{ New Bible and Bible study resources }

I recently started reading the Bible from the beginning again.  It's something I've been wanting to do again and started just a few weeks ago, but this time I wanted to do a more in depth study of each book, have a way that captured my attention and a way to write down all those things that catch my eye.

 

As I've read the Bible fully through, a few years ago, I find that anytime I go back and read any part of it again, it's like reading it for the first time.  I either don't remember reading a certain verse, or I suddenly understand a passage that made no sense to me the last time I read it.  It's always a new experience and I love it, I guess that's why the Bible is often referred to as the Living Word.

 

 So I went looking for resources that I can use, something to help me.  I got just a few things and I wanted to share them with you, not just to have them here on the blog recorded, but in case it may motivate one of you to do the same.  Or you may see something you want for yourself.  I don't make any money from any of these recommendations, so don't think I'm trying to influence anyone to get anything in the hopes of some sort of kickback.  None of my links are affiliate links, or in any way provide me anything, other than just me wanting to share something I love with all my friends on here.

 

The first thing I got was a new Bible.  I can not get enough Bibles, I think because I also enjoy reading different versions and getting a sense of them all, some versions are easy to read, others *cough King James Version cough* are so difficult for me to understand.   Then I am also a simple shallow woman, I guess, who loves pretty bibles.  I already have 3, and they're all beautiful to me, but this new one is going to help me with a further in depth study, that is the main reason I got it.  It doesn't hurt that it's a beautiful leather olive green color either, but that's besides the point right? *wink*

 

Let me show you what I am going to use.

 

First, the new Bible.  It is a NLV version from Tyndale.  It is called the Every Woman's Bible, and as I mentioned above, I picked the Olive Green color.  This is not just a normal Bible, the reason I picked it is because of all the extra resources within it, that will help me do a deeper study into each book.   I also downloaded and printed the Bible Reading Worksheet from the website.  There is also a channel on YouTube where many contributors share how the Bible has changed their lives.

 

Ok now with that out of the way, let me finally show you.

 

Beautiful illustrations with so much information.  I am a very visual person, so these really help to understand.

 

 

It also includes a timeline, how long it will take to read that specific book and brings two attached ribbon bookmarks, one for the Old Testament and one for the New Testament.

 

 

As well as a One Year Reading plan, which I think is actually very helpful if you want to read the Bible in one year, instead of taking your time or do a deeper study.

 

Something else I found helpful and just wonderful to have, are the parables of Jesus in visual form, summarizing what each one is about and also pointing me to the specific verse in the Bible.

 

 

Now, the tabs I picked for this Bible are from Mr Pen.  I got them on Amazon for just $5.99, they're really good quality and quite thick which I like so they won't tear off or bend easily.  They also come with a tab guide to help you attach them easily.  I know it may seem like a useless thing, but I actually found it very helpful, they are spaced just right.

 

As for the highlighters, I love highlighting words or passages in the Bible but unfortunately any highlighter I have used in the past, has bled through to the opposite page and I really don't like how that looks.  I was looking for gel highlighters that wouldn't bleed and found these. 

 

They are the Blieve Bible Highlighters, Gel, no bleed and I've tried them out and they work perfectly for what I need.  Also very inexpensive at Amazon.  Just $7.99.

Finally, I also picked up this Spiral Bound Bible.  The reason as I explained above, is that I want to take notes but not necessarily scribble all over my actual Bible, not that there's anything wrong with that, but because I want to do a deeper dive, I want to have more room to write.

 

This one is from Pentateuch, and it includes the first 5 books of the Old Testament.  I will purchase the others as I go, but for now, this one will probably be more than enough for the next year or two, depending on how long I take with the book studies.

 

 

When I was in school, one of my favorite things to do was projects where I had to write things out or compose a journal or something visual.  I loved anytime we had printouts that we had to glue to the pages of our books, you know the ones where you fold back to see the text?

 

So it's something I always enjoyed doing and I thought, why can't I do that here too?  So that is my plan, to print out a few images to glue to the pages, things that will help me visualize the text, and then I can also write quotes, thoughts, whatever I am getting from the book.

 

 

The first thing I did was download and print out this wonderful image/diagram of the book of Genesis.  I got these from the Bible project website.  They have a full page of Old testament, New testament, Sermons, insights, videos whatever you need to help you study the word.

 

 

I know this all probably seems pointless to some of you, but I would rather spend my time doing this and studying God's word, than reaching for my phone or watching mindless videos on the televison for hours on end.  

 

I believe the older I get the more I want to be mindful with my time and how I spend it.  This is a way for me to grow closer to God but also have fun.

 

I hope you enjoyed looking through my new Bible and resources, and if you have any ideas or suggestions about how you Bible study, please share them in the comment section, I am always open to suggestions.   

{ Bible Journaling - Time to get real }

We are all CREATIVE because we were CREATED in the image of the CREATOR!

WOW!!!  Talk about a thought provoking and humbling quote.

I heard this quote this morning, while listening to one of the videos in my latest adventure.  I say adventure because it truly is an exciting thing for me.

The past few weeks, I have talked about the spiritual journey I'm on, how hard it's been and how I'm making changes in my life.  One of those changes is all about reading the Bible more and being consistent with it.

But there's a slight problem, and this is where I am going to get brutally honest and real with you all.

I struggle to read the Bible!!!

There, I said it.

I've read pieces here and there over the years, but I'm not a daily reader, I haven't yet read the whole Bible, and mostly because I just don't know how to read it, where to start, how to stick with it and not get bored.

As a Christian, the thought of even admitting out loud that I find some of the books in the Bible, boring, is something that makes me cringe.  I shouldn't be saying that, that goes against everything in me, but I'm also honest and open and I can't lie about it or pretend that I'm one of those wonderful women who can quote scripture easily, reads the good book every day, has read it all from cover to cover and so on.

I would love to be able to say that I am just like that, and who knows, maybe one day I will be at that point, but right now, in the present, and in the past?  Yeah, it's not like that at all.

The part where I've struggled the most, is thinking that I need to be reading from the very beginning in Genesis, and just going along like a story.  I've tried, trust me, and I fail every.single.time.

Why?  Well because I approach it all wrong.

Recently, I sat at my dining table with my mother and father in law, two amazing faithful God loving Christians who both know the Bible intimately.  I asked them for help, for suggestions on how to read it, how to start reading it and how to get past the dry parts of the Bible, which for me are the very beginning books containing the families, and all the names and so forth.

After speaking to them and getting great advice, I also turned to the internet and researched dozens of websites, trying to find what spoke to me or helped me get past this obstacle.

Here's what I've learned:

• You don't HAVE to start in Genesis, matter of fact, most people suggest starting in John or Romans, or Proverbs.
• Stop thinking of the Bible as intimidating.
• Pray to the Lord for understanding, for Him to show you what you need to take from that scripture.
• Take it slow, start with a few minutes a day and then increase
• I love History and so I've decided that I need to approach the Bible in that sense, for me reading it as a beautiful History account, is what I think will help me stay on track.

I believe that the Lord guides us to certain websites or people, when we need it the most, and that is exactly what happened yesterday.

While researching Bible reading, I happened upon a Bible Journaling Group and Convention, and I knew immediately that is exactly what I needed to help me along.

I signed up for the Convention, which by the way, is free, and I took the plunge.  I'm a very creative person, always have been and I had never thought to join the two things.....Creativeness and Bible Reading.

I only wish I had come across it before and started sooner, but never mind that.  I got my Study Bible which as empty blank borders on the side for notes or whatever else you wish, and this morning, after sitting down to watch Day One's Interviews and Tutorials, I started my journaling.

I've had this Bible for years, probably close to 10 at least.  It's just been sitting there, waiting for me to start reading, to pick it up and love it and give it the attention it rightfully deserves.  And I didn't.....until today.

I've scribbled on some of the borders, just a verse that stuck with me while looking through.  Some people draw and color and paint right on their main Bible, but I just can't bring myself to do that, so I'll stick with the border until I can buy myself a proper Journaling Bible, which I am hoping to do maybe this weekend. 

In the meantime, I have some pretty scripture print outs that I'm going to be coloring in and then just adding to the books of the Bible where they belong.  Like the one above, and the one below.

Sitting at the dining table this morning with my colored pencils and Bible, just coloring, reading and starting this project, was one of the best mornings I've had in a very long time.

I am so excited to read now, and I can't wait for tomorrow's convention videos to be emailed to me.

In the meantime, I have made the decision to start reading John and then go from there, actually my reading plan is as follows:

John
Romans
Psalms
Proverbs
Genesis


I'll be sure to share as I go along, and if I get a journaling Bible this weekend, I'll most definitely show you all.  I'll also let you know how this is going for me and maybe show some of my journaling pages as I move through the Bible.

I'm ever so thankful to the Lord for guiding me through this process, I really could not do it on my own. :)