Shades of HOPE #BibleJournaling

For a Bible journaling newbie like me, how-to courses and videos are a big temptation. So perhaps it’s no surprise that a few weeks ago I signed up for Rebekah R. Jones’ “Word Study for Bible Journaling” course.

The word Rebekah chose as a focus for these video lessons was HOPE. I’ve posted the two Bible journal entries that I made after watching her presentations and doing a little more study of my own (using methods she explained). I didn’t use the graphic downloads she gave us, though, but came up with my own ideas.

The first Hope verse we journaled was in Proverbs 24:14. Here’s how it reads in my NKJV Journal the Word Bible:

“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.”

The word “prospect” intrigued me. So I looked up Prov. 24:14 in different Bible versions to see if any of them said it more clearly and found this for Proverbs 24:13,14 in the TLB:

“My son, honey whets the appetite and so does wisdom! When you enjoy becoming wise, there is hope for you! A bright future lies ahead!”

That made the idea of wisdom affecting one’s prospect (anticipation, expectation, future) a little easier to understand. I adapted the TLB wording to “Wisdom brightens the future with HOPE.” (The clover and bee take us back to verse 13, which mentions that wisdom and knowledge are sweet, like honey.)

The next Bible art journal entry was based on Romans 15:13. Here it is in the NKJV:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of he Holy Spirit.”

Again I went to a different Bible version from my NKJV to get more shades of meaning, especially of the word “abound.” The Amplified had this:

“That by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

My imagination was captured by that idea of filled up to overflowing. Casting about for an image to show such overflow, I thought of a cup running over and a waterfall, but decided finally to draw my own little vi-Pad. My real-life device needs to be recharged regularly—a good metaphor, I think, for how we need to be regularly charged up with Holy Spirit power in order for those apps of Love, Hope, Peace, Joy etc. to function.

Though I’ve completed the course, I don’t think I’m done with Hope. Don’t be surprised if you find more journal entries about Hope here in the future!

This course is still available for signups, and I’d say it’s well worth the very nominal price Rebekah charges for it. Check it out HERE.