Hi friend! I hope and trust that you are enjoying a blessed Advent season so far this year! I am trying something new and Bible journaling my way through Advent with the help of this wonderful resource, Advent Illustrated: Waiting 'Round the Wreath by Sara Laughed (love that name!).
I just wanted to take a quick minute to let you know more about this practice because it is just blessing my socks off! It has been a wonderful way to meditate upon the Scriptures focusing on the four weeks of Advent: hope, peace, love, and joy.
So what exactly is Bible journaling? In short, Bible journaling is the practice of using both words and pictures to read the Bible, study it, mediate upon it, and memorize it in a fresh way; it uses both your right-brain (creative side) AND left-brain (analytic side) as you process and interact with God's word. I have found this particularly useful during the Advent season as I am encountering very familiar portions of Scripture. Bible journaling has helped me to slow down, visualize what God is saying through His word, and consider familiar verses in a fresh way.
What do you need to Bible journal? It is easy really: any combination of pens, pencils, markers, and a Bible. Many folks like to use a journaling Bible with wide margins to allow room for drawing or hand-lettering. Some Bibles, like the one I use, have blank interleaved pages. (For more information about the various Bibles you can use, be sure to check out this previous blog post here.)
This first week of Advent has been focusing on hope. Through this devotional, Sara has provided particular verses from both the Old and New Testaments to consider about waiting in darkness and hoping for the Light of the World. It has allowed me to consider images such as light and darkness and to think about questions such as: why is the darkness so scary? What makes light such a comfort? When considering Jesus' statement, "I am the light of the world," do I picture a light bulb or a bonfire? A mason jar of fireflies or the sun?
Here is an illustrated example of this particular concept from my journal earlier this week (feel free to click on the image to see it larger and in more detail):
As you can see, I think of God's light being like a campfire. Warm, comforting, close, and evoking images of eating together and singing around it in community on a cool evening. He is not a light bulb in my mind--something to be switched on and off at my whim. And He's not altogether safe and containable. But He is good and warm and inviting, and to be carefully respected. As you can see, many of my Bible journaling entries involve prayers and words, too. I like the combination of words and pictures, black ink with color.
One thing that is vital to understand about Bible journaling is that it is NOT about making pretty pictures! In truth, you really don't need any artistic ability at all; you can use stickers, stamps, washi tape, and other supplies that can be found at your local craft store like these pictured here:
But don't lose sight of the fact that you truly do NOT need any special supplies! Like explained above, plain-old colored pencils, markers, and pens are just fine, too!
So, how about you, dear friend? Are you plugged into an Advent study or devotional that is helping you to slow down and reflect upon God's Word in a fresh way this season? If not, I'd love for you to join me in Sara's Advent Illustrated study, or try Bible journaling on your own using verses that are meaningful for you. I trust you will be blessed if you do :)
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