Rebecca Stuhlmiller

Redesign Your HomeMaking

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:33:00 +0000

As you can tell, I don't blog. All my ministry activity right now is centered around my upcoming book, Redesign Your HomeMaking: Create Room to Love God and Love People and takes place in my Facebook Group of the same name. Find it - and join the conversation.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/123418717735489/

The (Only) Tie That Binds

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:35:00 +0000

We have sold our farm and applied to serve with Trans World Radio as missionaries in the Netherlands. As we walk with God on this journey, as we wait to hear where He wants us to go, this is my prayer:

Lord, send me where Thou wilt, only go with me; lay on me what Thou wilt, only sustain me. Cut any cord but the one that binds me to Thy cause, to Thy heart. ~ Titus Coan

God reaches for us

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:08:00 +0000

It's easy for me to get caught up in wrong-thinking: that God is sitting "upstairs" in an easy chair, reclined, arms crossed, waiting until I do something -- pray, obey, serve -- then He will respond or make Himself known to me. But quite the opposite is true. Far from being passive, it is God who actively pursues me.

"There is no need to plead that the love of God shall fill our heart as though he were unwilling to fill us. He is willing as light is willing to flood a room that is opened to its brightness; willing as water is willing to flow into an emptied channel. Love is pressing round us on all sides like air. Cease to resist, and instantly love takes possession." Amy Carmichael

Know the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:19

Getting to Know You

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Most mornings, from 6-8am, I sit in a ratty (but comfy) old recliner next to a rickety, unfinished bookshelf that holds commentaries, devotionals, hymnbooks, and Bibles, and I meditate and study because I want to know God. I have the luxury of spending two hours in quiet time since my kids are grown and I don’t have to run off to work outside the home. This morning, in one of those devotionals (Utmost for His Highest), I read about another person who sat in a special place and meditated on God.

John 1:45-48 says, “Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.’

‘Nazareth!’ exclaimed Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’

‘Come and see for yourself,’ Philip replied.

As they approached, Jesus said, ‘Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.’

‘How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you’” (NLT).

When Nathanael asked Jesus, “How do you know about me?” he wasn’t asking, “How did you see what I was doing?” Everyone could see that. What amazed Nathanael was that Jesus saw what was in his heart and that Jesus knew him.

I didn't start setting aside time to get to know Jesus until I was thirty-five years old. But this morning it struck me in a new way that sitting and getting to know God is not just a one-way deal. It's how God gets to know us too. Of course, this doesn’t happen only when we're sitting quietly, but what does our willingness to set aside the first part of our day (and the amount of time is not important) show Jesus about what is in our hearts?

Do Less, Better

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Although I call myself a writer and a speaker, I really consider myself simply a learner. I love to read and study, and I love to go to conferences and hear other speakers. If it were up to me, I'd just sit around and absorb all this good information for myself. But this would be selfish, right? Jesus says, "Love your neighbor."

And so I'm compelled to pass on to others what I learn -- and this happens through writing and speaking. And that's what this "blog" is all about. I don't promote it (as you can tell by my whopping 13 followers) but simply use it to pass on things that I've learned.

Today I'd like to mention two books that mentored me and changed my life: "Ordering Your Private World" by Gordon MacDonald and "Margin" by Dr. Richard Swenson.

These books teach about time management and making priorities. MacDonald's book encourages us to run our lives instead of letting life run us. Swenson's book reminds us that we need to plan "down" time - not cram as much as we can into our day but leave some breathing room. The result when combined: a peaceful and productive life. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, I encourage you to check out these books.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:04:00 +0000

Sometimes I just need a friend to come and pat me on the back and say, "You can do it! I believe in you! Keep going!" But sometimes real people are not around. Or maybe they are, and I just can't see them.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "We are surrounded by ...a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith." The NLT Bible comments: "Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also."

For me, one of those faithful witnesses is Thomas Chisholm. You're probably familiar with his hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, but in 1897 he wrote another one that never fails to encourage me when I sing or pray it. It goes like this:

♫ O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind. Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting. Seeking the wandering sinner to find. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! Lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer others to save. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love. Make me a temple deemed to receive You. Fit me for life and heaven above. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. ♫

I'm so glad that Thomas Chisholm wrote down the songs God gave him so I could be strengthened and encouraged more than a hundred years later.

Praying at all times

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:16:00 +0000

The Spirit of prayer makes us so intimate with God that we scarcely pass through an experience before we speak to Him about it. ~ O. Hallesby

The Summer I Learned How to Love (More)

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:17:00 +0000

(The following was previously published in LIVE, Purpose, and Good New Northwest.)

“Mama, you should come and serve breakfast with me at the mission in the morning. We start at 9:30.” Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth cornered me as I was getting ready for bed. Inside, I groaned. After wrapping up a busy season of ministry, I’d planned to spend the next morning sipping coffee and catching up on some reading. But how could I say no to her request? So the next morning, I drove downtown, plunked four quarters into the parking meter, and walked into a whole new world.

Elizabeth introduced me to her friends right away: Skeeter, a lanky young man with an infectious grin. And Gary, whose street name is No One. “I’ll never call you ‘No One,’” I vowed. “You’re Gary.” But Gary didn’t grin. His teeth were missing, knocked out in a fight by the butt of a rifle. And Jesse. Jesse’s street name is Ogre. At 6’7” or so, with long hair and a beard, the name seemed to fit him.

That morning, as I raced from table to table balancing plates of sausage gravy and biscuits, an unspeakable joy rose up inside of me. I couldn’t stop smiling! It was true: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV). I decided to volunteer two days a week serving coffee.

One morning, I bought four dozen roses to give away to the clients. Two blocks from the mission, I saw Jesse, walking down the street, ranting profanities into his imaginary cell phone. I pulled over and parked my car. “Jesse,” I hollered, “could you help me carry this box?” I didn’t really need help.

Jesse looked up. “Sure,” he said, moving from wherever he was in his mind to being quite present with me. I smiled to myself, imagining passers-by seeing a 5’1” woman in a rose-pink jacket walking down the street with an “ogre” carrying roses.

For nine months I served coffee to the “least of these” — sex offenders, drug addicts, mentally ill, and troubled street kids. Then a change in volunteer policy ended my time at the coffee pot.

Eighteen months ago, Skeeter died when he fell through the roof at a construction site. He’d moved home to Texas to live with his mother; the Sunday before his death, he went to church and recommitted his life to Jesus. Skeeter came to our house once and skipped around the farm property, taking pictures of the lilac bushes, sheep, and even the family photos on our wall. I imagine him skipping around heaven doing the same.

Gary is in jail, serving time for assault. And 32-year-old Jesse still wanders the streets as he has, reportedly, since he was sixteen. We see him sometimes and sit with him on a bench. We give him money even though he never asks for it and probably uses it for cigarettes.

That summer God opened a part of my heart that had never been open before. I’m glad I said yes to Elizabeth when I wanted to say no.

Redesign Your HomeMaking - the Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:48:00 +0000

Last weekend I attended a writer's conference near Asheville, North Carolina. The only thing on my agenda: hopefully meeting the writing partner I apparently needed to get my speaking topic, Redesign Your HomeMaking: Creating Room to Love God and Love People into print.

I begged a ride from Raleigh, and my reluctance (or refusal or fear or laziness) to drive an unfamiliar rental car led to my meeting my writing partner! Then -- I arrived home to a welcome email: Harvest House, a major publisher located in Eugene, Oregon, gave me the thumbs-up. They're interested in seeing my proposal. I had this invitation two years ago, but I wasn't ready. I hadn't met Eddie. Yes, my partner and helper for the home management topic is a guy. This should be interesting.

Anyway, finally, after all these years, my speaking topic Redesign Your HomeMaking will become a book, either through Harvest House or another publisher, Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas.

If you've heard this talk, I'd love some new feedback. You can post it here, or email me, or Facebook message me. What stuck with you? What worked? What didn't? What problems are you still facing in caring for your home so that you are freed up to spend more time with Jesus and then have more resources, like time, money, and developed talents to go out and love others?

Chew on this

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Today my daughter gets her wires clipped. She'll be able to open her mouth (a little) for the first time in six weeks, since her car accident on December 6. Oh, how she is looking forward to eating real food.

Of course, she'd like to eat steak or a hamburger, but Panda Express rice, scrambled eggs with cheese, and mashed potatoes and gravy will be on the menu. Soft food. No chewing yet.

And speaking of chewing, here's what I'm chewing on today. It's from Practicing the Presence of People by Mike Mason. Boy, is this a great book. If I could afford to buy a copy for every member of my family, and then have a few extras to give away to friends, I would. (Maybe I will.)

Here's what I read. See if you agree with me -- that this is worth chewing on:

"Jesus' second great commandment implies that we will love others only to the extent that we love ourselves. The command might be better understood by putting the words "You will" in front of it: You will love your neighbor as yourself.

How thoroughly we have bought the lie that it is not okay to look after ourselves...We spend our days being stressed, insecure, angry, sullen, or numb with genteel denial. And in this condition we continue to tell ourselves that we can work, love, be productive, smile, help others, make a difference. But it's all a sickening lie.

The way to make a difference in this world is to become what everyone else is not: happy and full of life. It's not enough just to point the way; we must become the way, as Jesus was. He made it possible for us to have "the full measure of [His] joy" within us (John 17:13).

Why aren't we filling up our tanks? Is it because we won't admit we are empty? Are we so proud and neurotic that we cannot even believe that joy - real joy, irrepressibly bubbling over - is deservedly ours? Shutting ourselves off from this fullness, we have nothing to share with anyone else. Moreover, if we're not filling up with joy ourselves, it's guaranteed we're taking it from others. We are robbing each other blind."

On Setting Spiritual Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Wow. I thought this was good! (Maybe it's just me...)

"In our natural life our ambitions change as we grow, but in the Christian life the goal is given at the very beginning. The beginning and the end are exactly the same, namely, our Lord Himself.

We start with Christ and we end with Him... not simply our own idea of what the Christian life should be. The goal of the missionary is to do God's will, not to be useful or to win the lost. A missionary is useful and does win the lost, but that is not the goal. The goal is to do the will of the Lord." ~ Utmost for His Highest, 9/23

Sometimes I get caught up in being "useful" to God and that's when I get into trouble.

Creative Serving

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:32:00 +0000

(Previously published in Jill Briscoe's Just Between Us magazine - Spring 2010)

Terms like equipping, missions, and spiritual gifts can be intimidating to a new believer. Why not, instead, encourage her to find her place in ministry by asking this fun question: "Which room in your home best represents your primary passions and talents?" Once she answers, suggest creative ways she can serve her family, church, community, and world. For example:

The Craft Room: Help a single mom redecorate a room in her home. Or grab a group of girlfriends, create a craft together, sell them, and then donate the proceeds to the needy.

The Dressing Room: Put on a fashion show for the girls in your church's youth group or organize a spa day for the women in a local shelter.

The Home Gym: Start an aerobics class at church and invite women in the neighborhood. Try raising funds for missionaries with a church-wide free-throw contest.

The Kitchen: Start a cooking co-op for the new brides in your church or cook for a downtown soup kitchen.

The Library: Read to the elderly in nursing homes or volunteer in your church library. Start a book club.

Other rooms can include The Front Porch (hospitality), and even The Garage, as one woman pointed out a a recent event where I was speaking. This ministry idea generates lots of laughter and excitement at retreats or mom's meetings.

All Together Now - Lift!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:47:00 +0000

In Matthew 9:1-8 (and also Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-25), there's a story of four men who bring their lame friend to Jesus for healing. The place is crowded, so they haul him to the roof, remove some tiles and lower him down to Jesus. First, Jesus forgives the man's sins, then he heals his legs.

I love this story. Not because it shows who Jesus is, though it does. And not because it shows who the Pharisees are, though it does. And not even because a lame man is given a new heart and new legs, though he is.

I love it because four strong men work together to carry one weak friend to the Healer. And when Jesus sees their faith, He responds. "It wasn't the paralyzed man's faith that impressed Jesus, but the faith of his friends" (NLT).

--> (Personal reflection) So who do you know that is weak? And what is your response? Do you carry him (or her) to Jesus, or criticize?

Every Little Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:36:00 +0000

"What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us. He knows every detail of each of our individual lives." ~ Oswald Chambers.

Creating room to love God and love people

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:08:00 +0000

(Acts 4:32-35 tells about the believers sharing their possessions with those in need. It is in this spirit I post a reprint of an article originally published in Crown Financial Ministries June 2010 newsletter. All glory goes to God who richly provides so that we can share with others.)

"For there was not a needy person among them" (Acts 4:34 NIV)

Last October a friend's husband was diagnosed with cancer. When her family lost their sole source of income, we were in a position to help them financially. For this, I don't take credit.

Fifteen years ago when I remarried, my husband introduced me to the word "budget." At first, I balked. I thought that meant I'd have no money to spend. Budgeting would cramp my creative style and limit my ability to make a nice home for our family.

Learning to live within a budget required me to make an intentional home management plan. And making that plan led to a result I never imagined: I had more time to spend with Jesus and more resources, like time, money, and developed talents to go out and love my neighbor.

My husband and I share most spending decisions, but there are a few categories where I have primary responsibility, like food.

When I was a single mom, my three young daughters and I ate macaroni and cheese, canned soup, and bake-at-home pizza for dinner. As a new farmer's wife with a blended family of nine, I had to learn how to cook.

I bought fancy gadgets, cookbooks, and subscribed to gourmet cooking magazines. I constantly experimented with new recipes instead of providing simple, nutritious meals for my family. Food preparation became an expensive hobby.

Finally I realized I was not created to be Betty Crocker. I streamlined my kitchen cupboards and planned simple menus for dinner, company, and holidays. Now I only shop for what we need.

Some women are gifted to cook. For them, time and money spent in the kitchen is part of their service to God. For the rest of us, when we make food preparation a hobby, we consume resources we could use for others.

I'm also in charge of clothing (well, mine). Exodus 28 describes the priestly garments commissioned by God for Aaron and his sons as adorned with precious stones and made of "gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen" (verse 5). Apparently, God has a passion for fashion.

I like clothes, too. I like costume jewelry and trendy scarves. For years, I spent over budget in the clothing category because I bought too much. Then I started planning my wardrobe.

Each season I coordinate three dressy outfits for speaking engagements and church; four casual outfits for errands, meetings, and school ballgames; and two comfortable outfits to work in at home. I hang them assembled in my closet, and call it good. Planning my wardrobe also lightens my laundry load.

And I finally, as a homemaker, I oversee our category called "household." In man's economy, more is better. In God's economy, we are to be "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Yet most of us cram our homes with stuff anyway. We accumulate because we can.

As a military wife, I lived without our household goods several times—and survived. When I settled down in a farmhouse, I filled it up with stuff, wasting money and consuming time with the upkeep.

Finally I considered what our family spends time doing at home. Before making a purchase, now I imagine where it will go or what we will do with it. I ask myself, Do we really need this? Often, I put the item back.

Joseph managed his households well, whether as a slave or a prisoner. Then, when God was ready to use him during Egypt's famine, his skills were put to a greater use. His faithful administration blessed an entire nation. Genesis 41:49 tells us that the quantity of grain Joseph stored "was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure."

Recently, I pointed my friend's daughter to the above passage when she said, "Mom, tell them to stop sending us money. They'll run out."

Like Joseph, the Christian homemaker will be prepared for God to use her if she "watches over the affairs of her household" (Proverbs 31:27).

People Will Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Over the years, people have said some pretty hurtful things to me like "He's marrying you???" That came from an older lady at my church when she heard that my husband, Jeff, Mr. My-Favorite-Pastime-Is-Balancing-The-Budget, Mr. Farmed-in-Lincoln-County-All-His-Life-Except-For-4-Years-Of-College-And-Two-Years-Of-City-Work was marrying me, Ms. Occasionally-Had-To-Sell-Clothes-To-Pay-Back-Gambling-Debt, Ms. Lived-At-30-Different-Addresses-Before-Moving-To-The-Farm. Yep, he was marrying me. And we're still married, 15 years later.

And this. "I don't like you because you always want to be up front to get attention." Yeah. Uh-huh. Right. I guess she didn't talk to the guy in the front row at church who could see me shaking head to toe every time I played piano. I guess she didn't see the Scriptures written all over my music, every page, because it was the only way I could survive being up front. I guess she didn't know that I only directed the VBS children's program at the end of the week - up front - because I was too lazy to bake cookies or play games with the kids.

And I could go on (and how I'd like to go on), but the point is not to tell sob stories about myself. All of us have had hurtful things said to us and, if we're honest, we know we've hurt others with our careless words too.

The point is to say that we must - we MUST - receive words of truth, positive words, affirming words, fresh words - from the Word Himself, Jesus. He tells us that, in Him, we are good enough. He tells us that, in Him, we were created to do good works, given gifts, personalities, and experiences to share with others. But how will we hear His words to us unless we take time to read them? Unless we shut out all the other competing voices?

Today in my walk through the Gospels, in Matthew 5, I stopped on the word "blessed." The Greek word for blessed is Makarios. It means that we, as children of God, have serene, untouchable, godlike joy that's independent of all the chances and changes of life.

And so today, if someone just happens to say something hurtful to me (I'm not anticipating it :) or you, we are still blessed. Jesus tells us that. In His Word.

Have I Got a Story for You

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:03:00 +0000

Sometimes God does something so amazing, so incredible, so astounding it leaves us completely in awe of Him even though we say we know He is capable. We know He loves us. We know He is at work in our lives. We know He orchestrates all things. But sometimes He does something that leaves us shaking our heads in astonishment.

Yesterday my daughter and her fiance were married at the county courthouse. It wasn't the setting she'd always dreamed of and definitely a new experience for our entire family. She looked beautiful, of course - like herself - with a bridal "do," French manicured nails, and a long brown and black floral dress. Tyler wore a new striped button-down shirt - and blue jeans, I think. (I guess I was focused on my bride.) The experience could've been sterile. Somber. Cold. Except that the judge who performed the ceremony was anything but.

Honorable Price opened our time together with relaxing humor, then warmly read their vows, and finished with carefully thought-out words of advice: don't try to change your spouse. He said that he had performed more divorces in the area than any other attorney (something he wasn't necessarily bragging about) and he wants to see marriages work. Elizabeth and I were so thankful for how he led their wedding. Both of us commented on how warm he was and that we each wanted to send him a thank you note. Honorable Price seemed very familiar to me, but I didn't know why - until this morning.

He was the attorney who handled my divorce in 1993. It was simple - no property - but he was so helpful and kind, I sent him a thank you note (snail mail). In response, he called my home and left a message saying no one had ever sent him a thank you note before and it meant a lot to him.

Amazing how God would use this man to once again be kind and sweet in what could've been a strange situation. I can't imagine the day having gone any better. Never, ever underestimate what God can do. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day - and God made it a stellar event!

(PS: Elizabeth and Tyler had a choice between two judges. They chose the higher priced one. In fact, he charged twice as much as a female judge. But they had "a feeling" he would be worth it. And he was.)

Buy Less, Give More

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Recently I contacted a fellow writer and told her I'd just read one of her articles in an old issue of Discipleship Journal. She replied, "Which one?" I laughed and said, "Really, if someone told me they'd read my article, I wouldn't have to ask that question. I'd know all my publications!"

Well today I received an email from someone who read my devotional in today's Upper Room. And guess what? I totally forgot that it was being published today, probably because I have something far more important on my mind - like the fact that my daughter is getting married at 5pm! (More about that next time.)

But I thought I'd share it with you who don't read Upper Room since "someone" just asked me to write more often. :)

Honestly, I don't think the writing is that great, but hey! They published it and the message is good. So read on! http://www.upperroom.com/devotional/

And can it be?

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:26:00 +0000

In 1998 when I asked God to take my life and do whatever He needed to do to make me useful for His Kingdom, He said, "Get your Bible open and start studying. You're going to need it." I had been in church all my life but never read the Bible for myself. It seemed boring. Confusing. Irrelevant to my life in the real world. I was wrong.

I've been reading the Bible for myself for about 12 years now. I started in the Old Testament - Proverbs, Psalms, and then a series of chapters that took me through the history and stories. Believe it or not, those readings took over seven years. Occasionally I moved to some books in the New Testament. Mark, Luke, Acts and James come to mind. But today I started reading the book of John. With my study guide, I'm estimating a 7-month journey.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

As usual, my initial thought was, "Darn. Just one verse to read today." But oh, what a verse! Accompanied by my "professor" William Barclay, and others waiting to chime in - Chambers, Cowan, Wiersbe - it feels like a door has been opened - just a tiny crack - and a bright, no blinding light of realization is shining through. What understanding is in store for me!

I've always thought I understood: Jesus is God. But Barclay explains it like this, "Jesus is so perfectly God - in mind, in heart - that we perfectly see what God is like. Jesus alone has perfectly revealed to men all that God always was and always will be, and all that God feels and desires for me." When I look at Jesus, I look right at God. And then a song filled my heart.

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray. I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee. Amazing Love, how can it be? That Thou my God shouldst die for me?" ~ Charles Wesley

The Situation Room

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand. Psalm 149:6

Currently we are facing a difficult situation. One of our daughters is being bullied by an ex-friend. The only thing we can do right now is have her block his number from her phone. Hopefully, time will take care of things. Actually, God will definitely take care of things.

If you are facing a battle today - a difficult situation, taxing circumstances, weariness, sickness, an attack from someone in authority - over which you have no control, God asks you to lay down your fear, anger, despair and effort. Consider Him, your Warrior. Consider the weapons He has provided for you. Arm yourself in the morning with God's Word and pour out His praise from your lips.

This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord. Psalm 149:9

Monday morning

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:56:00 +0000

In the early morning hours,
'Twixt the night and day,
While from earth the darkness passes
silently away.
Then it's sweet to talk with Jesus
In your bedroom still --
For the coming day and duties
Ask to know His will.
Then He'll lead the way before you,
laying mountains low;
Making desert places blossom,
sweet'ning sorrow's flow.
Do you want a life of triumph,
victory all the way?
Then put God at the beginning
of each coming day.
~ from Streams in the Desert, 11/28

"You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." Psalm 65:8

When someone gets on your last nerve...

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:57:00 +0000

This morning I received an email, a devotional, with a quote worth passing on. Since we just returned from Europe, I'll post it and leave it at that. But it was too good to keep to myself:

Discernment is heart–kindness that sees beneath the surface of the off-hand remark; it hears the deeper cry of the soul. It asks, “Can you tell me more?” and follows up with compassion and concern. ~ David Roper

Mmm...

So who wants joy? Raise your hand.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:13:00 +0000

I've been making my way through the Psalms, one chapter a day, and eagerly anticipating Psalm 40 because it contains my testimony passage (verses 1-3). But a new verse captured my attention today. Verse 8 says, "I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart."

So who wants joy? Raise your hand. (Okay, I can't see you, but I bet you did!) Well, I know we all do. But the question is, what are we doing to try and get it? Think about it. Fill in the blank: __________________. Each of us has a unique answer, but David is pretty clear here that there is only one way: We get it by doing God's will. And we know what His will is by receiving His instruction.

That's what Jesus did. He spent time with His Father in the morning. In the evening. In fact, all the time. He abided with Him. And then He knew what His Father wanted Him to do. And Jesus had joy.

If I was going to paraphrase Psalm 40:8, I'd write this: "Because I spend time receiving, meditating, and acting on the things I read in the Bible, I understand and know God better. I can hear Him more clearly and my life is characterized by joy because I am following in His perfect plan for me." That sounds like I have it down perfect. I don't. But it's my goal - daily.

So how is your Bible time? Hit and miss? Non-existent? Do you crack it open the night before Bible Study and quickly scribble in your answers? That was me for about 35 years. And it didn't do me much good. But now that daily Bible reading is a habit, my life is characterized by joy. Whatever happens - and believe me, stuff happens! - God's Word pops up and gives me His perspective. I can understand that whatever it is - it must be part of God's will and my reaction or response based on God's Word allows me to follow in His will.

God made the equation is pretty simple. Bible time = God's will = joy.

His plan, His way, in His time

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:51:00 +0000

Have you ever thought you were sure of the way God was leading? You made plans and began to daydream and then -- Wham! -- the door slammed, and your dreams were dashed?

Back in 1995 I had that experience. I was sure God had led Jeff and I together. I had prayed (and prayed and prayed) and not manipulated the situation (for once). And I watched Him bring us together. And then, one day, it was over.

I was devastated! I was happy in one way; he and his wife were trying to reconcile. I knew this was the very best thing for his family, but for me, it was a great loss. But the bigger issue was, how can I be sure I even hear God? I had been so sure - and so wrong. It was the first time I really doubted my faith.

Well, five months later, the circumstances changed. We got back together and were married five months after that. God had been clear in His direction to me. I had heard Him. It's just that the timing wasn't what I had planned.

Right now, I'm feeling the same way. I was so sure He whispered something in my ear last fall. Now it seems like completely off the radar. But having gone through this before, my hopes aren't completely shattered...

Psalm 1:6 says: "The Lord knows the way of the righteous." He knows! He knows! What about you? Have you experienced something like this before? You were so sure and then - nothing. But then something(!!!) ~ in His time.

I only wanna be with You

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Stuhlmiller) — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Last week I went to Seattle. Thursday I taught Redesign Your HomeMaking at Evergreen Community Church in Bothell. What a welcoming bunch of ladies. Thanks to Amy and Jen for inviting me!! Then my friend Dawn and I went to Bellevue Square. Wow! Loved it! Loved Crate and Barrel (didn't buy anything), The Container Store (bought a tea holder), Fireworks (bought a travel bag), and the tea shop. (Funny ~ I'm not that big of a tea drinker, but it was good!) AND I loved the giant Chihuly glass sculpture hanging from the ceiling!!

Friday and Saturday I went the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal. It was my fourth year attending and my first year teaching. I met some wonderful people, hugged old friends, and learned a bit more about writing ~ and Jesus. And then I came home.

I came home... and faced the same old struggle: Do I try to "go for it" ~ pursue greater heights of writing and speaking ~ or do I simply worship Jesus and just follow Him, day by day, and pursue Him? This time, finally, the answer came much faster than ever before. In just a few hours, not a few days -- or weeks.

Here's the thing: I love pursuing Jesus more than I love pursuing ministry. Don't get me wrong. Ministry is the second commandment. I want to carry it out. I want to develop and use the gifts God has given me to love and serve my family, my church, my community, and my world. But I don't want it to get in the way of the first commandment: loving God with all...

My love relationship with Jesus is all that matters. And He tells me what to do -- when to "go for it" and when to wait on Him. I'm still tired -- so tired -- so maybe this post isn't profound or even for anyone but me. But I wanted to share it with you today.