12/31/2011

Happy New Year

Posted by Stephanie Shott |


ISAIAH 42:16, 18-19


"This is what the LORD says—
   he who made a way through the sea,
   a path through the mighty waters,
Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland."

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12/30/2011

The M.O.M. Initiative

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels:

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You sweet things remember I was telling you that I'm running full speed ahead into 2012, right? Well, today I'm announcing our soft launch of a ministry that's been on my heart and in the works for over 2 years.


It's a missional mentoring ministry called The M.O.M. Initiative. The M.O.M. Initiative is an acrostic for Mothers On a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers and exists as a revolution of women who are mobilized to experience Titus 2 in real life. We are mothers on a mission to mentor other mothers – changing the world one mom at a time.


I won't write everything here that you can read by popping over to the website, but I do want you to know that the goal of this ministry is that it provides tools in Christian mothers hands to go out and impact this world for Christ by mentoring moms outside the four walls of the church.


The website is almost complete and a few of the M.O.M.s are already listed. Our official launch is January 15th, but we are working feverishly to get everything in order now. Please browse around and see what you think. And since we all know nothing happens apart from prayer, will you please take a minute to pray for this ministry. 


God created women with incredible influence and we can make an unbelievable difference, sweet friends! 


Here's what I believe...


"If the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, then the church that mentors those hands will WIN IT!"

If you believe that, would you please click this link over to The M.O.M. Initiative site, subscribe to it and if you have a website or a blog, would you grab The M.O.M. Initiative button and add it to your site! 

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12/29/2011

Full Speed Ahead

Posted by Stephanie Shott |


Join the journey and click here to subscribe by email. As a gift to you, I'd love to send you a link to upload your own pdf copy of Becoming You (a practical 10 lesson Bible study designed to arm you with the necessary ammunition to take the front lines of your own destiny).

If you subscribe by Google or Networkedblogs, could you click the contact page, email me with your email address and I'll send you Becoming You too!

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I SO hope you read yesterday's post! It really had my heart and head reeling about where I've been and where I want to be. I've got a lot of work to do! I've let time slip through my fingers without even considering how valuable each moment is. Dreams are just good intentions if we don't lay the ground work to get from where we are to where we are going.

You girls know I'm passionate about living life out loud for Jesus, but passion can lead a girl in a whole lot of directions, anxious to accomplish much - yet it can leave her with too many irons in the proverbial fire and an inch away of being burned out.

When I retraced the steps of my blog, I found that I did some things right and a lot of things not-so-right.

Here's a little recap our this years blogging adventure:

Amount of Posts:
154 posts, averaging over 3 posts per week

Topics Covered:
  • We began our year with New Things
  • Walked through an 8 week study of the book of Philippians (Getting ready to send that to the publisher) :-)
  • Journeyed through the process of grieving and learned to grieve God's way in our series Seeing With New Eyes
  • A four week series called Beauty from Ashes
  • A series called Daily Devotions for Families
  • A series called God's Promises for You
  • A series entitled 31 Ways to Make Your Eternity Intentional (I  think I only covered like 13-my bad!)
  • Introduced a lot of friends, their books and their ministries
  • Had quite a few give aways
  • Enjoyed some holiday posts throughout the year
  • And introduced my new Bible study on Ecclesiastes, Understanding What Matters Most
We laughed together, cried together, grieved together and prayed for one another. This has become a place I treasure deeply. You have become more than a cyberspace acquaintance, you have become my friends and I love you all like crazy!

I've been overwhelmed this year by the sweet emails and by the fact that you honor me with the privilege of praying for you about some very deep and personal places in your life. Thank you for being part of this year's journey.

But I want to share something that's been weighing heavily on my heart. I want this place in cyberspace to make a difference. Just like a church can become a status quo church, we can become status quo Christians and my little space here can become a status quo blog.

We were created for more than status quo, sweet friends!

I want this year to be different! I want this year to be more!

I don't want to shy away from touchy topics that have deep biblical stands. I don't want to use this as a place where we talk about healing for the sake of healing. Emotional scars are real. I know. I have a lot of them.

But when they become our focus, we become ineffective in the fight. And make no mistake about it, my friends, there is a battle going on and we have got to pick up our swords and fight!

This year, I want to use this sight to challenge that status quo. To call God's girls to walk in the strength that is already theirs. To look at the whole of their lives and not just focus on the painful places or even just one specific area of their lives.

I realize we sometimes have to isolate needed areas of our lives and work on them. Some of you are struggling in your marriages and you need to focus on being the wife your marriage deserves and the woman God has called you to be. But while that needs to be on the "High Priority" list it can't remain your only pursuit.

God calls us to make Him our first pursuit. Our relationship with the Living God should be the spring that feeds every other area of our lives. He calls us to Himself and when we heed that call, the Jesus in us will overflow into the other places of need in our lives.

Right now I feel like I'm pouring my heart out on this page and I'm so thankful for your graciousness to join me in this journey. We have a world to reach. sweet friend. May we do everything we can this year to reach it.

As I seek our Father's face for future posts on this blog, this I know...I want to make it count!

And so, as we enter 2012, I'm going full speed ahead!

Don't be surprised if we tackle some tough subjects and deal with issues many would rather leave untouched. Don't be surprised if I send a shout out of ways we can help some missionary friends...or ways we can minister to the persecuted church... what we can do to help the poor, set the modern day slaves free and provide clean drinking water to those who are needlessly dying from diseases caused by unclean water sources.

May 2012 count for eternity for all of us. Every second of it!

What are your plans to make 2012 count for eternity? Any suggestions as to what you'd like to see on my blog in 2012?

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12/28/2011

Looking Back to Look Ahead

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels:

This is the time of year we begin to look back at where we've been and dream about where we long to be the same time next year. Unfortunately, we often do nothing but dream about our tomorrows instead of setting goals and plotting out a plan that will take us from where we are to where we desire to be.

And so we look back in order to look ahead.

Glancing in the rearview mirror is always good, but you can't remain focused on it too long or you won't be able to safely move forward. That's just as true in the drivers seat of our lives as it is in our cars.

But we tend to only get a one dimensional look at where we've spent the last 360 something days. We look at where we are in areas like our weight, our kids, our marriages, our jobs and our ministries, but how about where we are in our walk with God? Wouldn't it be beneficial to look at where we are in just about every dimension of our lives?

I decided that if I'm going to really live life with less regrets each year, I better look back a little more specifically and a lot more intentionally. Resolutions are just good intentions if we don't follow through.

So, I'm planning on reflecting on my life primarily through the lens of how I was created:

Body - Where am I weight-wise, health-wise, strength-wise?
  • Do I weigh more now then I did at the beginning of the year? Did I lose that illusive 20 lbs? 
  • Have I increased my physical activity or am I still making excuses? 
  • Am I making better food choices? 
  • Do I live more today like I consider my body a temple of the Holy Spirit than I did at the beginning of the year? 
Soul - How am I doing emotionally?
  • Am I still carrying the same burdens I was carrying at the beginning of the year? 
  • Have I forgiven others completely?
  • Have I been doing better about grieving over lost loved ones?
  • Am I still anxious, upset or angry over anything?
  • Have I chosen to stay in depression over something rather than choosing healing?
  • What have I read to help me walk in forgiveness, healing and hope?
Spirit - How am I doing spiritually?
  • How'd I do with my Bible reading this past year?
  • How'd my prayer life look in 2011?
  • Did my faith grow?
  • Am I more spiritually mature now than I was at the beginning of the year?
  • What book(s) have I read to help me grow spiritually?
  • Am I fulfilling God's call on my life?
  • What have I done to stir up the gifts the Lord has given?
  • What have I done to step out of my comfort zone for the Lord?
  • How many people have I witnessed to? Discipled? Mentored? Ministered to?
  • As a writer, have I been faithful to complete the seeds He has planted in my heart?
  • As a writer, have I worked on learning how to be a better writer?
  • As a blogger, have I prayerfully planned out my posts or just write to put something out there?
  • As a speaker, have I been faithful to reach as many as I can with the messages He has given me?
  • As a speaker, have I worked on learning how to be a better speaker?
As I look back at last year in order to look forward to next year, I'm struck by the fact that I missed it in a lot of areas! I failed, fell short and completely overlooked some things I should have considered important. I've got a lot of growing to do and a lot of changes to make.

I wouldn't have realized that if I hadn't looked back more specifically through the lens of body, soul and spirit. Tomorrow, I'll post about what I plan to do in 2012 with my blog. All I can tell you is 2012 will be very different from 2011.

What about you? Have you taken time to look back so that you can look forward and prayerfully make necessary changes to fulfill your God-given dreams? What do you need to work on?

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12/25/2011

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels:


His destiny was the cross...
His purpose was love...
His reason was you. 
~ Author Unknown

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

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12/22/2011

25 Tips for a Christ Centered Christmas

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: ,

As a gift to you, I'd love to send you a link to upload your own pdf copy of Becoming You (a practical 10 lesson Bible study designed to arm you with the necessary ammunition to take the front lines of your own destiny). Just click here to subscribe.
(If you subscribe by Google or Networkedblogs, would you click the contact page, email me with your email address and I'll send you Becoming You too!)



You ladies know I'm crazy about Christmas! I love the the sites, sounds, lights and even the smells. It really is the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!
But do you struggle with keeping Christ the focus of your Christmas? Isn't it crazy how from Black Friday to Christmas day, we find it difficult to make Christ the center of the season set apart to celebrate our Savior. Why is it so easy to get caught up in it all when we know Jesus truly is the reason for the season. 
Well, here's a blast from past Christmas posts to help us in our quest to keep our Christmas centered on Christ. 

Here we go:

1. No tree. Place a large manger scene in your living room instead. Place your gifts in front of the manger.

2. Ornaments with the various names and titles of Jesus on them. (You can create your own & make it a family time craft event)

3. Throughout the month of December, read the Bible with your family at dinnertime and focus on passages that teach who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

4. Teach your children of Jesus' sacrificial love by taking them shopping for those who are unable to give anything in return.

5. Determine to give a tangible gift to Jesus. Put it in a box, wrap it and put it under the tree. On Christmas day, explain why you are giving that particular gift to Jesus.

6. Give the gift of time to a particular ministry to show the love of Jesus. (A homeless shelter, a children's home, a hospital, ect...)

7. Hold a birthday party for Jesus. (Be sure to tell your children it's not the actual "day" of His birth, but a time we celebrate Him)

8. Invite a widow or someone who is alone to spend Christmas with your family.

9. Create a family Christmas play. Practice throughout November & December. Put out flyers in your neighborhood and do the
play in your front lawn on Christmas eve.

10. Play "Jesus" Christmas music all month long.

11. Organize a group to go caroling during Christmas.

12. Do random acts of giving in Jesus name. (Pay for the person's meal behind you, rake the neighbor's lawn, ect...)

13. Take food to a family in need.

14. Buy some gifts and take to the hospital to give to those who are in long term or critical care.

15. Put a play on or sing Christmas carols at a local nursing home.

16. Help your children earn money to buy gifts for Operation Christmas Child or a local children's home.

17. Help your children earn money to give to a missionary.

18. Help your children earn money to buy gifts for a missionary child on the field.

19. Organize a coat round-up for a homeless shelter near you.

20. Make or purchase gifts to give to your neighbors. Especially the ones you are trying to reach for Christ.

21. Bake goodies for your neighbors, family and friends.

22. Make your indoor and outdoor decorations reflect that Jesus really is the reason for the season.

23. Help your church collect gifts for a family in need.

24. Send Christmas gifts and cards to the families of prisoners.

25. Share Jesus with as many people as you can between now and Christmas.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. It's the time the world is reminded that God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son so we could spend eternity with Him. It's the time we reflect on the earthly life of Christ...from the cradle to the cross. It's the time we celebrate Jesus and all that He is and all that He's done.

How do you keep Jesus the focus of your family's Christmas? I'd love to hear how you keep the most WONDERful time of the year focused on Christ.

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12/20/2011

10 Ways to Give Beyond Your Four Walls

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels:

One of the first lessons we learned on the mission field was you have to earn a listening ear. It's hard for hearts to hear the Gospel when their growling bellies are the loudest things they hear.

It difficult to share the love of Christ with our words unless we love like Christ with our lives.

During this Christmas season, we have the opportunity to considering giving to those who can't give back. When you want to give beyond your four walls, beyond your family and friends, beyond your neighborhood and even beyond your world, there are ways you can make an eternal difference in the lives of others by touching them where they are.

Below are some links to ministries that are not just focusing on humanitarian needs (which are important) but if that's all we do then we are only making people comfortable on their way to hell. But the ministries below are loving souls to Christ by meeting a physical need in hopes of sharing their answer to their biggest need...Christ.

1. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

http://www.compassion.com/default.htm

2. SAMARITANS PURSE



http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/Build-A-Box/index.php/Giving/Build-A-Box?hometab

3. Our local radio station, The Promise, donates to a children's home for abandoned HIV positive kids in Africa:

http://thepromisehouse.org/

4. You can give to your local homeless shelter. The website address for the one here in Jacksonville is:

http://www.crmjax.org/Online_Giving.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=city%20rescue%20mission%20jacksonville&utm_campaign=paid

5. You can give to a local "Toys for Tots" Foundation. They connect with churches and local ministries to find families in need to minister to. Our local site is:

http://jacksonville-fl.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.asp

6. You can connect with one of ministries or ministry partners at Life Today (James & Betty Robinson)-LOVE THEM!
http://lifetoday.org/outreaches/

7. You can donate to a friend of mine who heads up several children's homes and is making a difference in the lives of countless abandoned, neglected and rebellious children through Lighthouse Children's Homes:

http://www.lighthousechildren.com/_oldsite/index2.htm

8. Give to a needy neighbor or friend. (No website required!) :-)

9. Go to a homeless hangout...like downtown or various areas where you see them hanging out and give them blankets, coats, a meal or a giftcard for food.

10. Go to a nursing home and sit with some of the residents who never have a visitor. Don't know who they are? Just ask the front desk. They do!

How do you give beyond your family and friends at Christmas? How do you teach your children to give?

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12/19/2011

He Is...

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: , ,

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. Don't you just love it! I sure do!

I love the sites, the sounds, the lights and even the smells that are all associated with this most WONDERful time of year.

But most of all I love that this season beckons the world to recognize the Savior of the world. The One who clothed Himself in flesh so we could be clothed in His righteousness. Amazing love!
Today, I wanted to take the time to share an in depth look at who our Lord really is. Below I have listed His names and titles to reflect on what Scripture says about this Glorious God.

Perhaps you can look up a few of the references each day as a way of contemplating and worshipping the King of kings and Lord of lords.

He is...



OLD TESTAMENT NAMES FOR GOD


  • ELOHIM: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1 "God", a reference to God's power and might. 
  • ADONAI: Malachi 1:6 "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God. 
  • JEHOVAH (YAHWEH): Genesis 2:4 a reference to God's divine salvation. 
  • JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM: Exodus 31:13 "The Lord thy sanctifier" 
  • JEHOVAH-ROHI: Psalm 23:1 "The Lord my shepherd"
  • JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: Ezekiel 48:35 "The Lord who is present" 
  • JEHOVAH-RAPHA: Exodus 15:26 "The Lord our healer" J
  • EHOVAH-TSIDKENU: Jeremiah 23:6 "The Lord our righteousness" 
  • JEHOVAH-JIREH: Genesis 22:13-14 "The Lord will provide" 
  • JEHOVAH-NISSI: Exodus 17:15 "The Lord our banner" 
  • JEHOVAH-SHALOM: Judges 6:24 "The Lord is peace" 
  • JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH: Isaiah 6:1-3 "The Lord of Hosts" 
  • JEHOVAH-GMOLAH: Jeremiah 51:6 "The God of Recompense" 
  • EL-ELYON: Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14 "The most high God” 
  • EL-ROI: Genesis 16:13 "The strong one who sees"
  • EL-SHADDAI: Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1 "The God of the mountains or God Almighty" 
  • EL-OLAM: Isaiah 40:28-31 "The everlasting God"


MORE NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD

  • ABBA - Romans 8:15 
  • ADVOCATE - I John 2:1 (kjv) 
  • ALMIGHTY - Genesis 17:1 
  • ALPHA - Revelation 22:13 
  • AMEN - Revelation 3:14 
  • ANCIENT OF DAYS - Daniel 7:9 
  • ANOINTED ONE - Psalm 2:2 
  • APOSTLE - Hebrews 3:1 
  • ARM OF THE LORD - Isaiah 53:1 
  • AUTHOR OF LIFE - Acts 3:15 
  • AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH - Hebrews 12:2 
  • BEGINNING - Revelation 21:6 
  • BLESSED & HOLY RULER - 1 Timothy 6:15 
  • BRANCH - Jeremiah 33:15 
  • BREAD OF GOD - John 6:33
  • BREAD OF LIFE - John 6:35 
  • BRIDEGROOM - Isaiah 62:56 
  • BRIGHT MORNING STAR - Revelation 22:16 
  • CHIEF SHEPHERD - 1 Peter 5:4 
  • CHOSEN ONE - Isaiah 42:1 
  • CHRIST - Matthew 22:42 
  • CHRIST OF GOD - Luke 9:20 
  • CHRIST THE LORD - Luke 2:11 
  • CHRIST, SON OF LIVING GOD - Matthew 16:16 
  • COMFORTER - John 14:26(kjv) 
  • COMMANDER - Isaiah 55:4 
  • CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL - Luke 2:25 
  • CONSUMING FIRE - Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29 
  • CORNERSTONE - Isaiah 28:16 
  • COUNSELOR - Isaiah 9:6 
  • CREATOR - 1 Peter 4:19 
  • DELIVERER - Romans 11:26 
  • DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS - Haggai 2:7 
  • DOOR - John 10:7(kjv) 
  • END - Revelation 21:6 
  • ETERNAL GOD - Deut. 33:27 
  • EVERLASTING FATHER - Isaiah 9:6 
  • FAITHFUL & TRUE - Revelation 19:11 
  • FAITHFUL WITNESS - Revelation 1:5 
  • FATHER - Matthew 6:9 
  • FIRSTBORN - Rom.8:29,Rev.1:5,Col.1:15 
  • FIRST FRUIT - 1 Cor.15:20-23 
  • FOUNDATION - 1 Cor. 3:11 
  • FRIEND OF SINNERS - Matthew 11:19 
  • GENTLE WHISPER - 1 Kings 19:12 
  • GIFT OF GOD - John 4:10
  • GLORY OF THE LORD - Isaiah 40:5 
  • GOD - Genesis 1:1 
  • GOD ALMIGHTY - Genesis 17:1 
  • GOD OVER ALL - Romans 9:5
  • GOD WHO SEES ME - Genesis 16:13 
  • GOOD SHEPHERD - John 10:11 
  • GREAT HIGH PRIEST - Hebrews 4:14 
  • GREAT SHEPHERD - Hebrews 13:20 
  • GUIDE - Psalm 48:14
  • HEAD OF THE BODY - Colossians 1:18 
  • HEAD OF THE CHURCH - Ephesians 5:23 
  • HEIR OF ALL THINGS - Hebrews 1:2 
  • HIGH PRIEST - Hebrews 3:1 
  • HIGH PRIEST FOREVER - Hebrews 6:20 
  • HOLY ONE - Acts 2:27 
  • HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL - Isaiah 49:7 
  • HOLY SPIRIT - John 15:26 
  • HOPE - Titus 2:13 
  • HORN OF SALVATION - Luke 1:69 
  • I AM - Exodus 3:14, John 8:58 
  • IMAGE OF GOD - 2 Cor. 4:4 
  • IMAGE OF HIS PERSON - Hebrews 1:3 (kjv) 
  • IMMANUEL - Isaiah 7:14 • JEALOUS - Exodus 34:14 (kjv) 
  • JEHOVAH - Psalm 83:18 (kjv) 
  • JESUS - Matthew 1:21 
  • JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD - Romans 6:23
  • JUDGE - Isaiah 33:22, Acts 10:42 
  • KING - Zechariah 9:9 
  • KING ETERNAL - 1 Timothy 1:17 
  • KING OF KINGS - 1 Timothy 6:15
  • KING OF THE AGES - Revelation 15:3 
  • LAMB OF GOD - John 1:29 
  • LAST ADAM - 1 Cor. 15:45 
  • LAWGIVER - Isaiah 33:22
  • LEADER - Isaiah 55:4 
  • LIFE - John 14:6 
  • LIGHT OF THE WORLD - John 8:12 
  • LIKE AN EAGLE - Deut. 32:11 
  • LILY OF THE VALLEYS - Song 2:1 
  • LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH - Revelation 5:5 
  • LIVING STONE - 1 Peter 2:4 
  • LIVING WATER - John 4:10 
  • LORD - John 13:13 
  • LORD GOD ALMIGHTY - Revelation 15:3 
  • LORD JESUS CHRIST - 1 Cor. 15:57 
  • LORD OF ALL - Acts 10:36 
  • LORD OF GLORY - 1 Cor. 2:8 
  • LORD OF HOSTS - Haggai 1:5 
  • LORD OF LORDS - 1 Tim. 6:15 
  • LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS - Jeremiah 23:6 
  • LOVE - 1 John 4:8 
  • MAN OF SORROWS. - Isaiah 53:3 
  • MASTER - Luke 5:5 
  • MEDIATOR - 1 Timothy 2:5 
  • MERCIFUL GOD - Jeremiah 3:12 
  • MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT - Malachi 3:1 
  • MESSIAH - John 4:25 
  • MIGHTY GOD - Isaiah 9:6 
  • MIGHTY ONE = Isaiah 60:16 
  • NAZARENE - Matthew 2:23 
  • OFFSPRING OF DAVID - Revelation 22:16
  • OMEGA - Revelation 22:13 
  • ONLY BEGOTTEN SON - John 1:18(kjv) 
  • OUR PASSOVER LAMB - 1 Cor. 5:7 
  • OUR PEACE - Ephesians 2:14 
  • POTTER - Isaiah 64:8 
  • POWER OF GOD - 1 Cor. 1:24 
  • PRINCE OF PEACE - Isaiah 9:6 
  • PROPHET - Acts 3:22 
  • PURIFIER - Malachi 3:3 
  • RABBONI (TEACHER) - John 20:16 
  • RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY - Heb.1:3 
  • REDEEMER - Job 19:25 
  • REFINER'S FIRE - Malachi 3:2 
  • RESURRECTION - John 11:25 
  • RIGHTEOUS ONE - 1 John 2:1 
  • ROCK - 1 Cor.10:4 
  • ROOT OF DAVID - Rev. 22:16 
  • ROSE OF SHARON - Song 2:1 
  • RULER OF GOD'S CREATION - Rev. 3:14 
  • RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH - Rev 1:5 
  • RULER OVER ISRAEL - Micah 5:2 
  • SAVIOR - Luke 2:11 
  • SCEPTER OUT OF ISRAEL - Numbers 24:17 
  • SEED - Genesis 3:15 
  • SERVANT - Isaiah 42:1 
  • SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS - 1Peter 2:25 
  • SHIELD - Genesis 15:1 
  • SON OF DAVID - Matthew 1:1 
  • SON OF GOD - Matthew 27:54 
  • SON OF MAN - Matthew 8:20 
  • SON OF THE MOST HIGH - Luke 1:32
  • SOURCE - Hebrews 5:9 
  • SPIRIT OF GOD - Genesis 1:2 
  • STAR OUT OF JACOB - Numbers 24:17 
  • STONE - 1 Peter 2:8 
  • SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - Malachi 4:2 
  • TEACHER - John 13:13 
  • TRUE LIGHT - John 1:9 
  • TRUE WITNESS - Revelation 3:14 
  • TRUTH - John 14:6 
  • VINE - John 15:5 
  • WAY - John 14:6 
  • WISDOM OF GOD - 1 Cor. 1:24 
  • WITNESS - Isaiah 55:4 
  • WONDERFUL - Isaiah 9:6 
  • WORD - John 1:1 
  • WORD OF GOD - Revelation 19:13
Oh, isn't He absolutely WONDERful! Which names or titles stir your heart with wonder?

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12/15/2011

Drop Some Weight Before Christmas

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: ,

It's coming you know?! That day when we reflect on where we've been and consider where we're going, and then begin to make resolutions in hopes that next year will be different.


New Years Day is just a couple weeks away and a blink beyond Christmas our hearts and minds commence to contemplate dreams, visions and goals for the next year. But before the clock strikes 12 on 2012, we still have Christmas parties, dinners and desserts to consume at record pace.


These are the times we enjoy the invention of elastic waistbands and loose fitting shirts. But packing it in means putting it on. Putting on the weight, that is.


That might explain why the number one New Years resolution is to lose weight.


As women, we know what it's like to live on a diet. Dropping the pounds is a constant desire in most of our lives. Yet, while we are desperate for a Bo Derek body (yes, I just really aged myself, didn't I), we sometimes put on spiritual weight that might not seem so obvious, but is much worse than tight pants and a scale that makes us frown.




As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, we have the opportunity to consider Christ and all He has done for us. We remember the cradle meant a cross and the King's crown would be laced with thorns. All for you - and all for me.


Christmas causes us to contemplate just how much we really live for the Son of God and Son of Man. And while we long to live completely abandoned to Christ, we often get caught up in our circumstances and weighed down with what we deem justified or valuable.
We try to walk by faith, but we get tangled up by life. We desire what we should not, our attitudes display the depths of our own need and our behavior exposes our hearts. 
It's the most wonderful time of the year, sweet friends. A time to bask in the beauty of His love and reflect on the great grace of our God. But it's also a time to start cutting loose some excess baggage.


The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:1-2... 
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 
Just on the heels of the Roll Call of Faith, we're told to live untangled and intentionally in light of what Christ has done for us and remembering those who have believed before us. 


So, here's a little list to help you lighten the load of your heart and help you move unhindered into next year. So, what do you say? Ready to deal with some stuff? Let's do this thing! Let's see what we can lay aside before we enter the next year:
Pride     Selfishness     Anger     Lust     Bitternes     Hurt Feelings     A Discontent Heart    
Depression     Impatience     A Hard Heart     Unbelief     Fear     Confusion     Toying With
Sin     Wayward thoughts     A Discontent Heart     Unthankfulness    
Demanding     Arrogance     Unyielding     Gossip     Jealousy     Envy     Lying    
Grumbling      Complaining     Argumentative     Pessimistic     Headstrong    
Undisciplined     Unfocused     Focused on the Wrong Things     Overbooked    
Unbalanced     Unfaithful     Legalistic     Haughty     Self-centered
So...that was quite a list, wasn't it? And like Hebrews 12:1-2, the list includes weights as well as sins. So, how'd you do? Any issues pop up that you need to deal with so you can walk into 2012 unencumbered?


We may all need to lose a little weight as we enter the new year, but let's get busy and try to lose some spiritual baggage before Christmas! It's for our own spiritual health that we chose to lose some weight before Christmas...or at least before we begin the new year.


So let's be like Nike' and just do it, sweet friends! We've got a world to reach and a cloud of witnesses cheering us on!


Did I miss anything on my list? What advice would you offer to move into 2012 unencumbered by those weights that so easily beset us?


Join the journey and CLICK HERE to subscribe by email. As a gift to you, I'd love to send you a link to upload your own pdf copy of Becoming You (a practical 10 lesson Bible study designed to arm you with the necessary ammunition to take the front lines of your own destiny).
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12/14/2011

When You're Afraid

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: ,


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"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10

STRONG TOWER

Life can be scary! Life can be hard! And even the strongest face knee-knocking, teeth-chattering circumstances in this world gone mad.


Fear can grip our hearts and derail our destinies. It's a powerful emotion. God gives us fear for a purpose, but the enemy often uses it as a weapon and we find ourselves cowering when we should be courageous and crawling when we were created to soar.
Great grace is generated as a result of godly fear, but when the enemy sends fiery darts of fear our way it has the power to reduce our dreams down to pea size passions. 
Fear causes us to falter; it saps our strength and lessons our resolve; it hinders our progress and shakes our faith. If the enemy can cause us to fear, he can cause us to doubt...and if he can cause us to doubt, he can render us ineffective - like a soldier on a battlefield who has allowed fear to steal his fight.


But the only thing God tells us to fear is Himself. Fear God! That's it! And when we fear God we have nothing else to fear.


Today, we're reminded that the name of the Lord is a strong tower where the righteous can run and find safety. Do you believe that?

  • When your world has been tossed upside down, do you believe that? 
  • When you lose your job and you're afraid you're going to lose your home too, do you believe that? 
  • When you're given a life-altering diagnosis or you lose your spouse, do you believe that? 
  • When you're called to do something that is way beyond you, do you believe that? 
  • When you're faced with a decision and you're afraid of the outcome - or you're afraid you'll have to do something you don't really want to do, do you believe that?

Yes, sweet friend, it is true and you can believe that! The name of the Lord is a strong tower...so run to it and find safety.


You girls know I'm sharing from my own places of pain and my own weaknesses, right? Well, to be honest, I think I'm the biggest sissy on the planet, but, like you - I'm a work in progress, and I've been learning that when I choose to remember I'm a daughter of the King of all kings - that changes everything and I have nothing to fear. 


I run to Him and find safety and I'm not afraid anymore!


How about you? Do you run to the name of Jesus when you're afraid? Do you let fear hinder you or do you struggle with fear?


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12/12/2011

A Christmas Memory from Janet Hartllee

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: ,

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If you subscribe by Google or Networkedblogs, could you click the contact page, email me with your email address and I'll send you Becoming You too!


Happy Monday sweet friends! I hope you're doing better than I am at getting ready for Christmas! I'm going to be one of the women in that crazy crowd hoping to find some leftover gifts two days before Christmas! 

Today, I'm delighted to have my sister in Jesus and my sister speaker share a special Christmas story. So grab your coffee (or hot chocolate) and enjoy this encouraging and inspiring Christmas story by my friend and guest, Janet Hartllee...


My Daddy loved to make people laugh.  He felt it was his calling.  Aunt Beat says he was “a born prankster.”  Daddy would wear a red toboggan hat nearly everywhere – no matter what time of year it was.  And with his white hair, grayish white beard, and the twinkle in his eye, he looked just like Old Saint Nick himself.  Of course no padding was necessary.  
Daddy could not walk down the street without some child staring at him.  Daddy would grab his belly and say, “Ho, ho, ho.”  The kids and their parents excitedly waved and laughed.  At Christmas, Daddy would trade in his red hat for a Santa hat.  He would put on a red suit trimmed in white fur, pull up a pair of black shiny boots, and try to buckle his belt.  
Daddy stuffed fruit and goodies into a big, dark green garbage bag.  Then he would toss that bag over his shoulder and head out “ho, ho, hoing” through the neighborhood.  You could hear the laughter when the neighbors opened their doors.  Some even invited him in for hot cocoa.  
  
One of Daddy’s good friends owned a service station.  They loved to pick at each other.  His friend mentioned that he never got a red wagon for Christmas.  Daddy had an idea.  
He went into the basement and began cutting out sheets of cardboard.  Then he painted on brick, folded the sheets like a chimney, and sat it up in his old black pick up truck.  Our neighbor, Charlie, drove the truck while Daddy stood in the chimney waving at everyone.  
Charlie said they got a lot of interesting looks driving to the service station.  He said, when they arrived, the customers didn’t know what to think.  Daddy stepped out of the chimney and gave a little red wagon to his friend.  Charlie said the man was a total loss for words.  Sometimes it’s the little things in live that can make the biggest difference - like a little baby born long ago who was a king like no other. 
   
Some people have traditions like having a certain day every year to trim their tree as Christmas music is playing; using special decorations; visiting friends and neighbors; fixing favorite foods.  But what is more important than tradition is remembering the true meaning of Christmas.
Our family would gather in the living room with the beautifully lit Christmas tree.  Before we opened our gifts, Daddy would read the Christmas story from the Bible. Then we’d have prayer thanking God for His gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus, who was without a doubt the greatest gift of all.  
May your Christmas be filled with good food, friends,and fun. Most of all my wish for you is that you truly know the Joy of Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone!

Janet's Bio:


Christian Speaker/Performer, songwriter, accomplished storyteller
Using humor, story, and song, Janet performs one-woman shows that feature, Mitsy Lou Puppernickel from Frog Holler.  Her unique southern style humor delivers powerful messages! “A Makeover With Tha’ Maker” is her newest show for women’s events and retreats. 

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12/09/2011

Whispers from Heaven

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels: ,

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Wednesday night I had the privilege of speaking to an awesome group of Ladies at First Baptist Glen St. Mary and I'm SO excited about what Jesus showed me that I just have to share a bit of it here! Don't you just love it when God peels back the layers of His Word and shows you something that's been there the whole time!

WOW! He WOWs me!

You see, He doesn't just take away our sin when He saves us, He exchanges it for His righteousness. It's the Great Exchange. At the moment of salvation here are a few exchanges that take place:

• His glory for our shame


• His hope for our hopelessness


• His peace with God for our separation from Him


• His power for our weakness


• His presence for our loneliness


• His everything for our nothing

The Great Exchange is where it all begins, but it's a principle we experience throughout our Christian walk whether we realize it or not.
When you’re walking through a painful place in your life, you call upon God, you trust Him and He replaces your pain with peace. A strange sort of exchange takes place. You don't understand it and you can't explain it. You just know the God of all creation just intervened in your life with a whisper from Heaven and said, "I love you!"
When you're at a fork in the road of your life and you need wisdom, you call upon God, you trust Him and He replaces your confusion with wisdom. A strange exchange takes place. You don't understand it and you can't explain it. You just know the God of all creation just intervened in your life with a whisper from Heaven and said, "I love you!"
Well, last week I was having a meltdown moment. Ever had one of those?
You see, for the past 2 years I’ve been burning the candle at both ends like a crazy woman. Writing, speaking, ministering at church and working a full time job. It’s a 6 am to 1 am day...just about every day. And about every 2 months I hit a wall. Physically. Emotionally and even Spiritually - I’m toast. Stick a fork in me, I’m done...and I just melt.
Have you ever felt like that? Like you just couldn’t go on!
Well, I had one last week and on my way home from work I began to cry out to Jesus.

“Jesus...I know you see me. I can’t do this anymore! I can’t keep this pace up!
I got home, made my way to the bed, pulled the covers over my head and somewhere between praying for God’s help and thinking about everything, the Lord swooped in like a mighty gust of wind and mounted up my heart like eagles wings.

Emotionally, Spiritually and even physically - I felt renewed. Refreshed. Ready to do that proverbial straw that had previously broken this camel’s back!

As I was lying in that bed crying out for help, the Great Exchange was taking place and I didn’t even know it. His peace replaced my overwhelming pressure! It was a strange exchange! I didn't understand it and I certainly couldn't explain it. But God intervened in my life with a whisper from Heaven and said, "I love you!"
Isaiah 61:1-3 says,

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Look at this passage through the lens of the principle of exchange. He came to make these exchanges in our lives, but we hold onto our broken hearts, our pain, our ashes, our mourning souls and our bondage rather than asking Him to exchange it for His healing, His freedom, His comfort, His praise, His joy and His beauty.
Sweet friends, only God can initiate the Great Exchange of salvation, but every other exchange will only happen if you cry out for it. You have to initiate it.
This past Wednesday night as I was sharing about the beautiful exchange principle I've never seen before, the Lord's presence in my own heart was so real that I almost couldn't go on. Those sweet women didn't have a clue, but I was almost speechless. You see, the Lord came in and exchanged my weakness for His power and my anxious heart for His peace. I didn't understand it. I couldn't explain it. But somehow the Lord showed up with a whisper from Heaven and said, "I love you!"

Aren't you thankful for the exchanges He makes in this journey called life?

Are you holding on to a painful past experience? Are you held captive to fear, failure or an addiction? Are you gripping your grief, your bitterness, your pain or your shame? What exchanges do you need to make?

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12/08/2011

Jesus Came to Seek & to Save the Lost

Posted by Stephanie Shott | Labels:

Join the journey and click here to subscribe by email. As a gift to you, I'd love to send you a link to upload your own pdf copy of Becoming You (a practical 10 lesson Bible study designed to arm you with the necessary ammunition to take the front lines of your own destiny).
If you subscribe by Google or Networkedblogs, could you click the contact page, email me with your email address and I'll send you Becoming You too!


Good morning girls! Sorry I've been a bit MIA lately, but I've been heart deep in the Word and in prayer this past week in preparation for a speaking engagement. I was so thrilled to be with the women of First Baptist Glen St. Mary and see their hearts for God. It certainly rocked this Bible study girls heart to put faces to my prayers and connect with such godly gals!
Somewhere around the end of my talk last night, the presence of the Lord was so strong I really didn't think I was going to be able to finish! He is SO awesome! I LOVE our precious Savior beyond words and I LOVE how He uses broken vessels like you and me to speak into each other's lives! WOW!
Well, today I'm over at Scripture Dig. This is the beginning of the post! It's good stuff girls! We're in the midst of a series on the "I came" statements of Christ and I've loved seeing His purpose statements come to life in the Word of the Living God!

Will you begin reading here...then pop over there and finish the post with a precious comment about how Jesus came to seek and save you!?

Just on the heels of Jesus’ encounter with a wee little man we find these eternity-altering words… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
In this beautiful story of redemption we see a sinner willing to look foolish in his attempts to sneak a peek at the Savior. Could this man who told the woman at the well everything she had ever done give this tax collecting thief any hope? Had He really healed the sick and raised the dead? Was He really the long awaited Messiah?

As we examine this interesting account we find Zacchaeus seeking to see Jesus (vs 3) and Jesus seeking (vs 10) and saving the lost. The same verb is used here and it means to seek or strive after something or someone.

While reading through these verses with this verb comparison in mind, I couldn’t help but think that although Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus, it was Jesus who was seeking Him. Zacchaeus was lost, without hope and without a future. But Jesus showed up, raised a few eyebrows when he went to Zacchaeus’ home for a bite to eat and then, after listening to Zacchaeus repent, Jesus declares His purpose statement.

Zacchaeus may have scurried up a tree seeking the Savior, but the Savior left heaven to seek out Zacchaeus…to seek out sinners…to seek out you and me! The purpose our precious Lord came to this earth was so that we could be saved…so those who have have no future and no hope could find salvation.
Please click this link and finish reading about our WONDERful Savior's seeking and saving purpose and share your own story about how He sought out you...


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12/05/2011

Teach Them How to Give

Posted by Stephanie Shott |


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"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Giving is at the heart of every Christmas celebration. God gave His only begotten Son so that we could have eternal life.

It's how this whole thing got started.

But in our attempts to give to others, we often create a monster of sorts. We know it is definitely more blessed to give than to receive, but if we are not careful, we may be teaching our children the polar opposite...It's better to receive than to give.

It's important to remember the Acts 20:35 reminder of Jesus' words, "It's better to give than to receive" is just on the heels of Paul sharing how his labor of love was a demonstration of their call as Christians to minister to the weak.

Allow this Christmas to be an opportunity to teach your children that it is truly better to give than to receive by supporting the weak.
Let them do some chores around the house for an allowance and then take them shopping to buy something for those who can't buy for themselves.
Perhaps a child in your church is in need. Maybe a family in the neighborhood could use a little help this Christmas. You may have a coworker or a friend who is struggling or who knows someone else who is having a hard time.

If not, there are homeless shelters, women's shelters, homes for unwed mothers, children's homes and homeless people walking the streets everywhere you look.
Teach your children to give and they will begin to understand that it is truly better to give than to receive.
How do you teach your children to give? 

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