Alvin was a rather well-dressed distinguished newlywed in
his early seventies. He and his considerably
younger bride were staying at my parent’s house for several months until their
new home was ready.
It was in mid-July when we saw the groom preparing to leave
without his wife. This didn’t make
sense, because the two were inseparable.
What was so important that Patty would practically be left on the
doorstep?
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They Were Very
Glad
We didn’t really know much about my mother’s friends
except that both were widowed. They were
always busy coming and going as they checked on the progress of the house that
was almost ready for them.
Patty was quite the lively one, while reserved Alvin
remained a bit vague about his background.
He was well studied, organized and from the looks of it, didn’t lack a thing. Any questions we had no one could really
answer. Who was this man?
 |
| Society Hill in South Philadelphia |
One Saturday as he was leaving my parent’s house we
noticed Patty wasn’t tagging along. Al,
a full blooded old-school Italian, had planned a solo visit with friends in
South Philly.
My mind wandered as I
envisioned a smoke filled room full of men holding glasses as they sat around a
table sharing secrets like the mafia. I
couldn’t help it … he looked the part!
I was eager to learn more about this strange visit to
Philadelphia. Later that same night when
we saw Alvin my husband asked subtly, “How
was your visit with your friends?”
Looking hubby in the eyes, in his deep raspy voice Alvin slowly spoke, “They were VERY glad to see me.”
A man of few words, Alvin turned and walked away leaving
even more of a mystery. His strange response
made it hard not to laugh. Being puzzled
by his answer I asked my husband, “Did he
say they were glad to see him? Wasn’t he glad to see them?”
Glad to See Hubby
About a month ago (March 2016) we were invited to a
friend’s birthday party. We hadn’t planned
on going because of cold weather and the long distance we had to drive. God worked things out and we decided to
surprise the party boy with our visit.
We arrived and said our hellos. While I was busy giving
out hugs and catching up with long lost friends, Liz (the birthday boy’s wife) handed
my husband a plate and told him to eat.
While circling the food area he noticed Larry had come over and sat at
the counter with him. It wasn’t long
before both were eating, laughing and carrying on for hours. I didn’t have a clue about what had happened
until hubby filled me in on the ride home.
Liz explained to my husband that before we arrived at the
party, Larry was sitting on the couch watching television and wouldn’t eat a
thing. She told him to turn off the TV
set, but couldn’t get him out of his funk.
It wasn’t until he saw my husband that his mood changed and he
interacted with his guests.
What happened to change Larry’s behavior? He was VERY glad to see my husband.
Glad to See Her
A lovely lady had visited the cardio rehab center on a
Monday. She hadn’t seen the nurses for several months and wanted to catch up on
how the director’s husband was progressing with his illness. The visit only lasted about 45 minutes when
hubby noticed something. For weeks the
staff went about business barely saying a word to anyone, but that day was
different.
The woman conversed with everyone in the room, asked
questions and handed out little gifts to all the patients working out on the
equipment. The atmosphere in the room
was really different.
When I asked my husband how his session went on the
following Wednesday he said, “It was
good. Everyone is still coming down from
the high from that woman’s visit on Monday.
They were very glad to see her.”
The Character of Glad Tidings
It fascinates me how God brings together situations from
all angles. When I looked back on these
three true stories there was something they all had in common.
Although I couldn’t tell you much about Alvin, apparently
he brings “something” with him wherever he goes that causes people to look
forward to his visits - humbleness.
Turns out, he wasn’t mafia connected (duh!) but just a nice guy who added
interesting information to any topic.
Hubby and Larry have a common thread – he knew my
husband’s mother. Being an orphan that
is important to my husband, and when the two get together they often share
events of the past.
When I asked my husband how he turned around Larry’s
party, he admitted that he mainly talked about things his friend liked. “It was
his big day and I wanted to direct my focus on helping Larry have a great time. That’s what mattered.”
As for the bubbly lady that visited the cardio rehab
center, her encouraging words made everyone in the room feel better. She asked people about their lives, commented
on how good the ladies looked and genuinely cared for the people.
What each had in common is that wherever they go, they
bring glad tidings. Alvin had battled
with throat cancer several times, but I never heard him say one word about
it. As a matter of fact it was his wife
Patty that shared all the tragedies of her beloved’s life.
Hubby has … well you know how things have been for him with
his health. As his wife I can tell you he
rarely says anything to me. He refuses to
give things a “voice” so they don’t become activated by the words he speaks.
The unidentified woman has been known to do this type of
thing wherever she goes, even though she has experienced great sorrow. When people are around her the room comes alive.
You just feel better, because she always
brings good tidings by having positive words to share. I love being around people like that.
Beware of Gloomers … RUN!
I’m quite sure we all have people in our lives that we’d
like to avoid as much as possible. There
have been some I’ve run into and would rather have taken a quick detour to the
other side of the street if I could without them spotting me.
“Gloomers”… you know the type. They are the kind of individuals that share
gloom tidings. These “characters” are the first to tell you
about their problems or ailments, and hardly ever have anything nice to say
about anyone or anything. You can feel
yourself being drained of energy as they speak and wish the rapture would take
place that very moment!
When I’m around “gloomers”, I don’t come away feeling
refreshed, favored or blessed, and I’m definitely not glad to see them. It’s
not that I don’t particularly like or care about them, but that the message
they’re spreading isn’t one that will give hope or win anyone to the Lord. You kind of get the feeling Jesus was
abandoned somewhere on the road holding their “sapsack” (and I'm not referring to the one used on trees), based on the words they
speak and how they live.
It had me wondering about what others thought when they
see me enter a room? Am I known to spread
gloom or go on about myself, and perhaps that’s why people move without leaving
a forwarding address?
Do I deliver glad tidings about the favor God graced on me
through the benefits of salvation? Yikes,
I hope people think showers of blessings is one of my character traits!
What about you? Is
your character one like Alvin’s where you could say, “They were very glad to see me?”
If not, I’ve got to ask you the same question I asked myself. What glad tidings are you preaching?
When people see you coming are they wishing they wore
their best track running shoes equipped with flaming power jets for a speedy
departure? Have you noticed rooms quickly empty and
people scatter to avoid being trapped in a conversation with you? If that’s so, apparently they weren’t very
glad to see you.
Develop a Character of Glad Tidings
Throughout history there have been thousands of documents
that tell us about the character of the One we journey with as believers in
Christ. Scriptures tell us how the disciples witnessed Jesus continually
preaching hope, and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1
NKJV) Jesus not only spoke of the good
things of Heaven, but because of God’s favor He went about doing good things His
entire earthly life.
We’ve learned how we ought to act and live as believers
in Christ through past lessons along our “Inner and Outer Journey with
Jesus.” No matter what we’re
experiencing, God’s favor will always be on the path our feet take when we walk
it with Jesus. He will cause people to
see us in a different LIGHT, because we bring good things with our visit.
“… and how shall they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those (messengers) who
preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things.” (Romans
10:15 NKJV)
What gospel are we spreading if it isn’t glad tidings of
good things? First of all what makes us
glad are the good things we’ll enjoy in Heaven as God’s children. If we don’t
share that message someone will be missing from the Kingdom, so this is the
main part of our journey.
Other things believers possess, are God’s benefits that
accompany salvation - the “good things.” Sadly, sometimes our mouths don’t
match the message we preach (things we tell people). (see Psalm 103:2)
Are we going around saying that we don’t have strength, that
money always runs out … can’t ever expect to get ahead in this economy? If so, this message doesn’t sound like a
“gospel of peace that brings glad tidings of good things” to come does it?
Friends, we have to stop speaking ourselves out of
blessings and God’s favor that can deliver us from our current circumstances. As believers we cannot look at situations
through our eyes, but need to see things as God does.
Maybe right now you feel weak, ineffective, rejected,
bewildered and totally off the grid when it comes to making headway in your life,
but I’ve got glad tidings of good things to share with you.
Hope is here. The Lord is moving on your behalf because
you have chosen to journey with Jesus and follow the plan He has for you. God’s favor on your life will cause others to
see you as confident, a go-getter, successful, creative and talented. You’re not weak, but developing a strong “glad
tidings” character and are well able to continue on your journey.
Every time you spread glad tidings of Jesus with good things, the world views you
as a person they are very glad to see. Be
of good cheer, the Lord is allowing others to see you the way He wants you seen,
so that you influence them toward Him.
This Week’s Challenge:
Developing a Character of Glad Tidings
Despite how we think or feel, as children of God we
already have what we need inside us to finish our journey here on earth. Upon
salvation those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior receive the power
of the Holy Spirit; He is the one who enables us to bring glad tidings to those
God places along our path.
Our challenge this week is to purposely develop a
character that is prone to deliver glad tidings even through difficult
situations. Now what exactly does that
mean?
Surely we can gather “glad tidings of the Kingdom of God”
refers to the message of salvation. However, what are the “good things” Jesus
wants us to bring with this gospel of hope?
Not only are we to share our earthly possessions with others in giving
of gifts, but also giving of good things from the words we speak that line up
with the Word of God.
For example, when you have discussed the topic of
“religion” with someone has the word “favor of God” ever been uttered? Favor is a good thing wouldn’t you agree?
Have you explained how the grace of God through salvation
gives the promise of favor to those who go about doing good for the Kingdom of
God?
The three examples I gave today were of believers who
developed a character of glad tidings of good things through listening, giving,
being humble, encouraging and caring.
They’ve learned that developing a character that pleases God means they
must let Him take first place in their lives.
“He (Jesus) must increase, but I must
decrease.”
(John 3:30 NKJV)
Determine to change in these things …
1 – Are you a person who instead of listening every time
someone tells you something you reply, “I know how you feel, when I …” If
that’s you … stop it. Let them tell their story and reply with good words of
hope.
2 – This one is really hard to do unless you purpose to
be aware of the situation and resist giving into it. When invited somewhere, instead of talking
about yourself ask questions of the others who are in on the conversation. People love to talk about themselves (don’t
kid yourself … you know you do too), so let them by developing the character of
listening before responding with good things about the topic.
3 – When talking on the phone, texting or messaging, be
the first to bring up something good in the conversation and don’t let the
topic turn sour. By keeping the call short, you’d be surprised how easy it is to remain
in good spirits.
4 – If you see someone you know in the store, don’t block
the aisles or lanes with all the “woe me’s” going on in your life. Freak the other person out by littering the
conversation with a few well-chosen words of encouragement then walk away. You can do it, I’m pulling for you!
5 – Finally, share the message of God’s Daily Favor on
your life by pointing out all the good things He has done for you by grace
(unmerited favor)!
I pray that the Lord will make your spirit glad, and for favor
over your beautiful feet as you walk with Jesus spreading the message of peace,
bringing glad tidings of good things to all you see.
Through God’s message of grace may we humbly be able to say like Alvin: “They were VERY glad to see me!”
If this article has encouraged or helped you please consider
sharing it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this post.
Until next
time, favor others with glad tidings!
“Favor – it’s a glad tiding to share.”
Jesus Christ
*Unless
noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Note: When used, the
words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no
place in our lives.
Disclaimer:
Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical
issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
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Glad Tidings, Good Things, Elizabeth George, Favor of God, Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Spiritual, Inspiration, Self-help, Christian Living, Grace, Journey with Jesus, Christianity, Character of Jesus, Society Hill in Philadelphia. Daily Favor Blog
Fay, I was a Gloomer yesterday. Something was eating me up but today, I decided to change that and so I was happy to read your article. I really have no excuse not to be a bringer of glad tidings.
ReplyDeleteI think the "gloomers" were getting to a lot of people and that's why God had me deal with it. Just happens that's what a lot of people were saying, including me. With so much to be thankful for I have no excuse either.
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