Deanna Doss Shrodes

Sunset tonight in Kitengala, Kenya I learn more about intimacy with God, every day. It's not formal, fancy-schmantzy or mystical. Intimacy with God isn't about the most theological-sounding prayer or something outwardly impressive. Sometimes it's crying in the shower and telling Him what's wrong. Other times it's pouring out how thankful I am that everything is going so right.  It's plain, every day walking and talking with God. Me in the Kiambethu tea fields, on Saturday Intimacy with God, is being in communication with Him from the time my eyes open in the morning. Or it's lying in bed in the middle of the night listening to the rain pour down as it did in Africa the other night and having a long conversation. I was feeling so poorly, having very uneasy and even outright scary feelings after getting so sick on Saturday.  We had gone up into the mountains and apparently I got altitude sickness.  Eight thousand miles from home, weak and sick...

With the current Ebola outbreak at various places in the world, many people have expressed concern about the fact that my son Jordan and I are going to Africa on Wednesday.  I know people mean well, and love us very much.  I appreciate that. I don't get angry when people express their concern to me, although I do get perplexed at times. Even before the current Ebola outbreak, there were people pleading with me to stay home from Africa  for various reasons. I have traveled there alone, this being my fourth time -- and I've heard concern about everything from a plane crash to a terrorist attack. So you can imagine, with the Ebola outbreak in a few countries, people have gone into overdrive expressing their fears, begging me to reconsider this trip and stay home. Yesterday alone, I heard it from at least 15 people. I do not mean any of this in a condescending way. I am trying to educate because by the way others speak to me about this in such fear, I realize they do not...

Today I'm sharing a video that's real special to me...it's from one of my trips to Africa and includes some favorite preaching and altar clips. (Special thanks to Gary Boggess for doing the edit and making it possible!) This makes a great addition to my speaking page which was just updated. Most of my day was spent lying on my back in a dark room trying to get rid of a migraine with nausea. (Ugh!) So...no deep insights today here on the blog -- just sharing a video and I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts. Much love,

Yesterday I found this saying on Pinterest and re-pinned it to my "I so agree!" board that I made. (Yes, Pinterest is fast becoming my new favorite thing...) I find myself getting very philosophical about things like this and meditating on it for days.  Is it really true that very little is needed to make a happy life? I'm convinced that it's true, especially for Christians. I remember the first time I worshipped in Mathare Valley, in Kenya, Africa with some of the most poverty stricken people in the world.  They don't have running water (other than sewage running with rainwater in the alleyways of the slum) and they don't have electricity or toilets or all the things we have.  Dogs are loose wild animals and not pets, and they don't have healthcare or coffee bars on every corner, but they do have happiness. I saw it. When we worshipped in the church that November morning, it was amazing to see so many fall to the ground worshipping, crying out ...

I'm kind of jealous about something.  Not an ugly kind of jealousy where you wanna hurt somebody...more like a wistful comparison. Missionary friend, I know your life is not easy.  You leave everything behind and make sacrifices I can't even comprehend.  Recently at our district women's conference one of our missionaries, Shellie Bowdoin, shared with the ladies with tears streaming down her face about having to immediately send her son back to the states when he turns 18.  They are preparing for their goodbyes.  This is not an option , it's mandatory.   I had no idea.  The thought just never occurred to me that they have no choice in this matter.  How have I missed this harsh reality about our missionary families?  I have so much more to pray about now. Last night we began our missions conference at Celebration Church and our long-time friend Jeff Hartensveld, missionary to Indonesia, shared about eating "tree snot".  Apparently h...

I'm believing God to show up and do something big this weekend.  I have to believe that because quite honestly Deanna can't create miracles, she can only surrender to and flow with a mighty God who wants to do them. I never, ever lose the wonder that anybody shows up to hear anything I have to say.  I mean, it sincerely shocks me.  You can ask the people at Celebration Church where we pastor.  Every week I thank them for showing up.   I'm like, "Wow!  You're here again!"  I know they are there for Jesus but really they could be going to thousands of other places to worship Jesus but they choose to come to CC. My favorite thing to do is sit in a room by myself and write to my heart's content.   Well, actually I like to sit with Max silently next to me for hours, writing.  I could be happy just writing, but God has given me additional opportunities. It never fails that anytime I go anywhere to speak before I get up and actual...

The other day Larry and I were talking to some friends who are going through some "growing pains" in their ministry and we told them about how much we've grown and changed over the 24 years we've been married. You don't know something until you know it. You never know what life holds 'til you live it. Some things never change for us - like core theological beliefs and values, but other things have definitely changed - some slightly,  others completely. How I feel about many things in my 40's is radically different from when I met my husband as a teenager in bible college.  I told him things back then that I'd never do, things I'd always do, things I'd always believe, things I'd never believe.  Guess what -- a lot of that has changed on both our parts.  For a while we held each other to those things but no longer do.  This has usually resulted in an adjustment period for the person who is adapting to the other person's change. As ...

I'm carrying my stuff to church in this new tote bag I just got Friday: I saw it at Walmart...couldn't resist it.  Besides it was only $7.  For a long time now people in the church have called me "Wonder Woman."  It all started years ago  on my birthday when they were bringing a cake out for me at church to blow out the candles and the sound person played the theme from "Wonder Woman" as we cut the cake.  It sorta stuck and since that time people have given me Wonder Woman t-shirts, pajamas, mugs,etc.   I enjoy being a "Wonder Woman" for God.  Any Christian woman can be a wonder woman.  Did you know that?  For that matter, it's not limited to women!  Men can be people of WONDER! Hebrews 2:4 " And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose." I am headed to church this morning excited about what God will do, confirming His message through signs, wo...

It never fails that when I come back to the USA, (especially after a trip where God does amazing things) I pretty much get immediately hit with things that try to pop my balloon. Things I didn't expect.  Things that in my mind, I shouldn't have to deal with.  I'm sure every pastor feels that way.  I know I am not alone, and I do realize at the end of the day, what we're talking about is spiritual warfare.   It is all designed by the enemy to cause the man or woman of God to never want to step out and do anything again.  Does a person ever really get used to spiritual warfare?  I'm not sure.  As for me, I think  I will forever be learning how to handle it until God takes me home.  This time as I laid in my bed, very tired the last few days, mulling over things that were hitting me here and there, I decided to do a little comparison with something a co-pastor friend of mine in Kenya shared with me on this last trip.  I have le...

Happy Sunday to my friends that I was with last week at this time...til' we meet again...

Does anyone else ever face this but me?  Evidently so because I just Googled it today and found that it happens to others.  I know many have trouble with re-entry into the USA in dealing with how much we are blessed vs. the poverty they just experienced.  I feel that of course, and more than just after a trip.  Africa has gotten so into my heart that it's something I face on a regular basis. My husband asked me yesterday, "how much MORE can you possibly SLEEP?"   I told him that he doesn't really understand the difficulty of the upside down schedule, first of all.  Turning it right side up when your days have been nights for a week is not easy.  Second, even with that I hardly sleep while I'm actually over there.  I am so keyed up about everything I can hardly let down.  The more I go to Africa the more excited I get, not the other way around.  It never becomes "old hat" to me.  Sometimes I get up in the middle...

Some boys pushing a cart with fruits and veggies down the road... One of the many food stands along the road... One of the worship teams for the conference - from East AG These ladies are amazing ministers in music and such servants...they also served us food after each service.  Preaching with Susan interpreting on Saturday... Preaching Sunday at East AG, in the dress the ladies gave me the day before. Children at Mathare Valley waiting for us in the kids church room. One of the precious children from Mathare enjoys a piece of candy given to her by Celebration Church. One of the places Pastor Jane took us to in Mathare Valley  Two little cuties along the walk in Mathare... Couldn't resist snapping this little lady's photo along the way in Mathare.

I knew one of the most perplexing things for Becca on the Africa trip would be experiencing the great chasm between the beauty of Africa and the poverty.  In the SAME DAY within just two hours time we went from the Mathare Valley slums, to dining at one of the finest restaurants in Africa.  I didn't say anything but I knew how it would mess with her mind.  We left Mathare late Sunday afternoon, then drove back to the Kuerts and cleaned up and then they took us out to dinner.  It was time to experience some relaxation after a rigorous time of ministry.  With me preaching six services back to back, plus going to the slums, I was so ready! Walking into the beautiful restaurant we were greeted by servers wearing crisply ironed shirts with bow ties,  serving food that was absolutely scrumptious.  Becca just shook her head and said, "OH MY WORD," in disbelief.  I knew what was coming, but said, "what's wrong?"  ...