Bible Art Journaling & Notetaking With The HCSB Notetaking Bible

HCSB Notetaking Bible

Holman Bible Staff

Bible 

The HCSB Notetaking Bible is designed to enhance personal Bible study as well as preparation for teaching and preaching. The Bible contains the full text of the Holman Christian Standard Bible in a single-column setting. Abundant space is provided with a 1.75 inch note taking space on each page to make observations, record insights, raise questions, and suggest to yourself additional exploration of the text. The Bible includes a 40-page concordance, eight four-color maps, a one-year Bible reading plan, presentation page, and an introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

My Thoughts

For years now I have been marking up my Bibles with notes and highlights and scraps of paper. But let's face it, you can only keep so many extra pieces of paper or sticky notes in your Bible before it causes the spine to break down.

More recently I have begun Bible Art Journaling. The first Bible I started in didn't have very wide margins and it was a bit of a challenge, so I did a lot of tip-ins. Again not the best solution because it eventually does a number on your spine.

You can just imagine my delight when I discovered the HCSB Notetaking Bible. The margins are wide enough to illustrate or make notes next to the very passage I am concentrating on.

The margins are lightly lined so it is easy to make notes that are legible and not wonky. It's also easy to cover the lines with art work. The ink used is a faded grey so it doesn't interfere with your doodles.

I've had success with colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint, and micron pens. There is little to no bleed through onto the adjoining page. The pages are thin but sturdy. 

The font is small but still readable. I'm pleased with the overall size of the Bible. With such wide margins and single column text it still is a very portable book. I've carried it with me to church and haven't found it unwieldy. 

The Bible nerd in me loves all of the extra features. There are colorful maps and a wonderful daily reading plan that has boxes to check when you've finished reading the particular passage. I'm a list maker - box checker so this pleases me. Such a nice sense of accomplishment is achieved when you look back at all of the passages that you have completed. 

My favorite extra feature is the concordance. It is quite complete. I'm used to anemic ones that force you to look up what you need elsewhere, but this one is very extensive. 

Whether you are a notetaker or Bible art journaler or a combination of both, I think you will find the Notetaking Bible to be to your liking.