Family Photos and An ESV Journaling Bible Giveaway
Update! Winner of the ESV Bible is Charity Harley! Enjoy!!
So, first matter of importance, MY GIRLS ARE HOME FOR THE SUMMER!!
We had the loveliest weekend. Holly and I spent a night in Mystic, CT, seeing the sights, eating delicious seafood, doing pedicures, spending quality time and eating ice cream. I also had the opportunity to speak at a ladies luncheon at a church there. They were super sweet and I felt led to encourage them to not merely survive in their spiritual walk but the THRIVE. We looked at Psalm 1, about the blessed man and his habits. Bottom line: He delighted in God’s Word and everything was touched by that: his ministry, his fruit bearing, his effectiveness. It’s always a privilege to share the gospel and it was a great weekend spiritually.
AND then we had a lovely Mother’s Day Together. Peter and the kids made a special breakfast and spoiled me. Then we went to church and I was blessed by the message about the qualities of an older Titus 2 woman. We were spoiled at my sister, Hannah’s, for lunch and a special tea. All in all, I was just plain blessed and spoiled. (Not complaining! ;))
I’ve been quiet around here as things have been busy, like I mentioned before. The Lord has been graciously teaching me to take each day as it comes and to thank Him for the opportunities He gives me. It’s all from His hand.
I’ve been reading quite a bit. Here are some highlights.
Rebekah and Emily got me Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey Devotional
{DRUMROLL} If you have book money right now, this is the book to get: Made For More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image
ALSO, I told you the other day that I had won a new ESV Journaling Bible. Bekki asked how I used my old journaling Bible, so I thought I’d share pics.
First, when I’m studying with my commentary, I use a 3-ring binder for my notes. I messily jot down things I don’t completely understand (to remind myself to go back and look into it), quotes I want to remember, and any verses that really spoke to me that day. I also write out any attributes of God that I notice in the reading. (I got that idea from What Do I Know About My God?
So what do I actually write in my journaling Bible? I usually write down the main point that sticks out to me during my study. Also, things like illustrations or quotes from commentaries, word meanings that clarify a passage for me, quotes, sermon outlines and cross reference proofs. THIS is so helpful when you are teaching. It’s a quick reminder of what you’ve already studied and what impacted you.
And although I love my new Journaling Bible, there’s a bittersweetness about changing Bibles, know what I mean? Certain passages that have been life changing for me will be copied, but for the most part, I will start again.
Monday, I received my ESV Journaling Bible in the mail. Here it is!
And on Tuesday ANOTHER one showed up on my door from Crossway Books! I contacted them about the mistake and they encouraged me to give it away on my blog!
So, that’s what’s happening.
You can win this ESV Journaling Bible, value $59, compliments of Crossway, by commenting and telling me if you’d copy your old notes or start afresh or how you use your Bible. Do you write in it freely or reserve your writing to a notebook? Also, you can win additional entries by sharing this giveaway on social media via FB or Twitter using #joyfilleddays or @joyfilleddays. Just let me know you did in the comments.
Easy peasy.
I’m so excited for one of you because this is a beautiful Bible.
Ends Saturday, 8 pm, EST. Continental US only. Will mail via USPS.
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I love bible journaling although i dont have and actual bible journal i try to journal in a regular bible .i found that bible journaling is way to help you become stronger in your faith
I am a scripture drawer. Its how God created me to learn His word. I just purchased a wonderful Bible but soon realized there was no room for notes. And I just can’t affird to buy another one again right now. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Thank you for being a blessing!
I write in my bible all the time! I actually write in it more freely than I do in other books and in notebooks. The reason for this is because it provides the opportunity for my to be wrong, notice it, and correct it in an additional note on the same page. This keeps me humble and allows me to remember that my ultimate authority is the Word of God.
Were I to get another bible, I wouldn’t transfer the notes. I would start fresh. I would keep my old bible if I wanted to see what I had on a particular passage. But since God is continually molding us into the image of His Son, I would want to be able to see the contrast between where I was while using my old bible compared to using the new.
I have tweeted this link. And my twitter is linked to mine and my wife’s FB account. So, two birds.
I also tweeted it! 🙂
I would definitely copy over some old notes. But I would also like to start fresh. My precious bible is starting to fall completely apart! Thank you for this opportunity!
I do not write in my bible, I just usually use a highlighter. I would love to win this journaling bible because I think it’s such a neat concept. I think it would defiantly allow The Word to soak in a lot deeper.
I don’t write a lot in my Bible. Getting better at giving myself permission though. It’s chock full of papers and post it notes. Though I noticed the other day that I can barely make out the writing on some. A journaling Bible sounds like the coolest thing! What an awesome giveaway. It would be so helpful to have your main notes right in the Bible. Like you, I tend to write notes in a notebook. Especially if I am preparing a lesson or a (small)message for something.
Just saw this tweet. Looking forward to reading your blogs.
I have been looking for a wide-margin Bible for years! I had no clue journaling Bibles existed!! I transfer the majority of my notes, because they are either dated revelations to me personally so I can remember the milestones or they help clarify passages as I go through my Bible. I appreciate the chance to win this…thank you!
I would love this, I highlight and write little notes, but to have room to write with lines would be awesome!! I probably take a few things from my favorite Bible, but basically start fresh.
Never had a journaling Bible either so it would be great to have notes all in one place! I would probably start over for the most part but also go back to compare my other thoughts from past readings and study times.
I’d start afresh. Find new things to ponder all the time!
Awesome!
Love your blog, such an encouragement. I would love the journaling Bible to start fresh! 🙂
Thank you, Angela!
I think I would start fresh, but like you there would be certain verses that I especially love that I would highlight right away. One of those verses is Isaiah 43:2 which helped me through a particularly dark part of my life. I would also highlight some of my favorite “song verses” like Psalm19:7-11.
Thank you for this opportunity.
I would start new notes in this bible, I normal write little notes/highlight in my bible
I love all your pictures! Each one made me smile. When I get a new Bible I start notes afresh. I have a Bible from high school, one from college years/early marriage, and was just thinking I need more writing space in mine for these motherhood years!
Thanks, Emily! It’s nice to have the lines. 😉
I would start fresh! And I hope I win!!!! 🙂
I would ship it to Scotland, especially for you. 😉
Hi there! I found this via Twitter. I am student of God, preacher and theology student. I currently have an esv journaling Bible, but I have been desiring to get one as a gift for my wife. Just waiting for the funds. It would be perfect for our studies together and our two boys. $60 is quite a bit of money. So what a great opportunity.
Very thoughtful! She would love it.
I love writing in my Bible but no longer have a portable Bible that is easy for taking with me everywhere. I think a journaling bible would be perfect for me and I would write both in it and in my journal!
Yes, that’s what I do, too, Lucy!
Retweeted crossway’s post as well, which is how I found you in the first place. 🙂 (@nhmomto3)
YAY! Welcome!
I would start fresh in the Journaling Bible, and instead of writing commentary or research notes as I often do, I think it would be more devotional thing for me. Words, feelings, perhaps even random thoughts that came up while reading. I would definitely date it! Right now I have notes scattered all over my computer and in various journals–it would be impossible to get them in one place. I think it would be great to have a Bible like this that I could give to my kids so they could see God used Scripture to change to my life.
Sounds like a great way to use it and it would certainly be a great edition to pass along to your kids!
New here (via twitter) and this is the first time I’ve seen a journaling bible! Right now I scribble sporadically in margins but have to limit it due to legibility so more space would be lovely. I would start new, but would probably take time to highlight a few very special notes and leave the rest behind, perhaps to be re-discovered at a future time. Love this!
Yes, I love the little neat rows of lines. 🙂
Sarah, first .. This blog is phenomenal! I’ll definitely share this link on my Twitter page: @MrAveryBrown .. Also, great family pictures and great book recommendations, especially Jerry Bridges. Actually, yes.. I would definitely transfer my old notes to this particular journal. Actually, I tend to use it freely when I compose various thoughts and sentences. Overall, it’s an interesting process— simple, life-changing thoughts that speak of God’s Sovereignty.
Avery, thank you so much for your compliment. I’m glad you are here! Maybe we should do a post where everyone shares the insides of their Bibles! So fun. I’d be curious to see the quotes that people have written inside their covers. 😉
I would also start fresh. I have always wanted to use a consistent method of making notes & highlights in my Bible.
I like to underline and draw blocks around large sections, but rarely do I write in my Bible since there’s not enough room. I also tend to include dates, but then I forget what they mean since I haven’t included details! The journaling Bible seems like a great way to keep up with all the Lord is doing and teaching. And it’s a very pretty cover!
Yes, the cover is gorgeous!
Start new!
I would start new and would love to have one. Agree with you about Made for More by Hannah Anderson.
Oh, I’m loving Hannah’s book! I’m almost done and will be reviewing it next week!
I would start new and fresh with the intention of it being for my children to have later in life…a journal of my spiritual walk with the Lord through His Word.
I love that idea!!
I would start it new…
I have needed a bible with space to write in for a long time
Aw, Hopie! I didn’t know you needed that! I will talk to Daddy about getting you one! xo
I would start new… I love the idea for the journal space.
What a great give-a-way! I would start new.
I shared it on Facebook!!
I write in mine freely and date it out next to it. If a verse connects I write verse out with it. I’ve never used a journal Bible so this would help tidy up my notes. Have a blessed week!
I love the “date” idea. That would be so nice to know! Going to start doing that more often!
I wouldn’t re-copy all my notes, because I have most of them in a notebook but I would love space to write down new thoughts, meditations, and quotes from sermons and books!! Going to share this on Facebook!!
I have key passages (and by key, I mean, areas that I struggle with…ahem) that my notes are super helpful to me. I’ll be copying them for sure. It may take me a looong time. 😉
I have always made notes in my bible but there isn’t always enough room. I would love a journal bible
That’s what I love about mine! The lines for writing.
I always write in my Bible! Sometimes, I will copy notes from a previous Bible, into the new one. When my sister passed away, what became precious to my mother, were the notes, Heather had written in her Bible. Maybe one day, the notes I have taken, my possibly be a help in some way to my daughter or son.
Ann, I can only imagine how precious Heather’s Bible has become to you! Love you!
Also, I posted on Twitter & FB 🙂
I love that crossway is being so generous to provide a journaling Bible for you to give away.I did not know that a journaling Bible existed. I always run out of room for writing notes in my Bible so this would be perfect.
Thanks also for sharing those books. I have put several of them in my cart for when I have money.
Is there any chance that your church puts their sermons online? I would be very interested in listening to the one about the characteristics of the Titus 2 woman.
It was so generous of them! 🙂 Yes, our sermons are on line. I will add the link when it is up. 🙂
Thank you! Always looking for good godly information to pass on to other women.
Thank you!!
Do you use something special to write with? i have found that pens seem to bleed over time. I have been using a pencil but find that starts to fade some.
I simply use a pencil and if I need color, a colored pencil. I try not to press too hard since it will tear the page, but this system works great for me.
I do write in my Bible, but not as much as I’d like because I don’t those fantastic wide margins. I’d start fresh, because I’m enamored with clean slates 🙂
Me, too, Melissa. I love clean slates. 🙂 So exciting.
I shared on twitter
Wow, what a generous giveaway! I too did not even know that journaling Bibles existed. Definitely an idea whose time has come. I’ve always jotted notes in my Bibles and transferred some of them when I get a new one. Since this Bible has space for journaling, if I were blessed to win it I would transfer any notes I wanted to preserve.
What a lovely Mother’s Day you had! Thanks for sharing all of the photos with your blog readers too!
I know! Crossway was so generous to give this away! And really, the readers here are women of the Word, so even better!!
I shared your giveaway on Twitter 🙂
You have a beautiful family. I got a laugh out of your one daughter standing on her tip-toes (not wanting to be shorter than her younger sister, perhaps ;)).
I never write in my Bible; I just can’t bring myself to do it. But to have a Bible especially for writing – I could do that! And would in a heartbeat. And what a beautiful Bible, too! Thanks for the giveaway.
Yes, Em is on her tip toes for exactly the reason you stated!! lol
Shared on Facebook! 🙂
Love all your photos Sarah…so happy you had a wonderful weekend and Mother’s Day 🙂 The Bible is beautiful! I actually just got some new Bible pens for my birthday this month so would love to start using them in a journaling Bible 😉 I think I would start fresh with a new Bible but may copy a few notes from my previous Bible. I use journals a lot too so this Bible would be a great addition. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kim, I was just so happy to have my girls home, ya know!? And being in Mystic before we picked them up at the airport took my mind off the countdown. 😉 Plus, quality time with a fourth child is rare. 🙂
I would start fresh. Ihave startedm to write outlines from sermons and thoughts that I have during personal time. Also I would use it for studying using different translation to help understand passages of scriptures better.
Yes, sometimes comparing translations is really helpful! Have a great day, friend.
I would start fresh. It’s fun to see what different things you learn each time you read a passage. I do write in my bible freely. Ever heard of the saying “a bible that is falling apart belongs to a person who isn’t?” Not always true but you get the point. I also write notes that remind me of my children. I want to leave a legacy for them and when I am gone to glory they can read one of my bibles and see where I made notes and thought of them.
Kristy, the idea of leaving something tangible behind is lovely! I love reading the notes my mom wrote in her old books…I can only imagine that a Bible full of mom’s notes would be priceless.
I would start fresh. My old study bible filled with notes (I date my notes) is gently wrapped and sits on my dresser. When I got my new study bible I started new, writing prayers, points from sermons, etc in it. Now it is chock full as the old one. I like to look back and see growth, answered prayers and such, A journaling bible would be fabulous! Didn’t even know they existed 🙂
I love the idea of dating notes! I’ve only done that a few times when a specific prayer was made and then answered. I also keep my old Bibles for the very reason you mentioned. Sometimes growth is slow and hard to see, but when you look back, you remember! True story: A best friend’s mom was giving away a box of old books and in it was her daughter’s old Bible from high school. I couldn’t stand the thoughts of losing it, so it sits on my book shelf, way up high, so I can give it to her daughter some day. 🙂 So, I even save friend’s old Bibles. 😉
I would also start fresh! I haven’t had a journaling Bible before but I have written a few tiny notes in my Bible.
It’s like the lines are calling to you—> “It’s okay to write here!” lol
Beautiful pictures! What a lovely Mother’s Day! I began taking notes in my Bible a couple of years ago after using journals.
I love seeing your baby on IG. 🙂 So precious!
I don’t usually write in my Bible, except for the occasional underline or highlight…I just can’t bring myself to do it, so the journaling space would be great! I usually just keep notebooks with my notes separately. Thanks for this opportunity, I have recently found your blog and am blessed by your writings! 🙂
Jill, yes, the lines are perfect for recording what God is teaching you in that moment. I’m so glad you’ve visited! 🙂