Advent Illustrated: A Bible Journaling Challenge

by Sara Laughed

Bible journaling is a fun and creative way to connect with scripture. People paint, draw, sketch, letter, and scrapbook in the pages of their Bible, all as a way of connecting with the stories and messages that it holds. Advent Illustrated is a Bible journaling challenge that corresponds to Advent 2015, and the Advent Illustrated challenge at http://saralaughed.com. This guide contains:

- A chapter about Bible journaling and how the challenge will work

- A chapter on how to start Bible journaling if you haven't before

- A chapter with my recommendations for Bible journaling supplies

- An outline of the month

- Four different plans you can follow: Love (6 times a week), Joy (5 times a week), Peace (1 time a week), and Patience (just the last week before Christmas). Each plan comes with a printable calendar of your daily scripture verses.

- The Advent selections - a page for every day of Advent with the verse printed on the page and a one- to two-paragraph section that gives context for the verse, as well as some creative prompts if you're stuck for ideas.

Genres: Christmas, Religion

52 pages, ebook

Published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Carol Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m new to Bible journaling but I love the concept. Within the past six months or so, I’ve taken to carrying around a notebook to jot things down, quotes, things I need to remember, sermon notes. For me, Bible journaling is an artistic extension of that. It’s another way of interacting with scripture, of responding to what I read, of highlighting what strikes me, of enjoying concepts or images. I’m not good at drawing, but that’s not the point. Bible journaling is for me, not to impress anyone.

Advent Illustrated is a good beginners book. She talks a bit about journaling and about basic supplies but I never felt like I can’t do this. It’s an encouraging book, even for those of us who are not as talented at drawing or painting as others. She makes it approachable.

It is not a devotional, don’t expect it to be. Each day has a short verse, usually a sentence or two, and a couple of paragraphs with some context for the verse and a journaling prompt. That’s it. Any more depth you bring to it yourself. She’s set out several plans you can follow, and it’s a great way to celebrate and reflect during Advent.

[Brittiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara has done a wonderful job with this Advent challenge, I am enjoying participating with my oldest daughter (13). I love that it is able to become a truly personal and individualized experience depending on the amount of time one is able to devote to it, several options for following along through various reading plans are available. Each day's entry is short and sweet (helpful during this crazy season) and is accompanied by a word prompt - which is helpful to meditate on throughout the day to keep connected to the word and message of the gospel. A wonderful and well thought out feature is that Sara has included suggestions for illustrating each day's passage - great for beginning bible journalers or people who struggle artistically but have the desire to illustrate their faith.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Bible journaling but am quite new to it. Sara Laughed's book is excellent because it explains Bible journaling, necessary tools, and the extra. Then, she gives you several options for which journaling challenge you would like to accept. For each day, she gives the scripture, an overview of the day, and some idea prompts for beginners. This book is great, and I am impatiently waiting for the journaling challenge to begin during Advent.