Trace the Living Word is a devotional publishing studio in Orange, California. We make traceable editions of Scripture: books where the full text is set in a soft grey tracing typeface that guides your hand.

Writing out Scripture by hand is an old practice. For centuries, monks and contemplatives copied the text to quiet the mind and pay attention. Tracing makes that practice approachable. The words are already on the page, so there's nothing to get wrong. You follow the letterforms instead of worrying about your handwriting, and the attention goes where it belongs: to the words. You can't skim a verse you're tracing. It's reading through writing, one word at a time.

Our core line is made by hand in our California studio, in small batches, and we partner with other binderies who share our care for paper and binding, so that time spent writing the words feels like a time-honored moment with our Lord.

The series began with Genesis and is growing across books of the Bible and translations. To hear about new releases, join the email list.

From the founder

I never expected to be making traceable Bibles. But in 2020 something happened that changed the course of my life. After a lifetime of being unaware of God's presence, I woke up, and a long search ended with me coming to know Jesus as Lord.

In that same season I was building a handwriting app for kids while teaching myself to read Scripture. I have dyslexia, so reading has never come easily. One day I wondered what would happen if I traced the verses instead of only reading them.

Tracing changed how I encounter the words. It was calming, and it slowed me down enough to notice each one. When you trace Scripture, you don't have to push through the page on your own. You follow along, and the words move at the pace of your hand.

Trace the Living Word was born out of my lifetime of weakness, and I thank God for it every day. He has walked with me through it all, and given me a purpose and a way to serve.

I hope the practice gives you the same quiet it's given me. It truly is the most wonderful and joyful practice to integrate into your day to day.

Marina

 

Product photography by Bernie Dickson, with gratitude | ♡