Bible Journaling

I have decided a to try a new thing called Bible journaling. I’ve never did a journal but wanted to give this a shot. There is all kinds of journaling. There is study journals, blog journals, personal journals and even baby journals.


For decades, people seem to stay away from marking in their Bibles, thinking it defaces them or that it’s disrespectful. For those people, “you obviously have not seen my daddys Bible”. He is the biggest Bible marker I know. He takes notes, highlights his verses and marks his prayer list in there! It’s so colorful! Can you believe he even questioned me when I told him I was going to start Bible journaling? He’s been doing it for ages and didn’t even realize it. 

Let’s face it. The Bible is not the easiest book to read or understand. I am not an understanding reader therefore I hate reading. I really would like to read and understand the Bible more. So I went online and began searching ‘Journal Bibles’. I found the perfect one. It’s called “My Creative Bible”. It has 400 hand drawn line art illustrations. The single column pages leave space to create my own inspriational artwork with two inch margins on each page for notes. 


I didn’t know where to start so I prayed about it and then just opened it. The first page it opened too is the one I read and studied for the first night. I had to read a chapter over and over to understand what it was saying as by choice it’s the King James Version. (KJV is thou Hardith to understandith) I had to research some things on my Bible app in a different version just to understand it better. And just like that, I did my first very own Bible journaling. 


Writing in your Bible can be rather intmidating. I’m not that good of an artist and I want it to be pretty. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s not what you put in it that counts but what you get out of it. It’s your own expressions, your own thoughts and your very own way to undertand the word.


There are several online illustrations and blogs with guidelines and verses to read to help you get started. I will be resorting to those soon.


This is not a Bible you take to church with you every Sunday. The pages will become covered in ink. The verses may become unreadable in places but its ok, It’s your own study and journaling Bible. Also called “Devotional art”. You can choose to pass this book down to your children or grandchildren so they can add to it as the years pass. What a great gift that would be.


I used “micro-line” colored pens which were recommended but pricey. 
However, these pens DID bleed through even though the creative Bible has special paper for marking and the pens say they will not bleed. This really upset me, I plan to resort to colored pencils in the future.

Any marking pen suggestions are appreciated.

My Creative Bible can be found in most book stores, also including Amazon, Walmart, Hobby Lobby and other craft stores.

12 comments

  1. I just love this, Lisa. I have looked at these but not bit the bullet yet. That is disappointing about the bleed through with the markers.
    Hope you have a great Wednesday, Lisa. xo Diana

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  2. Congrats on starting you Bible Journaling Journey! Since I have started mine I have read the Bible more than ever. I really like being able to illustrate what I am learning or what I am feeling about whatever I am reading in the Bible.

    Now if you have a hard time understanding what you are reading you might want to try a different translation. The Bible I use is a NIV which a lot of people find easier to read and understand: http://amzn.to/2qPXqn4

    One thing I always recommend - if you don't like bleed through use clear gesso. It is amazing stuff that works so well! Here is my post about it so you can learn more: http://paulettespapers.com/?p=13762

    Let me know if I can help you in any way!

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    1. Thank you Dani. Your a “NoReply” blogger so I could not reply to your comment. Hopefully you will see the reply here though. Is Gesso the same as modpodge?
      Lisa

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    2. I just now saw this (sorry) and I don't know why it wouldn't let you reply to me. So weird! Gesso is not the same as modpodge. Modpoge is a glue and not something you want in your Bible. So many women have lost the pages the studied and journaled in because the modpodge ended up glueing the pages together. Gesso is an art medium. It helps hold any paint you use to your page while not letting it bleed through. I hope this helps!

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  3. I smiled reading this, especially the comment about your dad's Bible. My Dad's Bible was the same. Many times dad used 'ball point' and other times actually used crayons and colored pencils. I do hate the bleed thru, that was my first thought with markers.
    Sounds great. Good post.

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  4. That's great you're Bible Journaling! I used to journal when I was younger.

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  5. My Bible is well marked!! : )
    I've started a prayer journal this year.

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  6. Wow, pretty impressive Lisa. Wonderful idea and so creative.

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  7. such a wonderful thing, Lisa....

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  8. Beautiful. Something I've been meaning to start, but don't know how I feel about buying another Bible when I love my Study Bible so much (there isn't a lot of room for journaling in it, however)
    Katelynn, hampersandhiccups.com
    #wednesdaybloghop

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  9. Hi Lisa, I've been seeing this Bible on other blogs that I follow . . . I think that I'm going to have to buy myself a present :) I found your blog on BJ's lovely blog, that and your cranberry jam recipe, thanks, I want to try that, too.
    It is a pleasure to meet you . . . please come visit. In fact I'm celebrating 6 years of blogging with a Give-A-Way.
    Connie :)

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  10. It is really original. I love it!!
    kss
    =)
    New post up in my Lifestyle Blog !

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