Stephanie Shott

In 1865, while recovering from an almost fatal illness, William Chatterton Dix penned the words to the famous Christmas carol, "What Child Is This?" Who is this Jesus? Why did He have to come and die? Why the cross? These are questions every heart beats to answer...and how we answer it will determine our eternal destiny.

When Jesus spoke peace to the crashing waves that surrounded their boat, the disciples cried out, "What manner of man is this that even the winds and the seas obey His voice?" Reluctant to believe Jesus was who He said He was, the Jews declared, "If You are the Christ, tells us plainly." When Pilate questioned Jesus, he asked, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Then he narrowed the focus to personal faith as He posed the life-altering question, "But who do you say that I am?"

This Christmas, we look into the manger with awe and like Dix, we wonder, "What Child is This?" Like the disciples we are amazed by His power, His glory and His majesty and our hearts cry out, "What manner of man is this that all of nature obeys Him?"

Take a few minutes to read the lyrics to this wonderful song and worship the Lord. He is Jesus, our Savior and King. He is the One who spoke this world into being, yet He speaks to our wandering hearts; He has inscribed us on the palm of His hands; He loves us with an ever lasting love; He will never leave us or forsake us; He calls us His beloved, He calls us His friends.

What Child is this? -

What child is this who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding
Good Christian fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come peasant king to own Him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

May this Christmas be a time when we all declare...This child is Jesus...He is Christ the King...He brings salvation to every willing heart. Praise Him. Praise His glorious name!

As Christmas quickly approaches, so too does New Years Day. A time of reflection; a time of new possiblities; fresh commitments; resolutions for the new year with hopes of lasting and significant change. A serious spiritual analysis is on my plate during the New Year's holiday and it all started when I began my journey through the book of Acts. It never occurred to me that my daily Bible reading would somehow collide with my annual life inventory or that it would be so painful, but the more I read, the more I find that I lack.

Acts 2 placed me on the pondering path of whether or not I'm measuring up to being like the church we find in Acts 2:42-47. Am I truly devoted to the teaching of the Word, to fellowship, to prayer? Do others see God working in and through me? Am I willing to sell what I have to meet the needs of others? Is reaching those without Christ a priority in my life? Questions that only I can answer for myself; questions that only you can answer for yourself.

Each chapter brings it's own convictions and challenges, but when I landed on Acts 17, I found myself longing to be like Paul and Silas...wondering why I haven't turned the world upside down for Christ...wondering why we all haven't turned the world upside down for Christ. Really...what is it that keeps us from making a similar impact in these days in which we live? Could we have bought into the lie that "religious" references are off limits in certain places? Perhaps we've become complacent or possibly even lukewarm. Are we really more afraid of what others think than we are of saddening the heart of our Savior?


I don't know about you, but I want to live in an upside down world. One that you and I have turned on its heels for Christ. One that calls right, right and wrong, wrong. One that is more worried about pleasing God than offending someone who doesn't believe in Him. A world where we refuse to defend sin in the name of tolerance and where the Bible defines our moral compass.

It may seem impossible, but it's not any more impossible today than it was two thousand years ago. Same crazy world, same life-changing Gospel. But it begins when we, the children of the Living God, start being who we say we are and start living what we say we believe. Being salt...being light. Where there is no light, only darkness exists.

The Christians of the New Testament weren't much different than you and I...they just believed the reality of the resurrected Christ so much that nothing on this earth paled in comparison and they turned this world upside down. That's what I want to do...I want 2010 to be the year we turn this world upside down for Christ. It may start as we reach our neighbors, our workplaces and our communities, but, oh Lord, let it start with us!

I've decided that my motto for 2010 is going to be: "No mo status quo."

What about you? What are some things you plan on doing in the coming year to turn this world upside down?

Four days after a frantic trip in an ambulance, the doctor entered the cold stark hospital room with the results,"The cancer has spread and it doesn't look good." With the family lining each side and me, standing at the end of the bed, there was an unusual calm that seemed to sooth everyone's heart as my mom responded with strength and grace. "If the chemo can help, then good. If not, the Lord knows when He wants to call me home."

While walking the hallways of the hospital, each door I pass reminds me that every room holds a story. Many families are faced with life-altering and even devastating circumstances during this Christmas season. For some, one chair will remain painfully empty at the dinner table. Some may spend Christmas with a mom or dad who has forgotten their names. Alzheimers has taken hold and they've become strangers for the first time.

Because Christmas is such a special time of the year...a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior and enjoy long held traditions with family and friends, it can be difficult when our world, as we know it, is turned upside down and everything changes.

Some have bought Christmas presents that will never be opened. Many have lost their jobs and will search for excuses to explain the barren space below the bottom branches. Some will sit in solitude anxiously awaiting a knock on the door. Many innocent children are suffering the pain of their parent's absence because mommy or daddy have made the jail cell their home.

While Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be a very difficult time for many. For our family, it is bittersweet. My mom has cancer. Chemo may work, but the doctors say it doesn't look good. It may even be my last Christmas with her. I don't know. But I love my mom.

This is also the first Christmas I will be able to spend with my new grandgirl. Just six months old...she's as sweet as sugar and as cute as a button. I love being a grandma and I love that child. So, for our family...this is a bittersweet Christmas.

As Christmas approaches, let's not forget that there are many in need of a friend, a counselor, a shoulder to cry on, an ear that will listen, an invitation to dinner, a visit to their bedside, a gift for their children and a prayer to our Heavenly Father.

For some, this Christmas is just plain bitter...for some it is sweet. What kind of Christmas is it for you? What are some tangible ways we can demonstrate the love of our Savior to those whose hearts are hurting? If this is a bittersweet Christmas for you, leave your prayer request as a comment and I would be honored to pray for you.

Every year we drag out boxes packed with memories of years gone by. Each ornament holds a story and every decoration reminds us of something or someone we hold near and dear to our hearts.


The other day, while I was unpacking the boxes of decorations for the tree, I found a 22 year old bronze engraved reminder of our first Christmas together. Homemade bells with pictures of our children, construction paper elves adorn our mantle and banners inscribed with the names and titles of Jesus hang beautifully on our tree as they remind us of our annual family vacations spent in Maggie Valley.

Those aren't just decorations, they're memories.

Before you know it, it will be December 26th and time to pack up those cherished memories where they'll be hidden again until next year. This year, allow yourself some time to walk down memory lane. Reminisce about those special moments that brought you to this place as you thank the Lord for the gift of salvation, family, life, laughter and love.

Tell us about what makes some of your Christmas decorations so special. I look forward to hearing from you.