The Gospel of Mark writer is a master of word economy. Popping verbs. Sizzling accounts. Rampant pacing. In his opening chapter, he omits details of Jesus baptism and temptation, and splices two events side by side in a handful of startling sentences.
With cool water droplets streaming down Jesus’ face, Mark 1:11-12 records:
To continue reading, pick up a copy of Flourish: Live Loved, Live Fearless, Live Free, a 52-week devotional with coloring pages sprinkled throughout.
What would a flourishing life look like for you? Take a moment and imagine…
Instead of surviving your days, you savor each moment. You pour into the lives of others, and it’s a joy, not a chore. And every hour, you are deeply, dazzling aware of God’s love and presence.
God intends this flourishing life for you. And it can start today.
Wow Margaret. So spot on! And Fight Back with JOY is absolutely ministering to me in the battle! I love sharing it with others and watching the drenching that comes to them from a fiercely loving God! 🙂 And … to watch how He ministers in the deserts … nothing less than miraculous! Well said Sister … the Holy Spirit meant for me to read this today! Passing it along … 🙂
Hugs from So Cal!
Kathleen
Sweet friend, thank you for being such an encourager and cheerleader for so many years. Beyond grateful for you.
I’ve got the book, and I’m definitely going to start reading it. I’m in a bit of a desert right now because of an awful situation at work (several of us were in the same situation with a project that was mismanaged). I clung to verses like Psalm 32, verses about God’s protection, not being put to shame, being delivered, having faith while I prayed and receiving my requests and desires of my heart – and then the worst happened. So, after the trauma of all that, trusting in God can be a bit hard. I think his definition of “good” and my definition are quite different things. I know troubles occur in life, but I’m just trying to reconcile all of this with what the Bible says, trying to interpret these verses correctly so I won’t be burned the next time.
Praying for you, Patricia– as you navigate how to be a joy warrior in your situation. Huge hug.
I was basking in the fact that life is somewhat smooth at the moment, and bam, my husband and I were hit with some very disappointing news last night.
Even though I am starting the Fight Back with Joy study with some ladies at church tomorrow night..today I choose joy! I choose to believe that God has my best in mind and that he will give me the grace to overcome the disappointment.
Praying for you, Kathy.
Hi Margaret,
Those red balloons! I kinda love them. My sister bought a print yesterday of a cafe in Paris, and in the middle of the print were (3) red balloons. It made me smile and reminded me of your book and of the hard-fought joy you found and clung-to during your battle with cancer. As with all of us, at some point in our lives, the well becomes a drizzle, and sometimes even a desert. Thank you for sharing with such amazing vulnerability, your struggle of keeping joy paramount. I haven’t had to face a battle with cancer. But after reading of your aggressive chemo, surgeries, and radiation, and when you speak of joy and red balloons, it means something to me.
About a week after reading your book, I had the opportunity of recommending it to one of our contractor’s whose mom had just been diagnosed with Leukemia. Divine orchestration, no doubt. Very few people are brave enough to tell others how very lonely the wilderness can be. Heartbreakingly so, at times. Thank you for being one of those people, Margaret. I needed to read these words today. Praying for continued strength and health for you.
Sweet Veronica, thank you for the encouragement. Grateful for you.
How do you know it’s God saying no?
I truly appreciate your vulnerability and honesty, Margaret. Thank you for writing and sharing. Fighting back with joy is surely not the easiest thing to do but nothing absolutely nothing shall separate us from His love. He is faithful and will never ever forsake us.
Thank you for shining bright even in the midst of your gloomy days. You are in my heart and prayer.
Hug hug, Felecia.
I am in the middle of chemo treatment for breast cancer. Was hospitalized recently and we had to push the 4th treatment back a week. Radiation will begin when chemo is done.
I think I’d like to read your bible study because I am really having a hard time trying to figure out what God wants me to do from here. I sense great change as a result but having a really hard time living one day at a time. I am normally a very upbeat person with a large and bubbly personality. I don’t feel so large and bubbly right now. I’m not depressed but neither do I feel like pounding my chest al loudly proclaiming, “I am woman hear me roar!”
Just finished Jennie Allen’s Restless book…. Wanting so desperately to know what life will look like in the other side of this. Desperately afraid that it will be just like it was before…
This September will be seven years in remission for multiple myeloma for me. MM is incurable still today. I have been where you are. During my transplant my body was so weak, I found it interesting that even in our greatest weakness He is there, beside us, sometimes hard to see but there. Now seven years later I am grateful for that time, I know more who He is and who I am in Him. Now I feel closer together with Him I know more how He feels. There have been several other tough times since then and I trusted more and complained less. I know it’s tough I know the pain and the long nights look beside you ask Him where are you in this, He will always answer. God was good to me I have seen three more grandchildren, many more family times. There is life after cancer and it makes for more grateful days. Do Margaret’s bible study and read 1000 Gifts. Use your downtime as best you can and know we are all praying for you. Be still and know He is God……………
Praying for you, Marcia– that you would experience even more grace and goodness than you thought possible.
Tiffany- I’m still so raw when it comes to all of this. Praying for you. For a slew of great results, no side-effects, and successful treatment. If you can steal/borrow/grab a copy of Fight Back With Joy, I think it will resontate with you deeply.
I really need to read this book. After losing my 18yr old son Thomas almost five years ago, I’m stuck in so much grief/pain. Thank you for sharing your heart so to help so many hurting people.
Brenda, mourning the loss of Thomas with you. Praying for you.
Crying my eyes out by the end of this post. Thank you for your openness and vulnerability. I feel like I’m in that lonely desert right now. Sounds like Fight Back With Joy needs to be next on my reading/Bible study list.
Praying for you, Hannah.
I have read the trade book at least twice in the last couple of months, and am now doing the Bible study with the Women’s Bible Cafe. Wile it is not cancer, my family and I have decided that it is best if we move out of our current dwelling and back to where my family is for more of a support system, as my man and I are both blind. While I have felt the Holy Spirit saying to me that we are doing the right thing, Satan is trying his hardest to frustrate us, make us argue with each other, even working to try to make our little girl misbehave although she’s not really old enough to realize it’s Satan messing with her (she’s only 28 months old). But through the book and Bible study, I am learning how to fight back with joy instead of murmers of complaints. Sure, there are going to be tears, but joy comes in the morning, and I don’t just mean the time of day the sun comes up. Margaret, hearing you read the audio book, it was as if you drew me into your story. I felt like I was right beside you with every step. Thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring book and Bible study that I am reading/working through at just the right time!