I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Are you unable to attend the Bible Journaling Workshop event but want to participate with us anyway? Perfect! We have just the way to do that and have the Bible Journaling Workshop supply list ready for you!
Meeting in Isle 15! McKenzie & I had such a fun time planning out what all to use during the workshop.
If you are not attending the live event then you will need the following supplies:
1. An Open Heart
The coolest thing about Bible Journaling is not so much the artistic aspect but the meditating on a verse and seeing it come alive in a whole new way. Praying for understanding, insight, and wisdom while dwelling on His word plants it into our hearts so that it will blossom in our life and not only on the paper.
2. A Bible or a Journaling Bible.
Yes, you can use your everyday Bible, but many choose to purchase a Journaling Bible because it has wide margins,which allows more room to create.
Periscope is an app Twitter has created to watch LIVE streaming videos. So what you see is what we will be doing. You can ask questions or just send us some love.
If you are on Twitter then start by following Creating a Great Day @Create_GreatDay
Once you are on Twitter, all you have to do is download the free Periscope app your phone. When you open the app, you will notice that all the people you follow on Twitter who have a Periscope app will automatically show up. It will even notify you with a bird tweet any time someone you follow is live on Periscope.
We will tweet out the web link to our Periscope broadcast, so you can watch it from your computer as well. You can watch it up to 24 hours after it’s aired.
4. Scrap paper, a journal, or photocopies of pages from your Journaling Bible
This will be used to practice on before you ever put anything into your Bible, so any piece of paper will do. Recently, I saw someone made copies of their Bible Journal so that they could create a rough draft before putting the final product in their Bible and I thought that was a brilliant idea!
This is really all you need but if you would like to add the extras that we will have at the workshop you can as well.
6. Watercolors & paintbrushes
7. Craft paint
8. An old gift card
McKenzie will show you a really cool trick on how to apply paint to your Bible using one of these cards.
9. Crayola Twistable Crayons
McKenzie prefers to use these instead of colored pencils because they have a soft touch on the Bible pages and won’t rip through them.
10. Stamps & ink pads
11. Tags
Tags can be used for many different things including tabbing your Bible Journaling pages.
12. Washi tape
Again, for Bible Journaling all you really need is an open heart and a pen. Meditate on God’s word, let it soak into your soul, and express itself in your life as well as on paper.
May you be blessed by this workshop! We look forward to having you participate.
Remember, it all happens on Saturday morning, October 24 from 9:30am – 12:00pm central time.
What are you most excited to learn from this workshop?
Hello all!I am an Oklahoma girl, through and through!I was born here and after 5 years in Texas for college, I missed Oklahoma too much and just had to come back home with my Oklahoma husband to raise our Oklahoma babies! I met my husband in high school and fell we in love in college.We have 2 beautiful kids that are full of life and make me such a proud momma.I love to craft, journal, paint furniture, and decorate our Edmond home!See some of my creations at The Lettered Light www.etsy.com/shop/theletteredlight and IG:theletteredlight
Shanna Noel is the owner of Illustrated Faith and encourages thousands of people to grow closer to God by focusing on his word through Bible Journaling. It has been such an inspiration to us. Her story of how God brought her to this point is awesome.
Be encouraged to listen to what God is putting on your heart as you read from Shanna how it all began!
1. How did you even start Bible Journaling?
Since I became a Christian, I have always struggled reading my Bible. One day, while browsing Pinterest, I saw an old standard Bible that was highlighted and underlined, it just looked LIVED in. I WANTED that. I was HUNGRY for the word. I just wasn’t sure how to get there. So I went on Amazon and picked up a “journaling Bible.” When I got it in the mail, I brought it over to my scrapbooking space and started journaling in the way I was comfortable, with was more of an “art journal” style. I took the notes from that Sunday’s sermon and just allowed myself creative freedom. It was a HUGE light bulb moment. For the first time, I understood the word like NEVER before. For the first time, I was left HUNGRY for more!
2. Why did you start Illustrated Faith?
Illustrated Faith started after a conference called “Influence” and so many people came up to me and asked if I was doing “this” full time. I was confused, doing what? Coloring in my Bible? :O) I felt God calling me during that conference to start this full time as a way to grow the community even more.
3. What is your prayer for Illustrated Faith?
My prayer for Illustrated Faith is to be community for creative Christians. A place where they can come, share and be inspired to illustrate their faith in a way that is meaningful to their relationship and walk with God.
4. How has the response to Illustrated Faith demonstrated God’s handiwork?
It is 100% due to God’s handiwork. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be traveling the world telling people it was ok to worship God in a way that was outside of the box and sharing my testimony, I would have just laughed. That is how I know this is all God. He has set every single stone to this path and I pray that I follow it as best as I can.
5. What has been one or two of your biggest “ah ha!” moments since you began Bible Journaling?
The biggest “ah ha” moment was
YES! It is OK to not only color in your Bible but it will make A HUGE difference not only in MY walk but those who join along side me.
It has been amazing to see this same “AH HA” moment for so many as they discover Illustrated Faith for the first time.
The second “ah ha” moment was leaving the Influence conference in 2014, knowing that God was telling me to close my other business and focus on this full time. It was a huge leap of faith but one I know he is completely in control of. I love that through this we can bring culturally relevant products to the market that can make illustrating your faith approachable!
6. What advice would you tell someone who doesn’t want to mess up or doesn’t believe that she has the artistic talent to illustrate her faith?
The only thing I regret is not starting sooner! I have messed up several times but you can always fix that or cover it up. The truth is WE ARE ALL CREATIVE! God is the ultimate creator and we are made from HIM! Therefore, YOU are creative. So many times we have decided “I am not creative.” That is for my best friend or my husband. “He” is the creative one, not me. That is a lie my friends. You have it in you! Allow God to use it.
7. You have several workshops going on right now. What can one expect, if they attend?
During the workshop, I share my personal testimony on how we got to this point today, the way God has used me to share this with others. We also cover some FAQs and answer any questions. Then we listen to a short 15 minute sermon and after that we talk about how we are going to enter that into the margins of our Bible. During work time, I walk around and answer any questions, hear beautiful stories of how God is working in the lives of those attending and just OOOH and AWEEEE over the beautiful pages. At the end (my favorite part), the ladies share what God has done on their hearts through this experience as they share their pages. I am always left feeling just in awe of what God does in these workshops and if you are in the area I would love to see you!
8. How would you respond to someone that says your work is disrespecting God’s word?
I would encourage them to look closer. There isn’t one bit that is disrespectful. This is my love letter to God, one that I am constantly writing, praying and creating over. This has me deeper in the word and closer to Him than I have ever been before. I don’t think God is upset about that. :0)
9. Would you mind sharing a few of your favorite Bible journaling pieces & share what they mean to you?
To be honest, my favorite page is always the last one I have created. It is what God is currently whispering on my heart. To stay up to date on my latest entries, make sure to follow me on Instagram at @shannanoel.
Doesn’t this just motivate you to open up your Bible and dig into God’s word in a new way?
Do you Bible Journal already or are you finally ready to take the leap?
Hello all!I am an Oklahoma girl, through and through!I was born here and after 5 years in Texas for college, I missed Oklahoma too much and just had to come back home with my Oklahoma husband to raise our Oklahoma babies! I met my husband in high school and fell we in love in college.We have 2 beautiful kids that are full of life and make me such a proud momma.I love to craft, journal, paint furniture, and decorate our Edmond home!See some of my creations at The Lettered Light www.etsy.com/shop/theletteredlight and IG:theletteredlight
Okay, has your interest been sparked?! Did you check out all the fun inspiration at IllustratedFaith.com? Are you ready to get started?! LET’S DO IT!
When I first started journaling in my bible, I didn’t have as many supplies as I have now. That is totally okay because I didn’t need much to get going. Just a Bible and a pen!
{These are dollar store pens and a pencil from the Target Dollar Spot. You don’t even need a special Bible!}
Something I must remember, even now, is that what I love about Bible journaling cannot be all about the tools and supplies. I have seen all too often people so caught up in having the newest, coolest thing on the craft aisle that they seem to miss the opportunity for devotion. I have to keep myself in check with this, too. It is very tempting to pick up one more stamp, sticker set, or a new pen to try. Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with trying new things, it’s fun!
I want to remind us all that our focus is not the medium for our art but the WORDS that inspire the art.
{This is an example of a simple entry using only pen. Seen here are my wide-margin journaling Bible and a regular margin Bible.}
When I sit down to start on a new scripture, I first write out the words in a sketchbook or on a scrap piece of paper. This is my meditation time. I literally write the same verse several times, if I need to. My goal here is for the words to speak to me. As soon as that begins to happen, certain words begin to feel more prominent and seem to speak loudly. I will start to write them bigger, and my verse will begin to take shape! Use this time to really concentrate on the words. Meditate on them and consider their impact on your life. What is the Lord wanting you to hear?
{A sample page from my sketch book, showing my meditation process.}
Through this process, I start to get a feel for how I want my verse to look and the shape I want it to take! Once I feel good about that and how the words have led me, I move on to the artsy part in my Bible. Like I said before, even if you only have pens and a Bible you can still enjoy this form of worship! I choose to focus on the words because I have always been fascinated by lettering, but some people prefer to illustrate with actual people or boats or animals, whatever the text suggests. There are no wrong answers here. Freedom of your own interpretation and expression at its finest.
{Here are some examples of entries with minimal tools but maximum impact! These are made with pen and either colored pencil or marker – things your kids may have in their art supplies!}
Don’t be afraid to get started because the Lord is ready to speak to you! As you go along, pick up a fun stamp or sticker set here or there to keep you excited, and before you know it you will have a library of tools to use. But…
Remember this: the Lord doesn’t need all of this to speak to you.
He only needs YOUR open heart and HIS open word, so grab a pen!
What’s your favorite verse?
Why don’t you start your faith journaling journey by illustrating that verse?
(We would love to hear about your journaling journey! Leave a message or tag us in your post. Add the hashtag #creatingagreatday to your art. We look forward to seeing how the Lord is moving through you!)
Hello all!I am an Oklahoma girl, through and through!I was born here and after 5 years in Texas for college, I missed Oklahoma too much and just had to come back home with my Oklahoma husband to raise our Oklahoma babies! I met my husband in high school and fell we in love in college.We have 2 beautiful kids that are full of life and make me such a proud momma.I love to craft, journal, paint furniture, and decorate our Edmond home!See some of my creations at The Lettered Light www.etsy.com/shop/theletteredlight and IG:theletteredlight
I am a visual learner through and through. I have to write things down. I have to look at my lists constantly to remember things. I love maps and knowing where things are. I love stationary with lines for my lists. I actually have lists of lists. Yeah, I’m one of those, ha! When I was in Bible class as a child, I was always so confused as to why the map of where things happened in the Bible had different names than those same places today. A visual learner’s nightmare!
Used with the permission of Illustrated Faith.
I recently discovered Bible journaling through IllustratedFaith.com and my whole spiritual experience has been forever changed. Until now, my visual and creative side had no part of my experience with the Word. And where would it? The bible is a book I could visually read, of course. Or as some people do, I could listen to the spoken word, but it’s too easy for me to tune that out. I could watch movie reenactments of the stories, but even then my mind wonders to the process of creating such a film and not the actual point and message.
{this is one of my favorite pages, I love the simplicity. This page was created with ink pen and colored pencils}
My mind was BLOWN upon discovering how some people have begun to put their creative juices literally ON the pages of their Bible! Drawcreatively in theBible? Use paints ON theBible?? Stamps? Stickers? Ribbons? Tape? Markers? A simple search of the hashtag, #illustratedfaith on Instagram helped me to understand that this was a world worth getting on board. A world where my work is perfect because I created it, and I created it for a reason that speaks to me!
{this is a simple example of bible journaling in a bible with regular margins, this page was created with washi tape, watercolor, stickers, and ink pen}
The process of illustrating my faith onto the pages of myBible“had me at hello!” I began simple, with just pulling out a key phrase here or there that spoke to me that day. Sometimes,justwriting it larger in the margins, similar to the way some magazine articles are designed. A call out of a specific text. As I dug deeper and continued to be inspired by others, I became more brave and confident to claim my bible in a new way!
I traced my precious son’s hand for this page! This page was created with watercolor paints and ink pen.
I am so excited to get to share this new way to experience the Word! I really feel that I am experiencing the text in a new way. I think about how I had drawn the verse that spoke to me yesterday, and I think about what verse I want to illustrate next. It can be a form of meditation, to stir on the words in a way that may be new to me! I have a sketchbook full of ideas that I play with before I put anything on my Bible pages. Some verses have several pages of thoughts and ideas.
When is the last time you can say you used pages and pages of a notebook focusing on one verse?
When I started bible journaling, my answer was NEVER!
“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds” Deuteronomy 11:18
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