Before anything, there was God. And He was creating something beautiful.

As I was coloring and adding little notes into my Bible, I kept thinking about Genesis 1:1:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Every color we see. Every detail in nature. Every breath we take. It all began with His creativity and His love.

And that feels deeply personal, because you were made by that same Creator. With intention. With care.

As I filled in the flowers and began writing in the margins, I paused at Genesis 1:3:

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

I love that. Just like that, light. The same way He brings light into our hearts when we draw near to Him. When we open His Word. When we slow down enough to listen.

This kind of journaling, coloring, tearing little pieces of paper, taping in notes, might seem small. But it feels like worship to me. It is a quiet way of saying, “Thank You, Lord, for creating me and for allowing me to create with You.”

Genesis 2:7 says:

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”

That breath of life is still at work. It is what moves us to learn, to write, to reflect, and to keep coming back to Scripture even when we do not fully understand it yet.

And then this verse stopped me:

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” — Genesis 1:31

That includes you.

The work He began in you is good.

The pages you are filling do not have to be perfect. They just have to be yours. If your handwriting is messy or your coloring slips outside the lines, it does not matter. This is time spent with Him.

That is what makes it beautiful.

I also reflected on Genesis 8:22:

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

There is rhythm in creation. Seasons. Beginnings and renewal.

Whatever season you are in right now, God is still creating something in your life. Even if you cannot see it yet. Even if it feels slow.

As I colored the word Genesis, I kept thinking about how every single day with God is a beginning. We get to start again. We get to open His Word again. We get to learn again.

And that feels like grace.

I am simply grateful for the quiet moment. For pencils and paper. For Scripture. For the ability to slow down long enough to reflect.

These small moments of stillness are where my heart finds peace.

If you are journaling along with me, grab your pencils, tear out a little flower, tape in a note, and let yourself settle in. Let this be simple. Let it be unpolished. Let it be worship.

Thank you for spending this time with me.

If you enjoy quiet study sessions and creative reflections you can watch, I share these same words as a voice over with video from my desk on YouTube.

I would love for you to subscribe so you don’t miss future posts. There is something really special about slowing down together in God’s Word.

See you in the next study.

Subscribe now

Find printables in my Printable Store, creative tutorials on YouTube, and my favorite supplies on Amazon.

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting my ministry and creative work.

With grace, Tehlia

The rhythm and meditative motions of using a rigid heddle loom did something for my heart. Until April of 2020. I was still weaving, but my hyper fixation was waning. Pretty understandable with the panic of a pandemic and lockdowns in full swing.

I needed to have something to occupy my brain but also calm my fears - so I started walking. I made a promise to myself that when I opened my eyes in the morning I would get up, put on shoes and just walk for at least 30 minutes in a nearby park. My husband was home, my 4 kids still sleeping most mornings, it was going well.

Then I started waking up earlier and early. No alarm, no crying toddler, just awake.

But one morning my eyes were opened at 3:30. I wasn’t happy - but for some reason I kept my promise and put on my shoes. Closed my front door and said out loud - “you can’t wake me up this early. This isn’t ok.” I got to the end of my street and realized I was talking to God.

Subscribe now

Not do strange for a Christian to say perhaps… however I wasn’t a Christian I was an mix of atheist/agnostic depending on the day and most of the books on my shelves where about yoga, Buddhism, Wicca and tarot card reading. I was very far from being a Christian. Yet I knew immediately that I was talking to the only God, to Jesus and I wasn’t able to talk myself out if it.

By the end of that morning I ordered a bible.

I was 41 at the time almost 42, married for 19 years, had 4 young children and needed to know everything immediately.

The first book of the Bible I read was Genesis. I had no clue where to start, how to go about it or if I was doing it right. All I knew was to put one foot infront and start. By the time I read that God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his own son, I was in tears and all my anxiety about the pandemic, motherhood, the 50 ways that a thing can go wrong and how to fix it, disappeared.

That very moment the Holy Spirit took hold and I slept soundly for the first time in years.

For my entire life up to that moment I had been weaving, forcing things to come together, to stay together, digging, teaching myself. Trying to control it all. Only to realize in a matter of seconds that He is in control and I can let go.

The second book I read was John. This is when it all changed in the deepest and best way. Before this book I knew about Jesus, he was a man, smart, historical figure, you know all the things atheists like to say. But again the Bible, God’s words about his Son. John telling how he was born and how he will day. That God again is in control and will sacrifice His perfect son for us… in tears again.

How could I be so stubborn, so self-absorbed to think I could control any of this. Midway through reading John I stopped weaving.

Knowing God was in control I no longer needed to weave to feel content, calm and happy. I knew I could pray to him, read his word and feel connected to him. Letting go of the yarn in my hand I could grab hold of His thread and trust Him, I no longer had a void and a need to control everything.

By the Summer of 2020 I had read 4 books of the Bible, we decided to move to a different state and I was marking up my bible. I still don’t weave the ways I did. Now I am able to get into it for the want to create something pretty, not hoping it will fill me up. I have Jesus for that.

Find printables in my Printable Store, creative tutorials on YouTube, and my favorite supplies on Amazon.

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting my ministry and creative work.

With grace,

Tehlia

A Little About Me

Hi, I’m Tehlia, a fairly new Christian in my 40s, a wife of 24 years, and a homeschooling mom of four, which means most days are filled with laughter, lessons, and plenty of coffee breaks.

As often as I can I carve out time to open my Bible and journal, not perfectly, not always peacefully, to spend time with God through notes, doodles, and prayer.

I didn’t grow up reading the Bible. In fact, I didn’t even open one until I was 41 turning 42. I have only been a Christian for 5 years. Before that I was deep into New Age spirituality, always searching for meaning somewhere else. I plan to dive into those details here in the near future.

Then one day in 2020, I started reading Scripture for myself, and Jesus met me right there in the pages. That moment changed everything. *this is my first Bible and first post on instagram April 29, 2020.

Where Creativity Meets Faith

I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember, crochet, clay, paint, sewing, journaling, design, color, that’s just how my brain works. So when I started reading the Bible, I naturally began writing, drawing, and adding little reflections in the margins. Over time, my Bible became more than a book; it became a living record of my faith journey.

That blend of creativity and Scripture helped me slow down and truly absorb what I was reading. And that’s exactly what I hope to encourage you to discover here.

Subscribe now

What You’ll Find Here

You don’t need to be a theologian or artist to get started. You just need to open your Bible, grab a pen, a few highlighters, some scrap paper, maybe a bit of washi tape and begin. Curiosity and wanting to try is all that’s required

On Bible Notes & Faith, you’ll find:

• Creative Bible journaling and notetaking ideas for beginners

• Printable kits and guides to help you build a steady Bible study rhythm

• Short, easy SOAP reflections

• Honest encouragement from a fellow mom learning and growing in faith

My goal is to make Bible journaling approachable, budget-friendly, and deeply meaningful, even in small pockets of time.

Why I Started Bible Notes & Faith

I started Bible Notes & Faith because I wanted a space to share what I wish I had when I first opened my Bible, practical guidance and creative ideas that made Bible study feel approachable.

When I began journaling, it changed everything. Writing down verses, adding notes, and letting myself be creative helped me slow down and truly connect with God’s Word.

This space is my way of encouraging others to do the same, to pick up their Bibles, let go of perfection, and discover how meaningful it can be when you engage Scripture in your own personal, creative way.

Let’s Learn Together

Whether you’re just opening your Bible for the first time or looking for new ways to connect creatively with Scripture, I’m so glad you’re here.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to get new posts, printables, and creative guides right in your inbox. You’ll also get updates when I share a new video on YouTube so you can journal along with me. Paid Subscribers unlock the Members Vault.

Let’s open our Bibles together and make them come alive with color, notes, and heart.

With love,

Tehlia

Bible Notes & Faith

Subscribe now

Find printables in my Printable Store, creative tutorials on YouTube, and my favorite supplies on Amazon.

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting my ministry and creative work.

With grace,

Tehlia