Stephanie Shott

"And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands--yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it." Psalm 90:17 (Amplified)

I have to admit I'm a big fan of the Amplified Bible. It gives depth to words and phrases we often gloss over. Our familiarity with the precious Word of the Living God can sometimes minimize its significance and we begin to casually read what God intends that we study. Oh, may it never be so. May it never be so!

I remember a not-so-distant time when I was really seeking God's will and direction in my life about a specific calling that I was sensing from the Lord. I wasn't sure if I was hearing from Him correctly. And because I tend to be Gideon-like, I began asking the Lord to clarify His call.

I began praying Psalm 90:17 in the Amplified and asking God to establish the works of my hands. To ordain them. I didn't want to walk through a door that wasn't mine to walk through. I didn't want to long for something that wasn't mine to do. I wanted Him to establish my works and confirm them with His favor.

Then I realized that I wanted the same thing for my hubby and my children. I wanted God's beauty, delightfulness and favor to be upon them - I wanted the Lord to confirm and establish the works of their hands, as well.

That was about 5 years ago and I've been praying that beautiful prayer for my family ever since.

What about you? Do you have a specific prayer you pray for your family? Did this prompt you to begin praying this for your family too?

I'd love to share a portion of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

It's been a long haul between submission, contract, editing and publishing. I'm almost there. The book is due out this fall. But I'm so excited to share with you that my first interviews for my new ladies Bible Study on Ecclesiastes are coming out today!

You can listen to my radio interview online at The Authors Show(you'll have to click on the link to "The Christian Author Show" to find it) and you can find my first blog interview by my sweet friend, author Barbara Parentini by clicking here.

There are arrangements in the works for a blog tour, a book launching party, book signings and a television interview. It's all so exciting because it's all beyond me! It's nothing I could have planned on my own. They are doors my Heavenly Father are opening and I'm so excited to see Him work in my midst in ways I never could have imagined!

So, while my excitement level is off the charts, the reality of the responsibility He's entrusting me with has brought me to my knees.

If you know me at all, you know I long to be like John the Baptist and be a voice that cries in the wilderness of this world - in the wilderness of women's lives - in the wilderness of women's hearts. You know that I am absolutely passionate about impacting this generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ by helping women know that He is the answer to every problem they face - that His Word teaches them how to live in victory over anything their past may whisper to their hearts. That His love for them exceeds any other love they may be searching for. I love to help women become who they were created to be and enjoy saying "Yes" to Jesus. And I love helping women learn to enjoy the grand adventure of serving the Living God.

But I also realize that every door God opens comes with great responsibility and I don't take it lightly.

So today I'm excited beyond words but also shaking in my boots. God has truly done exceedingly abundantly above all this little southern missionary girl could ask or think! All I can say is - To God be the glory!!!

What is it that God is calling you to do that is beyond you? What ministry has He given you that thrills your heart but has you shaking in your boots?

By the way, if you'd like to be part of the blog tour, book me to speak at an event or join my prayer team, please email me at stephanieshott@me.com.

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look very much like your own.

I love this cyberspace place of ministry called my 'blog.' It's where I share a word from the Word as well as a piece of my heart and life with you all.

I enjoy spending part of my week with you and landing in your inbox several times a week. I especially love it when you pop in and leave a comment. It makes me feel like I know you beyond the world known as my laptop. You've become my friends and the object of many of my prayers.

That's why I feel like I can share my heart with you and know that you'll not only understand, but pray for me as well.

I'm a bottom line kind of girl, so here goes...I'm pushing the pause button on our study of John 15 so that I can wrap my mind around the book proposal I'm currently working on (it's due in a little over a week). I know I intended to dive into this beautiful and challenging chapter with you, but after re-evaluating my crazy-busy schedule, I realized that there is no way I can adequately walk through John 15 with you until my proposal is complete. John 15 is just too important to skim over. And I want to enjoy every step we take along the way.

So, I'm asking you, my sweet friends, to bear with me for a couple of weeks while I seek God's face on the book I'm working on and on the proposal I'm putting together. I'm asking you become part of this project by joining me in prayer. Without the Lord working in me and through me, I have absolutely nothing of value to offer. I need His will and His wisdom. I also am asking you to begin praying now that God would use this book in the heart of every woman who will read it.

Prayer lays the groundwork for fulfilling God's call and I don't want to take one step without it. So, please know that I am setting aside this coming week or so to prayer...to living life face down...to seeking His face, His hand and His anointing. And I can't wait to share with you more about this new and exiting project! Your prayers make you an intrinsic part of it.

I'll still be putting out my tri-weekly posts (with a lighter spin than normal), but for now I'm pushing the pause button on our in-depth study of John 15. Hang in there girls...I'm as anxious as you are to push go. Soon, dear one. Very soon.

What about you? Have you had to re-evaluate your life and push the pause button on something you really wanted to do? Do you need someone to join you in prayer as you postpone the good for the best?

I'd love to be part of your week. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

I love John 15. It's a cut-to-the-chase kind of chapter that calls us to be who we say we are, while giving us the tools we need to do so.

It's about abiding. Being vitally connected to the Lord in such a way that His very life flows through us. It's not that we produce the fruit. That's not the branch's job. The branch just displays the fruit the vine produces through it.

But John 15 is about more than abiding and bearing fruit. It's also about loving God, loving others and seriving the world. It's about the promise of the Holy Spirit and the call to be witnesses on planet earth.

It's about living what we say we believe and how to do just that. John 15 is real and relevant and I can't wait to dig in!

I hope you'll join me on the journey as we walk through John 15 together. I think we'll be surprised at what we find along the way.

I'll be changing it up some. Part of this study will be done the old fashioned way -by computer screen and keyboard. OK - so that's not really old fashioned, but I will also be making some videos for the study, as well. I'll be posting three to four times a week until we cross the finish line at verse 27.

I can't wait to dig in and I hope you'll get your own shovel out and dig in with me!

John 15 might just rock your world! I know it has mine.

What about you? Will you join me for a journey through John 15?

I'd love to be part of your week. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14

I recently had the privilege of writing an article that was published in the P31 Woman Magazine entitled, Diary of a Domestic Diva Wannabe. Those of you who know me are well aware of the fact that I don't even try to make excuses any more. When I'm in a pinch, I readily call the professionals...and you know who you are.

But the article was about much more than my lack of expertise in all things domestic. It shed light on the dark areas of our hearts where we see ourselves through the lens of someone else's life and feel "less than."

We all know that God is not a respecter of persons. In His equation, we are not less than, but equal to.

Sounds good. Even biblical. In fact, I walked this path before where I wrestled my inferior heart to the ground and battled feelings of inferiority until the Truth of God's Word arose victorious.

But there I was, getting ready to make a very important phone call to a very important person and I found myself as nervous as a giddy little school girl. Words tumbled out of my mouth like a overpacked closet full of junk.

All I could think was, "This is really not the time to be as goofy as you are, Stephanie."

But why did I struggle with a simple conversation? Why did I feel so inferior? Yes, when it comes to the topic of our conversation, this sweet woman is definitely more knowledgeable than I am, but it really is just one person talking to another to see if we will be a good fit for future projects.

Why do we get nervous when we go in for a job interview? Why do our knees knock when we stand up to speak to others? Why do we feel awkwardly anxious when we have to talk to someone in authority?

To be honest, I'm a girl who has a lot of relearning to do. The question is, how many times do I have to travel this same road before I'm able to say I've conquered it?

Even though I know what God's Word says...I find myself struggling to walk in what I know to be true. The weakness of our humanity has a way of doing that.

Today, I remember that in God's equation of things, no one is less than...but equal to.

Tomorrow, I might need to take that trek again. But I'm still relearning. And I'm going to keep relearning until I can look back and see that path laced with grace and covered with trophies of victory.

What about you? What are you still relearning?

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look very much like your own.

Today's post is near and dear to my heart. If you have children, I'm sure the same is true for you.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

I love being a mom. And like most moms, I’ve always wanted what’s best for my children. I remember not long after I became a Christian all I could think of was how desperately I wanted to see them have hearts that longed for the Living God.

In 3 John 1:4, John’s joy overflowed as he watched his beloved Gaius living out loud for God. He may have been talking about his spiritual children, but I believe John’s words echo in the heart of every Christian mother who desperately desires to see her children walking in the truth.

There are so many things we can try to do to see them come to know Christ at an early age - to see them grow in Word - to see them become men and women of God. We can take them to church, get them involved in Christian activities, teach them right from wrong and we even try to instill a Biblical world view in their hearts.

But our greatest work as a mother is to incessantly intercede on behalf of our children.

If you’re just starting your journey as a mother, you have the blessing of bathing your child in prayer from the beginning. But no matter how old they may be now, it’s never too late to start praying for your children.

Here are a few ideas to help you intentionally and strategically pray for your children:

Pray Always: Maintain a heart of continual prayer for your children no matter where you are or what you are doing. “Never stop praying.” 1 Thes 5:17 (NLT)

Pray With Scripture: There is an unequalled element of faith when God’s children pray God’s Word back to Him because they trust Him. Insert your children’s names in the precious promises of God and acknowledge that you are believing He will fulfill His Word.

Last Thursday on Scripture Dig, Teri Lynne showed us how to pray through Scripture. Do that same thing. Only pray through each verse for your children as well as yourself.

♥ Ask God to help your children to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:30)

♥ Ask the Lord to give your children the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know Him better. That their eyes would be enlightened that they would know the hope of His calling. (Eph 1:17-18)

♥ Intercede for your child’s character. Ask that they would be humble and willing to put the needs of others before their own. (Phil 2:3-5)

God’s Word is chock-full of verses to pray for your children. As you read through the Bible during your quiet time, keep your eyes open for new waysto pray for your child. There is no substitute for praying God’s Word back to Him.

Pray With Urgency: We have no idea what tomorrow holds for us or for our children. So pray now. Fervently pray for your children. Pray that God would be their Shield and Defender and let your prayers become road blocks for the enemy.

Pray With Wisdom: So often we don’t know how to deal with certain circumstances in our children’s lives...but God does. Ask Him for wisdom and then pray for your children according to the wisdom He gives you. If you see an area of weakness in their lives, begin to intercede for victory in that area and wisdom to know how to parent them through it.

Pray For Their Spiritual Needs: Salvation is their primary need, so passionately pray for it. Pray for protection, direction and a heart after God. Pray they will always have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to believe. Pray they will be strong in the spirit and in the power of His might.

Pray For Their Emotional Needs: Pray for their emotional well being. Pray they will be strong without being hard; that they will be tender, without being weak; that they will understand their value in the sight of God; that they will not be quickly angered; that they will not hold grudges; that they will love well.

Pray For Their Physical Needs: Pray for their health. Pray for their eating and exercise habits. Pray they would not have addictive behaviors.

Pray For Their Friends: Pray God would surround them with people who will strengthen their faith, encourage their walk with God and hold them accountable.

Pray For Their Parents: Yes, pray for yourself. That you would be the parent(s) to your children that God calls you to be. That you would understand them, see their weaknesses and their needs, and would know how to walk them through each season of their childhood.

Pray For Their Future Spouse: Pray for the one God is preparing for your child. Pray for their salvation, their character and that they would truly love your child and be a godly and faithful spouse.

Pray For Your Prodigal: Please hear my heart on this, dear one. Your heart may be breaking because your children are far from God and everything they know to be right and good. I know how hard this unwanted journey is and I want to encourage you with everything I have to keep praying. Don’t give up; don’t grow weary; don’t be angry; don’t lose faith; don’t lose heart...keep praying. Drag that child’s heart to the altar of the Living God every day - lay them at the feet of the Savior - claim God’s Word over their lives. You pray like no one else will.

You can’t quit! I know it’s hard. I know you’re frustrated and I know your heart hurts like crazy. But God is a miracle working God and His arm is not slack that it cannot save. He alone is able to make beauty out of the ashes of your prodigal’s life. Hold on in prayer, my sister and live your life face down in intercession for your children. Because if you won’t - who will?

And mother-to-mother I want you to know I pray your children will live out loud for the Living God because we all know...there is no greater joy than to see our children walk in the truth.

Are you desperate to see God move in the heart of your child? Do you have any suggestions that may help mothers who are longing to be prayer warriors and stand in the gap for their children?

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

Today, I want to give you the opportunity to visit some blogs that are a blessing to me. The women who write these blogs inspire me to reach for all that God has for me - they encourage me to press on and press hard - they challenge me to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God (William Carey).

These are a few of my sisters in Christ and I'd love for you to get to know them. Click on their link and see what they're writing about today.

Kathi Lipp - "And This is Why I Don't Live in a Yurt"

Kathy Howard - 87 and Hungry - Moldova Part 3

Lynn Mosher - Cling to What Is Good

Teri Lynne Underwood - Promises From God

Julie Sanders - Tasty Tuesday

Sandra Peoples - Five Favorites

Kristi Stephens - True Worship

Suzie Eller - Trickle Down

Tara McClenahan - Are You Trying to Be Supermom?

Time and space doesn't allow me to share every woman who blogs blessings my way, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to check out a few. I know you will be glad you did!

I'd love for you to share with me which blogs bless you. What women are impacting your life?

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Please click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" John 15:8

A few years ago we had two tomato plants that refused to die. They would remain bare during the winter but during the rest of the year they produced a plethora of plump juicy tomatoes for our eating pleasure. Every time I went outside and saw those perennial plants putting out the goods it brought a smile to my face.

I enjoy a good tomato, but there's nothing like a fresh, home grown tomato from my own backyard. I love the way it tastes and I even love the way it smells. It's mine and for some strange reason I get this strange sense of parental accomplishment every time those babies are brimming with buds. Whenever I saw those things flourishing with fruit, I knew I would have plenty to give away and that made me proud in a strange sort of way.

In John 15, Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches. We are completely dependent upon the Lord if fruit is going to be found dangling from the branches of our lives. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, no fruit is produced.

He tells us that our Heavenly Father is glorified when we bear "much" fruit. He delights when His children are fruity.

I know it's really a lame parallel, but I couldn't help but think about how happy those silly tomatoes made me. The Lord not only delights in finding fruit in our lives, He is glorified by the fruitiness of our lives. The primary purpose for our own existence is fulfilled when we bear much fruit because that glorifies our Father.

When our branches are full, there's plenty to go around. The fruit coming forth from our own lives nourishes those around us and God uses the overflow of fruit in our lives to pour into the places of need in the lives of others.

Today, I began thinking about my own fruit or lack thereof. Am I really bearing enough fruit to make my Father smile? Am I as fruity as I should be? If not, then I have nothing to give to others. If not, then I'm obviously not abiding in His as I should.

What about you? Are you bearing fruit? Can others be nourished by the abundance of fruit in your life? Are you abiding in Him as you should?

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.

"IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Cor 13:1 (Amplified)

My husband is a drummer...and a good drummer, at that. He's played professionally for years and does studio work so he is constantly practicing. He's a perfectionist and he spends a lot of time tweaking every lick for perfect rhythm. When he's stuck, he will play a part a thousand times until he gets it right.

It's never bothered me to be around all that banging of the drums, but when it comes to the clanging of the cymbals, that's another story. I know he's a perfectionist, but I'm so thankful when he gets the cymbal part down and moves on to the rest of the song.

The crash of a cymbal is never a beautiful sound. Neither are words without love.

So, what exactly is love? How is it defined in our lives? What does it look like? What does it sound like?

It's good to compare our own concept of love with what God's Word says about it. It's good to see our own attempts to love others through the lens of God's Word. So, today we're going to take a little love test and see where we land on the love-odometer.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient and kind ~ Are you patient and kind?

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude ~ Are you jealous, boastful, proud or rude?

It does not demand its own way ~ Are you selfish? Is it your way or the highway?

It is not irritable ~ Are you an irritable or grumpy soul?

It keeps no record of being wronged ~ Do you hold grudges?

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out ~ Do you find pleasure in the misfortunes of others?

Love never gives up ~ Do you give up on those you love?

Never loses faith ~ Do you lose faith in those you love? In your circumstances? In your relationships?

Is always hopeful ~ Is your love always sprinkled with hope?

Endures through every circumstance ~ Will you hold on through thick and thin?

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

I didn't really pass the love test today. Sometimes I'm impatient, unkind and irritable with those I love...with those who should see the love of Christ permeating from my life. Instead, they often see the pressures of my day, the excess of my hormones or the selfishenss of my heart.

I long to pass the love test. I long for others to consistently see Christ in me. To see me truly loving others as Christ does. Sacrificially. Fervently. Patiently. Passionately.

What about you? Did you pass the love test today? Do you love like Jesus loves?

I'd love to share part of my week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look very much like your own.

"And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him" Isaiah 59:16 (Amplified)

Have you ever looked around at those who are hurting, those who have walked through valleys of pain and are held captive by their circumstances. The sick, the poor, the lonely, the abandoned, the wounded, weary and wayward. These people whose hearts silently cry for help while we walk past them as if they are invisible.

Have you ever considered lending a helping hand or a listening ear? Should we really be content with our meager attempts to throw a few dollars at a few causes and feel as though we've done our part'?

In Isaiah 59:16, God was looking for those who would do more than merely throw a few dollars at their dilemmas. He was looking for people who would intervene...who would stand in the gap on behalf of truth and right. To become involved, to make a difference, to truly care.

Today, the Lord clearly took me to this verse where He reminded me of what He has called me to. It's really no different than what He has called you to. To make a difference. To impact this generation with the love of Christ in the sphere of influence He has given us. It may flesh out in different arenas of life and in different ways, but the church is called to be light and salt; to love the unloveable; to minister grace to the hurting; to feed the poor, clothe the naked and give a cup of cold water to the thirsty.

As I'm preparing for what I know God has called me to, I'm ever mindful that I fall so short of being who God created me to be. But I want to fulfill every good work He has predestined that I walk in ~ not just by speaking truth into the lives of others ~ not just by writing books and articles that point people to Christ, but by being the hands and feet that reveal the heart of God for those in need.

When we were on the mission field, we had a saying. "You have to earn a listening ear." I know that if I want people to listen to what I say, I must first be what I say I am. I must first show the love of Christ, not just talk about it. I must be willing to roll up my sleeves, get my hands dirty and do more than just 'talk' about how wonderful Christ is...I must show them. I must be a living epistle.

What about you? Are you actively involved in living out your faith by ministering to the lives of others? Are you willing to intercede on behalf of those in need?

I'd love to share part of me week with you. Click here to subscribe and join me for a journey that may look much like your own.