Today’s guest has been Bible journaling for the longest amount of time of any of our participants.  Though her methods for journaling seem simple they are a powerful but unique Bible journaling method.  Let’s now hear from Bible Journaler Denise Nash:

 

I’ve been Bible journaling on and off for about 20 years. How did you get started in Bible journaling? I was going through some tough times and needed to remind myself of how good God was. I started with just writing verses that touched my heart onto index cards. I’d put them on the kitchen window to memorize them. They carried me through. I wanted to remember what I was learning and started writing in a notebook. The words, “Bible Journal” never came to my mind. This was when I was a younger woman. Sometimes I have done specific studies and written my answers to the questions. I have gone back to those studies at times. There are a few that I want to look at in a deeper way.

That I can look back at what I’ve written before I can see things in a deeper way. It encourages me as I remember various periods of my life. As I write I end up thinking of things that I hadn’t originally thought of. Most of my journaling is a mess. I start with writing line by line and then I find myself thinking of other things. I end up trying to write these things in the margins near where the original comment was. I also find myself writing at the top of the page with arrows going to the comment that is related. Years later, I have read what I’ve written and then I can see more clearly how God has worked in my life. It helps me to celebrate His goodness.

My Bible. I recently bought one with larger print. I was really struggling with being able to read my Bible. I know have a pretty pink one. Sometimes, I will different colored pens to spice it up a bit. I also have a Bible for journaling. I haven’t started on that yet. I have a chronological Bible that helps me when I’m unable to put the pieces together of what the timeline is.

My husband bought me a journaling Bible. He also got a set of pens that don’t bleed through the pages with a 6-inch ruler. The dog got ahold of my ruler and chewed it up. I gave up until I could find another one, which I did recently. Most of my journaling has been in Bible study books or in a spiral notebook. I tend to want to be a perfectionist in these type of things.

I have used the SOAP method for the last few years. And I really do like to go through Bible studies. I think the method that I made up will become my, “go to.” I’m calling it the “5w’s & How.” At this time in my life, I think that it will help me to get into the Scripture in a deeper way.