Currently I am participating in an online Bible study using the book “Stressed-Less Living” by Tracie Miles. This is being offered through Proverbs 31 Ministries. This book applies to all of us. I mean, who isn’t stressed these days with the economy the way it is and people becoming unemployed. We are also just stressed in our day-to-day lives. Come and join me and together we can work on becoming less stressed. Go to http://www.melissataylor.org. On her website she tells you how easy it is to join. You will also see that we just started this study. If you are like me, you will enjoy that she gives you an outline of what to expect for the upcoming week. I hope you will join me!
I would like to share something with you. One of our first assignments with this study was to look at the scripture verses at the back of chapter 1. Tracie calls these “Stress Busting Scriptures”. We then were to look up the verses in our Bible and highlight them. Now I am going to share something a little personal with all of you now. You see, I grew up learning that you do not crinkle, crease, draw, highlight or make any marks in your Bible. Can any of you relate? As I grew up and became involved in small groups I realized that what I was told all those years was not necessarily true. There is one particular woman who has strongly influenced me. I will share that story in a latter blog. Since then, I have wanted to “mark up” my Bible but I just could not bring myself to do so……until now. I was just so excited when Melissa had, as one of our assignments, asked us to highlight these verses. She even said to use “sticky notes” in our Bibles and even write on the Bible pages if need be! Wow!! Let me just tell you. I whipped out my highlighter and I went to town on those verses. After that I had a smile from ear to ear. I felt so much joy. I would like to share these scripture verses with you.
“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” (2 Samuel 22:7)
“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Let’s lift our worries, fears and stress up to the Lord. With God all things are possible.
Tell me what scripture verse(s) above speak(s) to you. Why do you think that is? What things are you stressed about? What would you like to lift up to God?
I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Many Blessings,
Danielle
Journey of a Faithful Follower 
This is a wonderful thing you are doing, thank you! It’s funny you said that about marking in your bible. I was raised the same way- you don’t write, highlight, crease, etc. the Holy Bible. Then I joined a bible study down here and people were underlining, highlighting, and even writing notes in their bibles. At first I was in shock, but now it makes perfect sense.
Ps- you can buy special highlighters made just for this. They don’t go through the page like a regular highlighter would. The only downfall is that they aren’t as easy to see either!
I’m looking forward to following your blog. Good luck and God Bless!
Danielle I can really understand what you mean. My grandmother would have smacked me if I had marked up my Bible and she would have smaked me for reading different interpretations. Love your blog and the insight. And yes I learned I can highlight and write and mark up and I love it. I’m wanting a new Bible but what would I do without all my notes??? Thanks for sharing. Debbie W. (OBS Leader)
I know how you feel too I had to buy a special bible to write over at first now I have a special rainbow coloured crayon that I use to highlight God’s promises. I love when I come across the promises in my bible now. Isaiah 41 v 10 is my favourite verse this week looking forward to next week
Danielle, I am a member of the small group in Made to Crave and I saw that you had a blog so I came here today to read what you had posted. I enjoyed what you had to say and I wrote down the scriptures on my index card. Each scripture reinforces that God is in control of all situations that we face in our life. God knows us so well and he examines our heart and knows exactly what is going on. I have prayed about a family situation and know that according to God’s word in Psalm 3:8 that deliverance come from the Lord. I am thankful for the confidence that I know God hears me when I pray and he has the answer on the way. All things are possible with God.