Diario de la Biblia en Espanol
My name is Tracy Stembridge. I have been married to my husband for 27 years and we have twins who are 22 and a son who is 17. I am an RN and I teach patients in the hospital how to administer IV antibiotics at home. I am a Christian and feel like God called me to be a missionary to Mexico 16 years ago. So far, that has only been through supporting missionaries there and a week long mission trip there the last 2 years. Last year, I had the privilege of introducing Bible Journaling to missionaries, pastors, and women’s groups in Mexico. It is awesome to see what God can do when we listen to Him and trust Him to lead us. Several years ago, I went through a long stretch of depression and the fact that God healed me AND allowed me to serve Him in this capacity still amazes and humbles me.
Last year, I had the privilege of introducing Bible Journaling to missionaries, pastors, and women’s groups in Mexico. It is awesome to see what God can do when we listen to Him and trust Him to lead us. Several years ago, I went through a long stretch of depression and the fact that God healed me AND allowed me to serve Him in this capacity still amazes and humbles me.
How the Learning to Bible Journal Group was founded:
After I had spent time Bible journaling, I felt God prompting me to teach it in churches and in our local homeschool coop. I discovered that there was follow-up needed after these classes. There are many questions to be answered when one starts this journey about supplies, techniques, and resources. To assist with this, I started a Facebook group called “Widows Mite Bible Journaling” which was later changed to “Learning to Bible Journal Together.” I started the group with the story of the widow who didn’t have much to give God, but gave everything she had. I am not an artist but I am trying to give whatever talent I do have, back to God. I try to do that in this group. If I find anything helpful or encouraging, then I pass it on to the group.
How the Spanish Bible Journaling Group was founded:
After my mission trip to Mexico, I saw a need to bring the missionaries, pastors, and congregations together to share ideas and their creations and create a community for Bible journalers. One of the ladies in the Cancun church, became very interested in Bible journaling. I asked her to copartner with me to start a Spanish Bible Journaling Group. Suzzly Killingsworth agreed and we started Coloreando Palabras de Vida (Coloring words of Life). I do not speak Spanish well, but she is bilingual. I feel like God has helped us be a great team.
The purpose of these groups is to provide a safe place for Bible journalers to learn and share their creations. My daughter is a teacher and she says the highest form of learning is creating. If we take God’s Word and study, meditate and pray over it, and then create an expression of that, then we have truly hidden God’s Logos in our heart. I believe this is also a powerful way to share our testimony. One illustration, shared, can reach into another person’s heart.
We are a Christian group trying to live out what being a Christ Follower looks like.
Both groups started locally but now have members from all over. They are small groups that serve the purpose of allowing a Bible journaler to share their work and receive encouragement without the intimidation of sharing to a larger audience.
Anyone is welcome to join these groups. Here are the links:
Learning to Bible Journal Together Group-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WidowsmiteBiblejournaling/ (link no longer works – sorry folks)
Coloreando Palabras de Vida
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069450613136718/
Lastly, I have always loved the song from Coca-Cola, “I’d like to teach the world to sing…” I want my motto to be, “I’d like to teach the world to Bible journal.” I think my assignment, in this community in America, is to call attention to the others nations who need to be introduced to the gift of Bible Journaling that God has given us.
Isaiah 43:19
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.