My Journey into God with Colour - by Evelyn Murphy

Hi everyone, my name is Evelyn. When Deborah asked me to share on the blog I was amazed at how Awesome our God is. Finding Art recently has helped me so much.


I can also show how the Scripture has affected me personally, using colour, during my study time. I love grabbing my Bible, Windsor and Newton watercolours and water brush and play with colour. I never knew colour could excite me so much. 

I have been on a journey recently, finding out who Jesus really is and I am also finding out who I really am. This is an amazing time in my life. I am spending time with Jesus. Wow...the Prince Charming that I had dreamt of years ago doesn't even come close. I know you know what I am talking about!

How lucky are we that Jesus wants to spend time with us. He will never lie, cheat, steal or let you down in any way. No, He will LOVE you! 

He will always be romantic, no more forgotten birthdays. He is better than perfect. He protects us and He is so strong. You can't even begin to imagine the life that He has planned ahead of you. I am excited about life, all my hope is truly in Him.

I am looking forward to sharing my Art with you and get to know you all along the way. xoxo

Enjoy the Journey! - by Jane Butcher

Dear friends, I’m trusting this finds you all well. I’m sure some of you are full of

joy at this time, relishing the mountain tops, others are close to despair trapped

in the valley, and probably the majority of you are, like me, somewhere in the

middle.

On those difficult days when we seem to be walking through treacle it often

seems to trigger the “negativity” response.  We become self deprecating and

hyper critical, losing sight of anything about ourselves that is good; but, for

every single negative thing we can say about ourselves God has a positive

answer. The following is a list I came across of God’s responses to our

negativity.

You say: It’s impossible.
God says: All things are possible.  (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired.
God says: I will give you rest.  (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: I can’t go on.
God says: My grace is sufficient.  (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15)

There is a verse specific to our every need in the Bible. Sometimes we just need

a little help to locate it. There is nothing we can feel, fear or experience that

God does not know about, or care about.

You say: I can’t figure things out.
God says: I will direct your steps.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: I can’t manage.
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid.
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

As Bible Journalers we have a ready resource to turn to when we need a little

nudge or reminder of God’s love and plans and purposes for our lives. As we

focus on a verse, or verses that touch our hearts and draw, trace, paint or write

our response we are drawn closer into the presence of God, we are lifted out of

the darkness towards the Light.

You say: I am always worried and frustrated.
God says: Cast all your cares on me.  (1 Peter:5-7)
You say: I don’t have enough faith.
God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
You say: I feel all alone.
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

For me Bible Journaling helps me push through mere words to the heart of

things, it simplifies the message and reveals and reminds me of God’s

omnipotence. I don’t need to have a deep theological understanding of every

nuance, I need to be able to turn to my Heavenly Father with every ounce of my

simple, childlike faith, knowing that He created me, He knows me, He loves me

and He has my life in His hands.

Proverbs 3:6 says “Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths.”

George Muller said “It is comforting to know that not only the steps but also

the stops of a good person are ordered by the Lord.” Our route master guides

our paths in the light of eternity, He knows our every step and He’s always

there, leading, guiding, redirecting, picking us up and dusting us off when

required. Let’s enjoy the journey!

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

Introducing the amazing Ben Butcher!

Hi, my name is Ben Butcher and I am twenty five and I got Down’s Syndrome.

I’m a Senior Soldier in the Salvation Army and my Corps is in Cheshire.



Well, what can I say about Bible Journaling? 

It started when I saw my Mum doing journaling and I looked at her pictures 

and verses and it inspired me and challenged me to do the same. 

At first she posted two of my pictures and verses for me but then she joined

me to the Bible Journaling Community. I looked at other peoples pictures on 

Facebook and WOW! they looked spectacular!

I love Bible Journaling and it draws me close to God and to see what plans He 

has for me and to go deeper in my faith with Him. I love being part of this group

and my faith is stronger every day and I encounter God in my journey as I walk 

with Him.

This is so wonderful to be part of this amazing, talented, Godly group and I am 

glad to be a part of it. This is revival, BRING IT ON!

Ben has recently told his mum that he wants to be an ambassador or an advocate for people with disabilities to show them that you can still do things and be part of things - he wants people to know that they are important and have something to offer!