Welcome all,
I’m a stay-at-home mom who is constantly failing as I struggle to find God’s path for my life. I think better when I write so I started this blog. I’m a writer (both fiction and non-fiction) who is currently querying my novel (YA paranormal romance) in what is seemingly a vain attempt to land a literary agent.
The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences and hear from others with similar commonalities–to hopefully create an on-line network of like-minded individuals who are going through the same hardships, joys, and experiences in life. I believe you are not here by accident so I hope you find here a little bit of whatever you are seeking.
Please comment as often as you see fit. I would love to hear from you! I can be reached by email at: atozmom.wordpress@gmail.com
Hi,I’m Reika. Just started blogging on wordpress about a week ago. I’m a mum of 2 kids and currently working as a journalist for a parenting magazine in Malaysia. Well, I guess we do share something in common, we are both mums, love to write, and in a very odd way I’d say, I’m going through some difficulties in my life which revolve around my kids & husband too…which is one of the reasons why I started blogging…so that I can find others who share common interests and experience in life, so we can help each other out in whatever way we can…I’ll add your blog link in my blogroll …do keep in touch!
Your comment is the first one on the page and thought it was ironic that you live in Malaysia. My Dad is from there and I have a lot of family there in the Kuala Lumpar area. I have never been, but would love to visit one day. I live in Arizona, US. and attend BSF here.
I have never followed a blog before. I feel like I am reading your diary. I want to be a writer but have no idea how to start. I see scenes in my head and don’t know quite how to get them on paper. Is it as easy as just sitting down and writing? Being a stay at home mom doesn’t leave a whole lot of free time! Argh! Thanks for posting the BSF stuff!
I discovered your blog about a week ago, and am very excited about reading it. Although I am much older than you, I think you have great insight. Thanks so much for sharing your heart.
What I meant to say was that, although I am a much older woman, I am learning a lot from you.
I came across your blog due to your posts about BSF. This is my first year in BSF and am loving it!
The feel you have going on your blog here is quite cozy…I’m a fan.
Hi, my wife and I are enjoying your BSF blog. She is a children’s leader and has been in BSF 9 years or more. I’ve only been in BSF for about 2.5 years. My question now is that I can’t see any comments to your posts, and I can’t see any way to leave a comment. If I click “RSS Comments”, I do see comments all bunched together in “run-on” style, not meant for easy reading. In contrast, here on your “About” page, I do the see other comments and can leave this comment.
So why can’t I see others’ comments or leave comments? I must be missing something, but it eludes me!
I will comment here that on your response to Lesson 9, question 8b, it seems you are missing the point that Israel’s rule and “taunt” of the Babylonian king is in the future – It hasn’t happened yet. They didn’t “just spend years in captivity” and now act like 5-year-olds. This is still to come. Thanks! – John
Hey John,
After the end of the post, there is a line and below the line shows my tags and what category I have posted in, etc. You click on the “Leave a comment” or “Comment” and it takes you to the comment section. This reads “Comments” with numbers after it when other people have commented, which you can read when you click on it. You can also reply to other comments (which is what I’m doing here). I hope that helps! It’s hard for me to guide you because as the owner of the blog, my screen looks a bit different. Glad you are enjoying it and thanks for the tips!
DUH! I guess the print there was small, and I only noticed the “TAGS” and didn’t read further! Thanks a bunch and hope you keep the BSF blog going. I know it takes a lot of work to get it online. My men’s group meets on Monday night, so you run a couple of days behind me usually. I like to look at your blog on Sunday night to see how it compares to what I have. Being a writer, your comments are usually a lot longer and more complete than mine which usually adds to or stimulates my thinking.
Wonder if others here use the lessons at http://www.bsfgroups.org? This week I tried something new. I copied the questions from the website and pasted them in a Word document. Then I pasted in the scriptures in the space under the appropriate questions, then typed my answers in below. I could increase the space provided to answer too! Not sure I like the electronic version, but it is nice to have the referenced scriptures right there with the questions.
Awesome John! I wish I could take my blogs in with me because my hand-written lesson is much more compact than the on-line version. I LOVE your idea! I have been thinking of printing them out myself but yours is absolutely fabulous! Let me know if that helps and I may try it too!
I have been doing the same thing. Sometimes there just isn’t enough space to get all my answer in so I copy from BSF Groups the questions into a word doc and then I can type in my answers and print. It works wonderfully well for me. Glad you discovered it too.
What did you use to convert the PDF file to Word? Is there a way to do it without paying for an expensive conversion tool? Thanks!
One thing that I have done since being in BSF for over 5 years now, I save the questions in Word and list all the daily scriptures and go to biblegateway.com and copy & paste all the scripture according to the day. Print it off and I have it with my lesson.
My thoughts on question 8c. Do I question God?
There were no circumstances in my life that made me question God for who he is. If anything, I question myself why I choose to sin everyday knowing in my heart that it brings my Lord grief. The Good News is Jesus, my faithful Shepherd is pleased to lead me back to the path of righteousness so I may be worthy again to serve him and give him the honor and the glory he is deserving of.
I am in BSF and came across your blog. Love your insight, honesty, clarity and concise writing! God bless!
Your blog is no longer accessible through iPad. But when I got to it on my PC, it’s the same format as it’s always been. As of this week it seems, iPad shows your site as swipe able pages, but when you touch a post nothing happens and I see a lock symbol next to the site name at the top. Is this by accident after implementing a new format or do I need permission to continue viewing. I was really enjoying your perspective on our BSF lessons
Hey Jessica,
Not for sure. I don’t own an IPad so can’t address any of those issues. I haven’t changed anything format wise or other. I post the same. This may be too fundamental but maybe you should restart? That’s what I do when I can’t figure anything out. I restart my computer and it all seems to work again! Sorry I can’t be of more help but know I haven’t made anything password protected or what-have-you.
I read the blog on my IPad without any problems. Just thought you might want to know! Thank you for taking the time to publish your thoughts. They really help me and get me to thinking!
I stumbled across your blog while doing some research on Isaiah for BSF. This is my first year in BSF and I couldn’t have started with a harder Bible study than Isaiah. I have truly apprecited your thoughts on each lesson. I just read the blog regarding your feelings about the character in your book and I can say I understand exactly how you feel. I lost my husband in November to cancer and am going through some hard times regarding legal issue with the estate and have been asking God for direction and help. There are times I feel like he doesn’t hear me at all and that I am alone in this fight. Sometimes I am so depressed that I can’t seem to open the Bible and grasp any words of encouragement from it and then there are other times I can’t get enough. I have to say that I feel God lead me to your blog for encouragement through these hard times and I hope you will find encouragement from all the comments you receive. I will be praying for you and your family.
Likewise, Lynn. I will pray for you. I can’t imagine your hardships. God be with you.
I invite you to follow my blog. I write spiritual devotions and orginal poems. I love your blog.
My site is devotionsbylv.blogspot.com “Walking in the Light”
With pleasure!
To A to Z Mom;
I can’t find a followers button. How can I follow you. I’ve added your site to my favorites.
Hey FROG,
Just followed you. WordPress does not offer the followers option. You can subscribe. That’s all. Maybe soon they will add it! God Bless and thanks for your thoughts!
To l;
I just added you too. I also write on spiritual thoughts at http://marissafrog.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there
Were you able to set an Online BSF Class? If so I would love to be part of it.
Hey Traci,
This is not up to me. It’s up to BSF International. As far as I know, nothing is in the works. I would encourage you to let them know your sentiments. Many voices might get the ball rolling! Thanks!
I found your blog while looking for the questions for lesson 10 for BSF Acts because I was not able to attend class last week. I am shocked and excited to see that many of our answers were the same and you added so much for me to think about. I am grateful for this site. Thank you~
i am so glad.that i discover your blg.it was very helpul for me and i tank you so mugh.i learn lot..any time i get lost i go your blg.tank you.and GOD bles.
You were a big help to me in our study of Isaiah. Thank you for sharing through you blog
helen
I love BSF but wish they would be more inclusive and not so exclusive. I really like your blog and wish BSF would open up an on-line fellowship. I love attending their lectures and groups but I work 12 hour nights shifts. It is hard to work 12 hours then stay up 4 more hours to attend my class. I missed too many last year so they wouldn’t let me back in the Wednesday morning session in my area. I have been accepted into a tuesday evening session in my area. I want to be a part of BSF and hope that I don’t lose my spot again due to work conflicts.
I am blessed by your sharing n pray that God will use you mightily to reach out to others. With regards to BSF Lesson 26 Day 5 Q12. The verse I found is John 14:16 – 18 Jesus promised his closest followers before his death that He would not leave them as orphans but send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who would be with them forever.
hi, thanks for all those bsf guides you gave me. it helps a lot. by the way, is it weird that i’m following your blog as i am still younger than 18
God Bless
Amanda, if there’s a BSF evening class with a school program (men or women) in your area, you can go as a high schooler even without a parent if they will fill out a permission form and someone else who attends the class can give you a ride. Look up bsfinternational.org, then search for a class where you live, and choose “contact class administrator” to email them and ask for help on this.
I have been reading your blog for the last few lessons and have been amazed how you write so clearly without trying to make yourself sound like you have all the answers. It has helped me because I am not one who is normally willing to go out on the limb with my answer before I hear someone else share first. Reading your comments helps me to feel better about my own responses. Thanks for your honest sharing of your thoughts.
God Bless.
I found your blog while researching BSF Lesson 10 challenge question 7 regarding the devil’s destruction. Like others here, I really like the thoughtfulness of your answers. For the rest of the week I did my part first and then compared my thoughts to yours. For the most part we are in total agreement. I differed on a few but that’s where the Spirit chose to take us. Thanks for your thoughts.
Grace and Peace.
To expound upon your story about Tim Tebow… He was approached by the NFL while he was still in college. He could have left and become a millionaire without completing his degree. The ONLY reason he decided to stay, and he made sure the NFL knew about it, was because he saw how powerfully God was using him and what a great platform he had for sharing God’s Word! I only wish I could be half as bold as Tim. He is an inspiration for us all!
I was saddened to read in your last BSF Lesson 11 post that you were thinking of terminating the BSF blog which you have made very popular among those of us who love to study the word. You have excellent writing skills and have been a God send to me with your interpretation and understanding of the questions. I really appreciate your helpful explanations. I look forward to each lesson. Thank you for your servants work and helping others such as myself. I will pray that God will make clear the perfect path for you. Thank you with love, Marlene
My name is Janerose, I follow you every time I do my lesson, just to compare notes. I just love your blog…..
I love your blog! I am a long time member of BSF. I love to read your summaries of each section. Thank you for sharing!
May God bless you and your family.
Happy new year.. i just love the feel of your blog and every time i sit here reading i feel like i am with a very good friend who loves Jesus too.. thanks for sharing… can’t wait to see what the Lord teaches us this year.
denise
I need a good study bible and suggestions for other study books for the BSF class I recently joined . I have a diffilcult time staying up with the class but do not want to give up. Bible study is fairly new for me and my resources haven’t been the best. All help will be greatly appreciated so that I may continue.
Thanks so much.
I love your blog. It has been such a wonderful tool for my comparison and learning.
Phyllis
Hey Phyllis,
Wonderful to hear you’ve joined BSF! My study bible I use is New International Version Student Bible by Zondervan. It explains passages fairly well but is not a full Study Bible. I also use: Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary by J D Douglas and Merrill C Tenney. I also use Zondervan’s Atlas of the Bible by Carl G Rasmussen but I don’t use that as much in Acts as I did in the study of Isaiah.
Hope that helps!
Blessings to you!
God led me to your blog this morning. I am finding it helpful and well written. Thanks and blessings.in Jesus.
I cannot get to BSF recently due to a child who has a condition which has taken away all my extra time. I have been getting the questions from the website and doing them with you. Please don’t ever stop this as it is such a life line for me. Thank you.
Hi, This is my first year in BSF and more than 30 years since I studied the Bible. Thank you, you’ve really helped me understand some of the lessons that I’ve struggled. It truly is a book subject to multiple interpretations, sometimes just how I’m feeling emotionally and how open I am to hearing Him. That said, I’m curious if some of the negative comments are from “trolls”, those waiting to pounce on your interpretations (anticipating them?). Can you tell whether those commenters are “regulars” like me who check in regularly, or signed in for the first time when they left the comment. This week’s lesson (19) is certainly debatable and sure to stir controversy; one of the commenters is the author of a book doing just that. Please keep on sharing your interpretations of the readings for our weekly lessons, we’re all here because we choose to be. Just as we can choose to not visit your blog (or close the book so to speak) if we find it conflicting for whatever reasons. You’re providing a wonderful service and I respect your mature (as in Christian maturity – I’m certainly older than you by a decade or two) perspectives. Blessings!
Thanks, Laura. I appreciate it!
Not for sure. Most of those are from people who only visit once. God bless!
I love it, is very wonderful.
I am in my third year of BSF and keep learning so much,but at times still feel like an “infant” in my knowledge and Christian walk.I decided to look up organic unity and organizational conformity on Google,as I was feeling frustrated with this question,and somehow your blog appeared!I had been asking God for help and He answered! I had looked up the definitions and had similar ones to yours-your overall answer made sense to me.Then I looked at some of my other answers and they are very similar to yours-priase the Lord!
I hope I can connect with you again
Kathy
it is a very helpful blog !
clear tell between organic unity & organizational conformity .
Hi A-Z mom, i just joined BSF this year. I am a busy mom with 3 kiddos at home. Always struggled with time to study and answer the daily questions. Today as i was searching for BSF Lesson on google, i found your blog! After reading your ur summary and answers, I feel like i have found a private tutor for my BSF lessons. Thank you sis! I feel very motivated now to prepare my new lesson this week. Praise the Lord! Have a Blessed weeked!
I really enjoyed your insights, references, maps etc. during our BSF study of Acts…do ypou have anything on the Gospel of John? Just starting my first Bible study with my Dad (80 yrs) and would love your assistance. Thanks, Lynn
Hey AZMom, I think you should have a poll on your blog about how many hours your readers spend each week on their lessons at home. I’m having a difficult time with mine, so I’d be interested to see other people’s experiences.
Done!
I struggle with time too. Don’t get too frustrated, I did the last study and I was always craming on Sunday evening, but Genesis has been so much better for me. I am really enjoying the journey that we are being taken on. I loved last week when they were talking about the “light” and how darkness fills our lives at times, and sometimes we don’t even realize it’s happening. We had a speaker who talked about time management. She said that when you are writing (typing) you realize that you ran out of space, so you go in and change your font and WALAH! Everything fits! Well, that is kind of what we do with God (not that you do at all, that’s not what I am implying), but we make time for our soccer games, dinner dates, etc…we just keep changing the font, so God’s time gets shorter and shorter, and before we know it, we aren’t spending any time with Him at all.
That is what made me stop and re-evaluate my schedule. I found that I was doing lots of “good” things , but there was a lot of time I could use to spend with God on my BSF study. I am happy to say, that making that time with God at the end of the my day has been wonderful! I’m not a morning person, so I can’t do the before the day starts time with God. I tell my Spanish professor all the time that I don’t even speak English before noon. So I do my time at night.
So on an average day I spend about 1 hour on my bible study. I pray before I start, and I started writing down some of the verses that I want to remember. I know that we get busy, but God wants us to busy with Him too. I hope this helps : )
Hello! new here. Googled reviews on Shurley English and happened upon your blog. I don’t even know why I’m looking up reviews and buying up used curriculum, my 1st and 2nd grader are currently attending the Christian school where I currently teach part time (PE). But… I’m just not sure if that is really where I’m supposed to be. My youngest is 4 and has one more year home with me. I think I want to bring them ALL home with me! But, maybe I’m just thinking the grass is always greener. Wish God would wave a big flag and say “hey… do THIS” and then I would know for sure. Well, anyways… just saying hello, thanks for blogging, and I’ll read on.
Hello, I used to attend a BSF group when I was in college, just one year, and have not since joined one here at home (7 years later). I am starting to find my love of Bible Study again, and there are no classes in my area. I thought I could pretty easily find the lessons sheets online, but your blog is the closest thing I have found to it. Is there any way you could send me some the lessons or direct me to a better place I could find them online. My other option is to go backwards through your blog until I find the beginning of one of the years and hope you posted each week.
Camie,
All of the materials is copyrighted by BSF. I cannot post any of the notes or the questions nor can I send you the lessons. I only post my answers as they are my intellectual property.
You must be an attending member of a BSF class in order to receive the lessons. I have campaigned for an online class for those who live far away but as of yet nothing has come about.
I would suggest you contact BSF and ask them your options. http://www.bsfinternational.org. Good Luck!
I am missing your notes for Lesson 26, Fourth Day. Can you send them to me?
Thank you for all you do. I appreciate your writings and compare with mine.
Thank you,
Ann von Geldern
annvong@cox.net
Just discovered you by searching for Modern Day Edom, I am delighted to have discovered! Not really sure how to participate by wish to experience your offerings.
You can subscribe to my blog and will receive the new postings if you wish. Or just visit the site and search the side bar for what you are seeking. Thanks for visiting!
I enjoy reading your blog and study notes. During the week as I do my BSF questions I often have more questions and thoughts. Your notes help me stay focused, let me know that I am on track, and let me know that I am not alone in sometimes having concerns and questions about a particular weekly study. I wish my group would exchange emails because I believe it would be helpful to converse about the questions more than just once a week.