Sweet Friends,
I am humbled, honored, and downright thrilled to announce that Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey has entered into its 5th printing! To celebrate, I wanted to give a few extra special gifts.
Here are 5 fun facts (you probably didn’t know) about Scouting the Divine:
1. The picture on the back of the book wasn’t as easy-to-capture as you may think. What you can’t see is Leif holding a poo-covered sheep so we could catch that shot.
2. We still keep in touch with Lynne, the Oregon shepherdess, and get regular updates about her beloved sheep, Piaget.
3. We visited multiple vineyards in order to do the research for Scouting the Divine. Some specialized in grapes to make wine; others specialized in table grapes. The processes for growing and harvesting each kind were very different.
4. Despite spending time with multiple beekeepers and pulling a frame out of a beehive without any protection, I wasn’t stung. Not once.
5. After Scouting the Divine was written and published, Leif and I traveled to Croatia to help bring in an olive harvest. But that story is still being written.
To celebrate we’re giving away a Scouting the Divine DVD bible study kit, a Scout the Divine pillow, and decorative Scouting the Divine blocks for your entire Bible study.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The winner will be notified and announced on Friday.
What is your favorite section from Scouting the Divine— the shepherdess, farmer, beekeeper, or vintner?
I am fascinated with bees. Without them we no longer eat.
I think this is the only book of your that I haven’t read yet Margaret!
I have not read this study yet. I would love to take the ladies of my church through this study. Also excited about the release of Fight Back With Joy in January.
All three made deep impressions on me, but I think it was the vintner section, the scripture coming alive with the story about pruning and rocky soil and patient work that made me gasp.
As an avid knitter, I loved the shepherdess!!
i’ve been wanting to read this… LOVED wonderstruck! : )
I would like to win this, I have turned my bible study sisters on to your fabulous teaching and they have so enjoyed it. Would like to read it all!
I’ve raised sheep in the past – and now again as my daughter is in 4-H, but we raise them for meat production, not wool…that changes greatly the relationship between sheep and shepherdess. I was intrigued by Lynne and her relationship with the sheep. I’ve always loved sheep references in Scripture. But it was the bees that REALLY fascinated me! I don’t know much about bees or honey production, and it was really eye-opening.
I love, love, love this book! If I have to pick a favorite section, I’m going with the shepherdess. I’ll never forget reading the line that says a shepherd must smell like his sheep!
The shepherdess is my favorite part.
I also am fascinated by bees. I plan to read this book!
Happy Friday! You are so loved here! I love your writings and your site! 😉 Keep shining God’s light!
I heard you talk about this in Roanoke, Virginia this fall–it sounded fascinating, particularly the adventures with the shepherdess!
I read this book a while ago and was fascinated by all the revelations!
I have not done this study yet. But I’m an Oregon girl, so I’ve been around all three. I baaaaa at sheep when we drive past. I also moo at cows, but that’s a different book I think.
I was so touched by the newborn lamb, not being ready for full contact with the shepherd. What a picture of the patience and love shown by our Great Shepherd. I cried like a baby when reading the line about the ‘first touch of his shepherd’. Such tenderness. Thank you for thinking of doing a book like this, what insight – Jesus taught by telling his disciples to ‘look’, ‘see’, ‘touch’ – you have done just that Margaret!
I don’t have a favorite section yet because this is the study my group will be doing this summer and I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!
I loved hearing about the sheep and shepherdess when you spoke live at the AACC World Conference
I haven’t read this book of yours. Loved the tidbits you shared about it. Now I even more curious & anxious to read it! Thanks for the opportunity and blessings to you!
I haven’t read this book, but it sounds like something I need to read very soon!!
Sounds like all the characters are intersting but based on the sheperdess being based on a real person, I would pick her
Hi Christine! It’s actually a non-fiction book. I went and hung out with a shepherdess in Oregon, a farmer in Nebraska, a beekeeper in southern Colorado, and a vintner in Napa Valley. So they are all real people. 🙂
I haven’t read it yet, but am excited about the beekeeper. I heard a beekeeper speak once about how he learns about God through his work and it awed me. Would love to read more!
Scouting The Divine is the best bible study I’ve done in years! I absolutely loved it and learned so much 🙂
I absolutely LOVED every section – but my favorite was about the Shepard. Understanding more about the relationship between sheep and Shepard has brought such depth to so many beloved scriptures I read!! The Lord is MY Shepard has such a deep/rich/overwhelmed with LOVE image now! I am SO VERY LOVED!! 🙂 Thanks for bringing this important background to us! I am very blessed to have done your studies!
OK – I can’t stand it! This is a look at finding God in every the day business of life. This is going to be great, our Women’s Bible Study will be going through this in the summer of 2015! This would really help the ministry to have this ahead of time to prepare. Maybe we could even do some “field work” ahead of time! Ha! Ha!
I love the concept, the peak into the book that you’ve given me through the updates, the beautiful interplay in the title. Thank you for the give-away opportunity!
Would be thrilled to win your study, etc. Enjoyed your fun facts. Thanks for a peak behind the scene.
Would love to win your study, etc. Enjoyed the fun facts. Thanks for a peak behind the scene.
The beekeeper is my favorite. (Have a secret desire to keep bees along with chickens and cows)
Margaret, this book and study sound fascinating and blessed with the beauty of God’s Creation…all of nature…including human nature. Hoping to have an opportunity to share in your study!
Oh my…. to choose a favorite scene or part would be nearly impossible. I will say that this book/study was my introduction to you and your writing and I’ve never regretted it! Maybe that’s my favorite part? Oh, can’t have a copout as easy as that! I think all the words about the bees and their cooperation to keep “the Queen”… their servanthood by nature has stuck with me all these many years. Not long ago I had the chance to observe a hive up close and I had this in mind. Also, the notion of “foxes” in the vineyard came to mind not long ago when I had to explain to someone the delicate nature of the main vine and it’s roots and soil and how “little foxes” could do damage… much the same way they damage the body of Christ (little indiscretions….) So. I have loved this book and maybe soon will facilitate it with a group of friends again. Blessings Margaret!
The whole book was phenomenal! I especially enjoyed the beekeeper section myself. I have read all your books Margaret. You are my favorite author! I cannot wait for Fighting Back with Joy! Merry Christmas!
I absolutely loved Scouting the Divine when I completed it 2 years ago! My favorite was the shepherd.
just completed a group study of “Scouting the Divine” with a great group of faithful, joy-filled women and learned so much! I especially enjoyed the visit with the beekeeper… I’m a beekeeper, too!
I love this book! I would love to lead a ladies group in the study. My favorite part was about the sheep because I know the Lord is my Shepherd!
My first book of yours!
The vitner is my favorite section of the book.
beekeeping!
this is one I haven’t read…. Yet
i have enjoyed other bible studies you’ve written and after hearing you share about Scouting the Divine in Roanoke I have asked for it for Christmas. Thank you for being such an integral part of my walk
Scouting the Divine is one of my favorite books ever! How do I pick a favorite section?!? I loved reading about the beekeeper so much that I found a local beekeeper to go spend some time with. This led to us getting our own hive from him, moving it to some property on a friend’s house, and harvesting delicious honey just this fall!! Also living in the Midwest, I can totally relate to the farming community. My favorite farming story was when the planter explained how he got all his rows straight. By focusing on something far away in the distance and not taking his eyes off this object.
I really could go on and on about this book. I share it with friends and fellow readers every chance I get!!
Your descriptions caught may attention!
As one who attended a university with a strong agricultural department, I loved ALL of them! However, I think my favorite was the shepherdess. Shepherding is such an intimate vocational whether the flock is animal or human. Blessings to you and Leif!
I love the title!
I LOVED the shepherdess!!
My favorite is the shepherded and the sheep. Love wool on the hoof
I loved this book, but my husband and I read it together:). I would re read the sheep section again and again. I loved hearing about the personalities and names of each sheep. I took early childhood classes in school and learned early on of “Piaget!” I will always remembers that name yet connect it with that beloved sheep. Enjoyed the book immensely!
i loved this book. My favorite is the shepherdess.
I loved the sheep, or should I say the Shepherd. His love and care for me came alive. Plus, I’m an Oregonian.
I loved all the sections, but my favorite would be the shepherdess!
I haven’t read this book YET. If it’s anything like your other books I’m sure it will be one of my favorites
The shepherdess…such a picture of our shepherd King.
I loved the shepherdess!
The shephardess!!
I have not read it but its on my short list. Getting ready to get another lifegroup together so if I win it could be our first study!!!
This is also on my short list. Looking forward to doing it as a small group study!
Beekeeping for sure!
Beekeeping!!!
Margaret—-last fall my Thursday morning Bible study tried our first study of yours with Wonderstruck and we loved it!! You even put a picture of our group on your Facebook page!! Several of us had the pleasure of hearing you speak at Grace Chapel in Lexington late January which was an extra special treat for us. This morning we are decding what our next study will be—and the choices are three of your studies—-either Fighting Back with Joy, The Sacred Echo or Scouting the Divine. Looking forward to journeying with you in January 2015.
Farmer is my favorite section