Shop
About
Posts
Joycast
Booking
Speaking
Write Brilliant
Contact

When God Surprises You (Big Time!)

by | 65 comments

No matter how many times I crack open God’s Word, I’m struck anew by the ways God meets me. Whether it’s a verse that pops of the page in a fresh way, a story that challenges me to live different, or a character that connects with me on a personal level, the Bible truly is living and breathing.

This living breath of God has spoken of the hope found in Christ for centuries. And every time I think I’ve learned all there is about Jesus or his teachings, I’m reminded I’ve barely skimmed the surface.

This Lent (beginning on February 14th), I’m inviting YOU to plumb the depths of God’s Word as we commit to reading and studying the Gospel of Mark. Don’t worry—it’s not a lot of reading each day, just a handful of verses. We’re aiming for depth not breadth this time around. And from the very opening sentence, I’m struck by all there is to drink in.

When Mark says, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the son of God” (Mark 1:1), the Greek word euangelion (meaning good news or good tidings or gospel) would have been understood through two lenses.

1) Through a Greek (Hellenistic) lens. This same word meaning good news or gospel would have been used by rulers and kings to announce birthdays or good tidings or news of a military victory.

2) Through a Jewish lens. A Jewish hearer would have heard Mark declaring euangelion and be immediately reminded of the good news the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, proclaimed in Isaiah 52:7:

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”

These lenses would immediately create a picture of who the audience imagined this Jesus to be—1) a political ruler, like the Greeks might have imagined. 2) a bringer of the fulfillment of hope, like the Jews might have imagined. They were both surprised—big time!

Perhaps Jesus is both a ruler and bringer of hope, but not in the ways Mark’s audience would have imagined. (And we’ll explore this in more depth on February 14 at the start of Lent).

This raises the question or us: If Jesus is both a ruler and bringer of hope, how is he unleashing his rule and delivering hope in ways we never imagined in our daily lives?

Where is Jesus crashing into your world and turning it upside-down?

Where is the place of disappointment in your life that’s really a God-appointment?

Where is the area in your life where Jesus is not what you expect?

Lent kicks off on February 14, and we have so much to discover and learn together! We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of small groups, friends, and readers like YOU, who are joining us to dive into Remarkable: 40 Days in the Book of Mark.

Inside you’ll find the Gospel of Mark divided into 40 readings along with 40 devotions and 40 sets of reflection questions. By the time Easter arrives, your heart will be overflowing with awe and wonder at Jesus.

Many of you have asked can you put together a multi-pack of Remarkable so that you and your friends can dive into Scripture. Well, we heard you!

And I’m excited to announce we now have a Four-Pack of Remarkable in our store just for you!

Lent is just around the corner, and I’m counting down the days to the Remarkable study of the Gospel of Mark.

Praying for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives in powerful ways as we prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.

With Much Love,
Margaret

65 Comments

  1. Linda Robinson-Sharrieff
    Linda Robinson-Sharrieff on January 29, 2018 at 6:24 am

    G’morning, Margaret. This scripture of mine. Thank you so much for your encouragement. Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

  2. Lolita Buck
    Lolita Buck on January 29, 2018 at 8:36 am

    Lovely! Can’t wait to join you on the 40 day journey.

  3. Mary McHargue
    Mary McHargue on January 29, 2018 at 9:52 am

    I have been challenged by your emails that come to my inbox. The Lord laid on my heart the word “Stillness” for this year. This comes from the verse “Be still and know I am God.” Stillness is not a passive word but requires me to stop what I am doing and focus and set my heart on Him. I am learning when I do this I see each situation with God’s resources and not human resource or from my own perspective. Thank you for your word of the year challenge.

  4. Vernalea Stevens
    Vernalea Stevens on January 29, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Enjoying Fight Back with Joy and looking forward to each lesson. Thank you so much. In His love and mine. Vernalea Stevens

  6. Karen Krupski
    Karen Krupski on February 4, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    Can you tell me how to order the special 4 pack of Remarkable?

  7. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    May it be! Thank you for sharing, Linda. Beautiful Scripture to remember as we prepare for Lent. Hugs!

  8. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Eeep! Excited to have you join us! Hugs!

  9. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    Wonderful thoughts on your word for the year, Mary! Thank you so much for sharing them. Hugs!

  10. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    I am overjoyed at this, Vernalea! Thank you for sharing with me. Hugs!

  11. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    Happy to share and grateful you find them inspiring.

  12. Margaret
    Margaret on February 9, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    If you click on the pink portion of the sentence directly above the picture of the Remarkable books, it will take you to where you can purchase them. So excited to have you join us for Lent this year! Hugs!

  13. JeromeLix
    JeromeLix on March 21, 2025 at 3:36 pm

    alo789in: alo 789 – alo789hk

  23. GeorgeCoita
    GeorgeCoita on March 24, 2025 at 7:34 pm

    cheapest online pharmacy india: India Med Fast – online medicine shopping in india

  25. MonteKit
    MonteKit on March 25, 2025 at 12:06 am

    escrow pharmacy canada Inter Pharm Online canadian pharmacy antibiotics

  31. Howardrop
    Howardrop on March 25, 2025 at 4:00 pm

    canadian pharmacy king: Online pharmacy USA – canadian pharmacy meds

  32. Jamesgaf
    Jamesgaf on March 25, 2025 at 5:00 pm

    online medicine shopping in india: India Med Fast – buying prescription drugs from india

  35. MonteKit
    MonteKit on March 25, 2025 at 11:52 pm

    canadian pharmacy king reviews InterPharmOnline.com best online canadian pharmacy

  37. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 26, 2025 at 1:50 am

    TadalafilEasyBuy.com: TadalafilEasyBuy.com – Generic Cialis price

  41. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 26, 2025 at 8:39 am

    Kamagra Kopen: kamagra 100mg kopen – Kamagra Kopen Online

  42. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 26, 2025 at 8:59 am

    kamagra gel kopen: Kamagra Kopen Online – kamagra gel kopen

  45. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 26, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    Tadalafil Easy Buy: cialis for sale – Tadalafil Easy Buy

  46. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 26, 2025 at 4:11 pm

    kamagra 100mg kopen: Kamagra Kopen Online – kamagra kopen nederland

  47. Dwaynejures
    Dwaynejures on March 26, 2025 at 7:37 pm

    kamagra jelly kopen kamagra 100mg kopen kamagra gel kopen

  51. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 27, 2025 at 4:29 am

    Sildenafil 100mg price: Generic100mgEasy – sildenafil 50 mg price

  52. Dwaynejures
    Dwaynejures on March 27, 2025 at 7:21 am

    kamagra pillen kopen Kamagra kamagra kopen nederland

  54. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 27, 2025 at 11:22 am

    cialis without a doctor prescription: TadalafilEasyBuy.com – Tadalafil Tablet

  55. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 27, 2025 at 12:07 pm

    Generic100mgEasy: Viagra tablet online – Generic100mgEasy

  57. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 27, 2025 at 4:46 pm

    kamagra pillen kopen: KamagraKopen.pro – Officiele Kamagra van Nederland

  58. Dwaynejures
    Dwaynejures on March 27, 2025 at 6:52 pm

    cheapest viagra Generic100mgEasy Generic100mgEasy

  59. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 27, 2025 at 7:18 pm

    Generic 100mg Easy: Generic 100mg Easy – Generic 100mg Easy

  62. GregoryVar
    GregoryVar on March 28, 2025 at 2:28 am

    Generic100mgEasy: Cheap Viagra 100mg – buy generic 100mg viagra online

  63. Williamheirl
    Williamheirl on March 28, 2025 at 3:32 am

    cialis without a doctor prescription: Tadalafil Easy Buy – cialis without a doctor prescription

  65. Dwaynejures
    Dwaynejures on March 28, 2025 at 6:20 am

    Sildenafil 100mg price Generic 100mg Easy Generic100mgEasy

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *