Hark! The Good News

Sherri Cullison is a dear woman of God who has been through the wringer emotionally, and yet she chose joy and hope in God in her tough circumstances. In this Christmas UPLIFT, she offers her own experience in sharing the Good News to encourage us to do the same.

 "DING . . . DONG . . . DING . . . DONG . . . .

"My time of delicately playing worshipful music on the piano was brutally interrupted," Sherri says.

I (Dawn) love this heartfelt and truth-based UPLIFT. Sherri transparently shares how times of loss are unique opportunities for us when it comes to sharing the Good News of salvation.

Sherri continues . . .

My piano playing was interrupted with the loud ringing of bells high above the church rooftop as people arrived Sunday morning, just as they do every Sunday—announcing the start of the service.

I instantly jumped and then giggled at myself.

Many sounds announce the coming of certain events, such as Christmas music including BELLS—even displaying them in our decorations. In years past, women rang a bell on the ranch calling the cowboys in for supper. Students are even called into class by a bell.

And teachers, coaches, and referees use WHISTLES to stop and start the playing of sports.

As a young child, I went to the public swimming pool and the town SIREN was nearby. When the siren sounded, everyone at the pool stopped and paused for a moment because we knew it was likely something bad had happened or was going to happen. Just like our policemen, firemen, and ambulance drivers on their way to an emergency, sirens sound a warning to pull our cars over so they can pass.

TRUMPETS or SHOFARS were used in biblical times announcing certain seasons, events, or even signifying the start of a war. Psalm 98:4-6 (NIV) also reminds us that sounds of the trumpet and horn encourage joy and singing.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the Lord, the King.”

MUSICIANS and SINGERS would often march on the front lines announcing the coming of soldiers into battle.

In the book of Matthew, an ANGEL of the Lord announced to Joseph about the coming birth of Jesus.

And in Mark, we learn that a PROPHET, John the Baptist, spread word of the coming Messiah.

These were heralds, or official messengers bringing news.

In Mark 1:14, Jesus was a herald too, proclaiming the good news. Verse 15 says,

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News!”

Become a Herald of Good News

For the last two years, I was given the privilege of being my mother’s primary caregiver until she passed into heaven recently. There were struggles along the way, but there were also golden moments of opportunity I was given to talk to my mom about God.

My mother and father raised our family well with good morals and values, and her love for family was evident, but I never truly knew what her relationship with God was like.

Not long ago, when I knew in my spirit that she may not see the end of the year, I became a herald of the good news to her. I announced that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and what it meant to believe and accept the love of Christ in her heart. She likely knew this before, but I felt a responsibility to share the definitive good news with her.

My walk with the loss of my mother has been emotional and lonely, especially during the holidays, but I find solace in knowing that I didn’t suppress the opportunity to share God’s love with her.

I worked relentlessly toward giving her the best care she deserved and encouraging a step toward heavenly peace.

Times of loss may not feel like the time to share the Good News with others, but there are at least three ways we can take advantage of this opportunity:

1. When someone asks us how we're doing following a loss, we can be honest about how we feel, but also share how God comes and fills the well of loneliness as we talk to Him.

2. When someone asks us how we can worship God when we're devastated following a loss, we can share how spending time in God's presence in worship can envelope the fear and anxiety and bring peace.

3. When someone asks us how we can go on following a loss, we can share what God has done for us and the hope of knowing He's always there for us and has a future for us.

Sharing the Good News with someone may mean the difference between their hopelessness or happiness, and even spreading joy to someone who they know may need Christ’s love.

Jesus said, in Mark 4:43 (NIV),

“…I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

May we, as followers of Jesus, boldly announce Christ’s love to others—even during our losses, because that may be the most prominent time others see God working in and through us.

How do you plan to share the good news with someone that needs Jesus today?

Sherri J. Cullison, author and speaker, knows the pain and devastation life brings. Whether your hope is treading or sinking, Sherri's heart for hope reveals how we can manage our everyday struggles to claim joy and love life. In her recent book, SOS: A Mother's Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in the Darkness of Teen Suicide, Sherri shares the heartbreaking loss of her daughter and the evidence of God's healing, forgiveness, and restoration. Sherri and her husband live in Arizona and have two children, seven grandchildren, five pianos, and one RZR. Find more about Sherri at www.sherrijcullison.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Peggy Choucair at Pixabay.