Those private, reflective books where pen and ink are wielded freely. Their blank pages become open canvases where we keep track of our lives, sort through our stuff, commemorate what we hold dear.
Sometimes they're a lifeline to sanity, to what is most true about ourselves, to our deepest yearnings. Other times they're a direct link to God above ... or a winsome invitation to unfurl our stirred up creative energies.
Journals are designed to sustain our unwieldy stories, paint our wildest dreams, gently cradle the deepest visions of our souls, or display our hard won legacies.
Prayer request journals. Bullet journals. Gratitude journals. Travel journals.
Books-I-Read journals. Pregnancy journals. Bible journals. Gardening journals. Weight loss journals. Sermon note-taking journals.
Journals to walk you through medical crises. Journals as scrapbooks, doodling books, dream books, planners.
Your imagination sets the boundaries and the sky's the limit.
As an avid journaler for more than a decade, of course I said, 'well, yes please, thank you very much' to the Ellie Claire product development team when they offered to send me not one but THREE gorgeous, high quality, top notch journals as part of their Art Journal Campaign. Needless to say, I'm delighted to join the party.
I knew right then and there that I was going to share one of these beauties with one of my faithful readers as yet another Christmas Giveaway!
These journals would make stunning Christmas gifts for your favorite writer / artist / creator. {And be sure to include a selection of my favorite pens as an extra bonus!}
Or choose the volume that's calling your name, wrap it up all festive and pretty ... and sneak it quietly under the tree. And try to look completely surprised on Christmas morning when Santa places your carefully selected treasure into your eagerly waiting hands.
#1.
Museum of the Bible
Learn the lost art of illuminating letters in the pages of this journal. Step-by-step instructions and drawing guides invite you to create letters, flourishes, and other hand-wrought beauties inspired by manuscripts from the Museum of the Bible. Beautiful illustrations, uplifting inspirational quotes, grid background practice pages, and plenty of high quality lined pages give you room to stretch your artistic wings in addition to doing some serious writing along the way.
The cloth spine opens for lay-flat journaling with an elastic pen loop on the spine. Plus - there's a ribbon marker, an elastic band closure, and a very cool secret Keepsake pocket on the inside back cover.
BUY HERE
#2.
Krystal Whitten
Designed by a professional graphic designer, this pretty journal offers a perfect opportunity to combine your artistic bent with your spiritual growth. There are beautiful prompts, sketches, and numerous 'pro-TIPS' to launch your written work and develop your own personal style.
These unique pages feature a wide variety of fun grids, columns, dotted sections, and bright, bold, meaningful quotes and passages of Scripture designed to expand your creative energies and enlarge your faith. The cloth spine opens for lay-flat journaling and you'll love the elastic pen loop on the spine.
BUY HERE
#3.
Museum of the Bible
Forty gorgeous illustrations from ancient manuscripts at the Museum of the Bible have been recreated as line drawings, opening up a unique world of artistic opportunities to put your own personal color pallette to work. A Bible Coloring Journal ... talk about stress relief and spiritual renewal! Grab your gel pens and colored pencils, roll up your sleeves, and relish the creation of your own masterpieces.
There's also a number of lined pages for you to indulge in some serious writing. The paper is high-quality and the cloth spine lays open for ease of use. Hint - I love listening to praise music as I color and meditate on drawings that feature Scripture passages.
There's also a number of lined pages for you to indulge in some serious writing. The paper is high-quality and the cloth spine lays open for ease of use. Hint - I love listening to praise music as I color and meditate on drawings that feature Scripture passages.
I have one copy of The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal to give away to one reader who leaves a comment on this post by Thursday, November 29th at 8 am {eastern}. U.S. residents only. Please be sure that your contact information is easily available when I click on your name. You may enter via email as well. Send your comment to lindastoll @ juno . com
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THURSDAY UPDATE
The Giveaway Winner
is
Michele Morin
@
Merry Christmas ~
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<< Decisions & Discoveries, Diagnoses & Disasters
Loose Ends * The Final Giveaway * November 2018 >>
Loose Ends * The Final Giveaway * November 2018 >>
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sharing the goodies with
What a great idea! I had considered journals for my small group women, but these are really neat! Thank you for the idea!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, My Friend!
Journals are such a thoughtful gift to give your sisters, Lulu!
DeleteDare I try to be funny this early in the morning by saying 'you'll all be on the same page ...'
;-}
I use a Moleskine for my daily journal. This would totally distract me. But I know a secretary who would love this! BTW: committing myself to daily journaling about New Morning Mercies has been THE BEST thing I have done in 2018. Without question.
ReplyDeleteBest boss ever!
DeleteFollowing through on a commitment to journal each and every day is an incredible victory, Bill. And inspiring to those of us who really want to make journaling more of our daily routine.
These all look so inviting, Linda! I haven't kept a journal for several years now, but would like to get back into it next year.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, and thanks for the giveaway!
Martha, I LOVE your idea of journaling for some kind of new year's goal! Two months ago, I decided to get back into it and now it's become pretty much routine a few days a week.
DeleteAnd at this point, I'm calling that success!
:-}
Linda, your website wouldn't' take my comment, so I'm emailing you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement to journal more - I've fallen off the wagon this year and I need to get back on!! So much is happening, I just need to resume documenting it! Thanks for sharing about the gorgeous journals!!
Hugs,
Susan, aka Soozie4Him
{via email}
Dear Soozie ... I thought it was kinda quiet around here today ... thanks for tracking me down and letting me know you're in on the giveaway!
DeleteI'm guessing that these journals might be a pretty pretty prompt to get back on that wagon ... all of us need some kind of motivation here and there!
;-}
So pretty!I must give journaling a try. I used to keep a gratitude journal, but it was nowhere near as pretty as yours!
ReplyDeleteA gratitude journal is such a cool thing, isn't it?! Just jotting down 3 simple gifts at the end of the day can really recalibrate and recenter us.
DeleteI'm glad you're here with me this evening, friend!
One journal is prettier than the next. I love writing my thoughts and find the process of writing in my own hand such a joy--filled process. I have been learning calligraphy little by little so what a treat to see the faith and lettering journal. Thanks for sharing some new to me ways to keep track of my love notes from God.
ReplyDelete'Love notes from God' so beautifully sums up this written connection we are able to share with the One who loves us best of all!
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And that you're learning calligraphy kind of inspires me to step a bit out of my familiar routines with pen and paper and try something new.
You always did teach me how to be a bit braver!
;-}
What a sweet compliment. I love trying new things and if it inspires you then I am thrilled. Love and hugs!
DeleteIf I win I'll move to the US so you can send me the prize. Otherwise, please give it to the next person who comments here living in the US. (Whichever is less costly).
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I know a good real estate agent in Massachusetts. If you win, I'll set you up with him ...
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These are so beautiful. My 'head dump' journals are plain old Hilroy spiral notebooks. :)! Don't enter me as I'm your northern neighbour but just wanted to comment of the loveliness of these!
ReplyDeleteYep, I've filled my fair share of spiral notebooks, too, friend. I thought of you when I wrote this post because I know you're a huge journaling aficienado!
DeleteMakes me wonder if my journaling will at all change when I write in something beautiful vs. simple lined paper.
I'm becoming more intentional about my journaling habits these days, and just loving it!
ReplyDeleteYou always have such good things to offer here, and now I'm going to take my nerdy self over to scope out your link to the great pens. . .
Oh I do love my pens, Michele ... these have been favorites forever.
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Michele, you may have just made me chortle out loud with your mention of "your nerdy self" ;) I'm a pen-lover too. ;)
Delete* chortle chortle *
DeleteI don't think it's nerdy at all! I think it's only natural that we're interested in what works for the kindred spirits we hang out with!
I try to share as much as I think would be helpful or interesting without it being yawn-provoking. Sometimes it's a fine line!
;-}
Chortling and happy dancing!
DeleteThank you, Linda!
Wow! Chortling AND happy dancing!
DeleteYou are one talented woman, Michele ...
Enjoy. Would love to hear how this works for you!
;-}
I love journals! I collect them every where I go! I use them in so many ways too, but most commonly is my prayer journal! I love these you have listed here!
ReplyDeleteAmelia, I'm so glad you're here. Journaling has deepened my prayer life over the years, helping to sort out all that swirls in my head in the presence of the Holy One.
DeleteOh what clarity, freedom, and gratitude has come because of all those hours together ...
Linda, what beautiful journals. :) I have been a journaler since my teen years. I found I wrote a lot in my 20's and 30's as I was figuring out life and being a wife, walking through infertility, and figuring out the truths God had for me, and during these mothering years . . . there's something that frees the thoughts when they go from mind to pen rather than from mind to mouth, if that makes sense. I've journaled heartache, prayers, praises, and more.
ReplyDeleteI talked with someone recently who realized that among the volumes she had written over the years, there might be some things worth publishing since so many others were fighting the same battles that she's been fighting.
DeleteSometimes we just need to know that we're not alone ... and we'll come through the storm, our souls intact. I believe that God is able to redeem those seasons 'the locust have eaten' {Joel 2}. And there are appropriate ways to share our own {not someone else's} stories.
These are beautiful, Linda. I journal on and off. Many years ago I journaled more, but I ended up trashing them. I think it was something someone said that pulled up a lot of insecurities. I have written in several journals since then and haven't trashed them yet. I admit it has helped me in the past to process things, but then I have used password-protected online journals or written and shredded what I wrote. I don't know why, but I often get hung up on the thought, "What if someone reads them someday and gets hurt by or misunderstands something I wrote?" How do you get past that roadblock? Any suggestions? Advent Blessings and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteTrudy, you ask an excellent question that all serious journalers wrestle with.
DeletePersonally, I seldom if EVER use another person's name. I focus less on people and events and more on my own feelings. Journaling has helped me name what was confusing, sort through the emotions so I could understand their hold on me, and release them to God. Often, one journaling session can go from heartache to gratitude if I stick with it, sit still during the process, and listen to God speaking back to me.
Almost always, He does. I write down what I hear the Spirit whispering. And we continue our conversation.
I encourage my clients to journal ... they can gain alot of clarity between sessions and move ahead toward healing at a more rapid pace than if they're only doing the work during weekly sessions.
I do encourage them to keep their journals under lock and key so they feel free to express where they truly are.
Journals can be shredded or burned in a ceremonious way after certain goals have been reached or certain traumas resolved or the writer knows she's simply DONE with what's been written.
Bottom line - there's no one right way to do life with God on paper. And it can be incredibly helpful to nail down all that's swirling so we can clearly understand what's truly troubling us.
Thank you for your wise insight, Linda. And for reminding me of this - "Often, one journaling session can go from heartache to gratitude if I stick with it, sit still during the process, and listen to God speaking back to me." I have found that true in the past. Often journal entries I have written end up as a prayer to God. I hope I can get unstuck with writing about emotions... Love and hugs!
DeleteYes, all these conversations are a prayer to the One who is our Healer, Trudy. May He give you freedom to get unstuck ... there in itself is a call to journal!
DeletePraying as you navigate ...
Each one of these are so lovely! As an art major I made illuminated manuscripts, and I loved doing it. These journals remind me of those days as a student. Checking them out now!
ReplyDeleteAn art major! Yes, these beauties will suit you to a T, Sarah. I'm sure you'll have a fuller appreciation for their craftsmanship than I've been able to get across!
DeleteI'd love to hear your input ...
These are beautiful journals.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen finer ones!
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These are so beautiful! laurensparks.net sparksfit@me.com.
ReplyDeleteLauren, I'm glad you're here ...
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Wow, Linda! These aren't like any "journals" I've ever seen. Wonderful! Beautiful! Fun! I'm thankful for your generous spirit, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteThey really are stunning, friend. I'm almost hesitant to begin marring them with my pen!
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