Have you met Him at the lakeside, did you hear His still, small voice?
Did He call you there to follow Him, and say, “You have a choice”?
And did half of you say, “Yes, Lord,” and have half a mind to start?
Did you think He didn’t notice when you gave Him half your heart?
(excerpt from Jill Briscoe’s poem ‘Meet Me on the Mountain’)
How could I not fall in love with a devotional that begins like this?!? This month, the “Wholehearted” devotional from Illustrated Faith, written by Becca (@writergirl5786) is all about looking deep into our actions and our faith and going “all in”. I am so excited to jump into this devotional, but with January feeling like the month that will never end, my budget could not quite handle buying the full kit. So, instead, I purchased the digital download from the IF Print & Pray Shop and created my own book to journal in! You can check out my process over on my YouTube channel:
Creating this book was relatively simple and it allowed me to use tools and supplies that I had in my stash. I began with a paper kit from Echo Park called “Hello Again”. I purchased it at Tuesday morning, which means it was a steal of a deal, but I can not seem to find it anywhere online. No worries though, use what you have! There is no need to run out and buy new paper. I’d imagine that nearly all crafters have a mountain of extra paper laying around, just asking to be turned into a beautiful journal!
I also had the chance to use the We R Memory Keepers Book-binding tool that my husband gave me for Christmas. It is such a fun tool and very easy to use! Granted, for this particular project, I stuck with a saddle-stitch, the easiest binding to pull off, but it was my first time giving it a try! It really came together very easily, and the book-binding guide made it so much quicker and more efficient than any binding I have done in the past. I’ll definitely be using it again!
While I love using devotionals and traveler’s notebooks that companies create to coordinate with their products, there is something really special and enticing about creating your own journal. In a strange way, I feel more connected with the book. I love holding it in my hands and it draws me in to the study even more. I was able to personalize the book for my own needs and journaling style. It feels as if I have more ownership over the study….like I said, I can not wait to jump in, study, and create!
I’d encourage you to think outside the box for your next devotional project. I love journaling in my Bible (but, you all knew that!). However, it is nice to change it up, stretch yourself and challenge yourself. Taking a new twist on a favorite hobby can reinvigorate your studies and give you fresh eyes to God’s Word….not to mention fresh eyes for your craft supplies!
I’d love to hear how you like to change it up when journaling. How do you reinvigorate your hobby when you feel stuck in a bit of a rut? Let me know in the comments!
Keep it creative,
-The Scrappy Wife
Supplies Used: (Some of the links are affiliate links…thank you for your support!)
- “Wholehearted” Digital Kit
- “So Loved” Digital Printable
- Deckle Scissors
- Fiskars Paper Trimmer
- We R Memory Keepers Book Binding Kit
- ATG Tape Glider
- Mini Stapler
- Distress Oxide Ink (Abandoned Coral)
- Distress Oxide Ink (Worn Lipstick)
- Distress Oxide Ink (Fossilized Amber)
- Distress Oxide Ink (Cracked Pistachio)
- Distress Oxide Ink (Tumbled Glass)
- Acrylic Stamp Blocks