Chatting with Lisa Nichols Hickman- Writing in the Margins

Had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Hickman

 by phone this morning.

Always good to put a voice with the emails

 and Facebook connections.

We are planning an event for November 7, 2015 

with Lisa and Shanna Noel -

here in Northern Virginia.

(details to come very soon)

So, this was time to listen to each other 

and see what might be the best way

 to shape this experience.
Lisa is mom to two, 
and struggles to find her own margins:
 as a ministry leader, mom, 
wife, professor and student too.

I had come across the book- 

Writing in the Margins in Feb. 2014.

Truthfully, it took me a while to finish the book,

 for a number of reasons.

I love Lisa's writing

 and didn't want the book to end.

I was actually doing the suggested prompts

 at the end of the Chapters.

I took the time to thoughtfully process

 in the places that she directed her readers in the Bible.

After I found the Journaling Bible Community

 on Facebook- I quickly joined

 when there were just a few of us in the group.

I had already connected to Lisa 

after reading her book.

Then, I shared with her this amazing new 

group on Facebook that was 

writing in the margins of their Bibles-- 

and MORE.

This was new information for the author of the book

ABOUT writing in the margins.

 That is how quickly things change

 in a socially connected digital world. 

Later, I shared with the Facebook group-

 her book and careful research.

One of the things that I believe

 is helpful about Lisa's 

contribution to the Journaling Bible community,

is that it opens another approach to the discipline.

She helps the reader with clear research,

 historical documentation, 

and endorsement of the practice

 as ancient- renewed.

For those that are not drawn immediately

 to the creative process,

 or are not sure about "arting up their Bible",

it allows another open door to the discipline.

One of my favorite phrases that Lisa uses

 to explain the process of writing in the margins is-

"bridging WORD to world".
 Margins become the place of cultivation- 
"finding a new way in the midst of confusion."

 The powerful realization for myself

 is that I have often pushed my faith life-

 Bible reading time- to the edges of my busy life.

A marginalized faith life.

And in grace-filled gentleness, 

I am reminded that THIS,

 is exactly where the Lord meets me.

Give Him the margins of your Bible

and see what He does in this space of worship,

and prayer as He writes 

your story.

If you are a Bible Journaler and have NOT read 
Writing in the Margins, 
the reading is an enhancement
 to the practice of Bible Journaling. 
If you are new to the Bible Journaling Community,
 this book is a wonderful introduction 
and can help frame this practice as spiritual discipline.

In the mean time -
we are very excited about bringing together 
these two women leaders-
 Shanna Noel and Lisa Hickman,
who have simply made themselves available
 for the moving of the Holy Spirit,
for such a time as this.