How I Started Bible Wrecking

Last week I wrote about how I had quit Bible Journaling. If you missed it, feel free to head over there and read it, then come right back here. At the end of that post, I promised you some information about where I am now and where I am going. I thought it would be great to hear from my sweet friend Kristin. At one of our recent MOPS meetings, she did a quick introduction to her way of studying. She called herself a “Bible Wrecker”. I was completely drawn to what she was saying and how she accomplished so much, while still making things pretty. Since that quick 10 minute intro wasn’t enough for me, I begged her to meet me for coffee and bring her Bible so I could learn more. Poor girl, I then decided you all needed to hear it too, so I asked her to write a blog post for us. She wrote this amazing article just for us (and included her stunning pictures).

The one thing, I pray, you to take away from this post is that there is no right or wrong way to study God’s Word. Do what works for you and leave the rest for someone else! -Lynnette

 

 

I’ve been a bible wrecker since the day I opened my first bible. I was a brand new Christian eager to learn as much as I could, so I underlined Genesis 1:1 and scribbled a little note next to it. The entire page was blank, thanks to the note-taking version I had just purchased, but I wrote small in anticipation of adding many, many more notes. The next week I underlined another. The week after, I brought highlighters. When my pastor spoke on a verse I frantically copied as much as possible. When I went home, I reviewed dog-eared pages and searched the keywords. I added ribbons, clips, paint and post-it notes. I replaced torn pages and even duct-taped the spine. I dove soul-first into that book and left behind all the colorful evidence.

Many people refer to those pages as beautiful, but I didn’t do it for looks. I did it out of necessity. I needed to absorb what I was reading and hearing and studying. I wanted to easily recall key points, remember who people were (especially with all the name changes), understand the history of a country, and see through the parables. The bible was dizzying in so many ways, and I knew that if I could just find my focus points, I’d be set for a lifetime of adventure with the Word.

 

There are three things I do to ensure I am reading intentionally, dutifully noting those things that are important, and praying as I go.

 

 

1. COLOR CODING

While this is nothing new or groundbreaking, it is tremendously impactful. My first bible was highlighted hundreds of times, but it bore no rhyme or reason. Now, if a scripture stands out, I highlight in line with my color code and understand the verse that much more.

My code:
Blue — Anything that pertains to God
Red — Anything that pertains to Christ
Yellow — Commands, law, wisdom
Orange — Verses that illuminate my original design; the way I was intended to be
Green — The result of obedience, following commands, righteous living
Purple — Prophecy
Pink — Verses that connect with my personal testimony

 

2. THREADING

I can’t tell you how often I invest a great amount of time into studying a passage or a word or a theme, only to have to do it over again on a later day. It happens like this: I will be in the middle of study and stumble upon something familiar. I know I’ve learned something about it, but I can’t remember the details. I may have misplaced my notes or I am just caught without them in the moment, and so I have to frantically search the internet to get caught up.. so I can continue studying. Threading put an end to that.

I call it threading, but think of it as hyperlinking through the bible.

When a word or passage stands out and I begin an intense study, I place a post-it and note the topic at the top. (in this case, “Clean”) I leave a good summary of my notes on that page so I can quickly recall why I studied it.

When a new scripture pops up which shares that topic, I go back and add it to the post-it on the original scripture’s page (in this case, the John 15 passage), then note the original scripture’s address next to the new scripture and highlight it. So in this example, “clean” was found in three more passages, and because I have this highlighted note next to it, I know they are part of a greater word study I’m currently tracking.

In essence, I’m threading the bible together one word, theme, topic etc. at a time.

3. ALTARS

Something I wanted to ensure was that I was praying as I read the bible or engaged in study. I didn’t want to just blow through passages to check off my reading plan, or hurry through questions in order to finish bible study homework. I have “open issues” with the Lord; things I’m praying over for myself, friends, and family. There are things I’m hoping for and things I’m trying to heal. There are places of my heart I’m trying to free up to the Lord. During my reading or study, I should be honoring those things. Altars is how I do it. I became fascinated by altars the more I read the bible. It seemed there was a new one being built every other chapter. And when they were, it was always in response to something the Lord had done.

Altars of praise, thanks, reverence, legacy, victory, defeat, etc. His people set up places to meet Him and give praise. So I did, too.

Altars of Praise
When a scripture means something special, or a prayer is answered, I note it with a post-it. There, I note what the Lord did and each time I pass it, I remember and thank Him. In this case, I was inspired by a verse in Deuteronomy and how it spoke to me. Whenever I pass this “altar” I stop and give thanks for His clear voice of guidance.

Altars of Expectation
When I petition the Lord, I leave a blank post-it and pray that He speaks on it. I leave it and feel expectant; I believe He will answer in time. Now, each time I’m flipping through the Psalms, I see this and remember to pray and thank Him that His perfect timing will present an answer.

Altars of Information
The post-its I use to collect the verses for my word studies are altars of information. They are places I go to continue learning and hear God speak even more on something I’m studying.

Altars of Sanctification

These are special places I go to grow in the areas I need most. I have a list of things I love about my husband, and another list of things I love about my mother-in-law. There’s a sketch of a stronghold in Psalm 46 where I can be still and visualize the protection of the Lord; knowing He is what truly takes my heart captive. And there’s a well drawn in John 4 reminding me that my deepest desire is found in Christ; when I stumble upon it, I stop and sit, much like He did as He waited for the Samaritan woman, and I empty my heart to Him.

 

 

Bible journaling, bible note-taking and bible art are very personal forms of worship. It’s a unique response to the Lord’s unique way of communicating with you. I remember feeling so overwhelmed by all the ideas that flooded my feed a few years ago when this became a thing. I tried hard to keep up, but it just didn’t work for me. Not only did it make me feel like I couldn’t make as beautiful a bible as other women, it made me feel like I couldn’t hear God. And that is just not what He wants for us.

I celebrate you! I celebrate the beautiful, creative, expectant heart that resides in you. It’s there because God put it there, and He’s waiting for you to open it so He can set it on fire. Go wreck that bible, sister. In the most beautiful and YOU-way possible!

 

-Kristin

 

 

 

Kristin lives in Michigan with her husband, Thomas, and their two children, Eli and Ella. If she doesn’t answer the front door, it’s because she’s out back, writing in the sunshine and talking to the garden. Daily non-negotiables include early mornings, great podcasts, and coffee with a little too much cream.

 

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A final note from Lynnette: As Christians, we all want to add more scripture into our lives. Bible journaling and Bible wrecking can be great ways of doing that. Sometimes it can feel intimidating if we feel our art doesn’t measure up, or we “aren’t creative”. I would love to help you bring more art, more scripture, more God into your home. Please take a look at my art and find the one that speaks to you. I can customize any of my work with your favorite scripture.

 

SHOP ART