VOLUME 1

M A R G I N S
Reclaiming the Necessary

includes:

Slowing Down with a Good Book

Detoxing the Soul
A Time for Retreat
Knowing and Loving God
The Lost Art of the Handwritten Note
Upcoming Events

LIFE - LIVED - INTENTIONALLY

"I need three days of boring

nothing happening before
I start to hear them."

James Taylor

N O TH I N G .
Recently, I was watching a television special featuring James Taylor.
He was discussing his process for writing songs, many of which are
woven into the shared lyrical experience of several generations. He
said, I need three days of boring nothing happening before I start
to hear them. I wondered, how many ideas, solutions or truths have
I missed because I avoid the boring nothing happening?
There are no margins in our lives anymore. We keep sound, dialogue
and input humming all hours. The flickering of screens has become
our twisted lullaby. Never mind why we do this. What I am wondering
is what we are not hearing because we do this? James went on to
say, You really have to defend your time in order to have a long
thought....Isolation is key. You have to be lonely in order to be
free. Learn how to tolerate a little bit of loneliness. Its hard, but
youre strong. You can do it.
Here in these simple pages, I pray you will find fresh ways to
defend your time so that you can have a long thought. Maybe you
could wrap your arms around a little loneliness and see it as a
gift instead of punishment.
Who knows what might settle into your soul or pour from it?

M A R G I N S

R E F R E S H

Slowing D O W N

Y O U R

W I TH

M A R C I E

My oldest daughter and I were talking the

other day and comparing our experiences
of being in high school as a Christian. In
many ways, our experiences could not be
more different. Where they are similar
was in our hunger to be stretched and
pushed. Because we were both pretty lowdrama teenagers, it was easy for us to be
overlooked in some ways because more
attention is usually given to the drama,
whether by choice or necessity. So we
got kudos for being nice young ladies
with leadership gifts instead of being
challenged to be set apart for more than
being nice young ladies.
I shared with her the ways I began growing
in my relationship with Jesus. Apart from
being with God in His Word, one of the
ways God stretched me most was by
putting me in the company of big souls.
Some of that meant pursuing time with
more mature people who would speak
into my life. More often, it meant reading
books by people with big souls who would
stretch me and cause me to think beyond
my limited experience and small circle

S O U L

G OOD

BOOK

M c C L E N D O N

of influence. So really, if you were to ask

me who some of my mentors have been,
it would not be a lie to include C.S. Lewis,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Amy Carmichael or
Richard Foster. As our conversation was
wrapping up, she said, Mom, send me a
list of the most spiritually formative books
in your life.
In mentioning this to other folks, I
realized that a syllabus of sorts is a pretty
welcomed commodity. I get that not
everyone is a reader, but I encourage you
to pick one book and let it sharpen you a
bit. As we get older, many of our ideas
and beliefs become solidified. Thats not a
bad thing unless the ideas and beliefs are
based on preference instead of Truth (and
yes, I believe there is absolute Truth). My
prayer is that some of these books will
allow you to abandon some of your pet
theologies that are built more on culture
or upbringing and less on Scripture. Order
one or two, carve out a little time and put
yourself in the company of a big soul.

Each of the following books has molded me in specific ways. I have read
some of them so many times that their pages are worn and marked.

KNOWING GOD J.I. PACKER

This book challenged me to move from knowing about God to knowing God.
For some unfathomable reason, God wants me as His friend, and desires to be my
friend, and has given His Son to die for me in order to realise this purpose. We cannot
work these thoughts out here, but merely to mention them is enough to show how
much it means to know, not merely that we know God, but that He knows us.

CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE RICHARD FOSTER

If you are stuck and hungry to grow, this book offers ancient and practical
disciplines that will grow your faith immeasurably.
God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings:
people who have jobs, who care for children, who must wash dishes and mow lawns. In
fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our normal daily activities. If they
are to have any transforming effect, the effect must be found in the ordinary junctures
of human life: in our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters,
our friends and neighbors.

JOHN G. PATON: MISSIONARY TO THE NEW HEBRIDES,

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Living among constant dangers and death threats, battling against
illness and enduring great personal loss and sacrifice, John G. Paton
labored on and showed great love for the island peoples. You will be
riveted by his story.
Being entirely at the mercy of such doubtful and vacillating friends, I, though
perplexed, felt it best to obey. I climbed into the tree and was left there alone in the
bush. The hours I spent there live all before me as if it were but of yesterday. I heard the
frequent discharging of muskets, and the yells of the Savages. Yet I sat there among the
branches, as safe as in the arms of Jesus. Never, in all my sorrows, did my Lord draw
nearer to me, and speak more soothingly in my soul, than when the moonlight flickered
among those chestnut leaves, and the night air played on my throbbing brow, as I told
all my heart to Jesus. Alone, yet not alone! If it be to glorify my God, I will not grudge
to spend many nights alone in such a tree, to feel again my Saviors spiritual presence,
to enjoy His consoling fellowship. If thus thrown back upon your own soul, alone,
all alone, in the midnight, in the bush, in the very embrace of death itself, have you a
Friend that will not fail you then?

Where are

our dreamers?
Where are the people who can get alone with God for two
hours and come out with three pages of creative ideas?
- Dan DeHaan

Come away
by yourselves
to a desolate
place and
rest a while.
Mark 6:31

M A R G I N S

M A K I N G

DE T OX I N G

S PA C E

YO UR

LI FE

When I typed the word detox into a search engine over 63,500,000 results popped up within .90 seconds.
There is this intuitive felt-need in our world to be purified. There are pills, diets, and cleanses that promise to
rid us of what doesnt belong. Its easy to understand what William Wordsworth meant when he said, This
world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers. We are constantly
bombarded by the lure of fast food and social media and noise and exposure. If you feel overwhelmed by it
all, then you are hearing the whispers of your soul crying out. The need to detox, to cleanse, is a good one. A
green smoothie wont cut it. Our souls need more. Lets look at a few ways to detox our souls.

and
y
l
tant
s
n
low
o
l
c
e
f
more e poor
rs,
o
e
g
t
h
t
e
t
e

w
of l
but

ils,
r
,
ard
a
e
e
e
f
c
b
h
i
m
e
f
f
not
t nu
t of
s
s
d li
s
a
e
le.
r
o
h
t
i
a
p
a
,
h
w
e
e
e
w
r
n
denc
o th
ong
he g
ur i
t
n
t
l
o
o
y
p
s
h
s
A
wit
atel
rres elf thi
r
o
y
e
c
a
p
e
w
des
au
e
hims
nsiv
ks a
e
l
r
m
t
a
o
o
x
w
fr
is e
who
h
Th
f
o
d
d
vi
a
prou
D

nr
e
H

10

Spiritual Disciplines

Much better than a smoothie made with kale, spiritual

disciplines are designed to detox our soul from what is
unnecessary. If youve never given them a thought or have been
curious about these beautiful ancient biblical practices, pick
one and give it a go. You will soon find what most vies for your
attention and what you need to quiet within and around you so
that you can hear the Voice that matters most.
F A S T I N G

The purpose of fasting is to peel away everything that competes

tand
S

rd: ook,
o
L
the and l ient
s
y
s sa oads, he anc way
u
h
T he r
or t he good and
t
f
y
b
ask ere t n it. ls.
d
n
a s, wh lk i r sou
a
path and w or you
f
is;
est
r
find
6:16
h
ia
m
e
r
Je

in your affections. This discipline will quickly reveal what

controls you. Start slowly (and privately) with a 24-hour lunch
to lunch fast. When you crave what youre fasting from, turn
your attention toward prayer and Gods Word.
S O L I T U D E

We have become interaction addicts. Henry David Thoreau

is eerily relevant when he talks about going constantly and
desperately to the post office. We constantly and desperately
go to social media, TV, phones or coffee shops and the inability to be alone is causing great personal loss. Solitude
detoxes us from the unnecessary dependence on others. Pick a moment in your day to carve out complete solitude.
Dont reach for something to happen. Just be. God will meet you there whether you sense it or not.
S I L E N C E

This discipline detoxes your life of noise, inward and outward, what you say and what you hear. It includes the
absence of sound and the active listening to God. Richard Foster says, One reason we can hardly bear to remain
silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others...
Silence is intimately related to trust. It will take practice but will bear peaceful fruit. Keep your car radio off or turn
the TV off after everyone is in bed.

11

P R O M P T

DET OXING

YOUR

TI ME

Unceased time goes to your weakness. So how do we claim and wisely spend each of the 1,440 minutes in
each day? Pick a day, a typical one, and keep a log of what you do.

Todays Date:
This is how I spent today...

I wish I had more ti

me in my day to...

12

.
time I spent on...
ch
u
m
ow
h
by
ed
I am surpris

l...
y fueled my sou
l
al
re
at
th
g
in
The th

I wasted too much time

with...

13

ent
e of refreshm
treat is a tim
re
s
en
om
w
The
ay from the
ent. A getaw
em
ag
ur
co
en
and
and
ay demands
stle of everyd
bu
d
an
e
tl
hus
ith Christ to
to sit alone w
y
it
un
rt
po
an op
my life.
and plan for
e
os
rp
pu
is
h
contemplate
- Lindsey

Refre
shing
and u
- Shaw
pliftin
na
g!
Hear

t chan
ging. I
ll nev
and th
er be t
a
ts a g
he
-Victo
ood th
ria
ing.
same,

door
a new
d
e
n
my
ope
about
treat
s
e
g
r
n
e
i
h
th
g on t
men.
d new
Goin
th wo
overe
i
c
s
w
i
d
g
in
e. I
shipp
for m
t wor
s
u
j
y
b
nce!
faith
perie
x
e
e
om
Awes
- Erica

Iw

as n

Bap

opp

clos

tist

ortu

e re

ewl

Chu

nity

lati

Pe

ym

rch

arri

. Th

to m

eet

ed a

ew

nd n

om

ew

ens

- Na

hw

ons

hip

sw

new

frie

!W

to G

ncy

ond

ran

erfu

l pe

ace

d Pa

retr
rkw
eat
ay
gav
n
ith
e
d
s
i
m
help
th w
me,
and
e
an
ed t
cry
om
form
en w
om
wit
new
som
hm
ake
h
o
e
chu
e, a
my
enc
nd p
rch
our
tran
unp
age
mu
r
s
a
i
rete
y
t
ch e
ion
me,
wit
ntio
to a
asie
hm
us a
r
n
e
-M
.
.
e

I
T
w
t
tmo
he c
ary
tow
sph
amp
n an
ere
fire
d
was
a
, fri
inv
end
itin
ly,
g.
laug

ace

We h

ad on

ay for

14

ly bee

n atte
nding
Grand
about
the w
t
wo m
omen
o
n
t
hs wh
s retr
en
eat ha
made
ppene
me te
d. Tha
rrified
t
to go b
not tr
uly kn
ecaus
e I did
ow an
yone y
as I go
et. As
t ther
soon
e thou
gh, I i
was w
mmed
elcom
i
ately
ed by
so ma
faces
ny fri
that c
endly
onnec
ted m
wome
e to so
n my
me
age th
at I m
not m
ay hav
et yet
e
. Thos
e conn
have b
ection
ecome
s
some
friend
of my
ships
g
r
e
atest
at Gra
nd Pa
so gla
rkway
d I we
. I was
nt eve
n thou
nervo
gh I w
us at fi
as
rst ab
out go
- Kelly
ing.
Parkw

TI ME

F O R

R ETR EAT
A P R I L

( 7 )

P I N E Y W O O D S

S P E A K E R K AY A LTI C

8 - 9 ,

2 0 1 6

B A P T I S T

WO R S H I P

L E A D E R D O N NA

R E G I STR ATI O N B E G I N S

R E G I STE R

C A M P

ST UA RT

F E B R UA RY 7

AT G R A N D PA R K WAY.O R G / WO M E N

K AY

A LT I C

D O N N A

15

S T UA R T

T HE

K N OW I N G

A N D

VA L U E

O F

L OV I N G

BI BLE

G O D

S TUDY

If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other

to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who
achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while
the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.

- C.S. Lewis

As a new stay-at-home mom, the Tuesday morning Bible study was good for me on many levels.
Besides just a great reason to get out of the house, it also gave me that push to continue to make
time with the Lord a priority. The weekly get-togethers with the same ladies at my small group
table gave a wide range of perspectives on 2 Timothy - as women from retirement age, college
age, business women, and fellow stay-at-home moms each dove into the text using the Bible
study skills we were learning each week. I promise you wont regret studying the Word with other
women, but you will regret missing out.

- Kennan Buckner

17

B I B L E

S T U D I E S

S P R I N G

2 0 1 6

S L AV E R Y T O
F R E E D O M

Gods Great Rescue in Exodus and

Now

KRISTI GHOLSON
One of my favorite phrases is a bea
utiful
mess. Beautiful because I have a
great husband
Ryan and four rowdy kids ages 2 to
8, a Savior
who calls me Beloved, and eternal purp
ose in
this life. Mess because I am deeply
flawed and
on my own make a mess of my life.
I have a deep
longing for women to know their Bibl
es, and not
justintellectually,but to allow the Trut
h of Gods
Wordto collide with the trials andmon
otonyof
everyday life.
STUDY
In this 12-week study, we will look
at one of the
major themes of the Bible - Gods grea
t rescue of
His people.Using Exodus as a back
drop we will look
at Gods redemptive plan throughout
history and
how He desires to draw near to His
people, showing
us His glory and grace, both then and
today.No
Bible study experience needed, just
a willing heart
to learn. Cost is $5. Childcare by rese
rvation only.

T UESDAYS,

olson
Kristi Gh

9 :3 0 -1 1:30A M

B E G IN N IN G

18

JA N UA RY

12

 T H E

H E A R T

C A N N O T

L O V E

W H A T

T H E

M I N D

D O E S

N O T

K N O W .

- J E N

G O F
TH E CO M I N
G D O M
G O D S K I yNof Jesus
Matthews Stor

N
KIM PIERSO
PA. I
Su
d in Clarks mmit,
I was born and raise
hich
(w
19
hool sweetheart at
married my high sc
ol
r- d),
at we have a 19 -yea
seems crazy now th
s raised
arried 22 years! I wa
m
en
be
ve
ha
we
d
an
faith at
and came to saving
in a Christian home
patient
s been faithful and
8 years old. God ha
grow in
ars as I continue to
with me over the ye
be
ge of Him. I desire to
my love and knowled
.
the Lord as He leads
obedient in serving
STUDY
teaching
is an approachable
This 12-week study
us
Gospel of Jes . You
of Matthew, the first
d His
pe of the Messiah an
will discover the ho
ing of
personal understand
teachings and gain
t and
ris
s plan through Ch
how God fulfilled Hi
re by
Cost is $10. Childca
in your lives today.
reservation only.

TUESDAYS,

9 :3 0 -1 1:30A M

Kim Piers
on

B E G IN N IN G

19

JA N UA RY

12

W I L K I N

B I B L E

S T U D I E S

S P R I N G

2 0 1 6

C H R I ST:

Our Hope in Unsure Times

KRISTA HOOD
I was born and raised in Houston. My family and I
moved out to the Sugar Land area three and a half
years ago and began attending Grand Parkway. My
husband John and I have three children and love
spending time playing games, camping, going to
the beach, bike riding, and playing outside with
neighbors. Our desire as a family is to love God and
love people. My need for Gods mercy and grace
is evident every day, and that is why one of my
favorite names for God is Emmanuel, God WITH
me! I need constant reminders of the mysteries of
Christ and always appreciate the opportunity to do
this alongside other women.
STUDY
This will be a midweek opportunity for women to
connect and engage in fellowship with one another
around the Word of God. We will work together
using different Bible study methods to discover the
mystery of Christ in the book of Colossians.

W EDNESDAYS,

6:30P M

a
Krist

B E G IN N IN G

20

JA N UA RY

Hood

13

Spring

CA L E N DA R
2 0 1 6

J A N UA RY
1 2
1 2

1 3

1 4
2 4

T UESDAY

WOMENS

ST U D IE S

M O RN IN G

MIDW EEK

WOMENS
HELPING

B IB LE

B O OTCA M P

E VE N IN G

E VE N IN G
HA N D S

B E G IN

ST U D IE S

B E G IN S
B E G IN

B O OTCA M P

6:30P M ,

B E G IN S

W A RE H O USE

A P R I L
(7 )

8 -9

WO M E N S

RE T RE AT

M AY
2 2

WO M E N S

E V E N T,

T B A

For more information or to register for these events, go to grandparkway.org/women.

21

 22

TH E LOS T A RT O F
T H E Handwritten N O T E

ur attention spans are shrinking at a faster

rate than we care to admit. We cant bear to
read an article unless it includes a list, and
lets admit it, we usually skip all the words before the
list anyway. We are pragmatists. It must have function
in order to have value. So to function quickly or more
efficiently is of the highest value in our society. We are
texting and emailing addicts. Twitter has brevity of
thought down to an art. Handwriting is barely taught
in school now. I cant help but wonder what we are
losing by not slowing down to write our thoughts, to
journal, to doodle, or to write a letter to a friend.
I still make my children send handwritten thank yous.
Theres something about slowing down to ponder
someones generosity. How many of you still have a
handwritten letter? From your grandmother, your
husband, or a sweet note in your childrens fledgling
handwriting? These cherished pages evoke fleeting
memories. If you have a Bible, you are holding a Book
that is filled with letters. Those life-giving words were
originally handwritten. Yet, I have no box in my home
that has a stash of tweets, texts, or emails. This year,
lets push back the tide of efficiency and write a letter!
Lets bring back the lost art of the handwritten note.

PE O PLE

TO

SOME ONE

TH A N K

TO

EN C OUR AGE

LON G -DIS TA N C E

FRI EN DS

Pick a name from your lists above and write them a

letter...in your own handwriting!

23

Grand Parkway Baptist Church 12000 FM 1464 Richmond, TX 281.277.2200 grandparkway.org

Marcie McClendon Womens Pastor | marcie@grandparkway.org