We’ve created an acrostic to help us remember some key points to turn this time of study into a time of spiritual growth and personal healing.
Digging deeper into these books will reveal truths that will change the way you view healing, and most important draw you closer to our Heavenly Father. May God bless you as you commit your time and heart to study His word.
Read Mark 2: 1 – 12
Caregivers
Summary/Thoughts:
Caring for someone you love who is sick can take its toll on you. The endless doctor visits, hospital stays, worry that your loved one will not get better, etc. can weigh you down. So if you knew there was someone who could heal your loved one, wouldn’t you do anything?
This account takes place in Capernaum, late one night, where Jesus had already healed many in the town. Four men planned to bring their paralytic loved one to Jesus but because of the dense crowds, they couldn’t get to Him. Desperate to have their loved one healed, they climbed on the roof of the home and took the tiles off to lower him down. They were willing to risk embarrassment, and more importantly, destruction of personal property to get this man before Jesus.
When we read this account closely, look at the role of the men. Their actions made a tremendous impact on Jesus. It wasn’t the actions of the man who was paralyzed, but the faith of his friends. Jesus then said something we don’t want to miss. Instead of telling the man to walk, He said to the paralytic man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Telling him his sins were forgiven isn’t exactly what the man was expecting. As a matter of fact, the teachers of the law thought Jesus was blaspheming God. Jesus then asked them why were they thinking such things? He questioned which was easier to understand: “Your sins are forgiven, or take up your mat and walk?”
Jesus turned to the paralytic man and spoke to him directly with instructions to get up, carry your mat and go home. The dedication and faith that Jesus could heal their friend was rewarded with him leaving that house on his own two feet, carrying the mat he had laid on.
We want to encourage you to reread this account again. Did the audience and the man possibly miss something important that Jesus was trying to convey when He responded to their need?
Questions:
Read Mark 3: 1 – 6
Standing Up
Summary/Thoughts:
Jesus was in a synagogue on the Sabbath. Worshipping there that day was a man with a shriveled hand. Seeing the man, Jesus said to him, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Note that key statement. Jesus didn’t pull this guy over to the side and quietly heal his hand. No, He wanted everyone, including His critics, to see Him heal this man on the Sabbath.
The man had to stand up in front of everyone. His deformity was put on full display. If he had been hiding this under a cloak, he could not do it anymore. By standing up and being obedient, his need was front stage for everyone to soon see a healing. He didn’t know what Jesus was going to do. He didn’t refuse due to embarrassment. He simply obeyed giving his full attention to the Healer, and Jesus healed him on the spot.
Questions:
Read Mark 3: 7 – 12
Crowding Jesus
Summary/Thoughts:
Have you ever stood in line at a Black Friday sale waiting with hundreds of people until they opened the doors? It can be a free for all as people crowd, push and run for great deals. In today’s account, Jesus is the reason everyone flocked to the Galilee region. People heard of his healing power and they wanted it for themselves.
It says in verse 10, “For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.” There were so many people, Jesus had his disciples get a small boat, to keep the people from crowding him.
We too can seek Jesus with as much fervor as these people did. They made seeking Him their priority over schedules, work, etc. They looked to Him for their ultimate healing and so can we today.
Questions:
Read Mark 5: 1 – 20
Spiritually Tormented
Summary/Thoughts:
Today’s account features a man possessed by many demons. He was known by the townspeople and yet he lived in isolation among the tombs. He is described as a man who has often been bound and chained but unable to be subdued due to his supernatural strength. His extreme mental anguish and agony is on full display as he cried out day and night, cutting himself in pain.
One day, Jesus was nearby and the tormented man approached him. Jesus said to the demon possessing the man, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” The demon then cried out: “What is it that you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me.” The demonic spirits knew the power of Jesus to rid this man of his chains of torment. Commanding the spirits to leave him, Jesus sent the evil spirits into a herd of about 2000 pigs, driven into a lake and drowned. What happened to the man next? We see him sitting, dressed, and in his right mind.
Today, the enemy still prowls like a lion seeking to devour and destroy. (1Peter 5:8) He isolates individuals from friends and family via depression, addictions, sin, shame, whispering lies and robbing people of their sound mind and peace. The devil and his demons have limited reign here on earth, but they can certainly wreak havoc on the lives of others.
Notice what Jesus said to the man when it was time for Jesus to leave. Instead of allowing this man to join Him on the boat, Jesus told the man: “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” This man was no longer with his family, and most likely either retreated himself to the tombs or was driven away into isolation from them. Can you imagine the surprise when he knocked on their door? Their prodigal son was home telling of a healing encounter with the Son of God!
Questions:
Read Mark 5: 21 – 24; 35 – 43
Just Believe
Summary/Thoughts:
Jairus is the principal character in this account. He was a synagogue ruler, so when his little daughter was deathly ill, ignoring what others might say, he fell at the feet of Jesus pleading for her healing. Can you relate? He was laser focused on one thing – he wanted his daughter to live.
While in the crowd, some men told him that his daughter had just died. Upon hearing this terrible news, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jesus could say this because He had the power to raise the dead. And even though his daughter was dead, Jairus believed Jesus and took him to his home to see his daughter.
By outward appearances she was dead. Mourners were in the house wailing and grieving her loss, but they had no clue that Jesus was about to change everything. He said, “The child is not dead but asleep.” Putting out the mourners, Jesus gathered her parents together and went into the room. Taking her by the hand, he speaks to the little girl and says: “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately, she stood up and began to walk around. Completely astonished, we can only imagine those flute playing mourners were now playing a new tune!
Questions:
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Revamp your approach to healthy living with insights from celebrity chef, Christina Pirello, who transformed her own life with the help and guidance of a friend, now her husband, by overhauling her diet following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Don`t miss the rest of the conversation between Jim Mann, the I Am HealingStrong podcast host and Christina in this part 2 episode.
Listen to the FULL episode at:
healingstrong.org/podcast
OR for your convenience, you can comment "CHRISTINA" to be sent the link to access both, part 1 and 2.
Do you have the will to live?
Maybe you don’t, and that’s okay, but if you have the will to live, you MUST adopt the beat cancer mindset and these other aspects Chris shares in this quick clip from our 2023 10 Year HealingStrong Conference.
If you’d like to hear the rest of the talk, consider supporting our mission by being a monthly donor through our membership program found on our website. All our conference talks are found within the membership program.
healingstrong.org/membership
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To find more inspiration from our favorite emcee, Chris Wark, head to his page @chrisbeatcancer
True or true?
We are all about the next step. This is why we share a Good, Better, Best approach in our holistic curriculum as well. We are not here to overwhelm anybody, but instead, support you where you are and encourage you no matter what your diagnosis or prognosis is.
💚Grab the free e-book curriculum at:
healingstrong.org/participant-guide
We believe there is always HOPE. We believe healing happens at home (our choices matter). We believe we heal better together - DO NOT JOURNEY ALONE!
If you don’t have support in the way you need right now, we encourage you to check out our directory for our in-person and online groups and see if any fit into your schedule, and join for FREE. Our groups are always FREE!
💚Healingstrong.Org/group-directory
to find a group or 3 to join😉
OR
be encouraged through stories on our podcast:
💚healingstrong.org/podcast
We’d recommend starting with episodes 1, 71, 89 (3 of our TOP 5 most downloaded episodes).
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Comment “HEALINGSTRONG” and we’ll immediately send you a document with these links plus some more. Otherwise, you can type in the link into a new browser window and do it manually.
When a vegetarian realizes she knows nothing about nutrition...
listen to the second episode of @christinacooks share her story plus encourage the listeners with some simple, and practical tips.
healingstrong.org/podcast
Episode #92 - part 2 of 2
Deficiencies and what to do...
with the food, soil, air pollution, toxic load we all encounter on a day to day basis, it ends up lending to there being deficiencies within each of us. This is why we discuss supplements inside our groups and holistic group curriculum...
To learn more about what we share regarding supplements and other healing modalities, grab your FREE e-book version of our 12 lesson curriculum where these tips came from, by going to:
healingstrong.org/participant-guide
OR comment “FREE GUIDE” to be sent the link directly & download it even sooner🤩
Physical healing is necessary, BUT...
there is a component to healing that must NOT be ignored.
Your emotional and mental well-being. What we think, who we need to forgive, all matter just as much.
Find resources and support by going to:
healingstrong.org/renew
#healingstrong #renewthesoul #cancersupport #cancer
Our food has changed... no doubt about it...
and we discussed how it has changed, in what ways, and what we can do about it to help ourselves live a healthier, more empowered life, especially for those in the United States of America.
Much more was shared beyond these slides, so make sure to register for the next and FINAL Q&A and don’t miss out... come learn alongside others in our next and FINAL summer holistic Q&A webinar...
📆Mark your calendar for AUGUST 15!
& save your ⭐FREE⭐ seat at:
healingstrong.org/jumpstart-summer
or comment “summer” and we’ll immediately message you the link to register for free!
Do you volunteer?
Maybe you serve at your local food bank, as a coach for a child’s sports team, for your church or elsewhere?
Did you know HealingStrong is mostly made up of volunteers? In fact, we’re MORE than 95% volunteer-led!
Each Group Leader is a volunteer who has taken a leap of faith to bring hope to their community, whether in-person or online. Our Group Leaders are made up of cancer survivors / thrivers, caregivers and those living for prevention. Some even volunteer with a friend and run their HealingStrong support group together.
In case you can’t tell, we LOVE to be in community... we truly believe we HEAL better together, and should NOT journey alone!
In this quick clip, listen to Denise who co-leads a group in North Dallas about a gift she loves to receive while in her Group Leader role. It’s probably not a gift you’re thinking...
📧 If you’d like to contact Denise, and you’re in the North Dallas area, you can reach her and her co-leader at:
northdallashealingstrong@gmail.com
www.healingstrong.org
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🔍 Want to search our group directory?
We can send the link to our directory, directly to you. You can search your area for in-person or our search our calendar for all online groups.
Comment “GROUPS” to receive the directory link immediately!
Have you ever heard of Valerian root or Vervain?
Jane from @barlowherbal and also a partner of HealingStrong, shares what they are, why to add them, and how they have helped her.
We’re so excited about this partnership with Barlow Herbal because Jane is not only a wealth of knowledge, a very kind, loving and generous soul, but offers amazing products that our community loves.
#healingstrong #barlowherbal #herbs #planthealth #stressrelief #insomnia
Don`t hold on to bitterness...
Renew the Soul, YOUR soul.
#forgive #healingstrong #cancersupport
healingstrong.org/renew
Terminal leukemia...
listen to this part 1 of 2 podcast interview with emmy-winning celebrity chef and a very unique journey to health... Christina Pirello of @christinacooks shares what led to her diagnosis and how her journey toward holistic healing began...
you don`t want to miss this episode...
healingstrong.org/podcast
“I will be spreading the word about your plans, for they really have guided me and given me encouragement in my job search..."
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📚To see all our Bible Plans on the YouVersion Bible App, head to:
www.bible.com/search/plans?query=healingstrong
OR comment "BIBLE PLAN" and we`ll send you the link with all the search results for your convenience.
Introduce a friend or family member to HealingStrong and start the journey of healing body, soul and spirit together. Healing is always easier when done in community.
Please share the name and email address of the person that you’d like to invite, and we’ll do the rest.