Do you keep a journal? I do. I’ve filled notebooks since I was old enough to hold a pen, but I got really serious about it my first day of Freshman Year of high school, 2002. Ever since then, I’ve ALWAYS had a journal going in some form. Lately I’ve been filling up a journal that I call my “Stories Journal,” which is filled with the little tiny stories of my life that don’t necessarily make it into my scrapbook. This includes stories from my Faith Journey!
This thing we call Bible Journaling doesn’t ALWAYS have to be done in a Bible, as you know. There’s no wrong way to do it. Any time you’re documenting what God is doing in your life, you’re Bible Journaling. And it doesn’t have to be detailed or take 3 hours per page or use a bunch of fancy supplies. I often find myself reaching for journals when I just want room to play or get my story down on paper. Today I’m going to give you a peek into a couple of my journals & show you some SUPER simple pages I created using just a few key products.
Here’s a list of limited supplies that are easy to use & you can likely fit into one pouch. This can be great for when you just want to get your heart on paper & don’t want all the fuss. It’s also a great list if you’re traveling or don’t have a lot of time.
- a pen
- scissors
- tape runner or glue stick
- washi tape booklets
- a 6×8 paper pad
- a few printables from the Print & Pray Shop
- black ink pad
- date stamp
- a good alpha stamp set
I created the page above using Brave Little Taylor’s Love Letter digital set. I was in love with those panda bears & already had a scripture in mind. I thought together it made a cute little “story” to tell about where our marriage is right now. It’s super simple! Just a few strips of washi tape, pieces from the digital set, & a couple of stamps. No paint, no personal journaling, no fuss. I wanted the scripture passage to tell the story of the photo. :)
Shawna Clingerman’s A Love Story Cards digital set included this segmented heart that looked like a pie chart to me! I’ve had a lot of things on my heart lately & this was the perfect way to get them on paper. This page came together extremely quickly because I focused on the subject matter, not on the supplies.
This final page is probably my favorite. :) It includes a copy of a photo booth strip that I found in my parents’ old photos.
These are the types of simple stories that shape your faith journey. :) I used my own product from the Print & Pray Shop, the La-La-Love digital set, to document this moment of my childhood. In this case, I kept it simple with some paper scraps accenting the photo booth strip, a few die cuts, & big bold words. I also stapled on a little daisy trim I had just for fun. :) On the facing page, I just wrote. No super detailed embellishments. I used the passage 1 Timothy 5:8 to focus my journaling:
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (ESV)
Because that’s what my parents did. They cared for my sister & I & each other relentlessly. They let love guide their actions instead of selfishness. They’re STILL providing for me & I’m almost 30 years old! This was a story that needed to be told simply & eagerly.
These pages I’ve shared with you are SO simple. You don’t have to spend a lot of time or supplies on documenting your heart for the Lord. It’s about the stories you tell. The feelings you feel. The prayers you pray over your family & your community. I challenge you to try to keep it SUPER simple next time you’re Bible Journaling. Choose a few supplies & do more with what you have. Focus on the feels. :)
<3 Elaine
Illustrated Faith A Love Story Cards digital set by Shawna Clingerman | Illustrated Faith La-La-Love digital set by Elaine Davis | Illustrated Faith Heart Like Jesus digital set by Brianna Showalter | Illustrated Faith Love Letter digital set by Taylor Rauschkolb | Illustrated Faith Unfinished stamp set by Jodie York (retired) | Illustrated Faith by DaySpring Created to Create stamp set by Shanna Noel (retired) | Illustrated Faith by DaySpring Goals with Grace stamp set by Bailey Robert | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd You Are Loved 6×8 paper pad | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd You Are Loved paper pieces | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd You Are Loved washi stickers booklet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd You Are Loved stamp set | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Whatever is Lovely Little Bits sticker sheet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Elements stamp set | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd pen | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Date It date stamp | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Colorful washi stickers booklet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Black & White washi stickers booklet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Bright & Brave washi stickers booklet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd acrylic block | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Homespun Alpha stickers in Bless Her Heart & Oh My Heavens | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd tape runner | Bella Blvd Addison 6×8 paper pad | Bella Blvd Addison washi stickers booklet | Prima Chalk Edger in Vintage Pink
