Episode 18

Michelle Ule

The Story Behind The Most Popular Devotional

Michelle Ule is the author of Mrs. Oswald Chambers, the story behind the world's most popular devotional, My Utmost For His Highest. She joins me to talk about the Chambers' story, writing, and biographies.
Michelle Ule is the author of Mrs. Oswald Chambers, the story behind the world's most popular devotional, My Utmost For His Highest. She joins me to talk about the Chambers' story, writing, and biographies.
00:00 42:59

Show Notes:18. Michelle Ule — The Story Behind The Most Popular Devotional

Michelle Ule is the biographer of Mrs. Oswald Chambers: The Woman Behind the World’s Bestselling Devotional, an essayist for Utmost Ongoing: Reflections on the Legacy of Oswald Chambers and a bestselling author of inspirational historical novellas. 

She became interested in the Chambers family after using My Utmost for His Highest as a devotional for many years and then writing an as-yet-unpublished World War I novel in which Oswald and Biddy Chambers appeared as “marquee characters.”

Michelle writes an “Utmost Response” to each day’s reading on her Michelle Ule, writer Facebook page–for all those folks who seek insight into what that day’s My Utmost for His Highest means!

A 35 year Bible study teacher in a variety of Christian settings and denominations, she studied English Literature at UCLA and trained as a reporter. Michelle’s also an amateur genealogist.

Long married to a retired naval officer, Michelle and her family live in Northern California.

You can learn more about her and read her 90+ blog posts about Biddy, Oswald and My Utmost for His Highest at www.michelleule.com

  • Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
  • Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
  • Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
  • People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
  • More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
  • Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
  • We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
  • Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
  • A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
  • I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/10
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/10
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
Cave churches in Cappadocia where some of the oldest monastic communities lived. Also the homes of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/10
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
People think if the ancient world as white marble but most of the statues and buildings we see would have been brightly painted. On some of these walls and reliefs you can still see the original colors. The ancient Roman world would probably have been gaudy to our tastes.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/10
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
More from Istanbul. Water cisterns, Constantine’s column, and the blue mosque.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/10
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
Ancient Nicaea where the first church council was held in 325. We were there on the 1700s anniversary of Constantine’s arrival and the beginning of deliberations.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/10
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
We were visiting the church at the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and he found out we were a group of Protestant scholars going to Nicaea for the anniversary and invited us into his residence to greet us. He spoke and gave us all crosses. Not on your typical Istanbul itinerary.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/10
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
Spent the day in Istanbul. On tomorrow to Nicaea.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/10
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
A few more sites in Turkey. Today, I head to Istanbul.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/10
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
I’m spending this week with a group of professors touring the sites of the seven churches of revelation in modern Turkey. I’ve learned a ton and been amazed by the scale and complexity of these Roman cities.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
10/10

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