Bibles, Workbooks and Looking Back

 

Over the past week I've been working through this Bible study called Strengthened in the Secret Place. I've followed Courtney Joseph Fallick for many years and have enjoyed many of her studies and videos. You may remember her from years ago as the founder of Women Living Well Ministries or Good Morning Girls. I can remember watching her early videos where she sat in her kitchen and talked into the computer, before ever writing her first book. That was a long time ago!

For me, I have long known that I work much better with a guide while reading my Bible. Sometimes I enjoy reading through a devotional, with short stories and applicable scriptures. But my favorite tool is a good workbook, where I can read a lesson and then write out scriptures or apply the lessons in my own words. I guess you could say I'm one of those girls who loves a good workbook.

Through the years I've had several Bibles. In fact, I still have all of them on the bookshelf, from 1993, 2005, and 2017 (which is the one I still use currently). 

This is my current Bible. It is so heavy, but I can't imagine getting another one anytime soon. I have way too many notes written on these pages. 

I use these tabs to mark passages or topics that I want to turn to quickly and often. I keep a little box of these tabs with my Bible study items, such as highlighters and special pens that I use for writing notes in the margins. 

I also keep these sticky notes that are easy to write on and stick in the creases of the pages. I have little notes and stories all throughout this Bible and sometimes I will just flip through and read the notes to remind myself how the passage spoke to me on a certain day or during a certain circumstance. 

I have all of the kids and grandkids names written in the front, along with dates they were married, born, baptized, etc. This Bible has become an heirloom in a way. I have notes I've taken from times that Ted has preached, I have Collin's artwork from when he was little and would draw on the offering envelopes. I even have notes from my granddaughters that say "I love you Millie." I can't imagine ever carrying another Bible, but if this one ever gets worn out, I guess I will have to put it on the shelf and start fresh. 

Here's my Bible from 2005, which I used for 12 years before buying my current one. I enjoyed this one too because it had devotions written inside. For many years I would attend the Women of Faith conferences and followed their journeys. In fact, in my early years of blogging, someone gifted me free tickets to one of their conferences in San Antonio and I took my best friend Jessica and it was there that I first discovered a very funny man named Bob Goff. I think Amy Grant was there too, but it's been way too long and I can't remember. The year was 2012, so I've slept since then. 😅

This is my Bible from 1993, the year my first son was born. At this point, I was about 5 years into my Christian walk. I was very active in church back then. In fact, David and I taught 5th grade Sunday school, drove the church van to pick up kids who didn't have a ride, sang in the choir, sang in a Southern gospel quartet, David became a deacon and I started and led a women's prayer group, retreats and wrote and led a Bible study called Building Your House. We were busy!

When the kids came along, we had to let go of some of those ministry opportunities, but we had two little disciples we were in charge of, so we had our hands full. 

When the boys were little, it was a challenge to wake up before them to read and study God's word, but I managed to do it. Every now and then they would wake up and want to get out of bed early because I was up, but I would send them back to bed so I could keep my commitment to reading the Bible every day. I know the perfect answer would have been to pull them onto my lap and let them read the Bible with me, but that's not usually how real life works. That would have lasted about one minute before they were asking for a pop tart or cartoons. 😅 Our lives were not Instagram worthy back then. 😅 

Fast forward to our current day...I still carry my Bible to church. I still open the pages and take notes during a sermon. I can't imagine using the Bible on my phone because it just wouldn't have the same impact. 

As my husband always says...I'm a paper girl in a digital world and I will proudly accept that accusation. 

What about you? Are you a paper girl this day and age? Do you still carry your Bible to church? Do you use a workbook or devotional or can you just turn to a passage and start reading?

All of these really don't matter as long as you're reading the Word. 

Well, that's it for today. I'm off to get ready for the day, read my Bible, eat some breakfast and go to work. It's going to be a good day 😊 I hope your day is good too.

Until Next Time...

Blessings!