This question was posed to me just a few days after I had observed my art paintings through different lenses than before. I considered my age, and wondered about the purpose for the ability to paint.

Is it just for making money and pretty pictures?

Is that all the worth an artist’s work is?

If I would die tomorrow, how would my paintings help others?

It’s so meaningless. There has to be more. I was completely frustrated with these thoughts and literally wanted to take a sharp knife and slash through my paintings that are scattered throughout our home. It just felt so purposeless. And then an older sister over the phone asked me this question. “Have you ever considered making your Bible Journaling pages available in book form for many people to look at?” She asked the question not knowing the inward turmoil I was going through at the time.

Sometimes ideas are born because someone plants a seed. And so, as I pondered this option and explored the possibilities, I began to feel this joy bubble up with thoughts about painting once again.

Have you ever seen how your past experiences all jumble up together and you can’t seem to make sense of it? You know that God is the maker of the many pieces of your life, but they just don’t make sense. Then, God begins to sort the pieces and you have an “ah ha” moment, and you begin to see the pieces gathering together to form this picture.

As I thought more about my sister’s question, it all began to make sense. Perhaps, all these years of learning have not been a waste. Perhaps the pieces of the puzzle, the years of learning and practicing and throwing out everything that turned out terrible, the years of decorative painting, Bible journaling, painting on canvas and paper, watercolor, acrylics, inks, pens, markers, etc., has not been a wasted effort. Perhaps they have all been learning tools leading up to this. Is this what You want, Lord?

As I researched it, my heart sank. There are so many copyright laws of what version can be written out on images, or put in a book, etc. I thought there was no way to tackle it. I wrote one publisher about getting special permission and never heard back from them. How is this going to work? A friend wrote me and cautioned me against just using what I already had done and putting them in a book because of Bible copyright laws. I received some very discouraging words from people I thought would be encouraging. Sigh. What to do?

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5 (NLT)

In the asking, a path has been made clear to me. And I’d like to share that with you.

Here are my thoughts and goals.

Going through a book of the Bible or a topic, I will begin to illustrate the verses and/or paragraphs found. Not just illustrating verses, but including some cross references written out in full to go with that verse on the other side that would be a springboard for individuals, families, and church groups for further study. Cross references are simply verses in other places of the Bible that also talk about that subject. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a help in one’s relationship with the Lord.

A picture sometimes is huge in helping one to understand more clearly. The pictures won’t be “perfect” - some in fact will be quite cartoony and reminiscent of my Bible journaling pages, but they will be attempts to illustrate God’s Word to help us “see” and “taste” the Word of God. Here is an example.