Allnock - Bible Journaling Made Simple

Basic supplies are needed for the techniques in this book. They will be described in further detail in .

journaling Bible or other journal (see on page 30)

baby wipes

colored pencils

copier paper

fineliner, black bleed-proof (such as a Pigma Micron pen)

gel pen, white

iron

kneaded eraser

pencil, no. 2

pencil sharpener

round brush, no. 8

ruler

sticky notes

tracing paper

washi tape

watercolor paints

watercolor pencils

Psalm 139:14

Watercolor pencil

My life verse from Psalm 139 was meaningful for me to journal. When I flip past this page in my Bible, it reminds me that I was fearfully and wonderfully madeloved by my heavenly Fatherand He created me with a plan to soar!

ONE SUNDAY MORNING, an angel sat in the pew in front of me. He had his Bible open during the sermon and held a few colored pencils in his left hand. His right hand sketched a soaring eagle across the page as the pastor preached from Isaiah 40. Its wings spread broadly above a tree line at the bottom of the page.

I was mesmerized. I had never seen anyone draw in a Bible before.

I call this man an angel because I saw him only that one Sunday. No one else remembered him. He was a gift from God, just for me, to inspire, challenge and grow my worship life.

I went home and researched to see if more people were drawing in their Bibles. Online communities of Bible journalers had begun to appear at that time, and I tried my hand at this new-to-me form of worship, testing mediums and experimenting with styles and techniques.

The benefits to my spiritual life were undeniable: I engaged more with Gods Word than I ever had before! I craved time to read the Bible, and despite my faulty memory, remembered Scriptures as I illustrated them. The Holy Spirit created a new heart within me, working His will through my art.

And I havent been the same since.

I pray that your experience will be as revelatory as mine, whether youre new to Bible journaling or not. Allow the Lord to open your eyes and see Him in new ways as you grow in the study of the Scriptures and visually interpret them for yourself. Throughout this book Ill share my own stories with you, as well as tips Ive learned to hear God and document what He says, both in words and pictures. Lets cement our relationship with our Lord so we can readily apply what Hes asking us to do: become more like Jesus.

I waited all my life for a heart transplant.

Not a physical one; my ticker is just fine. But for decades I begged the Lord to give me a clean heart. A pure heart. A heart of flesh, not stone, that craves the Word of God. My time spent reading the Bible had always felt more like a duty than the act of a child who adores her heavenly Fathers teachings. A spiritual mentor assured me that a regular study discipline would lead to a hunger for the Word. But... it didnt.

Years of trying different reading plans kept failing; I just couldnt stick with them. I was embarrassed and felt like a failure as a Christian. What was wrong with me?

Then I found the creative worship process of Bible journaling.

I now hear God in different ways than beforethrough a visual experience of Scripture. Words that I had never noticed jump off the page, and images and color come vividly to mind. I was never able to memorize verses or their locations before, but once Ive illustrated a verse, I never forget it.

My time with Scripture is now a treasure in my day, and my soft heart loves every minute of it.