My Journey in journaling

Just under a year ago something happened that completely changed my relationship with God and shaped the way I live out my faith. Over lent I always try to take something on that will help others rather than giving up something, and I often participate in 40 acts. This is where you are challenged to do 40 different things and make an impact in your own community (Check it out at http://www.40acts.org.uk/ ) Last year, day 1 called me to buy a journal and make notes over the 40 days of lent. I bought a journal and started….

And I haven’t stopped!

I have written all sorts in my journal; prayers, sermons, notes, doodles, artwork and anything and everything that God has prompted me to do. As I started spending time pouring my heart out to the Lord on the pages of my journal I found my faith was growing, I started really looking forward to spending time with God and was glad to get up a little earlier in order to spend time with him.

Recently my expression of faith has been extended to bible journaling. I started to see some fascinating pieces of artwork on the pages of the bible whilst browsing pinterest (If you haven’t explored pinterest, do! It is amazing, but be prepared to lose hours of your time!) At first I wasn’t too sure how I felt about drawing in the bible, I had always underlined etc but wasn’t quite sure if drawing in it felt right. However, I soon came to realise the depths of faith and meditation it can bring, and saw people’s faith being transformed by this simple act.

Not so long ago I bought myself a journaling bible and I sat with my pencils and colours waiting to create! I prayed and started to journaling and WOW! It really was an amazing experience, God spoke to me very clearly and I loved pouring out my heart and soul out through this artistic expression.



As I have continued to journal (I am still a newbie really) I have come to realise that what the finished piece looks like doesn’t really matter. The real point of it all is the deepening relationship with my best friend, my heavenly father.
There are some fantastic resources available on the internet and some great groups on Facebook. Through the exploration of bible journaling I have been blessed to find myself a part of an online worshipping community.



I would encourage you to step out in faith and try it, but more than that I challenge you to explore new ways to deepen your faith. Journaling may not be for you, but seek out a way to engage in his word. You will see fruit beyond expectation and God will use you to dream great dreams and soar to new depths with him. 

Comments

  1. Christine17 February 2016 at 11:45

    YAY! Alice - GO GIRL GO!
    A fellow doodler/journaller for Christ!
    There really are 'visual' Christians out there, it's not just the note taking academics, musically talented, all singing, all dancing foot tapping worshipers or those speaking in tongues peeps out there - for all of these talents - praise the Lord!
    Make way for the pencil, papers, scissors and glue brigade - that's us the crafters and artists who also love God and worship him in a rainbow of colours and the odd sprinkling of glitter and glitz and many a varied medium!
    'All that glitters is not gold' - it's pure love directed at none other than our Father in Heaven, it's to Jesus who died on the cross for me, us you!
    Thank-you God for artistically / creatively talented people and for bringing Alice to Mold here in little old North Wales.
    Christine xOx
    Any age, any ability - if you can hold a pencil/crayon you can draw/colour in - give it a go!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How my favourite clothing company taught me all about the abundance of God!

Image
For the last few days I have been thinking about one of my favourite bible verses and one which I often claim for myself and that is John 10:10 that declares  “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” I love this verse and there have been times in my life where I have seen my abundant God shower blessings upon me and do truly miraculous things. But, I have to be honest with you life isn’t always like that. Maybe it is for you and I am so thankful for your experience, but that’s not my experience!  I have had a really rough couple weeks. As a minister Christmas is always so busy and this year even more so as I juggle long distance study with The Salvation Army’s officer training college. The time between Christmas and new year is usually a lovely time of rest, reset and seeking God for the year ahead, but that certainly hasn’t been the
Read more

Fixing our eyes on Jesus

Image
This week I, along with many other ministers within The UK and Ireland territory of The Salvation Army met together for three days of worship and the word at our ‘Officer’s councils’. I have to admit that in the midst of an incredibly busy season, I was most looking forward to a couple of days away with my husband where I didn’t have to cook, clean or do the washing! However, as God often does, he completely surprised me and I had the most powerful time away.  The theme of the three days was ‘Lifting our eyes to the king’ and from the moment our time began I had a real sense that God was doing something. On the first afternoon, our Territorial Commander, shared with us about Peter walking on water and how we need to lift our eyes to the king, especially when we are in the waves and think we may be sinking. He shared with us some verses from Hebrews 12:1-3 and throughout the three days they kept playing through my mind. Five little words even kept me up in the middle of the night, and t
Read more

Tales from the Riverbank - Singing at Midnight

Image
  I have just returned from the most amazing weekend at the Riverbank, with women connected to The Salvation Army from all over the country. God’s presence was tangible, the worship was powerful and the teaching was Holy Spirit inspired. Over the next few days I will be sharing a little of what God spoke to me while I was there. If you were there too I would love to hear what God revealed to you. If you weren't there I pray that a little of the riverbank will flow into your heart and you might just sign up to join us next year! On the Friday night, on the bank of the beautiful river installation, the head of family ministries, Major David Betteridge taught from the story of Paul and Silas in prison found in Acts 16. One of the (many amazing) truths he spoke declared that ‘The songs you sing in the daytime become the songs you sing at midnight.’ Throughout the weekend I returned to this truth and I am sure I will many times more as the power of it takes root in my heart.  My husband
Read more