The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength {Bible Journaling}


Several months ago I watched a series of tutorial videos by Darlene Schacht from Time Warp Wife on how to draw scrolls and roses. I bookmarked it and kept thinking I would get back to it and give it a try. Well yesterday was the day!

If you've ever wanted to draw scrolls or roses you really need to check her video series out. She makes the explanations simple and easy to follow. I practiced on scratch paper a few times and then just got brave and penciled it in my Bible. It actually turned out better than I had imagined it would! 

I followed Darlene's directions with these exceptions. I used a .01 Pigma Micron pen to go over the pencil lines and I used watercolor to paint the image. The background behind the words and flowers turned out darker than I had originally planned but I'm okay with it.

The Bible that I used is the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible.

About The Scripture

Nehemiah 8:10 falls in the middle of the chapter and actually towards the middle of the book. If you remember your Old Testament history you'll recall that Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall that surrounds the city and protects it from its enemies.

We pick up at this verse after the wall has been rebuilt. Ezra has gathered all the people into the square for a dedication of the wall. And he has read to them the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. (Just a side note . . . I have written in the margin of my Bible that this was the first small groups or Sunday School!) With the reading of the Law came shame and guilt upon the people. They began to mourn and weep because they knew that they had not kept these laws and it lead to the destruction of their city.

But then Nehemiah stepped forward and said, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." Then he said to them, " Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

I love this beautiful reminder in Scripture. Yes just like me the Israelites disobeyed the Lord's commands. But this wasn't a new revelation to God. He knew beforehand that they and I would disobey and He provided a way for us to be reconciled with Him. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds of the fact that true strength and security is found in Christ alone.


4 comments:

  1. I want to begin my bible journaling adventure so badly - I already draw and doodle in my bibles! I'm so nervous about taking a bigger step like using full page colors and water colors. Yours is beautiful!

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    1. Elizabeth . . . be brave and dive in! You could always test color a whole page by using one of the back pages like the dictionary or reading plan. Once you do it you will have confidence. By the way I didn't use any prep on this page because I was using watercolor and micron pens. When I use acrylic I do prep the page because it has a tendency to bleed through. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  2. So beautiful! I have not been brave enough to use water colors yet but it's something I want to try!

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    1. Hi Mary! I'm not a watercolorist so I was nervous about using watercolor myself. I'm still learning some of the tricks of the trade but so far I really like it.

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