Faith Crafter Preview issue (Free) No 1 | Page 7

unfair to not only myself but to my husband as well. Over the years I struggled to find my way back, I felt there were these expectations put upon me and I tried to meet them. So I went and bought the first journaling bible I saw (ESV Journaling Bible) and when I got it I decided to use what was natural to me SCRAPBOOKING SUPPLIES!!! I would see women around my loving spending quality quiet time with God and even though I deeply craved that and tried to imitate it in a way that worked for me I just couldn't find a way that was right for me,... as much as I tried. I would think to myself "is this what it looks like?" is this what I am supposed to be doing? So I took the sermon notes from that Sunday and all week I took those notes, found the verses and documented what I was taking from that sermon. Many years later, at a time I was ready to give up and was going to church more out of obligation to my husband's call than my own.. I saw a bible on pinterest. It wasn't a journaling bible but a regular bible that had been highlighted and underlined the caption read " a bible that is falling a part is usually a sign of someone who isn't" - something in that image struck me. YES!!! I want to love my bible, I want it to be lived in, I want it to be a personal reflection of my walk with God. I was SO excited because for the first time I was GETTING what I was needing from what I was reading. Because I am a visual learner this was an answer to (literally) so many prayers. I then thought other people MUST be doing this with these awesome journaling bibles and I wanted to connect with that community!! So I went online and searched #journalingbible and 2 posts came up at the time, and both were using pens in the margins of their bibles to take notes. Oh, no!! I thought! I have messed this up! Even though I was scared (desperately) something (we know who!!) was tugging at my heart to share this on my - www.faithcrafter.com - 7 -