About Susanne

Welcome!

I’m so glad you stopped by. My name is Susanne Scheppmann. (I dare you to spell that from memory).  I hope we soon become friends on a first name basis.

What is The Mystery & a Minstrel? 

It is my impressions of God and life—good and bad. Struggle. Rest. Wait. Rejoice. It is writings about life on earth and being in relationship with a mysterious, unfathomable, personal God. It’s not about learning to be a superstar Christian. It’s for people who long for more of God, but can’t seem to pull it all together most of the time. It’s musings on the realities of life and eternity. Think—mystic musings.

Who am I?

I am an ordinary woman who attempts to live life to its fullest. My desire is to live a life of faith, although faith does not come naturally to me. My life is busy just like everyone’s. Here’s my short list:

Mystic Muser (in process)

Christ Follower  (one step at a time)

Writer   (word scribbler)

Reader (insatiable)

Wife (doing my best)

Mom (doing my best)

Grandmother (sappy)

Animal Hoarder  (3 and counting)

Friend (grateful)

I have danced in the glorious grace of God, but I have also fallen into a season of  “a dark night of the soul”. As a woman who desires a more concentrated relationship with Christ

I have put aside any unnecessary busyness and now focus on things that bring peace and focus into my faith journey. So, I breathe more deeply now. I muse. I write. I enjoy. I seek.

What is a Mustard Seed Muse?

Each Mustard Seed Muse consists of a photograph, (most likely taken by myself) and accompanied by an original 8 -10 sentence short muse.  I'll try to post one every Friday.  All Mustard Seed Muses will be labeled for ease of the reader. 

 "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (Matthew13:31-32 NIV) 

So now you know what the Mystery and the Minstrel is all about.  I hope you stop by to delve into The Mystery and muse along with this minstrel.  The core intent of this blog is to discover the mysteries of God and to allow the Spirit to whisper to our solitary souls.

Seeking the Mystery,

 

Colossians 2:2-3

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NIV

2 Kings 3:15

But now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. (NASB)

The Writer's Porch -- The Editor's Abyss

The Editor's Abyss is alive and well! I experienced it last week.

Three years ago, I sent in a proposal for a Bible study to a publisher. Last week, I received a rejection letter for it. (Rejection is all part of being a writer-- at least if you submit.) I guess the proposal had fallen into the Editor's Abyss. Three years seems like a long time to me--I'm just saying.

Of course, I had sent out simultaneous submissions, because that is permissible in the "book proposal arena." My proposal was contracted by another publishing house. After it was picked-up and contracted, I wrote the first acquisition's editor to let him know that I was withdrawing the proposal.

Obviously, the proposal fell and landed in the Editor's Abyss, only to arise at the release of itself with another publisher. The book is completed and gone to print with my new publisher. But I still received a rejection letter. It made me laugh.

I imagine my book proposal sat in a slush pile for over three years. Eventually, the editor, or more likely his assistant, found it and shot out the rejection letter. Who knows what they did with my request to withdraw it.

Although I have said it before, rejection is part of a writer's life. Take it in stride. Try to see the humor in it and when all else fails wallpaper your guest bathroom with the rejections. Now wouldn't that be a conversation starter? Well, maybe a conversation stopper!

Keep writing. Keep submitting. Understand that there is an Editor's Abyss--laugh at it. Keep your dream!

And keep the Heart-Print Faith--Fun, Fearless and Fulfilled,

Susanne

Find Your Family--Part 2

Yesterday I told the true story of my biological brother locating me. Surprise to me!

After the initial phone call, my father said he couldn't remember. Really! But let's just say my dad fought in World War II and perhaps his mind was a bit foggy and groggy on a few matters. Anyway, my brother discovered a mother who had died decades before, a father who refused to remember, and a sister (me) who wasn't quite sure what she thought about the whole matter.

We met. We talked. We didn't have a lot in common other than that we both had two sons the same age. And we were both Christians which was the glue that bonded us.

Over the next ten years, we visited each other occasionally. We talked on the phone a few times. We got to know each other to the best of our ability, considering we met as a sister and brother after 45 years. His health deteriorated over the next few years and sadly passed away a couple of years ago.

This story has caused me to pause and ponder the issue of adoption. So when the reality show Find Your Family began, I tuned in. The series portrays adoptive families as happily ever after.

Here's the truth -- no one's life, whether adopted or not, is happily ever after here on this earth. As I write this an earthquake has rattled the foundations of Haiti--NO, life is not happily ever after whether you are a member of an adoption family or not.

EXCEPT if you are adopted by the heavenly Father.

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:4-8 NLT)."

After experiencing an adoption situation in my own family life it has made me appreciate that truth of Ephesians 1. The Father wanted to adopt us and it gave Him great pleasure! What an eternal birth announcement. If you want to find your family, look no further than other Christ followers. And if you are child of adoption, realize that you are dearly loved. You are chosen. You are a prized possession. With the heavenly Father there is a happily ever after--eternally.

Keep the Heart-Print Faith,

Susanne

Find Your Family?

There's a new reality series on TV titled Find Your Family. It's about a parent or child or siblings that are trying to locate someone who they have a connection to by adoption. So far I have seen about 4 episodes. They all end happily every after. But I wonder how often this happens in life.

I have a personal story about "find your family" that didn't turn out as happily as everyone would have liked. I was raised as an only child, or so I thought. My mother always said she wanted more children, but was unable to have them.

One day about twelve years ago, I received a phone call. The gentleman on the other end of the phone relayed some personal knowledge about my childhood and parentage. He had facts that no one should have known. He eventually announced that he was my FULL biological brother.

WHAT?

I was startled, scared and skeptical. He gave me the facts as he knew them. My mother had gotten pregnant at age nineteen. My dad was married to another woman in which he had a little girl who was born with a disability. My mother went to Denver and gave birth in a Catholic Charities hospital and he was given up for adoption. Now after more than four decades he had located me. My brother was only 13 months older me.

He was adopted when he was 18 months old by a wonderful family in rural Colorado. He was raised on a farm with a terrific dad, mom, & adopted sister--very Norman Rockwell. My childhood not so much. (Much of my personal story is told in Embraced by the Father--Finding Grace in the Names of God. It's available for pre-order on Amazon.com.)

My brother's search turned out not to be the story he hoped for in his dreams. First, by diligent research he discovered our biological mother's obituary. She died in 1969, so that was not an easy task in and of itself. She was only 36 and had never breathed a word to anyone (that I know of) that she had given birth to my brother.

By reading it he discovered he had one sister--me. Tomorrow the rest of the story.

Keep the Heart-Print Faith,

Susanne

Family Likeness?

Today I was searching for old photos of my father. I found this one that was taken in circa 1923. (I know the haircut looks like a girl, but it's my dad.)

Now, look at the resemblance to my 3 year old granddaughter Emily. The time frame between the two pictures is almost 90 years.

Now do you think that we'll look like Jesus in 90 years or so? As stated in 2 Corinthians 3:18, ". . .are being transformed into His likeness with ever- increasing glory."

Keeping the Heart-Print Faith,

The Writers' Porch--Friday

I need advice. I feel like I have about a million words to write. Here's a breakdown.

• Contracted for a new Bible study--due June 1st.
• Speaking notes for 6 weekend retreats for this spring
• 2 Proverbs 31 devotionals due the 15th of each month
• About 10 various magazine articles
• 3 book proposals that are cooking in my thoughts
• My daily blog--obviously, this is one of the writing projects that flounders.

Unfortunately, for me I tend to get overwelmed and then just want to sit and stare slack-jawed at my computer. Or I get a bit snarky over everything and my poor husband takes the brunt of it. (Sorry, sweetheart). Really, if I could just have a good crying jag I would probably feel so much better, but I am not much of cry baby.

As far as my blog, I have files and files of things I want to and need to blog about. But I always think I will do this after supper tonight, but then I am too stinkin' tired.

What's a writer to do? I need some advice!

Decision Making

Don't we all want to do the Lord's will in our lives? I know I do, but much of the time I can't figure out exactly what direction to go. Here's the problem. There are so many great opportunites to serve in His Kingdom. And hey, I am a purpose driven girl--so everything sounds like it's something I maybe should do.

For example, yesterday one of my favorite pastors from my home church called and asked if I would like to teach a class. Of course I would! But the catch is I have a jam-packed schedule for the spring and I have a book releasing in March. My first thought was, "Oh, I can do it." My second thought was, "Am I crazy?" (Don't answer that!)

After praying and deliberating, I decided I needed to postpone teaching at my home church for a semester. Deep down, I would still like to do it because it sounds like it would be the Lord's will.

Again, yesterday I received a call about speaking at a retreat in the fall. I had already spoken with another Women's Director about "maybe" speaking that same weekend. However, no definitive decision had been made by either commitee. I would like to speak at both retreats, but of course that is impossible. These type of decisions make me sad, because they both are wonderful opportunities to serve in God's Kingdom. And they both could be the Lord's will for me.

After praying about the decisions, I decided I would leave it up to Jesus. He would have to show me where to speak by allowing the Women's Ministry directors to decide. (I know that sounds like passing the buck, doesn't it?) Here's the amazing thing -- once I placed the decision in His hands the answer came back immediately.

Funny how God's will works when we "let go and let God." All the woulds, coulds, and shoulds fall into place.

Keep the Heart-Print Faith,