This year I decided that I wanted to make practicing calligraphy a daily activity and I thought that a good way to get meaningful content to calligraph was to ask the girls in my bible study for their favorite bible verses. I did those - about 15 women - and then I opened it up to my instagram followers and other personal friends. By now, after 2 months, I have done 52 verses/passages! It has truly been a blessing.
Here are a few that I wrote: Hebrews 12:2 * Esther 4:14* Philippians 4:5-7* John 10:10* Isaiah 40:28-31* Romans 5: 3-5 * Psalm 34:5* Ephesians 4:2* Psalm 51:10-12* James 1:17* Psalm 94: 17-18* Luke 22:42* Esther 4:14
It was kind of crazy to me that there were only a few duplicates out of 52 people who participated. I was so encouraged by this exercise and I felt that my friends were as well - from the positive feedback that I received. I ended up deciding to mail out the ones who weren’t local. People were surprised to get to keep their verse but I didn’t see any reason to keep them all to myself! They would just sit in a drawer anyways.
What I loved most about this challenge was hearing the reasons why the verses were meaningful to people and in some cases the significant life situations that they helped them through in pointing them to God. A few stories stand out - although I know all were so meaningful.
esther 4:14
Kelsey’s response to my question of ‘what is this verse meaningful to you’ - surprised me the most. She sent me an entire 3-page paper that she had written in school. I wasn’t expecting a full paper and was thrilled to read it — it not only helped me understand the story of Esther better, I also learned more about Kelsey’s story & walk with God. (I also read the book of Esther again - it’s a crazy story). I loved when Kelsey notes that “God is never specifically mentioned in the book of Esther but his hand in everything that happens seems to give evidence of his presence. This passage serves as evidence of God’s REDEMPTION and DELIVERANCE of the Jews and it offers the Jews a story of HOPE.” She speaks of the content and significance of the story of Esther and then talks about how the character of God revealed in the story (& this specific verse in Esther) comforted her during a personally difficult time. “I have learned the beauty that come from trails and God’s hand that it is at work even in the midst of pain.” I can also attest to this revelation of the goodness of God in & through times of suffering.
Here is the instagram post if you’d like to check it out: here
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Another one that I loved was Jacqui’s story.
When I asked her why she wanted this one, she replied simply: “It was my verse when I found out I was pregnant and every time I read it I feel renewed and excited.” I love this so much — the reminder of how God is a sovereign and graciously giving Father. Reflecting on how precious the gift of life is + and how God is also steadfast and never changing.
The full post is here
1 corinthians 15:26
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Kelly also shared a personal story of why she loves this verse. She said, “It’s true, these words also appear in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but they did not originate with J.K. Rowling (sorry, Potter fans).” This cracked me up because I’m a HUGE Harry Potter fan and did not know this (I mean the end of the series is essentially the Christian story of redemption through sacrifice but that’s a blog for another day). She goes on to say later in her post that this verse “…gives me strength and hope to persevere in a world that so often feels dark, painful, and hopeless. I need this as a constant reminder to look outside of myself and my circumstances and look to the cross; to the day when
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4.
What a glorious truth! Thank you for sharing.
There were so many more but I just wanted to share a few! If you received a verse and told me why you loved it, thank you! and if not I’d still love to hear! Comment below or message me privately. I was also so encouraged by seeing where you all put the verses up in your homes. I hope it brings you joy to see it written and that we have such rich truths to meditate on daily. Message me if you’d like one as well!
Here are just a few more photos of the calligraphy:
Isaiah 40: 28-31 for Emily
2 Peter 1:3-8 for Gabrielle
Jeremiah 17:7-8 for Cami