Bible Journaling – Renewal and Refuge

A New Year- A New Word

January 14, 2020 renewalandrefugewithstella

I am now almost halfway through January and well into my journey with my new word.

2019 was my year to THRIVE and I did quite well with that word until life threw me a bronchitis curve midway through. After that, it just seemed that I could not get back on the Thrive bandwagon.

I am not sure if it was my “unfinished business” with my old word or the fact that I have not really settled into my new life that made it difficult to settle on a word for 2020. Whatever the case, I found myself going back and forth between several words for weeks before I finally settled on

I am not sure that some people in my immediate family completely understood my word choice. They wondered what I really wanted to do. Well…..

Maybe THIS will make it a bit clearer:

I want to reach out and stretch myself into my new community. I want to try doing things that I normally would not do (believe it or not I have actually signed up for a gym membership), try foods that I have always been uncertain about, go out on my own (something I do not TOTALLY feel comfortable with at times), meet new people, and begin to develop new relationships.

I also want to deepen my relationship with God and the Bible. To accomplish this I have laid out several goals for myself:

Read my Bible through this year. (I did that once a couple of years ago and it was a TRUE blessing!)
Journal daily (I have purchased a new planner to use for this- more about that in another blog entry)
Integrate devotionals into my reading for the year (This one got a jump start when my sweet son gifted me with several devotional books at Christmas.)
Attend church regularly (I have already located what will probably become my “home” church here in London thanks to my daughter and son-in-law. They had begun attending a local church and I have been going with them. I feel very welcome there and I feel that God is leading me to become more involved there.

I am settling into a morning routine. I get up and brush my teeth then head into the kitchen to prepare breakfast and a sack lunch for my sweet Hubby. I take my medicine and sit and chat with him until he leaves for work around 7. Then I head into “my” room. I have set it up as a craft space with all of my stamps, inks, and other supplies. One of the key things is my little journaling space right in front of the window.

I have all of my colored pencils and markers arranged so that I can find them easily, a few of my favorite inks, some stickers, my washi tape collection, and this stack of books:

I have included my first devotional and 3 different translations of the Bible: an NIV, a KJV, and a CSB study bible. I like to read key passages in all three translations to help me get a better understanding of God’s words. (Yet another way, I am stretching myself.)

This is MY space and the time I spend there is time where I can truly feel God’s presence. I feel certain that if I continue this routine I will discover new things about God’s word, God’s will for me, and new things about myself. THAT is my goal with STRETCHING!

Faith

Resting in God’s Peace

June 13, 2019 renewalandrefugewithstella

I have been participating in a Bible study based on this set of books I purchased at Dollar Tree.

Bible study

This week I am studying Peace.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” Colossians 3:15-16

Changes in my life in recent months have made it difficult to feel at peace and allow it to rule my heart. I found myself feeling alone, feeling neglected, and feeling like things would never be resolved enough to feel at peace with my life.

Then, in January of this year I began a daily practice of reading and studying God’s word. I begin each morning by showering, getting dressed, and retreating to “MY” room- my sanctuary. There on the desk I have whatever devotional materials I am using at the time, a variety of pens, pencils, inks, and several Bibles. I pray, I read, I focus, and I do some type of reflection whether it be a simple copying of a key verse, a short paragraph, or an actual artistic entry into a journaling Bible.

This daily practice has helped me to discover truths that God placed in his word- truths that have helped me realize things about God, things about myself, and things about peace.

William James said, “The person who has daily inured himself to habits of concentrated attention, energetic volition and self-denial will stand like a tower when everything rocks about him and when his softer fellow mortals are winnowed like chaff in the blast. Sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

Through the daily action of reading and studying my Bible I have developed not only a HABIT, but a CHARACTER- a character that is stronger and more at peace.

I have come to realize that we cannot FIND peace- it was never lost!

It has always been there for us, in the open arms of God. He stands there, ready and willing to take on whatever our troubles may be. We only need to be willing to step into that embrace and REST in HIS peace!

He IS our peace! We do not need to be troubled. We do not need to focus on the daily turmoil in our lives. We need only to study his word and take to heart the many lessons that he has provided for us. We need to develop a routine of RESTING in the peace that he provides and being THANKFUL for the things that he has given to us.

Just as any habit takes work- this habit of resting in God’s peace takes work, but it can be such a blessing! From that blessing we will reap the destiny of God’s spiritual fruits.

Faith

Too Much of a Good Thing?

May 1, 2019 renewalandrefugewithstella

We have all been there-

Maybe we were at our favorite restaurant and we allowed ourselves to over-indulge, filling our mouths with scrumptious food and luscious desserts only to find ourselves hours later complaining with a stomach ache.

Maybe we were busy enjoying the warmth of the summer sun and time with family and friends forgetting to take time to freshen up our sunscreen only to awaken the next day with skin reddened by a sunburn too painful to touch.

Whatever the circumstances, we, as humans, allow ourselves to get excited about something and plunge in, not only head first but with our entire being.

I have to confess that I may have been guilty of this with my Bible journaling…..

At the beginning of the year I made a decision to spend more time in God’s word- more time reading it, studying it, and journaling about my personal growth. I LOVED it! My time each morning with God was my sanctuary in this world of hustle and bustle. Then, last week, it caught up with me. I crashed!

I found myself needing to get so many other things done: housework, meetings, a crochet project with a deadline, personal obligations. I HAD to take a break from my Bible time.

I felt guilty- I felt like I was turning my back on my promise to God. I was getting other things done, but I was NOT happy about it.

Then this week, God sent me a message- just as he always does- showing me that he was watching and he understood….

I had eased myself back into my Bible time, not delving into an actual long-term devotional study but using Proverbs 31’s daily devotionals to guide my Bible reading and journaling. Monday’s verse started with the phrase, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”. Tuesday’s verse was from John 15:16 pointing out that God chose and appointed me for a purpose that would be fruitful for the Lord. Today’s devotional led me to Hebrews chapter 4 and when I opened my study Bible the heading said, “The Promised Rest”.

It took 3 days, but I have finally realized that while I was beating up myself for not spending my usual large blocks of time in Bible reading last week, God was not. He knew my heart. He understood that I had personal obligations and duties that I needed to fulfill. He knew that the project I was working on could be one that touches the heart of someone else and that it TOO is God using me!

While God LOVES my Bible reading, journaling efforts, and blogging he also knows that there are things I HAVE to get done and I should not feel guilty about those. I just need to find the right balance.

It is no different than going to a restaurant and learning to have smaller portions and take some home for later or taking some time to sit in a shady area with a friend rather than spending time in the full mid-day sun. If I want to TRULY grow from my Bible study, I have to make time in my daily routine to DO the routine of life also! In those times I can still THINK on my Bible reading- truly digesting what the word of God said to me that morning. As I do dishes or vacuum the floor I can still make time to utter prayers for those who need them or I can take the time to praise the Lord for the roof over my head and the floor beneath my feet. I need to do more INTEGRATION of my Bible study into my life rather than ISOLATION. I can still have that GOOD thing- I just need to manage it a bit- finding the right balance between my heart and my head.
376ed5ddb7fb3757565accdea9606972

Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you for the guidance that it provides. Thank you for my desire to read, study, and grow in my faith through Bible journaling. Help me to focus more on my GROWTH and less on the actual TIME. Help me to continue to use my talents as a service for you while still allowing myself to get my daily tasks completed. Guide me to the right opportunities that will cultivate my faith journey and use me as you would see fit. Help me to find the right balance between what my heart wants and what my head says I need to do!

Faith

Fear Not….

March 17, 2019 renewalandrefugewithstella

Isaiah 41-10

This season of Lent has given me a lot of opportunity to focus on my life and my inner being.

The last 15 months have been tough ones. I have cried, I have complained, I have been fearful of what my life might be like if we do NOT sell our house and my family is left scattered, but at the same time this season of my life has been one of growth.

B8BF95BF-0ADC-40A4-BA00-206319BFCBAE

God has used this time to help me delve more into my Bible study and into my precious time with him. I start each morning with quiet time to myself to read in my Bible and journal. I find myself praying more throughout my day. I am listening to gospel music when I walk and I find myself listening more closely to the words of the gospel music on my radio as I drive. God has used song lyrics to touch my heart and speak to me just when I need it most!

DA15F0CA-CCF7-45E5-9D13-B6ED5A0279C1

Don’t get me wrong- God has not ERASED my fears, but God has done a lot to help me find comfort and strength during those moments when I do find myself fearful of what the future holds. I know that he is my guiding hand and that ultimately, HE is in control! I just need to trust in him and rest in the assurance that he will give me the strength to deal with whatever comes!

203408D5-B303-4EBC-9F02-F4250A874638

Faith

Alone VS. Lonely

February 16, 2019 renewalandrefugewithstella

There is a big difference between being ALONE and being LONELY, but it has taken me a few months to realize this.

Being ALONE is a physical state. It has to do with being the only person in a particular area. I have been ALONE in my house for a few months- forgive me sweet Truffles, but you are a dog and you cannot talk to me.

Being LONELY is a mindset. It has to do with how I allow myself to feel. I allow myself to focus on the fact that there is not another human being here and I allow myself to sink into the negative feelings relating to that.

As a Christian, I had to come to grips with the fact that I did not have someone here to greet me each night and ask, “How was your day?” I did not have someone to help dig into the laundry or the dishes when I had experienced a long day and just wanted someone else to help. I did not have someone to curl up next to for warmth during a cold snap.

What I DID have was someone that was ever present, always there to listen and offer support.

I truly think that God has presented me with an OPPORTUNITY– an OPPPORTUNITY to read my Bible more, an OPPORTUNITY to experiment with my creative talents, a OPPORTUNITY to grow as both a person and a Christian!

One of the things that I have been doing with some of my time is Bible journaling. Here is my entry for today:

Alone vs Lonely

I have had this particular Bible for months. It has been sitting here in my craft room, still in the box, untouched. I was feeling a bit intimidated by all of the empty space on a page and wondered if I really had the creativity to fill it. A few weeks ago I finally got up the nerve to open the box, take out the Bible, and put pen to the pages. God has given me that creative strength!

This entry uses a watercolor tutorial from Jenna, over at Scribbling Grace. If you are new to Bible journaling and you are feeling a little intimidated, check her out! She will definitely inspire you.

I do not know when this time of being ALONE will finally end, but I am so thankful that God has provided me with the security of knowing that I do NOT have to be LONELY! He is always with me!