Stephanie Shott

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

God places us in His family and although it's not perfect...although His kids still fuss and fight when our flesh gets the best of us - we have a family like no other. A family that will stick together, love each other and walk through this life together through the good times and the bad.

Our earthly families may be as crazy, dysfunctional as they come, but our forever family will one day function as God originally intended it to. Until then, we're called to love each other well, sweet friend! We're to laugh with each other, cry with each other, correct each other, care for each other, counsel each other and comfort each other.

There should be a whole lot of each-others going on in our forever family - and it should all be for the good of one another! Because we are family...forever.

What can you do to help your forever family function smoothly? Do you love on your sisters well? Do you bear one another's burdens and put up with one another's failures? Have you become part of God's forever family?

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"But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and ^[a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may ^[b]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"

Are you feeling wimpy today, my friend? Are you weary in the walk, weary in the wait or weary in the war?


Like an electric cord receives power when it's plugged into an outlet, we receive power when we plug into God's power source. Basking in His presence, trusting in His Word and seeking His face in prayer - that's where we find the greatest strength...His strength.


Do you need God to strengthen you today? What are you facing that will require your weakness to be replaced with God's power? Are you weary in the walk, the wait or the war? How can I pray for you?

Good Monday morning ladies! I hope you had a great weekend! I had one of those Saturdays when months of burning the candle at both ends caught up with me and I had a hard time doing anything. My get up and go just got up and went.


But as I echo the words of the psalmist, I have to say, oh how sweet it was to go to the house of the Lord!


All three services were wonderfully worshipful! And in all three services we were blessed by seeing many souls saved! I couldn't help but think about how each one of them is a gift and a responsibility at the same time.


A gift of God's grace at work in the lives of others right there in our very midst - and a responsibility of discipling a new born babe to spiritual maturity. How great is our God to allow us to be part of ministering to others in His name and for His glory! Oh, that we might do it well!


Well, today (before we get to our promise for the day) I'm over at Scripture Dig with some words of Proverbial wisdom for wives. We've been studying Proverbs and today's topic is marriage, so I hope you'll click the link and pop in over there and say hi!

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"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3

We just watched a hurricane rip its way up the east coast of the United States and through many highly populated cities. It left a path of destruction in its wake. Some lost their homes, some lost their lives, almost everyone in that region was affected in one way or another.


In life, we often face storms of ginormous proportions. Some are more devastating than others, but all have a tendency to rain on our parades. They all batter the shores of our hearts and leave the landscape of our lives very different than before.


Regardless of where you are in your life - whether your storm is hurricane size or something more like a small isolated shower, we all need peace.


Today's promise reminds us that peace is available for all who will turn their attention away from the storm and purposefully fix their minds on the Lord - trusting Him in the midst of their storms.


You may be wading through a torrential downpour right now, but please fix your gaze on the One who can not only speak peace to your storm - but can speak peace to your heart in the midst of your storm.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, sweet friend - look full in His wonderful face - then the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Good morning girls! Before we get into today's promise, I wanted to let you know that I'm at Scripture Dig today too. I'm talking words of wisdom about friendships in our Proverbs study over there. I'd love for you to pop in and say hi.


Also, I wanted to give you a resource to go along with Tuesday's post where we were reminded that God's greatest promise is Himself. I've got something I think will help you in your journey to getting to know God more. It's over at Speaker Chicks, so click here and you can download your free resource today.

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Well girls, I'm tired. Really tired. Just between me and you, I'm so ready to quit my 9 to 5 and focus solely on my already full time ministry of writing and speaking. But it isn't time yet. Certain things have to fall in line before I'll be able to make that leap. Not like a cosmic aligning of certain stars, but specific things have to unfold before I take that next step.


But to be honest with you, I've been a little weary in the wait. Two years of burning the candle at both ends can wear a girl out.

So, of course, I asked Jesus if He'd just fix it. That would be the easiest solution, don't you think. He could just fix it. He could do some star aligning stuff and put everything in place so that I could just do what He's called me to do, right!

But God loves us too much to just make every step we take easy. 

• Easy tends to send us skipping off in our own direction without seeking His face. 
• Easy often makes us think we can do this thing on our own - Hard reminds us that we can't.
• Easy makes us feel like we're strong - Hard makes us strong. 
• Easy makes us independent - Hard makes us dependent. 
• Easy makes us forget God - Hard makes us run to God.

"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Rest is available for all who will run to Him and learn from the Master what it means to do this life with a quiet and settled heart. 


Jeremiah 6:16 tells us,

"This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will findrest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’"

The promise of rest for our souls is ours - but so is the choice to run to the only One who can give it.

"And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 3:14 NLT)

• It excludes no one.  "'Love your neighbor as yourself."  Matt 22:39
• it is expressed through service. "...serve one another in love." - Gal 5:13
• It seizes the moment.  "...be prepared in season and out of season..."- 2 Tim 4:2"
• It reflects His perfect love for us. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - Jn 15:13"

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I was quite the inquisitive little girl. I remember when I was about five I made my way over to the trunk of a tree that seemed to tower over my head like an oversized mushroom. Curled up in the crevice of the base of that tree trunk was a cute little black fuzzy ball and I had to find out what it was.


As I reached out my hand to pick up the cuddly little creature, a burning pain entered my finger tips and shot up my arm like someone had pierced it with a hot rod iron pipe. It was excruciating!


My momma heard the screams and came running, but I wanted my daddy! Writhing in pain, I bolted to my daddy's arm, buried my head in his chest and cried like crazy.


The pain was unbearable, but finding refuge in my daddy's arms made all the difference in the world. Somehow, I just knew everything was going to be okay as long as I was with my daddy!


As they rushed me into the emergency room I desperately clung to him - afraid he might put me down - fearful he may leave me alone. But my daddy never left my side. He clung to me.


The pain didn't go away because he was with me, but the fear did. His presence didn't change my circumstances - it just changed me.



I'm not sure what you're going through right now, but if you're a child of God, you are not alone. He is with you. He has not forsaken you. He has not forgotten you. He has not turned His back on you.

Is your sickness bigger than God?

Is your fear bigger than God?

Is your bad marriage bigger than God?

Is your wayward child bigger than God?

Is your grief bigger than God?

Is your financial crisis bigger than God?

Is your broken heart bigger than God?

Is your lack of employment bigger than God?

Is your loneliness or singleness bigger than God?

Is your difficult child bigger than God?

Is anything you're going through bigger than God?

Today, sweet sister, let His abiding presence speak peace to your heart. He loves you with an everlasting, everpresent love. He is with you, my friend. He is clinging to you and even if you lose your grip, He will never lose His.



He may not speak peace to your storm right now, He may speak peace to your heart in the midst of your storm. But make no mistake, He is with you in your storm!

He is everything you need - He is all you need. He is with you, and that's enough. So rest in His presence and trust that His promise of Himself is exactly what you need.

Have you become a child of God and know that the promise of Himself is yours? Has your circumstances clouded your view from your ever-present Heavenly Father? What does the promise of His presence mean to you?

I couldn't find an original Jason Morant video version, but I love this song and it reminded me of the fact that God promises Himself...always and forever! Hope you'll click and worship! Click this link if you're getting this through email and it will take you to the video.

Good Monday morning, sweet friends! I hope this post finds you walking in the fullness of God's grace and peace. I know this world can throw some sticks and stones our way, but praise God we are more than conquerors through Christ!


Before we get started, I want to tell you about a couple things. 


First,  I want to be sure you pop over to SpeakerChicks.com and download your free Bible study resource entitled, Becoming You. It's ten short but very practical chapters to help us overcome the obstacles that seem to prevent us from becoming who we were created to be. It really can help you walk in victory on your way to your own destiny!

By the way, if you're trying to organize a women's event, please consider looking at the speakers to see if any of us would fit your need. :-)

Second, I wanted to tell you about the new and improved Scripture Dig site! Teri Lynn did an awesome job, not only changing the design, but also enhancing the resources. I know you'll love it! We're launching the new and improved site with a look at Proverbs! Since y'all know how I dig Solomon, I honestly think you're going to love this look at wisdom. (Be sure to check it out!)


Well, let's get started with today's post...

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Have you ever needed a promise you could cling to? Have you ever wondered if God really keeps His promises? Are you in a place in your life where you really need Him to do just that?


I know I do!


But as we examine God's Word, it's important that we claim God's promises in context. Not every promise is for us; not every promise is unconditional. Yes, some promises are fully ours if we have been born again and become heirs of the promises of God.


Galatians 3:29 tells us...

"And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you."

Many of God's promises belong to us because we are His, but many of His promises come with the specific prerequisites. They are the "If" - "Then" promises of God. 


For the next few weeks I hope to encourage your heart with a promise a day. Some will be conditional and we'll look at what that means on our side of the promise equation. Others will be unconditional and we'll be able to bask in the inheritance that is ours solely because of our relationship with Christ.


Psalm 34:19, 

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Did you notice that there are actually two promises in this one power packed verse? If you are a child of God, you are promised many afflictions - but you also have the promise of His deliverance. 


Life definitely isn't easy! And the older we get the more difficult things become. Perhaps our days under the sun are purposely designed to make us want more than this life. Maybe our weary hearts and aging bodies are tools God uses to make us long for our forever home.


But while we're walking on this planet, we are guaranteed to deal with difficult days - yet we are also guaranteed that the Lord will come to our rescue and deliver us from our afflictions.


I'm not sure what you may be going through, but whether you're facing a hard place in your life now or tomorrow seems uncertain, we serve a God who has promised to deliver us out of all our troubles.


Our forever Father promises to come to our rescue!


His deliverance may not look like what we think it should, it may not come when we think it should come - but we can rest assured that one way or another, our God will rescue His people from all our troubles. He promises!


His deliverance may require your obedience, it may require your repentance, it may require your patience. But don't give up and don't give in - it's coming!

So, hold on, dear one, help is on its way! He has not forsaken you, He has not left you to figure this thing out on your own! He will show up at just the right time and in just the right way and deliver you from your affliction!

And when it's all said and done, you will be able to give glory to none other than the Lord, your Deliverer!

What are you facing right now that you need God to deliver you from? Are you growing weary as you wait for God to come to your rescue? Will you trust Him while you wait?

Good morning girlfriends! Hey y'all - before we get into today's devo, I wanted to tell you girls about a FREE resource available at SpeakerChicks.com that I really hope you'll take advantage of. It's called "Becoming You" and it's a practical workbook style study that is designed to help women walk in victory over those things that hinder our walk and try to prevent us from becoming who we were created to be. 

Please click the link, scroll down and download it. It's a practical tool I use in conjunction with some of my speaking topics, but I wanted to tell y'all special ladies about it. 

I'd also love to hear from you after you've gone through it! May it help you boldly and victoriously step into your destiny sweet sister! That's my prayer for you! (Check out the other resources while you're there!)

Now, for today's lesson:


In the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as our Teacher, our Master - Rabbi. He is our Teacher. Not just someone who tells us what to do, but someone who mirrors the life He summons us to live. His life validates what His Word calls us to.


Many would come to Jesus sarcastically calling Him Teacher, yet others knew His wisdom transcended human reasoning. Yes, He was more than a teacher - He as more than a rabbi - He was divinely endowed with wisdom distinctly beyond any other person on the planet.




Isaiah 30:19-21 tells us...

"O people who dwell in Zion at Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left." 

Jesus doesn't hide His truth from us. He doesn't withhold His wisdom, His ways or His callings from His people. He longs to teach us how to do this thing called life, but we have a responsibility to listen.


Whether you're walking through the bread of adversity or wading through the waters of affliction, the Lord is your Teacher in the journey.


Yes, Jesus is our Teacher, but if we want to hear Him say, "This is the way, walk in it..." we must first constantly behold our Teacher.


If we're going to live this life to the fullest, if we're going to fulfill our calling, if we're going to make a difference in our short years under the sun and serve our God in our generation - then we need to learn from our Teacher.


I remember when I was homeschooling one of my boys and he was giving me a hard time. I looked at him and said, "Quit being unteachable!"


Do we have a teachable spirit - humble enough to know that we don't know everything - willing to learn from the Master - longing for His instructions? 


I often pray the Lord will make me smarter than what I am. I know this little southern girl needs help! 


So, let's get personal...


1. What are you doing to constantly and intentionally behold our Teacher?


2. What have you learned from Him this week?


3. Are you doing what His Word tells you to do?


4. Are you loving the unloveable, forgiving your enemy, turning your cheek, going the extra mile?


Extra Credit:


1. Write out what you think it means to be teachable and then determine if you've been teachable when it comes to the things of God.


2. List the areas in which you have refused to 'learn' from the Master. Confess it as sin and ask the Lord to give you a teachable spirit.

Oh girls, y'all know how I love a good word study, right?! Well, I just spent some time enjoying the multitude of ways the word compassion is used in Scripture!


There are at least five various Hebrew words used in the Old Testament and eight Greek New Testament words that are used for our English word compassion.


They all give us the concept of entering sympathetically into someone else's sorrow or pain - to have pity on - to feel regret for - to suffer alongside - to comfort - to console.


This is how God responds to our fears, failures and heartaches. He is the God of compassion.

When God was about to rain down His wrath on sinful Sodom and Gomorrah, He had his angels lift Lot and his family from certain death. (Genesis 19:15-17) 

To His prodigal people who humbly return to Him, He compassionately restores their fractured fellowship. (Deuteronomy 3:2-4) 

David called upon God's great compassion to forgive him of his great sin. (Psalm 51:1-3) 

The Lord longs to show compassion to His children if they would just return to Him - if they would just make Him their delight. (Isaiah 30:18) 

He promises compassion for His people. (Isaiah 54:10) 

Because Daniel refused to defile himself with the kings food, God gave him favor and compassion in the sight of the commander. (Daniel 1:9) 

With compassion He restores His wayward children and answers them when they call. (Zechariah 10:6) 

As He went through the towns ministering miracles and the Word to the people, His heart was filled with compassion for them. (Matthew 9:35-37) 

He had compassion of His hungry followers. (Matthew 15:32) 

When the blind men came to Him for healing, He was moved with compassion. (Matthew 20:33-34) 

In the middle of a funeral procession for a widow woman's only son, Jesus' compassion moved Him to perform a life-giving miracle. (Luke 7:12-14)

I don't know where you are in your journey or where you've been. I have no idea what you're going through - whether your heart is hurting or you're in a mountaintop season (my favorite seasons!). But I know I know our God is the Father of Compassion.


He sees, He cares and He longs to demonstrate His compassion to each and every one of us who will turn to Him - lean on Him - press into Him - delight in Him.


Let's get personal:


1. Do you see God as a God of Compassion?


2. Have you been wandering from God and need to come home to the place of mercy, grace and compassion?


3. Do you trust Him to show compassion to you in your circumstances today?


Extra Credit... 


1. Make a list of the painful places in your life where you need to see God move with compassion. Then begin to pray for the Lord to demonstrate His compassion in a way that is obviously Him. (His compassion is like a hug from heaven, sweet friend!)


2. In your prayer journal, write the names of those who you know need to see God move with compassion in their lives and then begin praying that God would release showers of compassion on their lives.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NLT)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified)

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All you have to do is turn on the news to see that people are going through some rough stuff. 


Hungry and helpless mothers are suffering incomprehensible heartache as they watch their little ones starve to death. Men, women and children walk for miles in the blazing heat in hopes of a bowl full of food. There's a famine in the land of Somalia.


The Nuban people are once again fleeing the mountains in an attempt to evade horrible persecution. They are hungry - they are thirsty and they are scared. That is in Sudan. 


Believers are being tortured and killed because of their faith. Families are permanently separated and lives are destroyed...all because they trust Christ. That is in North Korea, Uzbekistan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Iran and a host of other countries. 


In the United States flood waters have recently ravaged Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi.  Throughout the world, hundreds of towns and villages have been washed away by mudslides, floods and tsunamis. People are dying by the droves as a result of natural disasters, unhealthy living conditions, oppression and persecution.


As you read today's post, 60 families are without loved ones today in Iraq as a result of the crazed killings of people who think the murder of innocent lives will somehow promote their cause or win the favor of their god. My heart breaks when I hear that people are hurting and being hurt. But as much as it breaks my heart, I know that it breaks the heart of God so much more.


In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 the Bible tells us God is the Father of Compassion and the God of All Comfort...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Our finite minds can't comprehend why humans have to suffer so much. We may not be able to reconcile the goodness of God and the pain of human tragedy, but we can trust in the character of God.


We often hear of people who blame God for that which we can not understand. But we are fallen people who live in a fallen world and it is sin and satan who are the enemies of our souls.


God is the Redeemer of our fallen souls and this fallen world.

Today, I'm going to focus on our side of the compassion equation. Tomorrow, we'll examine God's side.

Suffering is a reality that calls the Christian to respond. The question is, are we doing our part? Do we really care enough to help the hurting. Do we allow the healing springs to flow from our own places of pain?


We show compassion because God showed compassion to us.


What we do unto the least of these, we do unto Jesus. What we do unto the least of the broken, the wounded, the hungry and the hopeless...we do unto Jesus!

In reality, the suffering of the human soul is an opportunity for the children of God to make an eternal difference in the lives of the hurting and be rewarded for it in the end. How cool is that!

So let's get personal:

1. Who around you is going through a painful place in her life?

2. What are some ways you can minister to hurting hearts and lives today?

3. Do you trust God's character in light of tragedy or do you struggle with blaming God?

4. Do you use your own painful places as a platform of praise and healing sauve for hurting hearts?

Extra Credit...

1. Make a list of local people, places and organizations in which you can help make a difference. Contact them and schedule a time to visit them and see how you can be of service. Intentionally pour yourself into others, one person at a time.

2. Go to the websites for Voice of Martyrs, Samaritans Purse, World Vision, Life Outreach and others. Examine the needs. Ask the Lord how you can help and then make a prayer list of those people and nations that need compassion.

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Good Monday morning, sweet friends! I hope you're doing fantabulous!

We've had yet another death in the family and are getting ready to walk through the funeral fog once again. My mother-in-law's husband died. They had been married for 18 years and he was a close family friend before they married. So, John's absence will certainly leave an empty spot in our hearts and lives.

He was a good and gentle man who loved his family deeply. About three weeks ago, I asked him, after 91 years of life, what advice would he give to young people today. His answer was, "Keep yourself out of trouble and always do what you know is right!"

Simple, yet profound advice, wouldn't you say?!


This week our devotions are going to give us a glimpse of who God is. Now, I know you girls are used to me writing more extensively, but since these are devotions and not a study, I'm going going to keep each blog a bit brief.


Today, we're going to look at our Abba - our Father - our Daddy!

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:14-17

I was born as a result of a rape, so I never really wanted to know who my real daddy was. But I had a daddy who adopted me into his family and made me his own.

He was a gentle, hard working man who loved his little girl like crazy. He worked two jobs to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. He made sure I was able to pursue my dreams and he challenged me to face my fears.

I loved curling up on his lap and following his every step. I just knew my daddy was the the strongest, fastest and bestest daddy in the whole wide world! My daddy could do anything!

He went home to be with Jesus in 1997 and I miss him dearly!


The Creator of the universe has adopted me into His family and made me His own. He loves me like crazy and has promised to be my Protector and my Provider.

He places dreams in my heart and then calls me to walk in them. Not alone - but holding His hand each step of the way.

I'm absolutely sure He is the strongest, most courageous Daddy in the whole world! Yes, my Daddy can do anything!

My earthly daddy was a good man, but my forever Father defines good by His very existence. 

I don't have to worry about my future because my Daddy has directed my steps. 

My earthly daddy loved me but my forever Father defines love by His very nature. 

I never have to worry about walking through anything alone because my Daddy will never leave me. 

I never have to be afraid of the dark because my Daddy is the Light. 

I never have to be insecure because my Daddy has made me more than a conqueror. 

I never have to be concerned about failing or falling because my forever Father will lift me up and help me succeed. 

I never have to worry about being overwhelmed by my world because my Daddy can speak peace to my storms. 

I never have to worry about losing a fight because my Daddy already beat the enemy of my soul. 

                            Yes, sweet friend, my Daddy can do anything!

Let's Get Personal:


1. Do you know that you've been adopted into God's forever family?


2. Are you allowing a dark season of your life to make you forget your Daddy is Light?


3. Do you see yourself as your Daddy's little girl or do you struggle with your identity in Christ?


4. What problem - what circumstance - what fear is bigger than your Daddy?


Extra Credit...


1. Write out a list of your fears, your struggles and the things that seem to be rocking your world and then beside each one write, "My Daddy Can Do Anything!"


2. Write a letter of adoration and praise to your Daddy and tell Him what you're trusting Him for and what you're trusting Him through.


I love thinking about the Daddy-ness of our Heavenly Father! The fact that the Creator has such a personal love relationship with His sinful creation is astounding! 


I love bragging on my Daddy and reminding women that He is everything we need and He is all we need! In fact, it's a topic I speak on.