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So, I just saw my last publication was in 2017... yeah... However, the analytics reveal how often you all have been using these posts. Therefore, I wanted to make sure you were aware of the most recent updates. The Bible Studies have moved from this page! The Important Changes
Why the Change?I began Melissa's Bible Library for two reasons.
These posts—these adult studies—on the other hand, were for myself. I learn best by writing about the Scriptures. Somehow, putting my thoughts on paper brings the verses alive in unexpected ways. Connections between passages and books spring out of nowhere. Interpretations I never would have derived merely contemplating the Scriptures form word by word, sometimes coming to light only after I have written them. As personal musings, I had no expectation that this page would become popular. I felt, and still feel, I know so little about the Bible. I paid little attention to structuring the website because, after all, this ministry was about sermons. However, I was wrong. On average, over 10,000 visitors each month I am humbled to say melissabeaty.com now serves over 10,000 people every month. And what is the most visited page? The sermons, right? No! The studies from the prophets. Some months Jeremiah. Other months Isaiah or Ezekiel.  A screenshot of the most recent site activity analytics. Therefore, in accordance with the fruit the Lord has produced, I reorganized the site to better serve the studies. While I enjoy reading everyone's comments, I am creating pdfs instead of blog posts because they allow you to easily download and print the studies. If requested, I can compile books for print and sell them at cost. However, when I have done so in the past, sales have not indicated sufficient interest in them for me to continue publishing them. What You Can Expect Going ForwardLife tends to carry us down unexpected paths. The Holy Spirit discomforted me about my job—I dare not say "career" as I only ever perceived banking as a job—and so I began searching for a suitable career. The result was returning to graduate school on a job-embedded program to earn my teaching license. That meant teaching full time while taking a full course load. Needless to say, writing Bible studies fell by the wayside. Only now, five years later, has life settled down enough for me to seriously focus again on writing. However, I cannot commit to steady productivity because of another, wondrous curveball in my life: DJ. Meet DJ (Daniel Joseph) Beaty, our 10-year anniversary present from Jesus. We could not have asked for anything better. Unplanned, but prayed for. At 35, I had given up on having biological children (my husband and I never coming to agreement on when to have children) but God had other plans. So, forgive me if you have no desire to talk mushy baby stuff—which, it so happens, was me until DJ came along. He is just too cute not to show off in a slideshow. All you mammas out there, can I get an "amen"? Returning to writing... The Lord impressed on me for a number of years to serve our youth by presenting the Gospel in a meaningful, appealing form—fiction. The evidence of this calling is that I recently secured a literary agent and have placed in writing competitions. Therefore, my current life consists of teaching full time, being "mommy", up-keeping the house, authoring books, and producing studies. But, I make no promises on how often I will complete a new study. Let me share a little piece of advice from a local minister. "One bite of steak well-chewed and digested is better than a dozen steaks glanced at." That's good, right? I would tell you who preached the thought, but I long forgot. (You know, mommy brain and all.) The point of the sermon was to spend intentional time with Jesus instead of hurriedly reading a few verses or saying quick prayers. Quality instead of quantity. One verse of Scripture well understood and incorporated instead of reading a quota of, for example, three chapters each day. I could write an entire blog post on that, but... onward! I am focusing on fiction but intend to continue to produce studies as I am able. DJ permitting, I intend to arrive to school early to compose Bible studies. As I complete each chapter or lesson, I will place a new link on the adult curriculum page. During lunch and once DJ is asleep, I intent to compose fiction. How far will I get in either? Only God knows!
God bless, and I trust, based on your testimonies, that this ministry will continue to help you study the Word in a way that brings conviction and salvation. In Christ, Melissa
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