I am over-the-moon excited about this new Bible.

RSV-2CE translation. Beautifully bound. Easy-to-read text. And nice wide margins for writing in.

Wide margins!

The Bible has always been a place where I have gone to meet the Lord, to get to know him and hear him speak into my heart and life. And, maybe since I’m a writer, or maybe just because it helps me remember, I like to write in my Bible. I like to underline things that stand out. I like to add insights I have into meaning, or notes from talks I want to remember. And I like to write dates next to verses I’m praying with in particular situations. Like these:

• “1981, decision not to go to England”—the note is written right by Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.”
• “1996, Zane” —a reference to our baby born with a heart defect, right at Psalm 33 where it speaks of God who fashions our hearts, who we can trust to deliver us.

 

The Lord has spoken deeply to me through his word and it helps me to remember his faithful love, to write things down like this.

The value of a “notetaking” or journaling Bible

This new Catholic Notetaking Bible from Ave Maria Press has plenty of room to write, but that’s not all. Every verse and passage of Scripture that appears in the Catechism is cross-referenced so you can see how it’s used there, and better understand the biblical roots of our Catholic faith.

It also includes practical essays introducing Scripture and explaining how to read it, written by John Bergsma and Sonja Corbitt, Anthony Pagliarini and Mark Hart, Meg Hunter-Kilmer—and one from me!  I can’t tell you how honored I am to have been asked to contribute the introduction to the New Testament:

An excerpt from my Introduction to the NT—

The four books called gospels, … like the four chambers of a human heart, form the heart of the New Testament and of all Scripture. Each proclaims in writing the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ and his kingdom. Reading them, we hear the heart of God and find proof of the depth of his love. Reading them, we meet Jesus: God with us in the flesh. We are invited to follow him and are shown how. The gospels draw us into the history of divine love that began in the beginning and extends into eternity.

“Hear the heart of God” in the Bible

Have you found the heart of God in his word? I’d love to hear about it.

And if you long to hear him there, but haven’t yet: don’t give up. Like getting to know someone you’ve just met, it takes time to recognize his voice. Make reading the Bible a habit, and start each day with prayer to the One who wants to meet you there. You’ll find some practical help in the Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible from Mark Hart … and plenty of room to record your own thoughts.

God bless you richly as you read his word!

© 2021 Sarah Christmyer

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Special Offer

Get the Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible at a discount! Special pricing for the Hardcover is $45 (Reg $49.95) or for the Imitation Leather $55 (Reg $59.95). Use the code CHRISTMYERBIBLE. Offer ends June 30, 2021. Valid in the contiguous United States. (Note: this corrects a previous entry.)

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Free Webinar

Tuesday, April 27

Have you tried to read the Bible, expecting a kind of “love letter” from God but finding instead something very hard to get into or understand? Sign up for this free webinar, when I’ll share basic principles for understanding Scripture and explain how consistently reading your own personal Bible can feed your relationship with Jesus and boost your prayer life. Participate live on Tuesday, April 27, at 3 pm ET or watch it later at this link: How to Understand the Bible—and Meet The Word in the Words of Scripture