! I had a wonderful weekend, but I'm ready to go home now. I think Larry misses me a lot. I need to call him again before bedtime. I sure do miss him. But I'm glad I was here with my sister.

Writing your passion

John Piper says: "I have always felt that the works of the famous British New Testament scholar, F. F. Bruce, are unnecessarily dry. In reading his memoirs, In retrospect, I discovered one of the reasons why. He said, "I do not care to speak much-especially in public-about thethings that mean most to me." When you eliminate what means most to you from your writing and speaking, they will be dry. For myself, I would say just the opposite: "I do not care to speak much-especially in public-about the things that don't mean most to me." Many pastors are not known for expressing deep emotions. This seems to me especially true in relation to the profoundest theological realities. This is not good, because we ought to experience the deepest emotions about the deepest things. And we ought to speak often, and publicly, about what means most to us, in a way that shows its value." 

I am convinced, if we can't be real, we can't truly disciple someone. Because Jesus was as real as real gets. And if we're going to be like Him, we have to be real. How can we truly disciple people yet eliminate what means most from our writing and speaking?

Amazingly I have had people ask me to do that. Some over the years have said to me, "It's okay for you to have a passion for this or that...just don't state it outright..." WHAT? Or, "It's okay to espouse a strong view, just don't share it..." I've been told, "if you don't share a strong view, you will escape criticism." My answer to that is, to avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, BE nothing.  (Edmund Burke)

I'm big enough to own my words.

I don't mind criticism if it's the price to pay for sharing my passion. I believe if you are not writing and speaking about your passion...why speak? Why waste words? They are so precious. Words, words, words. I love them. I collect them as some collect rocks or jelly beans. I enjoy them. I hear a new one, and it swirls around in my head a few days until I start using it in everyday conversation.

Words alter the course of history. Martin Luther (not one of my favorite people, but I like this quote) said, "If you want to change the world, pick up your pen." Writing a word, speaking a word...changes things as we know it.

Some choose to sit and make small talk about the price of gas, or the weather. I choose to talk about ideas, dreams, concepts, principles of living, spiritual things, intimate things, etc...

Why waste words on small talk? Proverbs 31 talks about the woman opening her mouth and skillful words coming out. Why are some content with words that don't mean anything when we have a storehouse of passionate words at our disposal? If I can't write about what is most important to me, I see no reason to write at all. Clearly F.F. Bruce is not the guy I would want to have dinner with, but I could sit and talk to John Piper at a Starbucks for quite a few hours.

Wow. That really sums up how I feel about being transparent with my words and honest with my life in general. Not so transparent or honest as to lose the respect of the ones you lead, but transparent enough to let passion shine through in all one does, showing an appropriate amount of vulnerability.

Wedding Rehearsal

Tonight Dustin and I went to the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Everything went smoothly, except we did get lost on the way there and on the way back. Thankfully we have free cell phone usage on the weekends, and Larry talked us both there and back and got us to where we needed to be. I'm so bad with directions -- you would think with living in Baltimore all my life I'd be okay with this, but since I'm going back and forth from Bowie to Baltimore every day...I'm just not used to it.

I was so proud of Dust - he did a good job on our song and well...he just makes me proud as my son just in general. He is still off the chain excited about his PSP and I took him to Walmart after the rehearsal dinner to get a game to go with it since he got more b'day money tonight. We also stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way home to get donuts for in the morning. I was going to try and be good and not eat any tonight but when we got lost and I was frustrated, I screamed, "GIVE ME THAT BOX OF DONUTS!" 

I am amazed at how many people don't understand the concept of thinking of other people and doing the right thing in life. Dustin and I were talking about it on the way back tonight. I am here for one reason - my sister's wedding. This weekend is about my sister, not me, or anyone else. Some people don't come to things like this because they are uncomfortable about others who are there. Well, so what. So am I. There are always people at a gathering like this whether it be a wedding, a funeral, a reunion, whatever - where you are with people you would never choose to be with otherwise. But when you are in relationship with the person whose special event it is -- you do it. Why? Because you love them, it's the right thing to do - and it's about THEM, not your feelings. Why don't some people "GET" that? Dustin asked me tonight why certain people were not there. I said, "because it's all about THEM in their life, not about OTHERS." 

Then Dustin brought up a good point to me as we were talking about it. He said, "Mom, if those people say something about you or anyone else, who cares anyway - they are obviously people whose opinions you should not care about anyway!" Wise words from a 17 year old...

Bottom line is this - tomorrow is Kim and Dave's day and all of us should just be 100% focused on making it the perfect day for them.

The clocks are set back tonight and I am so glad! An extra hour of sleep! I am getting so much sleep on this trip, it's RIDICULOUS! There is a little tiny church, it can't hold more than 20 people, down the street. I so wanted to go there in the morning, just to experience it. But they don't have church on Sundays. Now how different is THAT? They only have church Wed/Thurs. I have never, ever heard of that before. Dustin and I had to literally get out of the car in the dark and he walked up to the church sign to look at the tiny little numbers saying what day/time church was. Maybe that's why they only have a few members........nobody can see their church sign. Oh well, next time I'm here on vacation, I'll visit there on Wednesday night. I love going to different unique places and seeing how they worship God. 

Tomorrow, for the first time in...well, ever really, I am not focused on church but on the wedding. Since Kim is getting married on Sunday afternoon it puts my focus on the wedding. It's going to be a beautiful day!

It's been a long time

Oh how long it's been since I have seen the autumn leaves in all their glory. But I am getting a great taste of it this weekend, and we're on the road a lot back and forth for things so I really am getting a wonderful dose of the kaleidscope of color that fall brings in the north east. Do I miss it? Yes, at times. But I would not trade my life in Florida for the world. That is home now. Not just in my geographical surroundings, but my heart is with the people there who are not only my missionfield, but those I love as family.

Sleep, glorious sleep. That is what I had last night. Count it, all 11 hours of it! That's what happens when I come here. I know I am away from work - away from my normal routine - and there's nothing I can really do about anything back there so I might as well REST. One thing I love about coming here is that when I do, I catch up on sleep. My inlaws take good care of me and allow me to rejuvenate. They know the busy life I lead and they always want to help me. Speaking of that, Dustin and I are getting ready to go to the golf course and have some of Mom's good cooking...so off we go, to the Bowie Golf and Country Club. More later...

Christianity without Christ?

Today, I I heard a preacher say..."are we guilty of having Christianity without Christ?"

Hmm. That's good. How well I relate to that, not only in what I often experienced growing up but what I often see today, even from other ministers. I told someone today, I am weary of politics. I used to not mind it and sometimes even enjoyed that aspect of the ministry as I am a good networker. But I have lost my zeal for anything political. I have seen too much. And it hurts.

When getting into much of what goes on in "Christianity", I see how things happen that hurt God's people, God's church, and those who are honestly trying to do something to make a difference.

And I realize, Jesus is coming back. This thing is real. There's no time for Christianity without Christ. No time for religion without relationship. No time for having church without God. No time for Christian leaders who are more possessed with pursuing their image than possessed with Him and the difference He wants to make in people's lives.

I am seeing more than ever the cost of real Christianity.

The call of discipleship - being one, making them

Today My Utmost for His Highest says: "Jesus Christ did not say, "Go and save souls" (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, "Go . . . make disciples of all the nations . . . ." Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, "Don’t rejoice in successful service— the great secret of joy is that you have the right relationship with Me" (see Luke 10:17-20 ). The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus."

This is the cry of my heart ~ to be a true discipler of people. I feel like so much gets in the way of that. So much stuff that I never ask for but feel powerless over. I do not mean just tactical work, but I speak of distractions that call me away from discipleship. Not planned tasks or initiatives, but the tyranny of the urgent that so often creeps in, and years later I have nothing to show for those precious hours. I am asking God to help me know what do do about that. I have a feeling it's going to come in the form of some armor bearers that will help me to keep distractions at bay.

My one purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus - starting with my family - emanating out to the world around me. Remaining true to THE CALL.

First I do want to be more of an effective disciple myself. I know what that means. More time in the Word, more time in prayer, and coming more under the control of the Holy Ghost. I am asking God to help me to align myself with Him daily, not to align Him to me, but to bring me into perfect harmony with His desires.

I already finished reading Night. I'm giving it to Dustin tonight. We were riding to take him to the store for gadgets to go with his PSP and also to dinner, and while he was sleeping in the car, I held my cell phone up to the pages in the dark and read them. I was so incredibly intrigued by the book. Wow. This is a life changer. Why in the world did I never hear of this book before? Every American should read it. I brought Joyce Landorf book with me to read but truthfully all I want to read before bed tonight is the Word. I think I'll finish the Landorf book on the plane. Good stuff but honestly as I read it, it's bringing up painful things for me to deal with and so I'd rather take it in smaller doses, and work through it.

Dustin and I practiced a few times but I'm still a bit raspy. Things will get better by tomorrow. I'm sleeping as long a I want to. A rare luxury although Larry has given me 2 sleep in days lately to try and get my strength back. I miss him. He and Jordan are watching a movie at home and he is IM'ing me right now. I can't wait til' our next day off together. We need it. So much has been going on we haven't had a day together in a few weeks, but our time is coming.

I am emotionally tired, and need to stay strong in the Word, in prayer and in connection with Larry. I have been dealing with some unsaved Christians. Yes, that's all I can refer to them as, because in my mind with the lack of fruit they very possibly could be unsaved, yet we are not to declare someone saved nor unsaved, so being unsure, I say, "unsaved Christian." I know, an oxymoron. Right now I'm dealing with a few carnal Christians at best, and then one pastor (not my husband or anyone on our staff!) that I truly believe may not know Jesus. And they are very difficult. Like Wayne Lee Jr. said in his sermon the other night, plenty of pastors are unsaved. I know many of the people in the service took it as a joke when he said it...and he said it several times. But it's true. On that day many will say, "Lord Lord...didn't we do all this in your name...?" And He will declare, He never knew them. Right now I find myself in the midst of being face to face with one I am not sure loves Jesus nor His people. And having to co-exist with him in ministry is very difficult. I found myself today saying, "WHAT AM I PRAYING FOR?" I don't want to be soulish in my prayers. I don't want to be guilty of the same things I see in the other person. So I prayed, "Lord, YOUR WILL be done." What I would like to see is...for them to get right with God - live righteous, or be exposed and not have to deal with this anymore.

And in the middle of it all I find myself saying, "God please make me your disciple more and more on a daily basis. Because if that's not what I'm doing, I've truly wasted the last 20 years and blown it if my goal is anything different than truly being your disciple.

Trippin' with Dustin

Well, Dustin and I made it to Maryland safe and sound. It was a 2 hour direct flight and everything went perfectly smooth this morning. We arrived and his grandparents took him to the store and got him a PSP for his birthday, which is today. And he wants to go to Golden Corral for his birthday dinner with everyone here. Which...on his birthday I'm happy to oblige...since it's his day, not mine! I will try and only eat one piece of fried chicken. :-) Still hard to believe he's 17 today.

When we were at the store, I got the book Night by Elie Fiesel. I have been wanting to read it for some time, just haven't. I am finishing it tonight and hoping Dustin will read it on the plane home. It's fascinating and I'm only on the second chapter. It's still very difficult for me to fathom that any of this happened in the 1940's. That wasn't so long ago, for such an atrosity to happen. And, for people to get away with...while the world was silent. Makes me more determined than ever...on important things, we cannot be silent. Someone once said, "well behaved women rarely make history." I don't think I'll ever have to worry about that. I have already done enough misbehaving for a lifetime. (But seen a lot of great things happen too.) It has always been the cry of my heart to be a history maker. I believe it is in the heart of everyone to be such but many just never have the courage to be different.

Dustin and I need to practice our song but now he's enjoying the PSP. I have already had some UTZ potato chips. I am going to have to REALLY work out after spending this time trippin' with Dusti! Larry and Jordan are enjoying some time together especially since Savanna's in Georgia, and...Jordan is off grounding! Yippee! That was the longest 30 days of MY life, let alone his. You know, when the kids are grounded, parents are grounded too. I personally hate it. Why oh why? That's my question. All the kids report cards were good, so praise the Lord, it's going to be a good quarter with no groundings. (Hopefully for the rest of the year.) Oh well, off to rehearse and go to Golden Corral and try to keep myself under control.

Finally ready to take off

Well, my wonderful first born is growing up...he's now officially 17. I can't believe it...I have a 17 year old. 17 years ago now I had just been out of recovery for about an hour and a half, and was being taken to my hospital room. Dustin was sleeping. Not much has changed. I'm still recovering from everything on a regular basis, and he's still sleeping. :-)

After doing my plethora of initiatives, evening came and we went out for Dustin's family birthday dinner, to Kobe...one of our family favorites. We started it when the kids were little because it was one of the places the always behaved because they would be so intrigued by the chef. It made for a very peaceful dinner. And it's still a great night out now, and one that always promises to entertain them. We took Steven with us. He hadn't been to Japanese since he was a little kid. He loved it. We had them come out and sing and bring a cake. Dustin was a little sheepish when they came out but I could tell he was enjoying himself. Here he is with the chef hat they gave him. Jordan still has his from last year's birthday.

After shopping for his jacket (he hasn't had one since we left Maryland) we dropped Savanna off at the Harts (she's going to Georgia, which she's very excited about) and then came home to pack our bags. In between packing our bags, Dustin and I worked on "Bless the Broken Road" together. He's playing it and we are both singing it for the wedding. I still have not been able to practice "From this Moment On" aside from listening to it because my voice has been too raspy. Broken Road is lower, so it was workable. We'll rehearse more when we get there. It's now 1:30 am, our bags are packed, My Mp3 freshly loaded with the sound track to listen to again and again on the plane, and the house is a mess but I'll tackle it when I get back. That is the least of my worries right now. Let's just have a wonderful wedding and we'll worry about dusting and vacuuming next week. :-)

My darling came through for me

Well, he said it would work out, and it did, because...he made it work out. 

He came home at lunch and put a new battery in my car so I could go everywhere I needed to go and do everything that had to be done before I leave in the morning. Now maybe this has something to do with the fact that I e-mailed him my initiative list for the day and said, "it's going to work out? Tell me how...here's my list!!!" An hour later he was home with the battery. You know, there's not many times I want him to drop everything and help me...and I didn't ask him to. But wow, I'm so glad he did. Because now I'm ready - and confident - to go on my trip. And all because my darling cared enough to come and rescue me.

Cars and women have a lot in common

Cars are just like women sometimes...no matter how beautiful they are they can still make you SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, okay, I'm a pastor to women but let me tell you sometimes they can still tick me off. Sometimes I ask...."why God, couldn't you have given me something easier, like being a pastor of media (nothing to get mad at but the computer), or a pastor of the elderly (they are too old and tired to give you any trouble?) But never-the-less, I am a co-pastor who focuses primarily on the women of the church. I do love my ladies, with all my heart. But sometimes some of them can act like cars.

Right now I am so ticked at my car I could just scream, except I don't want to ruin my voice. It's already a little bit raspy and I have to sing at my sister's wedding. So I won't scream. I'll just throw something.

Okay, so I have an absolutely beautiful car sitting in the driveway (that means the world to me because of the long story behind it - another blog) but it won't start so it does me no good. Sort of like one of those women in the church who are beautiful on the outside, but just sit on the pew and don't do anything and therefore they don't do you or God any good. God has so many plans for them...so much for them to accomplish, so many places for them to go. But no matter His intentions, His divine destiny for them is never accomplished because they WON'T START! And one thing's for sure you will never finish something you never start.

I have an agenda list a mile long today to get done before my trip. I was all ready to attack the agenda and went out to leave and the car is dead. It was dead yesterday and Larry cleaned off the top of my battery because it had some yukky stuff on there, and he thought that was all that was wrong because it started again yesterday. But then today it's dead again. Which brings me to my next point. Sometimes women can start one day and then konk out on you the next. (Yes, I'll hostess that table for the princess luncheon. Fast forward to a few weeks before the outreach..."oh, did I say I would hostess that table? Uh...my sister is coming into town from New York, I can't do that...we're going to Disney" "Yes, I'll pay for that event I signed up for..." "Uh...did I mention something's come up and now I can't...?" "Yes, I'd be glad to teach S.S..." "Uh...I didn't realize how hard this was going to be to get there that early on Sundays..." Start and stop, start and stop. 

So my car needs a battery I guess. Nothing to stress about long term. I mean, it's just a matter of buying the battery and putting it in, but that doesn't help me right now this moment. So I called Larry frustrated about this and he said, "don't worry, we'll get everything accomplished after I get home." Okay, so the problem with that is, I'm trying to CRAM about a list that would have taken me all day into the evening, PLUS take Dustin out for his birthday. How this is going to work...well, basically some things are going to have to be let go and I am going to go on my trip with some unfinished business. Which doesn't make me happy because all the way there and back I'll think about what did not get done, what should have been done, what could have been better, but will not be -- all because a simple car did not start.

What must God think when people do not start? I guess perhaps He thinks about what the person did not get done, what they should have done, what could have been better, but will not be - all because a simple person did not start. 

People and cars DO have a lot in common, don't they? I've always said about women...when it comes down to it, you'd better have more than what is on your outside. A car can be sleek and shiny on the outside but if the battery is dead or the engine shuts down it won't get you anywhere. Just so, a woman can be picture perfect on the outside, her hair and nails can be perfect, she can be at her ideal weight, she can be super model quality but if she's got nothing inside underneath the hood, she's not going anywhere for God, that's for sure. So they might as well just take a good picture of themselves and remember how they looked in their glory years because one day none of that will mean anything. I don't know about everyone else, but at the end of my life I want to have more than a good manicure to show for my days. I want my legacy to be something SIGNIFICANT. 

So my prayer is...God, help me to always START and always have what it takes underneath...deep inside me... to reach the destiny that you have for me. I don't want to be like a parked car in the driveway -- I want to be like a beautiful car, racing down the highway full speed ahead - with people going, "oh my word, what just went by? THAT WAS AMAZING...and I want to follow it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Woo hoo!!!

Campmeeting Days

So we've had an awesome four days of Campmeeting services, and now...it's over. (The services that is, not the fire of the Holy Ghost...) Wow, it was really good. So many great things took place. Tonight the Oasis band led and they did such a fantastic job. I just love their song, "The Enemy Has Been Defeated." So good, especially when praying for people for breakthroughs. It was such a great time for our staff this past week. We went out with the Vegas tonight after service and had wonderful fellowship though it is so late right now. So tired, but I just need to wind down. Savanna asked me if she could please stay home, she's so tired. She got her report card today and it was excellent and she has only missed one day of school so I will probably just let her stay although that will slow me down tomorrow. Sometimes a Mom just has to be flexible.

I am so tired...wish I could just rest for a few days but Dustin and I are getting ready for our trip. He's so excited. He's counting the time...tells me constantly, "Mom...in such and such amount of time we're outta here!!!" All I'm thinking is, "maybe I'll get to sleep a little bit on the plane..." Not that I am thinking we won't have a good time...I know we will, I am just so wiped out. And still have so much to do to get ready to go. One thing I have to do is get Dust a coat. He doesn't own one anymore and since we're going to frozen chosen country, he'll need one.

I wish I was more excited, but right now I am too tired to be excited. I even have a new book on my nightstand that is not exciting me. Now THAT'S pretty bad. I want a PJ day but there's too much to do.

Tempted to get stressed about all that needs to be done, however the voice of the Holy Spirit told me today, "RELAX. There's nothing to be gained by stressing, so just relax and take things one step at a time..."

Ruined for the ordinary

Today, Oswald Chambers devo says: "A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, "If only I were somewhere else!" All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them...God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, "This is My man, and this is My woman." We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us. Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you "turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . ." ( Deuteronomy 28:14 ). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way." 

This goes with what Wayne Lee Jr. preached at our Northside campmeeting service last night. He talked about being extraordinary. It was a great message. He made so many points that are always resonating on my heart...about everything from where we spend our time, to the mandate of worshipping God as He deserves...to being more than just normal or ordinary. That is the cry of my heart - to not just be ordinary - to not just be some "normal" woman making sure the socks are clean and in the drawers and supper made. Yes, those things are important, I know that. But I don't want it to be my whole life by any means. Those things are just stuff that has to get done in order to do the "real stuff" of life. In other words, it's important for all my family members to have clean socks so we can all get out there and hit the road and do what we are called to do for Jesus. If we don't have clean clothes and food to nourish us, we won't be able to fulfill God's call in our lives...plain and simple that's how I look at it. But the laundry, the cooking, the stuff of life like that is just tactical work that must be done to get to the greater goal in life which is: FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION.

I feel like people are forever trying to champion ordinary-ness by making sock washing the fulfillment of a great call. Believe me I've heard many a preacher bring a whole message on nothing but that on mother's day. And sometimes I think, "okay already, but I really don't want to be known at the end of my life for washing socks." Gotta get it done? Sure, but it's not what I live for. And at the heart of it, I don't know anybody that really does deep down inside. I believe everybody deep inside has a heart's cry to make a big difference in the world. I know I do.

I am...forever ruined for the ordinary...and beckoned by the call to the extraordinary.

It's legal...it's okay...but is it WISE?

This past weekend, one of the boys friends from the high school was killed in a plane crash. I had not heard about any plane crash on TV so I asked them where it occurred. It was the boy and his father, flying their private plane here in the area. Right now all the kids at the high school are emotionally torn up and they have called in crisis teams and all that. How terrible for everyone, especially the rest of the family left behind.

Almost right away, the thought popped into my head, "this is why normal people like us probably should not own planes..."

I know it's controversial and many people do not agree with me on this, but I think some things in life are legal, they are fine to do, but are they wise? I think of all the people who have been killed flying their own plane including Keith Green, JFK Jr., and the horrible accident with Dr. Dobson's four close friends that he ended up writing a book about after their tragedy. I know commercial airliners go down too sometimes, but it seems a lot more I hear about people who fly their own plane and this happens.

This is why I also don't like motorcycles. Are they legal? Yes. Are they okay to own? Yes. But is it smart? I don't think so. I have had too many people close to me, or acquainted with me, die from driving them. Many of them were not drunk, nor riding unsafely. However other people did not see them. Other people caused their accidents completely. No matter what the motorcycle rider did to try and keep themself safe, they were doomed by another's blind spot. Although it is perfectly legal, I just don't believe it's wisdom.

Some will say, "you can't live in fear, Deanna."

Yes, I know that, but you CAN live in wisdom, in fact that's what the whole book of Proverbs is about. I believe we can have fun without putting our lives in danger all the time. Some people like champions of the book Wild at Heart will vehemently disagree with me. But I do believe there is a time where wisdom should be considered, and not our wild heart all the time. This is coming from someone who is a party animal. I love to have fun. I have been known to get up on top of tables and dance at a party (no, not THAT kind of dancing - PUHLEASE!) But seriously, I love to have a good time. I just don't want to be killed doing it. Am I the only one that thinks these things? It crushes my spirit that some of these accidents could have been prevented.

I think flying planes may be better left to the professionals, and not Joe or Jane Shmoe.

Life is just too precious to place ourselves in such danger. Just ask a few thousand kids right now who are crying their eyes out grieving over a precious friend who is gone forever.

Everything is easier with a partner

Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Well I started the weight watcher journey two years ago and have kept the weight off but not without incredible struggle many days. Pastor Lindsay joined the journey in effort to get in perfect shape for her wedding. Then Pastor Matt decided to come on board... and now finally Pastor T...and the person I'm most happiest about - my husband! (Because I worry about him so much.)
So today was T & Larry's first official start date and I'm answering a million questions about point values and everything else. I must say this will be so much easier with all of these people I'm with so much headed toward the same goal, and I can't wait to see it change their lives in a positive direction like it did mine. Pastor Linds has already been at goal for weeks...she looks stunning.

Anything is easier when you are doing it with people you love. So now I won't be the lone voice saying, "uuuhhhhh...do we HAVE to go to Golden Corral?" (I hate that place now that I'm weight conscious...) Yeah! Lunch is about to get a whole lot better. Today we ate at Subway. 7 points baby! 7 points! I think I'm going to be able to get my bikini out again in a few weeks now that I have some help to stay on track.

Holy Ghost Sugarplums

Twas the night before Campmeeting, and all through the house...

every creature is excited...throughout the whole house! I'm so excited I can hardly wait. Visions of Holy Ghost sugarplums are dancing in my head. I should be going to sleep right now but I just can't sleep.

We picked up Susanne at the airport and took her to dinner. What a great time we shared...we know God is going to do AWESOME things beyond our wildest dreams.

I feel a next level coming and I just hope everybody gets on board with what God wants to do. The thing is, when God sweeps through, we either get on board with it, let it pass us by, or sadly some just get run over. They say, "what in the world was that?" It's important to be sensitive to the timing and seasons of God and flow with them. I'm ready!

One Worship Conference

Today is my day off for the most part. I am coming to the One Conference tonight, our youth group (Oasis) worship night... because first of all, I want to see my boys as they lead in worship, and second because I want to support the youth ministry. Of course I want to worship the Lord too, but honestly if it wasn't our youth group and our boys, I'd be taking my day off fully until midnight tonight. And, I'd probably worship the Lord by sitting in my jacuzzi tonight and looking up at the stars - talking to the Lord. :-) There will be time for that later, when I get home tonight. For now, I'm glad I'm here, getting ready to go in to the service and enjoy the evening watching these incredible young people and experiencing God's presence  Can't wait to see what is around the corner next ~ one thing is for sure, we are growing...this family is growing!

I had grandiose plans of all the things I'd do earlier today with my day off...places to go and things to see. But I ended up staying in bed until it was time to get up and come to church. I was that tired. And that's alright - sometimes you just need a day to stay in bed. Today was one such day. I have been physically and emotionally tired and needed to catch up on rest. I'm feeling much better now. Next Friday maybe I'll take time to go to all the places and see all the things I didn't see this week.

Why are there Fruity Pebbles behind the sofa?

Yesterday I was cleaning in preparation for a leadership meeting at our home. When I came to clean behind the sofa, I found a box of Fruity Pebbles hidden there.

Why would Fruity Pebbles be behind the sofa?

Being a Mom and knowing my children as I do, I instantly realized, they were there for a purpose. Those Fruity Pebbles were not just there by happenstance. They were there so that hopefully...only the one that put them there would know they were there! The hider of the Fruity Pebbles wanted them all to themselves and was undoubtedly tired of sharing them with others. I have my thoughts on who hid them, but I found the whole thing too humorous to even go there. I just put them back up in the pantry and will let them find out when they go behind the couch, that someone found them.

I got to thinking that many Christians have a Fruity Pebbles behind the couch mentality. Some people think the more they hoard the more they will have...the more they keep the more they will prosper, but that is not really true. The more we give away, the more we share -- the more we have.

The Bible says that what we sow, we will reap, but I've found the law of the harvest is that we always reap a lot MORE than what we sow. That's one reason, other just plain obedience to God's Word, that I want to be an generous sower. I like receiving. And the way to receive more is to be an extravagant giver, no matter what you're talking about. Love, joy, forgiveness, money, clothes, shoes, etc. etc. If you give, give, give, you will receive, receive, receive.

So realize, for this reason...

I will NEVER hide Fruity Pebbles behind the couch. Now a Hershey bar... (no, just kidding!)

The Gift of Goodbye

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you.
Excerpts from a Message by Bishop T.D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. 

The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over.

And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.

You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over.

Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye.

It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.

Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...... LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ..... LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth..... LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ........ LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...... LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...... LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents .... LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude....... LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...... LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...... LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....... LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...... LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ....... LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...... LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2006!!!

LET IT GO!!!

Me and Superman

Here I am with the love of my life at Sunday night's pastor appreciation reception.
Don't we look happy?
We are.

God-filtered

"Don't let an arrow pierce your heart unless it first passes through the filter of Scripture." Erwin McManus, Pastor of Mosaic Church.

So the bottom line is this. If someone says something negative, don't ever let it enter your heart until it first goes through a Biblical test. Is it true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report? If not why are you concerning yourself with it? Ignore it.

If God through His Word speaks something to you that resonates with what the person said - take it before the Lord and make it right. But if it doesn't, let the filter handle it.

I have a filter on my jacuzzi and it keeps all the scum from taking over and makes it a continually enjoyable environment that I like to be in. So the scripture is a filter for our lives. Why do we take in so many things that people say, but God doesn't? 

Let God's filter handle things for you so you can keep your environment a pleasant one. That's how Jesus lived...everything was Word-filtered...so why not live that way ourselves?

The principles that shape my methods

If you learn only methods, you'll be tied to your methods, but if you learn principles you can devise your own methods.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Okay, so I'm thinking tonight...what exactly are the principles of Deanna Shrodes? What are my values that shape my methods? Just a few that come to mind  (I'm writing these myself, by the way -- not copying these from somewhere else.  They are what I have formed in thinking hard about life and leadership and what it's about.) :

Anything worth doing is worth doing with enthusiasm.

There is nothing more important than the foundation of one's character.

When you are a person of character, truth always comes to the surface eventually, even when people attack you - so stay the course.

Invest an incredible amount of time into your marriage. It's the one relationship that will (or at least should) transcend your life when friends and kids come and go, so nurture it.

There are three important keys you can't do without in order to achieve success:
1) work
2) work
3) work

There is only one key more important than work, and that is the power of God/prayer.

We are placed in our children's lives to be an example - not a friend, at least not until they are adults. They need a Mom, not a pal.

We are responsible to root our children in the house of the Lord and put them in position to flourish. Our role is to have their best interest in mind, not expect them to look to our needs.

Being a Mom is the hardest thing you'll ever do but when parenting is going right, it's the most rewarding.

Don't ever expect from people what you are only supposed to get from God.

Something that will cripple a person faster than anything is a sense of entitlement.

Rest is an important item to put on your agenda.

Look for the joys - large or small - in every day life.

Focus on the positives and the joy - never accentuate the negative.

Lift people to a higher level by what you say.

Don't spend large amounts of time with negative people.

Life is too short to waste time on head games or people who play them.

You will regret the things you didn't do as much as the things you did - so go after what God tells you, and take some risks.

One can be mightily used of God at any age. My husband and I are living proof. We were youth pastoring at 19 and some of those kids from that time are in ministry today. If our example isn't enough, just look at Joash, king at age 7 in the Bible, and Timothy, the young pastor of a mega-church.

Praise will change absolutely everything in your life, so...no matter what...PRAISE!

Small beginnings often bring about large miracles.

If you don't ask...the answer is always no.

Don't be afraid to tackle the subjects that many are embarrassed by. Everyone is thinking about them, and the world is just waiting for someone with the courage to address them.

Be generous always and live your very life as a gift to the world.

Give away more than you take.

Be a person God can entrust with money and possessions.

Do things right, or don't do them.

Remember that a hug can do wonders for most people.

When someone speaks a negative word, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL.

Let God promote you.

When He promotes you don't apologize for it.

Always be who you are. You're a crappy someone else.

Be the most beautiful you that you can be.

Don't be all YOU can be - be all who God has made you to be.

If you are called to lead, do it. Whenever there is a gap in leadership, someone rises up...and often it's the wrong person because the right person simply didn't discharge the duties of their appointment.

Don't complain about what you permit. Change it.

If someone doesn't want to be in relationship with you, don't cry over it. There are millions of people waiting to be in relationship with you. You are a treasure waiting to be found. So... walk across the room, introduce yourself, and stop crying over someone who is not worth your tears.

Stable friends who are not given to every emotional whim, and remain loyal and true are hard to find in this world. So when you find a friend who is worth it, hang on to them, appreciate and treasure them.

Pay your bills. It's a travesty not to.

Pay your bills to the house of God first. Someone who doesn't cannot be entrusted with ANYTHING. If you will rob the house of God, there's nothing else you won't do.

Take time to be silly.

Don't just live with your flaws. Determine to know better, do better, to be better.

Don't make excuses for your shortcomings. Simply make a determination to change and do it.

Always have an initiative list.

Don't allow yourself to "play" until your intiatives are done.

Be clean.

Respect and obey authority. One cannot be trusted with any leadership role until they have mastered this.

It takes time to get where you are going in God. Before you can receive Elijah's mantle, you have to wash it and dry it for a while. :-)

Don't try to be in a year what many people in God have taken 20 years to achieve. Those who rise too quickly always fall.

Never stop learning.

Develop a team of Godly advisors in your life and take their advice. Plans fail for lack of counsel, the Bible says.

Make yourself accountable willingly.

Never forget the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you are around negative talk, immediately remove yourself from it.

There is power in words and the printed page that the majority of people will never realize, yet continue to be incredibly influenced by.

Most people don't realize what they have until...they lose it.

For the first time, I respectfully disagree

Today is the first day I've ever disagreed with something Oswald Chambers says. In his devo today he says... I respectfully disagree.

"Is your response, "Oh, but I have a special work to do!" No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, "a servant [who] is not greater than his master" (John 13:16 ), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work— He calls us to Himself. "Pray the Lord of the harvest," and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer."

I believe we are called to the person of Jesus Christ. Of course! But after being called to Him in an intimate personal relationship, I believe He speaks to us and shows us his specific and perfect will for us. I believe God is a detailed God who orchestrates the details of our life from the very foundation world. I believe he knew I would be here in 2006 and He placed me right in Tampa for such a time as this. I believe he knew from the very foundation of the world that Billy Graham would be the greatest evangelist that ever lived and He called him to that special work, for Him. I believe He knew that children in Calcutta needed a couple like Mark and Huldah Buntain and called them specifically to that place. I believe He calls you to Himself and to His work.

I don't believe our God is some generic God. He cares enough about me to know every hair on my head. Surely He has a special plan that He calls each of us to. If am am not called to a special work then what in the heck am I doing here?

Just a thought.

I believe every preacher has their off days. Maybe Oswald had one when he wrote this devo. But what can I say, I'm still crazy about the guy!

So I'm still pretty much floating on a cloud after yesterday's pastor appreciation. Wow, wow, wow. Did I mention that the tables were Steeler colors and pink? I'm still smiling over that.

Today I got a few letters from people who could not be there last night and they were just so incredibly passion filled, and heart warming. Now, that's enough to keep a woman going for Lord knows how long!
We stayed up so late last night...had a few people over to hot tub, and wind down and it was a good time and then I stayed up with Larry for a while. That wasn't the smartest thing but I never regret it.

Had my Eagles meeting tonight and it was a wonderful time with my leaders as usual. What wonderful women I have walking with me. Their creativity, support and love never ceases to amaze me. Tonight I made dinner for them, which I wish I had time to do each and every time. Most nights we go out. I think they enjoyed it, Debbie said she even liked the water. (ha ha!) Of course I had nothing to do with that. Debbie is so encouraging she would probably thank me for just about any little thing you can imagine. What a wonderful trait to have. She has lifted me to another level in my spirit so many times.

We had a good day...lots of stuff to do, I only got about 5 agenda items done today as we had staff meeting and lunch and so much to discuss it went a long time. We are planning all the events through the year's end so it is consuming to get the details ironed out. Today we were going over everything from the Thanksgiving dinner to poinsetta trees for outside to you name it.

Larry has just done the dishes after my ladies left. What a wonderful husband. He wanted me to do some editing for him on a project and I would rather edit than wash dishes any day.

I feel like I haven't seen the kids in a few days things have been so busy and they have been with friends and such. Tomorrow we go to pick out Dustin's senior portrait packages. Can you believe that my little Chocki is graduating from high school? It can't be possible. It was just yesterday that I was packing his bag for his first day at school and bawling my eyes out as I dropped him off at the school. What a precious boy.

Still waiting on a verdict from the publisher on my proposal. I go to the mailbox each day thinking, "could this be the day?" I know I need to prepare another proposal. Every good writer has one waiting in the wings for when the rejection letter comes. The faith side of me says, "don't do that! claim it!" The practical side of me says, "regardless of faith, realize this business is fraught with rejection and you have to be prepared for it." If I was Baptist this would not be a problem, I would just prepare the proposals and have them stacked and ready to go, but since I am a Pentecostal, faith walking, miracle believing, supernatural woman -- I sit here believing and choosing to not stack the proposals. :-)

I know some baptists would respectful disagree with me. :-) And that's okay.

Things I'm very happy about today............

1) I got a silver watch for pastor appreciation! Isn't it interesting, my silver watch just broke and Sunday morning as I was dressing I thought, "uh, I can't wear my silver watch today...I have to get a new one..." Then I go to the reception, and Susan presents me with one. HOW SWEET. I know God speaks to His people - nobody can tell me any different. He's in the details.

2) I always take bread over to my next door neighbors each time I bake it. It's been tradition for 2 years now. I am trying to be a light in their lives, show them God's love. I believe it is breaking through. I will invite Donna to the Christmas tea. This time I believe she will come.

3) My book came from amazon.com today! I love fresh reading material!

4) My husband thinks I'm beautiful.

5) There's only five more days til' Campmeeting 2006! A Holy Ghost explosion is getting ready to take place. I feel like I'm going to go crazy waiting for it. It's Monday, but Sunday's on the way!!!!!!!!!!!! (Enjoying every moment til' then.)

Thank you Jesus for my wonderful life.

I feel treasured

Today was the pastor appreciation day/reception at our church. We have the best church in the world. That's all I can say.

We are so blessed and we thank God for our precious people every day.
I can go on and say so many other things and perhaps I will blog all about it later, but right now I'm just winding down for the night...we have just read the last of the cards from the people, I've tied up loose ends at home, and I need to get to sleep...(it's 1 am) But I'll just say...it must be hard for other pastors when they come to the realization that the best church in the world is already...taken! 

Thank you Jesus, for giving it to me.

Nighty Night

Well, yesterday was my day off and thank God for it because today actually ended up to be a lot of work --- more than I bargained for. I did sleep in but then it took off like a rocket with so much to get done for tomorrow. It was kind of stressful for me because I did a lot more on my own than I wanted to. (Larry did do some things, just not as much as me...I was desperately longing for help. Somehow admist it all I did take time to cook and healthy meal and exercise. I determined...being upset w/peoplee, nor busyness will ever make me fat again.)

I had to pick up the slack of a few things that were done wrong this past week at the church...re-fix all that stuff...pick Savanna up...make it to an appt...go to the store and pick up cups for class tomorrow (they ran out and no one took the initiative to replace them or even tell me, so thank God I checked)...bake some goodies for my class...return some phone calls that had been waiting since Thursday...finish cleaning, ironing, prepping for tomorrow (actually it's already tomorrow - I'm writing this at 1 am.) I finally finished everything but one initiative item on my list this week...I missed completing everything by one but that will be my first line of action Monday AM. Or maybe tomorrow night after church. So much to do...so very much.

Wow, I'm glad I had that day off yesterday. So glad no one can imagine how glad!

Larry is waiting for me in bed and although it's 1 am...I still would like to spend a little bit of time with him, so g'night.

Rest is good

Today Oswald Chambers devo says: "Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them" ( Matthew 28:16 ). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, "Come to Me . . ."— that is the place to meet Jesus— "all you who labor and are heavy laden . . ." ( Matthew 11:28 )— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.

I am taking time in the last 24 hours to come away...take time to rest...take time with Larry...take time to talk with the Lord.

Yesterday I slept in as long as I wanted to, (my voice came back!), and then relaxed. Went to get my nails done. They had Click playing and I had already seen it. I read a fitness magazine and talked to Mai. For the first time she asked me for directions to our church and service times. I invited her to friends day but she didn't come. I have just been quietly waiting to see what will unfold, not pressuring. I think she is interested and softening up. I pray for everyone who works there...they are Buddist, and I always pray God will use me as a light when I'm around them. One thing is, I'm a very good customer and I tip well (something very important for Christians to do - I believe).

We dropped Savanna off for Malibu and went on a date. Larry and I decided to go for Japanese. We got seated with a family that clearly didn't want to be seated by anybody else...or should I say the Mom didn't want to. I thought to myself, "doesn't she know this is the way it works?" I told Larry, let's make this dinner very interesting for her. So, while we were waiting, I snuggled up and would kiss him now and then...whisper in his ear... Of course they looked at us like it was very strange, especially when people see wedding rings they think..."surely they must just be new to this or something..."but no. So the whole meal I decide just to continue on acting like he's my boyfriend instead of my husband. (I enjoy doing that anyway, it's a lot of fun!) When we got ready to leave I actually felt a little sorry for her because it was evident she and her husband had fallen into some comfortable pattern and there was really no affection going on there. Seemed to be almost a business like relationship instead of a love relationship. Perhaps we gave them something to think about. Midway through the dinner the man mentioned that he was placing an ad for his business and wanted to know what paper we read. Larry mentioned to him about the effectiveness of internet advertising and also that we pastor a church. I noticed the woman's eyes got big when he said that. (Uh...not only are the married...but they are pastors of a church? I'm sure she didn't get the connection there...married-pastors-hot passionate love affair...) I know it puzzles many people, not just her.

Savanna spent the night at Britney's so after stopping by Walmart to pick up grocery items, I came home and sat in the Jacuzzi and listened to Delilah, sat on my swing and talked to the Lord a while...then went in and picked up where I left off at the restaurant with Larry.

Here is is Saturday...time to tie loose ends up for tomorrow's service...clean...work out...talk to the Lord some more...get some rest and get ready for tomorrow's rocket to take off!

Larry does NOT have cancer!

Well, back on September 19 I blogged about a potential health situation in my family that had me upset although I didn't go into details. I'm happy to blog today with the results. Praise the Lord, Larry DOES NOT have cancer. To say I'm relieved??

Last year Larry had skin cancer. It took me forever to convince him in the first place that something was wrong. I saw some spots and talked to him about it. He didn't want to do anything about it. He's so stubborn about his health but friends have since told me, most men are this way. I have to drag him to the doctors for anything. He always says, "people are fine, then they go to the doctors and find out they're sick." We know that's not true - they were not fine in the first place! But whatever. Sometimes a woman just knows things. Intuition.

He kept putting things off. Finally one day I went to the library to get a book and it had nothing to do with health...it was a leadership book. I brought it home and was reading and something fell out that the last person who checked out the book had left there. It was a pamplet on skin cancer. It had about 5 photos. The one photo looked just like my husband's spots on his skin. It was another confirmation that something had to be done. I made the Dr.s appt for him and he was NOT HAPPY with me. But that's okay, sometimes you just have to let them be unhappy and make them do what's good for them. (No, we shouldn't try to control everything however there are some times you just have to take a stand.) His health is one of those times.

So Larry went to the appointment last year and sure enough, he had skin cancer. So, he went through several treatments for it, and it was completely taken care of. Halleluiah. I slept a lot better at night knowing my prince was okay.

Things were fine and I was so relieved. Then a few weeks ago, I notice a spot...

I was agonizing over it wondering if he would have to go through this again. I mentioned the spot to him and he said it had been there for a few months. Ughhhh! Men! You can't live with them...you can't live without them. I didn't wait for him to do something, I just called his dermatologist and made an appt. So he went and they removed a bunch of spots, probably five or six of them. It made me feel better that they really thoroughly checked him over. After testing, they discovered none of them were cancer. But that's alright, even though he had them removed...at least they will not turn into something, because they are...GONE.
I'm very relieved.

I was so worried about him.

He's so funny. Last year a day after he had a cancer treatment and had this huge patch on his face, he played a softball game with it on and everything. He would run and it would be flapping as he was running. He didn't care, he just wanted to play. Although I'm not a sports person myself, I enjoy seeing the joy it brings to him. And I must say, I've always found it very sexy when he comes running over, hot and sweaty after a game. He never wants to hug me because he feels yuk...but I don't care.

I am always concerned about him because many times he doesn't take the concern for himself. He just always assumes things will be fine...I'm more wary.

I'm glad he's healthy and I can relax now, although remain vigilant in prayer for him, for every aspect of his life. I'm also praying God will remove that stubborn streak he has about things he should just listen to his wife about. :-)

Today is our day off. It feels so good. I am so glad...I needed this. I am getting ready to go get my nails done. I wonder what movie they will have playing? Larry always finds it funny that I see movies at the nail salon. Tony always has a new one, whatever the lastest one is. I see most movies before Larry does since I go to the salon I now go to. Later on Savanna is going to Malibu Grand Prix with Pastor T and the Jam Kids. She's looking forward to it and getting ready now although it's hours to go. I think Larry and I will go on a date. We love dating.

This morning Savanna's friend (also named Savannah) really drove Larry and I off a mental cliff. As many times as we have told her friends not to call early in the AM (especially on a Friday) they sometimes still do. So, Savannah calls her and says, "Savanna...guess what this song is playing on the radio RIGHT NOW! Listen!" and she proceeds to put the phone up to the radio and record the WHOLE SONG on our answer machine. We are laying there and Larry rolls over (listening to the song blaring on the answering machine) and says, "Sometimes our kids friends drive me crazy." After this whole dumb song plays, Savannah calls back five minutes later. Larry picks it up and says, "Uh...Savannah, how many times has Savanna told you NOT to call early in the morning to our house?! Please don't call for at least 2 more hours..." The thing is, not only does our Savanna wake up late when she doesn't have school (she's a sleeper and her friends are not) but she wasn't even here. She spent the night at Molly's so therefore...the phone rang off the hook with her friends calling for absolutely naught. Kids!!!!! Ya gotta love em.

This is going to be a great day. Did I mention it's FUN FRIDAY?!

The Prince and Me

Someone once said that the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. I would agree with that. I usually regret the things I didn't do more than the things I have done that caused me shame. Of course I didn't relish feeling shame! Certainly not. But what I am saying is sometimes, things that I did not act upon were more upsetting.

As for me, I want to wake up every day "fully alive" (not just going through the motions) but eeeking every drop of wonderfulness out of each day and enjoying the moments.

Last night I worked for a while on the computer and thought I would probably just drift off to sleep because it was so pitifully late...my family had been asleep for hours, but lo and behold, my prince had been waiting for me the whole time, patiently...and I found him as I tiptoed in and slid into bed. It was a delightful surprise but I said..."uh...can you get the baby ready for school?"

This morning I slept a half hour later than normal while he got her ready and took her to the bus stop. I decided to do something absolutely wonderful that I love doing and that is to come out totally 100% strip naked to the kitchen to get my cup of coffee. I love just walking around in my "all together" as some call it...and while I'm doing that, Larry comes back in the door from taking Savanna to the bus. No problem there. But moments later he goes to the boys rooms (they should have been gone hours ago) and there is Dustin in his room...he slept in AGAIN. Larry was so mad but the first thing he yells is, "Uh, Deanna...GET DRESSED!" There goes my blissful freedom of walking around like Eve before the fall. I've got a kid at home. Time to put on the clothes. It's so wonderful when I get those brief moments where I can just be free and just pretend like Larry and I are the only people who exist in the world. In Failure to Launch the Dad has "the naked room." He is so glad the son is finally launched from the nest. One day when the kids are gone, I'm having "the naked house"...and in the meantime I better make sure my kids actually ARE at school when I think they are.

Well, I got the cup of hazelnut coffee...went in and drew a bath complete with Ecalyptus bubble bath...and sat there for about 15 minutes savoring both. Many days I start off my day in my big bathtub instead of the shower. I know most people never take time for baths instead of showers, but I do. I need them to destress and renew because I know the day ahead of me is going to be crazy so I might as well take some time for myself right up front. As I expected, then the day took off like a rocket and I was working on stuff, stuff, stuff...but it's A/G... (All Good!) I love my work. When you really love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life! (I think it was Mark Twain that first said that brilliant line.)

The day was busy...we did take time for staff meeting (a good one) and had lunch with T. How hysterical. He was trying to explain to us that C-sections are rather simple and he could probably do one himself if he had to, and I laughed so hard I could barely contain myself. He's a brilliant man but sometimes he says the funniest goofy things. I tried to explain to him how SERIOUSLY major a C-section surgery is. He talked about how the C-section was done so long ago and it was a rather simple procedure. I'm going to have to research that one. We had to go buy a bunch of stuff for the church after lunch at Lifeway. I got a new track I have been longing for -- can't wait to do it for Campmeeting next week. Then I got some visual tracks that Lindsay and I will do that will absolutely ROCK. I called her and said, "are you still at the office? I have something so awesome to show you." When I got back we had a little mini-meeting about stuff to come. Came back...did a bunch more things before the end of the day and then I blew out anything stressful the day contained at Zumba. Jeni wanted all of us to come to the Zumba bash and went on about it...truthfully Lindsay and I would have loved to have gone but we needed a day off completely and besides that, I'd rather spend the money on shoes.

Time to shower up, get in the hot tub, and spend some more time with my prince...my beloved awaits.

The Pastorate

Went to Zumba tonight. It was fun as usual.

There's this song we did, sort of a combo of salsa and kickboxing if you can imagine it. It's a crazy workout, I mean, crazy. Your arms are about to fall off after it's done. You are punching fast and hard, forever until you just can't punch anymore.

When it was done, I let out a "whooooo!" and Linds smiled and said, "I call that one 'The Pastorate.' I knew what she meant without asking but she went on to say, "I'm punching the air, taking out my feelings towards everyone I can't say anything to..." Uh-huh.

Welcome to the ministry babe...it's just beginning. But I wouldn't choose any other life. The most wonderful place to be is in the center of God's will, even when His people drive you crazy sometimes. Thank God for Zumba which helps us to release some pent up stress. Misty came tonight too and she loved it and expressed the same thing. Punch away ladies...you CAN make it through "THE PASTORATE."

Linds and I have thought of producing a Reality TV show called "The Church" but we're afraid nobody would ever get saved again if they watched it. Reality would scare so many people, it's pathetic. God gives grace to those of us in the pastorate to handle it, so others can be protected from it...safe...and able to receive. One day just for fun though, I would like us to produce at least one episode of "The Church" or even...a sequel called, "The Pastorate" that just our staff members could enjoy. We'd say, "praise the Lord, and pass the popcorn!" Linds, if you are reading this just know that THE PASTORATE is a lot more fun with you...love ya, s.p.! :-)