Bible Journaling–it seems to be everywhere right now. You can’t scroll through Pinterest without seeing the latest tips, tricks and techniques. Walk into the local Christian Book Store and you will be met with colorful Bibles, pens, highlighters and various art supplies to encourage and enhance Bible Journaling. And although Bible Journaling tips abound, I felt I had something to say that maybe wasn’t being said or not said enough. You may think this book is just one more “How To Start Bible Journaling.” Although I do share some Bible Journaling tips in this PDF downloadable book, I share what I believe to be more important than Bible Journaling methods, supplies or techniques.
Click here to purchase “Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission.”
I begin this book by telling you a story about my great grandma’s Bible and as you move through the book you’ll be invited into my own Bible. I explain when and why I started Bible Journaling. Some of you are familiar with my story. There was a time when I was scared silly or straight–depending on how you say it. I spent an entire year thinking I was going to have a heart attack. Then there was that Ebola scare. It just seemed to be one thing after another. I was having anxiety attacks and literally wearing myself out worrying. I was being whipped around by one lie after another–only I thought they were the truth. That’s the short and sweet version of how I started reading my Bible.
I wrote this book because I never want to go back to that place and time. I wrote this book because if you’re there, I want to encourage you, going through this can be done and the other side of scared is awesome. I wrote this book because although I honestly thought I might–I did not die but lived and now I’m telling what the Lord has done! (Psalm 118:17)
I also wrote this book to encourage you to create a Biblical legacy for yourself and others. Bible Journaling is not a new thing; you know that right? The colors may be bolder and brighter, the pens fancier, the styles more artistic and creative, but for years people have been journaling in their Bibles. They’ve been taking notes, composing prayers, writing reflections and keeping track of life in the margins of their Bibles. They’ve been keeping calendars–births, marriages, and deaths. There was a time, before the internet and genealogy sites, you looked for the family Bible to find the history of your family. And I can’t help but think, reading through the old family Bible, you didn’t just find the history of your earthly family, you found the history of your heavenly family.
I wrote this book because I don’t want you to scroll Pinterest and walk past store displays wishing you could journal in your Bible. I don’t want you to think you have to have a certain type of Bible or an art degree to journal in your Bible. I don’t want you to be discouraged because…well, you find reading your Bible dry and boring (so do I sometimes). I want you to look forward to reading your Bible. I want to help you plan a daily date with God. I want to show the importance of a Biblical legacy for yourself and others. And years from now, I want you to run your hand across the familiar pages of your Bible and meet God time and again in those crinkly margins of your personal Bible.
I tell you how I do it–even sharing my personal color marking guide. I’ve included pages of topical studies, a 31 Day Proverbs Reading log and a lovely free printable with encouraging verses reaffirming God’s love for you; my copy of this printable hangs by my bathroom mirror and one hangs on the mirror in the bathroom our children and guests use. This printable is that good. I even asked Meg Hunter-Kilmer, writer at Held By His Pierced Hands if I could include her One Year Daily Bible Reading plans in this book and she said “Yes!”
This Bible Journaling Tips book is for you if you are afraid of making a mistake in life and Bible Journaling. This book is for you if you are too scared to begin, worried what others will think if they see you writing, doodling or coloring in your Bible. This book is for you if you are a regular God girl, turning those familiar pages of His Word day after day, making prayer notes and life records on fragile paper…seeking–finding–recording. This book is for you because the Bible is for you. And if this book in any way offers you some tips, inspiration, and permission–then I’ve done what I set out to do.
Click here to purchase “Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission.”
Click around The Littlest Way and you’ll see, I’m no artist as they say. I get so frustrated because what I see in my mind doesn’t translate to what I put onto paper! So frustrated I almost want to give up some days. Aha! Wouldn’t the enemy just love that? Wouldn’t he want my Pinterest perfect Bible journaling images to shame my real life images? Listen, anything the enemy can do to keep us from the living, active, Word of God–he will do. Even if it’s as simple as making our desire for creativity frustrating. Even if it’s making us think we need an art degree, a certain type of pen or stickers. Even if it’s whispering we’re not as good as…as creative as…and we don’t even have a craft room for goodness sakes!
I’m not saying you have to be a Bible journaler to be a creative, good, and holy Christian. What I am saying is this, if you want to journal in your Bible, I want to encourage you to do just that. I want to encourage you by sharing my why’s and how’s. I want to encourage you by letting you know, I get frustrated too. I want to encourage you to keep trying because this isn’t only for yourself. No, my friends, this is something much bigger and better than the present moment. This is time well spent with the Creator of eternity. Time spent with the Creator of you.
Blessed is She and Our Sunday Visitor has designed a Catholic Journaling Bible. Click here to purchase and here for my Catholic Journaling Bible post and flip through video I made.
Thank you so much for all your help on Bible Journaling. I just started. I would love fo you to pray for me please. I am 60 and a lot of things happening in our life right now. God knows and will answer. Thank you so much.
Of course!
I do not get to read your blog as much as I would like but I do love reading what I do. A year ago you got me started journaling in my Bible. Having grown up Methodist highlighting was something we just did. Now I am much more “in tune” with things as I doodle my thoughts and revelations instead of just highlighting. I still use an NKJV because it’s what I know the best, but all in all, I just need my bible highlighters and my colored pencils! That’s it! Well, I do enjoy a good audio bible study too! Here is a really good one on the Gospel of John.
https://stpaulcenter.com/category/audio-courses/
Hi Jenny, I just want to say, thank you for saying this. I thought I was the only one, I to have been journaling and marking and colour coding my bibles for years and they look great, I’ve learnt a lot, developed many method for study, and NOW, we have all of this. I admit its more colourful and prettier and I am doing some myself. I now have three Journaling wide margin bibles that i purchased on sale for less than $30, and love them. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit on just yesterday and I repented when I went on a certain website and saw some the prices these that a lot of the craft companies and others are charging for some of this stuff, and there is so much of it now, every thing is trial and error and monies are still being poured into it. Do you think we will be able to stop the madness some where, is it just a trend that will go out in another couple of years? An if so what coming behind to replace it. Martha Stewart and Tim Holts and all the others are making sure they crank it out for all the craftoholics out there. I saw a kit that was recommended to me with hardly much in it for $75, and i felt bad, I really did, and i said thank you Father for letting me see clearly. I believe, as woman of God and servants of the Kingdom we can find better uses for some of that money. We are to be good stewards over what God blesses us with. I live on a fixed income and I have to save before I can make a purchase. Anyway thank you again for helping many of us to get a check in out spirit to be mindful and wise about these things. Lets not lose focus on spending quality time loving and drawing closer and knowing the Father and how He bestowed His love upon us. I John 3:1
You are right Robin, that has been part of the learning process for me as I began Bible journaling. I needed to be intentional about time and money and not comparing myself to others.
I I have to say I love ehst you said and so many of the others! That are saying you don’t have to have all the fancy pens markers pencils pens and paper are just the ones that have them or are selling them and I love Jenny I have been reading her blog for years! She’s loves God is sincere tells it like it is and this is the lind of talk people need to hear read! Amen sister’s I love to journal in my Bible or Bible journal its more about my TIME with God than anything else! My husband and I are far from rich live in a 2 bedroom mobile home on 33 acres in Feb. God blessed us and I love my home the fancy i have a little but I’m simple and dont beed much like you I have to save to make a purchase! God bless you!
Thank you for writing this book!! I feel like it was meant just for me. Bible journaling…and well honestly just reading the Bible has been such an overwhelming concept for me. I didn’t know where to start reading, figuring out all the different ways of marking, not to mention I was SO AFRAID I’d do it wrong…..anxiety! You took the fear and anxiety out of Bible journaling for me. I am actually joyful and can’t wait for my next date with God. This book is a must read!!!
Thank you again and God Bless!
Brandi, thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment. It did my tired heart good. I’m glad you are enjoying the book 🙂
Hi Carol. I’m not sure what the problem may be? I’ve sent you the link in an email to see if clicking from there solves the issue.