I am almost through my second Bible journal since I first started doing this in October 2011!
Three years later and I'm still loving both my journals. My first one was a composition notebook, because it was handy, cheap, and I wasn't sure I'd really stick with it. It is much worn and loved. My second is a 8.5 x 11 bound Canson Sketch book with 65 lb paper (a nice weight that minimizes bleed through). There are only a small handful of pages left in that second journal, so I thought I'd give you an update on what is working, what I've changed and what I have in it.
All the information on the first journal is found in this post here.
And the new one is on the bottom, just as worn, just as loved.
When I started my first one, I filled in the table of contents as I went, which made things not alphabetical or organized at all, but it was fine, especially later, when I color coded things for easy look up. But a friend of mine, who was also working on a journal, showed me how she simply added letter stamps to help alphabetize. I didn't have all her cool stamps, but I just drew different font letters and use that (though I am WAY behind of filling them in, and not even sure if with the next journal I'll add a table of contents.) But this gives you a rough idea of the mostly alphabetized system.
I also glued one of my favorite hymns on the inside cover.
When I started this book, I used colored pencils to add color, but then after two pages decided it would be really cool to do it all monochromatic and used only three shades of gray markers for the entire rest of the book. I really REALLY love it, and it makes it easy to carry around and work on since I only need three markers and a pen set.
I also tape and staple a lot of stuff into this journal. Different quotes, notes, bulletins, ephemera....
Yes that's a real coffee stain. --sigh-- |
In this journal I was doing Beth Moore's study over the book of James, and transcribed the book in this journal, pausing to look up definitions of important words and block them in.
I really like the project of writing out scripture, so after James, I wrote out Psalm 103 during a rough period of time...
And when I was reading through Psalms (part of my "Runing my Bible reading program") I wrote out every I WILL in the book. Amazing stuff there!
Before I started writing my Bible Studies, I would doodle and write out things that caught my eye in each chapter...
And this is one of my pages written out from the free Ephesians study you can download by subscribing. Love the promises and truth in this book of the Bible!
Hope this brief look into my Bible Journal will get you buzzing for ideas for yours. I love that we can NEVER plumb the depths of God's Word and hope to have many, many more Bible journals jam packed full of His truth before I meet my Jesus face to face!
For a list of all the studies currently available to help you Bible journal please click here.
Yay!!! I love your Bible journal posts! Taking ideas from your journal would make a great regular topic for us--like your page of I wills from Psalms, for example. I pin these on Pinterest to help me refer back to them and these are probably some of my most "repinned" images. We love to see how you journal! :-) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun! Your pictures definitely inspire me to try this out during my own Bible reading time. Where do you find inspiration and what gave you the idea to write journaling/doodling-based Bible studies in the first place?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and inspiring pages. I feel much more comfortable drawing stick people!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the walk through. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove, love! Thank you for sharing. And, Samantha I'd love to see your Pinterest page. Mine is under Sandy Corbin.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could doodle like this!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI loveeee your journal! It's so pretty, I currently keep a written journal and it'd be nice to transition to artistic expression, but I'm being held back by a fear of it not being pretty. I'm not very artistic.
ReplyDeleteUse graphite paper and tracing paper ... trace pictures that you like ... then transfer them to your journaling page.
DeleteYou can always cover your composition book with scrapbook paper, it would give it a nice finish. At craft stores they sell individual pieces of paper or duct tape also, sold at walmart in big sheets. Hope you don,t mind my input. But I love your ideals.
ReplyDeleteI always thought I would, but kinda have grown fond of it now! Maybe the next one will be all prettied up!
DeleteYour drawings are amazing! I love the ideas you have for journaling, I can't wait to try some! Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I think you definitely SHOULD try lots and lots of them!
DeleteThank you for sharing. I love love love this!!! I have been writing out scripture for years and "structuring" it sort of like you do but not with your creative twist.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented!! I wish that my journal could look that great!
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with the out lay of your Bible journal..personally,I think your "font"is well suited for the occasion as they say!! I am so keen getting my son the collection from John,exc..Well,done!!! Blessing from South Africa
ReplyDeleteI love this so much!! This is quite wonderful and gave me a lot of ideas!! Yours are amazing, I love the little drawings with them as well!!! Stone Soup for Five is one of my new favorites!!!! Please do more of these and as well as ideas!!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and inspiring! Thank you for so many new ideas! I have been keeping mine for about twi years now and I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!
ReplyDeleteUsing your study and writing your notes in my bible journal has reminded me of God's undisputed love for me. Thank you for adding these to your website. What a blessed ministry.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and inspiring. I LOVE the monochromatic look! I'm also tired of lugging around so many colored pencils and pens. Great idea.
ReplyDeleteI know this is old, but.... THIS IS IT! This is the format I need. I keep looking at so many types of journaling and know I want some type of journaling, but nothing has spoken to me like your format! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this . Going threw a rough patch right now . And I need to be drawing closer and closer to the word and this was answer to my need . Uplifting insperation hallelujah
ReplyDeleteFinally, bible journaling that combines bible study AND art (beautifullY). I am very inspired by what you've done and hope to incorporate some of your methods into a truly meaningful way to journal. Thank you for sharing your God-given gift with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Praying it blesses you!
DeleteYou are responsible for my BIBLE JOURNALING. On October16,2016 the house next door burned down. The AWESOME LORD
ReplyDeleteput HIS arms around my home and there was little damage. The house on the other side was destroyed. So beginning that very night I started Bible Journaling and gave up tv. Being retired I have an abundance of time to journal. I doodle a heart or dove, but mostly write. I have used your "disciple" figure as well. Sorry about the lengthy message but I thought you might be interested in knowing that your ideas have been wonderful.
Bless your heart for sharing your gifts with us.
I want to start journaling in my bible, but am concerned that the markers will bleed through to the next page. Does that happen to you? What kind of markers do you use!
ReplyDeleteHave you studied the antonyms of the Bible? We started with the fruit of the Spirit and worked out from there.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to try Bible journaling as a means to expand my time reading the word. Your post is exactly what I was looking for to help me get started.
ReplyDeleteI also bullet journal and love your idea of carrying a few markers of the same color in diff tones. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing and the inspiration!
Hi, Can you cover more on the I will in Psalms. Really interested.
ReplyDeleteAll I did was slowly read through the entire book of Psalms. I marked every "I WILL" statement as I was reading and then wrote them in my Bible journal as I had time. It was a great practice.
DeleteWhat translation did you use for the I Will study? 🙂
DeleteI used the NASB
DeleteGosh, this is awesome. I have a Bible Journal but it is not half as creative as yours! BUT you have inspired me to get more creative! Thank you. I also may share on my own blog :-D
ReplyDeleteAre you still working in your prayer journal?
ReplyDelete