Deeper Than Decorating

“Those are pretty decorations.”

Seemingly innocent, right?  I feel like every Bible journaling enthusiast has heard something similar.  I’ve heard this phrase several times when I’ve brought my Bible to church with me.  It’s a chunky Bible, loaded with tabs, ribbons, paint, and glitter.  To the unknowing eye, it does seem that I have spent a great deal of time “decorating” my Bible. But for me, the pages filled with color represent so much more.

These pages are my conversations with God.  I’m not just trying to visually interpret a passage.  It’s deeper than simply illustrating what is happening in a set of verses.  Each page represents time spent with God, questions asked, blessings received, tears cried, and a relationship built.  God shows up in our lives in so many ways, and connecting to Him through creative art journaling in the pages of my Bible is one of the ways I open the door to that relationship. Some pages are light-hearted, while some reflect a deeper struggle.  Many entries are gorgeously filled with color and joy while on others I have painted grey tones across the page. My Bible journaling pages reflect life and an evolving relationship with God.  I journal in happy times, in seasons of growth, and in times of trial.  For me, it is a learning experience, a form of praise and worship, and is extremely cathartic.

On the day that this blog post goes live, a dear friend of mine is facing a double mastectomy.  She was diagnosed the day after Christmas and has been on my mind constantly since that day.  She is an amazing mother, a loving wife, and has been a close friend of mine since we were in the 6th grade.  We were attached at the hip in middle school, constantly getting into slumber party shenanigans, gossiping about boys, and supporting each other during those awkward years.  And the support has never stopped.

I have prayed for her every day and will continue to do so.  Her faith during this immense trial continues to inspire and remind me to lean into God when things feel impossibly difficult.  2 Kings 20:5 is where I landed for reflection on this day.  Did I want to journal a page like this?  No.  But, I NEEDED to journal this page.  I needed to spend extra time praying for my dear friend, and reminding myself that God is the Great Healer and that He is hearing all of our prayers.  No, these aren’t decorations in my Bible.  They are so much more, and I treasure everything my Bible journaling pages represent.

Keep it creative (and real),

-The Scrappy Wife