Bible Journaling Part 1 .... My How, What, When and Where

Okay.... this is going to be a long one. 

Get your tea, coffee or soda and get comfy!

If you follow me or check in once and awhile, you will notice that I share my bible journalling with you occasionally.  (If you go on to my Instagram page you can see all the pages that I have done. I have a button on my sidebar that can take you directly to my page.) 

In the few posts that I have shared, there have been quite a few questions regarding the bible that I use, and how and why I do the journalling that I do.  

So here is that promised post that explains it all.

What is bible journaling? 

Bible journaling is a method that has been around for a long time but has become very popular in the last year, predominantly by these 2 ladies Stephanie Ackerman who started the Documented Faith plan, and Shanna Noel who created the Illustrated Faith method.  Both of their web sites have tons of tutorials and inspiration. It really is just a way to meditate on God's word through art journaling.  

Why do I bible journal and how did I get started? 

I have ALWAYS had an affinity for bibles. I LOVE them. I HOARD them and ADMIRE other people's bibles.  I am the same way with  journals. LOVE them! The problem is that I never use them. I never journal in journal.  Same with my bibles. I take my bible to church and bible study, but the truth of the matter is I didn't really open it in between.  It bothered me, but not enough to do anything about it. 

Then last May I hosted a table at the Ladies Tea at our church and the speaker was Pam Kanaly. Her theme or topic was "Love Letters". She shared how the bible is a love letter from God to us. Then she showed her bible. It was huge. It was old. The gilding on the paper's edge was gone. The spine of the book was cracked and the leather cover had worn marks from being carried and the pages were crinkly from being searched and thumbed through. There were copious notes in the margins.  She went on to tell that there were tear stains that were circled and dated where she had prayed and cried over her children and loved ones. Scripture was highlighted, underlined and dated where she had prayed God's promises into her life.

It was amazing and beautiful. 

It made me want a lifetime bible like that. 

Then when I was working on my planner, I came across some bible journaling images on Pinterest and Instagram. I was more than intrigued.  I went on line and every Journaling Bible was sold out and on wait lists. Then I remembered that my husband had used a journaling bible for a little while a few years ago.  He had set it aside because he wasn't crazy about the translation. I asked him if I could have it. He said "of course" and that is how I ended up with the journaling bible that I have. 

I watched a bunch of you tube videos on lettering and I also watched the videos on Stephanie Ackerman's web site for journaling. They are wonderful and I learned a ton and am still learning a ton.

So that is how I got started.

What is a Journaling Bible?

Simple! It is a bible with wide margins for notes and journaling. Lifeway has a great selection as 

does Amazon.  Lifeway even has a fun little video. 

How I bible journal. 

Bible journaling is just as individual as any journal can be. You make it your own. The biggest thing that I would want to convey is that you are really focusing on God's word and not the art. You absolutely don't have to have any artistic ability to bible journal. Ask yourself: What is it that spoke to me? What do I want to remember? Is there an image that I think of when I read the passage?  It's the learning and taking it into your heart that matters. 

When I am at bible study or listening to a sermon I use my study bible and a note book 

like this. Sometimes my daily devotion is an inspiration for more study too.

I still highlight and write in the margins of my study bible, but I also take extensive notes. I think about big ideas and small details. I write it all down. Then I go home, I pray about it, I review my notes and then I go to my journaling bible open it to that same passage.

I then use another little notebook for rough drafts and design.  It's a messy process but this is what works for me.  I am way to tentative do a rough draft right on the bible page.

I then transpose it onto the bible page with pencil.

Then I go ever it all with ink and color. 

It ends up something like this. 

"Prayer does not equip us for great works. Prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers

Trust me! I'm not an artist. I never took any art classes in high school or college. If I can do this, you can do this! And I hope you do!

In my next Bible Journaling post I will show you my favorite tools that I use for journaling.