Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Creative Bible Journaling - March Pages

Come along with me each month as I journal my way through the Bible.  I'm not artistic at all, so you won't see beautiful illustrations and calligraphy, but what you will see is what I gleaned from the scriptures every day and how I creatively journaled what I have learned in the margins of my Inspire Bible.

I've been working my way through an old devotional of mine where you read the Bible in four years.  I like that more than one year Bible reading plans because I feel you can do a more in-depth study.  In the month of March I finished the book of 2 Samuel and then the devotional author took me back to Psalms.

My first page I created to illustrate the story of how David lost his first born child with Bathsheba because of his sin.  What struck me most about this chapter was when Nathan asked David "Why, then, have you despised the Word of the Lord and done this horrible deed?"  I never really considered that when we sin we are despising God's Word.  

For my next page, I mediated on the story of how David still lost his child, even though he was repentant.  Just because God forgives us, doesn't mean there still won't be consequences of our sin.  For example,  people who abuse food, drugs, or alcohol can have affects on their body that will last the rest of their lives, and/or relationships affected by sinful behavior may never be again what they once were.

Another part of this passage was how David still worshipped the Lord, even though his prayer to save his son went unanswered.  That is a difficult, yet important thing to do, for it shows we put our trust in Him and His will. 



The story of David and Amnon is a sad one.  Amnon committed a horrible sin against his half-sister, but instead of addressing it, David ignored it, which resulted in more tragedy.  We must never ignore sin in our own lives, or in the lives of our loved ones.  We must address it and conquer it in God's strength.

I further illustrated this story by using a verse from Ephesians.  David's other son, Absalom was furious with his brother's treatment of his sister and he was provoked to anger because his father did nothing about it.  



David is brought low from his inactivity to discipline his own sons.  He has to flee for his life from his own kingdom and while he is down and out he is cursed from a villager.  David could have had his guards kill the man for his hateful words, but instead he humbled himself and was willing to hear what God might say to him through a cursing critic.  The story reminded me of the verse in James 4:  "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up."  It's hard not to defend yourself when criticized, or attack back.  



Bible Journaling isn't always pretty pictures.  Here I wrote some notes from a Bible commentary to help me understand this chapter.



For the next two pages I did both:  created a pretty page, but then added in some bible commentary notes to help me more deeply grasp the scriptures.




David's throne was eventually restored to him, but at the cost of his son's life.  The Lord had once again rescued him.



I really got a chuckle over the verse "There happened to be a troublemaker there..."  so I created a page all about how I shouldn't be a trouble maker.  Unfortunately we all have known people who are trouble makers.  I'm sure I have been one myself many times.  God desires us to be peacemakers, not trouble makers, so I wrote a little prayer to God asking Him to help me to be a peacemaker.  Then I added some Bible Commentary notes about the chapter and a Bible verse of how we should not devise evil, but be counselors of peace.


I absolutely love it when I can use paint in my Bible.  Here I created a sunrise using craft paint then I stamped and hand wrote a verse over it.



For my next page, I stamped and hand wrote a verse from Chapter 23 on top and then added some notes about Chapter 24 on the bottom.  Some times when I read my Bible, the story doesn't always make sense to me.  So I read a Bible Commentary on the chapter to help explain it.  "Enduring Word Bible Commentary" is my favorite.  Here I struggled understanding why David was taking a census and not listening to the word of God or his advisors.  Was it due to pride or lack of trust in the Lord that David needed to know if he had enough of a fighting force to conquer a neighboring nation?



For this page I just wrote some notes on how David had a sensitive heart and I should pursue one too.  David was not sinless, but he had a sensitive heart to sin.

I painted the background using craft paint.  Then I wrote some notes on the history of the threshing floor to help me understand the story.



After I finished reading 2 Samuel is was back to the book of Psalms to pick up where I left off.  The book of Psalms is the easiest of all the books in the Bible to illustrate, and for me, one of the most enjoyable.




 I hope you were inspired with God's Word today!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

32 comments:

  1. Oh this is lovely. I admire people who are crafty, everything I do creatively is on the computer apart from the act of photographing people and places and filming. This really turned out great.

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  2. This is very important for our spiritual life.
    https://www.melodyjacob.com/

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    1. Yes, reading and studying the Bible is so important. It keeps us focused on what really matters and keeps us from being deceived by the world.

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  3. Such a great way to make God's Word more visual.

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  4. Amy, I always appreciate your Bible journaling. Beautiful, creative, personal, profound. Thank you.

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  5. Love what you did with these pages! Thank you for sharing these tough lessons. Humility before God is so hard to have sometimes and thanks for the reminder.

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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  6. The pages really come alive, showing so much careful contemplation. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 62.
    Carol
    www.scribblingboomer.com

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    1. Thanks so much, I certainly do contemplate the chapter/verses more when I Bible Journal.

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  7. This is lovely
    www.melodyjacob.com

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  8. Your devotion and beautiful pages are always inspirational. I am cleaning my crafting supplies and discovered some sheet music I want to use on a page in my journaling Bible. Love your pages with the flowers. And the way you have allowed the flowers to peek of the edges of the pages. Is the wildflower page in 2 Samuel stamped? So delicate.

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    1. Thanks so much! Yes, the wildflower page is a stamp. I just got it at Hobby Lobby for $3.99. I don't usually buy stamps anymore as I have so many, but that was a steal, so why not?

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  9. Love these pages! I finished 2 Samuel back in January, but I would never be able to draw my own art on the pages lol. I have a prayer journal that I doodle in that I shared a few years ago, but it really isn't fit for others' eyes lol! Your drawings are gorgeous, and your Biblical thoughts were a great read! I'll be featuring your post on tomorrow's Crafty Creators. Thanks for sharing!
    Niki | Life as a LEO Wife

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    1. Thanks so much! I don't thin my drawings are "fit for others' eyes" either, but I share them anyway, I'm sure your prayer journal is great. Thanks so much for featuring my pages!

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  10. Thank you for sharing your link/s at SSPS 259. Please check back on Monday to see if listed under the top 15 or mentioned by a co-host or if I shared it on FB @BloggersShareCareInspire and IG @_esmesalon as the top 5.

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  11. It's great to see you engaging with the Bible in a creative and thoughtful way! It's important to take the time to reflect on what we read and to really dig deep into the meaning behind the words. Your journaling pages are a beautiful representation of that.

    I especially appreciate your insights into the story of David and his sons. It's a powerful reminder that even when we sin, God's Word is still there for us, calling us back to Him. And you're absolutely right that just because we're forgiven, it doesn't mean there won't be consequences. We must always strive to live according to God's will and to be agents of peace in the world.

    Thank you for sharing your journey with us! It's inspiring to see how the Word of God is touching your heart and mind, and I hope your journaling practice continues to deepen your understanding and relationship with Him, Amy.

    Greetings,
    Aritha (The Netherlands)

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    1. Thank you so much. I so appreciate the time you took to leave such a meaningful and insightful comment. Yes, Bible Journaling certainly helps me to engage in God's Word more!

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  12. Amy I love your journaling pages and notes. Thanks for sharing what you are meditating and learning during your 4 year study.
    I appreciate you sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month my friend.

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  13. You are so talented. These pages are beautiful and uplifting. Thank for sharing your talents.

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm glad you were encouraged by them.

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