Tuesday, October 26, 2021

September Bible Journaling Pages: Mark 13 thru Luke 4

Once a month I like to share my Bible Journaling Pages and what God has been teaching me.  In the month of SeptemberI finished the book of Mark and started the book of Luke.    Sometimes I just color in the preprinted images of the "Inspire Bible" (available on Amazon) and I also create my own pages.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all the images are colored in with either gel pens or colored pencils.  I tend to color larger areas with pencils then get the more intricate spots with pens.  I high light my Bible with gel highlighters, and I usually use gelatos or  craft paint for my backgrounds.


Bible Journaling means different things to different people.  Some Bible Journaists main objective is to make sure their pages are always "pretty".  I've seen such amazing works of art created in Bibles that look like they should be framed and hung in museums.  I am not that type of Bible Journalist.  I Bible Journal to illustrate what I thought was the main point of a passage.  It helps me understand it better to illustrate it.  I also Bible Journal to mediate and memorize God's Word (the pre-printed images that you simply color in are great for that).  But I also use Bible Journaling as a way to work through my feelings and a way to document what I am going through in life, and how the Bible helps me through it.  This first page is an example of me working through my feelings.

I was reading about the crucifixion of Jesus and one word really stuck out to me:  "Mock" and versions of the word "Mock" like "taunted" and "ridiculed".  I underlined every time Jesus was mocked by both the soldiers and regular people, and it was seven times!  SEVEN TIMES the Bible said Jesus was mocked by the very people He came down to save.  Here Jesus gave up His heavenly home, and came down to earth to sacrifice His life in great agony and pain, and He was mocked.  He didn't have to go through with it.  He could have stopped it anytime, and simply went home, but He didn't.  What LOVE.  What incredible LOVE Jesus has for us to go through all of that for us, and to be mocked in the process.  It is unreal to me.  

I don't know about you, but I have been struggling so much with all the hate and mockery there is in the world today.  I think it was always there, but it just seemed to have escalated since 2015 and there seems no end in sight.  If anyone thinks or feels anything outside the culturally acceptable norms of the left, they are mocked and ridiculed.  Turn on any MSM, late night "comedy" show, or Hollywood awards show and you will see it.  But it's not like the right isn't guilty of it either.  Conservative news and right wing talk shows contribute their share of mockery.  The main behavior in today's world is "If you don't agree with me...I will mock and ridicule you!"  

So, I created this page.  My "Mock, Mock, Mock" page.  Where I expressed my frustrations of society today.  In many ways, my page feels "Hopeless".  I feel like this mocking will never end.  Yet if you notice on the bottom of the page, I hand wrote what God has to say about all of this:

"But God Himself will shoot them with His arrows.  Their OWN TONGUES WILL RUIN THEM".  That is quite the promise.  And it is quite the promise to us when we are tempted to "mock" someone who we disagree with.



My next page is an illustration of the Great Commission.  After Jesus died, and appeared to the disciples and many others, he commissioned them to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone".  It's pretty amazing to me that after the way He was treated on earth that His number one concern was that EVERYONE heard the good news...the gospel.  But, Jesus also said this:  "Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.  But anyone who REFUSES TO BELIEVE will be CONDEMNED".  Jesus doesn't  want us to hear the "good news" so we'd be happy and lead a good, productive life (although following Biblical principles does help with that).  He wants us to saved so that we don't spend an eternity in Hell.  There is no way to heaven except through Jesus.  That is why He came down to earth, and suffered and died for YOU!  He paid the sacrifice so YOU COULD LIVE!  All you have to do is believe.

This is the title page to the book of Luke.  The book of Luke is the best gospel to read at Christmas for it gives the most detailed descriptions of Jesus' birth.  I love to hear the verse from Luke 2 at Christmas  "The Savior, YES, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today...!"


This next page is a pre-printed illustration of what an angel said to Mary but it is also a promise to us.  God's word will NEVER FAIL.  What HE says will be.  What He promises will happen.


This is a beautiful pre-printed illustration of the angels visit to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus.


Here is another page I created just using handwritten notes and a little Washi tape.  I was reading about the temptation of Jesus and I noticed that all three time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus responded with scripture.  It is a perfect example of how we should respond to sin every time we are tempted.  However, what I also noticed, which I don't think I ever noticed before in all the years that I have been a Christian, was that on the third temptation, Satan tries to trick Jesus by USING SCRIPTURE!  How does Jesus respond? By quoting more scripture back at Him. 

I've noticed lately how people are using scripture today to try and convince people to their side or cause.  These very same people, often ignore what the rest of the Bible has to say.  They are "cherry pickers".  They pick and choose what verses they like to justify whatever they want to do.  I've even heard many Christians using scripture against other Christians, but once again, they "cherry pick".   They pick verses out of context that appear to support their viewpoint, and they ignore the ones that totally go against that same viewpoint.  Jesus was very smart here.  He knew Satan was trying to trick Him by quoting scripture, and He immediately responded by saying "The scriptures ALSO SAY" which contradicted Satan's interpretation of scripture.

We must remember to do this when people try to use God's word against us.  Often people who do that, have no real understanding of God's Word.  They don't spend hours daily reading the Bible or memorizing the word of God.  But if you or I do, then we can respond to their incorrect interpretations with more of God's word.  We should always be prepared to give an answer by using scripture, and the only way we can do that is by daily studying the Bible.


And my last page is just a cute illustration I created of a verse I just love.  What a great story this is:  Jesus enters the temple, unrolls a scroll of Isaiah, reads it, then says for all to hear "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this VERY DAY!".  Wow! How bold!  How courageous!  I would have loved to have been in the room when this happened.  

Think about it.  Seven Hundred years earlier the prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah's arrival and describes in detail what He will do when He arrives and also how He will suffer and die.  Everything the prophet Isaiah predicted came true to the letter.  When Jesus walks into the temple, reads the prophets words, and then says "It is fulfilled today!" He is confirming that He is the Messiah.  So when I read this, I know that EVERYTHING the Bible prophesied will happen.  I know that all His promises to me will come true.  I know, that even in the most darkest times, like what we are living through today, I can count on His word that someday soon He will make this world right again.



Well, I hope I have encouraged someone with this month's Bible Journaling Pages.  I know we are living in very dark times.  The darkest times of my fifty eight years to be sure.  I never thought I would see what is happening in the world, especially in the United States, happen in my lifetime.  I don't know how much more we will have to endure before Jesus returns.  These are scary times, yet if you remember from last month's post Jesus told us how many times in the Bible not to fear?  365 times!  Almost as many days as there are in a year.  We are called to live FEARLESS lives, as Jesus lived...FEARLESS!  He was not afraid to be mocked & ridiculed.  He did not fear Satan.  And He didn't fear the religious authority of His time.  He is our example.  He spent time daily with the Father and always sought to do His will.  That is what we also must do during these last days.  Spend time daily in the word.  Then you will know His voice and you will know the difference between right and wrong and your mind won't be influenced by the world or other religious leaders.  Follow after God.  Jesus said in John 10:27 "My sheep listen to My voice;  I know them, and they follow me".  Listen for His voice.  Follow Him and Him alone.  

Have a Great Day!  Amy

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8 comments:

  1. People mock because they are afraid of the truth. It is sad that we have found a way to profit from it.

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    1. That is an interesting explanation I've never thought of before. TFS.

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  2. For decades I've been filling my NIV Bible margins ... not with beautiful artwork, but notes and quotes, names and dates. It's my most priceless possession! I love when you share your artwork with us, Amy!

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    1. You know, I used to that too, before "Bible Journaling" was a "thing". I would always write in the side margins something that I was dealing with at the time, and how that particular verse applied to it. Thanks so much.

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  3. Amy, these pages are BEAUTIFUL! I'm not a drawer, but I do like color. My bible margins hold the notes and insights God gives me when I read His word. I'm so glad you shared them, and that you shared your thoughts; they're inspiring. Mocking is truly commonplace today. And, if we say we believe God's word, we need to believe all of it and use it in context.

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    1. Thank you! I can barely draw myself, I make up for it with stamps and cut outs. So true about the word of God. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Well said Amy! You are right about it escalating since 2015 and how out of hand it has become. And both sides are guilty. These are dark days we are living in and it's important to grow closer to the Lord. Thank goodness He will always be our rock!!!
    Thanks for sharing this at the party.
    Hugs
    RR

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    1. Dark days indeed. And getting scarier all the time. Thanks so much for your encouraging words.

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