A RIDICULOUS harvest!

Leviticus 26:9-11 " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new." 

Here is the final word from the Lord for me in these last hours of 2006. I need to be packing for vacation and cleaning but I simply had to reflect for a few moments on closing out the 2006 year. If there's anything I want to close my year out with, it's writing. Because, WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN. If every year was like this...my oh my.

We have been so blessed. What a year of harvest. The final count at Northside is 122 souls saved for 2006. We had a salvation and one rededication this morning in service. And onward we go. Of course the most important thing has been salvations, however there has been so much MORE. I see blessings in my family, in our church families, in our church as a whole. In my life personally...I could just go on and on with pages and pages of the blessing of God.

This verse describes where I'm at perfectly. God has poured favor upon us. He has made us fruitful and increased our numbers. So here we are still eating last year's harvest and God is saying, "MAKE ROOM, I'VE GOT A BUNCH MORE!!!"

It was prophesied a few years ago that we would have "a ridiculous harvest at Northside..." and more recently Randy Brummitt prophesied one night that we were getting ready for a Holy Ghost Tsunami in our church. I've never forgotten his message and the Word he had at the conclusion of the service for the church. It was really powerful. That night I had a migraine and felt as sick as a dog however I pushed through it and hung on to every word he said because it was so powerful I didn't want to miss a thing. At one point I was basically laying across Larry's chest during the service because I was so sick but I just HAD TO BE THERE. God was speaking to us so mightily. Then after the service at the back table, Randy said, "I have a word for you personally, but didn't want to give it during the service..." and he went into some stuff he said God was ready to download in my life in this next year. GOOD STUFF. I can't wait.

Great things are in store. At the same time I know the enemy is not happy. New level, new devil. Everytime we take a surge forward, Larry and I need to brace ourselves for cancelling the enemy's next assignment. What a butthead he is. He actually thinks Larry and I are going to get discouraged enough to quit at times. You think after 20 years he would know to leave us alone. We're never giving up or giving in.

This past year so many milestones happened. God gave us a dream team staff. I blog on here ad nauseum about it so I'll stop there on the staff issue for now. (Operative phrase: for now.) I turned 40 this year. Reclarified my life, my personal mission, vision, core values, and life goals. I read Jim Denney's book a few weeks before my birthday, with tears streaming down my face and realized all over again why I've personally been put on the planet. My family greatly prospered this year. By this, I mean in all things but particularly spiritually. I can't thank the Lord enough for how far my boys have come and a large part of that is the leadership he has provided. For this I am ever grateful. To have kids who love the Lord? Nothing is greater. Larry and I prospered in our marriage this year. We are in our 20th year and crazier about each other than ever. How much better does it get than THAT? So much to be thankful for. On top of all that, God gave us the greatest missionfield ever, and the greatest church family ever.

This is the first year in forever that we haven't had a new year's eve party. But I knew with getting ready for the trip it was unwise. To do it like I like to (up right), AND get it cleaned up properly, AND get packed properly -- would have been insane. So, here we are on a quiet night, just waiting for Matt and Linds to eventually come over after the see they ball drop at their party.

Every time we go away somewhere, I have the last ceremonial "enjoying of my house and neighborhood." It sounds crazy, but being home is my greatest relaxation most times because I've made it a haven. I work hard, but I come home to a life I have created which gives me the downtime I need.

Despite having little sleep last night I woke up extra early to sit on my back patio and drink my coffee this morning while the sun was coming up. I just didn't want to miss it. So I got a shower, put on my bathrobe, got my coffee, went out on my swing and watched the sun come up while I talked to the Lord about the morning service and how glad I was to start my day with him. Moving right along we had a great day at church. Went to Moe's with a bunch of people for lunch and I realized once more how much I'll miss them all while I'm away...but this trip is necessary for my family and for me.

Dropped Savannah D. off at her house after lunch and came home to get in my exercise clothes and leave on my bike. I decided to stay out a long time since it's my last time for a week. I didn't want to come home it was so wonderful, but when I saw the street lights coming on, I knew it was time. :-) I listened to some new worship stuff I loaded on my mp3 while riding with the exception of listening to Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" at one point. So the last ceremonial bike ride of 2006 and for the next week is...done. Pastor Lindsay and I will be doing our workouts at the resort now in TN, and we WILL be faithful with it. Let me tell you, after this coming year, people will not be singing, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" but instead they'll change their tune to, "Don't you wish your pastor was hot like mine?" (ha ha!) 

On that note, I'd better quit while I'm ahead...

It's been a phenomenal 2006 and I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for the coming year. I sense Him lining things up for something RIDICULOUS!

Ten things that will NEVER change about me

Times change. Seasons change. Feelings change. But some things NEVER DO. Okay, so scripture tells us that the Word of God will never change, never fade away. Most things in this life you can't count on staying the same, in fact very few things. However today I'd like to share with you ten things about me that will NEVER CHANGE.

1) I love Jesus with my life, not just my heart. A lot of people can say they love something/someone with their whole heart, but does what they do with their life reflect it?

2) If I say I'll be somewhere, I'll be there. (If not, call 911 because something is REALLY wrong, such as...my pulse has stopped. )

3) If I commit to do something, count on it. (Again, the 911 rule applies)

4) I'll always like pink.

5) I'll always savor my coffee and tea. (Not just in the morning but pretty much all the time.)

6) Writing to me is as essential as breathing.

7) Sunday School is a close runner up to that. If I couldn't write or teach Sunday School, I wouldn't want to live. (Yes, I'm serious.)

8) I love snuggling with my family.

9) If I don't show up at church...again there's that 911 thing. Either call 911 or come visit me at University Community Hospital. I either need an ambulance or that's where I already am if you don't see me, other than my official vacation time. (Which btw, I always go to church on vacation as well. Great opportunity to see what's going on in other houses! We already have our church picked out for this vacation...and I'm so excited. Looks like a great innovative place. (I'll let you know how it goes.) By the way, if I do happen to miss church and I'm in the hospital for some reason and not on vacation, please bring me some food. I would like that more than flowers. Make it some "sinless cake batter ice cream" from Coldstone or something like that. As I am rarely sick, this may only cost you about $4.00 or so (five bucks at most) every decade or something like that for each time I get sick. (Thank you, in advance.) 

10) I get knocked down, but I get up again. (hey, somebody should write a song about that!) :-)

Invincible future

"You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.--

Just starting this last morning of 2006. It's 6:45 and I'm just quieting myself here with a cup of coffee getting ready to leave for church. And, getting ready to step into the invincible future.

The path

Proverbs 4:18 says, "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the full day."

I know my path was planned ahead of time by God but I sure wish he would have told me about my schedule today last night. I planned on being at home ALL DAY doing nothing but getting ready for tomorrow's service (last minute stuff) and then cleaning and packing. No dice. But that's alright, I am used to leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Remember, it's all about keeping the plates spinning, and balls juggling! THIS I know how to do.

Larry & Jordan had the men's golf tourney. Larry's team won which happens most times. Jordan did real good though. He's talented no matter what sport he tries. Got a call late afternoon to pick up Dustin from work...and to take him and Savanna for haircuts. Basically this took me 1/2 my day once I got on the road. But that's alright. Somehow despite being gone half the day, and not getting home til' almost 5...everything will be ready. See photos from golf outing and kids new haircuts, above. 

I'm so excited for vacation I can hardly stand it!!!

Somebody get the marshmallow creme!!!

What is it that causes some people to be able to handle so much and others the ability to handle so little? I have observed this in life and ministry. It’s something I’ve encountered in church work that drives me to eat every time. (Remember, we A/G credential holders don’t drink – we just eat a bag of potato chips or a carton of ice cream when we get upset.) 

Particularly with women, I notice that some are pillars of strength. They seem to keep a million plates spinning and a zillion balls in the air juggling. They typify the term, “multi-tasker.” If an extra plate or ball get thrown in they just catch it, put it in the rotation and keep going. If something happens they didn’t expect, they roll with it. New projects? They welcome them. Challenges? Can’t get enough of them. They are movers and shakers. They keep homes, workplaces, school classrooms, and churches going.

So then there are the others. Just like in the TV show Lost, “the others” are on the other side of the island. They really don’t hang with the movers and shakers. Just try to hand them a plate or ball and they start quaking in their boots. More than one plate or ball, and they are “overwhelmed.” If they have two or three plates or balls, they consider life to be unmanageable. In fact they’ll often say, “with so much on my plate…I don’t think I can…” and meanwhile you look at the plate and don’t see anything really on it. You wonder, how do these women manage to shampoo and condition their hair in ONE DAY? How do they wear not one, but TWO earrings at ONE TIME? Do they manage to walk AND chew gum at the same time? You have to wonder. At least I do. Surely I can't be the only one who thinks these things. Maybe I'm the only one that actually SAYS them, but thinks them? Nah. If you are one like me with a truly loaded plate, you do wonder how these types manage to get along in life. Meanwhile they are wondering how we're not having a heart attack. 

This would not be so unlike gazing at a laden down plate at Golden Corral, with stacked up fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, and a whole lot more, versus somebody else’s plate with a piece of broccoli and three grapes, and the broccoli/grape person going, “uhhh…this plate is so full.” It’s kind of like 120 pound women who pinch their thighs and exclaim, “I’m so fat!!!!” It just makes you want to wash their mouth out with marshmallow cream and slosh it down with a slurpee. Like, hello… you are not fat, so just shut up before we lock you up in a Sunday School classroom, feed you nothing but Sonic Burgers for 3 months and just tell the church you went on a missions trip somewhere.

I have found usually there isn’t a lot of middle ground. You have people with heaping plates, or people with relatively empty plates. And neither really has a realistic picture of how much is really on the plate. Those with the truly full plate are always convinced they can do more (although they really are at their limit). As for me, I’m always trying to figure out how to squeeze just one more thing on there. And I realize sometimes that’s stupid and I really shouldn’t. But then there are those with the empty plate who will always be convinced they’ve got a full one. Are they just great actresses? No, I don’t think so. I think they really believe their plate is full. They may not be on Lost, but for sure they are on Fantasy Island.People who think they have a full plate (but don’t) pretty much drive me crazy because they have no understanding of the life of a person like me, or Pastor Lindsay, or Misty Mackley or any of my other plate spinning, ball juggling colleagues.

One time someone told me they couldn’t attend a church event because “their plate was so full”. For the life of me I can’t think of what they have to do that takes so much time since they:

1) Do not have kids in the home.
2) Do not have a job.
3) Do not have an immaculate home.
4) Are not sick.
5) Don't have a husband who's sick.
6) Don't have family members who are disabled or sick.
7) No longer do any ministry in the church.

So, what pray tell, would be on the plate? Lunch with friends? Being on the phone? Filling their estrogen prescription? Getting their nails done? Buying gifts for their grandbabies? Knitting? Watching TV? Changing their clothes after another hot flash? Sitting on their porch in a rocker?

Maybe this is a case for Court TV. One thing I will guarantee, Nancy Grace WILL find out what’s on that plate!!!

Somebody get me the marshmallow cream and a slurpee. You hold them down, I’ll shove it in while we wait for Nancy Grace to show up.

Life is good here

It was a beautiful day in Tampa today. Wednesday it was so cold I wore my leather coat all the way through our dinner out. Today it was so hot I wore shorts and a tank top. Upon coming home from riding my bike I couldn’t wait to get in a cool shower. I got all cleaned up and picked out some more summer clothes to wear. Here I am – above - sitting on my back patio on my swing. Also a couple of pics with Larry & Savanna by the lake in our backyard.

We still had more returns to do tonight from Christmas. Returns and exchanges – after tonight they are OVER! I needed to take my Mp3 back before vacation to make sure I had enough tunes/podcasts to last me for a 10 hour ride plus exercising in the workout room. Also had to return Savanna’s sneakers and get a bigger size. She is a LADIES 7 and ½ now. That’s unbelievable to me for her age. She’s the tallest in the class and she also has larger feet to go along with it. All this means…she may just be the next Tyra Banks? Who knows. I tell her, it’s good to be tall. We spent more of our Christmas money from family/friends and I got a pair of killer jeans. Savanna says, “Momma, you’re in the juniors section again…” (Shhhhh…don’t tell anybody, I usually shop there…the clothes are much more exciting.)

I made a big pot of soup today and had it simmering on the stove most of the day today. Larry wanted to use one of our gift certificates we got for Christmas though, and go out while we were out doing returns and exchanges. It was just him, SR and me. The boys are still off on their jaunts with their friends. And now it’s back home again for a quiet evening, still washing loads of clothes, getting packed, sharing meals, cleaning house as we go along, and spending time together.

Life is good here in Tampa, Florida.

Unashamedly Resting

"Wow, that's a lotta rest you're getting there, Pastor Deanna..."

Yep, you're right. I'm unabashedly, unashamedly...RESTING. (Except for services this week, and any emergencies...and, knock on wood, we haven't had any emergencies this week so far.) For those reading who have never been aware of what we do here at NS this week...my husband and I close the office down from December 26 until January 2. Staffers only have to come in and be prepared for regularly scheduled services, necessities that can't wait like bank deposits, etc., and we are also on call 24/7 for emergencies. It is not our actual "vacation time" because we still prepare for and do services and "must do paper work" or things like our ezines, plus we stay on call. The only difference is, we don't keep office hours. But it's a wonderful gift we all have, to move at a slow pace and be home with our families, excepting these other few mandatory things. It's always a week we all cherish. When there are no emergencies, it's just awesome. Even with emergencies, it's usually not too bad because even one of those sometimes only takes a few hours to attend to depending on what it is.

This year is especially awesome for our family & Pastors Matt & Lindsay, because we're going on vacation together on the heels of this week. Yippee!!! We are going to take one of our actual "away" vacation weeks and go to Tennessee where we are going to play in the snow and spend time in the mountains. For anybody planning to toilet paper my yard or anything while I'm away, just know that Pastor Aaron and Geena the Wonder Dog will be living here and guarding it 24/7! :-) But back to down time...

Oh how great it is. Today I slept in and my darling Larry brought me breakfast in bed. Now, how much better does it get than that? The boys are visiting with friends 24/7, either having them here or going over to their houses. Steven (above with Dustin) has been living here a lot this week, which is always nice. Savanna (above pic of her just a few minutes ago) is getting ready to go ice skating in about 15 minutes with her friend, Savannah D. (We always have to call her Savannah D. to distinguish the two...they are in the same class and I imagine the teachers have a challenge too since they are always together....Savanna S., Savannah D., and Winter. What a beautiful name!)

I think today I'm going to work out (hey, I've lost 4 pounds since Christmas day! I told you, I got saved again, alright?!!!) and maybe even ride my bike at least an hour. I have to go take my Mp3 back that I got for Christmas. It won't work. Bummer. I have to hurry and get another one b/c is makes my workout so much faster. I'm going to start listening to podcast sermons while I ride my bike each morning. I can't wait!!!

I have been packing for TN for 2 days now. Why? It's going to be a challenge with the luggage restriction Larry has given us. I'm packing, re-packing, re-deciding what I'm going to take. I actually don't have many winter clothes at all. I got rid of 99.9% of them when I moved here. But the issue is, just two sweatshirts takes up a major amount of room in my suitcase along with all the other stuff I want to take. Winter stuff just takes up so much room. Another reason I'm glad I moved to Florida. Oh how blessed we are.

Oh how blessed I am for this time, to be unashamedly RESTING!
When we get back it's gonna take off like a rocket, this 2007 year. So I'm trying to gear up all I can. What a fabulous year this is going to be. If last year is any indication...we're headed for something miraculous. I am blessed with THE most beautiful place to live, THE greatest church family in the world, THE most awesome staff ever, and I live with four people I love more than anything in the world. Sometimes you have to take a serious rest, even with all that.

I really hope...

I really hope our church keeps growing next year at the same clip it is now!

I really hope I reach my next weight loss goal.

I really hope Whitney Houston really goes through with her divorce from Bobby Brown.

I really hope Cold Stone Creamery keeps their "sinless cake batter" flavor. (it wasn't there last week. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?)

I really hope my husband stays on weight watchers with me. (He's doing so well. He was a fine man before...but look at him now!) 

I really hope I can be a part of changing many lives in this coming year.

I really hope to be in the best shape of my life in 2007.

I really hope I get enough sleep with Dustin having his own car and all now.


I really hope I make some major strides in writing this year.

I really hope Rosie O'Donnell gets fired from The View and any other network show where America has to put up with seeing her face or hearing her anymore.

I really hope Sawyer and Kate stay together on Lost. If either one gets killed off, I just won't watch it anymore.

I really hope I can personally help more people cross the line of faith this year.

I really hope I can stick closely to my life's mission and vision this year and not be distracted by things the enemy puts in my path.

I really hope the time I'm taking off this year energizes and revitalizes me for a fantastic working year.

I really hope things on staff keep going the same. What a banner year!

I really hope everyone in my life knows how much I really do love them.

I really hope...for so much more. What can I say, I'm a person who believes, hope is not lost!

I got saved again today

Today in My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers):

" . . . unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven —Matthew 18:3

"These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God’s, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must "put on the new man . . ." (Ephesians 4:24 ). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule— God must rule in us."

Ah yes, letting God rule in me. This is the story of my life. I'm getting saved every day. I am "working out my salvation" as the scripture says, and trust me, this is quite a work for me. Was I already saved? Yes, but every day I have to make a renewed commitment to living this way. Because when anything in my life is stressful or not working...I want to give rule to something else that is so much a part of my natural self, like emotional eating or perfectionism. I know this is a process of me being "continually converted" to be more like Him and less like that carnal part of myself.

Like Oswald said, "Just because we have responded properly in the past does not mean we will do so again." How well I know that. Take eating last week, for instance. I had several days of doing just the right things -- doing all that was good for me. Then again I had a day where I ate a Johnny Rocket's burger. A day where I had a piece of pumpkin pie (yes, it was Christmas, but still...), a day where I ate some pure out junk, like regular potato chips. Okay, so I'm getting saved from that all over again. :-) Some people might laugh at that, but I'm serious. This for me is a very spiritual issue. Either the Lord rules in you, or He doesn't. Many times in my life 7-Eleven ruled. Seriously. I was addicted to Slurpees. Friends laughed hysterically the other day when I confessed to them that one time I ate an entire BOX (yes BOX) of Sam's chocolate e-clairs...in one sitting! Why? Stress. But no matter. Does the Lord rule over stress, or do Sam's eclairs? That is the question. In the past, whatever happened to be in front of me at the time ruled. If nothing particular was in front of me, I would plan what I would get in front of me next.

Well, as I said, here I go, it's December 28, and I am saved once again for another day. And I'm on to my next weight goal, and my next life goals. These are not just pipe dreams for me...I've seen quite a few of my goals come true these last few years.

It really helps in achieving your goals if you decide to get saved every day.

Day of renewal

Writing this real late at night, actually it's early Thurs. am right now (12:45 am) but I'm just winding down for the night after a wonderfully relaxing day. We are enjoying our week of moving at a slower pace and just doing services and emergencies. 

Today was a day of renewal for me. I had my nails and hair done. I was in need of an overhaul. It's been almost a month since I had a fill. I've been that busy. Just no time to go get it done. Mai was on vacation today so Kevin did my feet and Lisa was sick so Cindy did my nails. They both do a superb job, so I was just fine with the change. Ada was a delight as always. This last color and cut was the only time I've ever had something from her that just didn't work for me. I was happy with it the day we did it but then the last month was just odd. So while she fixed it and got the look and feel back that I wanted, we caught up and were energized as usual by the conversation. I usually go from laughing to crying. (In a good way, always a good way.) The time of getting my hair done is always as much a spiritual renewal as a physical one. I also spent a little more of my Christmas money at Bealls. Now, that right there is a perfect day, right?

Well, I was super pleased with my latest haircolor and said g'bye to Ada and headed out with Larry to meet our friends Pastors Gary & Tammy Rice for dinner. at Don Pablos. How wonderful it is to now have them with us here in Florida!!! Had a great time of fellowship and as usual with times like this, it just seems too short. So much to talk about, so little time.

Panning for Gold

On Sunday Pastor Lindsay seemed a little stressed out before service and when I said, “what’s wrong?,” she said, “my success today is just dependent upon a lot of other people…” I said, “welcome to my life." I realized in just that brief exchange that as she begins her ministry, she is experiencing one of the biggest stressors that we as ministers often face.

With this issue lies a lot of my frustration over the years. The same struggle my dear Lindsay is facing is one I have dealt with for 20 years. I am a person who is determined to succeed every time, and I’m willing to do anything and everything it takes to achieve that goal. I’ll inconvenience myself, change my plans, stay up late, get up early, work tediously, climb a mountain, or whatever is necessary to get the job done. I have basically taken the word impossible out of my dictionary.

The problem comes when you work with people who are not willing to ever be inconvenienced, will not change their plans, stay up late, get up early, work tediously, climb a mountain, or do whatever it takes to get the job done. As Pastor Aaron so often says, “it’s an issue of shared values, or lack thereof.”
At this point our pastoral staff share the same values. So, why do we still often feel some frustration? Volunteers.

You can only have so many paid staff members. Part of my frustration before was having paid staff members who didn’t work despite the fact that they were indeed, paid. No, they are not supposed to be hirelings [um, I wish some of the time they WOULD have been hirelings…at least a hireling DOES work.] The point is, staff members are hired and paid, but in pastoral ministry  it needs to go beyond that to be a true calling. Honestly, I’d be doing what I’m doing now whether I was paid or not. In fact, for most of my ministry I was unpaid. So I know too well what that’s all about.  And it's one of the reasons volunteers behavior often boggles  my mind because all my life in the roles where I did volunteer, I never acted the way most people do.   I'm not saying that in a self righteous attitude, just simply one of confusion, as I don't understand the behavior.
All of us on staff work with what I would loosely call “volunteers.” I hate that term because I believe EVERYONE should be “called” whether paid or not. A Sunday school teacher should not consider themselves a volunteer but a called one. The same with worship team members, drama people, nursery workers, or whoever. As I mentioned before, for years, I was not paid, yet I was called and I worked as if I was being paid a million bucks. There were weeks I worked 90 hours a week but was never paid a dime. The money wasn’t the issue – the issue for me was call, commitment and excellence.

For twenty four years straight now I have been teaching a Sunday School class, every single week, without fail.  Since the time I was 16 years old,  I have taught middlers, junior high, senior high, the main adult sanctuary class, and now the women’s class. I have taught through highs and lows --through school, getting married, having three babies, a miscarriage, and many other things, I couldn’t imagine abandoning my post. A soldier never does that.

Many times we pastors work with those who really don’t take the call to a certain ministry seriously, whether it be working in kids church or parking cars. The majority of the church is not salaried, they simply walk in and out whenever they please, show up when they want, etc. Thus, when your effectiveness as a pastor is hinging on what they do it can often make your life extremely difficult. Your success many times really is tied up in whether they are diligent or not. A day in ministry with A-WOL people abandoning their posts or just getting sloppy can threaten to send you to the nut house sometimes. It has never sent me to the nut house yet but it has sent me to the “chocolate factory”, drowning myself in a hot fudge sundae and a double latte. Someone not showing up, coming late, not following through on an assignment, or just doing a mediocre job has the potential to really make one depressed who is counting on them. The fact is, when they don’t do well, you don’t do well.

I remember when Ted Haggard was dismissed from New Life Church, (for good reason) I asked my husband, “where in the world does a man like Ted Haggard now go to get a job?” My husband said, “I’m sure a lot of companies would be interested in hiring him.” When I asked why, Larry said, “If he can mobilize that many volunteers successfully over that many years in the building of New Life Church, what could he actually manage with people who are all paid workers?” Larry is right. Any company would have to be foolish to not hire him. He obviously possesses a lot of motivational and leadership skills. (Not to diminish the seriousness of what he was involved in – I definitely don’t agree with it. His character did not match his talent and he had to repent and get things straight which thankfully seems to be what he is doing now.) My point is simply the obvious leadership skills he had to possess to have a 14,000 member church. Fact is, he’s an great gatherer of people, an incredible visionary and probably an excellent manager.) Anyone who is an effective pastor would also probably be very good at working as an executive in the business world. This is because they are doing with total volunteers what CEO’s have to pay people to do. They are basically working miracles! Some of the greatest miracles I have witnessed have not been people coming out of wheelchairs healed, but people who are unpaid simply going the extra mile and then some in ministry.

I heard someone once say (I think it was John Maxwell) that a pastor has the hardest job in the world because it is necessary to build a big work force to sustain their organization, using completely unpaid volunteers. This is difficult even in a church of 100 or less. In fact, I have to admit something…it was honestly a lot harder when we did pastor a smaller church than we do now.

Solo pastors have it hardest of all. Larry and I have never been totally solo because we have always co-pastored and given 100% as individuals and as a couple so in effect our churches always had two full time pastors right off the top just with us alone. But I realize, for those who are really out there solo, it’s amazing how they do what they do. Because they have no paid staff…they’re it. They don’t even have someone they can say, “hey, get this done, or you’re toast…” They have no leverage whatsoever and sometimes feel so overwhelmed. They are having to keep the machine we call church going while trying to bring the power and presence of God into the place and keep a spiritual climate. That is nothing short of a miracle.

Many times you aren’t thinking of anything spiritual in an atmosphere like that, you are just thinking, “what are we going to do now that three Sunday School teachers resigned??” and “what do I do now that the worship leader left the church?” Fortunately for Larry and I, we have always been able to wear a million hats and just keep things going between us, and help one another salvage the mess when somebody backs out or lets us down. And when you get to the point where you have several staff members, you really go more from pastoring a church to pastoring a staff and leadership team.

 Bill Gates said, “For somebody to succeed, a lot of people have to want them to.” That’s very true. No matter how many hats you wear, or how good you are at damage control, you still have to have a core of people who believe in you and in what you are doing enough to inconvenience themselves, change their plans at times, stay up late, get up early, or whatever needed to help the vision and mission come to pass.

No wonder so many pastors get depressed! Finding those type of individuals is like panning for gold on a pretty much constant basis. I panned for gold when I was in Alaska and I remember how tedious, and also disappointing, it was at times.

This has been churning in my mind since my conversation with Pastor Lindsay on Sunday. I got to thinking how true her statement is that our success rests with other people doing what they are supposed to do.

Some people would say, “well, if it’s not going well the pastor just needs to learn how to delegate more effectively.” That’s not completely true. There was an event last year where I delegated properly, and I inspected what I expected. However some people still let things slip through the cracks that shouldn’t have. In the end, I was the boss so it came down to me. And what I decided to do was just not put them in charge of the same thing again. Sometimes even the best laid plans do go wrong. There are times I have come home after a service or event and have just wracked my brain thinking, ‘what else could I have done to make this a success or at least salvage it?” Sometimes the answer is nothing. I gave my all. I poured myself out on behalf of the thing and gave it all I had but I could not control what others did. So next time around I have to just learn from the decisions I made the time before and choose more wisely next time. (Sometimes that means not using the same people again although they were well intentioned.)

I got to thinking as well about how we on staff can all survive the pressure cooker of often having our effectiveness rest on what others do or don’t do. These are just some of my thoughts.

1) Staffers have to constantly encourage one another. We’re all in this together. I’ve often told them, it’s like we’re all on Survivor, and in an alliance together. Sometimes we’re all each other has – so we had better keep spending the time together that we do – investing in each other, and encouraging. That time is never wasted.

2) Look for the “pops” of joy as Luci Swindoll calls them. Her message at Women of Faith really ministered to me. I came to realize, I have to look constantly for the “pops” and eek every moment of joy out of them.

3) Celebrate big time when volunteers give so that the mission/vision can be achieved. I've always done this, but I have a renewed commitment to do it even more. We need to go to another level with taking those people who are committed, diligent and make our success possible and lift them up constantly, with our words, with our appreciation. In other words, when people help us climb the mountain, give special recognition on a regular basis in all of the official communications of the organization. Accentuate those who make that climb with us and don't just stand at the bottom and watch others climb.

4) I’ve often heard Christian psychologists tell Moms and Dads to make sure you “catch your kids doing right” and praise them. I think we spiritual mothers and fathers need to ‘catch our kids doing things right” and praise them extravagantly. Yes, we’re first and foremost gathered to worship the Lord, but His word does tell us to encourage each other, and ‘all the more as we see the day approaching.’

5) Have better training of our workers. What we have is good, but you can never get lax on making improvements. Sometimes I feel like all I do is train and re-train and equip and re-equip, only to have people transfer somewhere else across the country, but that’s okay I’ve just got to keep going. At some point the bench will keep deepening way beyond what’s transferring if we just stay faithful. In fact, I already see that happening in a big way at Northside.

6) Build a deeper bench in all of our ministries so when someone backs out or lacks commitment, there are many more working alongside them that can pick up the slack and, inevitably, take over the job, all the while building a deeper bench.

7) Show people even more the eternal rewards our efforts are producing. Bring out front in our ezines, newsletters and pulpit announcements even more the lives changed, success stories in the family, etc.

8) Reward faithfulness, commitment and diligence above anything else in the church. (talent, etc.) Make a HUGE deal out of faithfulness. Go pretty nutty with celebrating it, basically. Have a “faithfulness” party at the end of the year, for those extra milers who did whatever it took to get us where we needed to be.

These are just a few of my thoughts to start with. I’m realizing more than ever there’s a reason Larry and I have had our most effective year ever this past year. The pastoral team we have right now really seem to want us to succeed and their actions reflect that. 

By the way, those Pastor Lindsay was counting on came through for her this past week. She can breathe for a few more days now before she has to start holding her breath that the next person will do what they are supposed to do.

Lindsay, I hope it’s consolation to you that I’m here to listen anytime, or at least pay for your visit to the chocolate factory when you experience a week where you’ve panned for gold, but it’s just sludge in your pan. :-)

Shopping til' we drop

Today we went shopping most of the day, spending our Christmas gift certificates/money. Always an exciting day for the Shrodes family! Savanna got shoes, clothes, a coat for vacation, gloves, hat, etc. Dustin got an IPOD, and I spent most of my money on a leather coat, purse and wallet. We are going to cold weather on this upcoming vacation to Tennessee and I didn't realize til' now just how few suitable clothes I have for cold weather. A leather coat is something I've been wanting for here anyway though since I'm cold natured and I think Jan-Mar is freezing in Florida although most northerners would find that laughable. Anything below 72 or so is freezing to me now. It's amazing how much your body chemistry and your perspective changes once you move down here. We are enjoying a week of a slower pace with just doing services and "emergencies." This is always a great re-cooping week for us before going into the new year and this year it will be even better as we're taking some vacation time on the heels of it.

Christmas Day

The best part of Christmas day for me is...relaxing. Having a little bit of time off. I love work, but the older I get and the more I work the more I grow to value down time.

When my kids were babies, they never slept. They were up every hour or two for the first few years of their life. We never slept it seemed. Now they are making up for lost time. They all LOVE to sleep and I'm so glad about that. For the past few years we have had to wake them up and say, "Aren't you wanting to come get your Christmas presents?" It's not that they don't love Christmas, they just also really love to sleep.

We didn't get rolling on opening Christmas gifts til' 9 and we took it slow and enjoyed it. The kids were very surprised at everything and have been sharing with their friends all day about their presents. I made their favorite sweet rolls and they ate them sitting around the Christmas tree opening their things while I sat on my rocker and drank my tea. I never thought I would come to the point in my life where just rocking by the Christmas tree drinking tea would seem so wonderful to me, but it truly is. So much of my life is fast paced that a day like this? Heaven!

We shared lunch with the Currie's and we made a ham and pumpkin pie and my special dinner rolls. And now we're waiting for Matt and Linds to come over. Steven's here already as usual. :-) He really might as well be Steven Shrodes. Interesting that we almost named Dustin Steven!!! I don't think we've ever told him that. We were going to name him that because Larry's Mom's side of the family are the Stevenson's. But then I liked The name Dustin so much we went with it rather than a family name. Oh well... we now have a "Steven" in the family anyway, just like we have an "Aaron". :-)

We are so blessed to have such special people in our lives.

Well, I've got to get going...I'm so busy -- relaxing and loving it!

'Twas the night before Christmas...

at the Shrodes home! And I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!!!
We had a great day in the house this morning at church. A packed house, and we have added 90 more chairs to the sanctuary in just the past year. It's amazing. God is so good! We are getting ready to break through our next attendance barrier.

Tonight was Christmas Eve communion. It was much nicer with five staff couples, we had three communion stations, one couple greeting, and one got to take a break every 30 minutes. So we all had 2 and 1/2 hours of serving, and 1/2 hour rest. It was good because standing and serving that long can get difficult on your feet, especially dressed up.

After praying and taking communion together as a staff, we exchanged gifts with those who couldn't go to dinner with us, then went to dinner with the rest and exchanged more. I will not tell on a blog that can be read by millions what I did to Pastor Lindsay at dinner when she opened her gift. Suffice it to say it was SO FUNNY. Our favorite chinese restaurant, it appears, has closed - so we ended up at Larry and T's favorite over on Fowler. It was good. The best is the time spent together anyway, not the actual dinner. I got a beautiful tea light teapot that I was admiring at Miracles from Matt & Lindsay. It's so pretty - I have it burning right now. I couldn't wait! Larry got Season 5 of 24 from them. T and Misty gave us a gift certificate and some bath and body works perfume. We got some beautifully wrapped food stuffs from Aaron and Hannah, and some photo holders and calendar from Mel & Judy. So special!

So we headed home and I've been putting the finishing touches on everything for tomorrow morning. As I can't wake up to any mess without being depressed, I cleaned anything that was out of sorts. Made the breakfast rolls for in the morning (the kids favorite) and Larry got all the stockings out. We rearranged the furniture in the living room and got everything ready for morning. Oh yes, we did let the kids open one gift tonight. Dustin didn't care about it and wanted to talk to his friends on the internet, so I'm certainly not going to force him to open a gift... pretty interesting when your kids will give up gifts to talk to a friend. (must be some friend!) Savanna opened up her Mr. Potato Head, and Jordan opened up his Superman hat. Then they watched the Little Drummer Boy while I finished up the last few things. I can't wait for them to open the rest of their things in the morning. How surprised they are going to be!

A few of my favorite things

I need to sit down and blog just to give my legs a rest. A few minutes ago I sat in the jacuzzi for about 20 min. I have literally been standing/walking all day, getting the cooking, church work, and housework done. I have cooked several meals...and I am still not done. Waiting for the next load of laundry to get done so I can finish getting the boys clothes ready for church. 

Oh well, that 20 minutes was absolutely delightful. Larry had Chris Botti on the CD in the jacuzzi for me. When I was done I sat on my swing to dry off and our sliding door was open and I could smell the pumpkin pie I was baking, and I could hear the Amy Grant Christmas special in the family room. I sat there looking at the lights and swinging on my swing and just thought, "what a beautiful night." Thank you, Lord! While there I just took time to talk to Him about tomorrow's service.

Jordan bought Savanna a dress for Christmas and gave it to her today because he wanted her to wear it tomorrow for church. How sweet. Once she got it on I realized she did not have the proper things to wear under it, however I happened to have the perfect thing for her underneath the tree. So, I pulled it out and gave it to her, which she got all excited about. We had a little pre-Christmas excitement around here today. I can hardly wait for Christmas day. Larry and I have some HUGE surprises for the kids!!! I love giving!!! I can barely stand to wait another second. I love seeing my kids open stuff. 

Tonight for dinner I made pistachio encrusted baked chicken breast. No one wanted it but me (can you believe that?) Steven was here for dinner again tonight and he wanted it, so I wasn't totally alone. They boys thought he was just being nice in taking a piece. I had also made butter baked chicken as well (I tried to re-create Cracker Barrel's recipe but I don't think I came close). Everyone else ate that. I guess I will be making the other for me when I'm by myself some night. 

Well, I have basically just been cleaning, cooking and then cleaning and cooking again today, but it was a beautiful day. These are a few of my favorite things: 

1) The smell of pumpkin pie
2) A clean bathroom (ours is!)
3) Clean sheets on the bed. I sleep so soundly every time we change them, which for me I wish could be every single day but just don't have the time.
4) New books! Just got one I ordered from Amazon today. You know, I keep telling myself, "STOP GETTING BOOKS. IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME, YOU SHOULD BE SCRIMPING." What can I say, I am ADDICTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was only an $8.00 book, alright?
5) Forensic Files (did I mention, that is my FAVORITE show?) Second runner up is Today's Detectives with Dayle Hinman. What an awesome woman. She and Nancy Grace are two heroes of mine. I love how they stay onto a criminal like a bulldog until they get them!!!
6) A clean kitchen floor. Larry is scrubbing it right now. A man is SO sexy when they do things like this!!! At least I think so. Somebody 20 years old probably would never understand that, but trust me, to someone married 20 years? Your husband scrubbing the floor is definitely in the romance category.
7) Bath tea bags. Just tried one for the first time yesterday. It was pretty cool.
8) The Message Bible. I know, you either hate it or love it, but I definitely love it.
9) A few days where I have totally eaten right - like the last few. I feel so good.
10) New folders. I got my new folders for the year and I'm so excited! (I get colorful new ones for work every new year and I like them bold and fun.)
Can't wait to see what God has up His sleeve for tomorrow. My legs have rested enough now, it's time to get up and start cleaning again for the last few hours before bed. G'night

Do you pray more than you think you do?

I had to investigate this thought recently when reading a book, Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel. He didn't talk about Pentecostals in the book, however I began to think about it from the viewpoint of my experience. Often I have leaned toward the thought that if you're really praying you are on your face before God, deep in fervent prayer and intercession, not multi-tasking, not doing anything else, just going after God 100% to the exclusion of everything else. Now I'm not so sure...

Oh, don't mistake, I think that's still important! And obviously especially as a Pentecostal pastor, I want to spend times doing just that. But I realize I have been too hard on myself about the amount of time I spend in prayer. Prayer, Groeshcel reminds us, is simply communicating with God - talking to Him. I do that all throughout my day. I ask Him constantly what to do about things, how to proceed, what to say to people. When somebody is talking to me, I try to listen to their heart but at the same time I'm saying, "God, show me right now what they need..." When I'm unsure, I instinctively turn to Him. When I have a creative burst, I realize it's from Him. I start talking to Him about all the details that start forming in my mind. I talk to Him in the car, while I'm walking, on my bike, in the shower, sometimes yes, when others are talking to me, I'm tuned out to them and tuned in to God. 

Because I was doing something else all those times, I never considered it prayer, but instead to just be microbursts of conversation with God that didn't really amount to anything significant, but just a routine sort of thing. I now realize, what usually takes place - most of the biggest things that have happened in my life spiritually have often come out of those microbursts throughout my day with God, and not what He tells me when I'm laying with my face in the carpet, interceding.

I think if most Christians looked at this aspect of their lives, they might also be set free to realize, they pray a lot more than they think they do, because prayer is simply having a conversation with God. And lots of people do that each and every day although they may not be doing "carpet time" as some call it, or going to a prayer meeting. That's a freeing thought, it really is.

Be still my soul

Psalm 116:7 (msg) "I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." 

I am SO ready for some vacation time, I can't even adequately express it with words. It has been a physically and emotionally exhausting few months. Fortunately, most things are lining up as far as getting work done that I'll be able to really do that. As far as "Christmas" it shouldn't be so difficult, for any of us, but let's face it, many times it is! Although it's about the Lord, it's also evolved in our culture to be something where certain expectations are there, even aside from the gifts, as far as gathering with people, entertaining, doing all sorts of things. People talk about the commercialization but for me it's more than that that sometimes overwhelms me, it's the activities that I have to be prepared for each time. And I feel like not doing those things is kind of "Scroogy" so I just do them. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a lot of it, but there are a few overwhelming moments at times. 

I got the rest of the Christmas shopping done today, entirely. Larry and I were out, separately - all day. We met up for lunch and dinner, that was it. And we literally were out, he with Dustin, me with Savanna, from morning to night. FINALLY. 

I got to a point standing in a mega line in Wal-mart where I just said, "that's it, not another moment of this once I get out of here..." and I'm...finished. 

Came home and Steven was here to spend the night with the boys. I made them all a fried chicken dinner once I got home, and amazingly didn't even desire to eat any of it. Just doesn't appeal to me like it used to. Wrapped all the gifts and organized them (yes, I organize gifts in sections...they have to be "just right..." which my family thinks is funny. If they put something out I say, "no, no, no...that's not the section it goes in...") I know, I know...obsessive compulsive? Perhaps just a little... It sort of goes along with my habit of straightening salt, pepper, and sugar dispensers on restaurant tables, and straightening pictures in public places. I just can't deal with something out of place. There is divine order to things. Well, maybe not divine order to everything, but...order. 

After cooking, wrapping and cleaning I also did some organizing of my papers and stuff and then went to get my bathing suit on to sit in the jacuzzi but since it's pouring down rain I think I need to just go take my suit off and get in my bathtub with one of these new "bath tea's" that someone gave me for Christmas. They are very intriguing. I guess it's sort of a new kind of aromatherapy. (which I love!) 

It was a packed day, but now it's time to truly...REST, body, mind and soul.

The Gift of Christ-Mass

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 (msg) Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!

All of the gifts are wrapped...except mine! Larry will do those whenever he wants. After making supper tonight and eating together, I decided to wrap everything left til' I was done while the guys were cleaning the kitchen. I got it all done and feel so much better. I do have some more things to buy for Jordan and Larry tomorrow, but I will come right home and wrap those and be done, done, done, done, done. Yee-ha!!! I love Christmas time, but I do stress a little bit until all the preparations are done. I'm just a "list" type person who has a little angst until everything is checked off of the list.

But despite that I do want to do as this scripture says about seizing life...taking pleasure in it...dressing festively (I like that part!)...and not skimping on colors and scarves (hey, goes right along with my philosophy that a person's least favorite color should be beige!!!) And relishing the spouse I love (I really like that one!) Yes, every day IS God's gift.

Today was a time of getting stuff done in preparation for time off. The price of time off is working real hard beforehand. I never did get all my work done today, and had to do more tonight as far as preparing a teaching, a power point presentation, and now I think I am all set for my down time! I will take the computer w/me on vacation to use in the car. I think very well there and write many of my messages, articles, and even books in the car on long trips. I usually do a major project or edit every time we go to Ft. Lauderdale. I am able to shut everything out in the car (I wear headphones if I have to) and I just block everything out, get out my Bible, get in the zone, and start creating under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Although I write on the computer in the car while on vacation I always make a point not to actually work once we get there, and enjoy the time off, for my sake, my marriage sake, and my family's sake.

We had a talk tonight at the dinner table about Christmas and the real meaning of it. I prefaced it by saying, "right now your father is not going to say a word, and I'm just going to talk..." It was pretty funny. Everytime the kids start talking about their Christmas lists, Larry gets so angry at them because of the attitudes they sometimes have. It's so different than the attitudes either one of us have ever had growing up...we knew the value of money more, quite honestly, and the sense of entitlement was not the same as kids these days. So, Larry can sometimes just freak out on them when he just get fed up with it, and give them a diatribe that just goes no where. But I calmly gave them one of my sermonettes and surprisingly Larry did not say a word, the kids listened to it, and we went on to the next subject. I can only hope it sunk in!

I guess everyone has to be reminded time and again of the real meaning of Christmas. Yesterday when talking to Rob Schenck, he said to me, "Merry Christ-Mass." I said, "to you too!" and he said that he has to say that to remind everyone around him there on Capitol Hill what the celebration is all about. They say to him, "What? What's that?" And he says, "Why do you think it's called Christmas? Because it's "Christ-Mass." Now if I can only get the kids to remember that as well.

This miraculous gift of life!

Romans 3:21-24 (msg) The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

I was sharing with an unchurched person the other day and gave them this verse, in this version. The miraculous gift - the pure gift - is Him and the LIFE he offers to us. Why anyone would not want it, I cannot understand. I am incapable of living this glorious life without Him, for He not only GAVE me this life I'm living, but He makes it POSSIBLE for me to continue every day, no matter what comes my way! How blessed I am to have not only eternal life, but to have HIS FAVOR upon my life right now.

It was a busy day today. I probably should stop writing that on my blogs because quite truthfully, it's a busy day in my life everyday. So that is just a given. I had the hardest time getting up this morning because last night I had a slight headache and took a Tylenol PM to go to sleep, and it didn't quite wear off before morning. I stood in the shower forever trying to wake up. A mega strong coffee finally jolted me into getting to work successfully. (That's what everyone wants to hear, that their pastor sometimes survives on drugs. Ha ha!) Right now I am working both at the office and at home on getting 3 weeks of work done in a week. This is so we (all of us on staff) can take some extra time with our families at Christmas and just be on call for emergencies, and also my family will take some vacation time after that. So...it necessitates having 3 weeks of my stuff done in advance.

Talked to Rob Schenck today and booked him for 2007. Can't wait to have him come again. He had called Larry and I yesterday just to wish us a Merry Christmas. He had been on my heart the last few weeks actually so I was real glad he called. When I got ahold of him today he said, "I need to get down there to Tampa...I'm suffering from Shrodes deprivation." (He's so funny!) What a good friend he has been to us over the years and he tells us we're the same to him, and what an honor.

I had lunch with Sue today as well. We had our last lunch of 2006 today - just wanted to squeeze another one in. We met at Jason's Deli and caught up on everything. Susan gave me a beautiful basket of things at church tonight - a Christmas gift she has been working on for me for TWO MONTHS. You know when somebody's compiling a two month Christmas present it's gotta be some gift! It amazes me how God gives me the desires of my heart. So many things in that basket, I've either run out of (make up supplies) or, they were just "wants" I had thought about...that I now have thanks to her gift! I really believe some people are spirit led in their gift giving. It's amazing.

After church I had a quick practice, but Larry and the boys and Pastor T and his family went to the Rocky Movie. Savanna and I took Shelby home. We had a nice talk with her on the way home. We then came home and I started wrapping gifts for a while I'm tired out and SR took over and started wrapping. She is a tremendous help in doing this. I remember two years in particular we were up ALL NIGHT wrapping on Christmas eve and that was soooooo not fun. It was awful. I said, "never again." I try to wrap early but I run out of time. Now if I can only keep her quiet about what's in the packages! 

Tomorrow is my last day in the office before Christmas. So much to do, so little time. But fortunately I can also work from home which I often do, to finish up everything. And even greater than that ~ I have the power of the Holy Spirit to help me.

Why I don't lay on the floor and eat popcorn with just anyone...

Proverbs 22:11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship. (msg)

It always amazes me how some don't "get it" about why leaders love to hang with people who are pure hearted supporters who speak well of you...true armor bearers and friends. Sometimes in leadership you experience miffed people who don't understand, "why isn't the leader spending all this time with ME that he/she spends with others? Why am I not invited to do more things with them?" Maybe others speak better of the leader, are always loyal, and truly want to learn from the leader and receive from them. I think of how Moses backed down from his detractors when they were pulling all their stuff and they didn't understand it. Why was the leader backing away? You know, it wasn't rocket science or anything. Leaders tend to lead people who allow themselves to be led, and are pure hearted, and...speak well of them.
So why am I writing this tonight? Stop guessing. I'll tell you. I'm not currently dealing with anything big about this (although I have many times over the years) but I was simply reading in this part of the Word tonight and found this and it drew my attention to the subject and reminded me about why I feel strongly about this! I guess although you might not be dealing with it full throttle all the time, every pastor is never totally without detractors, myself included. It's unrealistic to think you will never be without a detractor in the church or in your life.

I am so blessed right now to have many pure hearted and well spoken people around me and very few that I would describe as "detractors." I think my supporters are big mouthed enough that they pretty much drown the others out or protect me from them at this point. The favor of God especially this past year has been AMAZING. I am so thankful for it. I always want to live a righteous life so that His favor and protection will rest upon me when it comes to those who would try to harm me.

But a funny story from the past...I remember years ago in our previous church a lady was really angry that I spent a lot of time with certain leaders and not with her. Well, one reason I didn't spend time with her was because she was negative about everything, and spoke badly about me behind my back. I'm not just saying we disagreed on a few things. No, I mean she was trying to destroy me at times. Plain and simple, that's my reason for not including her on a lot of things. So, she said something about the fact that she heard that I got together with some of my leaders and did fun things, among them watching funny movies, laying around on the floor eating popcorn and laughing. She said, "I want to do that. Why haven't you asked me to do that?" I said, "There's only one problem. You hate me and basically want to kill me, so why in the world would I want to have you over, lay on the floor and eat popcorn and watch movies with you?" Somehow, she just didn't "get it". She never said, "no, I don't feel that way about you, Pastor Deanna..." or apologized for being divisive, but she continued to believe it was wrong of me not to spend the time with her that I spent with others, despite her despicable behavior. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

Years later and much more mature at this point, I don't even explain myself about things like this. If people get mad that I have leaders or friends over and sit in the jacuzzi or watch movies, or eat popcorn or even go on vacation together, they can just go jump in a lake or walk out for all I care. (If they leave the church I am seldom worried by it, since they are usually carnal Christians who have been exhibiting this behavior long term. In other words, they know the Word but just don't obey it. A baby Christian usually doesn't do stuff like this, they are too full of Jesus. New believers are typically very teachable people. That's one reason I love to be with pre-Christians, or new believers. If I don't have some in my life at all times, I get edgy! Life is just NO FUN without somebody you are leading across the line of faith, or currently discipling.)

One time a very negative lady at our church was trying to throw a guilt trip on me for where I spent my time and said, "I know you don't spend the time with me that you do some of the others..." and I simply said, "you're right, I don't," and went on to change the subject. I just don't have to explain myself to anybody on why a leader spends time with leaders, and those who are positive, bottom line. And, I've also learned ~ in explaining oneself...your real friends and supporters don't need to hear it from you anyway (because they already believe in you) and those who aren't a true friend or supporter won't believe you anyway, so just LET IT GO and spend time with who you want! There you go, tonight's wonderful morsel of leadership truth, straight from my heart to anybody who is up right now not able to sleep, reading this.

I don't say any of that to be cold or callous, but quite frankly life is way too short to surround yourself with people who are trying to hurt you. Why in the heck would I waste my time eating popcorn, or doing really anything with somebody who really isn't happy that I'm their pastor? Some pastors try for years to win people like this over, and then they say, ten years later, "By the time I left the church there, Bob wasn't trying to kill me verbally anymore and he would occasionally have coffee with me." First of all, just because Bob's not trying to KILL you doesn't mean he's for you. Second, wow, what a prize for having gone through 10 years of hell! To have a grouchy old guy now drink coffee with you occasionally. And we wonder why 1500 pastors in America leave the ministry for good, every week? (This is according to Focus on the Family) They are trying to get too many nasty people to drink coffee with them who really don't like them. I just don't see anywhere in the Word where Jesus says, "find out who your detractors are, and hang with them." (On the contrary the book of Titus says to warn a divisive person once and then after that have nothing to do with them if they keep it up. That's not Deanna talking, it's the Bible.) The other thing is, I've got way too many wonderful church family members and friends to spend time with to throw what little precious time I have toward malcontents. I decided long ago when I came here to NS not to let the squeaky wheel get the grease. I sit in Starbucks with those who many times try to treat me to my coffee, not think about putting arsenic in it. :-) I've learned that among many other lessons these last 20 years in ministry.

Today I had a huge agenda of things to do and it included going out and getting some errands done but I ended up on computer work all day, among many things finalizing the 2007 calendar. Larry cooked dinner amidst a phone counseling session. He made chicken and rice. He was on the phone a long time so we didn't eat until 8 pm, but when we did I lit all the candles and put classical Christmas XM on and we all had dinner and talked a while. Right when dinner was over I immediately started cooking something for tomorrow night. The last thing I want to do before Wed. night church is cook, so it helps when I already have something ready or we just do a lean cuisine. So I got tomorrow night's dinner done and then Larry and I went for a walk around Risen Star Dr. I have been wrapping Christmas gifts and cleaning but now it's just time to lay down, read a bit and sleep.

I'm trying not to stress about all that's left to do before Monday. Larry's telling me, "let it go, don't worry about it...we'll get it done on our day off Friday." So, I'm choosing to believe him!

10 things you may or may not be wondering about

If you were independently wealthy and could do anything in life, what would you do?
The same thing I’m doing now. Except I would spend a lot of that money on book publishing.

What one thing about you would people really be surprised to know?
I once played on a sports team. (soccer) And no, I don’t like playing team sports, in fact I detest it. But I do love being on a church pastoral team.

What is your least favorite way to spend a day?
Housework – but I try my best to find ways to make it fun.

What was your favorite TV show as a child?
The Partridge Family.

Be honest…if you have children, do you have a favorite?
Honestly they are all my favorite in some way, not just saying that to get out of this question! Dustin is my favorite because of his obedience. Jordan is my favorite for his affection and tenderness. Savanna is my favorite because I can do girl things with her, and enjoyed our time together so much from the day she was born.

What is your idea of the perfect date?
Dinner in a high rise hotel – on the top floor in a restaurant – overlooking the lights of the city. Restaurant would definitely specialize in seafood. Going straight to the hotel room after dinner.

What is your idea of the perfect vacation?
So many ideas, but above all would really like to stay at an “all inclusive” resort on the beach, where I have nothing to do but relax and have fun.

When have you been the happiest in your life?
Right now.

What is your favorite TV show right now?
Forensic Files

What is something that really bugs you that people do in stores?
When they put an outfit back on the wrong size rack and I get excited about it and then realize it was a size 4 put back in the wrong place. Sometimes you have to pray in the spirit for an hour to get over something like that.

Work and rest

II Thessalonians 3:5-7 (msg) "Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious." 

Today we had the last staff meeting of 2006. Then we celebrated by going to staff lunch at Five Guys, and then Coldstone Creamery. Yes, we really "blew it out" today when it came to the fat quotient in our diet. Wowza. I don't want to think about it. :-) I had a special holiday flavor of ice cream - dark chocolate mint. So fattening but...it was really good!

Well, once again I'm so blessed to be working with the people that I am with. II Thessalonians 3:5-7 is one of my favorite scripture verses. I know it sounds kind of crazy to some, but I have "stood on it" through some hard times of working with some real sluggards. Reading scriptures like that let me know that what I expect out of myself (an an example of diligence) is also what God expects not just of me but of others. Many people are comforted by the Psalms. I am too. But strangely enough scripture such as the aforementioned has actually been like a soothing balm to me when I have been struggling and wondering if I was the crazy one. I would read it and know, I was on the right track and someday I'd have the joy of people walking alongside me who also were walking the same track.

With our team we have now we can see that an example of diligence DOES prove contagious. Just look at what has happend in 2006! It's amazing. We're going to look totally different this time next year because we are headed for something more than any of us can imagine.

Well, speaking of hard work, I'm needing some rest. No, I'm not writing this as a complaint. Not at all, and in fact I always hesitate to even approach the topic when I am ever tired because well meaning (but ignorant people) say, "just quit..." or crazy stuff like that. Usually people who tell me to slow down, scale back or quit are people who just don't have the wherewithal to be diligent themselves, so I'm careful of even getting into conversations like that.

Actually, I don't understand my fatigue. I purposely slept 8 hours last night but I'm still beat. I woke up that way and Larry says it's just the after effects of a Sunday on my body and emotions. Larry and I were listening to a leadership teaching on the way home and I was leaning on his arm and fell asleep and never heard the last four points of the thing. When we got home he agreed to do some housecleaning (praise Jesus!) and let me rest so I would be coherent enough to spend some quality time with him [translation: intimate time] before I try to sleep another eight hours tonight. I'm going to take a nice hot bath and relax for a while even though I have Christmas wrapping to do and I really should have gone out tonight and finished the rest of the Christmas shopping, I honestly just do not have it in me. I started early this year, I really did. And still...here I am with these loose ends still abounding...

My goal next year is to be done shopping by Dec. 1 and just enjoy the month. Until then, I'm going to enjoy lighting the candles, getting in the tub, and getting some rest tonight.

Just another manic Sunday...

First let me start by saying, it has been such a warm weekend. I was actually wishing I had worn lighter clothing today. Today it truly felt like a tropical Christmas, at least IMHO. I'm thinking about wearing a tank dress to the office tomorrow if the weather's the same!

Well things were pretty crazy today from start to finish. I was prepared. Despite a busy week going 90 to nothing, I would say that I was totally prepared for this day, but many things out of my control happened. In looking back I said to myself and to Lar, "how could I have changed this or that?" (I can control myself so that's always the first thing I look at changing the next go round.)

Well, I can honestly say, there's not much I could have done to prevent the things that went wrong today. I could change myself all I want and the things that happened would have still happened. I even gave myself lots of extra time before church to get things squared away and I was at the church before 7:30. Still, it was a manic day. It seemed nothing went right for me.

On the way to lunch the Lord had prepared a DJ with exactly what I needed to hear...one of those moments I was certain was "just for me." A Yolanda Adams song was playing that literally reached down into my heart and spoke to the core of me. I know it's just a recording but I could feel the anointing of God just descend upon my car. That was it. It got me through.

There will just be days like this occasionally where it seems like everything goes wrong, but there are times like the previous two Sundays that make up for all that. And let's hope next Sunday, Christmas Eve, is one of those type days! (Especially with all the visitors we anticipate. Larry is taking every single sanctuary type chair that we have on the property and fitting it into the sanctuary somehow.) 

Took the staff women ("leading ladies" as I call them) to lunch today to Miracles Tea Room. We had lunch and I shared some things on my heart with them for the coming year. Wanted to do this before 2007 even started and get us on course for the coming year. It was a good time together and I think they also really liked Miracles. It's one of my favorite places to go to just let down and relax. I am so blessed to have the women we now have. (Thank you, Jesus!)

Speaking of relaxing, never have I been so glad to come home and sleep tonight. I am anticipating climbing into my bed which just has to be THE most comfortable in Tampa, possibly in the world. As tired as I am I still can't wait to spend some time with Larry tonight. Excepting my relationship with the Lord, nothing makes me happier than that. 

It has just been an exhausting day all things considered. Tonight was the kids Christmas concert. The children did very well. Savanna sang in a trio - I was very proud of all of them but of course there's nothing that makes you feel the way you do when your own child does something. She loves to sing. I actually hear how good her voice is when she has headphones on and sings out strong and doesn't worry about who may be listening. Tonight she was in the car and had Kelly Clarkson on in her headphones and was belting out, "Since you've been gone! I can breathe for the first time!" Always funny to hear a kid singing something like that because of course they had no idea why someone would even sing a lyric like that. It means as much to them as April 15. (ha ha! NOTHING til' you're an adult!) But she sounded really awesome. Now if I could just get her to do that in church on a solo. But I don't push her. She'll come around in her own time.
Anyhoo, they had a reception afterwards with cookies and punch and the children's ministry raised $1,000 and Pastor T ended up having to get a Mohawk. You know, it actually looks AWESOME on him, at least I think so. I think it looks fantastic on him and I heard several people say the same. After coming home from there we headed over to Bernie and Lisa's for some fellowship. Good times. Sat out on their lanai together and enjoyed the time catching up.

You know I said many things went wrong for me today and quite truthfully that's the case. However ~ despite all that, God really spoke through His Spirit this morning in our service and said some things some desperately needed to hear and the Lord ministered in a deep way to those individuals. And for that, I would just say - no matter what else went wrong, the Spirit of God was present - hope was brought where people felt hopeless. And that, after all - is why we're here.

We GET to do this!!!

II Timothy 1:6 (msg) And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.

Tonight we went to the Ruiz family's house for dinner and enjoyed a great Spanish meal. Isa made salad, roast pork, yellow rice, and cheesecake. So good!! The conversation and time spent together was even better. What wonderful people. Savanna decided to stay the night with Chelsea, so it was just the guys and I coming home. The pictures above are of Chelsea and Savanna when Chelsea spent the night a few weeks ago and then Larry took the girls to the Ybor Christmas parade. The city had actually brought in snow for the parade and then they had ice skating. They had so much fun!!!

You know, some pastors don't spend very much time with their people, and I have never understood why. I "GET" to do this! How incredible. It is my privilege to do life with our church family. I do not consider it a drudgery to spend time...to connect...to do life. Why some pastors totally isolate themselves (even amidst the hurts that come - I know them all too well) I don't understand. Despite the occasional hurts, to be isolated hurts even more. To join our families together for sharing and fellowship is one of the great loves of my life and I can't understand how any minister thinks they can build a church without it, unless their goal is just to draw a crowd, but not grow a family of believers. I've seen those people who simply grow crowds and not families and it seems years later something comes crashing down. Either the pastor, the church or both end up in disaster some way. That's because we're to build a body of believers, a household of faith - not simply a crowd. I really do think that's possible no matter how big you get.

I have noticed over the years that so many ministers and spouses have this idea of "the church" being the enemy and something they have to separate from their family, They fight to make sure "the church" doesn't take over their lives. So many try to put "church time" and "family time" in a box, but quite frankly I don't think the most successful people do that because priorities quite frankly depend on what's going on. I've had some very wise people tell me that who have been in this thing for many decades and have successful marriages, families, and churches. 

Things don't just fit into neat little boxes...you have to go with the leading of the Lord every day. You hear about these people with priority lists - you know, like 1) God 2) Family 3) Church or 3) work and 4) church, but things don't always work by lists. Sometimes "life" happens. Stuff happens I don't expect with the kids, with the church, with anything and everything. There are times that are definitely ordained with you to be with your partner, your kids, or church people exclusively, and there are other times there is a blending of things. I think the blended lifestyle is the one we have embraced the most. 

Dr. Lee once said he raised his family "in the ministry" and he and Sis. Lee included their kids on everything they ever did in ministry because as he says "the ministry is all consuming...so involve your family in it and you'll end up spending a lot of time together..." That's been more of the route we have taken - they have been raised in the house of the Lord, not observing us, but DOING the work of the Lord along with us. I think it's great for kids to see their parents enjoying the house of the Lord, and God's people. Kids do more of what you DO than what you SAY anyway. Mine have literally been raised in the church. We even had cribs for them there when they were little. (Yes, really!)

Many families talk about how they have to go to great lengths to get their teens/kids to church...how there is fighting and arguing, and they have to force them to go. Amazingly, in 17 years of having kids Larry and I have never had that problem. They have never asked if they had to go, or bellyached about it. Most of the time they have a lot of ministry responsibilities to do that they know have to be fulfilled and people are counting on them to do them. They are either scheduled to play an instrument, run the powerpoint, do kids church or something. Rarely are my kids just sitting. They also tend to really enjoy the people of the church, probably because Larry and I have always enjoyed the people of the church. Even when we have had problems over the years and certain individuals have been an issue (a negative one) there has always been the majority of the family that has been enjoyable, and that we've continued to not only do ministry with, but do life with in general. Rarely have we not had a houseful even on holidays. Our kids are used to the fact that 50 people may be over at any given time. And they like that.

Like I said, I can't imagine why pastors don't want to spend time with their people. I enjoy some solitude on my day off, and I always need a few hours to myself each week and a date with Larry. BUT...aside from that, Larry and I and the kids like to connect with as many people as possible. It's our privilege, our honor, a miraculous GIFT the Lord has given us.

Tonight while at the Ruiz's I noticed that they have our family picture on their Christmas tree. The other night at the Currie's party I noticed it's on their fridge. These are just two of many that I've seen our picture somewhere in their home. When I walk into our people's homes and I see things like that it makes me realize we truly are "family" and in each other's hearts not just on Sundays or Wednesdays, but all throughout the week.

What a joy to not only be the parents of three natural children here on earth, but to be the spiritual parents of a wonderful church family. There is no greater honor. So why don't some people "get" that they don't HAVE to do this, they GET to do this? Wow, I never lose the wonder, even with some crazy stuff happening over the years.