It's been my great privilege over the past few weeks to be a part of the launch team for Margaret Feinberg's latest book, Wonderstruck. In this busy season, it's always a challenge to maintain sanity, much less wonder, but I've been greatly encouraged by Margaret's wisdom. She's graciously agreed to share a bit of the background to Wonderstruck on the blog today. Here's what Margaret had to say:

There have been more seasons in my life devoid of the wonder of God than I can keep track of. I think we all have them. I know I’ve had those seasons when it just feels like I’m going through the motions of faith and God feels ten million miles away.

In fact, Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God was founded out of such a time. Leif and I had just gone through one of the roughest years of our lives. Those who read the Wonderstruck book will learn of many of the challenges and intimate details of that time.

But what was born out of that time of essentially saying, “God, where are you?” was this resounding prayer and desire for the wonder of God. Essentially I was saying, God reveal yourself, your whole self to me. I want to know you like I’ve never known you before. I want to see you in places I’ve never seen you before.

And God did not disappoint.

We began seeing God show up in relationships, our finances, our chance conversations, our everyday interactions—in the most surprising ways. Scripture passages that I’d read many times suddenly came alive in a whole new way. The passion for God returned, not something forced or manipulated, but just burned inside.

So if you are in that place where you feel millions of miles from God. Can I ask you to stop and pray right now and ask for God’s wonder. Ask Him that he would reveal the whole of Himself to the whole of you. And will you live wide-eyed to the ways God answers. Because you never know what miracle, what divine moment, what insight into the character of God that transforms you forever just might be waiting.

To promote her new book, Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God, which releases on Christmas Day, Margaret’s publisher is offering 6 EXCLUSIVE GIFTS (worth over $300) to anyone who pre-orders Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God for only $7.57, from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, CBD.com or their favorite retailer:

1. Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Presence of God as an eBook ($9.99 available on Kindle, Nook, iPad and other formats)

2. Fourteen Days of Wonder Journal eBook ($19.99 as a download)

3. How to Hold an Unforgettable Retreat eBook (a $29.99 download)

4. Pursuing God 14-Day Devotional ($12.99 download)

5. You will be automatically entered to win a brand new Kindle Fire pre-loaded with a suggested retail value of more than $100 worth of books from Worthy ($259.00)

6. Ten people will randomly be selected to receive a free audio version of Wonderstruck ($9.99)

Simply buy and send the receipt to wonderstruck@margaretfeinberg.com This offer is only valid through the end of the day, December 25th. At that point, this offer goes away FOREVER. From what I know of Margaret’s writing, it will be the best $7.57 you spend this Christmas!

Margaret Feinberg is a speaker and author of Scouting the Divine and The Sacred Echo. Become a Fan on Facebook or Follow her on Twitter @mafeinberg.

May you reclaim wonder during this Christmas season.

Until next time, grace and peace.