Scouting the Divine with Margaret Feinberg

Margaret Feinberg, the popular Bible teacher and conference speaker, will keynote the Dallas Theological Seminary “All About Influence” Women’s leadership conference on November 12. She will encourage attendees through reflections from her 2009 book Scouting the Divine.

I first met Margaret at a MOPS convention several years ago after sitting in on her workshop lesson. Her earnest, thoughtful way of speaking about deep truths quickly captivated her audience—me included. Her popularity has only grown since then. Just check out her speaking schedule for the next few months!

Tagged recently by Charisma magazine as on of the “30 Emerging Voices” who will lead the church in the next decade, Margaret was also named in Christianity Today’s “50 Women to Watch” October 2012 issue. Her books and Bible studies such as The Organic God, The Sacred Echo, and Scouting the Divine invite readers to discover the relevance of God’s word in their everyday life.

Because her day at "All About Influence" is too full for an in-person interview, Margaret agreed to chat with me via email about her topic for the conference.

FV: What inspired you to take the time, expense, and energy to research the four primary themes in Scouting the Divine so thoroughly?

MF: Many years ago, I was taking care of my aunt's bed and breakfast in Alaska, when one of the guests, Lynne, captured my attention during an early morning conversation about her pastime: shepherding. I remember thinking, "One day I want to write about this." I held onto the idea for nearly decade, before I decided to track down this woman who I had only met once. Though she didn't remember me or our conversations, Lynne was gracious enough to extend an invitation to spend time with her and her flock in Oregon. From there, we travelled to Nebraska to spend time with a farmer and his nephew, southern Colorado to peek inside a beehive, and California to learn about viticulture or grape growing. Along the way, I opened the scriptures, asking each person how they read various passages, not as theologians, but in light of what they did every day. Their answers illuminated passages of the Bible in a whole new way and deepened my relationship with God.

FV: Why did you choose these four themes? sheep, farming, wine, and bees - which was your favorite, and why?

MF: This was an organic journey in which one theme or person led to the next. After spending time exploring these themes and the Scouting the Divine book was complete, we travelled to Croatia to bring in an olive harvest. I look forward to writing about that one day. All of the experiences carried rich experiences and spiritual insights so I can't pick a favorite.

FV: It seemed that the more you searched, and researched, to know God's word more deeply, the more your desire to know Him increased. Is this true? When did you realize you were on a "never ending" journey to know God more intimately? And did it frustrate you or bring you peace?

MF: The longing to know God began long before I ever embarked on Scouting the Divine. Long time fans are familiar with such rumblings in Hungry for God, The Sacred Echo, and The Organic God. Living on a never ending journey to know God is the invitation on all our lives—the beckoning of the Spirit also invites us to plunge deeper into knowing and following God. If there's one emotion that emerges—it's joy. Breathtaking joy.

FV:  How might you encourage women in ministry leadership roles to make time for such in-depth study of the Word? After all, they are very busy with the business tasks of ministry.

MF: Studying the Scripture sometimes feels like rifling through an antique treasure chest. Along the way we discover facets of God, His character, His truth in ways that transform us and beckon us to become more Christ-like. If you're in ministry, you're time-crunched! No doubt. But be encouraged that even a little bit of time—and lots when you have it—of spending time in Scripture will be richly rewarded as you grow and catch unforgettable glimpses and insights into our wondrous God. 

FV: What can our readers expect to see from you in the near future?

MF: On Christmas 2012, Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God book and 7-week DVD Bible study (Worthy/Lifeway) release. The book and Bible study are an invitation to toss back the covers, climb out of bed, and drink in the fullness of life. It's so easy to lose the wonder and awe in the midst of leadership and ministry. Wonderstruck offers lessons on how to unearth the extraordinary moments in every day life, recognize the presence of God in the midst of your routine, and discover peace in knowing you're wildly loved. I'm hopeful the stories from Wonderstruck will inspire readers to fall in love anew with God.

Readers interested in attending the All About Influence can find more information on their web site.