What's in a word? - by Sarah Anderson

 It's been a long while since I've done any journaling in my bible although I rectified that at the weekend with this verse, which is one of a few that have really spoken to me over the last few weeks.

"May the Lord cause you to flourish,

both you and your children"

Psalm 115:14

I was going through a really tough time at work, really tough,  and so I got on my phone and set up a private messaging group of close Christian friends and shared what was happening.  They supported me through that time with encouraging words, bible verses, prayers, declarations and pictures.  I couldn't manage any journaling at the time, but I could read through the messages and listen to songs.

It sounds easy doesn't it?  But at the time it was really hard.  My head was filled with 'what ifs' and worries and it felt like hard work to turn my thoughts to promises.  God is soooo good though and I was surrounded by good friends and colleagues who kept me going, words and song lyrics at church that were spot on for me and my circumstances, and even words through the post!  The above card came from Joyce Meyer's ministry.  'Flourish' was a word that kept getting repeated during this time so when I saw that Rebecca at Grace and Salt Ink was personalising accessory pouches I got one.

God's plans are plans to prosper us, not to harm us (jeremiah 29:11).  He is the one who "is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (ephesians 3:20).  He wants our lives to flourish.  I now have a pencil case that reminds me of that promise!

How to Get Unstuck! by Deborah J Gregg

Hi everyone, it's Deborah again with a quick post today about what to do when you sit down to do some Bible Art Journaling, but you feel a bit stuck....

I'm sure I'm not the only one who suffers with occasional lack of inspiration. Where the blank, white page stares back at me, daring me to come up with something beautiful.

When my art supplies surround me, and yet I just can't settle on whether to use pencils, pens, gelatos, watercolours, etc.

Where I've finished my tea and biscuits and haven't even made a mark.

Here's my top tips for 'How to Get UnStuck':

1. Pray! Take a moment to commit it all to God. To thank Him for all His goodness. To praise Him for His great love for you.

2. Read the Bible! Re-read the passage you are led to, prayerfully, asking God to reveal His Word to you and to inspire you to respond creatively as you read. Maybe try reading a Psalm if you haven't read one already - it may help put you in a different mindset of thanksgiving and praise.

Gone green for this one! Horizontal stripes are great and make it easy to line up your words

When you've settled on a verse or passage you feel you'd like to journal:

3. Pick a colour - any! Your go-to favourite colour, or maybe try using something different for a change! Or if you are now feeling more inspired, pick two colours that either complement or contrast! Add the colour to the page to create a background, using whatever medium you want to...pencils, gelatos, paints, collage papers, etc. Make it as simple or complicated as you like. Use plain colour, or add dabs, stripes, patterns or doodles.

I love this verse! Acrylic paint background in blue & toned down with some white, added words with Sharpies and metallic marker to highlight

4. While the page is drying take some scrap paper and practice writing out your words, playing with the arrangements of the letters, size, font etc.

5. Take a black (or coloured) pen and add your words on your page. Embellish if you want to with doodles, stamps, metallic or glitter pens etc.

6. Sit back and breathe.... Pray again and enjoy looking at the verse you have just journaled. Take a moment to allow it to sink in and wash over you.

It's so important to enjoy the process, and I pray that this simple approach may help you as you soak in God's Word and unlock your creativity.

Of course, if you happen to get stuck while journaling with others, you can take a moment to pray together, and it's really great to share ideas and tips. 

And don't forget, we have such a lovely community in our Facebook group and we love to support and encourage one another. If you do get stuck, you can always give us a shout and we are here to help! :-)

Added diagonal stripes using watercolour paints. Added words filling in between diagonal pencil lines. 

I don't often use pink, but it's good to try different colours now and then! 

Introducing Jane Butcher!

Greetings! My name is Jane Butcher though to be honest I am more likely to respond to "Ben's Mum!" I've a hard act to follow on from Ben's blog post last week, but I'll do my best.

I came across Bible Journaling a few weeks before Christmas last year. I have an amazingly talented friend called Annie who is a professional graphic recorder. She records conferences, workshops, Bible Studies using visual images, sketches and lettering, her work is stunning and a great inspiration to me.

Between us we stumbled across the Bible Journaling Community on Facebook and I was immediately hooked by this new (to me) way of studying and engaging with my Bible and my Lord. Though by no means an artist in the pure sense of the word I am an inveterate doodler and sketcher and I'm definitely a multi-sensory learner. I am first of all a writer (of sorts) and enjoy writing short stories, funny poems (doggerel) and even a children's novel, but to learn and retain information I work best using mixed methods of study and recording.

I texted my friend who owns our local Christian Bookshop the same evening and within a week I had my own Journaling Bible.

I just pitched in and launched into this new adventure. Unlike many of you I'm not a great planner, I don't practice my page, I sometimes don't even do it in pencil first, I just "go with the flow", I enjoy responding freely and though there have been some "hot messes" to quote our American friends I don't get stressed by bleed through, mistakes or less than perfect artwork. I'm not working towards producing a masterpiece, I'm simply enjoying spending time in the Word, spending time with the Lord, deepening my understanding and celebrating verses which have particular meaning for me.

It is likely that I will leave this for my little great neice Emma Grace who lives in Florida, I may never meet her but hopefully she will get to know me just a little through my Bible.

One of the many blessings that have come from my Bible Journaling is connecting with so many like-minded Christians and being encouraged and challenged by their postings. I also have a Bible Journaling family locally, we've met up a few times in Sale and in Knutsford and on October 3rd will be meeting up for our first monthly Journaling get together at the Salvation Army in Winsford, Cheshire (do contact me for details if you'd like to come along!).

Ben and I are also very blessed to meet up most weeks with his girlfriend and her Mum to journal together around their dining room table.

I have no great wealth of artistic skill to share, merely a love for the Lord, a passion to press in deeper to His Word, and a deep joy in making new friendships as we journey together through Bible Journaling.

With my love and prayers,
Jane