Experience Pure Love and Forgiveness

We can spend most of our lives on trivial issues. But Jesus Christ reminds us what really matters and what we really need. Our greatest felt needs are to be loved, forgiven, whole and alive. Do you feel compelled to somehow respond to Jesus’ death on the cross? Do you feel compelled to enter deeper into the experience of Christ’s forgiveness?

That feeling is no accident. It is a divine appointment.

Love. It's what we all want. To be loved is the most amazing thing that can happen to you.

But not just love - unconditional love, pure love. Do you wonder if anyone can love you as you truly are? Why is pure love so hard to find? Maybe it's because we keep looking in all the wrong places.

Maybe you have looked for love in your family. You have tried your whole life to please them and make them happy. But it was never enough.

Maybe you have looked for love in a physical relationship. You tell yourself, "If I share my body, I will feel loved." But you never do.

Maybe you have looked for love in popularity. "If everyone knows me, then I will feel loved and accepted." But that's a game you can't always win, and when you do, you are still lonely.

Where can you go to feel completely accepted? Where can you look to find unconditional love?

There is only one place where love never disappoints. The picture of pure love is found in God. God is love. But how can you know God loves you? How can you see it?

Through Jesus Christ, we see love at its purest. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The picture of pure, passionate love is caught in the frame of Jesus loving you while hanging on the cross.

God made His love visible in Christ. And Jesus showed that love is measured not merely by feelings, but by sacrifice.

How can you know pure love? Imagine asking Jesus, "How much do you love me?" He would stretch out His arms, with His nail-pierced hands, and say, "This much."

You can experience His pure love.



Experience Complete Forgiveness

Guilt. Do you live with guilt? Have you done something you feel ashamed of? Do you have a secret that is eating at your soul? Guilt is a horrible thing to live with. How do you stop living with guilt? Why is guilt so hard to get rid of?

Maybe you have tried burying your guilt in denial. You can't live with it, so you deny it. But it keeps coming back - it won't go away.

Maybe you have tried covering your guilt under a pile of good deeds. You can't live with it, so you try to make up for it. But it is never enough.

You can't deny it or make up for it. So how do you get free from your guilt? Can anyone help?

It just may be that you feel guilt because you are guilty. But you can get rid of your guilt by experiencing the complete forgiveness of your guiltiness . God wants to forgive you. No one is too bad that God can't forgive them. And no one is too good that they don't need forgiveness.

Jesus gives complete forgiveness. Even while He was being beaten and crucified, Jesus said, " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). Did you ever wonder why Jesus had to be beaten so badly? Why did He have to suffer so much?

Your sin and guiltiness had to be punished and paid for. That's how serious God is about your guilt. Jesus was brutally beaten and killed because that is what it took for us to be forgiven of our sins. It was an enormous cost that He was willing to pay for you.

Ask to be forgiven. Forgiveness is a gift that Jesus freely extends to you - but you must accept it for it to be yours.

You can experience complete forgiveness.

Broken. Have you experienced a broken promise, a broken dream, a broken relationship, or a broken heart? Does your life seem broken?

Do you feel like Humpty - Dumpty? Why can't you put the pieces of your life back together again?

Maybe you have learned not to trust anyone. You have been let down or betrayed by broken promises, so you're skeptical of everyone. But now you are doing life injured and alone.

Maybe you have stopped dreaming. You think, "I can't believe this is my life." The excitement you had for the future is gone.

Maybe you have promised yourself to never let anyone get close enough to hurt you. You keep people far away from your heart so you won't feel pain. But now you have also lost love.

How can you be put back together? Where can you turn to experience ultimate wholeness?

Jesus came to do more than forgive you of your sin. He also came to make you whole. Jesus' forgiveness shows that He loves you as you are. Jesus' healing shows He loves you too much to leave you as you are. He wants to make you whole.

You might know people who are completely devoted to Jesus. They love Jesus not just because He forgave them. They love and follow Jesus because He took the broken pieces of their lives and gave them the peace of His life. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Jesus came to be the forgiver of your soul and the leader of your life. He can put your life back together. He can help you trust, dream, and love again without fear. He will take your hole-hearted life and turn it into wholehearted passion.

You can experience ultimate wholeness.

Experience Everlasing Life

Goodbye. The word can get stuck in your throat. Have you had to say goodbye to someone you love? Have you buried someone who was near to your heart? Was someone missing at Christmas? Goodbye. There is nothing good about it.

When people die, how do you cope with the final goodbyes?

Maybe you cope by crossing your fingers and hoping. But do you really have any confidence that you will see them and know them in the next life?

Maybe you cope by believing in reincarnation. But what hope does it bring, knowing reincarnation may not bring reunion, and they will only die again?

Maybe you cope by giving up hope. You believe that this life is the end, and eventually you will have to say goodbye forever to everyone you love.

Could there be a better way? Is there a more reliable cross than crossed fingers? Is there a resurrected life instead of just a reincarnated one?

Is there reason to hope and not just cope?

The life Jesus doesn’t end with him in the grave. Instead He is resurrected - glorious and flawless - never to die again. Jesus can do that for us too.

Years after Jesus was raised from the dead, His friend John saw Him. John wrote : "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said; 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades' " (Revelation 1:17-18).

Confident hope for eternal life is only found in the One who died and came back from the dead-Jesus. Now He holds the keys of death and can raise you-and those you love-from the dead too! Because of Jesus, our "goodbyes" can be changed to "See you again!"

You can experience everlasting life.

Jesus is knocking at your heart's door. He is extending an invitation to you to open your heart and let Him come in. You can open your heart and experience Pure Love, Complete Forgiveness, Absolute Wholeness, and Everlasting Life.

Pray. "God, thank you for what You have done for me. I believe You sent Jesus to die for my sins instead of me. I believe Jesus rose again to give me everlasting life. Please forgive me for the wrong things I have done. Please give me a new and clean heart. I invite you into my life. Teach me to do everything You want me to do and to follow You all the days of my life. I pray this believing in what Jesus did for me. Amen."

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Caring For a Terminally Ill Loved One: My husband’s journey through cancer

Caring for a terminally ill loved one is overwhelming. To constantly bear witness to the ravages of the disease knowing you are powerless to stop it is a huge burden. We want and need to do something to help them but don’t know where to start. We refuse to believe that there is nothing that can save them and search for miracles only to find that there are none.

In time we come to accept that they are dying and begin grieving for the loss of them in our lives. Our grief is compounded by our sense of helplessness. There are so many frightening and unanswered questions. What is going to happen? When will it happen? Will there be much pain? Living in expectation of a loved one’s death is like sitting on a time bomb, knowing it is going to go off and being powerless to stop it.

The two year journey of my husband Brian’s diagnosis with terminal cancer has taught me many things, above all, the true meaning of love, and the strength of the human spirit. As I witnessed his incredible courage, it brought forth in me a fierce determination to ease his journey. Ours is a story of love and devotion, testament to the vows Brian and I pledged to each other on our wedding day, May 17th,1969. “In sickness and in health, until death us do part.” We meant every word.

I could not stop my husband from dying, but I could help him live.

My acceptance of my husband’s impending death came with a fierce determination to help him achieve quality of life for the remainder of his days. I knew that I needed to understand more about his disease in order to help him, so I sought knowledge. I asked questions about his disease, and studied the pain and symptoms he would experience as it progressed and ways by which to manage them. I learned a lot and through this I came to realize, that although I could not stop my husband from dying - I could help him to live.

My knowledge allowed me to be one step ahead of the disease progression and gave me the opportunity to have medication -- and later, physical aids such as oxygen, wheelchair etc – on hand before Brian needed them. This alleviated much fear, pain and discomfort. My knowledge regarding pain management and symptom control, enabled me to take an active role in his care, working hand in hand with his doctors to obtain for him a quality of life few thought possible considering the nature of his disease.
Get the help you need to manage the pain

Whilst the majority of cancer patients do experience chronic pain, only a small percentage of them have adequate pain relief. This is often due to the common belief that large doses of medication, such as morphine and methadone (used for pain control in lung cancer sufferers), will sedate them and prevent them from functioning normally. Sadly many people suffer unnecessarily due to this misconception.

The object of pain management is to always be in front of the pain. Good communication with your loved one is imperative; so too is their honesty in relating to you, the nature and intensity of their pain. Encourage them not to brave it out by letting it reach debilitating levels before asking for relief. This results in a situation where they are chasing the pain instead of being in front of it. Untreated chronic and debilitating pain kills. It kills the will to live.

Despite his illness, there were times when Brian felt well and these were spent in the pursuit of his hobby, his passion, his true enjoyment in life -- fishing. I always had a supply of his medicine on hand so that I could keep him out of pain no matter how long we spent on the water. I constantly marvelled at his ability to keep pulling in fish despite his lack of strength. I believe his love of fishing transcended any pain, weakness or discomfort he experienced. For him, at these times, there was no thought of sickness and death. For me, watching him, loving him, the thought of death was always on my mind.
Deciding about Chemotherapy

In time, Brian’s condition worsened until he could not even drink water. Dilatations were no longer an option and he was offered palliative chemotherapy to shrink the tumour. It was the only hope of prolonging his life.

Like many before him, Brian had vowed that he would not undergo chemotherapy. Having heard stories of chronic fatigue, nausea, and hair loss he was fearful of the treatment. But there is a lot of truth in the adage, “You never know, until it happens to you”. For Brian, where there was life, there was hope, and any means of prolonging that hope he grasped with both hands.

Palliative Care (Symptom Control)

Despite a terminal diagnosis, there is still life, and survival may range from months to several years. Many people believe that Palliative Care is intended only for the end of life, and do not seek their help until the final stages of terminal illness. Due to this unfortunate belief the quality of life that could have been achieved through their services is not realized.

The Palliative Care Team, consisting of pain management specialists, nurses, doctors, chaplains and volunteers, work together, to provide the best possible pain and symptom control for the patient, whilst at the same time offering physical and emotional support to their families. I believe the services of these wonderful people should be embraced from the time of terminal diagnosis. Had Brian been in their care sooner, much of his suffering, and mine, would have been alleviated.

Our Journey's End

We have spoken of death. I asked Brian if he was frightened and he said, “No it will be nice to sleep”. We spoke of his parents and the hope that they would be waiting for him. When he asked me about his funeral, I told him of my plans for a seaside memorial. He was pleased with my decision. I have remained strong and I believe I am helping Brian to die well, just as I have helped him to live for these past two years. It comforts me that he is not afraid of dying. He knows that his long courageous battle is almost over; he has accepted it and is at peace.

Brian and I travelled many miles on our last journey together, miles of emotions, spirits, courage and strength. I thanked God for granting me the courage and the strength to walk beside him to his life’s end and for the peace I found in the knowledge that I definitely made a difference.

For more information about cancer please visit the Canadian Cancer Society or the American Cancer Society for a list of resources in your area.

~ Lorraine Kember is the author of Lean on Me: Cancer through a Carer’s Eyes. Lorraine’s book is written from her experience of caring for her dying husband in the hope of helping others. It includes insight and discussion on: Anticipatory Grief, Understanding and identifying pain, Pain Management and Symptom Control, Chemotherapy, Palliative Care, Quality of Life and Dying at home. It also features excerpts and poems from her personal diary. Highly recommended by the Cancer Council. Lean on Me is not available in bookstores - For detailed information, Doctor’s recommendations, Reviews, Book Excerpts and Ordering Facility - visit her website www.cancerthroughacarerseyes.jkwh.com

10 Ways to help your community in 30 minutes or less

From waking up early to put in a first load of laundry to working all day and driving the mom taxi all afternoon, most women have little time to think about volunteering for community projects. But busy schedules do not mean we have to write off community involvement completely. In thirty minutes or less, anyone can make a difference in the community.

Check out the following ideas for ways to help your community in the midst of your everyday activities.

1. Take a garbage bag while walking through the neighborhood. Pick up any litter along the way. As a by-product, you can get some exercise built into your day.
2. Shop with locally owned businesses, saving time and money. Many locally owned businesses offer services like free gift-wrapping and delivery. And a percentage of your sales taxes go directly to the local community.
3. Find positive aspects of your community share with other people. A positive image encourages residents to shop locally, increases the chance new businesses will open in the area and promotes growth.
4. Attend a local festival or other event. Many have free admission and activities. Most festivals are actually fundraisers for non-profit organizations who make their money through sponsorships. Since sponsors look at attendance numbers to decide how much to give, your family can add to the number and help increase what businesses give next year.
5. Write a letter to local elected officials encouraging them for making good decisions for the community. People work harder when they know they are appreciated. And elected officials seldom hear enough encouraging words.
6. Put a potted plant on your front porch. When your home looks spruced up, it makes the whole neighborhood and the community to look better as well.
7. Take left over dinner to an elderly neighbor. If you have a family of four, cook enough dinner for five one night and deliver a plate to the widow next door. Your delivery helps you to get to know your neighbors better. And police promote knowing your neighbors as the best way to fight neighborhood crime.
8. Look for opportunities to give in your community. Many schools collect items, such as like canned foods, old coats, toys and eyeglasses, for less fortunate families.
9. Vote. While the Presidential election comes around only once every four years, elections happen every year. Check out the candidates for local and state elections.
10. Encourage your employer to sponsor local events, join a civic organization or allow employees to volunteer during work hours. Many businesses have volunteer programs to reward employees for volunteering. Local news media often cover large volunteer events and having employee representation gives businesses extra publicity.

By doing our part to contribute to the community, we add people to our circle of influence and gain opportunities to build relationships with our neighbours. We also demonstrate what it means to be a good citizen to our children.

~ Hilary Hamblin is a freelance writer from Baldwyn, Mississippi where she lives with her husband and works as Executive Director of the Baldwyn Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Association.

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