For the last little while things have been quiet on this blog as I haven’t been reading and reviewing as many books as I used to. However, the discovery of a new “art”—Bible journaling—will be changing that.
A little over a month ago I received, for the purpose of review, The Complete Guide to Bible Journaling. As someone who has always loved the graphic arts (though I’ve never excelled at them) this book with its examples of people’s visual responses to the Bible inspired me to try my hand at it.
As I’ve started Bible journaling and checked it out online, I’ve discovered it’s a big and only-getting-bigger area of interest for, especially, women who love the Bible, are visual learners, and good at making beautiful things. There’s so much to learn and so much to be inspired by.
I don’t expect I’ll ever reach the skill heights of lettering and drawing that many of these journalers show in the creations that illuminate the margins and sometimes entire pages of their journaling Bibles. But I love how the practice challenges me to interact with the God’s Word in a new way. And since the focus for my writing over the last few years has become “Bringing the Bible to Life” and I have this blog, I’ve decided to share a weekly Bible journaling post here. I have met other Bible journalers and hope to also feature some of them and their work.
To get started with this I searched my bookshelf and found an old Notebook New Testament from the 1970s. It’s only slightly used and with its wide margins is perfect for lettering and drawing. (I have since also bought an NKJV Journal The Word large print Bible, pictured below.)
My first entry was for John 10:3-4—the verse connected with my one-little-word LISTEN for 2017. (I used ballpoint pen and pencil crayons.)
My second entry was journaling my favourite passage in the whole Bible, which I think of as my life’s verses – Philippians 4:6-7. When I recite these words to myself, I envision taking off all my cares, worries, anxieties, and fears as I would a backpack, and leaving them with Jesus.
Verses from Isaiah came to mind as I worked. I especially wanted to remind myself that when I left those cares behind, I could leave wearing something far more wonderful. (I used ballpoint pen and pencil crayons for these drawings as well.)
I’m finding that in addition to being a lot of fun, these lettering and drawing exercises inspired by Bible passages are quite stickily helping me retain what I’ve learned.
Are you a Bible journaler? How did you discover it? What is it doing for and in you?
Violet Nesdoly 
I am not a Bible journal, Violet, and I’m not particularly talented in the visual arts, but I found this blog and the concept of responding to what you read in the Bible in this new way intriguing. I have a few too many new things going on to try this now, but I will keep this idea in the back of my brain. One thought about the whole field of reading and writing is that we do need to put more play into our “art.” Thanks.
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Thanks, Sharon. I know that Bible art journaling isn’t for everyone. I’ve met many people who, when I tell them about it say something similar to what you said. It doesn’t need an artistic response, or an ability to draw freehand or that sort of thing. Many Bible journalers trace pictures and use scrapbooking techniques. It’s just one more way of meditating on scripture available to those to whom it appeals. I love how you end your comment: “We do need to put more play into our art.” Yes!
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