The Fight to Flourish: Engaging in the Struggle to Cultivate the Life You Were Born to Live

Description

What if your struggles aren't a barrier to thriving but an invitation into your most vibrant days Discover how to live a life of joy and fullness, even in the midst of disappointment and broken dreams. How can you find a way forward when life throws you sucker punches, when you face obstacles that seem to snuff out your faith, when you lose someone precious to you It is in the sacred space of pain and promise that we can begin to flourish. Even in the midst of disappointment and broken dreams it is possible to grow, be strong, and draw near to God. In The Fight to Flourish, Jennie Lusko draws on her experiences after the loss of her five-year-old daughter, Lenya, to show you that the ingredients for a fresh and thriving life are right in front of you. Jennie's story will help remind you of how much God loves you, even when life feels unbearable. With grit and grace, Jennie will help you: Discover that flourishing is not an impossible destination but a divine revelation of where you are right now Find relief from the weight of overwhelming circumstances by resting in the realization that God is fighting for you Trust that God is growing you in the gap between your expectations and your experience The word flourish is written all over you and your future. Discover the ongoing strength that Jennie has found and learn to reengage in life with renewed strength and confidence.

Jennie Lusko serves alongside her husband, Levi, leading Fresh Life Church in Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming. They have five incredible children: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, Lennox, and Lenya, who is in heaven. The Luskos live in Montana, which boasts the largest snowflake ever recorded in history, one and a half times larger than a competition frisbee. One of Jennie's greatest joys and calling is sharing the hope and freedom found in Jesus to those stranded in sin. She feels most alive when she's helping people and giving gifts.

'We all want to flourish, but few are willing to fight for it. Through Jennie's powerful words and real-life experiences, she walks us through the work that is required to revive our roots to blossom and bloom. The teaching is profound, but her life lives a greater story. I believe this book this book will pour Living Water onto dry ground.' --Bianca Juarez Olthoff Church-planter, teacher, and best-selling author of Play with Fireand How to Have Your Life Not Suck 'Jennie Lusko's faith cannot be ignored. It is raw and real. Both bold and beautiful, her faith shines more brightly through her sorrows than her successes. The untimely loss of her daughter Lenya thrust Jennie into the public spotlight, making her internal agony a grief observed. In this gut-wrenchingly honest book, Jennie lets us watch her mother's heart ache and break, and then witness God remake it into a sacred place of worship.' --Lenya Heitzig Author and speaker 'Jennie Lusko's faith cannot be ignored. It is raw and real. Both bold and beautiful, her faith shines more brightly through her sorrows than her successes. The untimely loss of her daughter Lenya thrust Jennie into the public spotlight, making her internal agony a grief observed. In this gut-wrenchingly honest book, Jennie lets us watch her mother's heart ache and break, and then witness God remake it into a sacred place of worship.' --Lenya Heitzig Author and speaker 'As Greg and I have personally experienced, life doesn't always turn out like you had planned. It didn't for us when, in 2008, our son Christopher was suddenly called to heaven. Levi and Jennie were there for us in ways that mattered most. 'In this book, Jennie shows us how one can not only survive but flourish in dark seasons of suffering. Jennie Lusko is not only a dear friend to our family but one of the most beautiful examples of a wise and godly woman with a strong message of hope.' --Cathe Laurie Founder and executive director of Virtue for Women 'My wife didn't want to write this book. She was too busy living out its message--fighting to flourish. I am constantly amazed watching her go at it hammer and tongs, whether facing grief, our family life, or in our church as we pastor together. No, she didn't want to write this book, but that is precisely why it is so important that she did. This is no abstraction full of theories or poems you are about to read. The Fight to Flourish is a tear- and blood-stained playbook that has helped her face both victory and defeat with grace and grit, and it will help you do the same.' Levi Lusko, Jennie's husband 'Each one of us eventually comes to a point in life when we are feeling weak and broken and don't know where to turn. We desperately need to hear a voice of truth speaking life to us in those times. Thankfully, Jennie Lusko steps up to be that voice for us in The Fight to Flourish. Jennie has walked through the valley in her own life and is a friend who has certainly strengthened me with words of hard-fought hope. In this book you'll treasure, she will help you press in and press on to live a life that looks a whole lot more like flourishing than it ever did before.' Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times bestselling author; president of Proverbs 31 Ministries 'Jennie and her husband, Levi, have been part of our extended family for a few years now. Their story of courage and perseverance in the midst of loss is inspiring, to say the least. I am confident that Jennie's story, perspective, and wisdom will bless multitudes. Life does have its shadowlands, yet there is always hope. I believe that The Fight to Flourish will be hope in darkness and hope in the journey for many.' Bobbie Houston, co-global senior pastor, Hillsong Church 'Jennie Lusko is a woman whose life reflects the miracle-ground forged when grace and resilience hold hands. The harvest coming from that ground--tilled, broken, planted, and watered in seasons of real, hard life--is something beautiful to behold and utterly God-glorifying. As you lean into the tested and lived-out lessons from this book, may hope and grit rise up in you as the Lord deposits courage in you for your own fight to flourish.' Brooke Ligertwood, head of Hillsong Worship 'Sometimes God knits friends into family. It's extraordinary, really, and we treasure having Jennie Lusko and her family as our people. Jennie's book, The Fight to Flourish, is a brave and faith-filled story of how to fight forward toward the flourishing version of yourself that God created you to be. Jennie, filled with sweetness and boldness, allows God to move powerfully in the midst of devastation and chooses to author a story that loudly echoes His glory. Way to go, Jennie. We love you.' Shelley Giglio, cofounder of Passion Conferences and Passion City Church 'Jennie Lusko embodies this message of flourishing unlike anyone else I know. Her life has blossomed, not just in spite of her great struggles but right through them. Jennie invites us into these transformational lessons learned with hard-won wisdom and supernatural grace. This book is a priceless guide for any hurting heart longing for more.' Katherine Wolf, author of Suffer Strongand Hope Heals 'We've all experienced some type of heartbreaking loss that only God Himself can lead us through. That's why Jennie's book is so necessary. She beautifully shares how, even when life isn't what you imagined it would be or should be, it is possible, through God's love and tender care, to take flight once again. If you're feeling weary, exhausted, busy, or if you're carrying a weight too great to bear, this book will show you the way.' Roma Downey, Emmy-nominated actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author 'God has plans for each of us that far exceed anything we could ever ask, think, or imagine. The Fight to Flourishwill encourage you to hold on to God's promise of an 'exceedingly abundantly more' life, even when yours feels completely out of reach.' Christine Caine, bestselling author; founder of A21 and amp; Propel Women 'The words in this book carry such honesty and offer true strength. Jennie so beautifully shares how you can thrive in the middle of those things you never expected would become part of your life. If you are ready to shed your burdens and step into a flourishing life, read this book. It will bring a freedom you never knew was possible.' Alex Seeley, lead pastor of The Belonging Co 'Maybe you feel like you're in a losing battle and have hit the ground too many times to count. Jennie Lusko has been there! Ready to discover the ongoing strength she found? Jennie wrote The Fight to Flourish as a charge to reengage life with renewed vision and confidence.' Amy Groeschel, cofounder of Life.Church, author, and founder of Branch15 'Everyone has a desire to flourish. To thrive and be successful. However, no one is exempt from the sting of pain. There's a decision between the place of pain and promise: to fight forward or to remain discouraged. This book speaks to that place. And I can think of no one better to speak to that place than Jennie. She is the fiercest fighter I know! I believe this book will equip you for the life you are called to live.' Julia Veach, lead pastor of ZOE Church LA 'Jennie has so beautifully lead by example what it means to embrace the fight. This book will challenge you to get some grit to 'fight to keep fighting' and yet still remain sweet and pliable in the hands of the Father. It's a reminder that while anchoring your roots down deep to flourish can feel overwhelming, He is in the deep with you.' April Carter, a close friend of Jennie's