Will you come with me?

Well friends, the post I've been working on all week has been eaten by Blogger.
I'm crushed.
There is really nothing I can do about it but hope that there's been some internal glitch and in a day or two it will pop back up. I hope it will but...well, we'll see...

In it's place I give you next weeks post.

About four years ago I became involved with a wonderful women's Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship. Known fondly as BSF this study was originally begun in 1952 by Audrey Wetherell Johnson. Last summer I read Miss Johnson's biography and she was an amazing woman! As a young woman she felt God calling her to the mission field and and eventually ended up in China. Miss Johnson loved the Chinese people and intended to devote her life to giving them the gospel. During WWII Miss Johnson found herself and her fellow missionaries in a Japanese internment camp. When the war ended and the prisoners were released Miss Johnson planned to resume her work but sometimes our intentions are not God's plans. The Chinese Communists came in and forced out all Christian workers.

After a while Miss Johnson ended up in California. She still wanted to be used of God and planned to find another mission field but God sent one to her instead. A group of women came and asked her if she would teach them the Bible- she agreed on the basis that she wouldn't spoon feed them and they would learn to dig deep into God's Word. That small group grew and grew and became established as Bible Study Fellowship.

BSF has always had a large impact on my life. As a child my mom attended the class and I attended along with her- in the children's program and I loved going. I always told Mom that someday when I grew up I was coming back to BSF.
In 2007 I did just that.
At that time I was not in a good church and was in desperate need of spiritual nourishment. I didn't know where to go or what I was going to do- and then I did. I was going back to BSF.

That decision changed everything for me. Suddenly I was amongst a wonderful group of ladies who all had the same goal- to dig deep into the Word and know God better and I was not just being fed but wanting to find that nourishment myself. That year I learned that passages I'd studied all my life were new and God was speaking to me through them. Whether it was Matthew or The Life of Moses or John or Isaiah God has had something to say to me each year and I've learned so much!

BSF's study methods are four pronged: Personal study, Small group sharing, Large group exposition and Explanatory notes. But if you come to the Intro class (the first week of each month) you'll learn all about that- and more!

My reason in telling you all this, dear friend, is that the time for class to begin again is coming soon and I would like to extend my personal invitation for you to join me. This year we will be studying the book of Acts (or as the old timers tell me: The Life and Letters of Paul). I'm so looking forward to it and would love to have you there with me as well, will you join me? If you are here in the area you won't have to go far- we are blessed to have a class right here in Wadsworth! Click here for the address. If you are one of my further afield friends this link will direct you to finding out if there is a class in your area. (I bet there is!) Here in Wadsworth our first day will be September 14th, class is from 9:15-11:15 AM. If you have any other questions comment and let me know- I am always eager to talk about BSF!

So, my friend, will this be the year that your life changes too? Does God have something specific to say to you this year? Will you open your heart and make time to hear Him?

American Duchess Shoe Give Away!

Thanks to the wonderful Sense & Sensibility Patterns company the other day I was alerted that the historical costuming designer American Duchess is having a give away! So, in order to have a chance at winning a pair of these beauties I'm posting them here!

Behold!

Really, who wouldn't want a pair of these?

"The Devonshires are a leather 18th century shoe based on museum examples from the 1760s through 1780s.  They're made of top-grade dyable leather, with a beautiful, smooth Italian leather sole for dancing, and are hard-wearing, water- and mud-proof, for even the toughest of outdoor re-enactments.

Pre-Order the Devonshires through August 10, and get the special $100 price.  We're only making 200 of these shoes, so don't miss the chance to own one of only a couple hundred pair on the planet!  Visit www.american-duchess.com to order."

We will now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post...