Bible Journaling doodling with a favorite pen

Hello Doodlers,

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been having an extra rough few weeks. But on two different evenings last week, the heat broke just enough for me to sit on the porch and mindlessly doodle in my favorite Bible with my favorite pen.

I shared on Instagram that growing up in the 80's, my mother usually had one of those Bic pens with four ink colors and a blue barrel. Years ago, I saw them at our local grocery store and bought one out of nostalgia. Then I saw that Bic had a special Spring edition with pink, purple, blue, and green inks! My color palette!

I used them to journal for years and then PaperMate came out with their InkJoy line which included 4 color pens! The ink is more like a gel... thicker and glides smoothly. And last week I grabbed my pen and Bible and headed outside for a minute of quiet.

Simple flower doodles...

They do show a bit of bleed through on the other side of the page, but that is easily covered by adding acrylic paint or paper embellishments to that side.

As I was doodling my little daisies and coneflowers and roses, I teared up a bit. I miss my mom and this new season I'm in has me longing to be a responsibility-free kid in the simpler times of the 1980's. And instead of remembering the hard times, I fondly remembered the sweet things my mom used to do to try to help me not be so scared all the times... little gifts in my lunch, funny stories about the cats on the ride home from school, her providing creative opportunities for me. 

I wish I could go back and tell my little scared, sad self to not be scared and sad and to enjoy this time because life tends to get more complicated as you get older. But I can't. 

But I can do what I can to enjoy my time now and provide a fun, secure, loving, creative, safe home for my daughter. 

Part of what helps me try to do that is to spend time doodling in my Bible...

And even enjoy mistakes along the way. I initially drew these flowers with just one line but then botched up the one at the top. So I implemented a fun technique from Joanne Sharpe and went over each line 2 more times and it gave a fun new dimension to my doodles. 

Fun note, I took Joanne's Bloomin' Doodles class the summer we moved to North Carolina and I was pregnant and super sick. I would sit by the pool at the apartment and listen to the class on my phone while doodling in my notebook from the drugstore up the street (I couldn't drive because of OCD) and try not to get sick. I should probably go back and listen to the classes again now that I'm feeling better!

Now put your phone down and make something creative! Relax in His presence and enjoy THIS time!
:) Ann

Below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

PS - here's the pen I used...




And if you want to be extra cool like my mom, here's the original Bic...

Bible Journaling Psalm 106 and a lesson from my watercolor palette

Psalm 106:1-2

"Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

for His steadfast love endures forever!

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,

or declare all His praise?"

It was a long week and I was more than relieved to have some time Saturday morning to sit down to a blank page in my colorful Bible.

A blank page. A fresh start. A new day. And His Word and a little set of watercolor paints to soothe a weary soul. 

As I opened my watercolor tin, I saw the dried colors I mixed a few weeks ago. And I thought I'd paint tiny flowers with just the dried colors.

first coat of paint

And then I saw a lesson right there on my tiny watercolor pallet. 

The paint was dry, crusty, and essentially useless. But add just one drop of water...

Just one drop of water refreshed the paint enough to allow it to fulfill its purpose. Sounds pretty dramatic for a little blop of paint, but I saw me in it...

Most of the time I feel like that little smudge of dried up, useless paint. Worn out from the daily tasks of my new role as a mom and my body revolting from a lifetime of worry and stress that I have allowed. 

I was in bed most of the day. My limbs felt like spaghetti and I couldn't even stand long enough to shower. But just one drop of water...

Jesus said He is the living water (John 4). We must go to Him daily for refreshing and comfort and direction. And He will calm the fears and restore our bodies. 

If we don't go daily, we will quickly return to our dry, thirsty state.

The lighter green color dried up in about 10 minutes. 

Now back to painting, I added more details with my tiny number 3 brush and love how my teeny, tiny flowers turned out.

Then I added the verses with my trusty XS Pitt pen.

Make some time to draw near to Him today and He will refresh your soul.

:) Ann

PS - below are the affiliate links for the products I used here.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Bible Journaling Psalm 19 the words of my mouth

Psalm 19:14

"Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my Rock

and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19 and 22

Our words really are powerful and for the better part of this week, mine have not been kind, uplifting, or acceptable to anyone, let alone God.

But I keep trying. That's all we can do, right? Cling to God for strength and help and get up the next day and try to be more Christ-like. 

And then there on the next page is Psalm 22 complete with David crying out "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Someone else cried that out in the New Testament. But fortunately, David doesn't stop there. He asks God to be close to him.

And the fantastic news is that every time we feel like God has forsaken us, He is right here with us. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27.

He will help. It may not come when we want or how we want, but He is here and He will help if we ask. 

I was fortunate to have some quiet time yesterday and today to catch my breath after a long, difficult week and I gathered a few basic supplies and created these pages while meditating on His Word. 

I'm grateful for stumbling upon Bible Journaling as it has helped me read and retain portions of God's Word that I might have otherwise glossed over. I hope this encourages you to give it a try.

Supplies (see top photo for brands):
Bible
Pencil
Pen
a handful of watercolor pencils
a waterbrush

Have a blessed day,
:) Ann

Bible Journaling Psalm 85 He will speak peace

Psalm 85:8-9

"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints;

but let them not turn back to folly. 

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,

that glory may dwell in our land."

Psalm 85

Despite our circumstances and feelings and overwhelming thoughts, God promises peace to His people. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and if He dwells in our hearts, then we have peace in our hearts no matter what we feel. 

I've heard Joyce Meyer say that maintaining our peace is one of the highest forms of spiritual warfare. The devil is actively out to steal our peace. I believe living a peaceful life comes from living a life fully trusting in God and His will for our lives. Trust can be extremely difficult especially when we wonder "if You are God of the Universe, why did you allow this or that to happen?"

I don't think we'll ever understand the answer to that question on this side of eternity, but I do know He promises to make all things new (Rev. 21:5) and to work all things together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). So each day, we press on, trusting Him and maintaining the peace He has given us.

Be blessed,
:) Ann

Bible Journaling Psalm 121 and why I doodle in my Bible and supply list

Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills..."

It was nice to force myself to sit and rest for a few minutes yesterday. I got out a few basic supplies (list below) and doodled a little flower wreath. After adding watercolor and colored pencil, I went to erase my pencil lines and smudged the colored pencil all over the page. Some of it did erase, but some didn't. I went ahead and did a messy outline in black pen. And it is the perfect picture of my life right now... messy, smudge marks, colors outside the lines. What can I do but lift up my eyes to the hills? Surely my Help will come. 

When I began Bible journaling, I inadvertently made a habit of "highlighting" the verse I was focusing on in watercolor with a heart over the verse or chapter number. A special little touch that makes this Bible unique and imperfect... just like me.

It's ok to doodle! And for those of you who may be new to this concept of creating art in your Bible and think it might be a sin or offensive to God to paint in His Word, please know that this is part of my time of worship and reflection on His Word using the gifts He has given me. It helps me remember the scriptures, but I do have 2 other Bibles that are for study and note taking. 

If you want to join the #biblejournaling community, it is simple...
1. grab a Bible or a notebook or scrap paper.
2. grab whatever art supplies you have in your room.
3. pray and meditate on a verse.
4. doodle and have fun!!!

Here are the basic supplies I used on this page. 

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)

1. Bible - Crossway ESV 2 column journaling Bible

2. Watercolor Paint - Prima Marketing watercolors tropicals pallet

3. Paint Brush

4. Pen - Faber Castell Pitt Pen in S and XS  

Thank you for reading and remember to have fun!
God loves you,
:) Ann