Like most people, I enjoy sharing good news and usually when I have good news I share it. When I get an unexpected refund deposited into my bank account, someone gives me flowers or I win a contest, I’m quick to share it with those around me. And of course those exciting family moments such as when one of my grandkids gets an award or I find that another grand baby is on the way, I’m quick to share those moments too, but this last year, there were a lot of not so good moments. There were deaths in our family, trips cancelled, some unexpected costs that arose and of course, the seemingly endless news about Covid, the elections and racial injustice. While I’m not denying that we need to stay abreast of these and other issues, after awhile, I didn’t even want to watch the news. I was just tired, bone-weary tired of all the bad news! I’m happy to say that this year, at least for my family, is looking up a bit and I am thankful! I wonder though, how many people are still struggling? How many people could use some good news and really don’t know where to find it?
Many people are still out of work and wondering how they can possibly continue to care for their families without enough income. Some people are struggling with addictions, the loss of a child or spouse, marital problems or perhaps they have been victims of injustice. Where can they find hope to make sense of the world in which they are living?
I believe God gives us good news to share – the best news of all. That news is that Jesus is alive and does want to live in relationship with us. Why is that good news? Besides the obvious answers of how Jesus forgives us and gives us eternal life in heaven which is very good news; its’s good news because He is with us. He is with us on those days when we hear bad news. He is with us when it seems the months drag by and we still haven’t found work. He is with us when we are at the hospital with our child who is sick. He is with us when life just doesn’t make sense. He’s with us in the good times and the bad times and He gives us His Spirit to walk with us and live us wherever we go. I guess you say, Jesus is in it with us for the long haul and that gives us hope. Hope that there is a tomorrow even if we can barely see beyond today. Hope that in the darkest of moments, we are not alone. Hope that He can still those storms. He can provide. He can give us new dreams, new ambitions and new life.
All of this may sound like some pat answer. You might be thinking, that’s easy for you to say, you don’t know what I’m going through. You’re right, I don’t, but God does and I do know what God has done for me when I am going through tough times. You see, this last year during the hard times, He’s was faithful; all my life He has been faithful. I’ve experienced miraculous answers to prayer and I’ve also had to walk through the dark, step by step, reaching out to find God’s hand, not even knowing where that next step would take me only trusting that He would give me the strength to continue. I can’t explain it, but I know He’s been there in the dark times too and that too is very good news.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some good news and I do want to share it with you. I can’t give you your own good news, but I can share with you what I have and that’s my friend, Jesus. He is able to do above and beyond anything I could ever do anyway. What other good news can I offer? I will pray for you. I do pray for my readers now – all of you whether I have met you or not. If you have something specific, you would like prayer for and you message me, I would be happy to pray for you.
What about you? Do you have good news you can share with others? Share it! Good news is worth sharing. Don’t stop though with simply sharing good news, let Jesus live through you and be the good news by sharing His love. Walk with someone through their hard time or their bad news so that they too can see that Jesus truly does love and care for them. How? Just by being a friend. Offer to pray or cry with them and then share the good news! It’s time we look up. It’s time we walk together and it’s time we learn to hope again. Share the good news!
Parent Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Like Peter, I do want to share good news. I want to share your love and your hope with others. I want to share your love and hope with my family too. I can’t do this in my own strength. What I say and do seems so minuscule in the light of all the problems in our world and yet, I know that you are able to do above and beyond all that I ask or think or even imagine. I’ve see you work in amazing ways and I know that it was you that brought the healing and I’ve seen you work in the day by day, little by little as I have walked with you. I need your help again, Lord. I need your help and your power, your miracle working, life-giving power flowing through me and helping me to share you with others, because that is what our world so desperately needs – to hope again and love again as you give us the strength to do so. Amen
JUST SHARING GOOD NEWS
* My nephew who had a very serious operation for a cyst he has had in his nose since birth is home from the hospital and doing well.
* I had an interesting, serious conversation with a friend who is struggling with some issues of injustice. I’m still not sure what to make of it, but I am thankful that she shared her thoughts with me. I’m trusting God to help me be compassionate towards her and others who are struggling with these kinds of things.
* Jesus loves me this I know – Oh how I love the joy of knowing this simple fact.
DO YOU HAVE GOOD NEWS?
I would love to hear your good news – about yourself and about your friendship with God.
* More good news – I’m working on a children’s book that I hope to have published this year – I’m not giving up!
* Nothing is impossible with God.
* A good way to share good news is over coffee or by doing life together with others. Serving others is another way of sharing good news – How else can we share good news? I would love to hear your ideas.
* Ask God to give you opportunities and the strength to share and then just watch to see what happens. Perhaps you’ll meet a new neighbor or reconnect with an old friend who needs help. I did this week.Just be open to spread some joy with whoever comes your way this week.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR CHILD THIS WEEK?
SHARE A STORY: Peter Shares Good News – Acts 2
When Jesus returned to heaven in the clouds, (Raise arms up as high as you can.) He told His disciples that He would send His Spirit, the Holy Spirit to be with us and help us. Jesus told His friends to wait in Jerusalem for His Spirit. On the day when the Spirit came, there was a mighty rushing wind that filled the house where Jesus’ friends were waiting and then what looked like fire came and sat on top of the friend’s heads. The people were able to speak in the languages of the people around them in Jerusalem that day. That was how the Holy Spirit came that Jesus had promised.
There was a whole crowd of people in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came. When Peter saw the crowd of people, he told them about Jesus.“Jesus is alive and He loves you. He wants to be your friend.” Peter told the crowd, “Jesus died on a cross, but He’s alive again. He will always be us and He will forgive our sins when we ask Him to.” Peter told the crowd about his friend, Jesus.
Peter was happy (Show happy face.) to tell about Jesus. He was happy (Show happy face.) Jesus was his friend. He was happy (Show happy face.) Jesus sent His Spirit to be with him all the time and help him share the good news. Many people heard Peter that day and believed in Jesus. They wanted Jesus to be their friend forever. Jesus loves you and wants to be your friend forever too. Because He’s alive, He can hears you when you pray and He will help you tell others the good news just like He helped Peter.
Can you think of some good news to share about your friend Jesus? (Jesus is a good friend to have. He will always be with you.He loves you! He’s alive! You can talk to Him. He will help you.) Now let’s practice telling a friend. Look at someone and say, ‘Jesus wants to be your friend.’ I’m so glad that Jesus loves us and that we can tell others the good news just like Peter did.”
MEMORIZE: Matt. 28:6 ERV (Hold hands open like holding a book.)
Jesus – (Touch fingers of one hand to palm of the other and vice versa.)
Is not here – (Make fists and put together like a tomb.)
He has risen from death. – (Wiggling fingers, raise hands upward.)
Just as He said He would – (Put hands by mouth as you say this part.)
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus,
I’m glad that you are alive and that you want to be my friend. I want to share you with my friends. I want to tell others that you are alive and want to be their friend too. I know that you will help me share the good news about you with my friends. Amen
KNOW: Peter tells a crowd about Jesus. I can tell about Jesus.
TALK ABOUT: Who can I tell about Jesus?
ASK: Who loves you? Jesus loves me.
AND DO: I can tell others about my friend, Jesus.
FUN IDEAS TO DO WITH YOUT CHILD:
* Talk about what Jesus has done for you and then remember to say, “Thank you!” to God and share your story with someone else.
* Keep a running list of things that you can thank God for this week. See how long it is by the end of the week. Let your preschooler add pictures to the list.
* Don’t forget to share your good news. Call Grandma or a friend and tell her
the good news too – it’s fun to share pictures too. Share the award your child got at school, pictures from your child’s birthday party, the pet that you finally got that your child has been praying for, a picture of the garden your child helped you plant – whatever it is, share the good news.
