Reading, Writing & Pondering

  Do you like to read your Bible and journal about what you read? The Know Your Bible Journal for Women is a beautiful, yet practical, journal to help you reflect on your Bible reading time. The Know Your Bible Journal for Women goes through each book of the Bible from start to finish. It has been a couple of years since I read straight through the Bible but this journal would be especially nice for that purpose. It is based on the three-million-copy bestseller, Know Your Bible. This journal helps you define the who, what when, where, and why of each biblical book. It also has space to record your thoughts and feelings as you go through each Bible book.  I like that the Know Your Bible Journal for Women helps you flush out the basics you need to know and remember from each book of the Bible. The guided questions are basically the same through each book, which I liked. I think it helps you to focus on the basics to know and remember. There is plenty of space to write. It is ...

In our modern society, it seems like so many voices around us are saying, "hurry, hurry." Yet, God often has us in a waiting period which can be so frustrating in our fast-paced world. When God Says Wait: A Devotional Thought Journal from Elizabeth Laing Thompson is designed to help put all of those thoughts and frustrations on paper and to continue to guide journalers to look to God. When God Says Wait starts out with a short but powerful 2-page introduction by Thompson. She talks about different types of waiting seasons and shares how journaling can help us through those times. The journal then has a short paragraph by the author followed by a question or two to answer as you write. A Bible verse is at the top of the second page of each two-page themed writing spread. I am finding When God Says Wait to be a helpful journal. I like how there is so much room to write but yet there are short paragraphs and verses to think about along with the writing prompt questions. ...

  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8) The Near Journal is designed to help you take time to draw near to God and focus on Him in your quiet time each day for 90 days.  The Near Journal doesn't give you what to study for ninety days. Instead, this journal provides the structure you need to study what you want to study in the Bible. This journal is designed to help you make a commitment to keep regular times with God and your Bible. Each day's journaling area provides a place to write a summary of what you have read or thoughts about the verses you read, a place to write some goals or things to do based on what you read, a space for gratitude and a space for prayer, then a place to write a verse to memorize.   I like that The Near Journal is easy to use. It is straight-forward in it's approach. I like the simple instructions that go with it. The price is reasonable and the whole package is nicely done.    I received an el...

The Daily Question For Your And Your Child is a fun way to create a special keepsake journal with your child. The Daily Question For You and Your Child contains 365 questions, one for each day of the year. However, this book could be started any time of the year. Open up the book to the current date and start asking a question. This interactive journal has space for asking the question for three years. The idea is that you are creating a time capsule of responses and can see how your child's personality and interests have changed over time as the vary year after year. Here are a couple examples of questions that are asked in the book: What is your favorite smell? What do you do when you are bored? What do you know about Jesus? This is a spiritual journal so there are a few Christian-based questions asked. I like that the Daily Question For You and Your Child journal has a place to slip a picture into the front cover to turn it into a frame. One could change the picture ev...

Besides reading, one of my favorite activities is journaling. This new Charles Haddon Spurgeon journal is a gorgeous new journal for the Spurgeon fan who likes to write or take notes. Spurgeon quotes grace the bottom of many of the lined pages. Quotes like, "The people of God should be about their Father's business." and "Think much on Grace, Christian." Along with each quote, is the corresponding sermon title and sermon number. The C. H. Spurgeon journal is 140 lined pages. I would describe the line spacing as "college ruled" as the lines are closer together than some journals, which I personally like. This journal is also a good size to carry along to take sermon notes at church or to write on the go. It measures 5" by 8.25 inches. The front of the journal has a customizable table of contents to go along with the numbered pages on the journal. This journal is a combination of leather and hard bound with a ribbon marker to keep your page. It...

The new CSB Notetaking Bible from Holman publishers is just gorgeous at first glance. While it is more important to read your Bible than look at it, this Bible just invites me to pick it up and read it--and journal in it. While the print is 8 point type and not real large in this Bible, it does boast a single column text with 1.75 inch margins for notetaking. It is also not real large, at 8 inches long by a little over 6 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick, so it would be great to carry to church for sermon or Bible study notes. It is also a beautiful Bible for those who enjoy Bible art journaling. The pages aren't real thick but they would work great for colored pencils or using gesso to treat the pages for using markers or paints that would bleed through.The Bible has some great extras--a concordance, Bible maps, and a one-year reading plan. The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage wit...

Beautiful words and beautiful photos make up this truly beautiful book, Be The Gift by Ann Voskamp. Be The Gift includes Voskamp's best selections from her best selling book, The Broken Way. These selections of heart touching prose reveal how our lives can become gifts to others when we let God take our brokenness and turn it into gifts of grace. Voskamp says in the introduction, "Maybe the only abundant way forward--is always to give ourselves forward? To be broken and brave who know that when the stakes are the highest, kindness matters the most. To believe that the bad brokenness of the world is met by the good brokenness of Christ's humble sacrifice for us." Many of us do have hearts that are sad and broken, but Voskamp suggests we take that sadness and give our broken heart away so we can begin to heal. If I could put Be The Gift into everyone's hands in this country and have them read it, I would. If we could all just take ourselves and pour oursel...

Here's Some Happy: A Coloring Journal to Lift the Soul by Gina Graham is a large formatted beautiful coloring journal. Gina Graham has designed beautiful and whimsical pictures, some with Scripture verses and some without, in this journal that measure 10.1 inches square. There are plenty of lines amidst the pictures of birds, animals, flowers, adorable people, and other whimsical designs. They are indeed happy pictures to color and they are all on thick paper to minimize bleed-through. I have read that coloring reduces stress and these designs feel especially stress-reducing to me. Journaling also is said to reduce stress. Putting the two together in this gorgeous book should make for some "happy" to think about. People of all ages could enjoy this book too. The designs aren't too tiny for those of us who like larger designs like I do. This is a real feel-good coloring journal that would be fun for anyone who enjoys both coloring and journaling. I highly...

I have to state right up front that I LOVE a good journaling devotional. I like a book that helps me get my thoughts together, focus on God's word, and then think about how to apply it in my life. All in All Journaling Devotional by Sophie Hudson is the journaling devotional that can do all of those things. Hudson wrote this book to remind readers according to the back cover that "Jesus is the All in All--over all, through all, and in all that you do." All in All contains 100 devotions designed to better learn and understand the Bible all while living the best life you can with Jesus in every day. Each devotion starts with a relevant reading from Hudson that truly relates to life in today's world. Each reading is followed by four questions to answer or activities to do to help you relate each devotion to your own life. Then there is a larger space to write a prayer for each day. All in All was written primarily to young adult women, but I have to say, as a m...

Reading my Bible and journaling at the same time helps me to process better what I am reading and allows me to use my creative side. The NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Large Print Bible allows all of those things to happen for me: reading my Bible, blank space to journal and pictures to color. Best of all, Large Print means this beautiful Bible is printed in a 10-point type size for easy readability. The Beautiful Word Large Print Coloring Bible measures about 9 3/4 by 7 3/4 inches.  The NIV Beautiful Word Bible is also done in a thicker white paper so artwork and journaling are less likely to bleed through. It also has a gorgeous floral fabric cover. Coloring Page with space on one page to journal or create your own picture and the other side with a coloring picture. Beautiful Full Spread Coloring Page in the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible Three Large Print Journaling Bibles side by side: The Inspire Large Print Edition from Tyndale House Publishers in New L...

The Weekly Prayer Project is an absolutely gorgeous book. This beautiful hardcover book is full of 144 nice, thick pages to journal, pray, reflect and connect with God. The Weekly Prayer Projec t is divided into seven sections with each representing a different type of prayer found in the Bible. There are sections called Requests, Gratitude, Lament, Intercession, Faith, Repentance, and Awe. While there are 52 weeks designated for journaling and prayer, the book is designed to work for you however you wish to use it. You may either start at the beginning or jump in and start where you feel God leading you to begin. You could start it in a new year or you could start it now as there is nothing dated. Each week's reading starts with a Bible verse, a short explanation and is followed by writing and prayer prompts. The pages are beautifully illustrated with small watercolor illustrations of plants and then each section is divided by a beautiful color photo. Also, each section s...

Whispers of Rest: 40 Days of God's Love to Revitalize Your Soul by Bonnie Gray is a beautiful devotional book that truly is refreshment for your soul. According to Gray, Whispers of Rest is a "devotional detox for your soul" designed to guide you to feeling more peaceful while you savor the fact that you are God's beloved. In order to use this book to it's full potential, Gray says that you will need three things: a journal, a quiet corner where you won't be interrupted and a desire. Each day's reading includes Scripture and thoughtful words to reflect on from the author. Then Gray includes God's Whispers to You,(words that Jesus would say to you based on Scripture), a prayer for the day, journaling questions to reflect on, an activity challenge to do something to help refresh your spirit and some notes of why that activity would by especially beneficial for you to take time to do. Some examples of the activities include walking in nature, taking...

Think Better Live Better is the first Joel Osteen book that I have ever read. I found it to be quite helpful in helping me to change my thought processes to a more positive frame of mind at a time when I needed that. At the same time, I think a journal helps me to learn and remember things for a much longer time. The writing process helps me think through the writer's words, process them, and add my thoughts so I can change my thinking to work for me so I like having the journal to work through with the book. This journal was a big help to me in that way. The Think Better Live Better Journal goes along with the main book and is divided into 10 sections: Reprogam Your Mind, Remove Negative Labels, Release the Full You, Think Yourself to Victory, Pregnant with Possibility, The Promise is in You, Ask Big, You Have What you Need, Keep Your Crown and Just Remember.  As Osteen says, "This journal companion is a practical tool that will help you train yourself to tune out the n...

One of the ways I best relax and diffuse stress is by spending time with God and creating. I like that Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal offers a way to do that in this beautiful little book. Tranquility has pages designed for uplifting your spirit through prayer and meditation, coloring, journaling, and drawing. In the introduction, you are encouraged to, "take it Slow," and to use the journal in your own way to reflect and connect with God in a creative way that is meaningful for you. I like the journaling prompts, prayers, and coloring pictures in Tranquility . I would encourage everyone to have sharp colored pencils ready for their creative work in this book as the coloring designs are on the smaller side. I also think the pages are too thin to use markers so I would stick with colored pencils. The coloring designs do have a bit of pre-printed coloring already done to them on some of the pages which means you'll want to stay within their c...

I have to admit, I love "real" letters--letters from friends and family delivered by the post-person. I think it says something about how special you are when someone takes time to actually write out their message to you. Most days in our modern world, though, messages come by email and text. This new book, Open When. . .Letters to Lift Your Spirits by Karen Salmansohn, offers readers a chance to "open" optimistic letters when they need to be encouraged. This small book, with it's cheery, bright cover, measures just 7.4 by 4.2 inches. There are twelve letters to Open When . . .You've had a bad day, you feel out of place, you're doubting yourself, and more. The back cover describes this book as "an emergency inspiration kit designed to lift the spirits." The designs are cheery and I think this book would make a nice gift for someone. However, I would mention that it is not geared to the Christian audience as there are references to Buddha...

Bible Art Journaling has been a hobby of mine for the past 2 years. I enjoy being able to creatively reflect God's Word back to Him. If you are considering that hobby, this NKJV Journal The Word Bible in large print would be a great one to get. The NKJV Journal The Word Bible in large print is available in some beautiful cover options, including this nice fabric floral, as well as plainer covers. It has a more easily read 10 point typeface with nice, wide margins with light lines in a thicker, creamy-colored paper for art journaling, or just journaling in general. The words of Christ are in red.It has a beautiful sewn binding that lays flat with a ribbon marker. It is just very nice and still not real large to carry to church, although thicker than some other Bibles. I think this Bible is beautiful inside and out. I like this Bible version and I especially like that it is red-letter. Other Journaling Bibles I have looked at were not. I also like that it is not real la...

The NIV Holy  Bible for Girls Journal Edition has a beautiful turquoise cover design with a pink band. It is also currently available in a pink colored design that is like the turquoise cover. The cover slip say this Bible is designed to let you "reflect on God's Word and add your own thoughts, art, and color to favorite verses." It encourages girls (and women) to "curl up in a cozy spot and spend time with the Word." Besides the beautiful cover, I like the dark print and heavy paper of this Bible. When I was a younger person, we weren't encouraged to write in books and I didn't know you could really write in your Bible until I got older. I like that this Bible encourages young women to spend time in the Bible, underlining verses, and writing out thoughts. Today, I like that we also encourage art work in the margins of Bibles. As a creative person, I just get excited about creating with God and His Word. Again, I wish this was something that was enco...

Between Us is a beautiful 52-week devotional journal book for mom and daughters to use together. The cover and the whole book is quite nice and is larger than I expected. It is nicely bound and the format is well done. There is plenty of space to write a do the activities for each week in a book that could become a special keepsake down the road. Doing one devotional a week seems do-able in our busy world today. Between Us has a Bible reading, a devotional reading for both Moms and daughters to read, questions to ask moms, questions to ask daughters related to the reading for the week and a small activity that is different every week but related to do the reading that concludes the week's work. There is also a plan of salvation in the back of the book. The weekly readings relate the Bible verses to something both moms and daughters can relate to--having confidence but not boasting, praying and how God answers prayer, sharing salvation with others, what has lasting value in o...

The HCSB Illustrator's Notetaking Bible is geared for Teens and is geared for teens. . .but I like it too. I especially like the beautiful gray, silver, gold and white cover. This beautiful Bible has over 600 illustrations to trace and color along with blank wide margin areas to create your own Bible art pictures, take notes, or doodle draw. It is a place where I believe tweens and teens can read the Bible and dig into it in their own way. Along with the illustrations, there are study helps in the HCSB Notetaking Bible for Teens that include: God's Plan of Salvation, a daily reading plan, a section on How to Share Your Faith, a glossary and maps. My teenage son found those all to be helpful. The print is nice and dark although not real big. I found it easy enough to read. I would not want the Bible much heavier to carry around, especially to make ease of use for this age group. My teenage son liked it well enough. For him, it was okay but he is not a big drawer. (He re...

The new Life Verse Creative Journal and Blank Journal are a beautiful, petite journal set. I already have a life verse but I loved this set. My life verses are, " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The Life Verse Creative Journal is a smaller size that I quite liked to stick inside my Bible to create along with my quiet time with God. This journal is aimed at choosing a life verse and making it your own, but even with having a life verse, there was plenty to help me learn and grow in God's Word. There are 15 verses with journaling prompts within the beautiful illustrations to color and work through. Eve...