He Will Meet You Where You Are - Titus Moss (Cover)

I ran across this tonight and I loved it. I hope it blesses you.  Be blessed and stay positive. 💓

Reading your Bible.

Hi 😃

I hope that you are doing well.

I am reading a little bit in in a few different places. I am doing Luke with my Bible study group. We are almost finished with chapter 22 leading to the cross through the arrest. The Holy Spirit has led me to Habakkuk recently and Isaiah. The past couple of nights I have been in Psalms. I may be in any or all of those tonight. 

Once you start to read, it is contagious. The more you know, the more you want to know. Also, The more you know, the more cross references you can connect on your own without having to rely so heavily on other sources. That has happened to me a few times recently and it totally fired me up even more. I was truly getting it! 

Proverbs 4:5-7 says, "5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

Love her, and she will keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding."

Praying is the gateway to understanding. I don't know how everyone else starts their reading time. I try to start by thanking the Lord for the opportunity to read His word openly. There are so many countries where it is just not allowed.

I ask Him to help me have eyes to see, ears to hear, and an open heart, mind, and spirit

to what He would want me to learn; so that I may see what He what He wants me to see,

hear what He wants me to hear and to know what He wants me to learn or to know.

God really blesses me when I remember to pray in this way. Yet, the times that I forget, sometimes it is really difficult to focus or to get the meaning within the passage.

I hope that everyone has a blessed time in the Lord tonight, and especially in reading His word. 　
Blessings to all!

Split the Sea

Music is one of my personal favorite ways to get into touch with my thoughts and feelings. God uses that to the good of our relationship, as well. He knows that He can usually speak to me through music and I will pick up on it, even if just telling me doesn't work.

Sometimes, like now, He puts a song into my head and it will keep playing off and on until I do something with it. Sometimes He is trying to get me to listen to it and give me wisdom or an answer to something. Sometimes I feel led to share it on Facebook and not know for whom.

Other times, if that doesn't work or He has someone specific in mind, it won't go away until I share it where or when I feel He is leading me. At least once He has really laid it on my heart to share it directly with a specific and known person. That was really cool because it was the first time that He had done it that way and I wasn't really sure of myself in hearing Him. Yet, He stretched my faith and blessed the other person through it like He was originally intending too. He rocks. 💖😊

Why am I telling you this??  Well, it is because it is happening now. I have the song "Split the Sea" by Hannah Kerr on my mind all night. I am starting to get a little bit tired. I had actually forgotten what the song was that had been kicking around up there while I was doing other things on the blog.  I asked God to remind me what it was and He did almost instantly. So, without further ado, here it is. I hope that you are blessed by it. I really feel like someone is needing to hear this. With God's perfect timing, it could be now or someone who happens to cross this post 5 years from now. Whomever you are, here you go. 😁  God bless you!! 

Split the Sea - Hannah Kerr

Okay...here is a bonus video. lol  I left the song playing while I edited a little bit on the posts.  There was another Hannah Kerr that I need to check out when I am actually able to pay better attention. It is called "Giants Fall."

Then, THIS song came on. All-Time Favorites List alert!! lol

Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli -Yay!! 😁

Devotionals are great!

I don't always use devotionals.  I am trying to change that.  This is a busy, mixed up, crayzee world these days.  Sometimes we are running on empty and just can't focus on reading the Bible (which is always better by far if we can).  Sometimes we just need to get past an emotional, physical, or spiritual hurdle before we can jump into the Bible. We might be fighting off depression and are struggling to be reminded of the truths that set us free.  Maybe we only have 5 minutes here and there and feel we don't have time to properly digest the Word.  With so much going on in our lives, sometimes it can be difficult to just take the scripture all in, much less ponder it from all angles.

What I love about devotionals is that you can see someone else's perspective on the same topic. Now, let's be clear. I am not meaning to suggest that they should take the place of reading the Bible itself or that they supercede the Bible. Neither of those things are true. It is far better to pray and be guided by the Holy Spirit while reading the Bible for yourself.

However, sometimes reading a devotional is like sitting in the same room and seeing light from two different angles coming through the sunlight on the window. The Holy Spirit might speak to you differently within the same scripture. Then again, sometimes they are just good reminders of things that we should already know but really needed to hear. 

I have a few devotional apps on my phone.  I have an Android but if you can't get them on iPhone I know they are available online as well. I decided to revisit a couple of them yesterday while I was somewhere waiting for my appointment. 

The first is the Daughters of the King.  I read a few of them and I loved them. I will share the titles with you and link to the source, as well.  (The title linked above goes straight to their homepage.)  I really encourage you to get the app or visit the website. 💓  I am sure that all of the devotionals are probably awesome but these really spoke into my spirit yesterday. 

Be Reminded of Who You Are

Do not be anxious about your life.

Take Authority!

The other app that I opened was Proverbs 31. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to listen to the podcast, "4 Ways to Steward Your Season of Suffering Well."  I intend to, though, I just ran out of time. 

Keep in mind that I said I am aiming to get better at keeping up with the devotions.  I am not there yet. A couple of days prior, I had really loved devotions in the book, "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman.  There are 365 devotions for morning and evening (each). 

I don't know if anyone else marks in their books but in this one, I had to. Monochrome drives me nuts. I am pretty sure that is a me thing but equally as sure that there are other people like me out there. ;)  I also wanted to make notes that would not get misplaced. (I have a bad habit of forgetting which notebook I wrote it in or where I put that piece of paper. *rolling my eyes at myself* This just works better.  

 

I'm sorry for the lighting differences in these pics. It is late (I don't want to wait until tomorrow 😄) and I don't have a lot of light at my desk. I had to lighten them up with the picture editor. 👍

I hope that something in this post blessed you. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them as best I can.  Much love in Christ and many blessings to you! 

Friday night blog time! Yay!! :D

Good evening all.
I had some pretty big plans lined up for today for personal study but they were all snuffed out.  I wanted to go to the lake with my Bible and study -but there is a cold snap and it was projected yesterday that today would be about 58 degree high, 40% chance of rain, and windy.  Ooo-kaay. lol

I also had some personal studying that I wanted to do online but that is having technical issues. Sooo...I said, "Okay, God. What do YOU want me to do this evening?"  I'm pretty sure that I heard Him say, "Blog."  I am also sure that I heard "Job" but am not sure if that was me or Him. I know that it is a weakness of mine- that I have a hard time with Job. However, maybe He is leading me for wisdom. I'm not sure but His word doesn't return void. So... Tonight will be a Job and blog kind of night.👍

And chocolate. lol  I am on a deficit. I haven't had chocolate candy for a bit. Tonight I shall.

So, let's rock and roll!  😉👍

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms / 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus (Medley)

~I'm so grateful.~

Hi, everyone!  I have a lot on my heart and mind today.  Hopefully, that will mean multiple posts and no good thought left behind. 👌

I hope you are all having a fantastic day/ evening. It has been absolutely gorgeous here! 

The first thing that is on my mind is how amazing is His love for us! That we would be able to have the opportunity to abide in His presence and to dwell there is something to be treasured!  How incredibly privileged we are, those that live in religious freedom, to not only speak the name of Jesus but to easily have the ability to read God's word and to openly worship Him wherever we are!  Oh that all nations felt the same peace of pursuit that we do!! 

😢Sadly, there are at least 50 nations, according to the 2020 World Watch List, that have high to extreme persecution. Please join me in praying for these nations and for our entire world.  I pray that we would all, as a human race, have open hearts and teachable spirits.  Faith and love know no skin color, and cannot be bound by ethnicity and political division. Everyone has the opportunity to be adopted into the family of God, thanks to the gift of salvation given through Jesus Christ. He died that we all might be saved and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

"(Romans 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

🙌 Praise be to God that He has allowed us another breath and another day to move forward in this life. Thank You, Jesus!!

Hello 2020!!

Top of the morning to you!

A new year, a new decade, a new season and chapter are here.  We have a clean slate. What will we do with it? We have desires, hopes, and dreams. What will come of this year?  That depends a great deal on our motivation and our perception. We can accomplish and achieve much more than we think is possible. Don't get stuck in the same rut of mindset that you have had before.

"Things will never change."  

"This is never going to end." 

"That is not going to happen." 

"I can't do that."

Don't feed yourself into the negativity.  While it is true that there are some things that will not change or that you cannot do but you will be amazed at how much you actually can change. Perception is the biggest roadblock to that.  I agree with the concept that if you change your thinking, you can change your life. 

We spend too much time mired in negativity. We focus on the impossible rather than the possible. It is just like Vivian says in Pretty Woman, "The bad stuff is easier to believe."  Why?  Why is it so much easier to believe the bad stuff?  We have a great God. He is beyond amazing, really. Nothing is too impossible for Him and we are created in His image. We need to stop looking into our own mirror and see ourselves from God's perspective.

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"I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this."  ~ Psalm 139:14  (GNT)

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"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." ~ John 1:12 (NLT)

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"Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory." ~ Romans 8:17 (GNT) 

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"so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me." Galatians 2:20 (GNT)

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"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." ~ 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

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"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." ~ Romans 12:2 (NLT)

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"Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God;" ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (GNT)

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"7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]."  ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)

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"37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]." ~ Romans 8:37 (AMP)

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"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ's triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place." ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14 (CSB)

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"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." ~ Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

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"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." ~ Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

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"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 (NASB)

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[*NOTE: The first scripture above was my own reference. The rest came from a list at EverydayServant.com.]

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So, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and pray about what you want to accomplish and God would have you to do, according to His will.  Once you receive the answer: Move.  (*That is my word for the year.😉)  Follow what you feel Him leading you to do.  

If you don't feel that you got an answer, then Move. Sometimes He is waiting to see what we will do and how obedient we will be. Sometimes there are tests and He is silent. Other times, He is just waiting for US to do OUR part and He can't steer a parked car. 

I saw something a long time ago on Pinterest that I cannot seem to find now. It was a quote or Bible journaling that was something like, 

"The answer to your plans is yes until God says no."  

The point was that sometimes we spend too much time waiting for Him to answer when we should be in motion, plotting and pursuing action.

💓So, let's get our plans together and get moving!  It's going to be a great year! 😃

Many blessings to each of you! God has something fabulous planned and waiting for you!

Spirit-led Encouragement

Howdy!  How are ya feeling today? *cheesy grin*

I have been going through some stuff lately (who hasn't??) and I have been really trying to open up my heart and ears to God. He is beyond amazing. No, nothing magically transformed, yet, though I have been blessed, in my situation. However, I know with deep assurance that He is with me every step of the way. He is leading and guiding. I don't know where we are headed first but I know that He has great things in store. I am super excited for 2020!

I was going to read my Bible this morning while it was quiet.  I started to grab my favorite go-to Bible, my HCSB Study Bible for Women. As I was reaching, He led me simply to the one next to it, my NIV Leadership Bible. I thought, "Okay, God." I figured there must be something that He wanted me to see. I heard, "Matthew 8." in my spirit. Okay.

Originally, in my mind it was going to probably be that or the book of Luke but He chose for me. Both Bibles have Matthew 8 but, like I keep telling my husband, the featured content or focus of each is different. So, I was curious to see what He was leading me to.

The short answer...authority.  He reminded me that we have authority through Jesus Christ. The same authority that God, Himself, has. God spoke the universe into existence one creature and feature at a time. The final creation was mankind, created in His likeness and to be a reflection of Him.  Therefore, just like the centurion mentioned in Matthew chapter 8,

"8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ~ Matthew 8:8-9 

we are able to speak with authority and bring things into being by command.  (No, not like Genie in Aladdin: "Poof! What do ya need?!")  We have authority to change the atmosphere around us. We have the authority to change our situation through prayer. We can change our attitudes and thoughts of ourselves and those around us with our words.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words." ~Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)

We also have the authority to cast out demons.

"1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." ~Luke 9:1-2 (NIV)

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"16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”"   ~Luke 10:16-20 (NIV)

We need to stop allowing the devil to have a place in our hearts, minds, and lives.

"27 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]." ~Ephesians 4:27 (AMP)

We need to take authority of our thoughts, holding them captive and comparing them to the Word of God. "3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," ~2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

We need to take up our armor and we need to take authority over any demons that try to take over us or those around us, or our own situations.

"10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people." ~Ephesians 6:10-18 (GNT)

Our Heavenly Father is a mighty, victorious warrior.

"“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy." ~Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)

We are created in His image.
"26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [ak]sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [al]sky and over every living thing that [am]moves on the earth.” ~Genesis 1:26-28 (NASB)

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"18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." ~Matthew 18:18 (NASB)

So, let's remember that if we are obedient to Christ,

"13 The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to [n]observe them carefully, 14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them." ~Deuteronomy 28:13-14 (NASB)

We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. (Phil. 4:13).  

"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." ~Ephesians 6:10 (NASB)

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"‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." ~Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV) 

So, if you are feeling defeated or uncertain in a particular area of your life and unsure of the direction you need to go, take up your sword and trust that God is with you. If you be in Christ, the victory has already been won. He will give you the wisdom and direction if you only ask.

"11I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.+ 12Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. 13 You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:11-13 (GNT)

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"5 But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 6But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7-8If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord." ~James 1:5-8 (GNT)

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"7 “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock." ~Luke 11:7-8 (GNT)

💗 I hope that you were blessed and encouraged in this. I know that I certainly was!
I pray that you have a beautiful day and a fabulous week. God's got this and you.
He knew what was coming way before you did. 😎👍

My Weapon Is A Melody...

I'm really struggling with a few things right now that are really getting to me. They are stealing my peace. They are bringing my spirit down. I have to stop it. I have to get through it.

I have been listening to sermons on peace, which are helping. Yet, at 4:30 in the morning when I am tired and emotionally exposed, this song is filling in the cracks.  It is giving me strength.  Thank You, Jesus!  I raise a hallelujah!  Louder than my unbelief.  I raise a hallelujah.  My weapon is a melody!  Sing a little louder!!

Restoration Even Through Suffering

Powerful teachings, worship, and praise. Thank You, Father God!!

Trust and Patience for Restoration - Joyce Meyer


Suffering - Joyce Meyer


I Give Myself Away - William McDowell

Even Then by Micah Tyler

Here are a few songs to get you started this morning.  Up first are a couple of new favorites. Then an old favorite. Then, a song by Lauren Daigle. ;)

I hope you have a beautiful day!! God bless you!


Even Then - Micah Tyler



Stand In Your Love - Josh Baldwin


What Do I Know Of Holy? - Addison Road


O' Lord - Lauren Daigle

Play time. ;)

I finally got some more journaling done this weekend. I cannot take credit for the image ideas. I was inspired by Pinterest.  I have added details in a couple of places and changed colors here or there.

One of the things that I did this weekend was personalize the inside covers of my HCSB Compact Bible.  This mini Bible measures roughly 4 inches wide and 6 inches tall. It fits really well in hand. It is a nice size to for a purse or backpack. They come in a variety of colors. I also have a brown one with gold gilding.

This is my NASB NoteTaker Bible. It is primarily what I use for journaling.

Here are a few things I did in it recently. 

Romans 1:12

Luke 6:27-28

Isaiah 26:3

These are in The Study Bible for Women (HCSB).

These are both tip-outs. The one on the left is just notepad paper. 

The one on the right is actually a paper sack that I can slide papers, prayer requests, sticky notes, whatever in.  I used decorative duct tape to adhere the bottom side. I tried washi but it wouldn't hold. \

Here is what it looks like when they are tipped outward.

That is all for now.  What do you think?

Do you want to give Bible journaling a try, too?

Hopefully I will be able to do some more this week. I really enjoyed it. :D 

Blessings to you all!!

Bible Study: Luke

So, I have a Bible study group that I like to attend. I can't always make it due to work but I go when I can. Right now, we are studying the book of Luke. I am really enjoying being able to be back in the fold. I have missed my friends. However, it is even sweeter with my HCSB The Study Bible for  Women. I just love the layout.

Because I love the layout, the info, and even the blue hue to the pages, I find it extremely easy to just dive in and keep swimming through.  I love just grabbing my highlighters, my sticky notes and some gel pens. I feel like a kid with fingerpaints. lol Seriously.  I enjoy it. For right now and for this Bible, I have no color code. I just contrast so it is easier to pick out things.

I will say, though, that I have figured out why I should also be using larger sticky notes in tandem with the small ones. I had peeked at the Quest study notes while I was doing my study. Then, I was in group and trying to remember where they were to mention them. OOPsie! I got confused which Bible and the exact wording. I will have to write out the notes I want to remember and stick them into this Bible in the future. ;)  Problem solved.  I can even take a composition journal page, I believe would fit in it, roughly anyhow if not, and use the restickable glue stick.

I will leave details at the end if you are interested in this Bible. There are also NKJV and CSB versions.

Here is part of my marking for Chapter 11.  I know, I know. I highlighted a LOT of stuff. However, it is Jesus whom is speaking. How can you NOT mark that as important?  It is not red letter but it is read letter. ;)

I got mine at Christianbook Distributors. Mine is hardcover but LeatherTouch is also an option. Amazon may have it as well.  There are 2 versions from 2 different years. This is the updated one. It seems to have more notes. However, in order to get a LeatherTouch and to figure out the differnces, I got both slightly imperfect at Christianbook on a good sale. I paid about $15 for both together. This is large print not thumb indexed. The old version LeatherTouch is standard print.

Ha!  I added 4 more stickies and made a tip-in since this pic. We had another study and I love making notes of great comments during. This was so much fun. There was some great discussion!

I have already read Chapter 12 for the next meeting. I need to read the study notes in this and my other 2 study Bibles. I have highlighted different topics throughout the chapter and then used a glitter gel pen to underline things that stood out in that topic to me.

If you are interested in making your own sticky notes (out of just about anything- note pad paper, index cards, print outs, then check out this video.

I hope that you enjoy these posts. I would love to hear your comments or questions.

I hope you are having a beautiful week. It's a great day to jump into the Word. ;)