Another Scripture Study Technique

Studying Your Scriptures

You may not think this post applies to you - perhaps you don't read any scriptures nor do you care to. And that's okay by me. I think, however, that you could use this "study" technique that I just found for all sorts of things. So don't give up on this post quite yet.

I discovered a new blog (Mamaswhoknow) tonight while doing research for my Sunday School class that I teach every other week. A few weeks ago I posted about this same subject (scripture-journals.html) but I thought this one might work better for some (ie. me!).

pic from Mamas Who Know blog

Instead of taking an unlined journal and writing topics at the top of each page -- this momma has taken a very large binder and placed inside lined paper divided by alphabetical tabs. Then as she goes along studying her scriptures she creates topics and places them in alphabetical order. Ahhh-ha. Very nicely done!

When I was in college a friend gave me an empty unlined small journal and I started writing down my favorite quotes in it. For years I would write down what stood out to me - either in my scriptures, a note from a friend, a magazine article -- you name it. Sometimes I dated the entry and other times I did not (which bugs me, but whatever). I read it from time to time still but I used to re read it quite frequently. My biggest problem with this random quote book that I made is that I can NEVER find the quote I'm looking for when I need it! I end up spending hours perusing the book, reading each quote, flipping the pages back and forth, trying to find the quote that I need / want right then. It then becomes a lovely time waster for me. I love it though. I cherish this quote book that I made. I love seeing what made me tick when I was in my 20's. I think it took me over 5 years to fill it up. So this was not a short-term project.

I've been so bad at keeping up at this since I got married and had some kiddos. I find it hard to journal now, scrapbook - you name it. I read a book and that's about as far as I get lately. And I think that I'm sort of frustrated by my little quote book being so disorganized.

So I find these two ways to study very helpful as I contemplate starting a new quote journal. I just read the "Life of Pi" last week and it's chock full of quotes that I want to keep. I kept marking the pages so that I would remember to go back and write down the quotes somewhere -- anywhere! So I think I must start this up again.

I'll let you know which way I decide to go. I still have my Staples unlined sketch pad ready to go -- but I really want the alphabetical tabs. So we'll see.

Either way -- hope you enjoy!