I love journals. I have been writing in journals most of my adult life. I come from a family of women who love to write long hand reflections of their lives. I have mentioned on this blog in the past my GreatAunt Anna’s diaries – what treasure they are for me.
On a neat website, the Internet Cafe Devotions, I read about a new type of journal – Journible. Their website is here.
I knew I had to order one.
The book I ordered arrived over the weekend.
I love it.
What is a journible? This is a beautifully bound, hardback, blank (well mostly) lined journal where you are prompted to write out a book of the Bible. See how they created the name? They fused the word journal with word Bible. Cool concept. A new way to enjoy journals.
The idea stems from Deuteronomy 17: 18 (NLT)
“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.”
God commanded the kings of Israel to handwrite their own copy of the Torah. The purpose of this was so that they would carry it with them always, read it, learn from it, and lead the people accordingly.
I don’t know about the rest of you but this Bible verse was new to me – what a treasure to find. Isn’t God’s word so amazing that it keeps giving, nurturing and feeding us just when we need it?
Many teachers are now recognizing the value of kinesthetic learning – using both the mind and the hands to enhance learning. Why not apply this technique to the Bible?
You write the text on the right hand side of the page. There is adequate room for each verse. The left side of these journals is for your own insights, impressions, prayers. Occasionally a question is printed there to prompt your thoughts.
The entire bible isn’t available yet, but is for Psalms, Proverbs, quite a few New Testament books and the gospels of Luke and John.
John is my favorite and the book I am ‘digging deeper” into this year (see my post about this here) so it was a naturally selection.
Yesterday in my quiet time, I opened the journible (there is something so reverent about the first time a book is opened. The slight cracking sounds of the binding. Touching its unmarked pages, I almost thought pixie dust would emerge from its pages – oops I digressed, sorry)
I wrote the first ten verses of John.
The process of handwriting the word of God revealed new nuances to its message. This is one spiritual practice that I will definitely keep doing. I do love journals.
Anyone want to join me in this practice with journals? Journibles are available at this site or on amazon.
I am not affiliated with them so don’t receive any compensation, but really liked this new Bible study tool that invites us deeper into God’s living scripture.
How are you growing in God’s word?
I plan on emailing you as I see you did me today too. am excited to connect with you
Oh Jean! So you know Florence and Marita Littauer?! Well, God really *has* connected us! =] I served on CLASS staff briefly, and of course, credit them so much w/ my speaking..and really writing, too. And as well you know, both Florence and Fred spoke about journaling. Florence used to say, “Do you have anything to say and does anyone need to hear it?” When I came to CLASS, I didn’t know what my passion was. I asked God to show me, b/c I knew that while I was interested in a # of things, if this passion were not God-given, He would not bless it. And that’s when He showed me it was journaling! That took me on such a great adventure….not just w/ journaling myself, but with telling others about it. And yes, it eventually ended up in book form called Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer (Multnomah). And then, eventually, it led me to study journal facilitation with The Center for Journal Therapy under the expert tutelage of renowned pioneer in the field, Kathleen Adams. She is not a Christian, but she is hands-down the best facilatator I’ve ever encountered. And her teaching has been excellent. I don’t agree w/ everything, and I leave that behind. But i’ve learned tons from her. I have a credential now, and hope to resume teaching my own classes. I hadc to write and teach some as part of her program. I have neither a blog nor a website, but am praying about both. Feel free to connect w/ me personally at any time at words@brick.net I’d love to stay in touch with you and your journey. And like you, I put EVERYTHING in my journals, sins and all. I f I don’t write honestly, God can’t use journaling as powerfully in my life; plus I want my daughter to know that her mother struggled, but that God was faithful to me in good times and bad. and you are leaving such a powerful legacy for your children.
I[‘m so glad that Jennifer has connected us, Jean. THat’s what I love about this generous blogging world!
Love
Lynn
NTTP (my little perfectionistic acroynym…..No Time To Proof! 🙂
Hi Lynn, I think we DO need to get to know each other. Thanks for leaving a comment today. I love connecting with fellow journalers. I will have to check out your book. I wrote an article for The Lutheran a few years ago called “Harvesting your Journal” – I learn so much by rereading them and highlighting them. AND don’t get me started on the value of journals on a retreat. wow. I really don’t know what I would do without this key spiritual practice. I know Kathy and see you saw she has commented here too. She is guest posting here in early November. I met her at CLASS a long time ago but haven’t seen her for quite a while. I fell in love with these Journibles. I know I could set one up on my own in a blank lined book but having one dedicated just for this purpose enhanced the digging into God’s word for me. I think it will be a great process for me. I don’t think I saw Genesis as one of the offerings yet. i will look up Lilias Trotter. no not familiar with her but will check out that blog. My heart skipped a beat when you described holding her journal in your hands – I really think you ARE a kindred spirit! I write in my journal knowing full well my kids may read them one day. When I teach others about journal writing I tell them that but add I am 99% honest in them. only a few details have I ever left out. I want them to be true reflection of my spiritual journey.
oh I am so glad you stopped by today. Do you have a blog? I do want to stay connected. I feel like I have discovered a new friend today. You have blessed me!
You know I know her name but not her. I see you must have told her about my blog as she has left comments too. Thanks for connecting us. I will check out her book. I love journaling and is one spiritual practice that has made such a difference for me. Thanks for stopping by today!
Laura it is a neat method and one I knew just after 10 verses would work well for me.
Hi Dawn. so glad we found each other over the internet. I have seen the random Journal day and will try to participate with it. will miss this coming Friday as we are traveling but will watch for it next month. I would love to connect more too with fellow journalers. Thanks for commenting today.
It really is a simple yet very effective way to studying the Bible too.
John is my favorite Gospel and one I especially am sitting with this year. This is a cool way to digging into God’s word. miss you too Jen
Hi Glenda! I never have tried this before but after even 10 verses I was seeing new things. I think it will be a wonderful new way of digging into God’s word
Actually, I don’t teach online, but that is a dream!! I do thnk we will meet someday, w/ Kel!
Does sound interesting. Thanks, Jean.
Great seeing YOU here, Lynni. It was a treat seeing you in St. Louis. God bless!
yes Lynn! I still hope to look more into your workshops? ANd so still hope we (Kel, and you and me ) get to connect in real life!
Wow, Kathy, how wonderful to see you here! And I loved seeing you and meeting Larry at AWSA! You are so dear.
Jennifer, you are so dear to send me here! I am so grateful . Thank you!
So cool to see you here, Dawn!
Well, Jean, I’ve seen your lovely face and rich comments on the various blogs that I enjoy, but I didn’t know that you were a journaling aficionado. So am I, as Jennifer mentioned below. And what I love here: It’s like old home week, where I am seeing new friends and old. Kathy Collard Miller gave me my first “break” as an author with publicaiton in her wonderful books….and I see Dawn Paoletta, a new friend, and journaling devotee, and of course, dear Jennifer, who is such an inspiration to one and all. So it feels good to be here. Mostly, though, I love your passion about journaling! Thanks for the introduction to Journibles. I had not heard of them, but have basically employed the technique in my own journals, but in shorter snippets. I particularly love that verse in Kings, and use it in journal classes. There is something powerful about writing out God’s Word and many Scriptures, hand-copied by me, appear in my journals, and then my reactions to them. Do you know if Genesis is available? I’m really feeling a drawing to doing this with Genesis next year. Of course, one can write many God-honoring entries in a journal (I write my prayers or my own psalms to the Lord, as an example, and referenced in my book that Jennifer mentions). I even love to collage a bit in journals. And Jean, I also read with great interest about your aunt’s journals. Are you familiar with Victorian British author and artist, Lilias Trotter? You can read about her life and her journal entries via the writing of author Miriam Huffman Rockness. When I saw the cache of your aunt’s journals, I immediately thought of Lilias. We traveld to Leicester, England this past July, and I held in my hands her journals from the 1800s, and her insights about the Lord (and Scripture) and her beautiful paintings. It was the thrill of my life. If you are interested, read Lilias’s own journal entries (and Miriam’s introduction to her) in A Blossom in the Desert, and you can also read Miriam’s biography about Lilias. And here is Miriam’s blog about this fascinating author from times past: http://ililiastrotter.wordpress.com/
Of course, if she hadn’t journaled, we would have lost a tremendous legacy! Thank you for sharing your heart and passion for journalng, Jean. May the Lord bless you richly.
Fondly,
Lynn
Have you met Lynn Morrissey? She has a real passion for connecting to God through journey. She’s written a book about it. I’m going to mention this post to her. I’ll check out Journible.
Very cool, Jeanie. I’m checking that out.
Wow- I LOVE YOU! WHere have you been? I do write scripture in my journals and rewrite on index cards etc. I am a journal lover as well. Please visit and link perhaps, for our Random Journal Day the first Friday of the month! I would love to connect more…ok, daughter needs computer I am booted!
This is so exciting — I am teaching John in my class right now. I’m off to check this out. Thank you so much for making me aware of it. Love you and miss you, Jean!!
Wow–hadn’t heard of these. I need to link them to the scripture memory Facebook page HideHisWord because I know some of the ladies there would be interested! Thanks, Jean.
Such an interesting idea. I often write Scriptures into my journal, but not in this systematic way.
Fondly,
Glenda
They are supposed to get more. I can send you a photo of a page if you want to craft your own. Basically it is 10 verses to one lined page of a regular sized journal. It is a neat idea too – to slowly copy the Bible.
I am really liking this journal, Kathy. So simple yet innovative
This is really a great idea. I wish they had Ecclesiastes! However, being the “make-do” type, all I need is my Bible and a blank book. Thanks for sharing, Jeanie.
Thanks, Jean, for alerting us to this. I hadn’t heard about it before. I’ll have to give that some thought.