Bible Journaling Ministries

Bible Journaling - Grow in the Word creatively!

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Where Are You God? Finding God in the Silence Bible Journaling Study

Joining the Where Are You God Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the Where Are You God bible journaling study. Use this article to start and grab the free calendar and mini-kit provided upon sign up at the bottom of this article. To join our Bible journaling family and share your thoughts there go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

where are you god

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before June 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

God is Here!

If you are experiencing the silence when you reach out to God, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a good Christian or that he’s left you. It’s quite the opposite. There are many reasons why you may feel disconnected from God, but just because you may feel the silence doesn’t mean that he’s not here.

Why is God Silent?

At some point in your life, you’ve probably wondered if God has forsaken you. You are not alone. When God is silent, it’s hard to muster up the strength to keep on keeping on.

But why is God silent? That’s a good question. One that only God can answer for your specific situation.

I can tell you that the universe is complex and only God knows why things happen that don’t make sense to me. I can’t simplify God by finding reasons for everything He allows (like Job’s friends did in the book of Job). Nor can I condemn God based on the evidence I don’t have (like Job did later in the book).

Read the book of Job. In Job 38-41, the Lord asks Job a series of questions about the earth, sky, and animals. It’s like an interrogation. By chapter 40, Job starts to get the point. Job doesn’t know what God knows. He doesn’t know how to run this world and shouldn’t condemn God for the way He runs it.

The author of Job never tells us why God allowed Satan to do what he did. We don’t get to know, which is an important outcome of understanding the book of Job. As believers, we are to trust God’s wisdom when we encounter suffering. We are to seek Him. Here’s how.

10 Ways to Find God in the Silence

  1. Know that God is Here: If you truly believe in God, know that He is with you. In fact, He never leaves you. Even in your darkest hours, He is with you. Trust that even His silence is an answer.
  2. Read God’s Word: If God is silent, it’s possible that He has already spoken to you through His Word. It’s important to read and meditate on the Bible, trusting in God to meet you objectively through His Word.
  3. Listen: As you read the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to disclose what you need to do and seek to understand. As you read, take a few minutes to silently listen, letting your soul find peace and comfort in the silence. It is often that, through the silence, you’ll receive your answer.
  4. Pray: Prayer is a conversation between you and God. In prayer, we’re aligning our lives with God’s purpose. Even though He might appear to be silent about a specific petition or request, remember that God is always with us. He hears you.
  5. Gather: “Gather in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:20)”. Gathering together in Jesus’ name, whether it’s in church or as a family, provides spiritual growth and accountability. Gathering together also adds power to prayer, often breaking through the silence, uncovering the answers we seek. “For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them (Matthew 18:19-20 TEV)”.
  6. Recognize God’s Sovereignty: Many Christians today have lost the biblical perspective of the magnificent greatness of God. Nothing takes place without God’s knowledge and plan. He gave us life, we sinned, and He doesn’t owe us anything. That said, He remains steadfast, He keeps His promises, and He never leaves us. We need to respect that he may or may not answer us, but it’s important to be open to receiving his response.
  7. Examine Your Heart: Consider this – God may be remaining silent because what you’re seeking could take you down the wrong path. Trust that God will help straighten out whatever is going on in your life that has left you fearful or feeling lost. Ask Him to guide you and then let Him! Will you trust that God will lead you out of the desert?
  8. Renew your Mind: Take the time to receive God’s Word and evaluate your life. Are there things in your life that the Holy Spirit is calling for you to change? Whether it’s a path you’re considering taking, a character flaw, an addiction problem, or depression that’s having a negative effect on your life, take time to renew your mind, leaving yourself open to receiving God’s Word.
  9. Take Action: Take a step in the direction that he’s called you to. Perhaps you need to change something in your life, forgive someone, ask for forgiveness, stop doing something harmful, stop allowing something harmful to happen, or start something healthy. You must participate in the life you are given.
  10. Have Hope: I love the paraphrased Message(MSG) version of Jeremiah 29:11. This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

God knows what He’s doing. When you ask, Where Are You God, know that He is here. Use the 10 tips above to help. Then, be patient and trust in the Lord.

To get this month’s calendar and monthly freebies, complete the form below.

Free Bible Journaling Templates Every Month!

As a member of our VIP list you'll receive freebies at least every month. You'll also receive the latest Bible journaling news, updates, and tutorials!

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Dream Big! Setting Yourself Up for Success Bible Journaling Study

Joining the Dream Big Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the Dream Big study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using this article, calendar, and mini-kit provided when you sign up at the bottom of this article. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#DreamBig” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before May 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Let’s Dream Big Together!

I have BIG dreams. I’m probably the biggest dreamer in my family. I believe that believers can do anything that’s within God’s will for us. But, action isn’t easy and taking the “wrong” action can lead to a longer journey. You must pursue the right work. That’s why understanding and pursuing the bigger picture is so critical. Here are a few ideas to help you set yourself up for success.

Believe in the Person God Created You to Be

If you’re like most people, you have at least one person that you look up to and admire. Perhaps you’ve read the autobiographies of successful people and studied the lives of individuals you admire. You may have even tried to emulate their journeys in search of their secret formula.  If you’ve come up short, here’s a peek at the answer. The answer is that they believe they can – just like the Little Engine that Could.

God created you. You have God-given talents and abilities to do what he put you here on earth to do. I often get “poo-pooed” for my optimism in this space, but please…hear me out. Things are not always black and white.

I was having a conversation with a very special person in my life, and he told me that I’d never go to the moon. He said, “Even if you wanted to and did everything 100% correctly, you will never get to the moon.” I don’t think he “gets” me.

Sure, I may not go to the moon today, but maybe I’m not supposed to go to the moon. If the Holy Spirit is telling me that I’m an astronaut, then I must work to discern what I need to do related to that calling. Perhaps I’m supposed to encourage a future astronaut. Maybe I’m supposed to visit a flight simulator and learn what zero gravity feels like so I can be prepared for the next step in my journey. Perhaps, while I’m seeking clarity, I bump into someone who also wants to be an astronaut, but while we chat he comes to know Christ.

Just because I have a calling, doesn’t mean I understand the depths of God’s plan in my life. Our God is not a simple God. He’s more complex than anything I’ll ever understand. But His plan is perfect.

Believe in God’s plan for you. There is only one of you, and he has big plans for your future!

What Does the Bible Say about the Importance of Dreams?

There are two different types of dreams. One that God provides and one that he doesn’t. You have to discern whether or not your dream is from God. If you have questions about discernment, I encourage you to work through the Stand in the Truth devotional in Momentum. The cheat sheet is this: if it goes against the Word of God, it is not from God. This is why it’s important to read and know the Word.

A dream (or calling) that you’ve discerned is from God will not be ignored. Believe me; I’ve tried it. You don’t want to ignore the Holy Spirit. It won’t turn out good for you. I speak from experience.

When people attempt to set goals, and achieve their dreams without God, they may get what they think they want or deserve. However, they will often find the process or result to be empty and unsatisfying.

When God’s plan for you is your dream, and your deepest desires align with His wise and loving plan for you, you’ll be unstoppable. That doesn’t mean we should sit back and rely on God to make our “dreams come true.” He gave us the ability to believe in our dreams AND take action. The Bible says we must confirm our calling and election (2 Peter 1:10).

Believing in Your Dreams When Others Don’t

Sometimes those closest to us don’t support our dreams. If you’re like most people, you’ll likely face resistance from those you love the most. That’s ok! That’s part of the plan. If it was easy, you wouldn’t get the opportunity to grow.

Sometimes having a big dream is what you need to navigate a relationship. Once you’ve completed that journey, somehow the dream morphs into something else. That’s ok too. This is why having a RELATIONSHIP with God is key. Talk to your Father. Ask Him for discernment, wisdom, and direction.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

To set yourself up for success, you need to start with a clear plan, thinking through the details, breaking it down into all the workable parts. I use a tool called Trello to help me out.

Then set a time frame for accomplishing every task associated with your plan and when you expect to achieve your goals. Put some buffer (or extra time) in your plan because life happens, and you only get one to live.

It’s also important to seek out mentors and wise counsel. When it comes to mentors, find people who have been where you are, dreamed big, and achieved their goals. They should be individuals you can turn to for advice and questions. If you don’t have anyone in your circle that fits the role of “mentor, you can study successful people you’ve never met who have reached their dreams.

Take Action

Taking action is one of the most crucial steps when it comes to life changes. Unfortunately, this is where many dreamers fall short. One of the biggest things that successful people do that others don’t is show up. Yup. They show up day after day and do the work.

Let your desired outcomes come alive and infuse your life through actions. It’s important to remember that, to win, you must act. You can’t win the race without taking action.

Dreaming is Important

Life is too short to sit back, waiting for something great to happen to you. That’s why it’s so important to have dreams and ambitions that we want to accomplish.

Maybe you’ve been told that dreaming is a waste of time. Perhaps you’ve been told you’ll never amount to anything. That’s a lie. It’s not of God. God knows everything about you. He made you in your mother’s womb exactly how you are supposed to be (Psalm 139:13-14). The Bible says you can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). You will amount to something because YOU ALREADY ARE SOMETHING. If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to read the You are Beautiful devotional in Momentum.

Go Get ‘Em

Dreams aren’t just experiences you have while you sleep. They’re the visions and goals that ignite your heart and bathe your soul with joy and excitement at the very thought of them. They’re those passionate visions of what you want your life to be at its highest possible level of fulfillment. Don’t be afraid to dream big, and then take that first step.

To get this month’s calendar and monthly freebies, complete the form below.

Free Bible Journaling Templates Every Month!

As a member of our VIP list you'll receive freebies at least every month. You'll also receive the latest Bible journaling news, updates, and tutorials!

Please provide consent.
Yes, I want emails from Bible Journaling Ministries.

Thank you! You're on the list! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. 

Remember to open our emails every time we send them so our system keeps sending them to you!

 

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Rise Up! What to do About Your Belief in the Resurrection

Joining the Rise Up Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the Rise Up study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using this article, calendar, and mini-kit provided when you sign up at the bottom of this article. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#RiseUp” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!resurrection

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before April 30, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Note: This article about the resurrection of Christ may be a bit graphic or cause you to feel emotions you’re not prepared for. If this is the case, you may prefer to skip over the sections labeled, Did the Resurrection Happen?  and How the Apostles Died. 

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen! For Christians, these three words bring pure joy and hope to their lives. Believing in the resurrection comes down to having faith. If you’ve lost faith or need a reminder of the importance of the resurrection, read on!

Why is the Resurrection Important?

Without the resurrection, faith would be pointless. The apostle Paul tells us that “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). Put simply, if Christ’s resurrection didn’t take place, having faith would be worthless. If Christianity is just about physical life, it really doesn’t matter what we do, or how we live, or what we believe. Fortunately, Jesus was resurrected, a truth that changed the lives of the children he suffered for on the cross.

Looking for proof of the resurrection?  Keep reading.

Daily Importance

Believing in the resurrection plays an important part in our daily lives. For instance, believing in the resurrection makes it easier to deal with the challenges and persecutions we face. When we run into problems, believers don’t give up because we know this earthly world isn’t the end for us. It’s only the beginning. Things get better when it’s our time to head home to Heaven.

Eternal Reward

Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, the purest sign of unconditional love, we will live forever by his side. There isn’t a greater reward than this – a reward that is well worth dealing with any trials and tribulations we may face as Christians.

Did the Resurrection Happen?

Yes – it’s in the Bible. – “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee” Luke 24:6. Those who’ve attempted to disprove Jesus’ resurrection have come up short, and in many cases, have embraced Christianity. CS Lewis is a great example. But if you need more, here’s a great article on historical evidence for the resurrection.

Assuming that a person didn’t believe in the Bible, understanding what the apostles did after the resurrection and how they died should be evidence enough. What makes a person believe in something so much they’re willing to be skinned alive, beheaded, stoned to death, or crucified? What did they see? What did they experience that made it ok to die such unfathomable deaths?

How the Apostles Died

It’s easy to forget the past, but somethings should be remembered. The details of the deaths of the apostles are still debatable, but here’s what I’ve discovered and believe to be true.

  • Simon: Martyred in Rome during emperor Nero’s reign, Simon, also known as Peter, asked to be crucified in an upside-down position, so that his death wouldn’t be equal to Jesus’.
  • Andrew: Scourged, and, instead of being nailed to a cross, Andrew was purposely tied to the cross because it took longer to die (2 days).
  • James: Also known as James the Greater, James was beheaded with a sword along with his accuser who converted because of his courage.
  • John: The only apostle of the twelve that wasn’t murdered. John died of old age.
  • Philip: The first of Jesus’s disciples, Philip was scourged, put into prison, and later crucified.
  • Bartholomew: There were two reports of how Bartholomew died. One that said he was beaten, then crucified, the other that was skinned alive then beheaded.
  • Thomas: Thomas was martyred by having a spear run through him.
  • Matthew: A swordsman stabbed Mathew in the back.
  • James: At 94, James, also known as James the Less, was beaten and stoned by his persecutors, then clubbed to death.
  • Thaddaeus: Also known as Jude, Judas, and Lebbaeus. Thaddaeus was crucified.
  • Simon the Canaanite: Simon, also known as a zealot, was also crucified.
  • Judas Iscariot: The infamous, treacherous apostle hanged himself. It was also said that he threw himself from a high place located on land he had purchased with blood money.
  • Matthias: While not one of the original 12, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas. He died of old age or by stoning.
  • Paul: Paul was also not one of the original 12, but perhaps the most influential. Most historical documents refer to his beheading at the command of Nero.

Please leave a comment with a link to our source if you believe I need to update my list. Thanks!

What to Do About Your Belief

Read the Bible and understand the resurrection and its significance to your faith.

1. Consider What Happened after the Resurrection (in Acts)

Read the book of Acts. Following His resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to his followers which caused dramatic changes in their lives. Because of the preaching of His faithful disciples, inspired by the resurrection, the Christian church was founded and expanded.

If you don’t fully believe the Bible, read about the apostle’s lives and deaths, and ask yourself why someone would go to such extremes for something that might be false. It’s incomprehensible.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to Help You with Any Disbelief You’re Experiencing

When you chose to give your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit entered you and is still within you. When you feel lost, turn to the Holy Spirit, pour out your feelings and open your heart to the purest form of love and acceptance. Remember, glorious joy comes from not just visually seeing Christ, but by believing in Him. Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that you’re never really alone. Once you’ve reconciled your beliefs, you can start sharing your faith wherever you go, thereby sharing your life-changing joy.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to Provide Opportunities to Share Your Faith

“Ask and it shall be given to you.” When you open your mind and heart to the Holy Spirit, opportunities will appear to share your faith. There are a lot of lost souls in the world today that need loving, patient guidance. Be God’s right hand.

4. Do It in a Loving and Respectful Way

Always be prepared to share your faith, ready to give an answer to anyone who is looking for a reason to have hope – to believe in something greater than themselves. The important thing is to share your faith gently and with respect. Use your God-given gifts to serve others through Him.

5. Be Prepared for the Battle and have Courage

There are naysayers out there that will do their best to blow out the candle of your faith. When you face attacks, stand strong and realize that these precious people are dealing with internal struggles and past experiences. Hopefully one day they’ll believe, perhaps because you planted a seed. It’s important to remember that any conversation about God is going to necessitate a degree of faith. The crucifixion and resurrection were unprecedented acts of sacrificial, selfless, love. These were acts that were so significant that believing should and will come naturally. If you need a reminder from time to time, reaching out to the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible will help get you back on track.

The most important thing to remember is to never stop believing and sharing the good news. It’s time to Rise Up!

To get this month’s calendar and monthly freebies, complete the form below.

Free Bible Journaling Templates Every Month!

As a member of our VIP list you'll receive freebies at least every month. You'll also receive the latest Bible journaling news, updates, and tutorials!

Please provide consent.
Yes, I want emails from Bible Journaling Ministries.

Thank you! You're on the list! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. 

Remember to open our emails every time we send them so our system keeps sending them to you!

 

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He Created: How to Embrace Creativity for the Kingdom of God

Joining the He Created Bible Journaling Study

There is no charge for joining the He Created study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using the calendar and mini-kit provided. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#HeCreatedStudy” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!He Created Bible Journaling Devotional

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the Renew devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit for Renew, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before March 31, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Imagine how wonderful it would be if you could walk in the divine power of God every day, simply by connecting with the creative nature of His Kingdom? Well you can, because it’s already within you. Since the beginning of time, God’s children have had the power to release their creative expressions, demonstrating their love for Him.

The Trinity is Creative

God (created the Heavens and earth, Genesis 1:1), Jesus (was a carpenter Mark 6:3), and the Holy Spirit are creative (Exodus 35:31). Because you are created in God’s image and filled with the Holy Spirit, you are also creative. But that doesn’t mean that you have to paint or be an artist. You can be an engineer, stay-at-home mom, a teacher, accountant, etc., and use your creativity in what you do every day, putting your whole heart into the process.

The Story of Creation

The creation story is where we become a part of God’s plan, witnessing our creation through Adam and Eve, and ultimately discovering our humanity. In Genesis 1:1, we realize God’s purpose for our existence, made in His image and likeness. Talk about the ultimate in creativity! Doesn’t it make sense that, as part of God’s workmanship, we were created to do good work here on earth? The perfect example of “good work” is to embrace our creative gifts for the Kingdom of God.

How to Embrace Creativity for the Kingdom of God

Life can sometimes get in the way of making time to embrace our creativity. If this is a problem you’re familiar with, the following suggestions will help you focus. Consider making time for them.

Task 1: Identify Your Gifts

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your creative gifts, ask others around you what they think, and ask yourself what you’re most passionate about.

  • What do you do as a hobby because it’s fun? Maybe you haven’t considered it worthy of more time or effort because it’s so fun.
  • What’s burning inside of you that you tend to push down because of other priorities?
  • What do people say you’re naturally good at?
  • What do you love doing?
  • What do you dream about doing?
  • What do you get excited about?
  • What do you do in your “free” time?

Ask, ask, ask until you’ve identified your gifts.

Task 2: Seek Guidance

Turn to the Bible and research everything it says about your particular gift. Did anyone in the Bible have it? What did they do? For example, David had a gift for singing amongst other things. He sang of the Lord in front of his people to encourage them and to teach them. Many of the apostles had the gift of evangelism. What did they do? Where did they go?

Pray that God would guide you to use your gifts in a way that’s honoring and glorifying Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His plans for you. Talk to your pastor or mentor, and ask those around you whom you trust what they think about your gifts and how you should use them.

Task 3: Cultivate Your Gifts 

Cultivate your gifts by reading, learning, practicing, failing, and getting back up. Rinse and repeat. Use your gifts for His glory. Nothing is too small or too big. In no specific order, use your gifts to:

  • Provide for your family and those around you
  • To lead others to God
  • To encourage others
  • To take care of the needy

Follow Jesus’ example. He did all of these things and so much more.

Task 5: Embrace Your Uniqueness

It’s so easy to look at what others are doing and say, “I can’t do it as well as she can, I don’t have the resources, and I’m not good enough.” Don’t do that! God made you with purpose. You have exactly what you need to do the task in front of you that needs to get done today.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV).

Task 6: Go Create!

Faith is at the core of our beliefs and the foundation of our loving relationship with God. It’s the foundation through which we hold the Gospel’s truths in our daily lives. The actions we take give us the innate ability to live in God’s likeness. Through our actions we work, we create, and we dream.  So, don’t hesitate to not only have faith, but to embrace creativity and your uniqueness.

By discerning our call cooperatively, we allow God to restore us to our true purpose. When we allow our creativity to flow as God designed at home, at work, and in our community, our lives exemplify the very words Jesus prayed: “your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

To get this month’s calendar and monthly freebies, complete the form below.

Free Bible Journaling Templates Every Month!

As a member of our VIP list you'll receive freebies at least every month. You'll also receive the latest Bible journaling news, updates, and tutorials!

Please provide consent.
Yes, I want emails from Bible Journaling Ministries.

Thank you! You're on the list! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. 

Remember to open our emails every time we send them so our system keeps sending them to you!

 

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Overflowing Love – Loving Others When It’s Not Easy

Joining the Overflowing Love Study

There is no charge for joining the overflowing love study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using the calendar and mini-kit provided. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#LoveStudy” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!overflowing love Bible journaling study

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the Renew devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit for Renew, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before January 31, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

Leviticus 19:18 states, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.”

The Bible commands Christians to love your neighbor as yourself, but sometimes that can be difficult for many reasons. Maybe you don’t know what love is because your view of love comes from the world. Perhaps you’ve experienced hurt or you feel that despite your best efforts,  your neighbor is simply unlovable. Maybe you don’t love yourself and find it hard to do for others what you can’t do for yourself. Whatever the reason, I encourage you to dive deep into this month’s study so that you might both experience and share the greatness of our God’s overflowing love.

What is Love?

Before you can begin to love others, you must first understand what love is. The easy answer can be found in 1 John 4:8. God is love. When you read 1 John 4:7-21, you discover a love that is so deep there are no English words to describe it.

Dictionary.com defines Love as:

  1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
  2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
  3. sexual passion or desire.

None of the definitions above describe the love displayed in 1 John. The best way to describe this is to look at the Greek word Agape.

Agape love is unlike any love you’ve ever experienced. It’s the most self-sacrificing love there is. I simply can’t describe it in any way besides saying that it’s greater than the love that I have for my children, which is truly deep. I am so thankful that God loves me and you with agape love. I receive His love with thanks and work daily to show my love to others.

Tips for Learning How to Give Overflowing Love

Loving others, especially people that make it hard to love them, isn’t easy. Love doesn’t mean that you allow yourself to be a doormat or abused. It means that you do your best with what you have and rely on God to direct your path. Sometimes the best I can do to show someone I love them is to walk away and take a different path. As you begin to work through your heart consider these tips for love.

1. Love God

Before you begin to love, I believe that you first must love God, then yourself. God is always first in my life, so he comes first.

I show God love through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my savior. My relationship with God involves prayer, worship, conversations, spending time in the Word, listening to the Holy Spirit, discerning His will, giving, serving, and taking action when the time comes (to name a few).

2. Believe That You Are Loved

To love God is to believe that He loves you. God is not like us. He is perfect, holy, loving and just. He has shown you agape love through the sacrifice of Jesus so that you can have a relationship with Him.

3. Love Yourself

Loving God means that you love the person he made you to be. Take care of yourself, ask for forgiveness for your sins, and work to be a better person each and every day.  The Bible has so many wonderful Scriptures and instruction for your life. Start there. Don’t forget that while you’re asking for forgiveness from God, that you must also forgive yourself. You are not perfect, but thank goodness Jesus is.

4. Find a Mentor

Find someone who you believe does a great job at loving others and spend some time with her. Find a mentor in the Bible as well. Jesus is a wonderful mentor when it comes to love. There are so many verses in the Bible that show his miracles, compassion, and love for others.

5. Love the Unlovable

Loving the unlovable is hard for me, and I suspect it is for most people. Our world is full of “me first”, “me too”, and “me..me..me”. It’s heartbreaking. When someone steps on me, uses me, says hateful things to me, or hurts me, it’s hard to turn the other cheek. (Matthew 5:38-40) Sometimes the best thing I can do is walk away. (Proverbs 27:12) Healthy boundaries are a good thing!

Note: If you are experiencing abuse, please get help locally or nationally. While I believe that Jesus’ teachings mean that we depend on God rather than human weapons, I also believe that God will raise up those to fight oppressors.

6. Practice Love

Practice makes purpose! Here are 40 practical things you can do to show someone overflowing love:

  1. Choose compassion over judgment
  2. Forgive those who have wronged you
  3. Help those who need help
  4. Feed the hungry
  5. Provide clothing to those who have none
  6. Help provide clean water to those who have none
  7. Support a homeless shelter
  8. Comfort and provide for the sick
  9. Pray for those in prison
  10. Sincerely compliment someone every day
  11. Look up, notice, and talk to the people who isolate themselves from members of the community, church, or school
  12. Say thank you to the people who serve you (like the grocery store clerk, postal carrier, or fire fighter)
  13. Say please
  14. Talk to your neighbor
  15. Tell your child’s teacher that you appreciate him or her
  16. Donate items to a shelter or charity
  17. Authentically tell someone they’re doing a good job (when they are)
  18. Tell someone who made a difference in your life what they did
  19. Teach someone a skill
  20. Send someone a card to let them know you care
  21. Volunteer at a shelter
  22. Donate to a charity
  23. Take care of the neighbor’s dog when they’re out of town
  24. Roll the neighbors trash back to their house after pickup
  25. Help a family in financial need with groceries or utilities
  26. Have dinner as a family every night this week.
  27. Give up your seat for someone else
  28. Say hi to people and engage in conversation
  29. Pass out water or food to the homeless
  30. Mentor someone
  31. Donate blood
  32. Volunteer at church or in your community
  33. Pick up the trash or doggie droppings from your neighbor’s yard
  34. Post something positive or encouraging on social media
  35. Defend someone who’s been wronged
  36. Foster or adopt a child
  37. Open the door for others
  38. Let someone go before you in line
  39. Listen to someone who’s going through a difficult time
  40. Teach your children to love by first being a good example

There are so many ways to show love. These are just a few. What are your favorite ways to show others overflowing love?

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Renew – How to Start the Year Off on Solid Foundation

Joining the Renew Study

There is no charge for joining the study. You will be able to answer the weekly prompts using the calendar and mini-kit provided. To participate join our Facebook Group – Bible Journaling for Beginners and search for “#Renew” to find the weekly prompts. To join the group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BibleJournalingforBeginners.

There are multiple options to do the study. The devotional and kits are designed to help you take a deeper dive into the Word and start applying biblical principles to your life. They are not required, but they’re a fun way to grow in the Word creatively!

  • Join Momentum – Momentum members get just about everything for only $25/month. Click here to learn more.
  • Subscribe to the 2018 kits – New for 2018! You can get all of the 2018 devotionals and their corresponding kit as they release for only $52. That’s $1/Week. You also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets Click here to purchase.
  • Purchase the kit by itself –New for 2018! Purchase the Renew devotional and kit for only $7. You’ll also get the How to Study Bible Topics Guide and worksheets. Click here to purchase.
  • Free option – To get the calendar and free mini-kit for Renew, please scroll to the bottom of this article and register for our emails before January 31, 2018. If you are on the email list and haven’t received it, please check your spam!

What Does it Mean to Renew?

Renew - How to Start the Year Off on Solid Foundation

I love restoration projects, but truth be told, I often wish the renewal would be instant. The process takes so long and requires quite a bit of effort regardless of what you’ve decided to renew.

Renewing is the process of transformation. The 1970’s cabinets in my home were a dull brown before I restored them. I spent months trying to decide what type of kitchen I wanted so that I could pick out the perfect shade of white. At first, I thought the project would be easy; a splash of paint and I’d call it a day.  In reality, it took an entire weekend.

The cabinets needed to be taken down, sanded, cleaned, and primed before they could be painted. Taking them down was easy. I labeled them so I would remember where they went. Then I set up an assembly line in my garage. It was there that 24 doors and 15 drawers were renewed. Oh, and I also spray painted the hardware in a lovely chrome finish so they would look great too.

Restoration of any kind needs a solid foundation, time, practice, and patience. Some projects are weekend projects, like the cabinets. Larger projects, like restoring a house can take years. The same is true for renewing oneself.

It can take years to lose the weight, but a weekend to clean out the junk food from your house. It can take years to pay off a mortgage, but a weekend to earn enough money delivering pizzas to make a little extra to pay down the balance. Sure, losing the weight and being debt free would be awesome today. But, that’s not the deal in this life. Renewing anything is a process. Here’s what I do.

The Renew Process

Before I start anything, I must rest in the knowledge that I am exactly where I need to be right now. God has me where I am for a reason. The ache in my heart to change or do something is there for a reason.

I am about to go on an amazing journey! But, whatever happens on this journey, I must rest in the knowledge that I am loved and cared for.  My identity in Jesus Christ is what determines where I’ve been, what I’ll do moving forward, and my eternal future in Heaven. I didn’t earn this. It was given freely to me by faith alone, and I am so thankful for it. You can have it too. (John 3:16)

1. Agreement

I have to keep things simple. Focusing on one thing has truly helped me grow more than I thought possible.

Before you can begin renewing or restoring yourself, you need to agree on what it is you’re trying to do. Pick one thing and be very specific. Trying to do it all at once is the perfect recipe for frustration and often leads to giving up after your motivation wanes.

2. Foundation

I can’t do anything apart from God (John 15:5). He is my foundation.

Set up a good foundation that’s rooted in the Bible. I always say that the Bible is life’s instruction manual. Everything you NEED to know is there. If you’re trying to lose weight, search for verses about health, food, and honoring your body. If you’re trying to get out of debt, search for verses about money, loans, and debt.

Write these verses down and keep them in your devotional,  journal, Bible journal, or on index cards. Refer to them along your journey.

3. Prayer

Prayer is a conversation between you and your Father. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and guide you on your the journey. Ask Him for his direction and will. Then, ask him to give you the strength and wisdom to follow it.

Pray even when you don’t want to. Make it a habit of praying constantly, throughout the day, even when it’s a great day (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Don’t just pray when you need help. Your Father wants to hear from you when you’re doing great too.

4. Love

I have found that the devil loves it when I beat myself up. When I tell myself that I’m not good enough or that someone else is a better fit, he wins.  If I truly want what I set out to achieve, I have to stop beating myself up and see myself as God sees me. You do too. (Romans 8:1)

To combat negative thoughts, I pray to remove them from my mind. Then I refer to verses or affirmations to help me remember that God is in control, that he loves me, and that I can do anything that’s according to His will.

Take some time to create a list of affirmations or verses to encourage you. It’s best if they are related to what you want to renew.

5. Take Action

All of these things take effort. Nothing about restoration is instant. You’ll start with a ton of motivation, and that’s great. It helps get the ball rolling. But, when that ball starts to slow down or go backward, seek His guidance. Review the steps above and follow His plan. With God, you’ve got this!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”