Happy Easter!

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

 

*The Organic God* ~ Summer Book Club with Margaret Feinberg {giveaway}

Before you finalize your summer plans, I’d like to invite you to a book club, hosted by Margaret Feinberg, reading the *THE ORGANIC GOD*.

The first time I read *THE ORGANIC GOD* was 2002. It was a gift from my aunt who had read it with her book club in Louisville, Kentucky. Before I finished the first page, I knew it was a book that I would enjoy. Margaret uses simplistic language (in all of her books!) and it’s like she’s sitting next to me and we are in conversation.

I describe God has organic. While it’s a word usually associated with food grown without chemical-based fertilizers or pesticides, organic is also used to describe a lifestyle: simple, healthful, and close to nature. Those are the things I desire in my relationship with God. I hunger for simplicity. I want to approach God in childlike faith, wonder, and awe. I long for more than just spiritual life but spiritual health — whereby my soul is not just renewed and restored by becomes a source of refreshment for others. Such a God-infused lifestyle requires me to step away from any insta-grow shortcuts and dig deep into the soil of spiritual formation found only in God.

Beginning June 11, Margaret will lead an online book discussion from her website. Every Monday, she will post insights from *THE ORGANIC GOD*. This is an excellent opportunity to engage with a group or Sunday school class, yet it’s perfectly suited for individuals too.

JOIN ME!!!!!!!!!

Listening to God’s voice requires more than just my ears; it requires my eyes, my mind, my spirit, my entire being to recognize the God-nudges in my life. Deep down inside I still hunger for a true, pure relationship with the Organic God — the One True God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In him is found the mysterious wonder of the Trinity. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

For the giveaway, I’m offering ONE (1) set complete with *THE ORGANIC GOD* book, workbook, and DVD series.

If you would rather purchase now, click HERE. The set is normally $130, but Margaret has deeply discounted it for the summer reading series and you can purchase the entire set for $34.99. WHAT. A. DEAL.

To enter, simply answer this question in a comment below:

WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER PLANS?

* please include your name and email address in the comment form *

This giveaway ends Sunday, June 3 at 9:00pm Central. The winner will be notified by email and the set will be mailed shortly after. Margaret’s weekly blog series begins June 11.

I hope you will join me this summer reading *THE ORGANIC GOD* with Margaret, it’s one of my favorite books and I know you’ll enjoy it too!

Good luck and please share this giveaway with others via social media.

• Follow Margaret on Twitter @mafeinberg
• Like Margaret Feinberg on Facebook
• Follow mafeinberg on Pinterest
• Follow Margaret Feinberg on Google+
• Follow Nicole on Twitter @nmhutch
• Like Nicole Edwards Hutchison on Facebook
• Follow nmhutchison on Pinterest
• Follow Nicole Hutchison on Google+

Blessings to you,
Nicole

This giveaway is sponsored by Nicole at Three 31. The giveaway winner will be notified via email. The quicker that person replies, the sooner they will receive their gift set. Easy-peasy!

Related articles

• My first experience at Catalyst Dallas (May 7-9, 2012) (nicoleandkevin.wordpress.com)

My first experience at Catalyst Dallas (May 7-9, 2012)

A big thank you to Margaret Feinberg for graciously allowing me and a guest to attend the 2012 Catalyst event in Dallas. The experience was wonderful and very fulfilling.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending one of the largest church leadership conferences in the nation: Catalyst. Fortunately for me, the event came to Dallas *AND* my friend and very talented Christian author, Margaret Feinberg, was a speaker.

I had no idea what to expect at Catalyst Dallas, as I had never attended before, but I had a wonderful time meeting church leaders, bloggers, musicians, writers, and marketing executives who are focused on sharing The Good News and targeting all God’s people.

There were several moments when I looked around the small room during seminars or in the huge auditorium during main sessions that I felt uncomfortable, out of place, or decided I didn’t fit in. In my pea-brain, I thought I was inadequate because I wasn’t wearing the latest fashion, or have a tattoo, or the ministries I participate in are not big enough to make a difference. I must have drank some Nonsense Juice, because those thoughts were totally out of line! As ridiculous as it sounds, it was in these moments that I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me and whisper, “Be present. You are enough. Be present. You are enough.”

I did not attend Catalyst to earn style points or collect a zillion ink pens from every vendor in the fellowship hall (okay, I did take a few mints and two gel ink pens and I registered to win an iPad) from complete strangers. I attended the event to be energized, educated, and engaged in my faith. I lifted my voice and hands in worship. I made new friends (social media is a very cool thing …. I have more Twitter followers now!) and I laughed so hard during the main sessions that people around me thought I stopped breathing!

Photo courtesy of CatalystSpace.com

A team of very talented artists created a mural using pages from old books, small boxes, glue, and different shades of paint.

I thought this was very, very cool.

During one of the main sessions, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, from St. John’s Downtown Church in Houston. challenged us ~ all 3,500 in the auditorium ~ to a speech bubble promise. I committed to reaching beyond my comfort level and quieten the pessimist inside me saying I’m not enough.

* I AM ENOUGH *

I’m sorry about the pictures of the cardboard signs. I took these shots after I got home and began thinking about this post. Obviously, poor planning on my part.

I cannot be trusted when I have something to write ON and something to write WITH. My board eventually became a doodle-space. It was perfect for jotting down notes though, because I left my journal in the car. (Yes, I admit, I brought home several blank speech bubbles because I thought they were super-duper cool and I couldn’t help myself and I asked the passer-outer-person for an extra one but she gave me five. I’ll find something to write on them. Any suggestions?)

The first time I drove into the parking lot (Wednesday morning), my face lit up. The great lawn near the entrance was filled with lawn chairs, hammocks, corn-hole boards, and *BRIGHT PINK* flamingos.Who doesn’t love bright pink flamingos?! They were awesome and I seriously wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather by reading a book in a hammock. Unfortunately, in order to avoid the re-donk-culous traffic in the entire DFW Metroplex, I had to leave early each day.

The flamingos are calling my name, perhaps I’ll get a few and decorate the pasture. I’m sure Blue would like the company. Husband won’t mind the lawn ornaments. Right?

Here are close-up pictures of the *BE PRESENT* mural using pages out of books.

There are some insanely creative people in this world.

I, unfortunately, am not one of them.

Once again, a big thanks to *MARGARET FEINBERG* for the opportunity to attend Catalyst Dallas 2012. If you are looking for a book to read or DVD study to complete by yourself or with a group, check out her website. I recently ordered the “Graduation Gift Set” for some very special high school graduates. I love her books, I really enjoy her DVD studies, and I’m incredibly blessed to call her my friend.

I will leave you with the message from the Catalyst event:

* BE PRESENT *